VACUUM CLEANER AND SUCTION WAND THEREFOR

Abstract

An upright vacuum cleaner has a handle by which it can be manoeuvred across a floor in a floor cleaning mode, the handle being part of a releasable suction wand which can be used in an above-floor cleaning mode. The suction wand has a first section which comprises the handle, a second section, and a third section which comprises a suction nozzle. The first section is movable relative to the second section between floor cleaning and above-floor cleaning positions. The third section is extendable and retractable relative to the second section. The suction wand has a linkage which is configured to couple movement of the first section towards one of said positions, and extension or retraction of the third section.

Claims

1. An upright vacuum cleaner that has a handle by which it can be manoeuvred across a floor in a floor cleaning mode, the handle being part of a releasable suction wand which can be used in an above-floor cleaning mode, wherein: the suction wand has a first section which comprises the handle, a second section, and a third section which comprises a suction nozzle; the first section is movable relative to the second section between a floor cleaning position and an above-floor cleaning position; the third section is extendable and retractable relative to the second section; and the suction wand has a linkage that is configured to couple movement of the first section towards one of the floor cleaning and above-floor cleaning positions and extension or retraction of the third section.

2. The upright vacuum cleaner of claim 1, wherein the linkage is configured to couple movement of the first section towards the above-floor cleaning position, and extension of the third section.

3. The upright vacuum cleaner of claim 1, wherein the linkage is configured to couple movement of the first section towards the floor cleaning position, and retraction of the third section.

4. The upright vacuum cleaner of claim 1, wherein the linkage is configured both to translate movement of the first section towards one of said positions into extension or retraction of the third section, and to translate extension or retraction of the third section into movement of the first section towards one of said positions.

5. The upright vacuum cleaner of claim 1, wherein the linkage is configured such that the third section can be both extended and retracted by moving the first section between said positions in both directions, or such that the first section can be moved between said positions in both directions by both extending and retracting the third section.

6. The upright vacuum cleaner of claim 1, wherein with the first section in the above-floor cleaning position, the handle is positioned to be grasped by a user to manipulate the wand in the above-floor cleaning mode.

7. The upright vacuum cleaner of claim 1, wherein the second section is releasably attachable to a main body of the vacuum cleaner, and while attached thereto is movable relative to the main body between extended and retracted positions.

8. The upright vacuum cleaner of claim 1, wherein the linkage comprises an elongate flexible member which runs between the first and third sections, around a pulley point on the second section.

9. The upright vacuum cleaner of claim 8, wherein the elongate flexible member is arranged in a loop which has a first portion that runs from the first section to the third section around said pulley point, and a second portion which runs from the first portion to the third portion around an additional pulley point.

10. The upright vacuum cleaner of claim 1, wherein the second section is elongate and defines first and second ends.

11. The upright vacuum cleaner of claim 10, wherein the floor cleaning position of the first section is a location nearer to the first end of the second section than the second end, and the above-floor cleaning position of the first section is a location nearer to the second end than the first end.

12. The upright vacuum cleaner of claim 10, further comprising a main body with a mounting point for a cleaner head, wherein the suction wand is releasably attachable to the main body in a position in which the first end of the second section projects away from the mounting point for the cleaner head.

13. The upright vacuum cleaner of claim 1, wherein the first, second and third sections of the wand are arranged telescopically with respect to one another.

14. A suction wand for an upright vacuum cleaner, the suction wand being configured for using in an above-floor cleaning mode and a floor cleaning mode and comprising: a first section that comprises a handle for maneuvering the upright vacuum cleaner across a floor in the floor cleaning mode, a second section, and a third section that comprises a suction nozzle, wherein the first section is movable relative to the second section between a floor cleaning position and an above-floor cleaning position, the third section is extendable and retractable relative to the second section, and the suction wand has a linkage that is configured to couple movement of the first section towards one of the floor cleaning and above-floor cleaning positions and extension or retraction of the third section.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0070] Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0071] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an upright vacuum cleaner according to a first embodiment of the invention, in a storage mode;

[0072] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the vacuum cleaner of FIG. 1 in an above-floor cleaning mode;

