Efficient lightweight vacuum

Abstract

A vacuum cleaner including a base having an agitator housing including an air outlet. The base further includes a volute including a volute air inlet disposed substantially parallel to the agitator housing and a volute air outlet disposed substantially orthogonal to the agitator housing. An air duct connects the volute air inlet and the air outlet of the agitator housing and the air outlet of the agitator housing and the volute air outlet are substantially collinear.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A vacuum cleaner comprising:
 a base including,
 an agitator housing including an air outlet, 
 a volute including,
 a volute air inlet disposed substantially parallel to the agitator housing, and 
 a volute air outlet disposed substantially orthogonal to the agitator housing, and 
 
 an air duct connecting the volute air inlet and the air outlet of the agitator housing, 
   wherein the air outlet of the agitator housing and the volute air outlet are substantially collinear.   
     
     
         2 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 1 , wherein a center of the volute air outlet and a center of the air outlet of the agitator housing are substantially collinear. 
     
     
         3 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 1 , wherein the air duct flairs as the air duct approaches the agitator housing. 
     
     
         4 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 1 , further comprising anti-ingestion bars disposed on an air inlet of the agitator housing. 
     
     
         5 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 1 , further comprising an impeller disposed within the volute and driven by a motor. 
     
     
         6 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 1 , wherein a first flow path extends through the air outlet of the agitator housing in a first direction, wherein a second flow path extends through the volute air inlet in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction. 
     
     
         7 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 6 , wherein a third flow path extends through the volute air outlet in a third direction substantially perpendicular to at least one of the first direction and the second direction. 
     
     
         8 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 7 , wherein the third flow path is substantially perpendicular to the first direction and substantially perpendicular to the second direction. 
     
     
         9 . A vacuum cleaner comprising:
 a base including
 an agitator housing including an air outlet, 
 a volute including a volute air inlet and a volute air outlet, and 
 an air duct connecting the volute air inlet and the air outlet of the agitator housing, and 
   a handle coupled to the base and configured to be gripped by a user to move the base along a surface,   wherein a first flow path extends through the air outlet of agitator housing in a first direction and a second flow path extends through the volute air inlet in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction.   
     
     
         10 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 9 , wherein a third flow path extends through the volute air outlet in a third direction substantially perpendicular to at least one of the first direction and the second direction. 
     
     
         11 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 9 , wherein the volute air inlet is disposed substantially parallel to the agitator housing. 
     
     
         12 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 11 , wherein the volute air outlet is disposed substantially perpendicular to the agitator housing. 
     
     
         13 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 12 , wherein the air outlet of the agitator housing and the volute air outlet are substantially collinear. 
     
     
         14 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 9 , wherein the volute air outlet is disposed substantially perpendicular to the agitator housing. 
     
     
         15 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 9 , wherein the air outlet of the agitator housing and the volute air outlet are substantially collinear. 
     
     
         16 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 9 , wherein the handle is pivotally coupled to the base, and wherein a dust collection assembly is coupled to the handle for pivotal movement relative to the base. 
     
     
         17 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 16 , wherein the handle includes a dirty air tube that provides fluid communication between the volute and the dust collection assembly. 
     
     
         18 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 9 , wherein the base includes an impeller disposed within the volute and a motor that rotates the impeller, the impeller operable to generate a suction airflow. 
     
     
         19 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 18 , further comprising a dust collection assembly, wherein the suction airflow travels through the impeller and the volute before traveling through the dust collection assembly. 
     
     
         20 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 18 , wherein the base includes a wheel and a wheel mount, and wherein the motor is at least partially located within the wheel mount.