Patent Application
20240041284
This application relates to the field of surface cleaning apparatus and docking units for use with the same.
The following is not an admission that anything discussed below is part of the prior art or part of the common general knowledge of a person skilled in the art.
Various types of surface cleaning apparatus are known, including upright surface cleaning apparatus, canister surface cleaning apparatus, stick surface cleaning apparatus, central vacuum systems, and hand carriable surface cleaning apparatus such as hand vacuums. Further, various designs for cyclonic hand vacuum cleaners, including battery operated cyclonic hand vacuum cleaners, are known in the art.
Various types of docking units are known which include one or more surface cleaning apparatus. The dirt collection regions of a docking unit may be internal to the docking unit. The docking units may also include a suction motor and fan system used to empty the surface cleaning apparatus while the surface cleaning apparatus is in communication with the docking system.
In accordance with one aspect of this disclosure, a mobile free standing air treatment unit is provided having an air treatment unit and a first docking unit for a first vacuum cleaner. The mobile free standing air treatment unit further includes a vacuuming unit. The mobile free standing air treatment unit is operable in a first docking mode in which the first vacuum cleaner is docked at the first docking unit and the mobile free standing air treatment unit is operable to withdraw dirt from the first vacuum cleaner into the air treatment unit and a cleaning mode in which the first vacuum cleaner is docked at the first docking unit and the mobile free standing air treatment unit is operable to clean a surface. An advantage of this design is that the dirt collected from multiple sources may be stored in a single region to be emptied, thereby simplifying the emptying process. Additionally, the suction motor and/or energy storage member of the first vacuum cleaner may be used to power the cleaning mode of the mobile free standing air treatment unit. Accordingly, the mobile free standing air treatment unit in combination with the first vacuum cleaner provides essentially a second vacuum cleaner which may have a larger dirt collection capacity. Accordingly, by using the suction motor and/or energy storage member of the first vacuum cleaner as part of the mobile free standing air treatment unit, a second vacuum cleaner may be provided, thereby saving cost, simplifying manufacture, and reducing weight of the unit.
In accordance with this aspect, there is provided: a mobile free standing air treatment unit comprising:
In any embodiment, the mobile free standing air treatment unit may have an absence of a fan and motor assembly.
In any embodiment, when the first vacuum cleaner is docked at the first docking unit, the fan and motor assembly of the first vacuum cleaner may be the sole air moving member of a combined mobile free standing air treatment unit and first vacuum cleaner. Alternately, the mobile free standing air treatment unit may also have a fan and motor assembly which may be used concurrently with the fan and motor assembly of the first vacuum cleaner.
In any embodiment, the air treatment unit may be removably mounted to the mobile free standing air treatment unit, the air treatment unit may have an openable door and, when the door is opened, dirt may be emptyable from the air treatment unit, and the air treatment unit may be removable from the mobile free standing air treatment unit with the door closed.
In any embodiment, the air treatment unit may comprise a first stage air treatment member, which may comprise a first dirt collection region, and a downstream second stage comprising a second stage air treatment member.
In any embodiment, the first dirt collection region may comprise a first stage cyclone and the second stage air treatment member may comprise a second cyclone.
In any embodiment, the first dirt collection region may comprise a first stage air treatment chamber having a dirt collection region at a lower end thereof and the second stage air treatment member may comprise a second cyclone.
In any embodiment, an air impermeable bag may be removably receivable in the first dirt collection region whereby, in operation, dirt may be collected in the bag and the first dirt collection region may be openable and, when the first dirt collection region is opened, the bag may be removable.
In any embodiment, the first dirt collection region may have an openable lid and, when the lid is opened, the bag may be removable upwardly.
In any embodiment, the vacuuming unit may include a flexible hose and, in the second cleaning mode, the flexible hose may be positioned upstream of the second dirty air inlet.
In any embodiment, the mobile free standing air treatment unit may further include a second docking unit for a second vacuum cleaner and a third air flow path, the second docking unit may comprise a third dirty air inlet and the third air flow path extending from the third dirty air inlet to the first clean air outlet, wherein the mobile free standing air treatment unit may be operable in a second docking mode in which the first vacuum cleaner is docked at the first docking unit and is connected in air flow communication with the first dirty air inlet and the second vacuum cleaner is docked at the second docking unit and is connected in air flow communication with the first dirty air inlet, whereby the mobile free standing air treatment unit may be operable using the third air flow path to withdraw dirt from the second vacuum cleaner.
