Convertible vacuum cleaner

• US 6,295,692 B1
• Filed: 05/10/2000
• Issued: 10/02/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 05/10/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: ProTeam, Inc. (Boise) (Emerson Electric Company)
• Original Assignee: Pro-Team, Inc. (Emerson Electric Company)
• Inventors: Shideler, Larry R.
• Primary Examiner(s): MOORE, CHRISTOPHER K
• Application Number:
  US09/568,637
• Time in Patent Office: 510 Days
• Field of Search: 153/28, 153/29, 153/275
• US Class Current: 15/327.5
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 5/14 cleaning by blowing-off, also combined with suction cleaning
• 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 5/36 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 9/22 Mountings for motor fan assemblies

Abstract

The present invention is a vacuuming apparatus convertible between a backpack mode, a canister mode and an upright mode. Additionally, the present invention is convertible into a handheld mode and a blower mode. Each of these modes are accomplished through attachments which are able to be easily attached and detached together. The apparatus has a power unit having an electric motor and impeller; a base unit containing a filter; a backpack unit for use in the backpack mode; a canister unit for use in the canister mode; a blower unit for use in the blower mode; a handheld unit for use as a handheld vacuum cleaner in a hand held mode; and a work bench waste collection mode.

Claims

1. A cleaning apparatus convertible between upright, canister, and backpack modes, comprising:

a power unit assembly including;

an electric motor, an impeller powered by said electric motor to establish a suction, thereby creating an airflow in an intake port and out an exhaust port, a power cord connecting said motor to a power source, an on/off means for turning said motor on and off, an intake port for receiving air from a base unit, an exhaust port for exhausting air, a power unit housing for containing said power unit assembly, a base unit attachment means for attachment with a base unit, and a head attachment means for attachment with a head;

a base unit including;

an intake port for receiving air containing a suspended particulate substance, said intake port further comprising a hose attachment means for cooperation with a hose;

a filter means for separating, filtering, collecting, and storing said particulate substance, thereby creating filtered air, an exhaust port for venting said filtered air to said power unit intake port, an upright handle attachment means for attachment with a handle means, a backplate attachment means for attachment with a backplate, a pair of rear wheels and a front surface contact means;

a handle means for attachment to said base unit, whereby a user is able to grasp said handle means and thereby use said apparatus in upright form;

a head for contacting a floor surface, said head including an alignment pin for releasably connecting said head with said head attachment means of said power unit assembly; and

a backplate for releasable attachment with said base unit, said backplate including;

a backplate pad, engagement means for releasable attachment to the base unit, and shoulder straps and a belt for allowing said backplate to be worn on the user'"'"'s back;

wherein said backplate allows said apparatus to be worn on a user'"'"'s back in a backpack mode;

wherein said base unit can be placed upon said floor surface, said apparatus thereby in a canister mode; and

wherein handle means allows a user to push and pull said apparatus across said floor surface, said apparatus thereby in a upright mode.

2. The cleaning apparatus convertible between upright, canister, and backpack modes of claim 1 further comprising a blower attachment for cooperation with the exhaust port of the power unit thereby creating a blower, said blower attachment including:

means for attaching a carrying cover to the power unit; and

a blower nozzle cooperating with said power unit exhaust port;

whereby said apparatus can be worn as a backpack blower; and

whereby said apparatus can be set upon said floor surface and used as a canister blower.

3. The cleaning apparatus convertible between upright, canister, and backpack modes of claim 1 further comprising a hand held means, said hand held means comprising at least one handle for allowing a user to use the apparatus in a hand held mode.

4. A vacuum cleaner convertible between upright, canister and backpack modes, comprising:

a power unit assembly having an electric motor, an impeller powered by said electric motor to establish a suction, thereby creating an airflow in an intake port and out an exhaust port, said intake port for connecting with a base unit exhaust port, a power cord connecting said motor to a power source, and an on/off means for turning said electric motor on and off;

a base unit having a base unit intake at a hose attachment port, and having a base unit exhaust, said base unit containing a filter section for filtering airflow into said base unit intake and out said base unit exhaust, said base unit having a base able to be rested on a floor surface thereby allowing said vacuum cleaner to be used in a canister mode;

an upright mode attachment comprising a handle for connecting with said base unit, a power head for contacting a floor surface, a power head hose for connecting said power head to said hose attachment port, said upright mode attachment thereby allowing said vacuum cleaner to be used in an upright mode; and

a backplate mode attachment comprising a backplate having a backplate pad, shoulder straps and a waist strap, said backplate having an attachment means for releasable attachment with said base unit, said backplate mode attachment further comprising a vacuum hose connecting to said hose attachment port, said backpack mode attachment enabling said vacuum cleaner to be worn as a backpack on a user'"'"'s back, and used in a backpack mode.

