A vacuum cleaner canister assembly that generates an air cushion to support said canister assembly over a floor surface, said canister assembly comprising: a base assembly that generates an air cushion to support said canister assembly, said base assembly comprising: a discharge port through which a flow of air exhausted from a motor of said canister assembly is discharged below said base assembly; an upwardly domed pocket having said discharge port located therein so that said flow of air exiting said discharge port is received and constrained within said domed pocket; and a first depending ridge circumscribing said domed pocket, under which air escapes from said pocket so as to generate lift against a floor surface underlying said base assembly; characterised in that said canister assembly further comprises: an upwardly recessed first channel circumscribing said first ridge into which said air escaping under said first ridge flows so as to be distributed about said domed pocket; a second depending ridge circumscribing said first channel under which said flow of air escapes from said first channel so as to generate lift against said underlying floor surface; a second upwardly recessed channel circumscribing said second ridge that receives and distributes said flow of air about said second ridge; and a third depending ridge circumscribing said second channel under which said flow of air escapes from said second channel so as to generate additional lift against said underlying floor surface. a base assembly that generates an air cushion to support said canister assembly, said base assembly comprising: a discharge port through which a flow of air exhausted from a motor of said canister assembly is discharged below said base assembly; an upwardly domed pocket having said discharge port located therein so that said flow of air exiting said discharge port is received and constrained within said domed pocket; and a first depending ridge circumscribing said domed pocket, under which air escapes from said pocket so as to generate lift against a floor surface underlying said base assembly; a discharge port through which a flow of air exhausted from a motor of said canister assembly is discharged below said base assembly; an upwardly domed pocket having said discharge port located therein so that said flow of air exiting said discharge port is received and constrained within said domed pocket; and a first depending ridge circumscribing said domed pocket, under which air escapes from said pocket so as to generate lift against a floor surface underlying said base assembly; characterised in that said canister assembly further comprises: an upwardly recessed first channel circumscribing said first ridge into which said air escaping under said first ridge flows so as to be distributed about said domed pocket; a second depending ridge circumscribing said first channel under which said flow of air escapes from said first channel so as to generate lift against said underlying floor surface; a second upwardly recessed channel circumscribing said second ridge that receives and distributes said flow of air about said second ridge; and a third depending ridge circumscribing said second channel under which said flow of air escapes from said second channel so as to generate additional lift against said underlying floor surface. an upwardly recessed first channel circumscribing said first ridge into which said air escaping under said first ridge flows so as to be distributed about said domed pocket; a second depending ridge circumscribing said first channel under which said flow of air escapes from said first channel so as to generate lift against said underlying floor surface; a second upwardly recessed channel circumscribing said second ridge that receives and distributes said flow of air about said second ridge; and a third depending ridge circumscribing said second channel under which said flow of air escapes from said second channel so as to generate additional lift against said underlying floor surface.