Vacuum cleaner base with belt drive disengager

Abstract

An upright vacuum cleaner comprises a base assembly pivotally connected to an upright assembly. The base assembly comprises a foot-actuated belt drive disengaging mechanism and a ratchet operated nozzle height adjustment mechanism.

1 - 10 . (canceled) 
   
   
       11 . A vacuum cleaner comprising:
 a base assembly having a housing, a suction nozzle, and an agitator rotatably mounted to the housing;   a motor comprising a motor shaft and a flywheel mounted to the motor shaft;   a belt drive assembly between the flywheel and the agitator for selectively driving the agitator, and comprising:   an actuator for selectively uncoupling the belt drive assembly, and   a hub rotatably mounted to the actuator and selectively coupled with the flywheel for rolling contact therewith.   
   
   
       12 . The vacuum cleaner according to  claim 11  wherein the actuator comprises a first portion positioned exterior of the housing for user access and a second portion positioned interior of the housing. 
   
   
       13 . The vacuum cleaner according to  claim 12  wherein the first portion is adapted to be moved by the foot of a user from an engaging position wherein the hub is in rolling contact with the flywheel and a disengaging position in which the hub is disengaged from rolling contact with the flywheel. 
   
   
       14 . The vacuum cleaner according to  claim 13  and further comprising a biasing member for biasing the actuator to the engaging position. 
   
   
       15 . The vacuum cleaner according to  claim 14  and further comprising a detent for the actuator for maintaining the actuator in the disengaging position. 
   
   
       16 . The vacuum cleaner according to  claim 15  wherein the motor is vertically oriented. 
   
   
       17 . The vacuum cleaner according to  claim 16  wherein the motor is positioned within the housing of the base assembly. 
   
   
       18 - 26 . (canceled) 
   
   
       27 . The vacuum cleaner according to  claim 12  wherein the hub is rotatably mounted to the second portion. 
   
   
       28 . The vacuum cleaner according to  claim 11  wherein the hub comprises a hub shaft and a belt is coupled between the hub shaft and the agitator. 
   
   
       29 . The vacuum cleaner according to  claim 11  wherein the hub is laterally movable with respect to the flywheel to change the relative speed of the agitator.