WO2019233554A1

WO2019233554A1 - Self-stand mode for stick vacuum cleaner

Info

Publication number: WO2019233554A1
Application number: PCT/EP2018/064688
Authority: WO
Inventors: Laszlo Kovacs
Original assignee: Aktiebolaget Electrolux
Priority date: 2018-06-05
Filing date: 2018-06-05
Publication date: 2019-12-12

Abstract

The invention relates to a stick vacuum cleaner (10). A stick vacuum cleaner (10) is provided comprising an elongated shaft part (11), a housing (12) arranged to be positioned at at least two different 5 positions to the elongated shaft part (11), said housing comprising an air inlet, a dust separation system, a dust container (13), a motor fan unit for creating an airflow, and an exhaust air outlet, a nozzle (17) arranged at a first end of the elongated shaft part (11), said nozzle (17) comprising a nozzle inlet via which debris is transported from a surface to be cleaned by means of the created airflow to the dust separation system and the dust container (13), the nozzle (17) further being pivotally coupled to the first end of the elongated shaft part (11), and a locking mechanism (19) comprising: a locking member (20a, 20b) arranged at the housing (12) or shaft part (11), and a retaining member (21a, 21b) arranged at the nozzle (17), wherein when the elongated shaft part (11) is in an upright position and the housing (12) is attached to the elongated shaft part (11) in a position close to the nozzle (17), the housing (12) causes the locking member (20a, 20b) to move into engagement with the retaining member (21a, 21b) thereby preventing the elongated shaft part (11) from being pivotally movable around the nozzle (17) in order to retain the elongated shaft (11) in the upright position.

Description

SELF-STAND MODE FOR STICK VACUUM CLEANER TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention relates to a self-stand mode for a stick vacuum cleaner.

BACKGROUND

Different kinds of stick type vacuum cleaners are known. This type of vacuum cleaner generally has an elongated shaft part with a nozzle in one end and a handle in the other end. Further, a housing comprising e.g. a fan and motor, a dust container, filter(s), batteries and other necessary parts may be attached to the elongated shaft part and may extend substantially in parallel thereto.

Handheld vacuum cleaners allow a user to remove dust and debris in a relatively easy and efficient manner and may be operated with a single hand grip.

In some stick type vacuum cleaners the housing is detachable from the elongated shaft part and may be used independently as a handheld vacuum cleaner separate from the elongated shaft part. This may be practical e.g. for vacuuming bread crumbs and similar debris from tables.

A drawback with many upright/stick type vacuum cleaners is that it is difficult to vacuum clean under beds, sofas and the like, since the housing may restrict how far the nozzle may reach. In other words, when the height of the bed/sofa is low, the housing bumps into the bed/sofa and prevents the vacuum cleaner from reaching the surface to be cleaned underneath the bed/sofa.

In GB1151990, some of these problems or disadvantages are addressed. A housing of the vacuum cleaner in GB1151990 may be moved between different positions. Hereby a user may access surfaces under low furniture’s and similar. Stick vacuum cleaners may comprise a locking mechanism which locks the elongated shaft part when the shaft part is in an upright position, thereby setting the vacuum cleaner in a self-stand position. When in locked mode, the elongated shaft part is prevented from being pivotally movable about the nozzle such that the vacuum cleaner may be“parked” in the upright/self stand position.

Since the housing comprises a number of components such as the previously mentioned fan and motor unit, dust container, batteries, etc., the vacuum cleaner is difficult to balance in the upright position when the housing is moved to a position towards the handle of the vacuum cleaner. In order to balance the housing, it may be necessary to equip the vacuum cleaner with a relatively bulky and heavy nozzle.

SUMMARY

An object of the invention is to solve, or at least mitigate this problem and thus to provide an improved vacuum cleaner where the elongated shaft part can be retained in the upright position.

This object is attained in an aspect of the invention by a stick vacuum cleaner comprising an elongated shaft part, a housing arranged to be positioned at at least two different positions to the elongated shaft part, said housing comprising an air inlet, a dust separation system, a dust container, a motor fan unit for creating an airflow, and an exhaust air outlet. The stick vacuum cleaner further comprises a nozzle arranged at a first end of the elongated shaft part, said nozzle comprising a nozzle inlet via which debris is

transported from a surface to be cleaned by means of the created airflow to the dust separation system and the dust container, the nozzle further being pivotally coupled to the first end of the elongated shaft part, and a locking mechanism comprising a locking member arranged at the housing or shaft part and a retaining member arranged at the nozzle, wherein when the elongated shaft part is in an upright position and the housing is attached to the elongated shaft part in a position close to the nozzle, the housing causes the locking member to move into engagement with the retaining member thereby preventing the elongated shaft part from being pivotally movable around the nozzle in order to retain the elongated shaft in the upright position.

