Patent Application
20240172909
This disclosure relates generally to surface cleaning apparatus such as a portable surface cleaning apparatus, such as hand vacuum cleaners, which may be used for wet/dry cleaning.
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 vacuum cleaners. Further, various designs for cyclonic surface cleaning apparatus, including battery operated cyclonic hand vacuum cleaners are known in the art.
The following introduction is provided to introduce the reader to the more detailed discussion to follow. The introduction is not intended to limit or define any claimed or as yet unclaimed invention. One or more inventions may reside in any combination or sub-combination of the elements or process steps disclosed in any part of this document including its claims and figures.
In accordance with an aspect of this disclosure, which may be used alone or in combination with any one or more other aspects, a surface cleaning apparatus includes a primary or main air flow path that includes at least one dirt separation member, such as a cyclone, and a motor and fan assembly (e.g., a suction motor) whereby dirt is removed from an air stream as it travels from a dirty air inlet to a clean air outlet. A bypass motor is provided in a separate (cooling) air flow path through which air travels to cool the suction motor, the cooling airflow path having an air inlet that is separate from the dirty air inlet of the main air flow path. Optionally, the surface cleaning apparatus may have a suction motor that drives multiple fans, such as a fan in the main air flow path and a fan in the cooling airflow path. Alternately, the surface cleaning apparatus may include more than one motor and fan assembly, such as one for the main air flow path and one for the cooling air flow path.
In accordance with another aspect of this disclosure, which may be used alone or in combination with any one or more other aspects, the surface cleaning apparatus, which may be a wet/dry vacuum, includes a water-responsive valve arranged in the air flow path downstream of a first stage air treatment member (e.g., an air treatment chamber of the first stage air treatment member) in which water is separable from an air stream and stored. The water-responsive valve may block the air flow path in response to a water level that rises to or beyond a predetermined level, to inhibit or prevent water from reaching a downstream component, such as a filter media and/or a second stage air treatment chamber, such as one or more second stage cyclones. Accordingly, the valve may be in a partially treated air flow path between a first stage air treatment member and a second stage air treatment member.
In accordance with another aspect of this disclosure, which may be used alone or in combination with any one or more other aspects, air flow at a second or subsequent stage may be regulated. The surface cleaning apparatus may include a supplemental air flow inlet between an upstream component and a second or subsequent stage to allow air to be introduced to the air flow path upstream of the second or subsequent stage, e.g., to maintain a predetermined air flow rate or pressure at the second or subsequent stage. The supplement air flow inlet may include a bleed valve responsive to pressure changes. For example, the first stage air treatment member may become clogged (e.g., an outlet screen of the first stage air treatment member may become covered in dirt during use, resulting in air flow therethrough decreased). Accordingly, a bleed valve may be provided upstream of a second air treatment member, e.g., one or more cyclones, to maintain an air flow rate that is sufficient for efficient cyclone operation.
In accordance with another aspect of this disclosure, which may be used alone or in combination with any one or more other aspects, the surface cleaning apparatus includes a lid that is openable to a drip position, for use in a wet/dry surface cleaning apparatus. A surface of the lid may form a wall of an air treatment chamber and/or air flow path. The air treatment chamber may be used to separate water form an air stream, and water may accumulate on the surface of the lid that forms, e.g., a wall of the chamber. The surface may be referred to as an accumulation surface. When the lid is opened, the accumulation surface may be angled relative to the horizontal to encourage water to flow off of the accumulation surface. The lid may include a drip edge, with a flow path between the accumulation surface and the drip edge to encourage water to flow to the drip edge to drip off of the lid. The drip edge may be arranged over a catch basin such as the air treatment chamber when the lid is in the drip position.
In accordance with another aspect of this disclosure, which may be used alone or in combination with any one or more other aspects, a wet/dry surface cleaning apparatus includes a water pour spout. The water pour spout is fluidically coupled to a dirt collection region to enable water that has been captured in a dirt collection region to be emptied. The water pour spout may project out form a container to direct a flow of water from the container. The container may be, e.g., a bucket or main body of the surface cleaning apparatus, such as a first stage cyclone or non-cyclonic momentum separation chamber.
Optionally, the wet/dry surface cleaning apparatus may removably receive a bag and the bag may be held in place by suction. In such a case, the pour spout may be positioned spaced from and optionally opposed to a location at which vacuum is applied to the bag and/or spaced from and optionally opposed to a location of a vacuum line that provides vacuum to assist in retaining a bag in position during operation of the wet/dry surface cleaning apparatus.
