Surface cleaning apparatus

• US 9,480,373 B2
• Filed: 05/29/2014
• Issued: 11/01/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/13/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Omachron Intellectual Property Inc.
• Original Assignee: Omachron Intellectual Property Inc.
• Inventors: Conrad, Wayne Ernest, Thorne, Jason Boyd
• Primary Examiner(s): Hail, Joseph J
• Assistant Examiner(s): MCDONALD, SHANTESE L
• Application Number:
  US14/290,817
• Publication Number:
  US 20140259513A1
• Time in Patent Office: 887 Days
• Field of Search: 153/47, 153/50, 153/52, 153/53
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4086 Arrangements for steam generation
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4094 Accessories to be used in combination with conventional vacuum-cleaning devices
• 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 5/26 with driven dust-loosening tools
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 5/30 with driven dust-loosening tools, e.g. rotating brushes
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 5/32 with means for connecting a hose hose couplings for suction cleaners A47L9/24
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 5/365 of the vertical type, e.g. tank or bucket type
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 7/0004 Suction cleaners adapted to take up liquids, e.g. wet or dry vacuum cleaners floor-scrubbing machines taking-up dirty liquid by suction A47L11/30
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 7/0095 Suction cleaners or attachments adapted to collect dust or waste from power tools
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/0673 with removable brushes, combs, lips or pads
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/0686 Nozzles with cleaning cloths, e.g. using disposal fabrics for covering the nozzle
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/1608 Cyclonic chamber constructions
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/1683 Dust collecting chambers; Dust collecting receptacles
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/22 Mountings for motor fan assemblies
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/24 Hoses or pipes; Hose or pipe couplings hoses or hose joints in general F16L
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/248 Parts, details or accessories of hoses or pipes nozzles A47L9/02

Abstract

A surface cleaning apparatus is disclosed having an upper portion mounted to a surface cleaning head, a portable surface cleaning unit mounted to the upper portion, an above floor cleaning wand removably receivable in the upper portion, and a wand lock having a locked position in which the wand is secured to the upper portion and an unlocked position in which the wand is removable from the upper portion. The upper portion may stabilize the wand when the wand is drivingly connected to the cleaning head. An electrified flexible air flow conduit may electrically connect the surface cleaning head to the cleaning unit.

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 portable surface cleaning unit comprising a suction motor and an air treatment member removably mounted to the upper portion;

(d) an above floor cleaning wand removably receivable in the upper portion, the wand comprising a lower end and an upper end spaced from the lower end along a wand axis, the lower end is received in the upper portion and comprises a wand air inlet and the upper end comprises a wand air outlet, a handle is provided proximate the upper end of the wand, whereby, when the wand is received in the upper portion, the wand is drivingly connected to the surface cleaning head and the upper portion is configured to stabilize the wand when the wand is drivingly connected to the surface cleaning head;

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

,

(f) a flexible air flow conduit forming at least part of an air flow path from the above floor cleaning wand to the surface cleaning unit

wherein the portable surface cleaning unit also engages upper mounting members that are provided on the wand when the portable cleaning unit is mounted to the upper portion and the portable cleaning unit is axially translatable relative to the wand so as to engage the upper mounting members as the portable cleaning unit is mounted to the upper portion.

2. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the upper portion is in air flow communication with the dirty air inlet and, when the wand is positioned in the upper portion, the wand is in air flow communication with the dirty air inlet and part of the upper portion extends around the wand.

3. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 further comprising an air flow passage from the dirty air inlet to the upper portion and an air inlet end of the wand is aligned with an outlet end of the air flow passage when the wand is received in the upper portion.

4. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the upper portion extends upwardly to surround a sufficient portion of the wand when the wand is positioned in the upper portion whereby the wand will remain in the upper portion when the wand lock is in the unlocked position.

5. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the portable surface cleaning unit is removably mounted on an outer surface of the upper portion.

6. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the upper portion terminates below an upper end of the portable surface cleaning unit.

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

8. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1, wherein the surface cleaning apparatus further comprises an alternate surface cleaning head that is adapted to removable receive a hard floor cleaning member.

9. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the upper portion is steeringly coupled to the surface cleaning head.

10. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a turbo brush that is connectable to the above floor cleaning wand when the above floor cleaning wand is removed from the upper portion.

11. 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 portable surface cleaning unit comprising a suction motor and an air treatment member removably mounted to the upper portion;

(d) an above floor cleaning wand removably receivable in the upper portion, the wand extending along a wand axis between a lower end and an upper end, the lower end is received in the upper portion and comprises a wand air inlet and the upper end comprises a wand air outlet, a handle is provided proximate the upper end of the wand, whereby, when the wand is received in the upper portion, the wand is drivingly connected to the surface cleaning head;

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

,

(f) a flexible air flow conduit forming at least part of an air flow path from the above floor cleaning wand to the surface cleaning unit

wherein the wand is receivable in the upper portion in a particular rotational alignment and wherein the upper portion is configured as an alignment member to require the wand to rotate about the wand axis toward the particular rotational alignment as the wand is inserted into the upper portion.

12. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 11 wherein the upper portion is generally egg shaped in transverse section and a portion of an outer surface of the wand is generally egg shaped in transverse section.

13. 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, the upper portion comprising an interior and an cleaning head electrical engagement member provided within the interior;

(c) a portable surface cleaning unit comprising a suction motor and an air treatment member removably mounted to the upper portion;

(d) an above floor cleaning wand removably receivable in the upper portion, the wand comprising a lower end and an upper end, the lower end is removably receivable in the interior of the upper portion and comprises a wand air inlet and a wand electrical engagement member and the upper end comprises a wand air outlet, a handle is provided proximate the upper end of the wand, whereby, when the wand is received in the upper portion, the wand electrical engagement member is electrically connected to the cleaning head electrical engagement member and the wand is driving connected to the surface cleaning head, and wherein the upper portion is configured to stabilize the wand when the wand is drivingly connected to the surface cleaning head;

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

,

(f) an electrified flexible air flow conduit forming at least part of an air flow path from the above floor cleaning wand to the surface cleaning unit and electrically connecting the above floor cleaning wand to the surface cleaning head when the wand is received in the upper portion whereby the electrified flexible air flow conduit electrically connected to the surface cleaning head.

14. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 13 further comprising an air flow passage from the dirty air inlet to the upper portion and an air inlet end of the wand is aligned with an outlet end of the air flow passage when the wand is received in the upper portion.

15. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 14 wherein the outlet end of the air flow passage and the cleaning head electrical engagement member are positioned at a lower end of the interior.

16. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 13 further comprising a turbo brush that is connectable to the above floor cleaning wand when the above floor cleaning wand is removed from the upper portion.

17. A surface cleaning apparatus comprising:

(a) a surface cleaning head having a dirty air inlet and an electrically operated component;

(b) an upper portion moveably mounted to the surface cleaning head between a storage position and a floor cleaning position, the upper portion having an interior, an air flow passage extends from the dirty air inlet to the upper portion and an outlet of the air flow passage is located in the interior;

(c) a portable surface cleaning unit comprising a suction motor and an air treatment member removably mounted to the upper portion;

(d) an above floor cleaning wand removably receivable in the upper portion, the wand comprising a lower end having an air inlet and an upper end having an air outlet;

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

,

(f) an electrified flexible air flow conduit forming at least part of an air flow path from the above floor cleaning wand to the surface cleaning unit and electrically connecting the surface cleaning head to the surface cleaning unit at a location in the interior when the wand is received in the upper portion.

18. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 17 wherein the upper portion is configured as a first alignment member and the wand is receivable in the upper portion in a particular alignment.

19. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 18 further comprising a cleaning head electrical engagement member located in the interior that is electrically connectable with a wand electrical engagement member provided on the wand when the wand is received in the upper portion and a second alignment member is associated with the cleaning head electrical engagement member.

20. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 18 wherein the upper portion is generally egg shaped in transverse section and a portion of an outer surface of the wand is generally egg shaped in transverse section.

21. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 17 wherein the upper portion extends upwardly to surround a sufficient portion of the wand when the wand is positioned in the upper portion whereby the wand will remain in the upper portion when the wand lock is in the unlocked position.

22. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 17 further comprising a turbo brush that is connectable to the above floor cleaning wand when the above floor cleaning wand is removed from the upper portion.