US2740983A - Converter arrangement for suction cleaners - Google Patents

Description

4 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. WVarnsm A mim/br@ TOENEY.

April 10, 1956 w. A. HUMPHREY CONVERTER ARRANGEMENT EOE sucTIoN CLEANERS Filed June 2, 1951 April 10, 1956 w. A. HUMPHREY 2,740,983

CONVERTER ARRANGEMENT FOR SUCTION CLEANERS med June 22, 1951 4 sheets-sheet 2 Fifa INVENTOR. IY'Varr'n A.Humphrey BY M .5" MM ATTORNEY.

April 10, 1956 w. A. HUMPHREY CONVERTER ARRANGEMENT FOR SUCTION CLEANERS 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed June 2" 1951 '111114 lllllllllllll INVENTOR. Fig' 5' Warren A.Humfhrey April l0, 1956 Filed June 22 W. A. HUMPHREY CONVERTER ARRANGEMENT FOR SUCTION CLEANERS 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR. wrm-n A.Hump72rcqy ATTORNEY.

United States Patent C CONVERTER ARRANGEMENT FOR SUCTION CLEANERS Warren A. Humphrey, Canton, Ohio, assignor to The Hfoo'ler Company, North Canton, Ohio, a corporation o O io Application June 22, 1951, Serial No. 233,050

19 Claims. (Cl. 15-333) The present invention relates to suction cleaners and more particularly to a conversion arrangement therefor whereby the cleaner may be readily converted. from on-the-l'loor cleaning to off-the-oor cleaning and vice versa.

A principal object of the present invention is an arrangement whereby it is impossible to insert the converter when the handle is in a position for on-the-floor cleaning and in which the handle must be moved to a storage position before the converter can be inserted. Once the converter is inserted the handle cannot be moved from storage position and the handle control lever acts to lock the handle in storage position until the converter is removed.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a handle control lever operative to lock the handle in storage position, and which cannot be operated to release the handle so long as the converter remains inserted in the converter passage.

Another object of the present invention is a handle having a control sector with detent means thereon to form a storage position and an operating range and a handle control lever arranged tangentially of the sector with a detent cooperating with the detent means of the handle sector whereby any attempt to move the handle from its storage position, without releasing the control lever, will place a compressive stress along the length of the lever to positively prevent movement of the handle from its storage position.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a propelling handle having first and second sectors thereon. One sector is provided with detent means for locking the handle in storage position and to provide an operating range therefor. The other sector has means thereon for movement into the converter passage when the handle is moved to its operating range and is free thereof when the handle is moved to its storage position. A handle control lever is provided having a detent cooperating with detent means on the sector to positively lock the handle in storage position and movable into the converter passage to prevent release of the handle for movement to its operating range so long as the converter tube remains in the converter passage.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a propelling handle for a suction cleaner having a sector formed with an arc to form an operating range and detent means forming a storage position, together with a control lever having a detent cooperating with the arc and the detent means whereby the control lever is positioned partially within the converter passageway in the path of a converter tool so long as the detent is positioned at said arc and is clear of the converter passage when said detent is in cooperation with the detent means of said sector whereby the converter cannot be inserted when the handle is in its operating range and said control lever cannot be operated to release the handle for movement from its storage position so long as the converter remains in the converter passage.

According to another object of the present invention a cleaner of the swivel exhaust elbow type is provided in which the propelling handle moves with the exhaust elbow. The transverse open end of the exhaust elbow is ,swiveled to a complementary transverse open end of the exhaust passage. The closed end of the exhaust elbow is supported by a pivot pin pivoted to the cleaner on the swivel axis, opposite the swivel connection between the exhaust elbow and the exhaust passage. The handle has a pair of sectors, one surrounding and secured to the exhaust elbow about the swivel and the other surrounding and moving with the pivot pin. A crank arm is rigid with the pivot pin so as to move therewith and cooperates with an adjusting lever rigid with the supporting frame to raise the nozzle when the handle is moved to storage position. A range shifter is pivoted to the pivot pin and has a stepped sector to engage the adjustable lever to position the nozzle at varying heights. One of the sectors cooperates with a pivoted control lever to hold the handle in storage position and to form an operating arc. The control lever is positioned to move into the converter passage as it is moved to handle releasing position so that the converter will lock the handle control lever in handle locking position. The other sector has means to move into the converter passageway to prevent insertion of the converter when the handle is in its operating range. All of the above features are combined with the pivotal mounting for the handle and swivel exhaust elbow.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent as the description proceeds when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure l is a side view of the cleaner of this invention partly in section taken on line 1 1 of Fig. 2, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 2 is a partial cross-sectional view through the cleaner of Fig. 1 taken on line 2--2 of Fig. l looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 3 3 of Fig. 2 looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 4 is a top plan view of a portion of the cleaner of Fig. 1 partly in section and 4showing the arrangement of the parts;

Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 4 looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 6 is a partial view, partly in section, showing a tnodication of the handle control-converter arrangement;

Figure 7 is a partial cross-sectional view taken on line 7-7 of Fig. 6 looking in the direction of the arrows; and

Figure 8 is a partial cross-sectional view similar to Fig. 6 showing the position of the parts with the converter inserted.

Construction of Figs. l t0 5 Referring to the drawings, the cleaner to which the present invention is applied includes the main body 10, formed with a downwardly facing nozzle 11 connected to a fan eye 12 by a suction passage 13. The fan 14 is driven by a motor (not shown) housed within an appearance housing 15 and is provided with a shaft 16 extending downwardly through the fan eye 12. The shaft 16 includes a pulley 17, driving a belt 18 which in turn drives an agitator 19, of any suitable construction, rotatably supported within the nozzle 11.

The body 10 is formed with an exhaust passage 20 extending rearwardly from the fan chamber 21. The rear end of the exhaust passage 20 is turned sideward by an elbow 22, which rotatably receives a pivoted exhaust elbow 23, swiveled thereto by a suitable air tight swivel connection generally indicated by the reference numeral 24. The pivoted exhaust elbow 23 detachably receives Patented pr. l0, 1956 the open lower end of a paper filter bag 25 clamped thereto by any suitable clamp 26. Surrounding the paper filter bag 25 is a cloth protecting bag 27 also clamped to the exhaust nozzle 23 by means of any suitable clamping means 28. The rear side of the bag 27 is closed by a slidable fastener 29 to permit the filter bag 25 to be easily removed therefrom.

The body 10 is supported for ambulatory movement by rear wheels 30 and front wheels 31. The rear wheels 30 are supported by lugs 32 extending downwardly from the body 10 while the front wheels 31 are supported in a manner to be explained in more detail hereinafter. A handle 33 is pivoted to the rear of the body 10 in a manner which will presently appear.

During normal on-the-fioor cleaning the body 10 is propelled about over a floor covering with the nozzle 11 positioned at the proper height above the covering for optimum cleaning effectiveness depending upon the type of covering being cleaned. Suction created by the fan 14 will draw the covering up against the nozzle 11 and dust and dirt will be removed therefrom by the combined action of the agitator 19 and air drawn therethrough by the action of the fan. The dirt laden air will pass upwardly through the nozzle 11, through the suction passageway 13 and fan eye 12 into the fan chamber 21. The dirt laden air will then be discharged into the filter 25 by way of the exhaust passage 20, elbow 22 and pivoted exhaust nozzle 23.

In order to convert to off-the-oor cleaning, wherein cleaning tools are connected to the suction side of the fan by means of a fiexible hose, the body 10 is provided with a converter passage 34 extending rearwardly from the fan eye 12 beneath the exhaust nozzle 23 and terminating at its rear end in a guide tube 35 between the rear wheels 30. The converter passage 34 is normally closed off from the fan eye by a valve 34' spring-biased to closed position.

During conversion it is desirable to raise the nozzle 11 above the floor covering sufficiently to break the seal so that the carpet will not be drawn upwardly against the nozzle 11. In order to get maximum cleaning effectiveness during on-the-oor cleaning it is desirable to raise and lower the nozzle 11 depending upon the type of covering being cleaned.

