Vacuum cleaner equipped with suction relief nozzle assembly

Abstract

A vacuum cleaner includes a body having a canister assembly and a nozzle assembly. A suction generator and dirt collection vessel are carried on the body. Further the nozzle assembly includes a housing including a bottom plate and an agitator cavity. A rotary agitator is held in the agitator cavity. A suction relief inlet is provided in the housing above the bottom plate. A passageway is also provided for directing air from the suction relief inlet to the agitator cavity adjacent the bottom plate.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A vacuum cleaner, comprising:
 a body including a canister assembly and a nozzle assembly;   a suction generator carried on said body; and   a dirt collection vessel carried on said body;   said nozzle assembly including;
 (a) a housing including a bottom plate and a suction cavity; 
 (b) a suction relief inlet provided in said housing above said bottom plate; and 
 (c) a passageway for directing air from said suction relief inlet to said suction cavity adjacent said bottom plate. 
   
     
     
         2 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 1 , further including an airflow control valve for controlling a flow of air through said suction relief inlet. 
     
     
         3 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 2 , wherein said passageway directs air from said suction relief inlet toward opposing ends of said suction cavity. 
     
     
         4 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 2 , wherein said suction relief inlet comprises a right side inlet on a right side of said housing and a left side inlet on a left side of said housing. 
     
     
         5 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 4 , wherein said airflow control valve comprises a first flexible and resilient flap covering said right side inlet and a second flexible and resilient flap covering said left side inlet wherein said first and second flaps are normally biased into a closed position but are displaced into an open position when said bottom plate seals against an underlying carpet. 
     
     
         6 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 5 , wherein said suction cavity comprises an agitator cavity and said vacuum cleaner further includes (a) a rotary agitator disposed in said agitator cavity and (b) an agitator cavity shield between said housing and said agitator, said passageway being formed between an outer surface of said agitator cavity shield and an inner surface of said housing. 
     
     
         7 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 6 , wherein said agitator cavity shield includes a first recess at a right end and a second recess at a left end to direct airflow from said suction relief inlet toward right and left ends of said agitator cavity. 
     
     
         8 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 7 , further including an airflow blocking rib between said agitator cavity shield and said cover for directing air from said suction relief inlet toward said right and left ends of said agitator cavity. 
     
     
         9 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 7 , further including an air diversion channel adjacent a lowermost and forwardmost edge of said agitator cavity shield for directing air from said suction relief inlet toward said right and left ends of said agitator cavity. 
     
     
         10 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 9 , wherein said air diversion channel extends between said first recess and said second recess. 
     
     
         11 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 10 , wherein said agitator cavity shield is tapered at a forward edge at said right and left ends so as to form a split discharge outlet of said passageway adjacent each end of said agitator cavity immediately above said bottom plate whereby air from said suction relief inlet passes through said passageway and is discharged from said split discharge outlet adjacent left and right ends of said agitator cavity so that said air sweeps across an entire width of said agitator cavity toward a centerline of said nozzle assembly to provide enhanced cleaning action. 
     
     
         12 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 11 , wherein said agitator cavity shield is transparent and said housing includes a transparent cover over said agitator cavity shield. 
     
     
         13 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 6 , wherein said agitator cavity shield includes a right end channel and a left end channel for directing air from said suction relief inlet toward opposed ends of said agitator in said agitator cavity. 
     
     
         14 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 1 , wherein said passageway directs air from said suction relief inlet toward opposing ends of said suction cavity. 
     
     
         15 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 1 , wherein said suction relief inlet comprises a right side inlet on a right side of said housing and a left side inlet on a left side of said housing. 
     
     
         16 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 2 , wherein said airflow control valve comprises a first flexible and resilient flap covering said right side inlet and a second flexible and resilient flap covering said left side inlet wherein said first and second flaps are normally biased into a closed position but are displaced into an open position when said bottom plate seals against an underlying carpet. 
     
     
         17 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 16 , wherein said suction cavity comprises an agitator cavity and said vacuum cleaner further includes (a) a rotary agitator disposed in said agitator cavity and (b) an agitator cavity shield between said housing and said agitator, said passageway being formed between an outer surface of said agitator cavity shield and an inner surface of said housing. 
     
     
         18 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 17 , wherein said agitator cavity shield includes a first recess at a right end and a second recess at a left end to direct airflow from said suction relief inlet toward right and left ends of said agitator cavity. 
     
     
         19 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 1 , wherein said vacuum cleaner is a canister vacuum cleaner. 
     
     
         20 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 1 , wherein said vacuum cleaner is an upright vacuum cleaner.