In any embodiment, the air treatment unit may also be provided in the third air flow path and, in the second docking mode the mobile free standing air treatment unit may be operable using the third air flow path to withdraw dirt from the second vacuum cleaner and collect withdrawn dirt in the air treatment unit.
In any embodiment, the second vacuum cleaner may be an autonomous vacuum cleaner.
In any embodiment, the first vacuum cleaner may have an on board energy storage member and the first docking unit further may comprise a first charging unit whereby the first vacuum cleaner may be rechargeable when docked at the first docking unit.
In accordance with another aspect of this disclosure, a docking apparatus is provided with an air treatment unit, a first docking unit and a second docking unit. The first docking unit is for a first vacuum cleaner and the second docking unit is for a second vacuum cleaner. The air treatment unit is positioned in a first air flow path of the first vacuum cleaner and a second air flow path of the second vacuum cleaner. An advantage of this design is that the dirt collection regions of each of the first and second vacuum cleaners may be emptied into a single location, thereby facilitating simplified emptying of multiple devices. Additionally, the docking apparatus may be used to recharge each of the first and second vacuum cleaners. Optionally, the fan and motor assembly and/or energy storage member of the first vacuum cleaner may be used to operate the docking unit when the second vacuum cleaner is being emptied into the dock.
In accordance with this aspect, there is provided: a docking apparatus comprising:
In accordance with another aspect of this disclosure, a docking unit is provided with an air treatment unit comprising an air impermeable bag removably receivable in the first dirt collection region and a first a first docking unit for a first vacuum cleaner. Dirt may be withdrawn from the first vacuum cleaner into the bag and the dirt collection chamber may be opened to remove the bag. When the dirt collection chamber is opened, the docking unit is inoperable. An advantage of this design is that a user may be prevented from accidentally operating the docking unit when the dirt collection region is opened, thereby preventing accidental evacuation of the first vacuum cleaner while the dirt collection region is opened.
In accordance with this aspect, there is provided: a docking unit comprising:
In any embodiment, the docking unit may be inoperable when a bag is absent from the first dirt collection region.
In any embodiment, the first dirt collection region may have an openable lid and, when the lid is opened, the bag is removable upwardly.
In any embodiment, the air treatment unit may comprise a second stage air treatment member comprising a second dirt collection region and dirt collected in the second dirt collection region may be emptyable into the bag.
These and other aspects and features of various embodiments will be described in greater detail below.
For a better understanding of the described embodiments and to show more clearly how they may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings in which:
The drawings included herewith are for illustrating various examples of articles, methods, and apparatuses of the teaching of the present specification and are not intended to limit the scope of what is taught in any way.
Various apparatuses, methods and compositions are described below to provide an example of an embodiment of each claimed invention. No embodiment described below limits any claimed invention and any claimed invention may cover apparatuses and methods that differ from those described below. The claimed inventions are not limited to apparatuses, methods and compositions having all of the features of any one apparatus, method or composition described below or to features common to multiple or all of the apparatuses, methods or compositions described below. It is possible that an apparatus, method or composition described below is not an embodiment of any claimed invention. Any invention disclosed in an apparatus, method or composition described below that is not claimed in this document may be the subject matter of another protective instrument, for example, a continuing patent application, and the applicant(s), inventor(s) and/or owner(s) do not intend to abandon, disclaim, or dedicate to the public any such invention by its disclosure in this document.
The terms “an embodiment,” “embodiment,” “embodiments,” “the embodiment,” “the embodiments,” “one or more embodiments,” “some embodiments,” and “one embodiment” mean “one or more (but not all) embodiments of the present invention(s),” unless expressly specified otherwise.
The terms “including,” “comprising” and variations thereof mean “including but not limited to,” unless expressly specified otherwise. A listing of items does not imply that any or all of the items are mutually exclusive, unless expressly specified otherwise. The terms “a,” “an” and “the” mean “one or more,” unless expressly specified otherwise.
As used herein and in the claims, two or more parts are said to be “coupled”, “connected”, “attached”, or “fastened” where the parts are joined or operate together either directly or indirectly (i.e., through one or more intermediate parts), so long as a link occurs. As used herein and in the claims, two or more parts are said to be “directly coupled”, “directly connected”, “directly attached”, or “directly fastened” where the parts are connected in physical contact with each other. None of the terms “coupled”, “connected”, “attached”, and “fastened” distinguish the manner in which two or more parts are joined together.
Furthermore, it will be appreciated that for simplicity and clarity of illustration, where considered appropriate, reference numerals may be repeated among the figures to indicate corresponding or analogous elements. In addition, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the example embodiments described herein. However, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that the example embodiments described herein may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known methods, procedures, and components have not been described in detail so as not to obscure the example embodiments described herein. Also, the description is not to be considered as limiting the scope of the example embodiments described herein.
