Patent ID: 8181309

Claim:
An upright vacuum cleaner for cleaning a surface, the upright vacuum cleaner comprising: an upper body including an annular section forming a conduit and having a dust collection container received therein; a base unit; a carriage configured to provide movement of the base unit on the surface; a motor-fan unit disposed outside the upper body, the motor-fan unit configured to create a partial vacuum at the surface; a tilting joint connecting the upper body and the base unit such that the upper body is tiltable relative to the base unit about a tilt axis that extends horizontally when the upright vacuum cleaner is in a position of use; a swivel joint disposed between the upper body and the base unit, the swivel joint configured to change a direction of travel of the upright vacuum cleaner in response to twisting of the upper body, the swivel joint including: a tubular section articulated to the base unit and coupled with the annular section of the upper body so as to form an air conduit between the base unit and the upper body, and a bearing housing formed as a separate piece from the annular section and tubular section, the bearing housing being disposed rotatably about the tubular section and including an opening through which at least a portion of the annular section or the tubular section extends, the bearing housing being received in a receiving structure of the upper body; and further comprising at least one annular seal disposed between an end of the tubular section and an end of the annular section of the upper body.