SURFACE CLEANING APPARATUS

• US 20140237755A1
• Filed: 02/28/2013
• Published: 08/28/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Omachron Intellectual Property Inc.
• Original Assignee: GBD Corporation (G.B.D.)
• Inventors: Conrad, Wayne Ernest
• Granted Patent: US 9,456,721 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 15/329
• 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 5/30 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 7/0095 Suction cleaners or attachments adapted to collect dust or waste from power tools
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/00 Details or accessories of suction cleaners, e.g. mechanical means for controlling the suction or for effecting pulsating action; Storing devices specially adapted to suction cleaners or parts thereof; Carrying-vehicles specially adapted for suction cleaners
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/0018 integrated in or removably mounted upon the suction cleaner for storing parts of said suction cleaner
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/0081 Means for exhaust-air diffusion; Means for sound or vibration damping
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/02 Nozzles suction nozzles for fluid transport B65G51/00
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/122 flat
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/16 Arrangement or disposition of cyclones or other devices with centrifugal action
• 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 9/246 with electrical connectors
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/248 Parts, details or accessories of hoses or pipes nozzles A47L9/02
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2857 User input or output elements for control, e.g. buttons, switches or displays
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/30 Arrangement of illuminating devices
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/325 for wheeled suction cleaners with steering handle
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/327 for suction cleaners with hose between nozzle and casing

Abstract

An upright surface cleaning apparatus with a portable surface cleaning unit wherein a lock which secures the portable surface cleaning unit in position is automatically moved to the unlocked position when an upper portion is moved to the floor cleaning position.

Claims

1. An surface cleaning apparatus having comprising:

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

(b) an upper portion moveably mounted to the surface cleaning head between a storage position and a floor cleaning position;

(c) a portable surface cleaning unit comprising a suction motor and an air treatment member removably mounted to the upper portion;

(d) an air flow path extending from the dirty air inlet and including a flexible air flow conduit forming at least part of an air flow path from the dirty air inlet to the surface cleaning unit;

(e) a portable surface cleaning unit lock having a locked position in which the portable surface cleaning unit is secured to the upper portion and an unlocked position in which the portable surface cleaning unit is removable from the upper portion; and

,

(f) a retaining member maintaining the portable surface cleaning unit on the upper portion when the portable surface cleaning unit lock is in the unlocked position

wherein the portable surface cleaning unit lock is automatically moved to the unlocked position when the upper portion is moved to the floor cleaning position.

2. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the retaining member comprises a magnet.

3. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the retaining member comprises a member configured to retain the portable surface cleaning unit on the upper portion under the influence of gravity.

4. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the portable surface cleaning unit lock is electrically operated.

5. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 4 wherein the portable surface cleaning unit lock comprises a solenoid drivingly connected to a pin provided on one of the and the portable surface cleaning unit and the upper portion and a member engageable by the pin provided on the other of the portable surface cleaning unit and the upper portion.

6. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 5 further comprising a sensor operatively connected to the solenoid wherein the solenoid is actuated when the sensor detects motion of the upper portion between the storage and floor cleaning positions.

7. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the portable surface cleaning unit further comprises a retractable shoulder strap.

8. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 7 wherein the portable surface cleaning unit has an openable lid provided on a cyclone bin assembly body and the shoulder strap has a first end secured to the cyclone bin assembly body and a second end secured to the openable lid.

9. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 7 wherein the portable surface cleaning unit further comprises a handle, the shoulder strap seats on the handle when in a retracted position and the handle includes at least one finger grip recess provided on a portion of the handle on which the shoulder strap seats when in a retracted position.

10. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the portable surface cleaning unit further comprises a handle and the portable surface cleaning unit lock comprises a locking member, a manually actuatable member operatively connected to the locking member and a lockout member disabling the portable surface cleaning unit lock when the handle is used to carry the surface cleaning apparatus.

11. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 10 wherein the portable surface cleaning unit lock is electrically operated and the lockout member comprises a sensor that disables the portable surface cleaning unit lock when the sensor determines that the handle is used the handle is used to carry the surface cleaning apparatus.

12. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 10 wherein the handle is moveably mounted with respect to the portable surface cleaning unit and is drivingly connected to the lockout member whereby, when the handle is used to carry the surface cleaning apparatus, the handle moves upwardly and drives the lockout member to a lockout position whereby the portable surface cleaning unit lock is disabled.

13. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the portable surface cleaning unit further comprises a cyclone bin assembly removably mounted to a suction motor housing and a cyclone bin assembly lock that releasably secures the cyclone bin assembly to the suction motor housing, the cyclone bin assembly lock comprises a first locking member provided on the cyclone bin assembly and a second locking member provided on the suction motor housing and the first and second locking members are provided internal of the portable surface cleaning unit.

14. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 13 wherein the cyclone bin assembly lock further comprises a bin release actuator provided on an exterior of the surface cleaning unit.

15. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 13 wherein the cyclone bin assembly has a lower surface that is configured to stand on a horizontal surface when removed from the suction motor housing.

16. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 13 wherein the portable surface cleaning unit further comprises a handle and the cyclone bin assembly lock further comprises a locking member, a manually actuatable member drivingly connected to the locking member and a lockout member disabling the cyclone bin assembly lock when a the handle is used to carry the surface cleaning apparatus.

17. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the upper portion further comprises first and second portions that are part of the air flow path, and the second portion is rotatable relative to the first portion about an axis that intersects a longitudinal axis of at least one of the first and second portions.

18. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 17 wherein the upper portion comprises a wand that is upstream of the flexible air flow conduit and the wand is removable for use in an above floor cleaning mode.

19. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the surface cleaning head comprises a rotary brush driven by a brush motor and a battery that is operatively connected to the brush motor.

20. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 19 wherein the upper portion comprises a wand that is upstream of the flexible air flow conduit and the wand and the portable surface cleaning unit are removable from the surface cleaning apparatus for use in an above floor cleaning mode and, when the wand and the portable surface cleaning unit are connected as part of the surface cleaning apparatus, the battery is electrically connected to the surface cleaning unit.