As used herein, the wording “and/or” is intended to represent an inclusive-or. That is, “X and/or Y” is intended to mean X or Y or both, for example. As a further example, “X, Y, and/or Z” is intended to mean X or Y or Z or any combination thereof.
As used herein and in the claims, two elements are said to be “parallel” where those elements are parallel and spaced apart, or where those elements are collinear.
General Description of a Vacuum Cleaner that is Dockable with a Mobile Free Standing Air Treatment Unit
Referring to
Surface cleaning apparatus 300 may be any surface cleaning apparatus which may be docked with a docking unit and optionally may be emptied by a docking unit.
Embodiments described herein include a cyclonic air treatment member 316, and a surface cleaning apparatus 300 including the same. Surface cleaning apparatus 300 may be any type of surface cleaning apparatus, including for example a hand vacuum cleaner as shown, a stick vacuum cleaner, an upright vacuum cleaner, a canister vacuum cleaner, a robotic vacuum cleaner, an extractor, or a wet/dry type vacuum cleaner.
In
Still referring to
Surface cleaning apparatus 300 has a front end 322, a rear end 324, an upper end (also referred to as the top) 326, and a lower end (also referred to as the bottom) 328, as exemplified in
A suction motor 314 is provided to generate vacuum suction through air flow path, and may be positioned within a motor housing. Suction motor 314 may be a fan and motor assembly including an electric motor and impeller blade(s). In the illustrated embodiment, suction motor 314 is positioned in the air flow path downstream of air treatment member 316. In this configuration, suction motor 314 may be referred to as a “clean air motor”. Alternatively, suction motor 314 may be positioned upstream of air treatment member 316, and be referred to as a “dirty air motor”.
Air treatment member 316 is configured to remove particles of dirt and other debris from the air flow. Any air treatment member 316 that is emptyable by a docking unit may be used.
In the illustrated example, air treatment member 316 includes a cyclone assembly (also referred to as a “cyclone bin assembly”) having a single cyclonic cleaning stage with a single cyclone 318 and a dirt collection chamber 312 (also referred to as a “dirt collection region”, “dirt collection bin”, “dirt bin”, or “dirt chamber”). Cyclone 318 has a cyclone chamber. Dirt collection chamber 312 may be external to the cyclone chamber (i.e., dirt collection chamber 312 may have a discrete volume from that of cyclone chamber) or it may be internal of the cyclone chamber as exemplified. Cyclone 318 and dirt collection chamber 312 may be of any configuration suitable for separating dirt from an air stream and collecting the separated dirt respectively, and may be in communication with dirt outlet(s) of the cyclone chamber.
In alternate embodiments, air treatment member 316 may include a cyclone assembly having two or more cyclonic cleaning stages arranged in series with each other. Each cyclonic cleaning stage may include one or more cyclones arranged in parallel with each other and one or more dirt collection chambers, of any suitable configuration. The dirt collection chamber(s) may be external to the cyclone chambers of the cyclones. Each cyclone may have its own dirt collection chamber or two or more cyclones fluidically connected in parallel may have a single common dirt collection chamber.
In alternate embodiments, air treatment member 316 need not be cyclonic and may comprise or consist of a non-cyclonic momentum separator, in which case the air treatment member 316 may have one or more air treatment chambers.
In the illustrated example, surface cleaning apparatus 300 has an outlet port 306, which when in an evacuation mode, may be connected in air flow communication with dirty air inlet 304. An inlet port 310 is also provided on surface cleaning apparatus 300, which when in an evacuation mode, may be in air flow communication with the clean air outlet 308.
Surface cleaning apparatus 300 may include a pre-motor filter 330 provided in the air flow path downstream of air treatment member 316 and upstream of suction motor 314. Pre-motor filter 330 may be formed from any suitable physical, porous filter media. For example, pre-motor filter 330 may be one or more of a foam filter, felt filter, HEPA filter, or other physical filter media. In some embodiments, pre-motor filter 330 may include an electrostatic filter, or the like. Pre-motor filter 330 may be located in a pre-motor filter housing that is external to the air treatment member 316.
Dirty air inlet 304 may be at the front end 322 of the surface cleaning apparatus 300. Optionally, front end 322 may be used as a nozzle to directly clean a surface. Alternatively, or in addition to functioning as a nozzle, front end 322 may be connected (e.g., directly connected) to the downstream end of any suitable accessory tool such as a rigid air flow conduit (e.g., an above floor cleaning wand), a crevice tool, a mini brush, and the like. As shown, dirty air inlet 304 may be positioned forward of air treatment member 316, although this need not be the case.