In order to accomplish both of the above desired results the front wheels 31 are journaled on the forward ends of a U-shaped crank 36, the bight 37 of which is pivoted to the underside of the body 10 at 38 beneath the converter passage 34. Rigidly attached to the crank 36 near one end of its bight 37 is a lever 39 which extends upwardly and rearwardly along one side of the body 10 as shown in Figs. 4 and 5 and is provided at its upper end with a factory adjustment screw 40. A spring 40 biases the lever 39 and crank 36 clockwise against a suitable stop on the body 10. The screw 40 coacts with cam faces 41, 42 and 43 formed as a sector (Fig. 5) on a range shifting lever 44.

The range shifter lever 44 is pivoted on a pin 45 (Fig. 2) journaled in a lug 46 extending upwardly from one side of the body 10 and rigidly connected to the swivel elbow 23 at 51. The handle bail 47 has two legs 48 and 49 (Fig. 2), leg 48 having an aperture 50 surrounding pin 45 (Fig. 2), while the leg 49 has an aperture 52 which surrounds the elbow 22 (Fig. 2) on the outside of joint 24. Rigidly connected to the pivot pin 45 so as to turn with the handle leg 48 and the pivoted exhaust 23 is a crank arm 53 (Figs. 4 and 5) carrying a roller 54 which coacts with the upper curved end 55 of lever 39 in a manner to be described hereinafter. A friction washer 56 (Fig. 2) is positioned on the pin 45 between the elbow 23 and a spacing collar 56 to hold the lever 44 in its adjusted position. The swivel exhaust 23 moves with the handle bail 47 and since the pin 45 is keyed to both the exhaust 23 and the crank arm 53, the latter will move with the handle while range shifter lever 44 is pivoted on the pin 45.

Rigid with handle bail 47 and rigidly mounted on a shoulder 57 of joint 24 is a sector 58, provided on its periphery with a handle locking lug 59, a normal operating arc 60 and a low operating arc 61 separated from the normal operating are 60 by a locking lug 52. The sector 58 cooperates with a foot pedal handle control lever 63, pivoted to the body 10 at 64 and is spring-biased upwardly by a spring 65. The lever 63 has a laterally extending leg 66 (Figs. 2 and 4) extending beneath the sector 58 and having a detent 68 (Figs. 2 and 4) normally riding freely on arcs 60 and 61 and engageable with lugs 59 and 62 to prevent downward movement of the handle from storage position to the normal operating range or from the latter to the low operating range. The leg 66 has an extension 67 (Figs. 2, 3 and 4) normally lying above the end of converter passage 35 and movable into it when moved to handle releasing position for a purpose which will later appear.

Inwardly of the leg 48 (Figs. 2, 4 and 5) of handle bail 47 and rigid therewith is a generally arcuate member or sector 69 having a lug 70 which enters an opening 70 in the converter passage 35 when the handle 33 is moved from storage position to its operating ranges.

A converter tool 71 has a at portion 72 adapted to enter passage 35 and an upwardly facing slotted and apertured end 73 to mate with the fan eye 12 and to straddle the pulley 17 in any suitable manner so as to close off the fan eye 12 from a suction passage 13 when the tool 71 is inserted.

Operation of Figs. I to 5 For on-the-tioor cleaning on a bare oor or a thin carpet the lever 44 is moved to the position shown in Fig. 5 and the handle 33 moved backwardly after depressing the lever 63 to remove the detent 68 from behind the lug 59. The roller 54 will disengage the end 55 of lever 39 and permit the forward end of the cleaner, including the nozzle 11, to move downwardly under its own weight until the end of screw 40 engages the cam surface 41 whereby the nozzle will be positioned at its lowest position. The indicia Low on the cleaner body to the side of lever 44 (Fig. 4) will indicate that position.

If a medium or thick carpet is to be cleaned, the lever 44 is moved to the indicia Med or High (Fig. 4) to bring either the cam 42 or the cam 43 beneath the screw 40. The normal manner of making the above adjustments is to first move the handle to storage position and simply move the lever 44 to its proper position. However, the cam surfaces 41, 42 and 43 are so made that the lever 44 can be moved from one cam to the other in either direction while the handle is in either of its operating positions with the detent 68 riding on arc 60 or on arc 61.

