Surface cleaning apparatus

• US 10,117,550 B1
• Filed: 06/28/2018
• Issued: 11/06/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Omachron Intellectual Property Inc.
• Original Assignee: Omachron Intellectual Property Inc.
• Inventors: Conrad, Wayne Ernest
• Primary Examiner(s): REDDING, DAVID A
• Application Number:
  US16/021,152
• Publication Number:
  US 20180303296A1
• Time in Patent Office: 131 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 5/225 Convertible suction cleaners, i.e. convertible between different types thereof, e.g. from upright suction cleaners to sledge-type suction cleaners
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 5/24 Hand-supported suction cleaners
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 5/28 Suction cleaners with handles and nozzles fixed on the casings, e.g. wheeled suction cleaners with steering handle A47L5/24 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/16 Arrangement or disposition of cyclones or other devices with centrifugal action
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/1608 Cyclonic chamber constructions
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/1625 for series flow
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/1641 for parallel flow
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/1683 Dust collecting chambers; Dust collecting receptacles
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/1691 Mounting or coupling means for cyclonic chamber or dust receptacles
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/322 for hand-supported suction cleaners
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/325 for wheeled suction cleaners with steering handle

Abstract

A surface cleaning apparatus comprising a hand vacuum cleaner having a cyclone unit and a cyclone unit electrical connector provided at the front end of the cyclone unit at a location adjacent a hand vacuum cleaner air inlet, wherein electrical cables extend rearwardly from the electrical connector through a central portion of the cyclone unit toward the suction motor and fan assembly.

Claims

1. A surface cleaning apparatus comprising:

(a) a hand vacuum cleaner comprising;

(i) a hand vacuum cleaner body comprising a bottom, a handle, the hand vacuum cleaner body housing a suction motor and fan assembly, the suction motor and fan assembly having a suction motor axis of rotation, the handle having a hand grip portion that extends upwardly and forwardly when the hand vacuum cleaner body is positioned with the bottom on a horizontal surface; and

,

(ii) a cyclone unit provided at a front end of the hand vacuum cleaner body, the cyclone unit comprising a cyclone chamber having a cyclone axis of rotation, a front end of the cyclone unit having a hand vacuum cleaner air inlet and a rear end wherein the hand vacuum cleaner air inlet is provided in a centre of the front end of the cyclone unit; and

,

(iii) an electrical connector provided on the front end of the cyclone unit wherein electrical cables extend rearwardly from the electrical connector through a central portion of the cyclone unit toward the suction motor and fan assembly,

(b) a surface cleaning head having a front end, a rear end, a dirt air inlet and a cleaning head air outlet; and

,

(c) a rigid air flow conduit extendable between the cleaning head air outlet and the hand vacuum cleaner air inlet, the rigid air flow conduit having a longitudinally extending conduit axis which is parallel to the cyclone axis of rotation when the rigid air flow conduit extends between the cleaning head air outlet and the hand vacuum cleaner air inlet,

wherein the hand vacuum cleaner is removably mountable to a downstream end of the rigid air flow conduit and when the hand vacuum cleaner is mounted to the downstream end of the rigid air flow conduit, and the rigid air flow conduit extends between the surface cleaning head and the hand vacuum cleaner, the handle is a driving handle for the surface cleaning apparatus.

2. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the cyclone axis of rotation is rearward of the longitudinally extending conduit axis when the hand vacuum cleaner is mounted to the rigid air flow conduit and the rigid air flow conduit extends generally vertically upwardly from the surface cleaning head.

3. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 2 wherein a projection of the longitudinally extending conduit axis intersects the hand grip portion when the hand vacuum cleaner is mounted to the rigid air flow conduit.

4. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 2 wherein the suction motor axis of rotation is generally parallel to the longitudinally extending conduit axis.

5. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein a projection of the longitudinally extending conduit axis intersects the hand grip portion when the hand vacuum cleaner is mounted to the rigid air flow conduit.

6. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the suction motor axis of rotation is generally parallel to the longitudinally extending conduit axis.

7. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the cyclone unit has an outlet conduit and the outlet conduit extends in a direction that is generally parallel to the cyclone axis of rotation.

8. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the rigid air flow conduit is removably attachable to the hand vacuum cleaner air inlet.

9. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 8 wherein the hand vacuum cleaner air inlet comprises a hand vacuum cleaner inlet passage that is generally parallel to the longitudinally extending conduit axis and the cyclone axis of rotation, the hand vacuum cleaner inlet passage having an inlet end and an outlet end, the outlet end communicating with a cyclone chamber air inlet and the electrical cables extend rearwardly adjacent the hand vacuum cleaner inlet passage.

10. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 9 wherein the cyclone chamber air inlet comprises a tangential air inlet provided at the outlet end of the hand vacuum cleaner inlet passage.

11. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 9 wherein the hand vacuum cleaner inlet passage is coaxial with the longitudinally extending conduit axis.

22. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the hand vacuum cleaner inlet passage has an inlet axis and a projection of each of the inlet axis and the cyclone axis intersects the suction motor.

25. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1, wherein when the hand vacuum cleaner is mounted to the downstream end of the rigid air flow conduit and the rigid air flow conduit is in an upright storage position, the handle is at an upper end of the surface cleaning apparatus and a portion of the handle is rearward of the wand axis.

12. A surface cleaning apparatus comprising:

(a) hand vacuum cleaner comprising;

(i) a hand vacuum cleaner body comprising a bottom, a handle, the hand vacuum cleaner body housing a suction motor and fan assembly, the suction motor and fan assembly having a suction motor axis of rotation; and

,

(ii) an air treatment member provided at a front end of the hand vacuum cleaner body, the air treatment member having a front end of the air treatment member and a rear end, a hand vacuum cleaner air inlet and the rear end having an air treatment member air outlet whereby air exits the air treatment member in a rearward direction, wherein the hand vacuum cleaner air inlet is provided in a centre of the front end of the air treatment member; and

,

(iii) an electrical connector provided on the front end of the air treatment member wherein electrical cables extend rearwardly from the electrical connector through a central portion of the air treatment member toward the suction motor and fan assembly,

(b) a surface cleaning head having a front end, a rear end, a dirt air inlet and a cleaning head air outlet; and

,

(c) a rigid air flow conduit extendable between the cleaning head air outlet and the hand vacuum cleaner air inlet, the rigid air flow conduit having a longitudinally extending conduit axis which is parallel to the rearward direction when the rigid air flow conduit extends between the cleaning head air outlet and the hand vacuum cleaner air inlet and when the hand vacuum cleaner is mounted to a downstream end of the rigid air flow conduit, the handle is a driving handle for the surface cleaning apparatus.

13. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 12 wherein the air treatment member air outlet comprises an outlet conduit having an outlet conduit axis that is generally parallel to longitudinally extending conduit axis.

14. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 12 wherein the outlet conduit axis is rearward of the longitudinally extending conduit axis when the hand vacuum cleaner is mounted to the rigid air flow conduit and the rigid air flow conduit extends generally vertically upwardly from the surface cleaning head.

15. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 14 wherein a projection of the longitudinally extending conduit axis intersects a hand grip portion of the handle when the hand vacuum cleaner is mounted to the rigid air flow conduit.

16. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 15 wherein the suction motor axis of rotation is generally parallel to the longitudinally extending conduit axis.

17. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 12 wherein the suction motor axis of rotation is generally parallel to the longitudinally extending conduit axis.

18. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 12 wherein the rigid air flow conduit is removably attachable to the hand vacuum cleaner air inlet and the hand vacuum cleaner air inlet comprises a hand vacuum cleaner inlet passage that is generally parallel to the longitudinally extending conduit axis when the rigid air flow conduit is attached to the hand vacuum cleaner air inlet, the hand vacuum cleaner inlet passage having an inlet end and an outlet end, the outlet end communicating with an air treatment member air inlet and the electrical cables extend rearwardly adjacent the hand vacuum cleaner inlet passage.

19. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 18 wherein the hand vacuum cleaner inlet passage is coaxial with the longitudinally extending conduit axis.

23. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 12 wherein the hand vacuum cleaner air inlet comprises a hand vacuum cleaner inlet passage that has an inlet axis, and when the rigid air flow conduit extends between the cleaning head air outlet and the hand vacuum cleaner air inlet, the inlet axis is generally parallel to the longitudinally extending conduit axis and a projection of each of the inlet axis and an outlet conduit axis of the air treatment member intersects the suction motor.

26. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 12, wherein when the hand vacuum cleaner is mounted to the downstream end of the rigid air flow conduit and the rigid air flow conduit is in an upright storage position, the handle is at an upper end of the surface cleaning apparatus and a portion of the handle is rearward of the wand axis.

