Surface cleaning apparatus

• US 10,413,141 B2
• Filed: 08/29/2016
• Issued: 09/17/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Omachron Intellectual Property Inc.
• Original Assignee: Omachron Intellectual Property Inc.
• Inventors: Conrad, Wayne Ernest, Conrad, Nina, Peterson, Dave
• Primary Examiner(s): Van Nguyen, Dung
• Application Number:
  US15/250,155
• Publication Number:
  US 20180055301A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,114 Days
• 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 5/30 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 5/36 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 9/0036 specially adapted for holding the suction hose
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/0045 specially adapted for holding the suction tube
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/009 Carrying-vehicles; Arrangements of trollies or wheels; Means for avoiding mechanical obstacles
• 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 9/1625 for series flow
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/165 Construction of inlets
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/1666 with filtering means
• 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 9/242 Hose or pipe couplings
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/325 for wheeled suction cleaners with steering handle

Abstract

An upright surface cleaning apparatus may have a surface cleaning head with a central longitudinal axis extending between its front and rear ends. An upright section may be mounted to the surface cleaning head and may be moveable between a generally upright position and a rearwardly inclined in use position. The upright section may include an air treatment member assembly and a suction motor. The air treatment member assembly may include an air treatment member and a dirt collection region that is positioned laterally from the air treatment member. The suction motor may be positioned below at least one of the air treatment member and the dirt collection region. The first and second laterally opposed sides and one of the front side and the rear side of the air treatment member assembly may be generally rectangular in top plan view when the upright section is in the upright position.

Claims

1. An upright surface cleaning apparatus comprising:

a) a surface cleaning head having a front end, a rear end, a central longitudinal axis extending between the front and rear ends, first and second laterally opposed sides, a dirty air inlet and a surface cleaning head air outlet;

b) an upright section mounted to the surface cleaning head and moveable between a generally upright position and a rearwardly inclined in use position, the upright section comprising an air treatment member assembly and a suction motor; and

,

c) the air treatment member assembly having a longitudinally extending air treatment member assembly axis, first and second laterally opposed sides, a front side and a rear side, the air treatment member assembly comprising an air treatment member having an internal volume in which air is treated and a dirt collection region that is positioned laterally from the air treatment member,

wherein the suction motor is positioned below at least one of the air treatment member and the dirt collection region,

and wherein the first and second laterally opposed sides and one of the front side and the rear side of the air treatment member assembly is generally rectangular in top plan view when the upright section is in the upright position,

and wherein the rear side of the air treatment member assembly has a portion that extends outwardly in a direction of the central longitudinal axis of the surface cleaning head when the upright section is oriented to extend generally upwardly from the surface cleaning head, the portion including at least part of the internal volume of the air treatment member.

2. The upright surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the portion extends along a length of the air treatment member assembly in a direction of the longitudinally extending air treatment member assembly axis.

3. The upright surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the suction motor underlies at least one of the air treatment member and the dirt collection region.

4. The upright surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein an inlet of the suction motor is aligned with an air outlet of the air treatment member.

5. The upright surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the air treatment member has a dirt outlet provided on a lateral side of the air treatment member.

6. The upright surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein a depth of the air treatment member assembly in a direction of the central longitudinal axis is about equal to a diameter of the suction motor.

7. The upright surface cleaning apparatus of claim 6 wherein the depth of the air treatment member assembly is the same as the diameter of the suction motor ±

2 inches.

8. The upright surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein a maximum depth of the upright section in a direction of the central longitudinal axis is 6 inches or less.

9. The upright surface cleaning apparatus of claim 8 wherein the maximum depth of the upright section is 4 inches or less.

10. The upright surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein a depth of the air treatment member in a direction of the central longitudinal axis is about equal to a diameter of the suction motor.

11. The upright surface cleaning apparatus of claim 10 wherein the depth of the air treatment member assembly is the same as the diameter of the suction motor ±

2 inches.

12. The upright surface cleaning apparatus of claim 11 wherein a maximum depth of the upright section in a direction of the central longitudinal axis is 6 inches or less.

13. The upright surface cleaning apparatus of claim 11 wherein the maximum depth of the upright section is 4 inches or less.

14. An upright surface cleaning apparatus comprising:

a) a surface cleaning head having a front end, a rear end, a central longitudinal axis extending between the front and rear ends, first and second laterally opposed sides, a dirty air inlet, rear wheels, and a surface cleaning head air outlet;

b) an upright section mounted to the surface cleaning head and moveable between a generally upright position and a rearwardly inclined in use position, the upright section comprising a suction motor and an air treatment member comprising a dirt collection chamber; and

,

c) a diameter of the rear wheels is greater than a depth of a portion of the dirt collection chamber in a direction of the central longitudinal axis,

wherein the suction motor is positioned below the air treatment member, and

wherein the air treatment member comprises a cyclone bin assembly having a cyclone, a longitudinally extending cyclone bin assembly axis, first and second laterally opposed sides, a front side and a rear side, the dirt collection chamber is external to the cyclone, and the rear side of the cyclone bin assembly has a portion of the cyclone that extends outwardly in the direction of the central longitudinal axis of the surface cleaning head when the upright section is oriented to extend generally upwardly from the surface cleaning head, which portion also extends along a length of the cyclone bin assembly in a direction of the longitudinally extending cyclone bin assembly axis.

15. The upright surface cleaning apparatus of claim 14 wherein the portion is rounded in transverse section.

16. The upright surface cleaning apparatus of claim 14 wherein an inlet of the suction motor is aligned with an air outlet of the cyclone.

17. The upright surface cleaning apparatus of claim 14 wherein the cyclone has a laterally directed dirt outlet.

18. The upright surface cleaning apparatus of claim 17 wherein the maximum depth is 4 inches or less.

19. The upright surface cleaning apparatus of claim 14 wherein a diameter of the cyclone is about equal to a diameter of the suction motor.

20. The upright surface cleaning apparatus of claim 14 wherein a maximum depth of the upright section in a direction of the central longitudinal axis is 6 inches or less.