Surface cleaning apparatus

• US 9,226,633 B2
• Filed: 06/06/2014
• Issued: 01/05/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/13/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Omachron Intellectual Property Inc.
• Original Assignee: Omachron Intellectual Property Inc.
• Inventors: Conrad, Wayne Ernest, Thorne, Jason Boyd
• Primary Examiner(s): Wilson, Lee D
• Assistant Examiner(s): MCDONALD, SHANTESE L
• Application Number:
  US14/298,240
• Publication Number:
  US 20150000069A1
• Time in Patent Office: 578 Days
• Field of Search: 153/47, 153/50, 153/52, 153/53
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 5/32 with means for connecting a hose hose couplings for suction cleaners A47L9/24
• 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

Abstract

A vacuum cleaner is provided with a handle assembly drivingly connected to the surface cleaning head and a main power control and a brush control controllingly coupled to the brush motor is provided on the handle assembly. An surface cleaning apparatus is also provided that includes an air flow path extending from the cleaning head air outlet to the air treatment member air inlet and comprising a flexible electrified air flow conduit and a handle assembly drivingly connected to the surface cleaning head with a light source disposed on the handle assembly.

Claims

1. A surface cleaning apparatus comprising:

a) a surface cleaning head comprising, a brush driven by a brush motor, a dirty air inlet and a cleaning head air outlet;

b) an upper portion moveably mounted to the surface cleaning head between a storage position and a floor cleaning position;

c) an air flow path extending from the cleaning head air outlet to a clean air outlet;

d) an air treatment member and a suction motor provided in the air flow path;

e) the air flow path comprising a flexible electrified air flow conduit wherein the brush motor is electrically connected to a power source by a circuit that includes the flexible electrified air flow conduit; and

,

f) a handle assembly drivingly connected to the surface cleaning head and comprising a main power control and a brush control controllingly coupled to the brush motor.

2. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the handle assembly comprises a handle useable by a hand of a user to direct the surface cleaning head and the brush control and the main power control are each operable by the hand while the user uses the hand to direct the surface cleaning head.

3. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the handle assembly comprises a handle and the brush control and the main power control are each positioned proximate the handle.

4. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the handle assembly comprises a handle and the brush control and the main power control are each positioned on the handle.

5. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the brush control is adjustable such that the brush motor is operable in at least two different modes.

6. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 5 wherein the brush control comprises a multi-position switch.

7. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the upper portion comprises a rigid airflow conduit removably connectable to the cleaning head air outlet, the airflow conduit comprising a conduit air inlet and a conduit air outlet, the conduit air inlet having an associated multi-conductor connector mateable with a multi-conductor connector of the surface cleaning head.

8. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the brush control is a multi-position control, the circuit comprises a handle control processor coupled to the multi-position control and a brush control processor, wherein the handle control processor is configured to transmit a brush control signal via a control conductor to the brush control processor based on a selected position of the multi-position control, and wherein the brush control processor is configured to sequentially select between at least two different brush power level outputs of the brush motor based on the brush control signal.

9. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 8 wherein the main power control is provided in series with the control conductor and a hot conductor.

10. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the upper portion comprises a rigid airflow conduit having a lower end that is removably connectable in air flow communication and electrically connectable to the surface cleaning head, and the handle assembly is removably connectable in air flow communication and electrically connectable to an upper end of the rigid airflow conduit.

11. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 10 wherein the upper end of the rigid conduit is an outlet end and the flexible electrified air flow conduit is downstream of the upper end and is electrically connected to the rigid conduit via the handle assembly.

12. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a light source disposed on the handle assembly.

13. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 12 wherein the light source is automatically powered when the handle assembly is electrically disconnected from the surface cleaning head.

14. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a surface cleaning unit removably mounted to the support structure, the surface cleaning unit comprising the suction motor and the air treatment member.

15. A surface cleaning apparatus comprising:

a) a surface cleaning head comprising, a brush driven by a brush motor, a dirty air inlet and a cleaning head air outlet;

b) an upper portion moveably mounted to the surface cleaning head between a storage position and a floor cleaning position;

c) an air flow path extending from the cleaning head air outlet to a clean air outlet;

d) an air treatment member and a suction motor provided in the air flow path;

e) the air flow path comprising a flexible electrified air flow conduit wherein the brush motor is controllingly connected to a power source by a circuit that includes the flexible electrified air flow conduit; and

,

f) a handle assembly drivingly connected to the surface cleaning head and a light source disposed on the handle assembly.

16. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 15 wherein the light source is automatically powered when the handle assembly is electrically disconnected from the surface cleaning head.

17. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 15 further comprising at least one of a main power control and a brush control controllingly coupled to the brush motor positioned proximate the handle assembly.

18. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 17 wherein the handle assembly comprises a handle useable by a hand of a user to direct the surface cleaning head and the at least one of the brush control and the main power control are operable by the hand while the user uses the hand to direct the surface cleaning head.

19. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 17 wherein the handle assembly comprises a handle and the at least one of the brush control and the main power control are positioned proximate the handle.

20. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 17 wherein the handle assembly comprises a handle and the at least one of the brush control and the main power control are positioned on the handle.

21. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 15 wherein the upper portion comprises a rigid airflow conduit having a lower end that is removably connectable in air flow communication and electrically connectable to the surface cleaning head, and the handle assembly is removably connectable in air flow communication and electrically connectable to an upper end of the rigid airflow conduit.

22. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 15 further comprising a surface cleaning unit removably mounted to the support structure, the surface cleaning unit comprising the suction motor and the air treatment member.