In changing from high operating range to low operating range foot pedal 63 is depressed to clear the detent 68 from lug 62 and the handle 33 moved backwardly. In moving the handle in the opposite direction the detent 68 merely rides over the lugs 59 and 62 due to their slanting surfaces which face toward the upper handle position of the sector.

If it is desired to convert to off-the-oor cleaning in which suitable cleaning tools are connected to the converter tool 71 by means of a exible hose it is first necessary to move the handle 33 to storage position, because otherwise the lug 70 will lie in the opening 70' partially across the suction passageway 34 and prevent insertion of the converter tool.

When the handle 33 is moved to storage position it will be locked in that position by the detent 68 moving behind the lug 59. The converter tool 71 may then be inserted into the passage 34 by way of guide tube 35 and pushed forwardly whereby its end 73 will open the valve 34 and mate with the fan eye 12 to close the latter off from the suction passageway 13. The tool 71 is then latched in position by the latch 74.

The cleaner may then be operated in the usual manner for oi-the-floor cleaning. It is to be noted, however,

that the handle 33 cannot be moved from storage position and thus injure the converter tool while the latter is in place. The lug 67 on lever 63 lies above the portion 72 of tool 71 and thus prevents removal of the detent 68 from behind the lug 59. Thus, the converter tool 71 acts to lock the handle in storage position and the handle control lever 63 in handle locking position. It is thus necessary to remove the converter tool 71 before the handle control lever 63 can be actuated to release the handle 33 for movement from its upright storage position. Conversely, the handle acts as a barrier to prevent insertion of the converter until the handle is moved to storage position.

When it is desired to reconvert to on-the-oor cleaning the converter tool 71 is removed from the passageway 34 so that the lug 67 of lever 63 may move downwardly into the converter passageway 34. The range shifter adjusting lever 44 may then be actuated to position the nozzle 11 at the proper height depending upon the character of the surface to be cleaned. The handle control pedal 63 may then be depressed, the handel 33 moved rearwardly and the cleaner operated as described above.

Construction of Figs. 6, 7 and 8 The cleaner proper of the modiiication of Figs. 6, 7 and 8 is the same as that of Figs. 1 to 5, inclusive, except that the range shifter has been omitted for the purpose of clarity, it being understood that it may be applied to this modilication as well as the irst modification. Where the parts are the same they have been given the same reference numerals.

The common feature between this modification and that of Figs. l to 5, inclusive, is that the converter acts as a lock to prevent actuation of the handle control lever to release the handle for movement from its vertical storage position. The handle control lever takes the force should the operator try to move the handle from storage position while the converter is in place thus preventing damage to the converter tool. Another common feature of this modification and that of Figs. 1 to 5, inclusive, is that any force applied to the handle in an attempt to remove it from storage position, while the converter is in place, will be applied lengthwise of the handle control lever and through its pivot point so that no damage can result.

According to the modification of Figs. 6 to 8, inclusive, the exhaust elbow 23 is movable with the handle bail 47 as in the irst modification. In this modification a sector 80 is rigid with the handle bail 47 so as to move therewith. The sector 80 has a lug 81 for holding the handle in storage position, a normal operating arc 82, a low operating arc 83 and a lug 84 between them to prevent free movement of the handle from its normal operating range to its low operating range.

It is to be noted that the bottom of the shoulder of the lug 81 is deeper than that of the lug 84 and closer to the pivot point of the handle than the normal working arcs 82 and 83 for a purpose which will presently appear.

A foot operated handle control lever 85 is pivoted to the body at 86. The lever 85 is biased clockwise by a. spring 87 so as to normally hold the locking detent 88 (Fig. 7) against the periphery of the sector 80. EX- tending sidewardly from the detent 88, to the rear of the converter passage 34 is a barrier 89 carried by the handle control lever 85. The converter tool 90 is substantially the same as that of the rst modification.

Operation of Figs. 6 to 8, Inc.

