US Patent 8032982 Upright vacuum cleaner having suction path switching valve

An upright vacuum cleaner having a suction path switching unit is provided that includes a cleaner body having and a body frame; a suction inlet body hinged to the body frame; a hose in fluid communication with the body frame and an extension pipe; and a suction path switching unit disposed on the body frame. The suction path has an operating duct elastically arranged on a suction path to be able to slide up and down. As the extension pipe is inserted into or withdrawn from a socket disposed on the body frame, the operating duct selectively diverts the suction path to a first suction path flowing from the suction inlet body to the dust collecting unit or a second suction path flowing from the extension pipe to the dust collecting unit.