Surface cleaning apparatus

• US 9,192,269 B2
• Filed: 03/01/2013
• Issued: 11/24/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Omachron Intellectual Property Inc.
• Original Assignee: Omachron Intellectual Property Inc.
• Inventors: Conrad, Wayne Ernest
• Primary Examiner(s): Wilson, Lee D
• Assistant Examiner(s): MCDONALD, SHANTESE L
• Application Number:
  US13/782,217
• Publication Number:
  US 20130269147A1
• Time in Patent Office: 998 Days
• Field of Search: 153/29, 153/53, 154/10
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 5/362 of the horizontal type, e.g. canister or sledge type
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/009 Carrying-vehicles; Arrangements of trollies or wheels; Means for avoiding mechanical obstacles
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/125 funnel-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/149 Emptying means; Reusable bags
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/16 Arrangement or disposition of cyclones or other devices with centrifugal action
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/1608 Cyclonic chamber constructions
• 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 9/2868 Arrangements for power supply of vacuum cleaners or the accessories thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2884 Details of arrangements of batteries or their installation
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/322 for hand-supported suction cleaners

Abstract

A surface cleaning apparatus comprises a base comprising an AC suction motor and a portable cleaning unit removably mounted on the wheeled base and comprising an energy storage member and a portable cleaning unit suction motor that is operable on DC power. The AC suction motor provides motive power when the surface cleaning unit is switched on and when the portable cleaning unit is mounted on the base. The portable cleaning unit suction motor provides motive power when the portable cleaning unit is switched on and when the portable cleaning unit is removed from the base. Alternately, the portable cleaning unit suction motor may be operable on DC power when removed from the wheeled base and may be operable on power provided by the wheeled base when mounted on the wheeled base.

Claims

1. A surface cleaning apparatus comprising:

a) a wheeled base comprising an AC suction motor;

b) a portable cleaning unit removably mounted on the wheeled base and comprising at least one cyclonic separation stage, a first energy storage member and a portable cleaning unit suction motor that is operable on DC power; and

,

c) a fluid flow path extending from a first dirty fluid inlet to a clean air outlet of the surface cleaning apparatus,

d) wherein the AC suction motor provides motive power to move fluid through the fluid flow path when the surface cleaning unit is switched on and when the portable cleaning unit is mounted on the wheeled base, and

e) wherein the portable cleaning unit suction motor provides motive power to move fluid through the fluid flow path when the portable cleaning unit is switched on and when the portable cleaning unit is removed from the wheeled base.

2. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the wheeled base further comprises or is connectable to a power cord and the portable cleaning unit is powered solely by the first energy storage member when the portable cleaning unit is removed from the wheeled base.

3. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the wheeled base further comprises or is connectable to a power cord, the first energy storage member comprises batteries and the batteries are charged when the portable cleaning unit is mounted on the wheeled base.

4. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the suction motor in the portable cleaning unit is not used to provide motive power to move fluid through the fluid flow path when the surface cleaning unit is switched on and when the portable cleaning unit is mounted on the wheeled base.

5. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the fluid flow path comprises an upstream portion that extends from the first dirty fluid inlet to the portable cleaning unit and the AC suction motor is in the fluid flow path.

6. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein fluid flow path comprises a downstream fluid flow path extending through the portable cleaning unit to the clean air outlet and the portable cleaning unit suction motor is in the downstream fluid flow path.

7. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 6 wherein the portable cleaning unit comprises a flexible hose having a second dirty fluid inlet and the flexible hose is part of the downstream fluid flow path when the portable cleaning unit is removed from the wheeled base.

8. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 7 wherein the flexible hose is an electrified flexible hose.

9. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the wheeled base further comprises a second energy storage member.

10. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the second energy storage member charges the first energy storage member when the portable cleaning unit is mounted on the wheeled base.

11. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the portable cleaning unit suction motor is a DC motor.

12. A surface cleaning apparatus comprising:

a) a wheeled base connectable to a source of current;

b) a portable cleaning unit removably mounted on the wheeled base and comprising at least one cyclonic separation stage, a first energy storage member and a portable cleaning unit suction motor that is operable on DC power; and

,

c) a fluid flow path extending from a first dirty fluid inlet to a clean air outlet of the surface cleaning apparatus,

d) wherein the portable cleaning unit suction motor is operable on DC power at a first power level when removed from the wheeled base and is operable at a second power level on power provided by the wheeled base when mounted on the wheeled base.

13. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 12 wherein the portable cleaning unit suction motor is a DC motor.

14. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 13 wherein the wheeled base further comprises or is connectable to a power cord and the portable cleaning unit is powered solely by the first energy storage member when the portable cleaning unit is removed from the wheeled base.

15. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 13 wherein the wheeled base further comprises or is connectable to a power cord, the first energy storage member comprises batteries and the batteries are charged when the portable cleaning unit is mounted on the wheeled base.

16. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 13 wherein the wheeled base further comprises or is connectable to a power cord, the wheeled base further comprises a circuit that receives AC current and outputs DC current and the portable cleaning unit is powered the DC current when the portable cleaning unit is mounted on the wheeled base.

17. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 12 wherein the first power level is less than the second power level.