RECONFIGURABLE UPRIGHT SURFACE CLEANING APPARATUS WITH A POWERED BRUSH MOTOR

• US 20110219567A1
• Filed: 03/12/2010
• Published: 09/15/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/12/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Omachron Intellectual Property Inc.
• Original Assignee: GBD Corporation (G.B.D.)
• Inventors: Conrad, Wayne Ernest
• Application Number:
  US12/722,735
• Publication Number:
  US 20110219567A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 15/328
• 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 5/30 with driven dust-loosening tools, e.g. rotating brushes
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 5/32 with means for connecting a hose hose couplings for suction cleaners A47L9/24
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/1691 Mounting or coupling means for cyclonic chamber or dust receptacles
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/22 Mountings for motor fan assemblies
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2821 Pressure, vacuum level or airflow
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2836 characterised by the parts which are controlled
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2868 Arrangements for power supply of vacuum cleaners or the accessories thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2889 Safety or protection devices or systems, e.g. for prevention of motor over-heating or for protection of the user

Abstract

A surface cleaning apparatus comprises a floor cleaning head having a dirty air inlet, a cleaning brush and a brush motor. An air flow passage extending from the dirty air inlet to a clean air outlet. An upper section is moveably mounted to the surface cleaning head between an storage position and an in use position. The upper section comprises a cleaning unit including a suction motor positioned in the air flow passage. At least one of the upper section and the cleaning unit is removably mounted to the floor cleaning head in a preset orientation. When the surface cleaning apparatus is assembled, the cleaning unit is spaced from the floor cleaning head. An alignment member is provided on the surface cleaning apparatus. The alignment member requires the one of the upper section and the cleaning unit to be in the preset orientation when mounted on the floor cleaning head. An electrical conductive member is electrically connected to the brush motor and releaseably electrically connected to the cleaning unit. The electrically conductive member is automatically connected to the cleaning unit when the one of the upper section and the cleaning unit is mounted to the floor cleaning head.

Claims

1. A convertible upright surface cleaning apparatus comprising:

(a) a floor cleaning head having a dirty air inlet, a cleaning brush and a brush motor;

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

(c) an upper section moveably mounted to the surface cleaning head between an storage position and an in use position, the upper section comprising a cleaning unit including a suction motor positioned in the air flow passage;

(d) at least one of the upper section and the cleaning unit removably mounted to the floor cleaning head in a preset orientation and, when the surface cleaning apparatus is assembled, the cleaning unit is spaced from the floor cleaning head;

(e) an alignment member provided on the surface cleaning apparatus requiring the one of the upper section and the cleaning unit to be in the preset orientation when mounted on the floor cleaning head; and

,

(f) an electrical conductive member electrically connected to the brush motor and releaseably electrically connected to the cleaning unit, the electrically conductive member being automatically connected to the cleaning unit when the one of the upper section and the cleaning unit is mounted to the floor cleaning head.

2. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the floor cleaning head includes a tubular support member on which the one of the upper section and the cleaning unit is mounted.

3. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the cleaning unit is supported by a thin backbone of the upper section.

4. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 2 wherein the air flow passage includes an up flow duct and the cleaning unit is mounted to and supported by the up flow duct.

5. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the air flow passage includes an up flow duct and the cleaning unit is mounted to and supported by the up flow duct.

6. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the electrical conductive member comprises a wire extending from upper section to the floor cleaning head wherein at least a portion of the wire is positioned external to the upper section and the floor cleaning head.

7. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 6 wherein the upper section is rotatably mounted to the floor cleaning head about a longitudinal axis extending through a lower portion of the upper section.

8. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the alignment member is provided on at least one of the cleaning unit, the upper section, and the floor cleaning head.

9. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the alignment member directs the one of the cleaning unit and the upper section into the preset orientation as the one of the cleaning unit and the upper section is mounted on the floor cleaning head.

10. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the alignment member comprises guide members provided on the floor cleaning head, the guide members interacting with the upper section as the cleaning unit is mounted to the upper section.

11. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the alignment member comprises at least one of a male engagement member and a female engagement member provided on the floor cleaning head and the other of the male engagement member and the female engagement member provided on the one of cleaning unit and the upper section, and the male engagement member is slideably engageable with the female member.

12. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 2 wherein the electrically conductive member comprises one of a plug and a socket and the cleaning unit comprises the other of the plug and the socket, and the plug is inserted into the socket as the one of the cleaning unit and the upper section is mounted to the tubular member of the floor cleaning head.

13. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 2 wherein the electrically conductive member comprises a first electrical end and the cleaning unit comprises a second electrical end, the first and second electrical ends are releasably engageable and the first electrical end is mounted to the tubular member of the floor cleaning head.

14. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 13 wherein one of the first and second electrical ends is receivable in the other of the first and second ends.

15. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 further comprising an electrical cord mounted to the cleaning unit and releasably engageable with a household electrical outlet.

16. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 further comprising an wand and hose wherein the cleaning unit is removable from the upper section with the wand and hose.

17. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the cleaning unit comprises a cyclone and a dirt collection chamber and the dirt collection chamber is removable from the cleaning unit when closed.

18. A convertible upright surface cleaning apparatus comprising:

(a) a floor cleaning head having a dirty air inlet and a moveably mounted tubular support member;

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

(c) an upper section provided on the tubular member and moveable between an storage position and an in use position and comprising a cleaning unit and a handle;

(d) the cleaning unit comprising a suction motor positioned in the air flow passage wherein the cleaning unit, by itself or with components of the upper section is removably mounted to the surface cleaning apparatus in a preset orientation; and

,

(e) an alignment member provided on the surface cleaning apparatus requiring the cleaning unit to be in the preset orientation when mounted on the surface cleaning apparatus.

19. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 18 wherein the cleaning unit is spaced from the floor cleaning head when mounted to the surface cleaning apparatus.

20. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 18 wherein the cleaning unit is directly or indirectly mounted to the tubular support member.

21. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 18 wherein the tubular support member comprises an upflow duct and comprises part of the air flow passage and the cleaning unit is mounted to and supported by the up flow duct.

22. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 18 wherein the air flow passage includes an up flow duct and the cleaning unit is mounted to and supported by the up flow duct, the cleaning unit is spaced from the floor cleaning head when mounted to the upper section.

23. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 18 wherein the alignment member directs the cleaning unit into the preset orientation as the cleaning unit is mounted to the surface cleaning apparatus.

24. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 18 wherein the cleaning unit is provided with an electrical cord and plug, the floor cleaning head includes an electrically operated brush that is electrically connected to the cleaning unit by an electrically conductive member when the cleaning unit is installed on the surface cleaning apparatus and the electrical conductive member comprises a wire extending from upper section to the floor cleaning head wherein at least a portion of the wire is positioned external to the upper section and the floor cleaning head.

25. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 24 wherein the upper section is rotatably mounted to the floor cleaning head about a longitudinal axis extending through a lower portion of the upper section.