[0073] FIG. 3 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a suction wand of the vacuum cleaner of FIGS. 1 and 2;

[0074] FIG. 4 is a lateral cross-sectional view of the suction wand of the vacuum cleaner, in the position shown in FIG. 1;

[0075] FIG. 5 is a lateral cross-sectional view of the suction wand of the vacuum cleaner, in the position shown in FIG. 2;

[0076] FIG. 6 is a lateral cross-sectional view of second and third sections of the suction wand, and a linkage of the suction wand;

[0077] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the vacuum cleaner of FIGS. 1 and 3, with the suction wand in a retracted position;

[0078] FIG. 8 is a lateral cross-sectional view of the suction wand, in the position shown in FIG. 7;

[0079] FIGS. 9A and 9B are schematic side views of part of an upright vacuum cleaner according to another embodiment of the invention; and

[0080] FIGS. 10A and 10B are schematic side views of part of an upright vacuum cleaner according to a further embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0081] FIG. 1 shows an upright vacuum cleaner 2 according to a first embodiment of the invention. Like a standard upright vacuum cleaner, the vacuum cleaner 2 of this embodiment has a rolling support assembly 4, an upright body formed in this case from a generally upright spine 6 and a dust separator 8 mounted to the spine, and a cleaner head 10. In this embodiment rolling support assembly 4 comprises a pair of domed wheels 12, and between the wheels is provided a mounting point 14 for the cleaner head 10. Further, in this particular embodiment a suction generator (not visible), which has a motor and fan and is arranged to draw air into the dust separator 8, is provided inside the rolling assembly 4 in the space between the wheels 12. The rolling support assembly 4 is positioned to support at least a portion of the weight of the vacuum cleaner 2 when in a floor cleaning mode, as discussed in more detail below. FIG. 1 shows the vacuum cleaner 2 in a storage mode, where the weight of the machine is taken by the cleaner head 10 and a movable stand 15, and the wheels 12 are lifted slightly above the ground.

[0082] In this particular embodiment the dust separator 8 is a multi-stage cyclonic separator of generally conventional design, which has a first cyclone stage comprising a single cyclone chamber 16a, a second cyclone stage comprising a plurality of smaller cyclone chambers 16b arranged in parallel, and a filter (not visible). In other embodiments, however, the dust separator may take any other suitable form.

[0083] The cleaner head 10 of the vacuum cleaner 2 of this embodiment has a generally conventional design, and will not be described in detail. In this case the cleaner head 10 is releasably mounted on the mounting point 14, enabling the cleaner head to be removed for storage or so that it can be repaired or replaced. The cleaner head 10 is connectable to the dust separator 8, via a changeover valve 20 which will be discussed in more detail below, so that the suction generator (not visible) can draw dirty air into the vacuum cleaner 2 through the cleaner head 16 and into the dust separator 8.

[0084] The vacuum cleaner 2 also has a suction wand 22 which in this case is releasably attachable to the spine 6. In this embodiment, the suction wand 22 is substantially rigid. The skilled person will understand that there are numerous ways of releasably attaching a suction wand 22 to a spine 6 (or indeed to a different component of the vacuum cleaner), for instance using interlocking lugs or ribs, an interference fit between an end of the wand and a complementary aperture, or a manually-operable release catch. The particular mechanism employed here is not of significance to the present invention and therefore will not be described in detail. The wand 22 has a handle 23 by which the vacuum cleaner 2 can be manoeuvred, as discussed in more detail below.

[0085] The body to which the suction wand 22 is releasably attachable is referred to herein as the ‘main body’ 24. In this particular case, the main body 24 comprises the spine 6, the rolling support assembly 4 (and thus the suction generator contained therein), dust separator 8, stand 15 and changeover valve 20. It should be noted, however, that in other cases the main body may be considered to include the cleaner head 10 and/or exclude one or more of the above components (such as the dust separator 8, which is removable for emptying in a known fashion).

