Surface cleaning apparatus

• US 10,638,897 B2
• Filed: 07/26/2017
• Issued: 05/05/2020
• 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:
  US15/659,800
• Publication Number:
  US 20170319023A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,014 Days
• Field of Search: 15328, 15329, 15331, 15334, 15335
• 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 5/28 Suction cleaners with handles and nozzles fixed on the casings, e.g. wheeled suction cleaners with steering handle A47L5/24 takes precedence
• 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 7/0095 Suction cleaners or attachments adapted to collect dust or waste from power tools
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/00 Details or accessories of suction cleaners, e.g. mechanical means for controlling the suction or for effecting pulsating action; Storing devices specially adapted to suction cleaners or parts thereof; Carrying-vehicles specially adapted for suction cleaners
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/0018 integrated in or removably mounted upon the suction cleaner for storing parts of said suction cleaner
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/0081 Means for exhaust-air diffusion; Means for sound or vibration damping
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/02 Nozzles suction nozzles for fluid transport B65G51/00
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/122 flat
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/16 Arrangement or disposition of cyclones or other devices with centrifugal action
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/1691 Mounting or coupling means for cyclonic chamber or dust receptacles
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/22 Mountings for motor fan assemblies
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/246 with electrical connectors
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/248 Parts, details or accessories of hoses or pipes nozzles A47L9/02
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2857 User input or output elements for control, e.g. buttons, switches or displays
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/30 Arrangement of illuminating devices
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/325 for wheeled suction cleaners with steering handle
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/327 for suction cleaners with hose between nozzle and casing

Abstract

A surface cleaning apparatus includes a surface cleaning head having a dirty air inlet and an upper section mount moveably coupled to the surface cleaning head. An upper portion is mounted to the upper section mount. The upper section comprises a wand. A portable surface cleaning unit is removably mounted to the upper portion. An air flow path extends from the dirty air inlet to a clean air outlet and includes an upstream portion comprising the wand and a flexible air flow conduit downstream of the wand. Each of the wand and the portable cleaning unit can be separately removable from the upper section mount.

Claims

1. An upright surface cleaning apparatus comprising:

(a) a surface cleaning head having a dirty air inlet and an upper section mount moveably coupled to the surface cleaning head for movement between a storage position and a floor cleaning position;

(b) an upper portion mounted to the upper section mount whereby the upper portion is moveable between a storage position and a floor cleaning position, the upper portion comprising a wand, the wand defining at least one rigid removable air flow conduit that is moveable between a first position in which the wand is mounted to the upper section mount and an inlet end of the wand is in air flow communication with the dirty air inlet and a second position in which the inlet end of the wand is removed from air flow communication with the dirty air inlet;

(c) a portable surface cleaning unit removably mounted to the upper section mount, the portable cleaning unit comprising a suction motor, an air treatment member and a carry handle, the air treatment member comprising a cyclone bin assembly and the cyclone bin assembly is removable while the portable cleaning unit is mounted to the upper section mount; and

(d) an air flow path extending from the dirty air inlet to a clean air outlet and comprising an upstream portion that extends from the dirty air inlet to the portable surface cleaning unit, the upstream portion of the air flow path comprising the wand and a flexible air flow conduit downstream of the wand;

wherein all of the rigid removable air flow conduit is moveable to the second position while the portable cleaning unit remains mounted to the upper section mount, and wherein the portable cleaning unit is removable from the upper section mount while the wand remains locked in the first position, wherein an upper portion of the upper section mount engages the wand and the portable cleaning unit and the upper portion of the upper section mount is positioned proximate a lower portion of the portable surface cleaning unit when the portable surface cleaning unit is mounted to the upper section mount.

2. The upright surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1, wherein the wand remains in air flow communication with the portable cleaning unit when all of the rigid removable air flow conduit is moved to the second position.

3. The upright surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1, wherein the portable cleaning unit is removable from the upper section mount while maintaining the portable cleaning unit in air flow communication with the surface cleaning head.

4. The upright surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a single locking mechanism having a first latch member securing the wand on the upper section mount and a second latch member securing the portable cleaning unit on the upper section mount.

5. The upright surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1, wherein the surface cleaning head has a forward direction of motion and the portable cleaning unit is removably mounted to a front side of the upper section mount portion.

6. The upright surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1, wherein the flexible air flow conduit comprises an electrified stretch hose.

7. The upright surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1, wherein the upper section mount comprises an up flow duct.