Accordingly, in operation, after activating suction motor 314, dirty air enters apparatus 300 through dirty air inlet 304 and is directed to the cyclone 318. The dirty air flow may be directed to enter the cyclone 318 in a tangential direction so as to promote cyclonic dirt separation. Dirt particles and other debris may be disentrained (i.e., separated) from the dirty air flow as the dirty air flow travels through cyclone 318. The disentrained dirt particles and debris may be discharged from cyclone 318 through a cyclone dirt outlet into dirt collection chamber 312 that is external to the cyclone chamber, where the dirt particles and debris may be collected and stored until dirt collection chamber 312 is emptied. Alternately, as exemplified, the dirt particles and debris may be collected and stored in a dirt collection chamber 312 that is internal of (part of) a cyclone chamber until dirt collection chamber 312 is emptied.
Air exiting cyclone 318 may be directed to the optional pre-motor filter 330. The air flow may pass through pre-motor filter 330, and then exit into suction motor 314 and then discharged from apparatus 300 through clean air outlet 308. Prior to exiting the clean air outlet 308, the treated air may pass through a post-motor filter, which may be one or more layers of filter media.
Power may be supplied to suction motor 314 and other electrical components of apparatus 300 from an onboard energy storage member, which may include, for example, one or more batteries 332 or other energy storage device such as a capacitor. In the illustrated embodiment, apparatus 300 includes a battery pack 332. Battery pack 332 may be permanently connected to apparatus 300 and rechargeable in-situ, or removable from apparatus 300. In the example shown, battery pack 332 is located within handle 304. Alternatively, or in addition to battery pack 332, power may be supplied to apparatus 300 by an electrical cord (not shown) connected to apparatus 300 that can be electrically connected to mains power by at a standard wall electrical outlet.
In accordance with this aspect, which may be used by itself or in combination with one or more other aspects, there is provided a mobile free standing air treatment unit 100, which is operable as a vacuum cleaner and as a docking station. Accordingly, the mobile free standing air treatment unit 100 having an air treatment unit 208, a vacuuming unit 200, and a first docking station (referred to herein as a first docking unit 400) for receiving a surface cleaning apparatus 100. When the surface cleaning apparatus 300 is docked at the docking unit 400, the mobile free standing air treatment unit 100 may be used to empty the surface cleaning apparatus 300 and/or to clean a surface. To this end, the mobile free standing air treatment unit 100 may use one or more operating components of the surface cleaning apparatus 300 to perform one or both of these operations, e.g., by using a suction motor and/or energy storage member of the surface cleaning apparatus 300
Accordingly, the mobile free standing air treatment unit 100 may be operable in a first docking mode in which the surface cleaning apparatus 300 is docked at the docking unit 400 and is evacuated and/or a cleaning mode in which the surface cleaning apparatus 300 is docked at the docking unit 400 and the mobile free standing air treatment unit 100 is operable to clean a surface. An advantage of this aspect is that a dirt collection region in the mobile free standing air treatment unit 100 may be used both to receive dirt evacuated from the surface cleaning apparatus 300 and dirt collected from use of the unit 100 in the cleaning mode. Accordingly, a user may only need to empty a single dirt collection region for multiple cleaning devices. Another advantage is that the suction motor and/or energy storage member of one device may be used in the operation of another device, e.g., a suction motor and/or energy storage member of the surface cleaning apparatus 300 may be used to provide motive force and/or power to the vacuuming unit 200 in the cleaning mode.
In accordance with this aspect, referring to
Vacuuming unit 200 may be in the form of any type of surface cleaning apparatus. For example, it may have any type of dirty air inlet and any type of air treatment member or members. Further, it may be any type of surface cleaning apparatus as discussed herein such as a portable vacuum cleaner (e.g., a pod vacuum cleaner), a cannister vacuum cleaner, an upright vacuum cleaner, etc.
In
Referring to
Air treatment member 208 is configured to remove particles of dirt and other debris from the air flow. Air treatment member 208 may be any type of air treatment member or members as described with respect to air treatment member 316.