[0086] In this embodiment, whether the suction wand 22 is attached to the spine 6 or not, the suction wand is connected to the dust separator 8 (via the changeover valve 20) by a flexible hose 26. In this case, the hose 26 can be stretched along its axis to extend it, allowing the suction wand 22 to move further away from the main body 24. The hose 26 of this embodiment if of generally conventional type, having membrane wall with a helical reinforcing wire embedded therein.

[0087] As noted above, FIG. 1 shows the vacuum cleaner 2 of this embodiment in a storage mode. The vacuum cleaner 2 also has a floor cleaning mode and an above-floor cleaning mode. In this particular embodiment, to enter the floor cleaning mode from the storage mode, the wand 22 and spine 6 (and thus also the dust separator 8) are reclined relative to the cleaner head 10 (i.e. tilted clockwise from the perspective of FIG. 1). This disengages the stand 15, which rotates anticlockwise towards the changeover valve 20 and brings the wheels 12 of the rolling support assembly 4 into contact with the ground. In this particular case the rolling support assembly 4 takes the majority of the weight of the vacuum cleaner 2, and the cleaner head 10 rests on the floor under only its own weight. In other embodiments, however, the cleaner head 10 may be arranged to bear some, most or even all of the weight of the other components of the vacuum cleaner 2.

[0088] With the spine 6, dust separator 8 and wand 22 in this reclined position, the changeover valve is positioned to connect the cleaner head 10 to the dust separator 8. In this case, the changeover valve 20 is moved to this position automatically upon reclining of the spine 6, in conventional fashion, however in other cases it may be operated differently (for instance it may be manually operated). The suction generator (not visible) can therefore draw air up into the cleaner head 10, entraining dust and debris from the surface on which the cleaner head 10 is resting, and then into the dust separator 8. To use the vacuum cleaner 2 in this floor cleaning mode, the user grasps the handle 23 of the suction wand 22 and uses it to manoeuvre the vacuum cleaner 2 over the floor (in this case supported by the rolling support assembly 4) so that the cleaner head 10 can pick up dust and debris from different regions thereof.

[0089] To enter the above-floor cleaning mode, the user detaches the suction wand 22 from the main body 24 (in this case after having returned the spine 6 to the upright position and re-engaged the stand 15, if moving to the above-floor cleaning mode from the floor cleaning mode). Also, the changeover valve 20 is positioned so that the wand 22 and hose 26, rather than the cleaner head 10, is in communication with the dust separator 8. In this case the changeover valve 20 automatically moved to this position whenever the stand 15 is deployed, but again in other embodiments which have a changeover valve a different mechanism may be provided.

[0090] FIG. 2 shows the vacuum cleaner 2 of this embodiment in the above-floor cleaning mode. After entering this mode, the suction wand 22 can be held by the handle 23 and directed into areas of a room above the floor, for instance onto furniture or into corners of the ceiling, while the main body 24 remains stationary. The suction generator (not visible) draws air into the wand through a suction nozzle 28, through the hose 26 and changeover valve 20, and into the dust separator 8.

[0091] It will be apparent from FIGS. 1 and 2 that the configuration of the suction wand 22 varies between the floor cleaning and above-floor cleaning modes. In particular, the wand is longer when in the above-floor cleaning mode than when in the floor cleaning mode, and the handle is in a different position. These differences will be discussed in more detail below, with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.

[0092] The suction wand 22 has three sections, a first section 30 which comprises the handle 23, a second section 32, and a third section 34 which comprises the suction nozzle 28. The first section 30, and thus the handle 23, is movable relative to the second section 32 between a floor cleaning position and an above-floor cleaning position (the two positions shown in FIGS. 1 and 2), and the third section is extendable and retractable (i.e. is movable between retracted and extended positions, the two positions shown in FIGS. 1 and 2). In this embodiment the first and third sections 30, 34 are each slidably mounted relative to the second section 32, however in other embodiments one or both sections 30, 34 may be mounted to the second section 32 so as to be movable relative to it through a different type of motion, such as pivoting movement or non-sliding relative translation.

