US Patent 7356874 Vacuum cleaner

An upright vacuum cleaner comprises a body including a dust separator, a floor engaging head having a first dirty air inlet on its underside, a handle detachably mounted in a socket on the body and having a second dirty air inlet at its lower end, a flexible hose extending between the center of the handle and the body, a valve, and a valve actuator disposed in the socket for configuring the valve to connect the dust separator to the first or second inlets respectively when the handle is engaged and disengaged from the body. When engaged to the body, the upper end of handle is used to propel and guide the cleaner while suction is applied to the first dirty air inlet in the floor engaging head. Once detached, the handle is immediately ready for use as a tool for above-floor cleaning without the user having to manually divert the suction or fit cleaning tools.