Upright vacuum cleaner with unique airstream path

Abstract

A vacuum cleaner includes a body having a nozzle assembly and a handle assembly. A suction generator and a dirt collection vessel are carried on the body. The vacuum cleaner also includes a cleaning wand, a supplemental cleaning tool connected to the first end of the cleaning wand and hose connected to a second end of the cleaning wand. Further the vacuum cleaner includes an airstream path passing serially through the nozzle assembly, the supplemental cleaning tool and the cleaning wand.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A vacuum cleaner, comprising:
 a body including a nozzle assembly and a handle assembly;   a suction generator carried on said body;   a dirt collection vessel carried on said body;   a cleaning wand;   a supplemental cleaning tool connected to a first end of said cleaning wand;   a hose connected to a second end of said cleaning wand; and   an airstream path passing serially through said nozzle assembly, said supplemental cleaning tool and said cleaning wand.   
     
     
         2 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 1 , wherein said airstream path passes serially through said nozzle assembly, said supplemental cleaning tool, said cleaning wand, said hose, said dirt collection vessel and said suction generator. 
     
     
         3 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 2 , further including a final filter in said airstream path downstream from said suction generator. 
     
     
         4 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 3 , wherein said nozzle assembly includes a suction inlet for feeding air to said supplemental cleaning tool. 
     
     
         5 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 4 , wherein said nozzle assembly includes an agitator cavity in fluid communication with said suction inlet. 
     
     
         6 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 5 , further including a rotary agitator in said agitator cavity. 
     
     
         7 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 6 , wherein said dirt collection vessel is a dirt cup with a cylindrical sidewall, a tangentially directed inlet and an axially directed outlet. 
     
     
         8 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 7 , wherein said final filter is carried on said body between said suction generator and said dirt collection vessel. 
     
     
         9 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 8 , wherein said handle assembly includes (a) said cleaning wand, (b) a canister housing holding said suction generator and said dirt collection vessel and (c) a support housing connected to said nozzle assembly by means of a swivel. 
     
     
         10 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 9 , further including a first actuator for releasing said canister housing from said support housing. 
     
     
         11 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 10 , further including a second actuator for releasing said wand assembly and said supplemental cleaning tool from said canister assembly for special cleaning applications. 
     
     
         12 . An upright vacuum cleaner, comprising:
 a nozzle assembly having a first dirty air inlet;   a supplemental cleaning tool having a second dirty air inlet;   a dirt collection vessel for separating and collecting dirt in said airstream being drawn through said vacuum cleaner; and   a suction generator for drawing dirty air serially through said nozzle assembly and said supplemental cleaning tool in a first operation mode.   
     
     
         13 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 12 , including a second operation mode wherein said airstream is drawn directly into said supplemental cleaning tool, bypassing said nozzle assembly. 
     
     
         14 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 12 , wherein said suction generator is downstream from said dirt collection vessel. 
     
     
         15 . A method of converting an upright vacuum cleaner between a first mode of operation and a second mode of operation wherein said upright vacuum cleaner includes a nozzle assembly, a supplemental cleaning tool and a wand assembly, said method comprising:
 drawing dirt and debris serially through said nozzle assembly, said supplemental cleaning tool and said cleaning wand in said first mode of operation;   drawing dirt and debris serially through said supplemental cleaning tool and said cleaning wand while bypassing said nozzle assembly in said second mode of operation; and   switching between said first and second modes of operation without touching said supplemental cleaning tool.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , including maintaining said supplemental cleaning tool on an end of said cleaning wand in both of said first and second modes of operation. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , including engaging an actuator on said upright vacuum cleaner to release said supplemental cleaning tool and said cleaning wand together for specialty cleaning applications in said second mode of operation.