As exemplified in
In some embodiments, the air treatment unit 208 may include a plurality of air treatment stages. As exemplified in
It will be appreciated that the first stage air treatment member and the second stage air treatment member 234 may use any air treatment elements known in the air/dirt separation arts for treating an inflow of dirty air and otherwise separating the air flow from air-entrained dirt and may have one or more air treatment elements. For example, the first and/or second stage air treatment member 234 may be a filter media, a cyclone, a momentum separator, a bag or some combination thereof. As exemplified in
The dirty air flow may be directed to enter the cyclone 236 in a tangential direction so as to promote cyclonic action. Dirt particles and other debris may be disentrained (i.e., separated) from the dirty air flow as the dirty air flow travels through cyclone 236. The disentrained dirt particles and debris may discharge from cyclone 236 into dirt collection chamber 214, where the dirt particles and debris may be collected and stored until dirt collection chamber 214 is emptied.
Air exiting cyclone 236 may be directed to enter the second stage 232, for example, a second cyclone. The air flow may separate the dirt particles and other debris as the air travels through the second stage 232. The separated dirt particles may discharge from the second cyclone into dirt collection chamber or region 214. In alternate embodiments, the separated dirt particles may discharge from the second cyclone into a second dirt collection chamber.
In some embodiments, first dirt collection region 214 and second stage air treatment member 234 may each include a cyclone assembly having two or more cyclonic cleaning stages arranged in series with each other. Each cyclonic cleaning stage may include one or more cyclones arranged in parallel with each other and one or more dirt collection chambers, of any suitable configuration. The dirt collection chamber(s) may be external to the cyclone chambers of the cyclones. Each cyclone may have its own dirt collection chamber or two or more cyclones fluidically connected in parallel may have a single common dirt collection chamber.
In some embodiments, air exiting cyclone 236 may be directed into a filter located within the second stage air treatment member 234. Alternately, or in addition, the air exiting the second cyclone may be directed into a filter. The air may pass through the filter and then exit the vacuuming unit 200 through clean air outlet 228. Prior to exiting the clean air outlet 308, the treated air may pass through a post-motor filter, which may be one or more layers of filter media.
In order to enable the air treatment unit 208 to operate to evacuate dirt from a docked vacuum cleaner, the air treatment unit is connectable in air flow communication with a dirt collection region of the docked vacuum cleaner. Accordingly, air treatment unit 208 may include a second dirty air inlet 226. If the suction motor 314 of the docked vacuum cleaner 300 is used during an evacuation operation to provide some or all of the air flow, then the air treatment unit 208 is also connectable in air flow communication with the docked vacuum cleaner at a location upstream of the suction motor 314 and an air flow path may therefore extend from second dirty air inlet 226 to clean air outlet 228. As exemplified in
As exemplified in
The outlet port 306 of surface cleaning apparatus 300 may be at any location known in the art and, as exemplified, it may be in a wall of the dirt collection chamber 312. The inlet port 310 of surface cleaning apparatus 300 may be at any location known in the art and, as exemplified, it may be upstream of suction motor 314 of the surface cleaning apparatus 300 wherein the location is isolated from the cyclone 318.
The mobile free standing air treatment unit 100 may operate with multiple air flow paths. For example, it may be operable to empty a docked surface cleaning apparatus 300 and it may be operable as a surface cleaning apparatus. In such an embodiment, in a first docking mode, the mobile free standing air treatment unit 100 may have a first air flow path 1000 to withdraw dirt from a docked surface cleaning apparatus 300 and, in a cleaning mode, it may have an air flow path 2000 to draw dirt from a surface to be cleaned.
As exemplified in
In the first docking mode (shown in
Optionally, as exemplified, the suction motor 314 of the surface cleaning apparatus 300 is used to draw air through the first air flow path 1000. It will be appreciated that, in other embodiments, a different suction motor may be used, e.g., the suction motor may be part of the mobile free standing air treatment unit 100.
In the cleaning mode (shown in
Optionally, as exemplified, the suction motor 314 of the surface cleaning apparatus 300 is used to draw air through the first air flow path 2000. It will be appreciated that, in other embodiments, a different suction motor may be used, e.g., the suction motor may be part of the mobile free standing air treatment unit 100.
By providing two different air flow paths for two different modes of operation, the dirt from the vacuuming unit 200 and the surface cleaning apparatus 300 in the air treatment unit 208 may both be collected in the dirt collection region 214. For example, the surface cleaning apparatus 300 may be docked at the docking system 400 and may use the first air flow path 100 to remove collected dirt from the surface cleaning apparatus 300 into the dirt collection region 214. The user may then proceed to use the surface cleaning apparatus 300 for further cleanup of a surface and/or may empty the dirt collected by multiple surface cleaning apparatus from a single location.