[0093] In this particular case, with the vacuum cleaner 2 in the floor cleaning mode the first section 30 is in the floor cleaning position and the third section 34 is in the retracted position, and with the vacuum cleaner 2 in the above-floor cleaning mode the first section 30 is in the above-floor cleaning position and the third section is in the extended position. With the first section 30 in the floor cleaning position the handle 23 is positioned at a convenient location for a user to manoeuvre the vacuum cleaner over a floor in the floor cleaning mode. With the first section 30 in the above-floor cleaning position the handle 23 is positioned at a convenient location for a user to manoeuvre the suction wand 22 to vacuum above the floor. FIG. 1 shows the first section 30 in the floor cleaning position and the third section 34 in the retracted position, and FIG. 2 shows the first section 30 in the above-floor cleaning position and the third section 34 in the extended position. It should be noted that in FIG. 1 only a nozzle structure 36 of the third section 34, on which the suction nozzle 28 is provided, is visible in FIG. 1. The third section 34 being retracted when the vacuum cleaner 2 is in the floor cleaning mode can improve the manoeuvrability of the vacuum cleaner, and the third section being extended when the vacuum cleaner is in the above-floor cleaning mode can increase the reach of the suction wand 22, as discussed in more detail below.

[0094] As shown more clearly in FIG. 2, the second section 32 of the suction wand 22 is elongate, defining a first end 38 and a second end 40. As also shown in this figure, when the suction wand 22 is attached to the main body 24, it is positioned so that its first end 38 projects generally away from the mounting point 14 of the cleaner head 10 (and thus projects away from the cleaner head when this is mounted to the mounting point). In this particular embodiment, when the vacuum cleaner 2 is in the storage mode (and the suction wand 22 is attached to the main body 24) the suction wand is positioned generally upright with its first end 38 uppermost.

[0095] The first, second and third sections 30, 32, 34 of the suction wand 22 of this embodiment are arranged telescopically with respect to one another in that the three sections are ‘nested’ partially or fully within one another. In this case, the third section 30 is positioned radially outwards of the second section 32 (relative to the longitudinal axis of the second section), and the third 34 section is positioned radially inwards of the second section 32. However, the nozzle structure 36 of the third section is radially enlarged and extends radially beyond the second section (in a manner similar to how the eye-piece of a collapsible telescope projects outwards beyond the adjacent segment).

[0096] A cross-section of the suction wand, at position ‘A’ in FIG. 1, is shown in FIG. 3. From this figure it can be seen that both the second and third sections 32, 34 are hollow in cross section, having a central void 42. They are therefore both generally tubular in shape (as is the first section 30 if one discounts the handle 23, but this is not visible in FIG. 3). In the above-floor cleaning mode of the vacuum cleaner 2, the central voids 42 of the three sections co-operatively provides a path by which dirty air entering the suction nozzle 28 can pass along the wand 22 and into the hose 26.

[0097] As is also shown in FIG. 3, the second and third sections 32, 34 are generally D-shaped in cross section, each having a generally flat wall 44 and an arcuate wall 46. In this case the arcuate wall 46 of each section 32, 34 takes the form of a major sector of a hollow cylinder. This non-circular shape provides a high inner volume for air to flow, while being non-circular so that relative rotation of the sections 32, 34 is limited. The first section 30 has a generally D-shaped aperture (not shown), which receives the second section 32, for the same reasons.

[0098] FIG. 3 also shows an additional tube 48, positioned radially inward of the third section 34. This tube 48 is fixed relative to the second section, and increases the structural support offered to the third section 34 (since the second section 32 supports the third section from the outside, and the tube 48 supports it from the inside). The tube 48 also improves the sealing between the second and third sections 32, 34, so less air outside the wand 22 can be sucked into the wand between these sections (which would reduce the flow rate of air drawn into the wand through the suction nozzle, thereby reducing dust entrainment and thus cleaning performance).

[0099] In this particular embodiment, the floor cleaning position of the first section 30 is located at the first end 38 of the second section 32, and the above-floor cleaning position of the first section is located at the second end 40 of the second section. Further, in this embodiment the third section 34 extends and retracts with respect to the first end 38 of the second section 32.

