Hovering vacuum cleaners and components thereof

A vacuum cleaner hose comprising two ends, a first end for engaging a surface vacuuming apparatus, and a second end for engaging a vacuum cleaner, said second end of said vacuum cleaner hose terminating in a hose cuff and a nozzle connected thereto and for engaging the opening in a dust bin of the vacuum cleaner, said nozzle including two extremities and having disposed proximate a first extremity a nozzle top section that engages the hose cuff disposed proximate the second end of the vacuum hose by the provision of a locking detent which engages and locks with a corresponding locking detent provided with the hose cuff permitting swiveling of the nozzle with respect to the hose cuff while securing the nozzle in position with respect to the vacuum hose, said nozzle including a nozzle spout at a second extremity thereof that engages the opening in the dust bin of the vacuum cleaner, and made of rigid material such as rigid plastic so as not to deflect under pressure, said nozzle top section and said nozzle spout having disposed there-between a nozzle collar for sealing the opening in the dust bin of said vacuum cleaner, said nozzle spout including an air outlet disposed substantially perpendicular to the axis of extension of said nozzle and also including an end cap portion proximate the end thereof which turns the direction of the air flow from the vacuum hose to a direction substantially perpendicular to the axis of the nozzle, wherein air exiting said nozzle spout and passing into said dust bin of a vacuum cleaner generates cyclonic action in the dust bin, as a result of turbulence created by turning the air exiting the nozzle spout of the vacuum hose.

A hovering vacuum cleaner comprising:

• a front and rear, a top and bottom, said vacuum cleaner having a base disposed proximate the bottom thereof, said base also having a top and bottom, said vacuum cleaner carrying a fan for moving air through said vacuum cleaner, said base having disposed proximate the bottom thereof an air handling circuit to permit the vacuum cleaner to hover over a surface being vacuumed on a cushion of air provided by said fan, said vacuum cleaner including an exhaust port passing through said base in communication with the air handling circuit, the air passing through the exhaust port to the air handling circuit, said air handling circuit being defined by a perimeter portion of said base extending around the perimeter of the bottom of said base, a central portion disposed proximate the middle of said base containing said exhaust port and disposed at a height above said perimeter portion of the bottom of said base, and a channel portion disposed between said perimeter portion and said central portion at a height above the central portion and at a predetermined channel depth, said channel portion substantially circumscribing said base but being discontinuous proximate the rear of said vacuum cleaner base, whereat the central portion extends to the perimeter portion, wherein said air handling circuit is sized to substantially balance with the volume of air being moved by said fan through said vacuum cleaner and thus providing improved hovering capability of said vacuum cleaner as air passes from said exhaust port over said central portion and about said channel portion thus providing a cushion of air upon which said vacuum cleaner hovers.

A hovering vacuum cleaner comprising:

• a front and rear, a top and bottom, said vacuum cleaner having a base disposed proximate the bottom thereof, said base also having a top and bottom, said vacuum cleaner carrying a fan for moving air through said vacuum cleaner, said base having disposed proximate the bottom thereof an air handling circuit to permit the vacuum cleaner to hover over a surface being vacuumed on a cushion of air provided by said fan, said vacuum cleaner including an exhaust port passing through said base and in communication with the fan and the air handling circuit, the air passing from the fan through the exhaust port to the air handling circuit, said air handling circuit being defined by a perimeter portion of said base extending around the perimeter of the bottom of said base, a central portion disposed proximate the middle of the bottom of said base containing said exhaust port and disposed at a height above said perimeter portion of the bottom of said base, and a channel portion disposed between said perimeter portion and said central portion at a height above the central portion and at a predetermined channel depth, said channel portion substantially circumscribing the bottom of said base but being discontinuous proximate the rear of said vacuum cleaner base whereat the central portion extends to the perimeter portion, wherein said air handling circuit is sized to substantially balance with the volume of air being moved by said fan through said vacuum cleaner and thus providing improved hovering capability of said vacuum cleaner as air passes from said exhaust port over said central portion and about said channel portion thus providing a cushion of air upon which said vacuum cleaner hovers.