UPRIGHT VACUUM CLEANER

• US 20080178420A1
• Filed: 12/12/2007
• Published: 07/31/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/12/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Omachron Intellectual Property Inc.
• Original Assignee: GBD Corporation (G.B.D.)
• Inventors: Conrad, Wayne Ernest
• Granted Patent: US 8,166,607 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 15/410
• 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 5/28 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 5/32 with means for connecting a hose hose couplings for suction cleaners A47L9/24
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 5/365 of the vertical type, e.g. tank or bucket type
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/1608 Cyclonic chamber constructions
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/165 Construction of inlets

Abstract

Several embodiments of an upright surface cleaning apparatus are disclosed. The surface cleaning apparatus has a first cyclonic cleaning stage and comprises a surface cleaning head having a dirty fluid inlet. A fluid flow path extends from the dirty fluid inlet to a clean air outlet of the upright surface cleaning apparatus. A support member is mounted to the surface cleaning head. A mounting member mounted to the support member. At least one of a first cleaning stage of the upright surface cleaning apparatus and a suction motor is mounted directly or indirectly to the mounting member. A suction motor is provided in the fluid flow path.

Claims

1. An upright surface cleaning apparatus having a first cyclonic cleaning stage and comprising:

(a) a surface cleaning head having a dirty fluid inlet;

(b) a fluid flow path extending from the dirty fluid inlet to a clean air outlet of the upright surface cleaning apparatus;

(c) a support member mounted to the surface cleaning head;

(d) a mounting member mounted to the support member;

(e) at least two operating components of the upright surface cleaning apparatus including a cleaning stage mounted directly or indirectly to the mounting member; and

,

(f) a suction motor provided in the fluid flow path downstream of the cleaning stage.

2. The upright surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the support member comprises an airflow duct forming part of the fluid flow path.

3. The upright surface cleaning apparatus of claim 2 wherein the airflow duct is an up flow duct and the mounting member has an airflow passage therethrough in air flow communication with the first cyclonic cleaning stage.

4. The upright surface cleaning apparatus of claim 3 wherein the cleaning stage comprises a cyclonic cleaning stage and another of the operating components comprises the suction motor.

5. The upright surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the cleaning stage comprises a cyclonic cleaning stage, another of the operating components comprises the suction motor, and the suction motor is mounted above the cyclonic cleaning stage.

6. The upright surface cleaning apparatus of claim 5 wherein the cyclonic cleaning stage comprises a cyclone housing that is mounted directly or indirectly to the mounting member, a filter is positioned downstream to the cyclonic cleaning stage and the suction motor is mounted to a housing in which the filter is located.

9. The upright surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein at least one of the operating components is removably mounted to the mounting member.

10. The upright surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the mounting member includes an air flow valve.

11. The upright surface cleaning apparatus of claim 10 further comprising an above floor cleaning wand mounted to the mounting member or an operating component mounted to thereto.

12. The upright surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the upright surface cleaning apparatus comprises an upper portion comprising the suction motor and the cleaning stage and the upper portion is removably mounted to the surface cleaning head and useable as a portable surface cleaning apparatus.

13. The upright surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the cleaning stage comprises a first cyclonic cleaning stage and additional operating components comprise a second cyclonic cleaning stage and the suction motor.

14. The upright surface cleaning apparatus of claim 13 wherein at least two of the first cyclonic cleaning stage, the second cyclonic cleaning stage and the suction motor are mounted directly to the mounting member.

15. The upright surface cleaning apparatus of claim 13 wherein the first cyclonic cleaning stage has a longitudinally extending outer surface and the outer surface is visible except for a portion facing the support member.

16. The upright surface cleaning apparatus of claim 15 wherein the support member comprises an air flow duct forming part of the fluid flow path.

7. The upright surface cleaning apparatus of claim 7 wherein the filter is provided in the cyclone housing and the suction motor is mounted to the cyclone housing.

8. The upright surface cleaning apparatus of claim 7 wherein the filter is provided in a filter housing that is mounted to the cyclone housing and the suction motor is mounted to the filter member.

