Patent ID: 6158084
Filing Date: 2000-12-12
Classification: A47L

Abstract:
A vacuum cleaner comprising:a) a floor engaging portion;b) a handle portion pivotally mounted to said floor engaging portion for pivotal motion relative said floor engaging portion between a generally upright storage position and an inclined pivotal operating position;c) an agitator rotatably mounted to said floor engaging portion for agitating a floor surface being cleaned;d) a motor having an output shaft and an agitator belt extending between said output shaft and said agitator for selectively drivingly connecting said motor to said agitator;e) a tensioning arm pivotally mounted to said floor engaging portion for pivotal motion between an agitator-on position in which said tensioning arm engages said agitator belt, thereby placing said agitator belt under tension whereby said agitator belt drives said agitator, and an agitator-off position in which said tensioning arm does not engage said agitator belt, thereby placing said agitator belt in a slack condition whereby said agitator belt does not drive said agitator;f) a spring mounted between said floor engaging portion and said tensioning arm for biasing said tensioning arm into said agitator-on position;g) said handle portion including an actuating portion that engages said tensioning arm when said handle portion is pivoted from said operating position into said storage position and thereby moves said tensioning arm into said agitator-off position, and disengages said tensioning arm when said handle portion is pivoted from said storage portion into said operating position whereby said spring moves said tensioning arm into said agitator-on position;h) an agitator shut-off member mounted to said floor engaging portion, said agitator shut-off member being selectively movable between:1) an on position in which said agitator shut-off member does not engage said tensioning arm, whereby said spring biases said tensioning arm into said agitator-on position; and2) an off position in which said agitator shut-off member engages said tensioning arm when said tensioning arm is in said agitator-off position and thereby maintains said tensioning arm in said agitator-off position.