5. The vacuum of claim 4 which further converts to a handheld mode by said base unit further comprising at least one hand grip.

6. The vacuum of claim 4 which further converts to a blower mode by detachment of said motor unit from said base unit, and use of a blower mode attachment comprising means for attaching a carrying cover to said motor unit, means for carrying said carrying cover, and a blower nozzle cooperating with said motor unit exhaust port.

7. A convertible cleaning apparatus comprising:

an elongated vacuuming means for receiving air containing suspended particulate substance and removing said suspended particulate substance from said air, said vacuuming means having an intake and an exhaust, said vacuuming means having a backpack means, a prostrate canister means, an upright canister means, a handheld means, an upright push/pull means and a blower means, wherein said backpack means is for allowing said apparatus to be worn on a user'"'"'s back, said backpack means attaching to said vacuuming means through use of a backpack attachment means;

wherein said prostrate canister means comprises a floor contact means for support of said elongated vacuuming means in a generally horizontal fashion;

wherein said upright canister means comprises a second floor contact means for support of said elongated vacuuming means in a generally vertical fashion;

wherein said handheld means comprises at least one handle on said elongated vacuum means allowing said apparatus to be carried in an operator'"'"'s hands;

wherein said upright push/pull means comprises a handle for allowing the user to push and pull said elongated vacuuming means across a surface, and a power head for contacting said surface, said power head operatively connected to said vacuuming means; and

wherein said blower means comprises a means for attaching a carrying means to said vacuuming means, and a blower nozzle means for directing said exhaust from said vacuum means.

8. The convertible cleaning apparatus of claim 7, wherein said floor contact means are casters.

9. The convertible cleaning apparatus of claim 8, wherein said second floor contact means are casters.

10. The convertible cleaning apparatus of claim 7, wherein said backpack attachment means comprises a backplate for releasable attachment with said elongated vacuuming means through use of said backplate attachment means, said backplate including:

a backplate pad, a floor contact means recess for receiving said floor contact means of said prostrate canister means, said backpack means for allowing a wearer to wear the backplate and attached device on the wearer'"'"'s back.

11. The convertible cleaning apparatus of claim 7, wherein said elongate vacuuming means comprises a power unit having an electric motor, an impeller powered by said electric motor to establish a suction, thereby creating an airflow in an intake port and out an exhaust port, said intake port for connecting with a base unit exhaust, a power cord connecting said motor to a power source, and an on/off means for turning said motor on and off;

and a base unit having an base unit intake at a hose attachment port, and having a base unit exhaust, said base unit containing a filter section for filtering airflow into said base unit intake and out said base unit exhaust.

12. The convertible cleaning apparatus of claim 11, wherein said power source is rechargeable.

13. The convertible cleaning apparatus of claim 7, wherein said handheld means handle is hollow and receives therein said upright push/pull means handle.

14. The convertible cleaning apparatus of claim 13, wherein said apparatus has dual hollow handles, and said upright push/pull means handle is a generally inverted Y shape.

15. The convertible cleaning apparatus of claim 7, wherein said blower means further comprises a dome filter attaching to said vacuuming means at said vacuuming means intake.

16. The convertible cleaning apparatus of claim 7, wherein said apparatus further comprises a bench canister conversion cap for attaching to the power unit assembly intake port;

a hose attaching to the conversion cap;

said hose further attaching to a work bench waste canister;

said canister further connecting through a second hose to a particulate substance collector.

17. A vacuum cleaner convertible between upright, canister, handheld, and backpack modes, comprising:

a power unit assembly having a motor, an impeller powered by said motor to establish a suction, thereby creating an airflow in an intake port and out an exhaust port, said intake port for connecting with a base unit exhaust port, a power connection connecting said motor to a power source, and an on/off means for turning said motor on and off;

a base unit having a base unit intake at a hose attachment port, and having a base unit exhaust, said base unit containing a filter means section for filtering airflow into said base unit intake and out said base unit exhaust, said base unit having a base able to be rested on a floor surface thereby allowing said vacuum cleaner to be used in a canister mode, said base unit having a handle allowing said vacuum cleaner to be used in a handheld mode;

an upright mode attachment comprising a handle for connecting with said base unit, a power head for contacting a floor surface, a power head hose for connecting said power head to said hose attachment port, said upright mode attachment thereby allowing said vacuum cleaner to be used in an upright mode; and

a backplate mode attachment comprising a backplate having a backplate pad, shoulder straps and a waist strap, said backplate having an attachment means for releasable attachment with said base unit, said backplate mode attachment further comprising a vacuum hose connecting to said hose attachment port, said backpack mode attachment enabling said vacuum cleaner to be worn as a backpack on a user'"'"'s back, and used in a backpack mode.