20. A surface cleaning apparatus comprising:

(a) a hand vacuum cleaner comprising;

(i) a hand vacuum cleaner body comprising a handle, the hand vacuum cleaner body housing a suction motor and fan assembly, the suction motor and fan assembly having a suction motor axis of rotation; and

,

(ii) a cyclone unit provided at a front end of the hand vacuum cleaner body, the cyclone unit comprising a cyclone chamber having a cyclone axis of rotation, a front end of the cyclone unit having a hand vacuum cleaner air inlet and a rear end wherein the hand vacuum cleaner air inlet is provided in a centre of the front end of the cyclone unit; and

,

(iii) an electrical connector provided on the front end of the cyclone unit,

(b) a surface cleaning head having a front end, a rear end, a dirt air inlet and a cleaning head air outlet; and

,

(c) a rigid air flow conduit extendable between the cleaning head air outlet and a hand vacuum cleaner air inlet, the rigid air flow conduit having a longitudinally extending conduit axis which is parallel to the cyclone axis of rotation when the rigid air flow conduit extends between the cleaning head air outlet and the hand vacuum cleaner air inlet,

wherein the hand vacuum cleaner is removably mountable to a downstream end of the rigid air flow conduit and when the hand vacuum cleaner is mounted to the downstream end of the rigid air flow conduit, the handle is a driving handle for the surface cleaning apparatus, and

wherein when the rigid air flow conduit extends between the cleaning head air outlet and the hand vacuum cleaner air inlet, the hand vacuum cleaner air inlet comprises a hand vacuum cleaner inlet passage that is generally coaxial with the longitudinally extending conduit axis and the cyclone axis of rotation, the hand vacuum cleaner air inlet passage is positioned inside the cyclone unit and the electrical cables extend rearwardly from the electrical connector through the cyclone unit adjacent the hand vacuum cleaner inlet passage towards the suction motor and fan assembly.

21. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 20 wherein the hand vacuum cleaner body comprises a suction motor and fan assembly housing and the handle extends from a sidewall of the suction motor and fan assembly housing.

24. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 20 wherein the hand vacuum cleaner comprises a hand vacuum cleaner inlet passage that has an inlet axis, and when the rigid air flow conduit extends between the cleaning head air outlet and the hand vacuum cleaner air inlet, the inlet axis is generally parallel to the longitudinally extending conduit axis and a projection of each of the inlet axis and the cyclone axis intersects the suction motor.

27. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 20, wherein when the hand vacuum cleaner is mounted to the downstream end of the rigid air flow conduit and the rigid air flow conduit is in an upright storage position, the handle is at an upper end of the surface cleaning apparatus and a portion of the handle is rearward of the wand axis.

28. A surface cleaning apparatus comprising:

(a) a hand vacuum cleaner comprising;

(i) a hand vacuum cleaner body comprising a bottom, a handle, a suction motor and fan assembly, the suction motor and fan assembly having a suction motor axis of rotation, the handle having a hand grip portion that extends upwardly and forwardly when the hand vacuum cleaner is positioned with the bottom on a horizontal surface;

(ii) a cyclone unit provided at a front end of the hand vacuum cleaner body, the cyclone unit comprising a cyclone chamber having a cyclone axis of rotation, a centre of the front end of the cyclone unit having a hand vacuum cleaner air inlet; and

,

(iii) a cyclone unit electrical connector provided at the front end of the cyclone unit at a location adjacent the hand vacuum cleaner air inlet, wherein electrical cables extend rearwardly from the electrical connector through a central portion of the cyclone unit toward the suction motor and fan assembly,

(b) a surface cleaning head having a front end, a rear end, a dirt air inlet and a cleaning head air outlet; and

,

(c) a rigid air flow conduit extendable between the cleaning head air outlet and the hand vacuum cleaner air inlet, the rigid air flow conduit having a longitudinally extending conduit axis, and when the rigid air flow conduit is extending between the cleaning head air outlet and the hand vacuum cleaner air inlet conduit axis is parallel to the cyclone axis of rotation and a rigid air flow conduit electrical connector that is aligned with and connected to the cyclone unit electrical connector when the hand vacuum cleaner is mounted to the rigid air flow conduit,

wherein the hand vacuum cleaner is removably mountable to a downstream end of the rigid air flow conduit and when the hand vacuum cleaner is mounted to the downstream end of the rigid air flow conduit, the handle is a driving handle for the surface cleaning apparatus.