In accordance with another aspect of this disclosure, which may be used alone or in combination with any one or more other aspects, a wet/dry surface cleaning apparatus includes a pour handle, for use in an emptying water that accumulates in a collection region. Optionally, the surface cleaning apparatus may also include a carry handle. The carry handle may be separate from the pour handle or the pour handle may be part of a common handle assembly with the carry handle. In such a case, the handle assembly may be secured to a support body in a recess at one end, and a portion of the handle assembly mounted in the recess may form a pour handle. Alternately or in addition, the pour handle may be distinct from the carry handle and the pour handle may be hidden when an air treatment assembly is mounted on the main body housing and/or when a lid is positioned to secure the collection region in position in the main body. In any such case, the pour handle and the carry handle may each has a hand grip portion extending along a grip portion axis, and the axis of the carry handle may be at an angle relative to the axis of the pour handle. In any such case, the pour handle may be moveable between a storage position and a use position and may be hidden or lowered in the storage position. Alternately, a handle may rotate between pour handle and carry handle positions. Rotating the handle may fasten and/or release a lock of the surface cleaning apparatus. An air flow path may extend through a body of a handle, such as a vacuum line to assist in securing a bag in position in the collection region.
In accordance with another aspect of this disclosure, which may be used alone or in combination with any one or more other aspects, a wet/dry surface cleaning apparatus includes a screen in a pour-out path. The screen in the pour-out path may be fixed or moveable. The pour-out path may be or include a portion that is also part of another path, such as the main air flow path, and the screen may be moveable out of the path when the path is not used as a pour-out path but in a cleaning mode of operation. The screen may move into the pour-out path when the air treatment assembly or a part thereof is removed from the main body housing.
In accordance with another aspect of this disclosure, which may be used alone or in combination with any one or more other aspects, the surface cleaning apparatus includes a first stage air treatment member (such as a cyclone or a non-cyclonic air treatment chamber) with a member longitudinal axis that intersects a second stage air treatment member (such as a cyclone or a non-cyclonic air treatment chamber). The second stage member may be above and generally aligned with the first stage member (e.g., the axis extends through a centre of the second stage member or the axis may be coaxial with a second stage cyclone axis). The second stage member may be partially nested or fully nested in the first stage member (such as in an air outlet conduit or vortex finder). The first and second stage members may be generally stacked to reduce air flow redirection and back pressure.
In accordance with another aspect of this disclosure, which may be used alone or in combination with any one or more other aspects, the surface cleaning apparatus, which may be a wet/dry surface cleaning apparatus, has a second stage air treatment member comprising a multi-inlet cyclone, which may be an inverted multi-inlet cyclone. A single multi-inlet cyclone may be provided and it may overly, and optionally be aligned with the first stage air treatment member. The second stage member may have a relatively small height, and the multiple inlets may increase the efficiency of the cyclone. The multi-inlet cyclone may also be arranged at an upper end of the surface cleaning apparatus, and inverting the cyclone may reduce the ducting and/or redirection for the main air flow path.
In accordance with another aspect of this disclosure, which may be used alone or in combination with any one or more other aspects, the surface cleaning apparatus includes an air treatment member with a lateral air outlet. The air outlet may exit through a sidewall of the air treatment chamber, such as a cyclone chamber sidewall extending between first and second ends of a cyclone chamber. The air treatment member with the lateral air outlet may be a second stage member. In such a case, the air outlet may comprise a conduit that extends under the second stage member and above a first stage air treatment member. The axially inner end of the air outlet may be curved to improve airflow within the chamber around the air outlet.
In accordance with another aspect of this disclosure, which may be used alone or in combination with any one or more other aspects, the surface cleaning apparatus includes an air treatment member with multiple air inlets and an air outlet extending between two of the air inlets. For example, the air treatment member may be a multi-inlet cyclone, optionally with lower air inlets and air outlet, wherein the air outlet may extend between two of the air inlet conduits.
In accordance with another aspect of this disclosure, which may be used alone or in combination with any one or more other aspects, the surface cleaning apparatus includes a dirt collection region that is partially, e.g., partially annular in shape. The partially annular dirt collection region may partially surround an air treatment chamber, such as a cyclone chamber. The partially annular dirt collection region may surround the air treatment chamber on multiple sides while leaving at least one portion of the sidewall of the air treatment chamber uncovered to allow other passages or components to reach the air treatment chamber sidewall without obstructing the dirt collection region. Accordingly, for example, the dirt collection region may be for a second stage air treatment chamber and an air inlet and/or air outlet conduit may extend through the region between angularly opposed ends of the partially annular dirt chamber.
