SURFACE CLEANING APPARATUS

• US 20140237756A1
• Filed: 04/10/2014
• Published: 08/28/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2013
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Omachron Intellectual Property Inc.
• Original Assignee: GBD Corporation (G.B.D.)
• Inventors: Conrad, Wayne Ernest
• Application Number:
  US14/250,316
• Publication Number:
  US 20140237756A1
• 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

A surface cleaning apparatus includes a surface cleaning head having a dirty air inlet and an upper section mount and an upper portion moveably mounted to the upper section. The upper portion includes a wand. A portable surface cleaning unit is removably mounted to the upper portion. An air flow path extends from the dirty air inlet to a clean air outlet and includes an upstream portion comprising the wand and a flexible air flow conduit downstream of the wand. Each of the wand and the portable cleaning unit can be separately removable from the upper section mount.

Claims

1. An upright surface cleaning apparatus 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, the upper portion comprising a wand;

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

(d) an air flow path extending from the dirty air inlet to a clean air outlet and comprising an upstream portion that extends from the dirty air inlet to the surface cleaning unit, the upstream portion of the air flow path comprising the wand and a flexible air flow conduit downstream of the wand; and

,

(e) each of the wand and the portable cleaning unit is separately removable from the upper portion.

2. The upright surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1, wherein the wand is removable while the portable cleaning unit remains in position on the upper portion and while the wand remains in air flow communication with the portable cleaning unit.

3. The upright surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1, wherein the portable cleaning unit is removable from the upper portion while maintaining the portable cleaning unit in air flow communication with the surface cleaning head.

4. The upright surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a single locking member securing the wand and the portable cleaning unit on the upper portion.

5. The upright surface cleaning apparatus of claim 4 wherein the single locking member includes a single actuator.

6. The upright surface cleaning apparatus of claim 5, wherein the single actuator comprises a foot pedal disposed on one of the surface cleaning head and the upper portion.

7. The upright surface cleaning apparatus of claim 4, wherein the single locking member comprises a latching mechanism that is configurable in an unlocked position and a locked position, when the latching mechanism is in the unlocked position both the wand and the portable cleaning unit are unlocked and either one of the wand and the portable cleaning unit can be separated from the upper portion.

8. The upright surface cleaning apparatus of claim 7, wherein the portable cleaning unit includes a first engagement portion, the wand includes a second engagement portion and the latching mechanism comprises a first latch member configured to engage the first engagement portion and a second latch member spaced apart from the first latch member and configured to engage the second engagement portion, and wherein when the latching mechanism is in the unlocked position the first latch member is disengaged from the first engagement portion and the second latch member is disengaged from the second engagement portion.

9. The upright surface cleaning apparatus of claim 8, wherein the first latch member and the second latch member are moveable in unison with each other.

10. The upright surface cleaning apparatus of claim 8, wherein the second engagement portion comprises an aperture in the wand.

11. The upright surface cleaning apparatus of claim 7, wherein the latching mechanism is biased toward the locked position and wherein separating one of the wand and the portable cleaning unit from the upper portion engages the latch member and automatically returns the single locking member to the locked position and automatically re-locks the other one of the wand and the portable cleaning unit to the upper portion.

12. The upright surface cleaning apparatus of claim 11, wherein when the one of the wand and the portable cleaning unit has been separated from the upper portion and the single locking member has been returned to the unlocked position the other one of the wand and the surface cleaning apparatus can be separated from the upper portion.

13. The upright surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1, wherein the surface cleaning head has a forward direction of motion and the portable cleaning unit is removably mounted to a front side of the upper portion.

14. The upright surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1, wherein the air treatment member comprises a cyclone bin assembly and the cyclone bin assembly is removable while the portable cleaning unit is mounted to the upper section.

15. The upright 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.

16. The upright surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1, wherein the flexible air flow conduit comprises an electrified stretch hose.

17. The upright surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an upper section mount and each of the wand and the portable cleaning unit is removably mounted to the upper section mount.

18. The upright surface cleaning apparatus of claim 17, further comprising an up flow duct, the up flow duct is moveably mounted to the surface cleaning head and the upper section mount is provided on the up flow duct.

19. The upright surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1, wherein the portable cleaning unit is spaced from the surface cleaning head when mounted to the upper portion.

20. The upright surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1, wherein the upper portion is also rotatably mounted with respect to the surface cleaning head.

21. The upright surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1, wherein the upper section comprises an upper section mount, the upper section mount has an outlet port in fluid flow communication with the dirty air inlet, the wand is in air flow communication with the outlet port when mounted to the upper section mount and each of the wand and the portable cleaning unit is removably mounted to the upper section mount.

22. The upright surface cleaning apparatus of claim 21, wherein the wand is mated with the outlet port when mounted to the upper section mount.

23. The upright surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1, wherein the surface cleaning head comprises an electric motor drivingly coupled to a rotary brush, the electric motor is electrically connected to the surface cleaning unit when the surface cleaning unit is mounted on the upper section and remains electrically connected to the surface to the surface cleaning unit when the surface cleaning unit is removed from the upper portion and the wand remains moveably mounted to the surface cleaning head.

24. The upright surface cleaning apparatus of claim 23, wherein the electric connection between the electric motor and the surface cleaning unit is uninterrupted when the upright surface cleaning apparatus is in a first configuration wherein the surface cleaning unit is attached to the upper portion and when the upright surface cleaning apparatus is in a second configuration wherein the wand remains moveably mounted to the surface cleaning head and the surface cleaning unit is detached from the upper portion.

25. The upright surface cleaning apparatus of claim 23, wherein the electrical connection between the surface cleaning unit and the electric motor comprises an electrified stretch hose.