In Fig. 6 the parts are shown when the cleaner is being used for normal on-the-lloor cleaning and it is to be noted that the barrier 89 is positioned partially across the converter passageway 34 so as to prevent insertion of the converter tool 90. In Fig. 8 the handle is positioned in storage position and it is to be noted that the barrier 89 is positioned above the converter passageway 34. That comes about by reason of the fact that the normal operat- 6 ing arc 82 is at a greater radius from the pivotal axis of the handle than that of the base of the lug 81.

The same would be true if the handle were in its lower operating range with the detent 88 riding on the low operating arc 83.

When it is desired to convert to otT-the-tloor cleaning, with the parts in the position shown in Figs. 6 and 7 the handle is first moved to storage position. The detent 88 of lever 85 will ride over the inclined surface of lug 81 and the spring 87 will cause it to move upwardly behind the base of the straight side of lug 81 and lock the handle in storage position as shown in Fig. 8. The barrier 89 being conected to detent 88 will also move upwardly to position shown in Fig. 8 and clear the converter passage 34 to permit insertion of the converter tube 90 as shown in Fig. 8.

After insertion of the converter tube 90, as shown in Fig. 8, the barrier 89 will overlie the converter tube 90 so as to prevent depression of the lever 85 to release the handle for movement from storage position. Any attempt by the operator to lower the handle would place a compressive stress on the lever 8S in line with its pivot point 86, thus preventing any damage to the parts.

From the foregoing it can be seen that this invention provides a converter arrangement for a suction cleaner in which the converter tool cannot be inserted into the converter passageway until the handle is moved to storage position and in which, once the converter is inserted the handle control lever cannot be operated to release the handle for movement from its storage position.

While I have shown but two modifications of my invention it is to be understood that those modifications are to be taken as illustrative only and not in a limiting sense. I do not wish to be limited to the particular' structure shown and described but to include all equivalent variations thereof except as limited by the scope of the claims.

I claim:

l. In a suction cleaner, a body mounted for ambulatory movement, suction creating means carried by said body, said body being formed with a suction passage and a converter passage communicating with the suction side of said suction creating means, a converter tool insertable into said converter passage for converting said cleaner to off-the-tloor cleaning, a propelling handle pivoted to said body, said handle having a working range and a storage position, and manually actuatable handle control latch means movably mounted on said body and coacting with means on said handle to positively lock said handle in storage position, said handle control latch means being mounted to move into said converter passage and to obstruct insertion of said converter when moved to handle releasing position.

2. In a suction cleaner, a body mounted for ambulatory movement, suction creating means carried by said body, a propelling handle pivoted to said body, said handle having a working range and a storage position, manually actuatable handle control latch means movably mounted on said cleaner and coacting with means on said handle for positively locking said handle in storage position, said body being formed with a converter passage communicating with the suction side of said suction creating means, a converter tool insertable into said converter passage for connection with the suction side of said suction creating means, said handle control latch means being mounted for movement into said converter passageway and to obstruct insertion of said converter upon movement to its handle releasing position so as to cause it to contact with said converter tool when the latter is in inserted position, whereby said converter tool acts as a barrier for movement of said handle control latch means to its handle releasing position.

3. In a suction cleaner, a body mounted for ambulatory movement, a propelling handle pivoted to said body for movement from a storage position to an operating range and having a handle control sector extending downwardly from its pivot point, a manually actuatable handle control lever pivoted beneath said body and extending tangentially to said sector and detent means on said sector cooperating with a detent on said control lever for positively locking said handle in storage position, the pivotal axes of said handle and said control lever lying in spaced parallel relationship whereby a force tending to move said handle from its storage position when said lever is in its handle locking position will apply a compressive force along the length of said lever, and a converter passage formed in said body, said control lever being mounted for movement into said converter passage as it is moved to its handle releasing position.

4. In a suction cleaner according to claim 3 including a second sector on said handle having barrier means thereon projecting into said converter passage when said handle is in its operating range to prevent the insertion of a converter tool into said converter passage when said handle is in its operative range.

