Cleaning appliance having multiple functions

• US 8,627,543 B2
• Filed: 03/12/2010
• Issued: 01/14/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/12/2010
• 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, Hung, Chow, Gatchell, Stephen, Greene, Mason Isaac, Malacara, Homero Garza
• Primary Examiner(s): Muller, Bryan R
• Application Number:
  US12/723,609
• Publication Number:
  US 20100251505A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,404 Days
• Field of Search: 153/37, 153/38, 153/28, 153/19, 153/20
• US Class Current: 15/338
• 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 11/4002 Installations of electric equipment
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4013 Contaminants collecting devices, i.e. hoppers, tanks or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4036 Parts or details of the surface treating tools
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/408 Means for supplying cleaning or surface treating agents
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4086 Arrangements for steam generation
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4094 Accessories to be used in combination with conventional vacuum-cleaning devices
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/0686 Nozzles with cleaning cloths, e.g. using disposal fabrics for covering the nozzle
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/1666 with filtering means
• 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

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.

Claims

1. A cleaning appliance capable of performing at least two different cleaning functions, comprising:

a housing;

a cleaning head;

a component selectively attachable to the cleaning appliance,

a controller configured to control operation of a first cleaning function and a second cleaning function in response to at least one of a switch and a sensor in the cleaning appliance; and

wherein when the selectively attachable component is not attached to the cleaning appliance, the at least one switch or sensor allows the controller to be capable of operating the cleaning appliance to perform the first cleaning function, and when the selectively attachable component is attached to the cleaning appliance, the at least one switch or sensor allows the controller to be capable of operating the cleaning appliance to perform the second cleaning function and the controller cannot operate the cleaning appliance to perform the first cleaning function and wherein the first cleaning function comprises vacuuming and the second cleaning function comprises steam application.

2. A cleaning appliance as in claim 1, wherein when the selectively attachable component is not attached to the cleaning appliance, the controller cannot operate the cleaning appliance to perform the second cleaning function.

3. A cleaning appliance as in claim 1, further comprising a source to generate steam.

4. A cleaning appliance as in claim 3, further comprising a source to generate suction.

5. A cleaning appliance as in claim 1, wherein the selectively attachable component comprises a cleaning pad support.

6. A cleaning appliance as in claim 1, wherein the cleaning head includes a magnetic reed switch.

7. A cleaning appliance as in claim 1, wherein the selectively attachable component includes a magnet.

8. A cleaning appliance as in claim 7, wherein the magnet at least partially operatively connects the selectively attachable component to the cleaning head.

9. A cleaning appliance as in claim 1, wherein the cleaning head includes a hall effect sensor.