Surface cleaning apparatus with different cleaning configurations

• US 9,015,899 B2
• Filed: 06/17/2014
• Issued: 04/28/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/13/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Omachron Intellectual Property Inc.
• Original Assignee: GBD Corporation (G.B.D.)
• Inventors: Conrad, Wayne Ernest
• Primary Examiner(s): REDDING, DAVID A
• Application Number:
  US14/307,388
• Publication Number:
  US 20140289995A1
• Time in Patent Office: 315 Days
• Field of Search: 153/272, 153/28, 153/31, 153/35, 154/10
• US Class Current: 15/331
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/38 Machines, specially adapted for cleaning walls, ceilings, roofs, or the like
• 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 5/36 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 9/0018 integrated in or removably mounted upon the suction cleaner for storing parts of said suction cleaner
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/0027 specially adapted for holding the suction cleaning tools
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/0045 specially adapted for holding the suction tube
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/16 Arrangement or disposition of cyclones or other devices with centrifugal action
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/242 Hose or pipe couplings
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/248 Parts, details or accessories of hoses or pipes nozzles A47L9/02
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/325 for wheeled suction cleaners with steering handle

Abstract

An upright surface cleaning apparatus comprises a surface cleaning head having a dirty air inlet. A support structure is moveably mounted to the surface cleaning head and a portable cleaning unit is removably mounted to the support structure. An above floor cleaning wand is provided. Each of the wand and the portable cleaning unit is separately removable from the support structure.

Claims

1. An upright surface cleaning apparatus comprising:

(a) a surface cleaning head having a dirty air inlet;

(b) a support structure moveably mounted to the surface cleaning head between a storage position and a floor cleaning position;

(c) a cleaning unit removably mounted to the support structure, the cleaning unit comprising a suction motor and an air treatment member, wherein the cleaning unit is removable from the support structure while maintaining the cleaning unit in air flow communication with the surface cleaning head;

(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 surface cleaning unit, the upstream portion of the air flow path comprising a wand and a flexible air flow conduit downstream of the wand; and

,

(e) each of the wand and the cleaning unit is separately removable from the support structure wherein the wand is co-extensive with a portion of the support structure when the wand is mounted to the support structure and the cleaning unit is mounted to the portion of the support structure.

2. The upright surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1, wherein the surface cleaning head has a forward direction of motion and the cleaning unit is removably mounted to a front side of the support structure.

3. The upright surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1, wherein the support structure further comprises an upper portion including a hand grip and a lower portion and each of the wand and the cleaning unit is removably mounted to the lower portion, the lower portion comprises an up flow duct, the up flow duct is moveably mounted to the surface cleaning head and the upper portion and cleaning unit are mounted to the up flow duct.

4. The upright surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1,

wherein the support structure comprises an up flow duct and the up flow duct is moveably mounted to the surface cleaning head.

5. The upright surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1, wherein the cleaning unit is spaced from the surface cleaning head when mounted to the support structure.

6. The upright surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1, wherein the support structure is also rotatably mounted with respect to the surface cleaning head.

7. The upright surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1

wherein the support structure comprises an upper portion having a handgrip and a lower portion movably mounted to the surface cleaning head, the lower portion has an upper opening in fluid flow communication with the dirty air inlet, the wand is in air flow communication with the upper opening when mounted to the lower portion and each of the wand and the cleaning unit is removably mounted to the support structure.

8. The upright surface cleaning apparatus of claim 7, wherein the wand is received within the upper opening when mounted to the support structure.

9. The upright surface cleaning apparatus of claim 7, wherein the cleaning unit is removably mounted to an exterior of the support structure and the wand is received within the upper opening when mounted to the support structure.

10. The upright surface cleaning apparatus of claim 9, wherein the support structure comprises first and second longitudinally spaced apart cleaning unit mounting members.

11. The upright surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1

wherein the support structure comprises an auxiliary cleaning tool mount.

12. The upright surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1

wherein the support structure comprises a power cord wrap.

