Vacuum cleaner and valve

#The present disclosure relate relates to a vacuum cleaner, and to a valve configured for fluidly connecting a hand unit to an elongated member of a vacuum cleaner.

#Vacuum cleaners of different types are known. One type of vacuum cleaner is referred to as the stick type. The stick type vacuum cleaner comprises essentially a slender body with a handle at one end, and a floor nozzle at the other end. Inside the body a motor fan unit is arranged for producing an airflow through the vacuum cleaner, and a main separation unit for separating dust and debris from the airflow. The stick type vacuum cleaner is designed for standing use, the user grasping the handle and moving the nozzle over a surface to be cleaned.

#An advantage of the stick type vacuum cleaner is that it is compact and thus, easily stowed. It may be used as a complement to a larger vacuum cleaner for quickly vacuum cleaning a smaller area, or as a main vacuum cleaner in smaller living spaces, such as e.g. a one or two room apartment.

#Various aspects and/or embodiments, including its particular features and advantages, will be readily understood from the example embodiments discussed in the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings, in which:

#FIGS. 1a and 1b illustrate a vacuum cleaner according to first embodiments,

#FIGS. 2a and 2b illustrate a vacuum cleaner according to second embodiments,

#Aspects and/or embodiments will now be described more fully. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout. Well-known functions or constructions will not necessarily be described in detail for brevity and/or clarity.

#FIGS. 1a and 1b illustrate a vacuum cleaner 2 according to first embodiments. FIGS. 2a and 2b illustrate a vacuum cleaner 2 according to alternative second embodiments. In FIGS. 1a and 2a perspective views of the vacuum cleaners 2 are shown. In FIGS. 1b and 2b flow diagrams of the vacuum cleaners 2 are shown. In the following description related to FIGS. 1a-2b reference is made to both embodiments, unless specific reference is made to one particular of the embodiments. The vacuum cleaner 2 in FIG. 1a is shown standing in dedicated stand 30 for the vacuum cleaner 2.

#The vacuum cleaner 2 comprises an elongated member 4 having a nozzle end portion 6 and a handle end portion 8. The vacuum cleaner 2 further comprises a floor nozzle 10 arranged at the nozzle end portion 6, and a handle 12 arranged at the handle end portion 8. Moreover, the vacuum cleaner 2 comprises a hand unit 14 releasably connectable at the nozzle end portion 6 and at the handle end portion 8. That is, the hand unit 14 may be connected either at the nozzle end portion 6 or at the handle end portion 8, for instance depending on what kind of vacuum cleaning operations are to be performed with the vacuum cleaner 2. In FIGS. 1a and 2a the hand unit 14 is connected at the nozzle end portion 6. In FIGS. 1b and 2b the hand unit 14 is shown connected both at the nozzle end portion 6 and at the handle end portion 8.