Vacuum cleaner base assembly

Abstract

A vacuum cleaner having a handle having a handle pivot axis, a carriage pivotally connected to the handle to rotate about the handle pivot axis, and an inlet nozzle assembly pivotally connected to the handle to rotate about the handle pivot axis independently of the carriage. The carriage has a front support and a rear support spaced from the front support in a fore-aft direction, and the handle pivot axis is located between the front support and the rear support with respect to the fore-aft direction. A suction inlet is on a bottom face of the inlet nozzle, a suction source is operatively associated with the handle, a dirt collection device is operatively associated with the handle, and there is an air passage system fluidly connecting the suction inlet, the suction source and the dirt collection device.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A vacuum cleaner comprising:
 a handle having a handle pivot axis;   a carriage pivotally connected to the handle to rotate about the handle pivot axis, the carriage having a front support and a rear support spaced from the front support in a fore-aft direction, and wherein the handle pivot axis is located between the front support and the rear support with respect to the fore-aft direction;   an inlet nozzle assembly pivotally connected to the handle to rotate about the handle pivot axis independently of the carriage;   a suction inlet on a bottom face of the inlet nozzle;   a suction source operatively associated with the handle;   a dirt collection device operatively associated with the handle; and   an air passage system fluidly connecting the suction inlet, the suction source and the dirt collection device.   
     
     
         2 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 1 , wherein the front support comprises a pair of front wheels. 
     
     
         3 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 1 , wherein the rear support comprises a pair of rear wheels. 
     
     
         4 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 1 , wherein the inlet nozzle assembly comprises a pair of laterally spaced mounting bosses, each mounting boss comprising a handle connection rotatably joining the inlet nozzle assembly to a respective side of the handle. 
     
     
         5 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 4 , wherein each handle connection comprises a shaft that surrounds a respective boss extending from the handle. 
     
     
         6 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 4 , wherein each mounting boss further comprises a carriage connection rotatably joining the inlet nozzle assembly to a respective side of the carriage. 
     
     
         7 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 6 , wherein each carriage connection comprises a shaft that is surrounded by a respective mounting ring on the carriage. 
     
     
         8 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 1 , wherein the carriage comprises a pair of laterally spaced mounting rings, each mounting ring being rotatably connected to a respective handle mounting boss on the handle. 
     
     
         9 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 1 , wherein the inlet nozzle assembly comprises a first pivot connection joining the inlet nozzle assembly to a first lateral side of the handle, and a second pivot connection joining the inlet nozzle assembly to a second lateral side of the handle, and wherein the first pivot comprises an air communication passage fluidly connecting a first air passage located inside the base to a second air passage located inside the handle. 
     
     
         10 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 9 , wherein the second base pivot comprises a motor shaft opening, and the base comprises a motor shaft extending through the motor shaft opening. 
     
     
         11 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 1 , further comprising a spring operatively connecting the carriage to the inlet nozzle assembly and configured to permit the inlet nozzle assembly to rotate about the handle pivot axis independently of the carriage upon application of a predetermined force for deform the spring. 
     
     
         12 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 11 , wherein a front edge of the inlet nozzle assembly is located a first distance from the handle pivot axis and the spring is operatively connected to the inlet nozzle assembly at a second distance from the handle pivot axis, and the ratio of the first distance to the second distance is 1.5:1. 
     
     
         13 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 11 , wherein the spring is configured to provide a lifting force requirement of 2.5 to 6.5 pounds per inch. 
     
     
         14 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 11 , wherein the spring is configured to provide a lifting force requirement of 3.5 to 5.5 pounds per inch. 
     
     
         15 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 11 , wherein the spring is configured to provide a lifting force requirement of 4.5 pounds per inch. 
     
     
         16 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 1 , further comprising a height adjustment assembly configured to displace the inlet nozzle assembly relative to the carriage. 
     
     
         17 . A vacuum cleaner comprising:
 a handle having a handle pivot axis;   a carriage pivotally connected to the handle to rotate about the handle pivot axis, the carriage having at least one front wheel and at least two rear wheels spaced from the front wheel in a fore-aft direction, and wherein the handle pivot axis is located between the front wheel and the rear wheels with respect to the fore-aft direction;   an inlet nozzle assembly pivotally connected to the handle to rotate independently of the carriage;   a suction inlet on a bottom face of the inlet nozzle;   a suction source operatively associated with the handle;   a dirt collection device operatively associated with the handle; and   an air passage system fluidly connecting the suction inlet, the suction source and the dirt collection device.   
     
     
         18 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 17 , wherein the inlet nozzle assembly is pivotally connected to the handle to rotate about the handle pivot axis. 
     
     
         19 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 17 , wherein the inlet nozzle assembly and the handle comprise interacting rotating parts. 
     
     
         20 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 19 , wherein the interacting rotating parts comprise a pair of laterally spaced bosses and a pair of laterally spaced shafts, each shaft surrounding a respective boss. 
     
     
         21 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 17 , wherein the inlet nozzle assembly and the carriage comprise interacting rotating parts.