[0100] As will be apparent from FIGS. 1 and 2, changing the vacuum cleaner 2 between modes involves moving both the first section 30 and the third section 34 relative to the second section 32. In this particular case, changing from the floor cleaning mode to the above-floor cleaning mode involves moving the first section 30 to the above-floor cleaning position by moving it from the first end 38 of the second section 32 to the second end 40, and extending the third section 34. Similarly, in this case changing from the above-floor cleaning mode to the floor cleaning mode involves moving the first section 30 to the floor cleaning position by moving it from the second end 40 of the second section 32 to the first end 38, and retracting the third section 34.

[0101] In the present invention, movement of the first section 30 towards one of the floor cleaning and above-floor cleaning positions, and extension or retraction of the third section 34, is coupled by a linkage. This will be discussed in more detail below with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5, which show cross sections of the suction wand 22 with the vacuum cleaner 2 in the floor cleaning and above-floor cleaning positions respectively, and FIG. 6 which shows the two ends of the second section 32 in more detail but does not show the first section 30.

[0102] The linkage 50 of this embodiment comprises an elongate flexible member 52, which in this embodiment takes the form of a woven polymer belt in a continuous loop, and two pulley points 54a, 54b provided on the second section 32. In this embodiment, the elongate flexible member 52 has a first portion 56a which runs between mounting points 57, 59 on the first and third sections 30, 34 respectively, around one of the pulley points 54a. It also has and a second portion 56b which runs between the mounting points 57, 59 of first and third sections 30, 34 around the other of the pulley points 54b. In this case, each of the pulley points 54a, 54b takes the form of a plain axle formed by a pin 58a, 58b embedded in the second section 32, transverse to the longitudinal axis of the second section (which is vertical in FIGS. 4 to 6), so as to form an edge of an aperture 60a, 60b through which the associated portion 56a, 56b of the elongate flexible member 52 passes. As shown most clearly in FIGS. 3 and 6, the belt 52 runs along the second section 32, both on its outside and on its inside, between the pivot points 54b. In this case the belt 52 is provided on (and in this case runs through) the flat wall 44 of the second section.

[0103] As outlined below, the linkage 50 of this embodiment couples movement of the first and third sections 30, 34 in several different (mutually complementary) ways. In other embodiments, however, the linkage may couple movement of these sections in only one or some of the ways discussed below, and/or in one or more different ways which are not discussed in relation to this embodiment.

[0104] In the present embodiment, the linkage 50 is configured to couple movement of the first section 30 towards the above-floor cleaning position, and extension of the third section 34. In other words, extending the third section 34 (for instance by hand) results in movement of the first section 30 towards the above-floor cleaning position, or moving the first section 30 towards the above-floor cleaning position results in extension of the third section 34. In this particular embodiment, both of the above are true—the linkage is configured both to translate movement of the first section 30 towards the above-floor cleaning position into extension of the third section 34, and to translate extension of the third section 34 into movement of the first section 30 towards the above-floor cleaning position. In other words, either one of the first and third sections 30, 34 can be moved by moving the other one.

[0105] In this embodiment, the above functionality is provided by the first portion 56a of the belt 52 in conjunction with the corresponding pulley point 54a. If a user moves the first section 30 towards the above-floor cleaning position (downwards from the perspective of FIGS. 4-6), this applies tension to the first portion 56a of the belt 52. The first portion 56a transmits this tension around the pulley point 54a and to the third section 34, pulling the third section towards the extended position (upwards from the perspective of FIGS. 4-6). Similarly, if a user extends the third section 34 this applies tension to the first portion 56a of the belt 52. This tension is transmitted by the first portion 56a around the pulley point 54a and to the first section 30, pulling the first section towards the above-floor cleaning position.

[0106] In addition to the above, in this embodiment the linkage 50 is also configured to couple movement of the first section 30 towards the floor cleaning position, and retraction of the third section 34. In other words, moving the first section 30 towards the floor cleaning position results in retraction of the third section 34, or retracting the third section 34 results in movement of the first section 30 towards the floor cleaning position. In this particular embodiment, both of the above are true—the linkage is configured both to translate movement of the first section 30 towards the floor cleaning position into retraction of the third section 34, and to translate retraction of the third section 34 into movement of the first section 30 towards the floor cleaning position.

