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Surface cleaning apparatus with different cleaning configurations

  • US 9,907,444 B2
  • Filed: 05/26/2015
  • Issued: 03/06/2018
  • Est. Priority Date: 03/13/2009
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A surface cleaning apparatus comprising:

  • (a) a floor cleaning unit comprising a surface cleaning head having a dirty air inlet, a surface cleaning head air outlet and an upright section having a handle;

    (b) a portable cleaning unit removably mounted to the upright section and having an air inlet, an air outlet and a suction motor; and

    ,(c) an air flow path extending through the surface cleaning apparatus and including(i) a flexible air flow conduit forming at least part of an air flow path from the surface cleaning head to the portable cleaning unit, wherein the flexible air flow conduit comprises a portable flexible air flow conduit portion, the flexible air flow conduit comprises an upstream portion of the air flow path and is removably connectable in air flow communication with a portion of the air flow path; and

    ,(ii) a rigid extension wand that extends to a position below an upper end of the portable cleaning unit when the portable cleaning unit is mounted to the upright section,(d) wherein the surface cleaning apparatus has a plurality of operating modes comprising(i) an upright operating mode wherein the surface cleaning apparatus is operable as an upright surface cleaning apparatus with the portable cleaning unit mounted to the upright section and forming part of the air flow path;

    (ii) an above floor cleaning mode wherein all of the rigid extension wand is removed, the portable flexible air flow conduit portion is connected to the rigid extension wand and the portable cleaning unit is mounted to the upright section and forms part of the air flow path;

    and at least one additional operating mode comprising at least one of(iii) a first portable operating mode wherein the portable cleaning unit is removed from the upright section and the portable flexible air flow conduit portion is not attached to the extension wand; and

    ,(iv) a second portable operating mode wherein the portable cleaning unit is removed from the upright section, the portable flexible air flow conduit portion is connected to the extension wand and the extension wand is not attached to the upright section;

    and at least one additional operating mode comprising at least one of(v) a third portable operating mode wherein the portable cleaning unit is removed from the upright section, the portable flexible air flow conduit portion is not attached to the extension wand and the surface cleaning head is in fluid flow communication with the portable flexible air flow conduit portion; and

    ,(vi) a fourth portable operating mode wherein the portable cleaning unit is removed from the upright section, the portable flexible air flow conduit portion is connected to the extension wand and the surface cleaning head is in fluid flow communication with the extension wandwherein the handle comprises the extension wand.

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