SURFACE CLEANING APPARATUS

• US 20180055315A1
• Filed: 08/24/2017
• Published: 03/01/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 04/11/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Omachron Intellectual Property Inc.
• Original Assignee: Omachron Intellectual Property Inc.
• Inventors: Conrad, Wayne Ernest
• Granted Patent: US 10,568,477 B2
• Time in Patent Office: 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 5/24 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 9/0072 Mechanical means for controlling the suction or for effecting pulsating action
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/0081 Means for exhaust-air diffusion; Means for sound or vibration damping
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/106 Dust removal
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/12 Dry filters
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/122 flat
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/1608 Cyclonic chamber constructions
• 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 9/1691 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 9/2868 Arrangements for power supply of vacuum cleaners or the accessories thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/322 for hand-supported suction cleaners

Abstract

A surface cleaning apparatus has a dirty air inlet and an air treatment member. The air treatment member includes a dirt collection region having an openable door. When an accessory is connected to the dirty air inlet, the openable door is inhibited from opening.

Claims

1. A surface cleaning apparatus comprising:

(a) an air flow path from a dirty air inlet to a clean air outlet and including a suction motor;

(b) an air treatment member comprising a dirt collection region having an openable door; and

,

(c) an accessory removably connectable to the dirty air inlet wherein, when the accessory is connected to the dirty air inlet, the openable door is inhibited from opening.

2. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a front end having the dirty air inlet and the openable door is provided on the front end.

3. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the accessory is removably mounted to the dirty air inlet.

4. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein, when the accessory is connected to the dirty air inlet, the accessory physically inhibits the openable door from opening.

5. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 4 wherein, when the accessory is connected to the dirty air inlet, the accessory overlies a portion of the openable door.

6. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 5 wherein, when the accessory is connected to the dirty air inlet, the accessory abuts a portion of the openable door.

7. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 4 wherein the openable door has first and second opposed sides, the first side having a hinge for the openable door and, when the accessory is connected to the dirty air inlet, the accessory interacts with the second opposed side thereby inhibiting the openable door from opening.

8. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 further comprising an openable door lock comprising a lock engaging member and a door release actuator drivingly connected to the lock engaging member, the lock engaging member moveable between an engaged position in which the lock engaging member secures the openable door in a closed position and a disengaged position in which the openable door is openable wherein the lock engaging member is inhibited from moving to the disengaged position when the accessory is connected to the dirty air inlet.

9. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 8 wherein the accessory has a blocking portion which inhibits the lock engaging member moving to the disengaged position when the accessory is connected to the dirty air inlet.

10. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 9 wherein the openable door lock includes a moveable portion which moves along a path from a first position when the lock engaging member is in the engaged position to a second position when the lock engaging member is in the disengaged position, the moveable portion has an abutment surface and the blocking portion is positioned in the path of the abutment surface when the accessory is connected to the dirty air inlet.

11. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 10 wherein the moveable portion is part of a drive member drivingly connecting the door release actuator to the lock engaging member.

12. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 8 further comprising a lock deactivation member and the accessory has a blocking portion which activates the lock deactivation member when the accessory is connected to the dirty air inlet.

13. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 12 wherein the lock deactivation member includes a moveable portion which moves along a path from a first position when the lock engaging member is in the engaged position to a second position when the lock engaging member is in the disengaged position, the moveable portion has an abutment surface and the blocking portion is positioned in the path of the abutment surface when the accessory is connected to the dirty air inlet.

14. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 further comprising an openable door lock wherein the openable door is moveable to an open position when the openable door lock is moved to an open position and wherein the openable door lock is inhibited from moving to the open position when the accessory is connected to the dirty air inlet.

15. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the accessory is a longitudinally extending rigid member air flow member, an accessory cleaning tool, or a flexible hose.

16. A surface cleaning apparatus comprising:

(a) an air flow path from a dirty air inlet to a clean air outlet and including a suction motor;

(b) an air treatment member comprising a dirt collection region having an openable door;

(c) an accessory removably connectable in air flow communication with the dirty air inlet; and

,

(d) an openable door lock comprising a lock engaging member and a door release actuator drivingly connected to the lock engaging member, the lock engaging member is moveable between an engaged position in which the lock engaging member secures the openable door in a closed position and a disengaged position in which the openable door is openable wherein the lock engaging member is inhibited from moving to the disengaged position when the accessory is connected in air flow communication with the dirty air inlet.

17. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 16 wherein the accessory has a blocking portion which inhibits the lock engaging member moving to the disengaged position when the accessory is connected to the dirty air inlet.

18. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 17 wherein the openable door lock includes a moveable portion which moves along a path from a first position when the lock engaging member is in the engaged position to a second position when the lock engaging member is in the disengaged position, the moveable portion has an abutment surface and the blocking portion is positioned in the path of the abutment surface when the accessory is connected to the dirty air inlet.

19. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 18 wherein the moveable portion is part of a drive member drivingly connecting the door release actuator to the lock engaging member.

20. A surface cleaning apparatus comprising:

(a) an air flow path from a dirty air inlet to a clean air outlet and including a suction motor;

(b) an air treatment member comprising a dirt collection region having an openable door;

(c) an accessory removably connectable in air flow communication with the dirty air inlet; and

,

(d) a lock deactivation member and the accessory has a blocking portion which activates the lock deactivation member when the accessory is connected in air flow communication with the dirty air inlet.

21. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 20 wherein the lock deactivation member includes a moveable portion which moves along a path from a first position when the lock engaging member is in the engaged position to a second position when the lock engaging member is in the disengaged position, the moveable portion has an abutment surface and the blocking portion is positioned in the path of the abutment surface when the accessory is connected to the dirty air inlet.

22. A surface cleaning apparatus comprising:

(a) an air flow path from a dirty air inlet to a clean air outlet and including a suction motor;

(b) an air treatment member comprising a dirt collection region having an openable door;

(c) an accessory removably connectable in air flow communication with the dirty air inlet wherein, when the accessory is connected to the dirty air inlet, the accessory physically inhibits the door from opening.

23. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 22 wherein, when the accessory is connected in air flow communication with the dirty air inlet, the accessory overlies a portion of the openable door.

24. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 23 wherein, when the accessory is connected in air flow communication with the dirty air inlet, the accessory abuts a portion of the openable door.

25. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 22 wherein the openable door has first and second opposed sides, the first side having a hinge for the openable door and, when the accessory is connected in air flow communication with the dirty air inlet, the accessory interacts with the second opposed side thereby inhibiting the openable door from opening.