It will be appreciated that the docking unit 400 may be any design capable of facilitating the formation of the first air flow path 1000 and/or the second air flow path 2000 between the surface cleaning apparatus 300 and the vacuum unit 200. For example, the docking unit 400 may be adjacent to, or integrally formed with, the vacuum unit 200 (e.g.,
As exemplified in
As exemplified in
Accordingly, when in the first docking mode with the docking unit of
As exemplified in
Referring to
When in the first docking mode with the docking unit of
Referring to
In some embodiments, the vacuuming unit 200 may include a flexible hose 206 and/or other accessory positioned upstream of the second inlet 204. When the surface cleaning apparatus 300 is docked and operating in the cleaning mode, the flexible hose 206 may be used to clean areas proximate the mobile free standing air treatment unit 100. As exemplified in
During operation in the cleaning mode, as exemplified in
The flexible hose 206 may be any length and/or size. The flexible hose 206 may be connected (e.g., directly connected) to the downstream end of any suitable accessory tool such as a rigid air flow conduit (e.g., an above floor cleaning wand), a crevice tool, a mini brush, or any other cleaning apparatus.
In accordance with this aspect, which may be used by itself or in combination with one or more other aspects, the air treatment unit 208 may be removably mounted to the mobile free standing air treatment unit 100, such as for emptying or cleaning.
Air treatment unit 208 may be removable from the mobile free standing air treatment unit 100 for emptying, either with the dirt collection chamber 214 thereof closed or with the dirt collection chamber 214 open (e.g., a lid 244 may be removed). Accordingly, the air treatment unit 208 may be removably mounted to a main body. The main body may comprise, consist essentially of or consist of the docking unit 400. Accordingly, the body 401 of the docking unit 400 may be the main body of the vacuuming unit 200 or the mobile free standing air treatment unit 100 may have a main body to which the docking unit 400 and the vacuuming unit 200 may be mounted and the air treatment unit 208 may be removable therefrom.
In order to empty the air treatment unit 208 the air treatment unit 208 may have an openable door 216. The door 216 may be positioned anywhere on the air treatment unit 208. When the door 216 is opened, dirt may be emptyable from the air treatment unit 208. The air treatment unit 208 may be removable from the mobile free standing air treatment unit 100 with the door 216 closed. Accordingly, a user may remove the air treatment unit 208 from the unit 100 with the door 216 closed, such that dirt does not accidentally spill. The user may then move the air treatment unit 208 and empty the dirt collection region 214.
Optionally, the door 216 may be revealed when the air treatment unit 208 is removed. For example, door 216 may be part or all of a lower wall of the air treatment unit 208.
The door 216 may open by any means. As exemplified in
In accordance with this aspect, which may be used by itself or in combination with one or more other aspects, a common motor and fan assembly may be used to operate the surface cleaning apparatus 300 when used to clean a surface and the mobile free standing air treatment unit 100 when the surface cleaning apparatus 300 is docked.
Accordingly, the mobile free standing air treatment unit 100 may operate using suction motor 314 located within the surface cleaning apparatus 300. As such, each of the docking mode and cleaning mode may be operable using, for example, suction motor 314 of the surface cleaning apparatus 300. Accordingly, in some embodiments, vacuuming unit 200 may not include a fan and motor assembly. Using a single suction motor 314 may reduce the initial cost since an independent suction motor is not required to operate the unit 100. Additionally, providing an absence of suction motor in the vacuuming unit 200 may simplify the design, decrease weight, and make manufacturing more efficient.
In accordance with this aspect, which may be used by itself or in combination with one or more other aspects, a common power source may be used to operate the surface cleaning apparatus 300 when used to clean a surface and the mobile free standing air treatment unit 100 when the surface cleaning apparatus 300 is docked.
Accordingly, the mobile free standing air treatment unit 100 may operate using a single energy storage member, and optionally suction motor 314, located within the surface cleaning apparatus 300. As such, each of the docking mode and cleaning mode may be operable using, for example, battery 332, optionally with suction motor 314, of the surface cleaning apparatus 300. Accordingly, in some embodiments, vacuuming unit 200 may not include an on board energy storage member and it may optionally not include a power cord. Using a single energy storage member may reduce the initial cost since an independent battery is not required to operate the unit 100. Additionally, providing an absence of energy storage member in the vacuuming unit 200 may simplify the design, decrease weight, and make manufacturing more efficient.