With the invention, a stick vacuum cleaner comprises a locking mechanism configured to retain the elongated shaft part n in the upright, self-stand position when in locked mode, while allowing a user to move the elongated shaft part out of the upright position - and thus pivot the elongated shaft part about the nozzle - when being in unlocked mode.

The locking mechanism comprises a locking member arranged at the elongated shaft part or the housing. In an embodiment, the locking member is implemented by means of a protruding element being attached to a lower end of the housing. The locking mechanism further comprises a retaining member arranged at the nozzle, for instance in the form of a cavity.

When the elongated shaft part is in the upright position and the housing is moved to a position at the elongated shaft part close to the nozzle, the housing causes the locking member to be move into engagement with the retaining member. That is, the locking member will enter the cavity forming the retaining member and thus engage with the cavity in the nozzle, wherein the locking mechanism enters locked mode and the elongated shaft part is advantageously being prevented from being pivotally movable around the nozzle, in contrast to the unlocked mode where the user freely can pivot the elongated shaft part about the nozzle.

Further, the locking mechanism entering locked, self-stand mode is only possible when the housing is positioned at a nozzle end of the elongated shaft part, close to the nozzle. This has as an advantageous consequence that the weight-balancing of the vacuum cleaner is greatly improved since a centre of gravity of the vacuum cleaner is lowered to a position closer to ground. When the user again wishes to pivot the elongated shaft part about the nozzle, she simply moves the housing upwards such that the locking member disengages with the retaining member. The locking mechanism will thus enter unlocked mode and the elongated shaft part is no longer retained in the upright, self-stand position.

Advantageously, even with a relatively small nozzle, the elongated shaft part can be retained in the upright position; the user cannot move the housing upwards toward the handle end of the elongated shaft part more than some centimeters away from the nozzle before the locking mechanism enters unlocked mode, where the elongated shaft part no longer is retained in the upright position. Since the housing must be close to the nozzle for locked mode to be entered, the issue of weight balancing is resolved.

In an embodiment, the stick vacuum cleaner further comprises a handle arranged at a second end of the elongated shaft part for advantageously allowing a user to operate the vacuum cleaner.

In a further embodiment, the housing is arranged to be moveably attached to the elongated shaft part, wherein the housing advantageously is moveable along at least a part of the length of the elongated shaft part.

In an embodiment, when the elongated shaft part is in an upright position and the housing is moved along the elongated shaft part towards the nozzle, the housing causes the locking member to move into engagement with the retaining member thereby preventing the elongated shaft part from being pivotally movable around the nozzle in order to retain the elongated shaft part in the upright, self-stand position.

In another embodiment, the housing is arranged to be removably attached to the elongated shaft part at the at least two different positions along the length of the elongated shaft part. In yet an embodiment, the locking member comprises a protruding element attached to a lower end of the housing, and the retaining member comprises a cavity arranged in an upper section of the nozzle.

In still an embodiment, the locking member comprises a spring-loaded slider arranged along the main body, a spring of the slider being compressed upon the housing pressing against the spring-loaded slider, wherein the slider moves in a direction towards the nozzle, and the retaining member comprises a cavity and a lip arranged in an upper section of the nozzle, the lip being configured to retain the spring-loaded slider in the cavity upon the spring being compressed.

In a further embodiment, the locking member is configured to be moved out of engagement with the retaining member when the elongated shaft part is tilted away from the nozzle with an angle exceeding to degrees.

In yet a further embodiment, the locking member is configured to be moved out of engagement with the retaining member when the housing is moved in relation to the nozzle.

In still a further embodiment, the locking member is configured to be moved out of engagement with the retaining member when the housing is moved towards the handle end a certain distance.

Further embodiments will be described in the following.

