Upright vacuum cleaner incorporating releaseable locking mechanism for wand assembly

Abstract

The present invention relates generally to an upright vacuum cleaner including a housing having a canister assembly, a nozzle assembly and a connector for releasably holding the wand assembly. Both a suction generator and a dirt collection vessel are carried on the housing. In addition the upright vacuum cleaner includes a removable wand assembly, a lock and a lock release.

1 . An upright vacuum cleaner, comprising; 
 a housing including a canister assembly, a nozzle assembly and a connector for releasably holding said wand assembly;    a suction generator carried on said housing;    a dirt collection vessel carried on said housing;    a removable wand assembly;    a lock carried on one of said housing and said wand assembly; and    a lock release carried on one of said housing and said wand assembly.    
     
     
         2 . The upright vacuum cleaner of  claim 1 , wherein said removable wand assembly further includes a control handle.  
     
     
         3 . The upright vacuum cleaner of  claim 1  wherein said lock is a spring loaded detent on one of said housing and said wand assembly and a cooperating aperture on the other of said housing and said wand assembly.  
     
     
         4 . The upright vacuum cleaner of  claim 1 , wherein said lock is a spring loaded detent carried on said wand assembly and a cooperating locking aperture on said housing.  
     
     
         5 . The upright vacuum cleaner of  claim 4 , wherein said lock release is a lever.  
     
     
         6 . The upright vacuum cleaner of  claim 5 , wherein said lever is pivotally mounted to said housing.  
     
     
         7 . The upright vacuum cleaner of  claim 6 , wherein said lever includes a release lug aligned with said locking aperture.  
     
     
         8 . The upright vacuum cleaner of  claim 7 , wherein said lever is substantially L-shaped.  
     
     
         9 . The upright vacuum cleaner of  claim 1 , wherein said canister assembly and said nozzle assembly are pivotally connected together.  
     
     
         10 . The upright vacuum cleaner of  claim 1 , wherein said dirt collection vessel is a dirt cup.  
     
     
         11 . The upright vacuum cleaner of  claim 10 , wherein said dirt cup holds a filter.  
     
     
         12 . The upright vacuum cleaner of  claim 1 , wherein said dirt collection vessel is a bag filter.