5. A suction cleaner comprising, a body mounted for ambulatory movement, a handle pivoted to said body for propelling it over a surface to be cleaned, said handle being movable from an operating range to a storage position, a latch lever pivoted to said body engageable with said handle to lock it in its storage position, said latch lever being manually actuatable to release said handle for movement to its operating range, suction creating means carried by said body, said body being formed with a converter passage communicating with the suction side of said suction creating means, a converter tool insertable into said converter passage, said latch lever being positioned to obstruct said converter passage when moved to handle releasing position, and said converter tool acting to lock said latch lever from movement to its handle releasing position when positioned in said converter passage.

6. In an ambulatory suction cleaner of the type having a converter passage leading to the suction side of the fan, a propelling handle pivoted thereto, said handle having a normal operating position and a storage position and a handle control lever for latching said handle in its storage position, said control lever being pivoted to said cleaner so as to move into said converter passage so as to prevent insertion of the converter when moved to handle releasing position.

7. In an ambulatory suction cleaner of the type having a converter passage communicating with the suction side of the fan, a propelling handle pivoted to said cleaner and being movable from an operating range to a storage position, said handle having first and second sectors, a manually actuatable latch lever, a detent on said latch lever cooperating with means on said first sector for latching said handle in storage position, a converter tool slidably insertable into said converter passage, and a barrier carried by said second sector and being movable into the path of movement of said converter tool when said handle is positioned in its operating range.

8. In an ambulatory suction cleaner of the type having a converter passage leading to the eye of a fan, a propelling handle pivoted thereto having an operating range and a storage position, a handle control sector on said handle having detent means for holding said handle in storage position and an arcuate portion forming the operating range of said handle, a manually actuatable handle control lever pivoted to said cleaner having a detent thereon cooperating with said detent means to hold said handle in its storage position and riding on said arcuate portion when said handle is in its operating range, a converter tool slidably insertable into said converter passage, and means on said control lever movable into the path of movement of said converter tool and operative to prevent insertion thereof into said converter passage as said detent rides on the acruate portion of said sector and permitting insertion of said converter tool into said converter passage when said detent is in cooperation with said detent means to latch said handle in its storage position.

9. In an ambulatory suction cleaner of the type having a suction fan and an exhaust passage extending rearwardly from the pressure side of said fan with a laterally extending open end at the rear thereof, a downwardly facing nozzle and a rearwardly extending converter passage both in communication with the eye of the fan; a swivel exhaust elbow positioned above said converter passage and having a lateral extending open end swiveled to the open end of said exhaust passage; a pivot pin rigid with and extending from the closed end of said elbow and being mounted for pivotal movement on the swivel axis of said elbow; a propelling handle having irst and second sectors surrounding and movable with said pin and swiveled end of said elbow respectively; detent means on said second sector for positioning said handle in a storage position and for forming an operating range, a manually actuatable handle control lever pivoted to said cleaner having a detent thereon coacting with said detent means for locking said handle in its storage position and being movable to a handle releasing position; said control lever being mounted for movement into said converter passage upon being moved to its handle releasing position whereby upon insertion of a converter tool into said converter passage it will lock said control lever in its handle locking position; and means on said rst sector movable into said converter passage upon movement of said handle to its operating range to prevent insertion of a converter tool into said converter passage until said handle is moved to storage position.

10. In a suction cleaner according to claim 9 including movably mounted supporting means for adjusting the position of said nozzle, a crank arm rigid with and movable with said pivot pin, a lever movable with said supporting means and positioned in the path of movement of said crank arm and cooperating therewith to move said supporting means to raise said nozzle when said handle is moved to storage position.

11. In a suction cleaner according to claim 10 including a manually actuatable range shifter pivoted to said pivot pin, said range shifter including a sector having a plurality of stepped cam surfaces movable selectively into engagement with said crank arm to move said supporting means to a plurality of positions and adjust said nozzle to a plurality of positions, said lever being operative to move said crank arm free of said cam surfaces upon movement of said handle to its storage position to permit free adjustment of said range shifter.