Generally, all terms used in the claims are to be interpreted according to their ordinary meaning in the technical field, unless explicitly defined otherwise herein. All references to "a/an/the element, apparatus, component, means, step, etc." are to be interpreted openly as referring to at least one instance of the element, apparatus, component, means, step, etc., unless explicitly stated otherwise. The steps of any method disclosed herein do not have to be performed in the exact order disclosed, unless explicitly stated. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention is now described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure l illustrates a prior art vacuum cleaner in perspective view, in which the invention can be implemented;

Figures 2a and 2b illustrate the vacuum cleaner of Figure l in another view where a housing is moved along the length of a shaft part of the vacuum cleaner between a first position and a second position;

Figure 3 illustrates the vacuum cleaner of Figures 1, 2a and 2b, further comprising a locking mechanism according to an embodiment;

Figures 4a and 4b illustrate a lower section of the vacuum cleaner of Figure 3 in a side view showing the locking mechanism according to an embodiment; and

Figures 5a and 5b illustrate a lower section of a vacuum cleaner in a side view showing the locking mechanism according to another embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The invention will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which certain embodiments of the invention are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided by way of example so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout the description.

Figure 1 illustrates a prior art vacuum cleaner 10 in perspective view, in which the invention can be implemented. This particular type of vacuum cleaner is known as an upright cleaner or stick cleaner. The vacuum cleaner may be powered by a chargeable battery, an electric cable or a combination of the two.

The vacuum cleaner 10 comprises an elongated shaft part n to which a housing 12 is attached. The housing 12 may be made as a hollow body or structure for housing some parts of the vacuum cleaner 10. For instance, the housing 10 typically comprises a motor fan unit (not shown) for generating airflow, a dust separation system (e.g. cyclonic and/or filter) and a dust container 13 for accommodating dust and debris collected by the vacuum cleaner. The housing 10 also comprises a housing exhaust air outlet 14 and a housing air inlet (arranged on an under side of the housing 12 and in fluid communication with the airflow in an interior of the elongated shaft part 11).

In Figure 1, the housing 12 is arranged on an upper side of the shaft part 11, i.e. the side facing away from the surface to be cleaned during use of the vacuum cleaner 10. Advantageously, this allows for better reach under objects such as sofas and beds.

Further, as will be discussed in the below, the housing 12 is arranged to either be moveably attached to the elongated shaft part 11, such that the housing 12 is moveable along at least a part of the length of the elongated shaft part 11, either in distinct steps or continuously adjustable along the length of the elongated shaft part 11, or arranged to be removably attachable to the elongated shaft part 11 at at least two different positions such that the user can remove the housing 12 from the shaft part 11 from one of the at least two positions and place the housing 12 in a second of the two different positions. For instance, the housing 12 and the elongated shaft part 11 may be arranged with a snap-in member for swiftly attaching and removing the housing 12 from the shaft part 11.

A handle 15 may be arranged at an end of the shaft part 11 to be held by a user for moving the vacuum cleaner 10 over a surface to be cleaned. The handle 15 may optionally comprise a control arrangement 16, e.g. a push button or a slider, for control of at least one of a fan effect, a nozzle function or any other vacuum cleaner function which may need to be adjustable. Hence, the control arrangement 16 can be operated by a user to turn the vacuum cleaner 10 on and off.

A nozzle 17 is arranged at another end of the elongated shaft part 11, via which nozzle debris is transported from a surface to be cleaned by means of the airflow caused by the motor fan unit to the dust container 13.

Hence, the nozzle 17 is arranged at a first end of the elongated shaft part 11 while the optional handle 15 is arranged at a second end of the elongated shaft part 11. In the following, the first end and the second end will be referred to as the“nozzle end” and the“handle end”, respectively.

The nozzle 17 is further being pivotally coupled to the nozzle end of the elongated shaft part 11 such that the shaft part 11 can be more or less freely pivoted about the nozzle 17 while the underside of the nozzle 17 is flush against the surface to be cleaned for good cleaning performance.

Hence, the housing 12 comprises a dust separation system, a dust container, an air inlet for dust laden air, and an air outlet 14 for exhaust air, and a motor fan unit generating an airflow. The air inlet is connected to an air channel in the elongated shaft part 11, which air channel is connected to the nozzle 17 in one end of the shaft part 11. The nozzle 17 has a nozzle inlet, and the motor fan unit generates an airflow for transporting debris from the nozzle inlet through the air channel into the housing 12 via the air inlet, through the dust separation system and the dust container 13 to the motor fan unit. After the airflow has passed the motor fan unit, the airflow exits the housing 12 via the exhaust air outlet 14.

