Configuration of a surface cleaning apparatus

• US 10,561,286 B2
• Filed: 01/13/2017
• Issued: 02/18/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/2007
• 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:
  US15/406,434
• Publication Number:
  US 20170119221A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,131 Days
• Field of Search: 15320, 15321, 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 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 9/327 for suction cleaners with hose between nozzle and casing

Abstract

A reconfigurable upright surface cleaning apparatus has a surface cleaning unit removably mounted to the floor cleaning unit. The surface cleaning unit has a rear air inlet and a front air outlet.

Claims

1. A reconfigurable upright surface cleaning apparatus comprising:

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

b) a floor cleaning unit comprising a surface cleaning head having a front end having the dirty air inlet and a rear end having a driving handle drivingly connected thereto, the driving handle moveable between a storage position and a rearwardly inclined floor cleaning position; and

,

c) a surface cleaning unit removably mounted to the driving handle and, when mounted to the driving handle with the driving handle in the storage position, the surface cleaning unit has a front side and a rear side, the rear side having a surface cleaning unit air inlet that comprises an opening in an outer rear face of the surface cleaning unit, the surface cleaning unit comprising;

(i) a cyclone unit positioned in the air flow passage, the cyclone unit comprising a cyclone unit air inlet downstream from the surface cleaning unit air inlet and at least one cyclone comprising a cyclone axis, the cyclone unit having first and second ends that are intersected by the cyclone axis;

(ii) a pre-motor filter positioned in the air flow passage downstream from the at least one cyclone; and

,

(iii) a suction motor positioned in the air flow passage downstream from the pre-motor filter and having a suction motor axis,

wherein the reconfigurable upright surface cleaning apparatus is operable in an upright mode in which the surface cleaning unit is mounted to the driving handle and is in air flow communication with the dirty air inlet of the floor cleaning unit, and

wherein, the air flow passage comprises an inlet portion that extends from the dirty air inlet of the surface cleaning head to the surface cleaning unit air inlet and, when the reconfigurable upright surface cleaning apparatus is in the upright mode and the driving handle is in the storage position, the inlet portion extends to a maximum elevated position that is below an upper end of the surface cleaning unit, and wherein the reconfigurable upright surface cleaning apparatus is also operable in a portable mode in which the surface cleaning unit is removed from the driving handle and is in air flow communication with the dirty air inlet of the floor cleaning unit.

2. The reconfigurable upright surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein air travels downwardly through a post motor filter when the driving handle is the storage position and the surface cleaning unit is mounted to the driving handle.

3. The reconfigurable upright surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a post motor filter positioned below the suction motor when the driving handle is the storage position and the surface cleaning unit is mounted to the driving handle.

4. The reconfigurable upright surface cleaning apparatus of claim 3 wherein the post motor filter has an upstream side that faces towards a cyclone unit air outlet.

5. The reconfigurable upright surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the driving handle extends in a plane and the surface cleaning unit further comprises a longitudinally extending carry handle which extends in the plane.

6. The reconfigurable upright surface cleaning apparatus of claim 5 wherein the carry handle extends forwardly of the front side of the surface cleaning unit whereby the carry handle is graspable by a user when the surface cleaning unit is removably mounted to the driving handle and the driving handle is in the storage position.

7. The reconfigurable upright surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the surface cleaning unit is spaced from the floor cleaning unit when mounted to the driving handle.

8. The reconfigurable upright surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the suction motor is provided in a suction body housing and the cyclone unit is removably attachable to the suction body housing.

9. The reconfigurable upright surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a post motor filter having an upstream side and a downstream side and the post motor filter is oriented such that the cyclone axis and the suction motor axis extend through the upstream side and the downstream side.

10. The reconfigurable upright surface cleaning apparatus of claim 9 wherein the cyclone axis and the suction motor axis are aligned.

11. The reconfigurable upright surface cleaning apparatus of claim 9 wherein the cyclone axis and the suction motor axis are coaxial.

12. The reconfigurable upright surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the clean air outlet is provided on the front side.

13. The reconfigurable upright surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein when the reconfigurable upright surface cleaning apparatus is in the upright mode and the driving handle is in the storage position, the maximum elevated position is located at a position of the opening in an outer rear face of the surface cleaning unit.

14. The reconfigurable upright surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein when the reconfigurable upright surface cleaning apparatus is in the upright mode and the driving handle is in the storage position, the maximum elevated position is located at a position of the cyclone unit air inlet.

15. A reconfigurable upright surface cleaning apparatus comprising:

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

b) a surface cleaning head having a front end having the dirty air inlet and a rear end;

c) an upper section moveably mounted to the surface cleaning head between a storage position and a rearwardly inclined floor cleaning position; and

,

d) a surface cleaning unit removably mounted to the upper section by a mounting assembly which comprises an attachment member, the attachment member is removably attached to the surface cleaning unit, the surface cleaning unit comprising;

(i) a cyclone unit positioned in the air flow passage, the cyclone unit comprising a cyclone unit air inlet downstream from the surface cleaning unit air inlet and at least one cyclone comprising a cyclone axis, the cyclone unit having first and second ends that are intersected by the cyclone axis;

(ii) a pre-motor filter positioned in the air flow passage downstream from the at least one cyclone; and

,

(iii) a suction motor positioned in the air flow passage downstream from the pre-motor filter and having a suction motor axis

wherein, the surface cleaning unit has a surface cleaning unit air inlet and the air flow passage comprises an inlet portion that extends from the dirty air inlet of the surface cleaning head to the surface cleaning unit air inlet and comprises a flexible conduit, and

when the surface cleaning unit mounted to the upper section, the attachment member engages the surface cleaning unit, comprises part of the air flow passage downstream of the flexible conduit and engages a mount on the upper section.

16. The reconfigurable upright surface cleaning apparatus of claim 15 wherein the clean air outlet is provided on the front side.

17. The reconfigurable upright surface cleaning apparatus of claim 15 wherein the cyclone is located forward of the driving handle when the surface cleaning unit is mounted to the upper section.