13. The upright surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 comprising an upright handle, wherein the cleaning unit is removable from the support structure while the upright handle is drivingly connected to the surface cleaning head.

14. The upright surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the wand has an inlet end that is positioned in the portion of the support structure to which the cleaning unit is attached when the wand is mounted to the support structure and the cleaning unit is mounted to the portion of the support structure.

15. The upright surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the wand has an inlet end that is receivable within the support structure and, when the wand is mounted to the support structure, the inlet end is located below an upper end of the cleaning unit when the cleaning unit is mounted to the support structure.

16. The upright surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the wand has an inlet end that is positioned in the portion of the support structure when the wand is mounted to the support structure and the portion of the support structure is not removable with the wand when the cleaning unit is mounted to the support structure.

17. The upright surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the portion of the support structure to which the cleaning unit is mountable is not removable with the wand when the cleaning unit is mounted to the support structure.

18. The upright surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the portion of the support structure has an attachment member to which the cleaning unit is removably mounted and the wand is co-extensive with the portion of the support structure when the wand is mounted to the support structure.

19. An upright surface cleaning apparatus comprising:

(a) a surface cleaning head having a dirty air inlet;

(b) a support structure moveably mounted to the surface cleaning head between a storage position and a floor cleaning position;

(c) a cleaning unit removably mounted to the support structure, the cleaning unit comprising a suction motor and an air treatment member, wherein the cleaning unit is removable from the support structure while maintaining the cleaning unit in air flow communication with the surface cleaning head;

(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 surface cleaning unit, the upstream portion of the air flow path comprising a wand and a flexible air flow conduit downstream of the wand; and

,

(e) the wand is removable while the cleaning unit remains in position on the support structure and the cleaning unit is removable while the wand remains in position on the support structure,

wherein the wand has an inlet end that is positioned in a portion of the support structure to which the cleaning unit is attached when the wand is mounted to the support structure and the cleaning unit is mounted to the portion of the support structure.

20. The upright surface cleaning apparatus of claim 19 wherein, when the wand is mounted to the support structure, the inlet end is located below an upper end of the cleaning unit when the cleaning unit is mounted to the support structure.

21. The upright surface cleaning apparatus of claim 19 wherein the portion of the support structure is not removable with the wand when the cleaning unit is mounted to the support structure.

22. An upright surface cleaning apparatus comprising:

(a) a surface cleaning head having a dirty air inlet;

(b) a support structure moveably mounted to the surface cleaning head between a storage position and a floor cleaning position;

(c) a cleaning unit removably mounted to the support structure, the cleaning unit comprising a suction motor and an air treatment member, wherein the cleaning unit is removable from the support structure while maintaining the cleaning unit in air flow communication with the surface cleaning head;

(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 surface cleaning unit, the upstream portion of the air flow path comprising a wand and a flexible air flow conduit downstream of the wand; and

,

(e) the wand is removable while the cleaning unit remains in position on the support structure and the cleaning unit is removable while the wand remains in position on the support structure,

wherein a portion of the support structure to which the cleaning unit is mountable is not removable with the wand when the cleaning unit is mounted to the support structure.

23. An upright surface cleaning apparatus comprising:

(a) a surface cleaning head having a dirty air inlet;

(b) a support structure moveably mounted to the surface cleaning head between a storage position and a floor cleaning position;

(c) a cleaning unit removably mounted to the support structure, the cleaning unit comprising a suction motor and an air treatment member, wherein the cleaning unit is removable from the support structure while maintaining the cleaning unit in air flow communication with the surface cleaning head;

(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 surface cleaning unit, the upstream portion of the air flow path comprising a wand and a flexible air flow conduit downstream of the wand; and

,

(e) the wand is removable while the cleaning unit remains in position on the support structure and the cleaning unit is removable while the wand remains in position on the support structure,

wherein a portion of the support structure has an attachment member to which the cleaning unit is removably mounted and the wand is co-extensive with the portion of the support structure when the wand is mounted to the support structure.