All in the head surface cleaning apparatus

• US 9,545,180 B2
• Filed: 12/17/2014
• Issued: 01/17/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Omachron Intellectual Property Inc.
• Original Assignee: Omachron Intellectual Property Inc.
• Inventors: Conrad, Wayne Ernest
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, DUNG V
• Application Number:
  US14/573,186
• Publication Number:
  US 20160174801A1
• Time in Patent Office: 762 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 5/30 with driven dust-loosening tools, e.g. rotating brushes
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/009 Carrying-vehicles; Arrangements of trollies or wheels; Means for avoiding mechanical obstacles
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/1608 Cyclonic chamber constructions
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/325 for wheeled suction cleaners with steering handle

Abstract

An all in the head surface cleaning apparatus may include a surface cleaning head and a drive handle. The surface cleaning head may include a front end, a rear end, first and second laterally opposed sidewalls and a drive handle mounting hub positioned rearward of the rear end. The drive handle may be moveably mounted to the mounting hub between a storage position and an inclined floor cleaning position. The surface cleaning head may include a brush motor drivingly connected to a moveable brushing member. The brush motor may have a brush motor axis. The surface cleaning head may include a cyclone assembly having a cyclone chamber and a dirt collection chamber. The cyclone may have a longitudinal cyclone axis. The surface cleaning head may include a suction motor having a first end, a second end and a suction motor axis extending between the first and second ends.

Claims

1. An all in the head surface cleaning apparatus comprising a surface cleaning head and a drive handle, the surface cleaning head comprising:

(a) a front end, a rear end, first and second laterally opposed sidewalls and a drive handle mounting hub positioned rearward of the rear end, the drive handle moveably mounted to the mounting hub between a storage position and an inclined floor cleaning position;

(b) a brush motor drivingly connected to a moveable brushing member, the brush motor having a brush motor axis;

(c) a cyclone assembly comprising a cyclone chamber and a dirt collection chamber, the cyclone having a longitudinal cyclone axis; and

,

(d) a suction motor in air flow communication with the cyclone assembly and positioned downstream of the cyclone assembly and having a first end, a second end and a suction motor axis extending between the first and second ends

wherein the suction motor is positioned adjacent the rear end whereby at least one rear wheel is rotatably mounted to the mounting hub and is positioned rearward of the suction motor.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the surface cleaning head has a rear wall, the suction motor is positioned adjacent the rear wall and at least one rear wheel is rotatably mounted to the mounting hub.

3. An all in the head surface cleaning apparatus comprising a surface cleaning head and a drive handle, the surface cleaning head comprising:

(a) a front end, a rear end, first and second laterally opposed sidewalls and a drive handle mounting hub positioned rearward of the rear end, the drive handle moveably mounted to the mounting hub between a storage position and an inclined floor cleaning position wherein at least one rear wheel is rotatably mounted to the mounting hub;

(b) a brush motor drivingly connected to a moveable brushing member, the brush motor having a brush motor axis;

(c) a cyclone assembly comprising a cyclone chamber and a dirt collection chamber, the cyclone having a longitudinal cyclone axis; and

,

(d) a suction motor in air flow communication with the cyclone assembly and positioned downstream of the cyclone assembly and having a first end, a second end and a suction motor axis extending between the first and second ends

wherein the drive handle is moveably mounted to the mounting hub at a location of an axis of rotation of the rear wheels or forward thereof.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the suction motor is positioned adjacent the rear end whereby the at least one rear wheel is positioned rearward of the suction motor.

5. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the drive handle is moveably mounted to the mounting hub at a location forward of an axis of rotation of the rear wheels.

6. An all in the head surface cleaning apparatus comprising a surface cleaning head and a drive handle, the surface cleaning head comprising:

(a) a front end, a rear end, first and second laterally opposed sidewalls and a drive handle mounting hub positioned rearward of the rear end, the drive handle moveably mounted to the mounting hub between a storage position and an inclined floor cleaning position;

(b) a brush motor drivingly connected to a moveable brushing member, the brush motor having a brush motor axis;

(c) a cyclone assembly comprising a cyclone chamber and a dirt collection chamber, the cyclone having a longitudinal cyclone axis; and

,

(d) a suction motor in air flow communication with the cyclone assembly and positioned downstream of the cyclone assembly and having a first end, a second end and a suction motor axis extending between the first and second ends

wherein the mounting hub has first and second laterally opposed sidewalls and a rear wheel is positioned on each lateral sidewall of the mounting hub, and

wherein the laterally opposed sidewalls of the mounting hub are recessed inwardly from the laterally opposed sidewalls of the surface cleaning head.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the surface cleaning head has a central axis and the laterally opposed sidewalls of the mounting hub recessed inwardly from the laterally opposed sidewalls of the surface cleaning head are recessed inwardly by at least 20% of a distance between one of the laterally opposed sidewalls and the central axis.