Figures 2a and 2b illustrate the vacuum cleaner 10 in another view where the housing 12 is moved along the length of the elongated shaft part 11 between a first position A and a second position B, either by sliding the housing 12 along the elongated shaft part 11, or by removing the housing 12 being attached at position A of the shaft part n and subsequently attaching the housing to the elongated shaft part n at position B.

Optionally, the housing may comprise a handle 18 that can be operated by a user to move the housing 12 along, or from, the elongated shaft part 11.

In Figure 2a, the housing 12 is arranged in the first position A and in Figure 2b the housing is arranged in the second position B. Since the first position A is closest to the nozzle 17 it may sometimes be referred as a lower or downstream position when the vacuum cleaner 10 is arranged in an upright position, and the second position B may sometimes be referred to as an upper or upstream position.

It is understood that the housing 12 can be arranged in a number of different positions along the length of the elongated shaft part 11. The first position A and the second position B may serve as examples of housing positions. In some embodiments the housing 12 may be arranged in e.g. 2-6 distinct positions along the length of the elongated shaft part 11. In some

embodiments the housing 10 may be arranged to be freely slidable and to be attachable at any position along the length of the elongated shaft part 11. The housing 12 may be fixed in a selected position by a latch of any kind and released when the latch is opened.

Now, the housing 12 comprises a number of components such as the previously mentioned motor fan unit, dust container 13, batteries, etc., which make the vacuum cleaner 10 difficult to balance in the upright position when the housing is in, or moved to, position B.

Assuming that the vacuum cleaner 10 is arranged with a locking mechanism for retaining the shaft part 11 in the upright position; in order to balance the housing 12 when moved into position B, it may be required to equip the vacuum cleaner 10 with a relatively heavy and bulky nozzle 17. Further, if no self-stand locking mechanism (described in the following) is in place and the housing 12 and/or elongated shaft n part is heavy, it may still not be sufficient to equip the vacuum cleaner 10 with a heavy nozzle 17.

This problem is solved by the invention with an improved locking mechanism for retaining the vacuum cleaner 10 in the upright position.

Figure 3 illustrates the vacuum cleaner 10 of Figures 1, 2a and 2b, further comprising a locking mechanism 19 according to an embodiment.

As previously has been described, the vacuum cleaner 10 comprises an elongated shaft part 11 to which a housing 12 is attached. The housing 12 may be made as a hollow body or structure for housing some parts of the vacuum cleaner 1, such as a motor fan unit for generating airflow, chargeable batteries for powering purposes, a dust container 13 for accommodating dust and debris collected by the vacuum cleaner, etc.

The housing 12 is arranged to be moveably attached to the elongated shaft part 11, such that the housing 12 is moveable along at least a part of the length of the elongated shaft part 11, or may be removably attachable to the elongated shaft part 11 at at least two positions as previously discussed..

A handle 15 is arranged at the handle end of the shaft part 11 to be held by a user for moving the vacuum cleaner 10 over a surface to be cleaned.

A nozzle 17 is arranged at the nozzle end of the elongated shaft part 11, via which nozzle 17 debris is transported from a surface to be cleaned by means of the airflow caused by the motor fan unit to the dust container 13, which nozzle 17 further is pivotally coupled to the nozzle end of the elongated shaft part 11.

In the embodiment illustrated in Figure 3, the vacuum cleaner 10 further comprises a locking mechanism 19 configured to retain the elongated shaft part 11 in the upright position when in locked mode, while allowing a user to move the elongated shaft part 11 out of the upright position - and thus pivot the elongated shaft part n about the nozzle 17 - when being in unlocked mode.

The locking mechanism 19 comprises a locking member 20a arranged at the elongated shaft part 11, in this particular embodiment in the form of a protruding element being attached to a lower end of the housing 12.

The locking mechanism 19 further comprises a retaining member 21a arranged at the nozzle 17, in this particular embodiment in the form of a cavity arranged in an upper section of the nozzle 17.

Figures 4a and 4b illustrate a lower section of the vacuum cleaner 10 of Figure 3 in a side view. Figure 4a shows the locking mechanism in unlocked mode, while Figure 4b shows the locking mechanism 19 entering locked mode.

