Upright vacuum cleaner

Abstract

An upright vacuum cleaner for cleaning a surface includes a base unit, a carriage configured to provide movement of the base unit on the surface and an upper body including a dust collection container therein. A substantially U-shaped elongated receiving structure is recessed into at least one side surface of the upper body and at least a portion of an upper surface of the upper body. The vacuum cleaner includes an air passageway with an interface and a section formed by a hose or an assembly of the hose and a wand, the section being connected downstream of the interface. The section is externally disposed on the upper body with at least the hose being receivable on the receiving structure. The section is disconnectable in a region of the interface so as to enable a vacuuming mode of operation that is independent of the base unit.

1 : An upright vacuum cleaner for cleaning a surface, the upright vacuum cleaner comprising:
 a base unit;   a carriage configured to provide movement of the base unit on the surface;   an upper body having a dust collection container disposed therein, the upper body being supported so as to be at least tiltable relative to the base unit and lockable in a parked position in which the vacuum cleaner has a substantially upright configuration when standing on the surface;   a motor-fan unit configured to provide a partial vacuum at the surface;   a substantially U-shaped elongated receiving structure recessed into at least one side surface of the upper body and at least a portion of an upper surface of the upper body; and   an air passageway including an interface and a section formed by a hose or an assembly of the hose and a wand, the section being connected downstream of the interface, the section being disposed externally on the upper body and at least the hose being receivable by the receiving structure, the section being disconnectable in a region of the interface so as to enable a vacuuming mode of operation that is independent of the base unit.   
   
   
       2 : The upright vacuum cleaner as recited in  claim 1  wherein, in a received position of the hose, the U-shaped receiving structure extends along an entire length of the hose except at a region of transition of the hose to the upper body. 
   
   
       3 : The upright vacuum cleaner as recited in  claim 2  wherein the receiving structure has a cross-section of a quadrant of a circle in the region of transition. 
   
   
       4 : The upright vacuum cleaner as recited in  claim 3  further comprising an elbow swively disposed on the upper body in the region of transition. 
   
   
       5 : The upright vacuum cleaner as recited in  claim 4  further comprising an anti-kink sleeve disposed in the region of transition and configured to receive a section of the hose. 
   
   
       6 : The upright vacuum cleaner as recited in  claim 1  wherein the at least one side surface includes a first and a second side surface and wherein the air passageway section includes the assembly of the hose and the wand, at least a portion of the hose being receivable in the first side surface and the wand being receivable in the second side surface. 
   
   
       7 : The upright vacuum cleaner as recited in  claim 2  wherein the at least one side surface includes a first and a second side surface and wherein the air passageway section includes the assembly of the hose and the wand, at least a portion of the hose being receivable in the first side surface and the wand being receivable in the second side surface. 
   
   
       8 : The upright vacuum cleaner as recited in  claim 3  wherein the at least one side surface includes a first and a second side surface and wherein the air passageway section includes the assembly of the hose and the wand, at least a portion of the hose being receivable in the first side surface and the wand being receivable in the second side surface. 
   
   
       9 : The upright vacuum cleaner as recited in  claim 4  wherein the at least one side surface includes a first and a second side surface and wherein the air passageway section includes the assembly of the hose and the wand, at least a portion of the hose being receivable in the first side surface and the wand being receivable in the second side surface. 
   
   
       10 : The upright vacuum cleaner as recited in  claim 5  wherein the at least one side surface includes a first and a second side surface and wherein the air passageway section includes the assembly of the hose and the wand, at least a portion of the hose being receivable in the first side surface and the wand being receivable in the second side surface. 
   
   
       11 : The upright vacuum cleaner as recited in  claim 6  wherein the wand includes a telescoping wand. 
   
   
       12 : The upright vacuum cleaner as recited in  claim 6  wherein the air passageway section includes a wand handle disposed between the wand and the hose. 
   
   
       13 : The upright vacuum cleaner as recited in  claim 11  wherein the air passageway section includes a wand handle disposed between the wand and the hose. 
   
   
       14 : The upright vacuum cleaner as recited in  claim 1  wherein the hose includes a flexible hose that is extensible in length. 
   
   
       15 : The upright vacuum cleaner as recited in  claim 2  wherein the hose includes a flexible hose that is extensible in length. 
   
   
       16 : The upright vacuum cleaner as recited in  claim 3  wherein the hose includes a flexible hose that is extensible in length. 
   
   
       17 : The upright vacuum cleaner as recited in  claim 4  wherein the hose includes a flexible hose that is extensible in length. 
   
   
       18 : The upright vacuum cleaner as recited in  claim 5  wherein the hose includes a flexible hose that is extensible in length. 
   
   
       19 : The upright vacuum cleaner as recited in  claim 1  wherein an end of the air passageway section adjacent to the interface is configured to receive vacuum attachments. 
   
   
       20 : The upright vacuum cleaner as recited in  claim 19  wherein a rear wall of the upper body is configured to secure the vacuum attachments thereto.