Patent ID: 8448295

Claim:
A vacuum cleaner comprising: a base adapted to move on a surface and having a base air inlet facing the surface; an intermediate member having a first intermediate member passage and a second intermediate member passage; a first joint connecting the base to the intermediate member, the first joint permitting relative rotation between the base and the intermediate member about a first axis that is generally parallel to the surface and perpendicular to a nominal direction of movement of the vacuum cleaner; a base air passage fluidly connecting the base air inlet to the first intermediate member passage; a handle having a grip adapted to be held by an operator and a dirt collector having a collector inlet and a collector outlet, the dirt collector being adapted to receive air into the collector inlet, separate dirt from the air, and exhaust the air out of the collector outlet; a second joint connecting the handle to the intermediate member, the second joint permitting relative rotation between the intermediate member and the handle about a second axis that is generally parallel to a plane that is perpendicular to the first axis; a first handle air passage connecting the first intermediate member passage to the dirt collector inlet; a second handle air passage connecting the second intermediate member passage to the dirt collector outlet; and a vacuum fan adapted to selectively draw the air into the base air inlet, through the base air passage, through the first intermediate member passage, through the dirt collector, through the second handle air passage, and into the second intermediate member passage, in that order; wherein of the first handle air passage and the second handle air passage each comprise a respective separate hose that is offset from the second axis and is adapted to flex to permit the handle to rotate relative to the intermediate member.