Surface cleaning apparatus

• US 10,314,447 B2
• Filed: 03/01/2017
• Issued: 06/11/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Omachron Intellectual Property Inc.
• Original Assignee: Omachron Intellectual Property Inc.
• Inventors: Conrad, Wayne Ernest
• Primary Examiner(s): Hail, Joseph J
• Assistant Examiner(s): McDonald, Shantese L
• Application Number:
  US15/446,587
• Publication Number:
  US 20170245700A1
• Time in Patent Office: 832 Days
• Field of Search: 15344, 153271, 15347, 15353
• 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 5/36 Suction cleaners with hose between nozzle and casing; Suction cleaners for fixing on staircases; Suction cleaners for carrying on the back
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 5/362 of the horizontal type, e.g. canister or sledge type
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/009 Carrying-vehicles; Arrangements of trollies or wheels; Means for avoiding mechanical obstacles
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/125 funnel-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/149 Emptying means; Reusable bags
• 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 9/1666 with filtering means
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/1683 Dust collecting chambers; Dust collecting receptacles
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2868 Arrangements for power supply of vacuum cleaners or the accessories thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2884 Details of arrangements of batteries or their installation
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/322 for hand-supported suction cleaners

Abstract

A surface cleaning apparatus comprises an air flow path extending from a dirty air inlet to a clean air outlet and includes a cyclone bin assembly, a screen and a suction motor positioned in the air flow path. The screen is axially removable from the cyclone bin assembly.

Claims

1. A surface cleaning apparatus having wheels, the surface cleaning apparatus comprising:

(a) an air flow passage extending from a dirty air inlet to a clean air outlet;

(b) a portable cleaning unit removably mounted to a remainder of the surface cleaning apparatus, the portable cleaning unit comprising a cyclone bin assembly positioned in the air flow passage and having a longitudinal axis defining a longitudinal direction, a top end and a longitudinally spaced apart openable bottom end, the cyclone bin assembly comprising a cyclone chamber and a separated material collection chamber, a divider plate is located at a lower end of the cyclone chamber at a location of a dirty material outlet of the cyclone chamber;

(c) a screen positioned in the air flow passage, the screen having an upper end and a bottom;

(d) a suction motor positioned in the air flow passage downstream from the screen; and

,

(e) an openable lid provided on an upper end of the surface cleaning apparatus,

wherein, subsequent to the lid being moved to an open position, the screen is removable upwardly from the cyclone bin assembly while the portable cleaning unit is mounted to the remainder of the surface cleaning apparatus, and,

wherein, when positioned in the cyclone bin assembly, the screen is suspended in the cyclone bin assembly from a fixed wall of the cyclone bin assembly and the bottom of the screen is spaced from the divider plate such that a volume defined between a central portion of the bottom of the screen and the divider plate is contiguous with a remainder of the cyclone chamber.

2. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the fixed wall has an opening and the screen is slidably receivable in the opening.

3. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 2 wherein the screen comprises a rim which seats on an upper surface of a wall defining the opening.

4. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the cyclone bin assembly comprises a cyclone chamber and a dirt collection chamber, and the apparatus further comprises an openable bottom end that comprises a floor of the dirt collection chamber.

5. A surface cleaning apparatus having wheels, the surface cleaning apparatus comprising:

(a) an air flow passage extending from a dirty air inlet to a clean air outlet;

(b) a portable cleaning unit removably mounted to a remainder of the surface cleaning apparatus, the portable cleaning unit comprising a cyclone bin assembly positioned in the air flow passage and having a longitudinal axis defining a longitudinal direction, a top end and a longitudinally spaced apart openable bottom end, the cyclone bin assembly comprising a cyclone chamber and a separated material collection chamber, a divider plate is located at a lower end of the cyclone chamber at a location of a dirty material outlet of the cyclone chamber;

(c) a physical filtration member positioned in the air flow passage; and

,

(d) a suction motor positioned in the air flow passage downstream from the physical filtration member; and

,

(e) an openable lid provided on an upper end of the surface cleaning apparatus,

wherein, subsequent to the lid being moved to an open position, the physical filtration member is removable upwardly from the cyclone bin assembly while the portable cleaning unit is mounted to the remainder of the surface cleaning apparatus, and,

wherein, when positioned in the cyclone bin assembly, the physical filtration member is suspended in the cyclone bin assembly from the top end of the cyclone bin assembly and the bottom of the physical filtration member is spaced from the divider plate such that a volume defined between a central portion of the bottom of the physical filtration member and the divider plate is contiguous with a remainder of the cyclone chamber.

6. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 5 wherein the top end has an opening and the physical filtration member is slidably receivable in the opening.

7. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 6 wherein the physical filtration member comprises a rim which seats on an upper surface of a wall defining the opening.

8. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 5 wherein the cyclone bin assembly comprises a cyclone chamber and a dirt collection chamber, and the apparatus further comprises an openable bottom end that comprises a floor of the dirt collection chamber.