VACUUM CLEANER WITH WHEELED BASE

• US 20080196196A1
• Filed: 12/12/2007
• Published: 08/21/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Omachron Intellectual Property Inc.
• Original Assignee: GBD Corporation (G.B.D.)
• Inventors: Conrad, Wayne Ernest
• Granted Patent: US 8,359,705 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 15/353
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 5/00 Structural features of 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

Abstract

A surface cleaning apparatus has a cleaning unit that is mounted on a wheeled base.

Claims

1. A surface cleaning apparatus comprising:

(a) a member having a dirty fluid inlet;

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

(c) a wheeled based; and

,

(d) a portable cleaning unit removably mounted on the wheeled base and comprising at least one cyclonic separation stage and a suction motor positioned in the fluid flow path.

2. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the at least one cyclonic separation stage comprises a cyclone chamber having at least one material outlet, a divider plate associated with the material outlet and an associated material collection chamber in flow communication with the material outlet.

3. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 2 wherein the material collection chamber is positioned below the material outlet.

4. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 3 wherein the divider plate is positioned in the material outlet.

5. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 2 wherein the material collection chamber is moveable relative to the cyclone chamber.

6. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 5 wherein the material collection chamber is removable from the at least one cyclone chamber.

7. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 2 wherein the material collection chamber has a portion that is openable.

8. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 7 wherein the portion that is openable is a bottom wall.

9. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the suction motor is positioned laterally spaced from the at least one cyclonic separation stage.

10. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 9 wherein the cleaning unit has a front end having the dirty fluid inlet and the front end of the cleaning unit is positioned at a front end of the wheeled base and the suction motor is positioned rearward of the at least one cyclonic separation stage.

11. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the wheeled base has a length greater then its width.

12. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 11 wherein the wheeled base is generally triangular in shape.

13. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 11 wherein the wheeled base has at least one front wheel and at least two rear wheels, the rear wheels have a larger diameter then the at least one front wheel and the at least one front wheel is steerable.

14. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 11 wherein the wheeled base has at least one front wheel and at least two rear wheels, the rear wheels have a smaller diameter then the at least one front wheel and the at least one front wheel is steerable.

15. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the wheeled base has at least one front wheel and at least two rear wheels and the rear wheels have a larger diameter then the at least one front wheel.

16. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the wheeled base has at least one front wheel and at least two rear wheels and the rear wheels have a smaller diameter then the at least one front wheel.

17. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the wheeled base has at least one front wheel and at least two rear wheels and the at least one front wheel is steerable.

18. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the wheeled base has rear wheels and the rear wheels are positioned outwardly of an area occupied by the cleaning unit when the cleaning unit is mounted on the wheeled base.

19. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 18 wherein the wheeled base has at least one front wheel and at least two rear wheels and the rear wheels have a larger diameter then the at least one front wheel.

20. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 19 wherein the cleaning unit has a front end having a fluid inlet downstream from the dirty fluid inlet and the front end of the cleaning unit is positioned at a front end of the wheeled base.

21. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the cleaning unit is lockably receivable on the wheeled base.

22. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the wheeled base has at least one front wheel having a diameter of 1 to 3 inches and at least two rear wheels having a diameter of 1 to 3 inches.

23. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the cleaning unit has a carry handle.

24. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the cleaning unit has a shoulder strap.

25. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the wheeled base has at least one front wheel and at least two rear wheels, and the cleaning unit is receivable on an open platform.

26. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the wheeled base has an absence of operating components.

27. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the wheeled base has a floor cleaning mount provided thereon.

28. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 27 wherein the floor cleaning mount is positioned adjacent a front end of the wheeled base.

29. A surface cleaning apparatus comprising:

(a) a member having a dirty fluid inlet;

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

(c) a portable cleaning unit positioned in the fluid flow path and comprising at least one cyclonic separation stage and a suction motor; and

(d) a wheeled base mounted to the portable cleaning unit, the wheeled base having at least one front wheel and at least two rear wheels, the rear wheels being positioned outwardly of an area occupied by the cleaning unit when the wheeled base is mounted to the cleaning unit.

30. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 29 wherein the rear wheels have a larger diameter than the at least one front wheel.

31. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 29 wherein the rear wheels have a smaller diameter than the at least one front wheel.