When in the first docking mode, the sole air moving member of the unit 100 may be the suction motor 314 of surface cleaning apparatus 300. As exemplified in
While the unit 100 and the surface cleaning apparatus 300 may use suction motor 314 of the surface cleaning apparatus 300 as a common suction source as discussed previously, as exemplified in
In accordance with this aspect, which may be used by itself or in combination with one or more other aspects, the unit 100 may include a charging station to recharge an on board energy storage member. For example, the unit 100 may include an energy storage member and may be operable in a portable mode when not connected to a mains power supply. Alternately, or in addition, surface cleaning apparatus 300 may include an energy storage member. In any such case, the unit 100 may be connected to a mains power supply by a power cord and may therefore recharge an energy storage member provided in unit 100 and/or surface cleaning apparatus 300.
For example, docking unit 400 may include a charging unit 414 where the energy storage member 332 of the surface cleaning apparatus 300 is rechargeable when docked at the docking system 400. Accordingly, the surface cleaning apparatus 300 may be charged by the same docking unit 400 while surface cleaning apparatus 300 is emptied, thereby providing a single device used for multiple operations. The surface cleaning apparatus 300 may evacuate dirt from the dirt collection chamber 312 at the same time that energy storage member 332 is charged at charging unit 414.
As exemplified in
In some embodiments, unit 100 may be designed such that the unit 100 may be carried by the user with the handle 202 of the vacuuming unit 200. Accordingly, the user may clean up areas with larger spills with vacuuming unit 200 and clean smaller, harder to reach areas with the surface cleaning apparatus 300. In other words, the suction motor 314 and/or battery 332 of the surface cleaning apparatus 300 may be used to provide suction and/or electrical power to the vacuuming unit 200 to clean surfaces using the second air flow path 2000 and/or the surface cleaning apparatus 300 may be separated from the vacuuming unit 200 to clean harder to reach areas.
In accordance with this aspect, which may be used by itself or in combination with one or more other aspects, the mobile free standing air treatment unit 100 is provided a second docking unit for a second surface cleaning apparatus. The second docking unit includes a third dirty air inlet and a third air flow path extending from the third dirty air inlet to the first clean air outlet. When the second surface cleaning apparatus is docked at the second docking unit, the mobile free standing air treatment unit 100 may use the third air flow path to withdraw dirt from the second surface cleaning apparatus.
An advantage of this design is that dirt collected by the second surface cleaning apparatus may be evacuated into the same dirt collection region as the first surface cleaning apparatus 300. Another advantage is that the first and second surface cleaning apparatus may each be charged while docked at the first and second docking units, respectively. A further advantage is that the same power source or fan and motor assembly may be used to evacuate dirt from the second surface cleaning apparatus as is used to evacuate dirt from the first surface cleaning apparatus 300.
In accordance with this aspect, as exemplified in
The mobile free standing air treatment unit 100 may be operable in a second docking mode where the surface cleaning apparatus 300 is docked in the docking unit 400 and is connected in air flow communication with the first inlet 402 and the second surface cleaning apparatus 500 is docked at the docking unit 450 and is connected in air flow communication with the third dirty air inlet 452. The mobile free standing air treatment unit 100 may be operable using the third air flow path 3000 to withdraw dirt from the second surface cleaning apparatus 500. In other words, the third air flow path 3000 may be used to evacuate dirt collected in the surface cleaning apparatus 500 into the dirt collection region 214, as exemplified by the air flow path 3000 shown in
The second surface cleaning apparatus 500 may be any type of surface cleaning apparatus, including, but not limited to, an autonomous vacuum cleaner (as exemplified in
The autonomous surface cleaning apparatus (also referred to herein as a robotic vacuum cleaner) may be of any shape and configuration. As exemplified in
It will be appreciated that the second docking unit 450 may be any size, shape, and/or position proximate to, or integral with, the unit 100. As with first docking unit 400, second docking unit 450 may be a one piece assembly with the air treatment unit 208 and/or first docking unit 400, e.g., it may be non-removably mounted thereto or integrally formed therewith,
As exemplified in
As exemplified in
The dirt outlet 502 may be in fluid communication with an air treatment unit 510 located inside the robot housing 506. The air treatment element may be, including, but not limited to, a cyclone, a filter, a momentum separator, a bag or some combination thereof. As exemplified in
The robotic vacuum cleaner 500 may include a suction motor to draw, or assist in drawing, dirt into robot dirt bin 504 by providing an air flow passage from a dirty air inlet to a clean air outlet. The dirty air inlet and clean air outlet may be positioned at a lower end of the robotic vacuum cleaner 500, but it will be appreciated that they may be positioned anywhere on the robot body 506. In some embodiments, one or more pre-motor filters may be provided in the airflow path upstream of the suction motor. Pre-motor filters can be formed from any suitable physical, or porous filter media. For example, pre-motor filters may be one or more of a foam filter, a felt filter, a HEPA filter, or other physical filter media. In some embodiments, pre-motor filter may include, for example, an electrostatic filter.
