Patent ID: 8656552

Claim:
A vacuum cleaner comprising: a base adapted to move on a surface and having a base air inlet facing the surface; a handle; a base pivot pivotally connecting the base to the handle and adapted to permit the handle to pivot about a base pivot axis between an upright parked position and a reclined operating position; a movable wheel system adapted to support the base on the surface, the movable wheel system comprising: a wheel carriage having a proximal end and a distal end, at least one carriage pivot pivotally connecting the proximal end of the wheel carriage to the base, and at least one wheel rotatably connected to the distal end of the wheel carriage, wherein the at least one carriage pivot pivotally mounts the wheel carriage to the base to permit the wheel carriage to pivot between a first position in which the at least one wheel is a first distance from the base air inlet, and a second position in which the at least one wheel is positioned a second distance from the base air inlet, the second distance being less than the first distance; and a drive member located on the handle, the drive member comprising a pin or a roller extending from a motor housing portion of the handle, and the pin or roller being positioned to contact the wheel carriage as the handle moves from the upright parked position to the reclined operating position and by such contact move the wheel carriage from the first position to the second position.