SURFACE CLEANING APPARATUS

• US 20150007409A1
• Filed: 06/10/2014
• Published: 01/08/2015
• 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 9,931,005 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

A reconfigurable upright vacuum cleaner has a portable surface cleaning unit removably mounted to an upper portion and is securable thereto by a portable surface cleaning unit lock. The portable surface cleaning unit has the operable members of the portable surface cleaning unit lock provided on the portable surface cleaning unit and removable with the portable surface cleaning unit from the upper portion.

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 on an outer surface of the upper portion;

(d) 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, the portable surface cleaning unit lock comprising a portable surface cleaning unit release actuator which is provided on the portable surface cleaning unit and is removable with the portable surface cleaning unit from the upper portion and a longitudinally extending transmission member that drivingly connects the portable surface cleaning release actuator to a lock member, the transmission member is translatable downwardly when the portable surface cleaning lock is moved to the unlocked position.

2. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the locking member is releasably engageable with the upper portion.

3. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 2 wherein the upper portion terminates at a position below the position of the portable surface cleaning unit release actuator when the portable surface cleaning unit is mounted to the upper portion.

4. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the outer surface of the upper portion is provided with an alignment member and the portable surface cleaning unit is mountable to the outer surface in a particular alignment.

5. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 4 wherein the alignment member inhibits lateral movement of the portable surface cleaning unit when the portable surface cleaning unit is mounted to the outer surface.

6. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 4 wherein the portable surface cleaning unit release actuator is positioned above the alignment member.

7. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 further comprising an above floor cleaning wand removably mounted to the upper portion and a flexible air flow conduit forming at least part of an air flow path from the above floor cleaning wand to the surface cleaning unit.

8. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 7 wherein the upper portion is in air flow communication with the dirty air inlet and, when the wand is mounted to the upper portion, the wand is in air flow communication with the dirty air inlet.

9. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 7 further comprising an air flow passage from the dirty air inlet to the upper portion and an air inlet end of the wand is aligned with an outlet end of the air flow passage when the wand is mounted to the upper portion.

10. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 7 wherein the wand comprises a lower end that is mounted to the upper portion and an upper end, the lower end comprises a wand air inlet and the upper end comprises a wand air outlet, a handle is provided proximate the upper end of the wand, whereby, when the wand is mounted to the upper section, the wand is driving connected to the surface cleaning head.

11. 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) 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, the portable surface cleaning unit lock comprising a portable surface cleaning unit release actuator which is provided on the portable surface cleaning unit and is removable with the portable surface cleaning unit from the upper portion.

12. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 11 wherein the portable surface cleaning lock further comprises a locking member that is releasably engageable with the upper portion.

13. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 12 wherein the portable surface cleaning unit is removably mounted on an outer surface of the upper portion.

14. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 12 further comprising a longitudinally extending transmission member that drivingly connects the portable surface cleaning release actuator to the lock member, the transmission member is translatable downwardly when the portable surface cleaning lock is moved to the unlocked position.

15. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 14 wherein the portable surface cleaning unit is removably mounted on an outer surface of the upper portion.

16. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 11 wherein the portable surface cleaning unit is removably mounted on an outer surface of the upper portion and the outer surface is provided with an alignment member and the portable surface cleaning unit is mountable to the outer surface in a particular alignment.

17. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 16 wherein the alignment member inhibits lateral movement of the portable surface cleaning unit when the portable surface cleaning unit is mounted to the outer surface.

18. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 17 wherein the portable surface cleaning unit release actuator is positioned above the alignment member.

19. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 11 further comprising an above floor cleaning wand removably mounted to the upper portion and a flexible air flow conduit forming at least part of an air flow path from the above floor cleaning wand to the surface cleaning unit

20. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 19 wherein the upper portion is in air flow communication with the dirty air inlet and, when the wand is mounted to the upper portion, the wand is in air flow communication with the dirty air inlet.

21. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 19 further comprising an air flow passage from the dirty air inlet to the upper portion and an air inlet end of the wand is aligned with an outlet end of the air flow passage when the wand is mounted to the upper portion.

22. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 19 wherein the wand comprises a lower end that is mounted to the upper portion and an upper end, the lower end comprises a wand air inlet and the upper end comprises a wand air outlet, a handle is provided proximate the upper end of the wand, whereby, when the wand is mounted to the upper section, the wand is driving connected to the surface cleaning head.