Vacuum Cleaner Valve

Abstract

A vacuum cleaner having a base adapted for movement on a surface to be cleaned, a rear housing pivotally attached at a first end to the base, a vacuum source, a dirt collection container, and a handle attached to a second end of the rear housing. The handle has a grip structure having a substantially circular opening through it. The opening is adapted to receive a hand of a user for use in directing the vacuum cleaner.

1 . A vacuum cleaner comprising:
 a base adapted for movement on a surface to be cleaned;   a rear housing pivotally attached to the base;   a dirt collection container having an inlet and an outlet;   a vacuum source fluidly connected to the dirt collection container outlet and adapted to generate a working airflow from the dirt collection container to the vacuum source;   a valve having a valve outlet, the valve outlet being fluidly connected to the dirt collection chamber inlet by a valve outlet passage;   a first dirty air inlet located in the base and positioned to face the surface to be cleaned, the first dirty air inlet being fluidly connected to a valve by a first dirty air conduit;   a second dirty air inlet attached to the vacuum cleaner and fluidly connected to the valve by a second dirty air conduit; and   wherein the valve comprises a movable member adapted to selectively connect the first dirty air conduit and the second dirty air conduit to the valve outlet passage.   
   
   
       2 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the second dirty air conduit comprises a flexible hose.