Patent ID: 8595897

Claim:
A vacuum cleaner handle lock assembly comprising: a base adapted to move on a surface being cleaned and having an elongated air inlet facing the surface to be cleaned; a handle having a dirt collection container associated therewith; an air passage joining the air inlet and the dirt collection container; an intermediate member movably connected to the base to provide relative movement between the base and the intermediate member, the intermediate member further being movably connected to the handle to provide relative movement between the handle and the intermediate member; a handle lock comprising a key movably mounted on the intermediate member, a protrusion extending from the base and a detent in the handle, the key and protrusion being positioned such that the key slides against the protrusion to generate a force that biases the key towards the handle as the base is moved relative to the intermediate member towards a parked base position, and wherein the detent is positioned such that the force moves an end of the key into the detent when the handle is positioned relative to the intermediate member in a parked handle position.