18. A cleaning apparatus convertible between upright, canister, and backpack modes, comprising:

a power unit assembly including;

a suction creating means creating an airflow in an intake port and out an exhaust port, an on/off means for turning said suction creating means on and off, an intake port for receiving air from a base unit, an exhaust port for exhausting air, a power unit housing for containing said power unit assembly, and a base unit attachment means for attachment with a base unit;

a base unit including;

an intake port for receiving air containing a suspended particulate substance, said intake port further comprising a vacuum hose attachment means for cooperation with a vacuum hose;

a filter means for separating, filtering, collecting, and storing said particulate substance, thereby creating filtered air, an exhaust port for venting said filtered air to said power unit intake port, a handle attachment means for attachment with a handle means, a backplate attachment means for attachment with a backplate, surface contact means;

a handle means for attachment to said base unit, whereby a user is able to grasp said handle means and thereby use said apparatus in upright form;

a head for contacting a floor surface, said head including an alignment pin for releasably connecting said head with said head attachment means of said power unit assembly; and

a backplate, said backplate including;

a backplate pad, shoulder straps and a belt for allowing said backplate to be worn on the user'"'"'s back;

wherein said backplate allows said apparatus to be worn on a user'"'"'s back in a backpack mode;

wherein said base unit can be placed upon said floor surface, said apparatus thereby in a canister mode; and

wherein handle means allows a user to push and pull said apparatus across said floor surface, said apparatus thereby in a upright mode.

19. A vacuum cleaner convertible between upright and canister modes, comprising:

a power unit assembly having a motor, an impeller powered by said motor to establish a suction, thereby creating an airflow in an intake port and out an exhaust port, said intake port for connecting with a base unit exhaust port, a power connection connecting said motor to a power source, and an on/off means for turning said motor on and off;

a base unit having a base unit intake at a hose attachment port, and having a base unit exhaust, said base unit containing a filter means section for filtering airflow into said base unit intake and out said base unit exhaust, said base unit having a base able to be rested on a floor surface thereby allowing said vacuum cleaner to be used in a canister mode;

an upright mode attachment comprising a handle for connecting with said base unit, a power head for contacting a floor surface, a power head hose for connecting said power head to said hose attachment port, and said upright mode attachment thereby allowing said vacuum cleaner to be used in an upright mode.

20. A vacuum cleaner convertible between upright and backpack modes, comprising:

a power unit assembly having a motor, an impeller powered by said motor to establish a suction, thereby creating an airflow in an intake port and out an exhaust port, said intake port for connecting with a base unit exhaust port, a power connection connecting said motor to a power source, and an on/off means for turning said motor on and off;

a base unit having a base unit intake at a hose attachment port, and having a base unit exhaust, said base unit containing a filter means section for filtering airflow into said base unit intake and out said base unit exhaust;

an upright mode attachment comprising a handle for connecting with said base unit, a power head for contacting a floor surface, a power head hose for connecting said power head to said hose attachment port, said upright mode attachment thereby allowing said vacuum cleaner to be used in an upright mode; and

a backplate mode attachment comprising a backplate having a backplate pad, shoulder straps and a waist strap, said backplate having an attachment means for releasable attachment with said base unit, said backplate mode attachment further comprising a vacuum hose connecting to said hose attachment port, said backpack mode attachment enabling said vacuum cleaner to be worn as a backpack on a user'"'"'s back, and used in a backpack mode.

21. A vacuum cleaner convertible between canister, handheld, and backpack modes, comprising:

a power unit assembly having a motor, an impeller powered by said motor to establish a suction, thereby creating an airflow in an intake port and out an exhaust port, said intake port for connecting with a base unit exhaust port, a power connection connecting said motor to a power source, and an on/off means for turning said motor on and off;

a base unit having a base unit intake at a hose attachment port, and having a base unit exhaust, said base unit containing a filter means section for filtering airflow into said base unit intake and out said base unit exhaust, said base unit having a base able to be rested on a floor surface thereby allowing said vacuum cleaner to be used in a canister mode, said base unit having a handle allowing said vacuum cleaner to be used in a handheld mode; and

a backplate mode attachment comprising a backplate having a backplate pad, shoulder straps and a waist strap, said backplate having an attachment means for releasable attachment with said base unit, said backplate mode attachment further comprising a vacuum hose connecting to said hose attachment port, said backpack mode attachment enabling said vacuum cleaner to be worn as a backpack on a user'"'"'s back, and used in a backpack mode.