BATTERY POWERED CORDLESS CLEANING SYSTEM

• US 20130152333A1
• Filed: 01/14/2013
• Published: 06/20/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Techtronic Floor Care Technology Limited (Techtronic Industries Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: Techtronic Floor Care Technology Limited (Techtronic Industries Company Limited)
• Inventors: Reed, Brett, Allemann, Markus, Rukavina, Doug, Reindle, Mark, Siegel, Norm, Horvath, Jamie, Butts, Mark, Gee, Jack W.
• Granted Patent: US 8,756,753 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 15/339
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 5/24 Hand-supported suction cleaners
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 5/362 of the horizontal type, e.g. canister or sledge 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 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 9/2857 User input or output elements for control, e.g. buttons, switches or displays
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2873 Docking units or charging stations for autonomous or robotic vacuum cleaners A47L2201/02
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2884 Details of arrangements of batteries or their installation
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2889 Safety or protection devices or systems, e.g. for prevention of motor over-heating or for protection of the user
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2894 Details related to signal transmission in suction cleaners
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

A cordless, battery-powered system of cleaning products. The system of cleaning products includes devices such as upright vacuums (e.g., a stick vacuum, a lightweight upright vacuum, etc.), a hand-held vacuum, a carpet-cleaner, a canister vacuum, and the like. Each of the devices is powered by a battery pack which is interchangeable among the devices. The battery pack includes a combination of hardware and software for connecting to, identifying, and communicating with the cleaning products to ensure that each of the products receives the power necessary to ensure optimal performance.

Claims

1. A cordless upright vacuum cleaner, comprising:

a nozzle base portion having a suction inlet;

a body portion;

a pivotable joint coupled between the nozzle base portion and the body portion;

a suction source for providing a suction force at the suction inlet; and

a battery pack interface configured to receive a removable and rechargeable lithium-based battery pack,

wherein

the suction source is powered by the battery pack,

the body portion is pivotable relative to a first axis,

the body portion is pivotable relative to a second axis, and

the body portion is supportable by the nozzle base portion in a vertical position without external support.

2. The vacuum cleaner of claim 1, wherein the combined weight of the vacuum cleaner and the battery pack is less than approximately seven and one-half pounds.

3. The vacuum cleaner of claim 1, wherein the battery pack interface is a recess having a terminal contact portion, the recess configured to receive an extendable latch of the battery pack.

4. The vacuum cleaner of claim 1, further comprising a fuel gauge external to the battery pack and configured to indicate a status of the battery pack.

5. The vacuum cleaner of claim 1, wherein the first axis is parallel to a cleaning surface and the second axis is approximately perpendicular to the first axis.