When the elongated shaft part 11 is in the upright position and the housing 12 is moved along the elongated shaft part 11 towards the nozzle 17, the housing 12 causes the locking member 20a to be pushed into engagement with the retaining member 21a. That is, when the housing 12 is moved downwards in a direction towards the nozzle 17, the locking member 20a will enter the cavity forming the retaining member 21a and thus engage with the cavity in the nozzle 17, wherein the locking mechanism 19 enters locked mode as shown in Figure 4b. Thereby, the elongated shaft part 11 is advantageously being prevented from being pivotally movable around the nozzle 17 in contrast to the unlocked mode illustrated in Figure 4a, where the user freely can pivot the elongated shaft part 11 about the nozzle 17.

Further, the locking mechanism 19 entering locked mode is only possible when the housing 12 is positioned at the nozzle end of the elongated shaft part 11, close to the nozzle 17. This has as an advantageous consequence that the weight-balancing of the vacuum cleaner 10 is greatly improved since a centre of gravity of the vacuum cleaner 10 is lowered to a position closer to ground. When the user again wishes to pivot the elongated shaft part 12 about the nozzle 17, she simply moves the housing 12 upwards such that the locking member 20a disengages with the retaining member 21a. The locking mechanism 19 will thus enter unlocked mode and the elongated shaft part 11 is no longer retained in the upright position.

Advantageously, even with a relatively small nozzle 17, the elongated shaft part 11 can be retained in the upright position; the user cannot move the housing 12 upwards toward the handle end of the elongated shaft part 11 more than some centimeters away from the nozzle 17 before the locking mechanism enters unlocked mode, where the elongated shaft part 11 no longer is retained in the upright position. Since the housing 12 must be close to the nozzle 17 for locked mode to be entered, the issue of weight balancing is resolved.

Figures 5a and 5b illustrate a lower section of the vacuum cleaner 10 according to another embodiment in a side view. In contrast to Figures 4a and 4b, Figure 5a shows the locking mechanism in locked mode, while Figure 5b shows the locking mechanism 19 entering unlocked mode.

When the elongated shaft part 11 is in the upright position and the housing 12 is moved along the elongated shaft part 11 towards the nozzle 17, the housing 12 causes the locking member, which in this embodiment is formed by a spring-loaded slider 20b arranged along the shaft part 11 and configured to engage with the retaining member in the form of a cavity 21b and a tab 23.

That is, when the housing 12 is moved downwards in a direction towards the nozzle 17, the housing 12 will press against the spring-loaded slider 20b resulting in that spring 22 of the slider is compressed, wherein the slider 20b moves in a direction towards the nozzle 17.

The slider 20b will eventually enter the cavity 21b of the retaining member and thus engage with the cavity in the nozzle 17 while a lip 23 of the retaining member is configured to retain the slider 21b in the cavity 20b as long as the spring 22 is maintained in its compressed mode

The locking mechanism 19 thus enters locked mode, and the elongated shaft part 11 is thereby advantageously being prevented from being pivotally movable around the nozzle 17 in contrast to the unlocked mode illustrated in Figure 5b, where the user freely can pivot the elongated shaft part 11 about the nozzle 17.

In Figure 5b, the housing 12 is moved away from the nozzle 17 towards the handle end of the elongated shaft part 11 and no longer presses against the spring-loaded slider 20b. As a result, the spring 22 is uncompressed and upon the user slightly tilting the shaft part 11, the lip 23 will no longer retain the slider 20b in the cavity 21b, whereupon the slider 21b will slide out of engagement with the cavity 21b. Hence, the locking mechanism 19 enters unlocked mode, and the shaft part 11 can be freely pivoted about the nozzle

17·

As can be seen in Figure 5b, even if the user would place the shaft part 11 in the upright position, the locking mechanism 19 will advantageously not enter locked mode unless the user moves the housing 12 towards the nozzle 17 to press against the slider 20b such that the spring 22 is compressed and the slider 20b again can enter the cavity 21b and be retained in the cavity 21b by means of the lip 23.

In this embodiment, the locking member (i.e. the spring-loaded slider 20b) also prevents the shaft part 11 with the housing 12 to be pivoted into upright position unless the housing 12 is positioned close to the nozzle 17 such that the slider 20b is pushed down past the lip 23 in order to engage with the cavity 21b.

