Surface cleaning apparatus

• US 9,314,138 B2
• Filed: 02/28/2013
• Issued: 04/19/2016
• 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): Muller, Bryan R
• Application Number:
  US13/781,406
• Publication Number:
  US 20140237754A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,146 Days
• Field of Search: 153/28, 153/29, 153/31, 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 5/32 with means for connecting a hose hose couplings for suction cleaners A47L9/24
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 7/0095 Suction cleaners or attachments adapted to collect dust or waste from power tools
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/00 Details or accessories of suction cleaners, e.g. mechanical means for controlling the suction or for effecting pulsating action; Storing devices specially adapted to suction cleaners or parts thereof; Carrying-vehicles specially adapted for suction cleaners
• 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

An surface cleaning apparatus comprises at least one of a surface cleaning unit lock and a cyclone bin assembly lock. A lockout member disables the at least one of the surface cleaning unit lock and the cyclone bin assembly lock when a handle is used to carry the surface cleaning apparatus.

Claims

1. A surface cleaning apparatus comprising:

(a) a surface cleaning head having a dirty 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 a support structure on the upper portion and comprising a handle, a suction motor and an air treatment member;

(d) an air flow path extending from the dirty air inlet and including a flexible air flow conduit forming at least part of an air flow path from the dirty air inlet to the surface cleaning unit; and

,

(e) a surface cleaning unit lock having a locked position in which the surface cleaning unit is secured to the upper portion and an unlocked position in which the surface cleaning unit is removable from the upper portion; and

,

(f) the surface cleaning unit lock comprises a locking member, a manually actuatable member operatively connected to the locking member and a lockout member preventing the surface cleaning unit lock from changing from the locked position to the unlocked potion when the handle is used to carry the surface cleaning apparatus.

2. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the manually actuatable member is positioned proximate or on the handle.

3. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the at surface cleaning lock is electrically operated and the lockout member is electronically operated.

4. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 3 wherein the lockout member comprises a sensor that disables the lock when the sensor determines that the handle is used to carry the surface cleaning apparatus.

5. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 4 wherein the sensor comprises a pressure sensor provided on the handle.

6. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 lockout member is mechanically operated.

10. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an air treatment member lock that releasably secures the air treatment member to a suction motor housing, the air treatment member lock having a locked position in which the air treatment member is secured to the suction motor housing and an unlocked position in which the air treatment member is removable from the suction motor housing.

11. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 10 wherein the at least one of surface cleaning unit lock and the air treatment member lock is electrically operated.

12. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 10 wherein the air treatment member lock comprises a solenoid drivingly connected to a pin provided on one of the cyclone bin assembly and the suction motor housing and a member engageable by the in provided on the other of cyclone bin assembly and the suction motor housing.

13. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 12 wherein the solenoid is biased to the locked position when the solenoid is isolated from a source of power.

14. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1, wherein the air treatment member comprises a cyclone bin assembly.

7. The surface cleaning apparatus of 6 wherein the handle is moveably mounted with respect to the surface cleaning unit and is drivingly connected to the lockout member whereby, when the handle is used to carry the surface cleaning apparatus, the handle moves upwardly and drives the lockout member to a lockout position whereby the surface cleaning unit lock is disabled.

8. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 7 wherein, the handle is drivingly connected to a cam member and the cam member is drivingly connected to the lockout member.

9. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 8 wherein one of the handle and the lockout member is part of the cam member.