[0107] In the present embodiment, this functionality is provided by the second portion 56b of the elongate flexible member 52 in conjunction with pulley point 54b. If a user moves the first section 30 towards the floor cleaning position (upwards from the perspective of FIGS. 4-6), this pulls on the second portion 56n of the belt 52, which transmits this tension around the pulley point 54b and pulls the third section towards the retracted position (downwards from the perspective of FIGS. 4-6). Similarly, if a user retracts the third section 34, this pulls on the second portion 56b of the belt 52 which transmits tension around the pulley point 54a and pulls the first section 30 towards the floor cleaning position.

[0108] It is noteworthy that in this embodiment, the third section 34 can be both extended and retracted by moving the first section 30 between the floor cleaning and above-floor cleaning positions in both directions (i.e. in this case the third section can be both extended by moving the first section towards the above-floor cleaning position, and retracted by moving the first section towards the floor cleaning mode). It is also of note that in this case the first section 30 can be moved between the floor cleaning and above-floor cleaning positions in both directions by both extending and retracting the third section 34 (i.e. in this case the first section can be moved towards the floor cleaning position by retracting the third section 34, and moved towards the above-floor cleaning position by extending the third section). In summary, in this particular embodiment the linkage 50 is configured to translate movement of the first section 30 towards the floor cleaning position into retraction of the third section 34; movement of the first section 30 towards the above-floor cleaning position into extension of the third section 34; retraction of the third section 34 into movement of the first section 30 towards the floor cleaning position; and extension of the third section 34 into movement of the first section 30 towards the above-floor cleaning position.

[0109] It will be apparent from the above that in the present embodiment, the linkage 50 is configured to translate movement of one of the first and third sections 30, 34 in one direction relative to the second section 32, and movement of the other of the first and third sections in the opposite direction. In the present embodiment, this means that extending the third section 34 moves the first section in the opposite direction (or vice versa). The distance between the handle 23 and the suction nozzle 28 is therefore increased, meaning that the ‘reach’ of the suction wand 22 is increased when the vacuum cleaner is in the above-floor cleaning mode (i.e. when the wand 22 is being used to reach into remote locations).

[0110] As shown most clearly in FIGS. 4 and 6, the elongate flexible member 52 runs along the longitudinal axis of the second section 32, through substantially the entire length of the second section. This can advantageously increase the range of motion of the components connected thereto (i.e. the first and third sections 30, 34 in this case). For instance, if the flexible elongate member 52 only ran along half the length of the second section 32 then the first section 30 could only move half way along the second section and the third section 34 could only extend half as far (in the absence of a relatively complex gearing arrangement or the like). In the present embodiment the elongate flexible member 52 always runs along substantially the entire length of the second section 32, because the elongate flexible member is a continuous loop and does not change absolute position relative to the second section 32. In other embodiments, however, for instance where the elongate flexible member has a hairpin-type shape the ends of which move up and down the second section so as to move the first and third sections, the elongate flexible member may only run along a particular length of the second section in some positions.

[0111] In the vacuum cleaner 2 of this embodiment, the suction wand 22 can be retracted relative to the main body 24 while attached thereto. This reduces the vertical height of the vacuum cleaner 2 when in the storage mode, enabling the vacuum cleaner to be stored in smaller spaces. More particularly, the second section 32 of the suction wand 22 is movable relative to the main body 24 between an extended position in which substantially its entire length projects from the hose 26, and a retracted position in which it a portion of it (in this case around two thirds of its length) is received within the hose. The second section 32 is shown in the extended position relative to the main body 24 in FIG. 1, and is shown in the retracted position relative to the main body in FIG. 7. The relative positions of the second section 32 and the hose 26 when the second section is in the retracted position is more clear in FIG. 8, which is a cross-section showing only the suction wand 22, the hose 26 and the spine 6.

