Nozzle assembly for vacuum cleaner including wand release lever

Abstract

A nozzle assembly is provided for a vacuum cleaner. That nozzle assembly includes a housing having a suction opening. A suction conduit is carried on the housing. The suction conduit includes an inlet and an outlet. The nozzle assembly also includes a release lever carried on the suction conduit. The release lever includes a wand lock displaceable between a wand locking position and a wand releasing position.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A nozzle assembly, comprising:
 a housing including a suction opening;   a suction conduit carried on said housing, said suction conduit including an inlet and an outlet; and   a release lever carried on said suction conduit, said release lever including a wand lock displaceable between a wand locking position and a wand releasing position.   
     
     
         2 . The nozzle assembly of  claim 1  further including a spring biasing said wand lock into said wand locking position. 
     
     
         3 . The nozzle assembly of  claim 2 , wherein said suction conduit includes a pivoting coupler pivotally securing said suction conduit to said housing with said inlet in communication with said suction opening. 
     
     
         4 . The nozzle assembly of  claim 3  wherein said suction conduit includes a pivot support carrying said release lever. 
     
     
         5 . The nozzle assembly of  claim 4 , wherein said pivot support comprises two mounting lugs and two opposed pivot pins and said release lever includes two opposed sockets for receiving said two opposed pivot pins. 
     
     
         6 . The nozzle assembly of  claim 5 , wherein said release lever extends continuously around said suction conduit. 
     
     
         7 . The nozzle assembly of  claim 6 , wherein said wand lock includes an arcuate profile matching a sidewall of said suction conduit. 
     
     
         8 . The nozzle assembly of  claim 7 , wherein said wand lock further includes a D-shaped notch. 
     
     
         9 . The nozzle assembly of  claim 8 , wherein said pivot support is concealed in a cavity in said release lever. 
     
     
         10 . The nozzle assembly of  claim 2  wherein said suction conduit includes a pivot support carrying said release lever. 
     
     
         11 . The nozzle assembly of  claim 10 , wherein said pivot support comprises two mounting lugs and two opposed pivot pins and said release lever includes two opposed sockets for receiving said two opposed pivot pins. 
     
     
         12 . The nozzle assembly of  claim 11 , wherein said release lever extends continuously around said suction conduit. 
     
     
         13 . The nozzle assembly of  claim 12 , wherein said wand lock includes an arcuate profile matching a sidewall of said suction conduit. 
     
     
         14 . The nozzle assembly of  claim 13 , wherein said wand lock further includes a D-shaped notch. 
     
     
         15 . The nozzle assembly of  claim 14 , wherein said pivot support is concealed in a cavity in said release lever. 
     
     
         16 . The nozzle assembly of  claim 10 , wherein said release lever extends continuously around said suction conduit. 
     
     
         17 . The nozzle assembly of  claim 16 , wherein said wand lock includes an arcuate profile matching a sidewall of said suction conduit. 
     
     
         18 . The nozzle assembly of  claim 17 , wherein said wand lock further includes a D-shaped notch. 
     
     
         19 . The nozzle assembly of  claim 18 , wherein said pivot support is concealed in a cavity in said release lever. 
     
     
         20 . The nozzle assembly of  claim 10 , wherein said pivot support is concealed in a cavity in said release lever.