US Patent 7036183 Hose and wand assembly

A vacuum cleaner (100) comprises a main body (3), separating apparatus, a flexible hose (20) having one end for coupling to an input of the separating apparatus and the other end terminating in a connecting part (40), a rigid pipe (9, 10) being selectively connectable to the main body (3) (see FIG. 2A) so as to provide a handle for the cleaner when connected to the main body (3), or a wand when released from the main body (3). The pipe (9) has an opening at each of first and second ends (16, 17) and a gripping portion (11) at the first end (17) for allowing a user to grasp the pipe (9). The hose connecting part (40) is connectable to the opening at either end (16, 17) of the pipe (9). Thus, the pipe (9) can be more conveniently used during a cylinder mode of cleaning.