In a second docking mode, the same dirt chamber may be used to collect dirt that is evacuated from the second surface cleaning apparatus 500 as is used to collect dirt that is evacuated from the first surface cleaning apparatus 300. Accordingly, the air treatment unit 208 may be provided in the third air flow path 3000. For example, in the second docking mode, the mobile free standing air treatment unit 100 may be operable using the third air flow path 3000 to evacuate dirt from the second surface cleaning apparatus 500 into the air treatment unit 208. Accordingly, the dirt from multiple surface cleaning apparatus may be evacuated into a single dirt collection region 214, which may be subsequently emptied by the user.
As shown in
In the second docking mode, the power source and/or the fan and motor assembly used to evacuate the first surface cleaning apparatus 300 in the first docking mode may be used. Accordingly, as exemplified in
It will be appreciated that the mobile free standing air treatment unit 100 may receive and/or couple with any number of surface cleaning apparatus and/or vacuuming units. For example, in some embodiments, the mobile free standing air treatment unit 100 may not include a vacuuming unit 200 and may receive a first surface cleaning apparatus 300 and a second surface cleaning apparatus 500. Accordingly, in such an embodiment, the mobile free standing air treatment unit 100 may be referred to as a docking apparatus 100 and may operate in the first docking mode and the second docking mode without operating in a cleaning mode.
In accordance with this aspect, which may be used by itself or in combination with one or more other aspects, the mobile free standing air treatment unit 100 may removeably receive an air impermeable bag in the first dirt collection region 214 of the mobile free standing air treatment unit 100. An advantage of this design is that dirt may be evacuated from one or more surface cleaning apparatus and/or may be collected using vacuuming unit 200 and be deposited into the bag, providing a single location for dirt collection that is removable from the dirt collection region. Collecting dirt in the bag may provide for a cleaner operation when emptying the dirt collection region, since dirt may not directly contact the dirt collection region.
In accordance with this aspect, an air impermeable bag 222 may be removably receivable in the dirt collection region 214 where, in operation, dirt is collected in the bag 222. The first dirt collection region 214 may be openable and when it is opened, the bag 222 may be removable 222, e.g., in an upward direction. In some embodiments, the mobile free standing air treatment unit 100 may be inoperable when the dirt collection region is opened to remove the bag 222. In other words, opening the dirt collection region 214 may prevent accidental operation of the mobile free standing air treatment unit 100.
As exemplified in
In some embodiments, the dirt collection chamber 214 may not include the bag 222 and the dirt collection chamber 214 may be emptied by opening the lid 224 and, e.g., inverting dirt collection chamber 214.
The lid 224 may be secured, e.g., to dirt collection chamber 214, in an operating position as exemplified in
Using the bag 222 may reduce the amount of residual dirt left in the dirt collection region 214 when the dirt collection region 214 is emptied. For example, without the bag 222, dust may remain within the dirt collection region 214 of the air treatment unit 208 and may require more effort to remove it.
As shown in
In some embodiments, as described previously, the air treatment unit 208 may include a plurality of cleaning stages. The plurality of cleaning stages may each be emptyable into the bag 222. Accordingly, all cleaning stages of each surface cleaning apparatus 300, 500 may be emptyable into a single bag 222 for facilitating efficient emptying of the unit 100.
In some embodiments, air treatment unit 208 may include a method to sense if dirt collection chamber 214 has been opened, such as a sensor (not shown). For example, as shown in
In some embodiments, the mobile free standing air treatment unit 100 may be inoperable when a bag 222 is absent from the first dirt collection region 214. Accordingly, a user may be prevented from accidentally operating the unit 200 and/or evacuating the surface cleaning apparatus 300 if there is no bag 222 in the dirt collection region 214.
While the above description describes features of example embodiments, it will be appreciated that some features and/or functions of the described embodiments are susceptible to modification without departing from the spirit and principles of operation of the described embodiments. For example, the various characteristics which are described by means of the represented embodiments or examples may be selectively combined with each other. Accordingly, what has been described above is intended to be illustrative of the claimed concept and non-limiting. It will be understood by persons skilled in the art that other variants and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the claims appended hereto. The scope of the claims should not be limited by the preferred embodiments and examples, but should be given the broadest interpretation consistent with the description as a whole.
