SURFACE CLEANING APPARATUS

• US 20120272472A1
• Filed: 07/04/2012
• Published: 11/01/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/13/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Omachron Intellectual Property Inc.
• Original Assignee: GBD Corporation (G.B.D.)
• Inventors: Conrad, Wayne Ernest
• Granted Patent: US 9,386,895 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 15/323
• 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 5/28 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 9/325 for wheeled suction cleaners with steering handle

Abstract

An upright surface cleaning apparatus comprises a support structure moveably connected to a surface cleaning head and having an air treatment member mounted to the upright section. The support structure is bendable and is operated by a remote actuator.

Claims

1. An upright surface cleaning apparatus comprising:

(a) an air flow path extending from a dirty air inlet of a surface cleaning head to a clean air outlet and including a suction motor;

(b) a support structure moveably mounted to the surface cleaning head, the support structure comprising an upper portion rotatably mounted to a lower portion about an axis that intersects a longitudinal axis of at least one of the upper and lower portions and a releasable lock located at a juncture of the upper and lower portions;

(c) a cleaning unit comprising an air treatment member mounted to the upright section;

(d) the air flow path includes a portion extending from the dirty air inlet to the cleaning unit, the lower portion comprises part of the portion of the air flow path, the upper portion is isolated from the air flow path; and

,

(e) an actuator operatively connected to the lock via the upper portion and positioned on the upper portion distal to the juncture.

2. The upright surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the cleaning unit includes the suction motor and the cleaning unit is removably mounted to the upright section.

3. The upright surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the upper portion includes a handgrip portion and the actuator is positioned on or proximate the handgrip portion.

4. The upright surface cleaning apparatus of claim 3 wherein the portion of the air flow path from the dirty air inlet to the cleaning unit further comprises a flexible hose.

5. The upright surface cleaning apparatus of claim 4 wherein the portion of the air flow path includes a removably mounted cleaning wand.

6. The upright surface cleaning apparatus of claim 5 wherein the cleaning wand is positioned downstream of the lower portion and upstream of the flexible hose.

7. The upright surface cleaning apparatus of claim 5 wherein the cleaning wand is removably mounted to the lower portion.

8. The upright surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 further comprising an auxiliary cleaning tool removably mounted to the upper portion.

9. The upright surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the support structure has an absence of a housing defining a recess for receiving the cleaning unit.

10. The upright surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the upper and lower portions comprise longitudinally extending rods.

11. The upright surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the upper portion is forwardly rotatable about the axis.

12. The upright surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the upper portion is pivotally mounted to the lower portion.

13. The upright surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the support structure is pivotally mounted to the surface cleaning head.

14. The upright surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 further comprising two cord wind members provided on the lower portion of the support structure.

15. The upright surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the cleaning unit is mounted to the lower portion.

16. The upright surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the cleaning unit is removably mounted to the lower portion and includes the suction motor.

17. The upright surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the cleaning unit includes the suction motor and is useable in a first configuration wherein the cleaning unit is mounted on the support structure and at least one additional configuration wherein the cleaning unit is removed from the support structure and attached in air flow communication with the surface cleaning head or wherein the cleaning unit is removed from the support structure and removed from air flow communication with the surface cleaning head and useable as a hand vacuum cleaner.

18. The upright surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the cleaning unit includes the suction motor and is useable in a first configuration wherein the cleaning unit is mounted on the support structure, a second configuration wherein the cleaning unit is removed from the support structure and attached in air flow communication with the surface cleaning head and a third configuration wherein the cleaning unit is removed from the support structure and removed from air flow communication with the surface cleaning head and useable as a hand vacuum cleaner.

19. The upright surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a member extending through the upper portion, the connecting member operatively connecting the actuator and the releasable lock.