Surface cleaning apparatus

• US 7,571,509 B2
• Filed: 02/28/2005
• Issued: 08/11/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/22/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Grey Technology Limited (Grey Technology Holding Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Euro-Pro Operating LLC (Euro-Pro Operating)
• Inventors: Rosenzweig, Mark, Reese, Chad
• Primary Examiner(s): Spisich; Mark
• Application Number:
  US11/066,299
• Publication Number:
  US 20050235440A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,625 Days
• Field of Search: 15/23, 15/411, 15/42, 15/521
• US Class Current: 15/41.1
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 13/001 Cylindrical or annular brush bodies
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/33 having means for storing dirt
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4005 Arrangements of batteries or cells; Electric power supply arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4025 Means for emptying
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4041 Roll shaped surface treating tools
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4058 for adjusting the height of the tool

Abstract

A handheld surface cleaning apparatus comprises a body including at least a rear compartment, a forward compartment and a top volume openly connected to the rear compartment. An elongate rotatable brush arrangement is positioned within and extends across the forward compartment. An electric motor assembly is positioned primarily in the rear compartment, with one or more components of the electric motor assembly residing in the top volume.

Claims

1. A surface cleaning apparatus, comprising:

a) a body having a forward compartment, an intermediate compartment to retain debris, a rear compartment located entirely behind the forward compartment and the intermediate compartment, a wall between the forward compartment and the intermediate compartment, a wall between the intermediate compartment and the rear compartment, and side walls, wherein the wall between the forward and intermediate compartments is inclined rearwardly to facilitate passage of debris up and over the wall and for retention of the debris in the intermediate compartment, and a top volume that is openly connected to said rear compartment;

b) an elongate rotatable brush extending across the forward compartment; and

c) an electric motor assembly for driving the rotatable brush, the electric motor assembly comprising;

a motor and a battery pack in said rear compartment, and

a switch in said top volume for activating the motor.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the wall between the forward and intermediate compartments has an angle of inclination of from 15 to 20 degrees.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the wall between the intermediate and rear compartments seals the rear compartment from the intermediate compartment.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the top volume is located above the intermediate compartment.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said top volume is enclosed, said enclosure sealing said top volume from the intermediate compartment.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the top volume is located forward of the rear compartment.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the wall between the forward and intermediate compartments has an angle of inclination of from 15 to 20 degrees.

7. A surface cleaning apparatus, comprising:

a) a body having a forward compartment, an intermediate compartment, a rear compartment located entirely behind the forward compartment and the intermediate compartment, and a top volume above the intermediate compartment that is openly connected to the rear compartment, wherein the intermediate compartment comprises a rearwardly inclined wall between the forward and intermediate compartments to facilitate passage of debris up and over the wall and for retention of the debris in the intermediate compartment;

b) an elongate rotatable brush extending across the forward compartment; and

c) an electric motor assembly for driving the rotatable brush, the electric motor assembly comprising;

a motor and a battery pack in said rear compartment, and

a switch in said top volume for activating the motor.

8. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 7, wherein the top volume and rear compartment are sealed off from the intermediate compartment.

10. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 7, wherein the intermediate compartment comprises a removable tray.

11. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the top volume is located forward of the rear compartment.