Vacuum cleaner having hinged inlet cover

Abstract

A vacuum cleaner basically includes a motor, first and second inlets and a cover. The motor is configured to create flow through a suction path. The first inlet and the second inlet are disposed in the housing in fluid communication with the suction path. A cover is pivotably disposed in the second inlet. The cover is movable between a first position in which the second inlet is substantially covered to substantially prevent fluid from flowing through the second inlet and a second position in which fluid is allowed to flow through the second inlet.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A vacuum cleaner, comprising:
 a motor configured to create flow through a suction path;   a housing;   a first inlet and a second inlet disposed in the housing in fluid communication with the suction path; and   a cover pivotably disposed in the second inlet, the cover being movable between a first position in which the second inlet is substantially covered to substantially prevent fluid from flowing through the second inlet and a second position in which fluid is allowed to flow through the second inlet.   
     
     
         2 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 1 , wherein
 a biasing member biases the cover to the first position.   
     
     
         3 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 2 , wherein
 the cover is movable to the second position upon a suction force exerted on the cover being greater than a biasing force exerted by the biasing member on the cover.   
     
     
         4 . A vacuum cleaner, comprising:
 a housing;   a suction path in fluid communication with the housing;   a motor configured to create flow through the suction path;   a base having a first inlet and a second inlet in fluid communication with the suction path; and   a cover hingedly connected to the base, the cover being movable between a first position in which the second inlet is substantially covered to substantially prevent fluid from flowing through the second inlet and a second position in which fluid is allowed to flow through the second inlet.   
     
     
         5 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 4 , wherein
 a first biasing member is connected between the base and the cover to bias the cover to the first position.   
     
     
         6 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 5 , wherein
 the cover is movable to the second position upon a suction force exerted on the cover being greater than a biasing force exerted by the first biasing member on the cover.   
     
     
         7 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 4 , wherein
 a surface agitator is movably disposed in the base, the second inlet being disposed below an uppermost part of the surface agitator and in front of the surface agitator.   
     
     
         8 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 5 , wherein
 the first biasing member is a torsion spring.   
     
     
         9 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 4 , wherein
 a free end of the cover in the second position is disposed rearwardly with respect to the free end of the cover in the first position.   
     
     
         10 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 4 , wherein
 the cover pivots about an axis substantially perpendicular to a lengthwise direction of the base.   
     
     
         11 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 8 , wherein
 a first end of the first biasing member engages the base and a second end of the first biasing member engages the cover.   
     
     
         12 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 11 , wherein
 a body of the first spring member is disposed on a first pivot axle of the cover.   
     
     
         13 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 5 , wherein
 a second biasing member is connected between the base and the cover to bias the cover to the first position.   
     
     
         14 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 13 , wherein
 the second biasing member is laterally spaced from the first biasing member.   
     
     
         15 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 14 , wherein
 the second biasing member is a torsion spring, a body of the second spring member being disposed on a second pivot axle of the cover.   
     
     
         16 . A vacuum cleaner, comprising:
 a housing;   a suction path in fluid communication with the housing;   a motor for creating flow through the suction path;   a base having a first inlet, a second inlet and a third inlet in fluid communication with the suction path;   a first cover hingedly connected to the base, the first cover being movable between a first position in which the second inlet is substantially covered to substantially prevent fluid from flowing through the second inlet and a second position in which fluid is allowed to flow through the second inlet;   a second cover hingedly connected to the base, the second cover being movable between a first position in which the third inlet is substantially covered to substantially prevent fluid from flowing through the third inlet and a second position in which fluid is allowed to flow through the third inlet.   
     
     
         17 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 16 , wherein
 a first spring member is connected between the base and the first cover to bias the first cover to the first position; and   a second spring member is connected between the base and the second cover to bias the second cover to the first position.   
     
     
         18 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 16 , wherein
 the third inlet is disposed laterally adjacent the second inlet.   
     
     
         19 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 17 , wherein
 the first and second covers are movable to the respective second positions when a suction force exerted on the first and second covers is greater than first and second spring forces respectively exerted by the first and second spring members on the first and second covers.   
     
     
         20 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 16 , wherein
 each of the second and third inlets is substantially perpendicular to the first inlet.