Vacuum Cleaner

Abstract

An upright vacuum cleaner comprises a floor-engaging head portion 11 having a dirty air inlet 12, an upright body portion 10 pivotably mounted to the floor-engaging head portion 11 for movement between parked and in-use positions, an agitator 13 rotatably mounted across the dirty air inlet 12, a motor for driving the agitator via motor shaft 14, a pulley assembly 15 pivotably mounted for rotation between first and second positions about an axis which extends parallel to the axes of rotation of the agitator 13 and motor shaft 14, the assembly 15 including an idler pulley 16 connected to the motor shaft 14 by a first drive belt 18 and to the agitator 13 by a second drive belt 19, the idler pulley 16 being mounted for rotation about an axis which is offset from the axis of rotation of the assembly 15 , and an externally-operable foot pedal 30. In use, the pulley assembly 15 is pivoted into the second position by a rotary member 22 to disconnect the drive between the motor shaft 14 and the agitator 13 when the upright body portion 10 is in its parked position or when the externally-operable foot pedal 30 is operated.

1 . A vacuum cleaner comprising:
 a floor-engaging head portion having a dirty air inlet;   an upright body portion pivotably mounted to the floor-engaging head portion for movement between parked and in-use positions;   an agitator rotatably mounted across the dirty air inlet;   a motor for driving the agitator;   a pulley assembly pivotably mounted for rotation between first and second positions about an axis which extends parallel to the axes of rotation of the agitator and motor, the assembly including an idler pulley connected to the motor by a first drive belt and to the agitator by a second drive belt, the idler pulley being mounted for rotation about an axis which is offset from the axis of rotation of the assembly, and   an externally-operable actuator, wherein the pulley assembly is pivotable into said second position to disconnect the drive between the motor and the agitator in when the upright body portion is in said parked position or when said externally-operable actuator is operated.   
   
   
       2 . A vacuum cleaner as claimed in  claim 1 , in which the drive between the motor and the agitator is disconnected by pivoting the pulley assembly into said second position, such that the axis of rotation of the pulley moves away from the motor and towards the agitator to slacken said second belt, said first belt being resiliently extendable. 
   
   
       3 . A vacuum cleaner as claimed in  claim 2 , in which displacement means acts on the assembly to move the latter into said second position. 
   
   
       4 . A vacuum cleaner as claimed in  claim 3 , in which the assembly is arranged to return to said first position under the applied bias of said first belt. 
   
   
       5 . A vacuum cleaner as claimed in  claim 3 , in which said displacement means is pivotably mounted to the floor-engaging head portion and is arranged to be rotationally driven by said upright body portion or said actuator to disconnect the drive between the motor and the agitator. 
   
   
       6 . A vacuum cleaner as claimed in  claim 5 , in which said displacement means is geared to an operating gear rotationally coupled to said upright body portion. 
   
   
       7 . A vacuum cleaner as claimed in  claim 6 , in which the operating gear is rotationally coupled by a coupling arranged to permit the upright body portion to pivot independently of the operating gear when said externally-operable actuator is operated. 
   
   
       8 . A vacuum cleaner as claimed in  claim 6 , in which the operating gear is rotationally coupled to the displacement means via an intermediate gear. 
   
   
       9 . A vacuum cleaner as claimed in  claim 3 , in which the externally-operable actuator acts directly the displacement means. 
   
   
       10 . A vacuum cleaner as claimed in  claim 6 , in which the actuator comprises an portion for engagement by the user and an operating portion which acts on said displacement means, said engagement portion being biassed away from the operating portion into a rest position, said operating portion being moveable by said engagement portion and being lockable in position by a toggle mechanism when said engagement portion returns to said rest position under the applied bias.