Vacuum cleaner and suction wand therefor

Abstract

An upright vacuum cleaner has a handle by which it can be manoeuvred across a floor in a floor cleaning mode, the handle being part of a releasable suction wand which can be used in an above-floor cleaning mode. The suction wand has a first section which comprises the handle, a second section, and a third section which comprises a suction nozzle. The first section is movable relative to the second section between floor cleaning and above-floor cleaning positions. The third section is extendable and retractable relative to the second section. The suction wand has a linkage which is configured to couple movement of the first section towards one of said positions, and extension or retraction of the third section.

1 . An upright vacuum cleaner that has a handle by which it can be manoeuvred across a floor in a floor cleaning mode, the handle being part of a releasable suction wand which can be used in an above-floor cleaning mode, wherein:
 the suction wand has a first section which comprises the handle, a second section, and a third section which comprises a suction nozzle;   the first section is movable relative to the second section between a floor cleaning position and an above-floor cleaning position;   the third section is extendable and retractable relative to the second section; and   the suction wand has a linkage that is configured to couple movement of the first section towards one of the floor cleaning and above-floor cleaning positions and extension or retraction of the third section.   
     
     
         2 . The upright vacuum cleaner of  claim 1 , wherein the linkage is configured to couple movement of the first section towards the above-floor cleaning position, and extension of the third section. 
     
     
         3 . The upright vacuum cleaner of  claim 1 , wherein the linkage is configured to couple movement of the first section towards the floor cleaning position, and retraction of the third section. 
     
     
         4 . The upright vacuum cleaner of  claim 1 , wherein the linkage is configured both to translate movement of the first section towards one of said positions into extension or retraction of the third section, and to translate extension or retraction of the third section into movement of the first section towards one of said positions. 
     
     
         5 . The upright vacuum cleaner of  claim 1 , wherein the linkage is configured such that the third section can be both extended and retracted by moving the first section between said positions in both directions, or such that the first section can be moved between said positions in both directions by both extending and retracting the third section. 
     
     
         6 . The upright vacuum cleaner of  claim 1 , wherein with the first section in the above-floor cleaning position, the handle is positioned to be grasped by a user to manipulate the wand in the above-floor cleaning mode. 
     
     
         7 . The upright vacuum cleaner of  claim 1 , wherein the second section is releasably attachable to a main body of the vacuum cleaner, and while attached thereto is movable relative to the main body between extended and retracted positions. 
     
     
         8 . The upright vacuum cleaner of  claim 1 , wherein the linkage comprises an elongate flexible member which runs between the first and third sections, around a pulley point on the second section. 
     
     
         9 . The upright vacuum cleaner of  claim 8 , wherein the elongate flexible member is arranged in a loop which has a first portion that runs from the first section to the third section around said pulley point, and a second portion which runs from the first portion to the third portion around an additional pulley point. 
     
     
         10 . The upright vacuum cleaner of  claim 1 , wherein the second section is elongate and defines first and second ends. 
     
     
         11 . The upright vacuum cleaner of  claim 10 , wherein the floor cleaning position of the first section is a location nearer to the first end of the second section than the second end, and the above-floor cleaning position of the first section is a location nearer to the second end than the first end. 
     
     
         12 . The upright vacuum cleaner of  claim 10 , further comprising a main body with a mounting point for a cleaner head, wherein the suction wand is releasably attachable to the main body in a position in which the first end of the second section projects away from the mounting point for the cleaner head. 
     
     
         13 . The upright vacuum cleaner of  claim 1 , wherein the first, second and third sections of the wand are arranged telescopically with respect to one another. 
     
     
         14 . A suction wand for an upright vacuum cleaner, the suction wand being configured for using in an above-floor cleaning mode and a floor cleaning mode and comprising:
 a first section that comprises a handle for maneuvering the upright vacuum cleaner across a floor in the floor cleaning mode, a second section, and a third section that comprises a suction nozzle,   wherein the first section is movable relative to the second section between a floor cleaning position and an above-floor cleaning position, the third section is extendable and retractable relative to the second section, and the suction wand has a linkage that is configured to couple movement of the first section towards one of the floor cleaning and above-floor cleaning positions and extension or retraction of the third section.