12. In an ambulatory suction cleaner according to claim 6, said handle having a sector of generally arcuate shape extending downwardly from the pivot point of said handle, the periphery of said sector having an arcuate portion forming a normal operating range of movement of said handle and a latch lug at the forward end of said arcuate portion for latching said handle in storage position, a recess in front of said lug, said recess being closer to the pivotal axis of said handle than said arcuate portion, a detent on said lever normally riding on said arcuate portion and movable into said recess in front of said lug when said handle is moved to storage position, and barrier means carried by said lever and extending into said converter passage as said detent rides on said arcuate portion and being clear thereof when said detent moves into said recess.

13. In a suction cleaner according to claim 12 in which the periphery of said sector is formed with a second arcuate portion to the rear of the first to form a low operating range of movement of said handle and being separated from the first by a lug which cooperates with said detent to prevent movement of said handle from its normal operating range to its low operating range without actuation of said handle control lever.

14. In a suction cleaner according to claim 13 in which said rst and second arcuate portions are at the same radius from the pivotal axis of said handle.

15. In a suction cleaner of the type having a suction nozzle and a converter passage in communication with a fan eye, front and rear wheels for mounting said cleaner for ambulatory movement, a propelling handle pivoted to the rear of said cleaner and having an operating range and a storage position, said front wheels being mounted for movement toward and away from said cleaner on a frame pivoted to said cleaner on an axis forwardly of and parallel to the pivotal axis of said handle, the pivotal mounting for said handle including a pivot pin rigid with said handle and extending laterally therefrom to a journal on the rear of the cleaner, a crank arm rigid with said pin so as to be movable with said handle, a lever rigid with said pivotal frame and extending into the path of movement of said rst arm as said handle is moved to storage position to move said front wheels away from said cleaner to raise said nozzle, a control sector extending downwardly from the pivotal axis of said handle, a handle control lever pivoted to said cleaner on an axis forwardly of and parallel to the pivotal axis of said handle, a detent on said control lever cooperating with detent means on said sector for locking said handle in storage position and barrier means carried by said control lever and movable into said converter passage upon movement of said control lever to its handle releasing position.

16. In a suction cleaner according to claim including a second sector surrounding said pivot pin and extending downwardly from the pivotal axis of said handle, said second sector having a barrier thereon movable into said converter passage when said handle is moved to its operating range.

17. In a suction cleaner according to claim 15 including a range shifter pedal pivoted to said pivot pin, said pedal having a plurality of stepped cam faces engageable with said lever to position said front wheels in adjusted position relative to said nozzle, said lever being moved away from said stepped cam faces when said handle is moved to storage position.

18. In an ambulatory suction cleaner of the type having a downwardly facing nozzle, front and rear wheels attached to said cleaner for mounting it for ambulatory movement, a propelling handle pivo-ted to the rear of said cleaner and being movable from an operating range to a storage position, said front wheels being mounted for movement toward and away from said cleaner on a frame pivoted to said cleaner on an axis forwardly of and parallel to the pivotal axis of said handle, the pivotal mounting for said handle including a pivot pin rigid with said handle and extending laterally therefrom into a journal on the rear of said cleaner, a crank arm rigid with said pin so as to move upwardly and forwardly with said handle as the latter is moved to storage position, a lever rigid with said pivoted frame and extending upwardly and rearwardly into the path of movement of said crank arm as said handle is moved to storage position to move said front wheels away from said cleaner to raise said nozzle, a range shifter lever pivoted on said pivot pin, a plurality of stepped cam faces arranged on said lever peripherally about the pivotal axis thereof and engageable with said lever to move said pivoted frame and position said front wheels at selected distances from said cleaner.

19. In a suction cleaner according to claim 18 in which said lever is moved free of said stepped cam faces when said handle is moved to storage position.

References Cited in the lle of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,787,696 McLaren Ian. 6, 1931 2,148,656 Smellie Feb. 28, 1939 2,188,381 White Ian. 30, 1940 2,329,563 Taylor Sept. 14, 1943 2,389,877 Snyder Nov. 27, 1945 2,416,418 Taylor Feb. 25, 1947 2,677,847 Smellie May 11, 1954

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