Vacuum cleaner

Abstract

A suction hose for a vacuum cleaner having a vacuum body assembly includes an accessory end configured to accept one or more interchangeable accessory nozzles, an attachment end, opposite the accessory end, and configured to removably attach to a vacuum body assembly, a hollow conduit extending between the accessory end and the attachment end; and a pivot joint assembly located between the accessory end and the attachment end, the pivot joint assembly providing rotation of the accessory end relative to the attachment end.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A suction hose for a vacuum cleaner having a vacuum body assembly, the suction hose comprising:
 an accessory end configured to accept one or more interchangeable accessory nozzles;   an attachment end, opposite the accessory end, and configured to removably attach to said vacuum body assembly;   a hollow conduit extending between the accessory end and the attachment end; and   a pivot joint assembly located between the accessory end and the attachment end, the pivot joint assembly providing rotation of the accessory end relative to the attachment end.   
     
     
         2 . The suction hose of  claim 1 , wherein the pivot joint assembly defines a rotational axis perpendicular to a length of the hollow conduit. 
     
     
         3 . The suction hose of  claim 2 , wherein the pivot joint assembly restricts rotation of the hollow conduit about an axis perpendicular to the rotational axis at the pivot joint assembly. 
     
     
         4 . The suction hose of  claim 1 , wherein the attachment end has greater rigidity than the hollow conduit. 
     
     
         5 . The suction hose of  claim 4 , wherein the hollow conduit is a flexible corrugated conduit. 
     
     
         6 . The suction hose of  claim 1 , wherein the pivot joint assembly includes a collar, and wherein the hollow conduit extends though the collar of the pivot joint assembly. 
     
     
         7 . The suction hose of  claim 6 , wherein the pivot joint assembly defines a rotational axis, and wherein the collar is offset from the rotational axis. 
     
     
         8 . The suction hose of  claim 1 , wherein the pivot joint assembly is located nearer to the attachment end than to the accessory end. 
     
     
         9 . The suction hose of  claim 1 , wherein the pivot joint assembly is directly coupled to the attachment end. 
     
     
         10 . The suction hose of  claim 1 , wherein the pivot joint assembly permits rotation of the suction hose downward relative to said vacuum body assembly when said vacuum cleaner is in a carry mode, and wherein the pivot joint assembly permits rotation of the suction hose upward relative to the vacuum body assembly when said vacuum cleaner is in a stand mode. 
     
     
         11 . The suction hose of  claim 1 , wherein the pivot joint assembly includes a first pair of arms extending from the attachment end towards the accessory end, a collar extending around the hollow conduit and spaced apart from the attachment end, and a second pair of arms extending from the collar to the first pair of arms. 
     
     
         12 . The suction hose of  claim 11 , wherein the first pair of arms and the second pair of arms collectively define a rotational axis of the pivot joint assembly. 
     
     
         13 . A vacuum cleaner comprising:
 a vacuum body assembly, and   the suction hose as claimed in  claim 1 .   
     
     
         14 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 13 , wherein the vacuum body assembly includes
 a debris container;   a housing having a suction source configured to draw air into the debris container;   wherein the vacuum cleaner is convertible between a carry mode in which the vacuum cleaner is configured to be worn by a user, a stand mode in which the vacuum body assembly is configured to rest on a support surface, and a hang mode in which the vacuum body assembly is configured to hang from a mount structure.   
     
     
         15 . A suction hose for a vacuum cleaner having a vacuum body assembly, the suction hose comprising:
 an accessory end configured to accept one or more interchangeable accessory nozzles;   an attachment end, opposite the accessory end, and configured to removably attach to a vacuum body assembly;   a hollow conduit extending between the accessory end and the attachment end; and   a pivot joint assembly located between the accessory end and the attachment end, the pivot joint assembly providing rotation of the accessory end relative to the attachment end, the pivot joint assembly defining a rotational axis perpendicular to a length of the hollow conduit;   wherein the pivot joint assembly includes a collar, and wherein the hollow conduit extends though the collar of the pivot joint assembly, and wherein the collar is offset from the rotational axis.   
     
     
         16 . The suction hose of  claim 15 , wherein the pivot joint assembly includes a first pair of arms extending from the attachment end towards the accessory end and a second pair of arms extending from the collar to the first pair of arms. 
     
     
         17 . The suction hose of  claim 16 , wherein the first pair of arms and the second pair of arms collectively define the rotational axis of the pivot joint assembly. 
     
     
         18 . The suction hose of  claim 17 , wherein the second pair of arms are located between the first pair of arms and the hollow conduit. 
     
     
         19 . The suction hose of  claim 15 , wherein the collar is located nearer to the attachment end than to the accessory end. 
     
     
         20 . The suction hose of  claim 15 , wherein the hollow conduit is a flexible corrugated conduit.