Patent ID: 7356874
Filing Date: 2008-04-15
Classification: A47L

Abstract:
1. A vacuum cleaner comprising: a floor-engaging portion having a first air inlet on the underside thereof; an upright portion pivotally connected at its lower end to said floor-engaging portion, said upright portion having a socket in its upper end; a detachable handle upstanding from the upper end of said upright portion and having a first end and a second end, one of said handle ends being received in said socket; a rigid tubular duct extending along the handle between a second air inlet at said first end thereof and an outlet disposed intermediate opposite ends of said handle; an elongate flexible hose having a first end and a second end, the first end of the hose being connected to said outlet on said handle; a valve having a first inlet port fluidly connected to said first air inlet, a second inlet port fluidly connected to the second end of said elongate flexible hose, an outlet port connected to a dust separation device and means for selectively connecting said valve outlet port to either said first or said second valve inlet ports; and, said valve comprising an actuator disposed in said socket, the actuator being arranged to configure the valve to connect said second air inlet to said dust separation device when the handle is removed from said socket and to connect said first air inlet to said dust separation device when the handle is fully inserted into said socket.