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Why Does My Vacuum Cleaner Have A Flap Just Inside The Entry To Hose?

My vacuum (hoover bagless) had no suction so I turned it over and found a mess of a clog just behind the beater bar. I took it apart and cleaned it out and found there is a flap just at the beginning of the hose. I pushed it with a screw driver and it does move open but not easily. I have to push pretty hard to get it to move. Does anyone know what function this flap has? Can I remove it somehow or would that ruin my vacuum?