Surface cleaning apparatus

• US 9,198,551 B2
• Filed: 02/28/2013
• Issued: 12/01/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Omachron Intellectual Property Inc.
• Original Assignee: Omachron Intellectual Property Inc.
• Inventors: Conrad, Wayne Ernest
• Primary Examiner(s): KARLS, SHAY LYNN
• Application Number:
  US13/781,441
• Publication Number:
  US 20140237753A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,006 Days
• Field of Search: 153/275, 153/271, 153/28, 153/77, 153/20, 153/29
• 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 5/32 with means for connecting a hose hose couplings for suction cleaners A47L9/24
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/0081 Means for exhaust-air diffusion; Means for sound or vibration damping
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/02 Nozzles suction nozzles for fluid transport B65G51/00
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/122 flat
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/16 Arrangement or disposition of cyclones or other devices with centrifugal action
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/1691 Mounting or coupling means for cyclonic chamber or dust receptacles
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/22 Mountings for motor fan assemblies
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/246 with electrical connectors
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/248 Parts, details or accessories of hoses or pipes nozzles A47L9/02
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2857 User input or output elements for control, e.g. buttons, switches or displays
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/30 Arrangement of illuminating devices
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/325 for wheeled suction cleaners with steering handle

Abstract

A surface cleaning apparatus comprises a flexible electrified air flow conduit having an air inlet end that is electrified.

Claims

1. A surface cleaning apparatus comprising:

(a) a surface cleaning head having a dirty air inlet and a upper section mount moveably mounted thereto;

(b) an upper portion moveably mounted to the surface cleaning head between a storage position and a floor cleaning position, the upper portion comprising a wand removably mounted to the upper portion and a handle provided at an upper end of the wand and drivingly connected to the surface cleaning head when the wand is mounted to the upper section;

(c) a portable surface cleaning unit removably mounted to the upper portion, the portable surface cleaning unit comprising a suction motor, an air treatment member and a carry handle, the wand having a lower end positioned below an upper end of the portable cleaning unit when the wand is mounted to the upper section;

(d) an air flow path extending from the dirty air inlet to a clean air outlet and comprising an upstream portion that extends from the dirty air inlet to the portable surface cleaning unit, the upstream portion of the air flow path comprising the wand and a flexible air flow conduit downstream of the wand, the flexible air flow conduit comprising a stretchable, flexible electrified air flow conduit; and

,

(e) each of the wand and the portable cleaning unit is separately removable from the upper section mount.

2. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the air treatment member comprises an air treatment member air inlet and the flexible electrified air flow conduit is positioned in the air flow path upstream of the air treatment member air inlet.

3. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the surface cleaning head further comprises a rotary brush driven by a brush motor.

4. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the flexible electrified air flow conduit comprises an electrified hose cuff.

5. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 4 wherein the electrified hose cuff comprises female electrical connectors.

6. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the flexible electrified air flow conduit comprises an air inlet end that is electrified and comprises an on/off switch.

7. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 6 wherein the surface cleaning unit comprises a main on/off switch.

8. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 6 wherein the handle section is positioned at the air inlet end of the flexible electrified air flow conduit and the on/off switch is provided on the handle section.

9. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 6 wherein the handle section is positioned upstream of the air inlet end of the flexible electrified air flow conduit.

10. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 9 wherein the handle section is removably connected to the air inlet end of the flexible electrified air flow conduit.

11. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 9 wherein the handle section comprises a handle air flow path and the handle air flow path has a handle inlet end that is electrified.

12. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 11 wherein the wand is removably connectable to the handle air inlet end and, when connected, is in air flow communication with the handle inlet end and is electrically connected to the handle.

13. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 12 wherein the wand comprises an upstream portion and a downstream portion, the upstream portion is rotatable relative to the downstream portion about an axis that intersects a longitudinal axis of at least one of the upstream and downstream portions.

14. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 13 wherein the wand comprises a wand inlet end that is electrified.

15. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a power tool that is powered by a circuit that includes the flexible electrified air flow conduit.

16. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 15 wherein the power tool comprises a sander, a drill, a saw or a steam mop module.

17. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the air treatment member is removably mounted to the surface cleaning unit and the downstream end of the flexible electrified air flow conduit is rotatably electrically connected to the surface cleaning unit.

18. A surface cleaning apparatus comprising:

(a) a surface cleaning head having a dirt air inlet;

(b) an upper portion moveably mounted to the surface cleaning head between a storage position and a floor cleaning position;

(c) a surface cleaning unit removably mounted to the upper portion and secured to the upper portion by a cleaning unit latch, the surface cleaning unit having an upper end that comprises a latch release member to selectably release the cleaning unit latch and a main on/off switch that controls the supply of power to the suction motor, the surface cleaning unit comprising a suction motor and an air treatment member having an air treatment member air inlet, the air treatment member comprises a cyclone bin assembly removably mounted to the surface cleaning unit and a main on/off switch is provided on the cyclone bin assembly;

(d) a flexible electrified air flow conduit having a downstream end that is in fluid communication with the air treatment member air inlet and an air inlet end that is electrified; and

,

(e) an air flow path extending from the dirty air inlet to a clean air outlet and comprising the electrified air flow conduit.

19. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 18 wherein the cyclone bin assembly is removably mounted to a body of the surface cleaning unit, the body is electrically connectable to an external power source and an electrical conduit extends between the main on/off switch and at least one of the flexible electrified air flow conduit and the body.

20. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 18 wherein the cyclone bin assembly is removable without the flexible electrified air flow conduit.