Surface cleaning apparatus

• US 9,364,127 B2
• Filed: 02/28/2013
• Issued: 06/14/2016
• 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:
  US13/781,342
• Publication Number:
  US 20140237752A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,202 Days
• 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 5/36 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 9/009 Carrying-vehicles; Arrangements of trollies or wheels; Means for avoiding mechanical obstacles
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/0411 driven by electric motor
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/106 Dust removal
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/122 flat
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/1608 Cyclonic chamber constructions
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/1666 with filtering means
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/1691 Mounting or coupling means for cyclonic chamber or dust receptacles
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/19 Means for monitoring filtering operation
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/242 Hose or pipe couplings
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/248 Parts, details or accessories of hoses or pipes nozzles A47L9/02
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2826 the condition of the floor
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2836 characterised by the parts which are controlled
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2842 Suction motors or blowers
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2847 Surface treating elements
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2857 User input or output elements for control, e.g. buttons, switches or displays

Abstract

A surface cleaning apparatus comprises a cyclone bin assembly lock that releasably secures the cyclone bin assembly to the body of the surface cleaning apparatus. The cyclone bin assembly lock comprises first and second locking members provided internal of the surface cleaning apparatus.

Claims

1. A surface cleaning apparatus comprising:

(a) a body housing a suction motor;

(b) a cyclone bin assembly comprising at least one cyclone removably mounted to the body;

(c) an air flow path extending from a dirty air inlet to a clean air outlet and including the suction motor and a cyclone bin assembly; and

,

(d) a cyclone bin assembly lock that releasably secures the cyclone bin assembly to the body, the cyclone bin assembly lock comprises a first locking member provided on the cyclone bin assembly and a second locking member provided on the body and the first and second locking members are provided internal of the surface cleaning apparatus,

wherein the first locking member comprises a locking portion that is moveable between a locked position and an unlocked position and is operatively controlled by a bin release actuator and the locking portion is positioned in an air flow conduit of the cyclone bin assembly.

2. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the cyclone bin assembly lock further comprises a bin release actuator provided on an exterior of the surface cleaning apparatus.

3. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 2 wherein the cyclone bin assembly further comprises a handle and the bin release actuator is provided proximate or on the handle.

4. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the cyclone bin assembly has a lower surface that is configured to stand on a horizontal surface when removed from the body.

5. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 4 wherein the lower surface is flat and the first locking member is provided internal of the cyclone bin assembly.

6. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first locking member is provided internal of the cyclone bin assembly.

7. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the second locking member comprises a stationary member provided on the body.

8. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 7 wherein the second locking member extends into a recess in the cyclone bin assembly.

9. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first locking member extends downwardly through the cyclone bin assembly.

10. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 9 wherein the air flow conduit of the cyclone bin assembly comprises a vortex finder.

11. A surface cleaning apparatus comprising:

(a) a body housing a suction motor;

(b) a cyclone bin assembly comprising at least one cyclone removably mounted to the body;

(c) an air flow path extending from a dirty air inlet to a clean air outlet and including the suction motor a pre-motor filter chamber, and a cyclone bin assembly;

(d) a cyclone bin assembly lock that releasably secures the cyclone bin assembly to the body, the cyclone bin assembly lock comprises a first locking member provided on the cyclone bin assembly and a second locking member provided on the body and the first and second locking members are provided internal of the surface cleaning apparatus, and,

(e) a pre-motor filter in the pre-motor filter chamber, wherein one of the locking members extends through the pre-motor filter.

12. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 11 wherein one of the first and second locking members comprises two locking portions that are moveably between a locked and an unlocked position.

13. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 12 wherein the locking portions are moveably mounted at a common pivot point.

14. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 11 wherein the cyclone bin assembly lock is electrically operated.

15. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 11 wherein the cyclone bin assembly further comprises a handle and the surface cleaning apparatus further comprises a lockout member that disables the cyclone bin assembly lock when the handle is used to carry the surface cleaning apparatus.

16. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 15 wherein the handle is moveably mounted with respect to the cyclone bin assembly and is drivingly connected to a 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 cyclone bin assembly lock is disabled.

17. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 15 wherein the lockout member is electronically operated.

18. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 17 wherein the lockout member comprises a sensor that disables the cyclone bin assembly lock when the sensor determines that the handle is used to carry the surface cleaning apparatus.

19. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 11 wherein the first locking member comprises a locking portion that is moveable between a locked and an unlocked position and the locking portion is biased to the locked position.

20. A surface cleaning apparatus comprising:

(a) a body housing a suction motor;

(b) a cyclone bin assembly comprising at least one cyclone removably mounted to the body;

(c) an air flow path extending from a dirty air inlet to a clean air outlet and including the suction motor and a cyclone bin assembly; and

,

(d) a cyclone bin assembly lock that releasably secures the cyclone bin assembly to the body, the cyclone bin assembly lock comprises a first locking member provided on the cyclone bin assembly and a second locking member provided on the body and the first and second locking members are provided internal of the surface cleaning apparatus, wherein a portion of the cyclone bin assembly lock is provided in the air flow path and one of the locking members comprises jaw members, and in the locked position the jaw members encase at least a portion of the other of the first and second locking members.