Vacuum cleaner base assembly

A vacuum cleaner 100 comprises a handle 104 having a handle pivot axis 106, a carriage (200, fig 2) pivotally connected to the handle 104 to rotate about the handle pivot axis 106, and an inlet nozzle assembly 114pivotally connected to the handle 104 to rotate about the handle pivot axis 106 independently of the carriage (200, fig 2). The carriage (200, fig 2) has a front support (228, fig 2) and a rear support 124 spaced from the front support (228, fig 2) in a fore-aft direction, and the handle pivot axis 106 is located between the front support (228, fig 2) and the rear support 124 with respect to the fore-aft direction. A suction Inlet (206, fig 2) is on a bottom face of the inlet nozzle assembly 114, a suction source is operatively associated with the handle, a dirt collection device is operatively associated with the handle, and there is an air passage system fluidly connecting the suction inlet, the suction source and the dirt collection device. The carriage (200, fig 2) and the inlet nozzle assembly may be connected by a spring (272, fig 8).