Vacuum cleaner with enhanced backstroke pick-up

Abstract

A nozzle assembly that is designed for use on a vacuum cleaner includes a pivotable outlet configured for engagement with a suction tube of the vacuum cleaner and a suction chamber coupled to the pivotable outlet via a pivot axis such that the suction chamber can rotate about the pivot axis. The suction chamber includes a rotatable inlet positioned along a rear-facing edge of the suction chamber. The rotatable inlet is configured to rotate between a first state that allows air to pass through the rotatable inlet and a second state that blocks the passage of air through the rotatable inlet.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A nozzle assembly configured for use on a vacuum cleaner, the nozzle assembly comprising:
 a pivotable outlet configured for engagement with a suction tube of the vacuum cleaner; and   a suction chamber coupled to the pivotable outlet via a pivot axis such that the suction chamber can rotate about the pivot axis, the suction chamber comprising a rotatable inlet positioned along a rear-facing edge of the suction chamber and configured to rotate between a first state that allows air to pass through the rotatable inlet and a second state that blocks the passage of air through the rotatable inlet.   
     
     
         2 . The nozzle assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the suction chamber further comprises an agitator. 
     
     
         3 . The nozzle assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the suction chamber further comprises a suction port arranged such that air passes through the rotatable inlet and into the suction port when the rotatable inlet is in the first state. 
     
     
         4 . The nozzle assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the first state of the rotatable inlet allows air to pass through the rotatable inlet and into the suction port without passing across or through the agitator. 
     
     
         5 . The nozzle assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the rotatable inlet is a first rotatable inlet and the suction chamber further comprises a second rotatable inlet positioned along a forward-facing edge of the suction chamber and configured to rotate between a first state that allows air to pass through the second rotatable inlet and a second state that blocks the passage of air through the second rotatable inlet. 
     
     
         6 . The nozzle assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the first rotatable inlet and the second rotatable inlet are coupled together such that rotating the first rotatable inlet from the first state to the second state simultaneously rotates the second rotatable inlet from the second state to the first state and vice versa. 
     
     
         7 . The nozzle assembly of  claim 6 , wherein the first rotatable inlet is configured to rotate from the first state to the second state and the second rotatable inlet is configured to rotate from the second state to the first state in response to the suction chamber being pushed forward across a surface. 
     
     
         8 . The nozzle assembly of  claim 6 , wherein the first rotatable inlet is configured to rotate from the second state to the first state and the second rotatable inlet is configured to rotate from the first state to the second state in response to the suction chamber being pulled backward across a surface. 
     
     
         9 . The nozzle assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the nozzle assembly further comprises one or more wheels such that the one or more wheels rotate when the suction chamber is moved across a surface. 
     
     
         10 . The nozzle assembly of  claim 9 , further comprising one or more mechanical linkages coupled between the one or more wheels and the rotatable inlet. 
     
     
         11 . The nozzle assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the suction chamber includes one or more angled or sloped walls that taper towards the rotatable inlet. 
     
     
         12 . The nozzle assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the rotatable inlet is coaxially coupled to one or more wheels, such that rotation of the one or more wheels causes the rotatable inlet to rotate between the first state and the second state. 
     
     
         13 . A nozzle assembly configured for use on a vacuum cleaner, comprising:
 a pivotable outlet configured for engagement with a suction tube of the vacuum cleaner; and   a suction chamber coupled to the pivotable outlet via a pivot axis such that the suction chamber can rotate about the pivot axis, the suction chamber comprising:
 a sealing structure positioned along a forward-facing edge of the suction chamber and configured to block or reduce a suction path from the front of the suction chamber; and 
 a rotatable inlet positioned along a rear-facing edge of the suction chamber and configured to rotate between a first state that allows air to pass through the rotatable inlet and a second state that blocks the passage of air through the rotatable inlet. 
   
     
     
         14 . The nozzle assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the suction chamber further comprises an agitator and a suction port arranged such that air passes through the rotatable inlet and into the suction port when the rotatable inlet is in the first state. 
     
     
         15 . The nozzle assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the first state of the rotatable inlet allows air to pass through the rotatable inlet and into the suction port without passing across or through the agitator. 
     
     
         16 . The nozzle assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the rotatable inlet is a first rotatable inlet, and the sealing structure is a second rotatable inlet configured to rotate between a first state that allows air to pass through the second rotatable inlet and a second state that blocks the passage of air through the second rotatable inlet. 
     
     
         17 . The nozzle assembly of  claim 16 , wherein the first rotatable inlet and the second rotatable inlet are coupled together such that rotating the first rotatable inlet from the first state to the second state simultaneously rotates the second rotatable inlet from the second state to the first state and vice versa. 
     
     
         18 . The nozzle assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the sealing structure comprises a roller. 
     
     
         19 . The nozzle assembly of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 one or more wheels such that the one or more wheels rotate when the suction chamber is moved across a surface; and   one or more mechanical linkages coupled between the one or more wheels and the rotatable inlet.   
     
     
         20 . The nozzle assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the suction chamber includes one or more angled or sloped walls that taper towards the rotatable inlet.