Cleaning appliance having multiple functions

• US 8,528,161 B2
• Filed: 03/12/2010
• Issued: 09/10/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/07/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SharkNinja Operating LLC (JS Global Lifestyle Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: Euro-Pro Operating LLC (Euro-Pro Operating)
• Inventors: Vrdoljak, Ognjen, Rosenzweig, Maximilian, Breit, Oliver Rudolph
• Primary Examiner(s): Muller, Bryan R
• Application Number:
  US12/723,607
• Publication Number:
  US 20100236018A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,278 Days
• Field of Search: 153/39, 153/19, 200/43.01, 200/43.16, 200 5032- 5034, 200/564, 200/336
• US Class Current: 15/339
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/34 Machines for treating carpets in position by liquid, foam, or vapour, e.g. by steam
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4036 Parts or details of the surface treating tools
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4086 Arrangements for steam generation
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 13/225 Steam mops
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/02 Nozzles suction nozzles for fluid transport B65G51/00
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/1608 Cyclonic chamber constructions
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/165 Construction of inlets
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/1666 with filtering means
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/1691 Mounting or coupling means for cyclonic chamber or dust receptacles
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2805 Parameters or conditions being sensed
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2857 User input or output elements for control, e.g. buttons, switches or displays
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2889 Safety or protection devices or systems, e.g. for prevention of motor over-heating or for protection of the user
• CPC Class Codes: B08B 2230/01 Cleaning with steam
• CPC Class Codes: B08B 3/00 Cleaning by methods involving the use or presence of liquid or steam B08B9/00 takes precedence

Abstract

A cleaning appliance is capable of performing two or more cleaning functions. The cleaning appliance may include a vacuum cleaner and a steam cleaner such that a user can vacuum a floor prior to steam cleaning the floor. Various manual switching arrangements may be used as part of controlling the cleaning appliance.

Claims

1. A cleaning appliance comprising:

an appliance body including;

a first cleaning function source operative upon energization; and

a second cleaning function source operative upon energization; and

a control system for the appliance body including;

a first switch having an on mode and an off mode, the first switch being required to be in the on mode for the first cleaning function source to be energized; and

a second switch having an on mode and an off mode, the second switch being required to be in the on mode for the second cleaning function source to be energized;

wherein

when the first switch is in the on mode, access to the second switch is prevented, and when the first switch is in the off mode, access is permitted to the second switch to allow the second switch to be switched into an on mode.

2. A cleaning appliance as in claim 1, wherein the first cleaning function source comprises a source to generate steam.

3. A cleaning appliance as in claim 2, wherein the second cleaning function source comprises a source to generate suction.

4. A cleaning appliance as in claim 1, wherein the first switch comprises a first rotatable element.

5. A cleaning appliance as in claim 4, wherein the first rotatable element includes an opening through which the second switch is accessible when the first rotatable element is in the off mode.

6. A cleaning appliance as in claim 5, wherein when the second switch is in the on mode, the second switch at least partially enters the opening and prevents rotation of the first rotatable element to the on mode.

7. A cleaning appliance as in claim 4, wherein the first rotatable element comprises a knob.

8. A cleaning appliance as in claim 1, wherein when the second switch is in the on mode, movement of the first switch is prevented, and when the second switch is in the off mode, movement of the first switch is permitted to allow the first switch to be switched into an on mode.

9. A cleaning appliance as in claim 1, wherein the appliance body includes a cleaning head and a housing.

10. A cleaning appliance as in claim 9, wherein the first cleaning function source and the second cleaning function source are located in the cleaning head or in the housing.

11. A cleaning appliance as in claim 10, wherein the first cleaning function source comprises a steam generator.

12. A cleaning appliance as in claim 11, wherein the second cleaning function source comprises a suction motor.