17. An upright surface cleaning apparatus comprising:

(a) a surface cleaning head having a first dirty fluid inlet;

(b) an above floor cleaning wand having a second dirty fluid inlet;

(c) an upright section pivotally mounted to the surface cleaning head and comprising a support member and a first cyclonic cleaning stage selectively connectable in fluid flow communication with the first dirty fluid inlet and the second dirty fluid inlet;

(d) the first cyclonic cleaning stage having a longitudinally extending outer surface and the outer surface is visible except for a portion facing the support member;

(e) air flow passages from each of the first and second dirty fluid inlets merging at a position proximate the inlet of the first cyclonic cleaning stage; and

,

(f) a suction motor positioned downstream from the first cyclonic cleaning stage.

18. The upright surface cleaning apparatus of claim 17 wherein the suction motor is mounted on the upright section.

19. The upright surface cleaning apparatus of claim 17 wherein the suction motor is mounted above the first cyclonic cleaning stage.

20. The upright surface cleaning apparatus of claim 17 wherein the support member is an up flow duct in a fluid flow path from the first dirty fluid inlet to the first cyclonic cleaning stage.

21. The upright surface cleaning apparatus of claim 17 wherein the first cyclonic cleaning stage is removably mounted to the upper section.

22. The upright surface cleaning apparatus of claim 17 wherein the first cyclonic cleaning stage comprises at least one collection chamber and the collection chamber is removably mounted to the first cyclonic cleaning stage.

23. The upright surface cleaning apparatus of claim 17 wherein the support member comprises an up flow duct in a fluid flow path from the first dirty fluid inlet to the first cyclonic cleaning stage and the first cyclonic cleaning stage is mounted directly or indirectly to the upflow duct.

24. The upright surface cleaning apparatus of claim 23 wherein the suction motor is mounted directly or indirectly to the upflow duct.

25. The upright surface cleaning apparatus of claim 17 wherein the support member comprises an up flow duct in a fluid flow path from the first dirty fluid inlet to the first cyclonic cleaning stage and the first cyclonic cleaning stage, a second cyclonic cleaning stage and the suction motor are mounted directly to the upflow duct or a component mounted to the upflow duct.

26. The upright surface cleaning apparatus of claim 17 further comprising a cleaning and suction unit removably mounted to the surface cleaning apparatus and useable as a portable surface cleaning apparatus, the cleaning and suction unit comprising the suction motor, the first cyclonic cleaning stage and the above floor cleaning wand.

27. The upright surface cleaning apparatus of claim 26 wherein the support member is an up flow duct in a fluid flow path from the first dirty fluid inlet to the first cyclonic cleaning stage and the cleaning and suction unit removably mounted to the upflow duct.

28. An upright surface cleaning apparatus comprising:

(a) a surface cleaning head having a first dirty fluid inlet;

(b) an above floor cleaning wand having a second dirty fluid inlet;

(c) an upright section pivotally mounted to the surface cleaning head and comprising a cleaning and suction unit removably mounted to the surface cleaning apparatus and useable as a portable surface cleaning apparatus, the cleaning and suction unit comprising a suction motor, a first cyclonic cleaning stage and the above floor cleaning wand, the first cyclonic cleaning stage selectively connectable in fluid flow communication with the first dirty fluid inlet and the second dirty fluid inlet; and

,

(d) the first cyclonic cleaning stage having a longitudinally extending outer surface and the outer surface is visible except for a portion facing the support member.

29. The upright surface cleaning apparatus of claim 28 wherein the upright section is pivotally mounted to the surface cleaning head by a support member that is an up flow duct in a fluid flow path from the first dirty fluid inlet to the first cyclonic cleaning stage.

30. The upright surface cleaning apparatus of claim 28 wherein the first cyclonic cleaning stage is removably mounted to the cleaning and suction unit.

31. The upright surface cleaning apparatus of claim 28 wherein the first cyclonic cleaning stage comprises at least one collection chamber and the collection chamber is removably mounted to the first cyclonic cleaning stage.

32. The upright surface cleaning apparatus of claim 28 wherein the upright section is pivotally mounted to the surface cleaning head by a support member that comprises an up flow duct in a fluid flow path from the first dirty fluid inlet to the first cyclonic cleaning stage, and the first cyclonic cleaning stage, a second cyclonic cleaning stage and the suction motor are mounted directly to the upflow duct or a component mounted to the upflow duct.