Configuration of a surface cleaning apparatus

• US 8,950,039 B2
• Filed: 03/10/2010
• Issued: 02/10/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/11/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Omachron Intellectual Property Inc.
• Original Assignee: GBD Corporation (G.B.D.)
• Inventors: Conrad, Wayne Ernest
• Primary Examiner(s): Wilson, Lee D
• Assistant Examiner(s): HONG, HENRY Y
• Application Number:
  US12/721,128
• Publication Number:
  US 20100251506A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,798 Days
• Field of Search: 153/53, 153/52, 153/44, 153/271, 153/28, 153/29, 153/47, 153/272
• US Class Current: 15/353
• 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 5/36 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 9/1625 for series flow
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/1641 for parallel flow
• 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 9/327 for suction cleaners with hose between nozzle and casing

Abstract

A surface cleaning apparatus has a cyclone unit comprising at least one cyclone having a cyclone inlet positioned in the air flow passage. A generally linear air flow path is provided from the cyclone outlet to the suction motor.

Claims

1. A surface cleaning apparatus comprising:

a) an air flow passage extending from a dirty air inlet to a clean air outlet;

b) a floor cleaning unit comprising a surface cleaning head and a handle drivingly connected thereto; and

,

c) a surface cleaning unit removably mounted to the floor cleaning unit and comprising;

(i) a first cyclone unit positioned in the air flow passage, the first cyclone unit comprising at least one cyclone comprising a cyclone air inlet, a cyclone air outlet, a cyclone axis and an axially extending outlet conduit and at least one dirt collection chamber;

(ii) a pre-motor filter positioned in the air flow passage downstream from the conduit;

(iii) a suction motor positioned in the air flow passage downstream from the pre-motor filter; and

,

(iv) the air flow passage includes a first air flow path portion that extends from the outlet conduit to the suction motor, wherein the air flow path portion is generally linear, and a second air flow path portion comprising a flexible conduit providing air flow communication between the surface cleaning head and the surface cleaning unit when the surface cleaning unit is mounted to the floor cleaning unit and removable with the surface cleaning unit when the surface cleaning unit is removed from the floor cleaning unit

wherein the first cyclone unit is positioned above the suction motor when the surface cleaning unit is mounted to the floor cleaning unit.

2. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the suction motor has a motor axis extending generally parallel to the axis of rotation of a suction fan and the cyclone axis is generally parallel to the motor axis.

3. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the at least one dirt collection chamber has an openable door provided at an end of the first cyclone unit.

4. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the at least one cyclone has a cyclone first end, a cyclone second end and the cyclone air inlet and the cyclone air outlet are at the same end of the at least one cyclone.

5. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 4 wherein the cyclone air inlet and the cyclone air outlet are at the cyclone end proximate the suction motor.

6. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the at least one dirt collection chamber is openable when mounted to the hand vacuum cleaner.

7. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the pre-motor filter is positioned facing the cyclone air outlet and has a pre-motor filter air inlet and a pre-motor filter air outlet, the suction motor has a motor axis extending generally parallel to the axis of rotation of a suction fan and the pre-motor filter air inlet and the pre-motor air outlet are generally transverse to the motor axis.

8. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a post motor filter having a post motor filter air inlet and a post motor filter air outlet, the suction motor has a motor axis extending generally parallel to the axis of rotation of a suction fan and the post motor filter air inlet and the post motor filter air outlet are generally transverse to the motor axis.

9. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the pre-motor filter has a pre-motor filter air inlet and a pre-motor filter air outlet and the hand vacuum cleaner further comprises a post motor filter having a post motor filter air inlet and a post motor filter air outlet, and the pre-motor filter air inlet, the pre-motor air outlet, the post motor filter air inlet and the post motor air outlet are aligned.

10. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a post motor filter positioned downstream from the suction motor and comprising an air outlet at a rear end of the hand vacuum cleaner.

11. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the at least one cyclone consists essentially of a single cyclone and the at least one direct collection chamber consists essentially of a single dirt collection chamber.

12. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a second cyclone unit downstream from the first cyclone unit.

13. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 12 wherein the second cyclone unit has a second cyclone air inlet having a direction of flow and a second cyclone air outlet having a direction of flow and the direction of flow through the second cyclone air inlet and the second cyclone air outlet is in the same direction as the direction of air flow through the cyclone air outlet.

14. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the surface cleaning unit is operable when removed from the floor cleaning unit.

15. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first cyclone unit has a portion that is openable or removable and the portion is located at an end of the first cyclone unit.

16. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the surface cleaning unit is removably mounted to the handle.

17. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 16 wherein the cyclone unit is mounted to a suction motor housing.

18. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 16 wherein the first cyclone unit has a portion that is openable or removable and the portion is located at an upper end of the first cyclone unit.

19. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1, wherein air exiting the clean air outlet travels in a direction that is generally parallel to the cyclone axis.

20. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1, wherein the surface cleaning unit comprises a first end, a second end axially spaced apart from the first end and a side wall extending between the first and second ends, and further comprising a cleaning unit handle extending from the sidewall.

21. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 20, wherein the first cyclone unit has a first end wall at the first end and wherein at least a portion of the first end wall is openable to empty the dirt collection chamber.

22. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 20, further comprising a second end wall at the second end and wherein the second end wall comprises the clean air outlet.

23. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1, wherein air exiting the suction motor travels in a direction that is generally linear with the first air flow path portion.

24. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a post motor filter and a third air flow path portion extends from a suction motor outlet to a post motor filter inlet is generally linear and axial with the first air flow path portion.

25. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 24, wherein air exiting the post motor filter travels in a direction that is generally linear with the first air flow path portion.

26. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first air flow path portion extends from the cyclone air outlet to an outlet end of the suction motor, wherein the first air flow path portion is generally linear.

27. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the handle is a single rigid member that is moveably mounted to the surface cleaning head.