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 an electronic/electrical component compartment a bottom plate and an agitator cavity. An agitator drive motor and a printed circuit board are held in the electronic/electrical component compartment. 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 through the electronic/electrical component compartment 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 an electronic/electrical component compartment, a bottom plate and a cavity; 
 (b) at least one electronic/electrical component held in said electronic/electrical component compartment; 
 (c) at least one suction relief inlet provided in said housing above said bottom plate allowing air to be drawn into said electronic/electrical component compartment; and 
 (d) a passageway for directing air from said electronic/electrical component compartment to said agitator cavity adjacent said bottom plate. 
   
     
     
         2 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 1 , further including at least one airflow control valve for controlling a flow of air through each said suction relief inlet. 
     
     
         3 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 2 , wherein said passageway directs air from said electronic/electrical component compartment toward said agitator cavity. 
     
     
         4 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 3 , further including a rotary agitator in said cavity, an agitator drive motor held in said electronic/electrical component compartment and an agitator drive belt extending between said rotary agitator and said agitator drive motor. 
     
     
         5 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 4 , wherein said passageway extends along said agitator drive belt. 
     
     
         6 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 2 , wherein said airflow control valve comprises a flexible and resilient flap covering said suction relief inlet wherein said flap is normally biased into a closed position but is displaced into an open position when said bottom plate seals against an underlying carpet. 
     
     
         7 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 6 , further including 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. 
     
     
         8 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 7 , wherein said agitator cavity shield is transparent and said housing includes a transparent cover over said agitator cavity shield. 
     
     
         9 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 1 , wherein at least one said suction relief inlet is located in a rear wall of said housing and communicates directly with said electronic/electrical component compartment. 
     
     
         10 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 9 , further including at least one airflow control valve for controlling a flow of air through each said suction relief inlet(s). 
     
     
         11 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 10 , wherein said airflow control valve comprises a flexible and resilient flap covering said suction relief inlet wherein said flap is normally biased into a closed position but is displaced into an open position when said bottom plate seals against an underlying carpet. 
     
     
         12 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 11 , further including 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. 
     
     
         13 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 12 , wherein said agitator cavity shield is transparent and said housing includes a transparent cover over said agitator cavity shield. 
     
     
         14 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one electronic/electrical component is selected from a group consisting of (a) an agitator drive motor, (b) a printed circuit board, and (c) an agitator drive motor and a printed circuit board and wherein said at least one electronic/electrical component is cooled by said air being dawn through said suction relief inlet, over said at least one electronic/electrical component and through said passageway to said agitator cavity. 
     
     
         15 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 14 , wherein said vacuum cleaner is a canister vacuum cleaner. 
     
     
         16 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 14 , wherein said vacuum cleaner is an upright vacuum cleaner. 
     
     
         17 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 8 , wherein said at least one electronic/electrical component is selected from a group consisting of (a) an agitator drive motor, (b) a printed circuit board, and (c) an agitator drive motor and a printed circuit board and wherein said at least one electronic/electrical component is cooled by said air being dawn through said suction relief inlet, over said at least one electronic/electrical component and through said passageway to said agitator cavity. 
     
     
         18 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 13 , wherein said at least one electronic/electrical component is selected from a group consisting of (a) an agitator drive motor, (b) a printed circuit board, and (c) an agitator drive motor and a printed circuit board and wherein said at least one electronic/electrical component is cooled by said air being dawn through said suction relief inlet, over said at least one electronic/electrical component and through said passageway to said agitator cavity.