SURFACE CLEANING APPARATUS

• US 20140237767A1
• 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 9,215,960 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 15/353
• 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 5/36 Suction cleaners with hose between nozzle and casing; Suction cleaners for fixing on staircases; Suction cleaners for carrying on the back
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/009 Carrying-vehicles; Arrangements of trollies or wheels; Means for avoiding mechanical obstacles
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/0411 driven by electric motor
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/106 Dust removal
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/122 flat
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/1608 Cyclonic chamber constructions
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/1666 with filtering means
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/1683 Dust collecting chambers; Dust collecting receptacles
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/1691 Mounting or coupling means for cyclonic chamber or dust receptacles
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/19 Means for monitoring filtering operation
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/242 Hose or pipe couplings
• 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 9/2826 the condition of the floor
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2857 User input or output elements for control, e.g. buttons, switches or displays

Abstract

A surface cleaning apparatus comprises a first flexible electrified air flow conduit having an air inlet end that is electrified.

Claims

1. A surface cleaning apparatus having comprising:

(a) a surface cleaning head having a first dirty air inlet and an air flow path extending from the first dirty air inlet to a clean air outlet;

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

,

(c) a first flexible electrified air flow conduit having an air inlet end that is electrified.

2. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the inlet end of the first flexible electrified air flow conduit is configured to comprise or be connected to a second dirty air inlet.

3. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first and second portions are positioned upstream of the first flexible electrified air flow conduit.

4. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a surface cleaning unit that is removably mounted to the upper portion, the surface cleaning unit comprising a suction motor, an air treatment member having an air treatment member air inlet and the first and second portions and the first flexible electrified air flow conduit are upstream of the air treatment member.

5. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 4 wherein the first and second portions and the first flexible electrified air flow conduit are removable with the surface cleaning unit.

6. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first and second portions comprise an upstream air flow conduit and a downstream air flow conduit and the first flexible electrified air flow conduit is positioned between, and in air flow communication with, the upstream and downstream air flow conduits.

7. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first and second portions meet at a juncture that comprises a second flexible electrified air flow conduit.

8. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first portion is moveably attached to the second portion and the first portion is electrically connected to the second portion.

9. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first flexible electrified air flow conduit is an electrified stretch hose.

10. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first flexible electrified air flow conduit comprises an electrified hose cuff.

11. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 10 wherein the electrified hose cuff comprises female electrical connectors.

12. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the inlet end of the first flexible electrified air flow conduit comprises an on/off switch.

13. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 4 wherein the surface cleaning unit comprises a main on/off switch.

14. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 13 wherein the air treatment member comprises a cyclone bin assembly removably mounted to the surface cleaning unit and the main on/off switch is provided on the cyclone bin assembly.

15. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 14 wherein the cyclone bin assembly is removably mounted to a body of the surface cleaning unit, the body is electrically connectable to an external power source and an electrical conduit extends between the main on/off switch and at least one of the first flexible electrified air flow conduit and the body.

16. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 4 wherein the air treatment member comprises a cyclone bin assembly removably mounted to the surface cleaning unit and the cyclone bin assembly is removable without the flexible electrified air flow conduit.

17. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 16 further comprising a handle positioned at the inlet end of the first flexible electrified air flow conduit and the on/off switch is provided on the handle.

18. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 17 wherein the handle is removably connected to the inlet end of the first flexible electrified air flow conduit.

19. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 17 wherein the handle comprises a handle air flow path and the handle air flow path has a handle inlet end that is electrified.

20. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 3 wherein, a downstream end of the first portion is connectable to an air inlet end of a handle, the second portion has an upstream end and, when the first portion is connected to the handle air inlet end, the downstream end of the first portion is in air flow communication with the handle inlet end and the downstream end of the second portion is electrified.