8. The upright surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1, wherein the upper section mount has an outlet port in fluid flow communication with the dirty air inlet, the wand is in air flow communication with the outlet port when mounted to the upper section mount and each of the wand and the portable cleaning unit is removably mounted to the upper section mount.

9. The upright surface cleaning apparatus of claim 8, wherein the wand is mated with the outlet port when mounted to the upper section mount.

10. The upright surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1, wherein the surface cleaning head comprises an electric motor drivingly coupled to a rotary brush, the electric motor is electrically connected to the portable surface cleaning unit when the portable surface cleaning unit is mounted on the upper section mount and remains electrically connected to the portable surface cleaning unit when the portable surface cleaning unit is removed from the upper section mount and the wand remains moveably mounted to the surface cleaning head.

11. The upright surface cleaning apparatus of claim 10, wherein the electric connection between the electric motor and the portable surface cleaning unit is uninterrupted when the upright surface cleaning apparatus is in a first configuration wherein the portable surface cleaning unit is attached to the upper section mount and when the upright surface cleaning apparatus is in a second configuration wherein the wand remains moveably mounted to the surface cleaning head and the portable surface cleaning unit is detached from the upper section mount.

12. The upright surface cleaning apparatus of claim 10, wherein the electrical connection between the portable surface cleaning unit and the electric motor comprises an electrified stretch hose.

13. An upright surface cleaning apparatus comprising:

(a) a surface cleaning head having a dirty air inlet and an upper section mount moveably coupled to the surface cleaning head for movement between a storage position and a floor cleaning position;

(b) a wand mounted to the upper section mount whereby the wand is moveable between the storage position and the floor cleaning position, the wand defining a removable air flow conduit that is moveable between a first position in which the wand is mounted to the upper section mount and an inlet end of the wand is in air flow communication with the dirty air inlet and a second position in which the inlet end of the wand is removed from air flow communication with the dirty air inlet;

(c) a portable surface cleaning unit removably positionable on the upper section mount, the portable cleaning unit comprising a suction motor, an air treatment member and a carry handle, the air treatment member comprising a cyclone bin assembly and the cyclone bin assembly is removable while the portable cleaning unit is positioned on the upper section mount; and

(d) an air flow path extending from the dirty air inlet to a clean air outlet and comprising an upstream portion that extends from the dirty air inlet to the portable surface cleaning unit, the upstream portion of the air flow path comprising the wand and a flexible air flow conduit downstream of the wand;

wherein all of the removable air flow conduit is moveable to the second position while the portable cleaning unit remains positioned on the upper section mount, and wherein the portable cleaning unit is removable from the upper section mount while the wand remains locked in the first position, wherein an upper portion of the upper section mount engages the wand and the portable cleaning unit and the upper portion of the upper section mount is positioned proximate a lower portion of the portable surface cleaning unit when the portable surface cleaning unit is mounted to the upper section mount.

14. The upright surface cleaning apparatus of claim 13, wherein the portable cleaning unit is removable from the upper section while maintaining the portable cleaning unit in air flow communication with the surface cleaning head.

15. The upright surface cleaning apparatus of claim 13, further comprising a single locking mechanism having a first latch member securing the wand on the upper section mount and a second latch member securing the portable cleaning unit on the upper section mount.

16. The upright surface cleaning apparatus of claim 13, wherein the flexible air flow conduit comprises an electrified stretch hose.

17. The upright surface cleaning apparatus of claim 13, wherein the upper section mount comprises an up flow duct.

18. The upright surface cleaning apparatus of claim 13, wherein the surface cleaning head comprises an electric motor drivingly coupled to a rotary brush, the electric motor is electrically connected to the portable surface cleaning unit when the portable surface cleaning unit is positioned on the upper section mount and remains electrically connected to the portable surface cleaning unit when the portable surface cleaning unit is removed from the upper section mount and the wand remains moveably mounted to the surface cleaning head.

19. The upright surface cleaning apparatus of claim 18, wherein the electric connection between the electric motor and the portable surface cleaning unit is uninterrupted when the upright surface cleaning apparatus is in a first configuration wherein the portable surface cleaning unit is attached to the upper section mount and when the upright surface cleaning apparatus is in a second configuration wherein the wand remains moveably mounted to the surface cleaning head and the portable surface cleaning unit is detached from the upper section mount.

20. The upright surface cleaning apparatus of claim 18, wherein the electrical connection between the portable surface cleaning unit and the electric motor comprises an electrified stretch hose.