Hence, in this embodiment, the self-stand/upright position can been reached by moving the housing 12 close to the nozzle 17 and rotating the shaft part 11 to a substantially perpendicular position in relation to the floor level. Then, if the housing 12 is moved away from the nozzle 17 and the shaft part 11 is rotated backwards, the self stand position cannot be reached again unless the housing 12 is moved close to the nozzle 17. However, the locking member 20b does not jump out of the cavity 21b just by simply moving the housing 12 up on the shaft part 11 without rotating it.

The invention has mainly been described above with reference to a few embodiments. However, as is readily appreciated by a person skilled in the art, other embodiments than the ones disclosed above are equally possible within the scope of the invention, as defined by the appended patent claims.

Claims

1. A stick vacuum cleaner (10) comprising:

an elongated shaft part (n);

a housing (12) arranged to be positioned at at least two different positions to the elongated shaft part (11), said housing comprising an air inlet, a dust separation system, a dust container (13), a motor fan unit for creating an airflow, and an exhaust air outlet;

a nozzle (17) arranged at a first end of the elongated shaft part (11), said nozzle (17) comprising a nozzle inlet via which debris is transported from a surface to be cleaned by means of the created airflow to the dust separation system and the dust container (13), the nozzle (17) further being pivotally coupled to the first end of the elongated shaft part (11); and

a locking mechanism (19) comprising:

a locking member (20a, 20b) arranged at the housing (12) or shaft part (11); and

a retaining member (21a, 21b) arranged at the nozzle (17); wherein when the elongated shaft part (11) is in an upright position and the housing (12) is attached to the elongated shaft part (11) in a position close to the nozzle (17), the housing (12) causes the locking member (20a, 20b) to move into engagement with the retaining member (21a, 21b) thereby preventing the elongated shaft part (11) from being pivotally movable around the nozzle (17) in order to retain the elongated shaft (11) in the upright position.

2. The stick vacuum cleaner (10) of claim 1, further comprising:

a handle (15) arranged at a second end of the elongated shaft part (11) for allowing a user to operate the vacuum cleaner (10).

3. The stick vacuum cleaner (10) of claims 1 or 2, the housing (12) being arranged to be moveably attached to the elongated shaft part (11), wherein the housing (12) is moveable along at least a part of the length of the elongated shaft part (11).

4. The stick vacuum cleaner (10) of claim 3, wherein when the elongated shaft part (11) is in an upright position and the housing (12) is moved along the elongated shaft part (11) towards the nozzle (17), the housing (12) causes the locking member (20a, 20b) to move into engagement with the retaining member (21a, 21b) thereby preventing the elongated shaft part (11) from being pivotally movable around the nozzle (17) in order to retain the elongated shaft part (11) in the upright position.

5. The stick vacuum cleaner (10) of claims 1 or 2, the housing (12) being arranged to be removably attached to the elongated shaft part (11) at the at least two different positions along the length of the elongated shaft part (11).

6. The stick vacuum cleaner (10) of any one of claims 1-5, wherein:

the locking member comprises a spring-loaded slider (20b) arranged along the main body (11), a spring (22) of the slider being compressed upon the housing (12) pressing against the spring-loaded slider (20b), wherein the slider (20b) moves in a direction towards the nozzle (17); and

the retaining member comprises a cavity (21b) and a lip (23) arranged in an upper section of the nozzle (17), the lip (23) being configured to retain the spring-loaded slider (20b) in the cavity (21b) upon the spring (22) being compressed.

7. The stick vacuum cleaner (10) of any one of claims 1-5, wherein:

the locking member comprises a protruding element (20a) attached to a lower end of the housing (12); and

the retaining member comprises a cavity (21a) arranged in an upper section of the nozzle (17).

8. The stick vacuum cleaner of any one of claims 1-6, wherein the locking member (20b) is configured to be moved out of engagement with the retaining member (21b) when the elongated shaft part (11) is tilted away from the nozzle (17) with an angle exceeding 10 degrees.

9. The stick vacuum cleaner (10) of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the locking member (20a, 20b) is configured to be moved out of engagement with the retaining member (21a, 21b) when the housing (12) is moved in relation to the nozzle (12) 10. The stick vacuum cleaner (10) of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the locking member (20a, 20b) is configured to be moved out of engagement with the retaining member (21a, 21b) when the housing (12) is moved towards the handle end a certain distance.