8. An all in the head surface cleaning apparatus comprising a surface cleaning head and a drive handle, the surface cleaning head comprising:

(a) a front end, a rear end, first and second laterally opposed sidewalls and a drive handle mounting hub positioned rearward of the rear end, the drive handle moveably mounted to the mounting hub between a storage position and an inclined floor cleaning position;

(b) a brush motor drivingly connected to a moveable brushing member, the brush motor having a brush motor axis;

(c) a cyclone assembly comprising a cyclone chamber and a dirt collection chamber, the cyclone having a longitudinal cyclone axis, wherein the dirt collection chamber is removable from the surface cleaning head;

(d) a dirt collection bin release actuator provided on the mounting hub; and

,

(e) a suction motor having a first end, a second end and a suction motor axis extending between the first and second ends.

9. An all in the head surface cleaning apparatus comprising a surface cleaning head and a drive handle, the surface cleaning head comprising:

(a) a front end, a rear end, first and second laterally opposed sidewalls and a drive handle mounting hub positioned rearward of the rear end, the drive handle moveably mounted to the mounting hub between a storage position and an inclined floor cleaning position;

(b) a brush motor drivingly connected to a moveable brushing member, the brush motor having a brush motor axis;

(c) a cyclone assembly comprising a cyclone chamber and a dirt collection chamber, the cyclone having a longitudinal cyclone axis; and

,

(d) a suction motor in air flow communication with the cyclone assembly and positioned downstream of the cyclone assembly and having a first end, a second end and a suction motor axis extending between the first and second ends

wherein the surface cleaning head has a central axis extending in a forward direction of travel and defining a first lateral side having the first laterally opposed sidewall and a second lateral side having the second laterally opposed sidewall, the suction motor axis is oriented generally transverse to the forward direction of travel, the second end of the suction motor is positioned on the second lateral side and a rear wheel has a lateral outer side that is positioned on the second lateral side between the central axis and the second end of the suction motor.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the first end of the suction motor is closer to the first laterally opposed sidewall then the second laterally opposed sidewall and the second end of the suction motor is positioned closer to the second laterally opposed sidewall than the first laterally opposed sidewall.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the mounting hub has first and second laterally opposed sidewalls and a rear wheel is positioned on each lateral sidewall of the mounting hub.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the laterally opposed sidewalls of the mounting hub are recessed inwardly from the laterally opposed sidewalls of the surface cleaning head.

13. An all in the head surface cleaning apparatus comprising a surface cleaning head and a drive handle, the surface cleaning head comprising:

(a) a dirty air inlet, a clean air outlet and an air flow path extending therebetween;

(b) a front end, a rear end, first and second laterally opposed sidewalls and a drive handle mounting hub positioned rearward of the rear end, the drive handle steeringly connected to the mounting hub, wherein the drive handle is pivotable relative to the mounting hub about a laterally extending pivot axis between a storage position and an inclined floor cleaning position, and is rotatable relative to the mounting hub about a rotation axis;

(c) a brush motor drivingly connected to a moveable brushing member provided proximate the dirty air inlet,

(d) a cyclone assembly in the air flow path downstream from the dirty air inlet and comprising a cyclone chamber and a dirt collection chamber; and

,

(e) a suction motor positioned in the air flow path,

wherein the surface cleaning head has a central axis extending in a forward direction of travel and defining a first lateral side having the first laterally opposed sidewall and a second lateral side having the second laterally opposed sidewall, and wherein the suction motor comprises a first end, a second end and a suction motor axis that extends between the first and second ends and is oriented generally transverse to the forward direction of travel, the second end of the suction motor is positioned on the second lateral side and a rear wheel has a lateral outer side that is positioned on the second lateral side between the central axis and the second end of the suction motor.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the surface cleaning head has a rear wall, the suction motor is positioned adjacent the rear wall and at least one rear wheel is rotatably mounted to the mounting hub.

15. The apparatus of claim 13 further comprising at least one rear wheel rotatably mounted to the mounting hub and positioned adjacent the rear end whereby the at least one rear wheel is positioned rearward of the suction motor, and wherein the pivot axis is at a higher elevation than an axis of rotation of the rear wheels.

16. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the cyclone comprises a longitudinal cyclone axis about which air circulates within the cyclone and wherein the cyclone axis is generally parallel to and forwardly offset from the pivot axis.

17. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the drive handle is elongate and extends along a longitudinal handle axis and wherein the rotation axis is inclined at an angle of between about 10 degrees and about 60 degrees relative to the longitudinal handle axis.