Vacuum cleaner with detachable vacuum module

• US 7,377,007 B2
• Filed: 03/01/2005
• Issued: 05/27/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/02/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bissell Inc.
• Original Assignee: Bissell Homecare, Inc. (Bissell Inc.)
• Inventors: Best, Michael F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wilson; Lee D
• Application Number:
  US10/598,472
• Publication Number:
  US 20070226946A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,183 Days
• Field of Search: 153/29, 153/53, 154/10, 153/50, 55D/IG.3, 55D/IG.10
• 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 5/28 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 9/009 Carrying-vehicles; Arrangements of trollies or wheels; Means for avoiding mechanical obstacles
• 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 9/2847 Surface treating elements
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2857 User input or output elements for control, e.g. buttons, switches or displays
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2873 Docking units or charging stations for autonomous or robotic vacuum cleaners A47L2201/02
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2878 Dual-powered vacuum cleaners, i.e. devices which can be operated with mains power supply or by batteries
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2884 Details of arrangements of batteries or their installation
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/325 for wheeled suction cleaners with steering handle
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 55/03 Vacuum cleaner

Abstract

A multi-use, dual power mode vacuum cleaner (10) that can be used as an upright vacuum cleaner or as a portable, hand-carried vacuum cleaner comprises a detachable vacuum module (16) selectively mounted to an upright handle assembly (12). The detachable vacuum module (16) includes a motor and fan assembly (64) for creating a working air flow, a particle separator (48) for separating dirt form the working air flow and a portable power source (104) for providing power to the motor and fan assembly (64). The particle separator can be a cyclone separator (48) or a bag separator.

Claims

1. A vacuum cleaner comprising:

a foot assembly having a suction nozzle;

an upright handle assembly pivotally mounted to the foot assembly for manipulation of the foot assembly along a surface to be cleaned; and

a portable cleaning module detachably mounted to the handle assembly so that the vacuum cleaner can be operated as an upright vacuum cleaner when the portable cleaning module is mounted to the handle assembly or as a portable vacuum cleaner when the portable cleaning module is detached from the handle assembly, the portable cleaning module comprising;

a module housing;

a particle separator mounted to the module housing and having an inlet;

a suction conduit having a first end connected to the inlet of the cyclone separator and a second end removably coupled to the suction nozzle;

a motor and fan assembly supported in the module housing for creating a working air flow from the suction nozzle to the cyclone separator through the suction conduit; and

a portable power source coupled to the motor and fan assembly for supplying power to the motor and fan assembly when the portable cleaning module is detached from the handle assembly for operation of the vacuum cleaner as a portable vacuum cleaner.

2. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 1 wherein the portable power source is adapted to supply power to the motor and fan assembly when the portable cleaning module is mounted to the handle assembly for operation of the vacuum cleaner as an upright vacuum cleaner.

3. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 1 wherein the portable power source comprises a battery pack.

4. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 3 wherein the battery pack comprises a rechargeable battery.

5. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 1 and further comprising a charging unit mounted in one of the foot assembly and the portable cleaning module and selectively coupled to the portable power source for charging the portable power source.

6. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 5 and further comprising a transformer in electrical communication with the charging unit and a stationary power source for converting alternating current from the stationary power source to direct current for the portable power source.

7. The vacuum cleaner and charging base assembly comprising a vacuum cleaner according to claim 1 and a charging base to which the foot assembly removably docks, the changing base comprising a charging unit that connects to the portable power source for charging the power source when the foot assembly is docked with the charging base.

8. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 1 and further comprising an agitator driven by an agitator motor, both mounted to the foot assembly, and the portable cleaning module comprises an interlock switch in communication with the agitator motor, wherein the interlock switch closes when the portable cleaning module is mounted to the handle assembly to electrically couple the portable power source with the agitator motor.

9. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 8 and further comprising a user operated agitator switch between the portable power source and the interlock switch for controlling power to the agitator motor.

10. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 9 and further comprising a user operated main power switch between the portable power source and agitator switch.

11. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 9 and further comprising a lamp mounted to the foot assembly and electrically connected to the interlock switch so that the portable power source supplies power to the lamp when the portable cleaning module is mounted to the handle assembly and the agitator switch is closed.

12. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 1 and further comprising a user operated main power switch between the portable power source and the motor and fan assembly for controlling power to the motor and fan assembly.

13. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 12 and further comprising a power cord coupled to the main power switch and having a plug that can be removably coupled to a stationary power source for providing power to the motor and fan assembly.

14. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 13 wherein the power cord is mounted to the portable cleaning module.

15. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 13 wherein the power cord is arranged in parallel relative to the portable power supply.

16. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 1 wherein the particle separator further comprises an outlet opening and the motor and fan assembly includes an inlet opening connected to the outlet opening of the particle separator for drawing the working air flow through the particle separator.

17. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 1 wherein the motor and fan assembly comprises an inlet opening connected to the first end of the suction conduit and an outlet opening connected to the inlet opening of the particle separator.

18. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 1 wherein the foot assembly further comprises an air conduit coupling and a working air conduit coupled to the suction nozzle at a first end and to the air conduit coupling at a second end, and wherein the portable cleaning module further comprises a hose fitting that removably receives the second end of the suction conduit and mates with the air conduit coupling when the portable cleaning module is mounted to the handle assembly to fluidly communicate the suction nozzle with the particle separator.

19. The vacuum cleaner of any of claim 1 wherein the portable cleaning module further comprises a cyclone separator.

20. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 19 wherein the portable cleaning module further comprises a dirt cup removably mounted to the module housing to collect particles separated from the working air flow by the cyclone separator.

21. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 20 wherein the dirt cup is mounted below the cyclone separator.

22. The vacuum cleaner according to any of claim 1 wherein the cleaning module comprises a bag filter.