[0112] Since in the present embodiment the second section 32 of the suction wand 22 is received inside the hose 26, this places an additional design constraint on the second section 32 (and thus on the components which must interact with the second section). In the present case, the internal diameter of the hose 26 is 32 mm, and therefore the outer diameter of the second section 32 (or at least the part which is receivable within the hose) must not exceed 32 mm. Referring back to FIG. 3, the belt 52 being provided on the flat wall 44 of the second section 32 is beneficial in this regard. The second section can have a notional diameter of 32 mm about most of its circumference (or slightly less, to allow a slight clearance to allow easy sliding movement, and to allow for manufacturing variation), so as to maximise airflow through the void 42. The presence of the flat wall 44, however, provides space on the outside of the second section for the belt 52 to run, without exceeding 32 mm in diameter and rubbing against the hose 26. To give the belt 52 extra protection from any potential contact with the hose 26, the belt runs between a pair of protective ribs 62. A further pair of ribs 64 are provided on the inside of the second section 32, to protect the belt 52 from abrasion from the third section 34.

[0113] It will be appreciated that numerous modifications to the above described embodiment may be made without departing from the scope of invention as defined in the appended claims. For instance, whilst the above embodiment utilises a rolling support assembly, in other embodiments the weight of the vacuum cleaner may be borne entirely by the cleaner head, by a support assembly provided with skids rather than wheels or rollers, or in any other suitable way. Similarly, although in the above embodiment the third section is extended in the above-floor cleaning mode, so as to increase the reach of the wand, other embodiments may function differently. For instance, in some embodiments the third section may be extended when in the floor cleaning mode, and retracted when in the above-floor cleaning mode so that the wand is more manoeuvrable inside cupboards and underneath furniture.

[0114] Whilst in the above embodiment the two positions of the first section are at different ends of the second section, in other embodiments the two positions may take another form. Indeed, although it is preferred for the two positions of the first section to be different locations on the second section, in other embodiments this may not be the case. FIGS. 9A and 9B show schematic representations of another embodiment of the invention, where the first section 30′ moves between floor cleaning and above-floor cleaning positions while staying at the same location on the second section 32′ Corresponding features are given the same reference numeral, followed by a single prime. In this embodiment, to change from the floor cleaning mode (shown in FIG. 9A) to the above-floor cleaning mode (shown in FIG. 9B), the first section 30′ is rotated 180 degrees relative to the second section 32′ about an axis B that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis C of the second section 32′. The linkage in this embodiment may take the form of a pinion gear which is rotatable with the third section about the axis B, which is meshed with a toothed rack positioned on the third section 34′.

[0115] Furthermore, in embodiments where moving the first section between positions does involve moving the third section between locations on the second section, the first and third sections need not travel in opposite directions. Indeed, in some embodiments the first and third sections may travel in the same direction. FIGS. 10A and 10B show schematic representations of such an embodiment of the invention. Corresponding features are given the same reference numeral, followed by a double prime. In this case, to change from the floor cleaning mode (shown in FIG. 10A) to the above-floor cleaning mode (shown in FIG. 10B) the first section 30″ is moved in the same direction as that in which the third section 34″ extends. Moving the handle 23″ in the direction in which the third section 34″ is to move may be particularly intuitive for some users. The linkage in this embodiment may take the form of toothed racks provided on the first and third sections 30″, 34″ which interact through a set of gears provided therebetween, those gears being arranged so as to ‘gear up’ the motion of the third section so that a small movement of the first section results in a larger movement of the third section.

[0116] Whilst the first embodiment of the invention utilises a flexible elongate member in the form of a continuous loop, other embodiments may have a flexible elongate member which is a substantially continuous loop but which has one or more breaks in it. For instance, such a substantially continuous loop may be formed from two separate strips, the two strips being connected to one another via small portions of the first and third sections so that they co-operatively function in the same way as a continuous loop. Further, in other embodiments with a flexible elongate member that member may not be in the shape of a loop at all. For instance, an embodiment may have the same general structure as the first embodiment but may only have a flexible elongate member in the shape of the first section (whereupon the ability to move either the first or third section in either direction by moving the other section would no longer be provided).

[0117] For the avoidance of doubt, the optional and/or preferred features described above may be utilised in any suitable combinations, and in particular in the combinations set out in the appended claims. Features described in relation to one aspect of the invention may also be applied to another aspect of the invention, where appropriate.