US 7,555,810 B2
Vacuum cleaner with wand activated conversion valve
Alan T. Pullins, Richmond, Ky. (US); Shannon D. Phegley, Danville, Ky. (US); Donald E. Proffitt, II, Richmond, Ky. (US); and Eric J. Streciwilk, Perryville, Ky. (US)
Assigned to Panasonic Corporation of North America, Secaucus, N.J. (US)
Filed on Mar. 08, 2007, as Appl. No. 11/683,485.
Claims priority of provisional application 60/780212, filed on Mar. 08, 2006.
Prior Publication US 2007/0209142 A1, Sep. 13, 2007
Int. Cl. A47L 9/00 (2006.01)
U.S. Cl. 15—331  [15/334; 15/335] 16 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A floor care apparatus comprising:
a housing including a nozzle assembly including a suction inlet and a canister assembly connected to said nozzle assembly;
a dirt collection vessel carried on said housing;
a suction generator carried on said housing;
a first air flow pathway connecting said suction inlet to said dirt collection vessel and said suction generator;
a wand receiver carried on said housing;
an air flow control valve having a valve body received in said first air flow pathway and an actuator having at least a portion thereof extending into said wand receiver;
a cleaning wand assembly displaceable between a first storage position wherein a first end of said cleaning wand assembly is held in said wand receiver engaging said actuator and opening said valve and a second position wherein said cleaning wand assembly is withdrawn from said wand receiver for cleaning with said cleaning wand assembly thereby disengaging said actuator and closing said valve; and
a second air flow pathway connecting said cleaning wand assembly to said first air flow pathway between said valve body and said dirt collection vessel;
said actuator being characterized by including a plug for sealing and closing an open end of said cleaning wand assembly when said cleaning wand assembly is in said first position.