Patent ID: 7134164

Claim:
A vacuum cleaner nozzle assembly, comprising: a housing; a primary intake opening on a lower side of said housing; means for providing suction to said primary intake opening so as to create a primary airflow that draws dirt and debris into said primary intake opening; at least one auxiliary intake opening located on a side edge of said housing; and an auxiliary suction duct means for supplying suction to said auxiliary intake opening so as to create a secondary airflow that draws dirt and debris into said auxiliary intake opening as said side edge of said nozzle housing is moved along a wall or other obstruction, said auxiliary suction duct means comprising: a generally vertically-extending end segment having said auxiliary intake opening formed at a lower end thereof, for lifting said dirt and debris upwardly away from a floor surface, said vertical end segment of said auxiliary suction duct having a flattened cross section so as to concentrate said secondary airflow and elongate said opening in a generally lengthwise direction parallel to a forward-to-rearward direction of motion of said nozzle assembly; and a leading cutout formed in a first wall, a trailing cutout formed in a second wall, opposite the first wall, both cutouts; formed behind a depending outer lip formed on a third side of said vertically-extending end segment for channeling dirt and debris into said auxiliary intake opening as said nozzle assembly is moved in forward and rearward directions.