In accordance with another aspect of this disclosure, which may be used alone or in combination with any one or more other aspects, the surface cleaning apparatus includes a downwardly angled dirt outlet extending between an air treatment chamber (e.g., an inverted cyclone with an upper dirt outlet) and a dirt collection chamber. The angled dirt outlet may be angled axially inwardly. The angled outlet may direct dirt into the dirt collection region.
In accordance with another aspect of this disclosure, which may be used alone or in combination with any one or more other aspects, the surface cleaning apparatus includes at least two dirt collection regions, and one of the dirt collection regions empties into another. This reduces the number of dirt collection regions that need to be emptied (e.g., by a user). The apparatus may include a selectively openable door between the dirt collection regions. The door may be between an upper dirt collection region and a lower dirt collection region such that when the door is opened, dirt falls from the upper region into the lower region due to the force of gravity. The door may open in response to an event such as turning off an air moving member or removing or unlocking an air treatment assembly or portion thereof from a main body housing. The door may open after a time delay, such as 1-2 seconds after a suction motor is de-energized and/or may automatically open when a suction motor is de-energized. The door may open when, e.g., the lower dirt collection region is opened. Accordingly, when one dirt collection region is opened, which dirt collection region is to receive dirt collected in another dirt collection region through an opening governed by the door, the door may concurrently open. The door may open under the force of gravity and may be held closed when the dirt collection region is closed by being driven against a seat and may be moved to the closed position by riding along a cam member.
In accordance with another aspect of this disclosure, which may be used alone or in combination with any one or more other aspects, a lateral wall of a dirt collection region is an outwardly sloped wall. The dirt collection region is rotatable about a generally horizontal rotational axis, and the lateral wall is at a lateral side nearest the rotatable axis. The sloped wall forms an inner surface that slopes downwardly and outwardly when the dirt collection region is in an in-use position. When the dirt collection region is opened by rotating a lid about the generally horizontal rotational axis, the sloped wall will face downwardly and inwardly so as to encourage dirt collected thereon to fall downwardly due to gravity.
In accordance with another aspect of this disclosure, which may be used alone or in combination with any one or more other aspects, a dirt collection chamber having a sloped floor includes a rapid-expansion zone adjacent a dirt outlet from an air treatment chamber to reduce the momentum of dirt carried into the dirt collection chamber and reduce the amount of dirt drawn back into the air treatment chamber. The rapid-expansion zone may include a vertical step between the dirt outlet and a sloped floor leading to or comprising part of a dirt collection region.
In accordance with another aspect of this disclosure, which may be used alone or in combination with any one or more other aspects, the surface cleaning apparatus includes a laterally spaced arrangement between a first stage air treatment member and a laterally spaced second stage air treatment member. The second stage air treatment member may be laterally spaced (e.g., horizontally—in a plane perpendicular to a vertical axis of the surface cleaning apparatus) from the first stage air treatment member, a longitudinal (vertical) axis of the first stage air treatment member, and/or a projection of the first stage air treatment member along the longitudinal axis of the first stage air treatment member. The second stage air treatment member may comprise two or more air treatment chambers, wherein a horizontal plane intersects the first stage air treatment member and the second stage air treatment chambers or wherein the second stage air treatment chambers are located above the plane. One or more additional components, e.g., a per-motor filter and/or a suction motor may underlie the second stage air treatment chambers.
In accordance with another aspect of this disclosure, which may be used alone or in combination with any one or more other aspects, the surface cleaning apparatus may include a plurality of apparatus lids. The apparatus lids may each cover or open a different component of the surface cleaning apparatus, such as a first stage air treatment member (which may be or comprise an air treatment chamber) and a pre-moving member filter housing. The apparatus lids may be independently selectively openable such that different components may be accessed without opening all chambers that are accessible through apparatus lids. The apparatus lids may open away from one another, like French doors. The apparatus lids may abut one another. An air flow path (conduit) may extend from one apparatus lid into another apparatus lid.
In accordance with another aspect of this disclosure, which may be used alone or in combination with any one or more other aspects, the surface cleaning apparatus includes one or more ribs in an air treatment chamber. The rib(s) may extend into the air treatment chamber from a sidewall and/or a bottom wall of the air treatment chamber. The ribs may extend generally parallel to one another or they curved profiles to reduce turbulence. Air flow channels may be provided between spaced apart adjacent ribs. Accordingly, if a bag is positioned within the air treatment chamber, an air flow channel extending between adjacent ribs may be part of a vacuum air flow path which may assist in maintaining a bag in position in the air treatment chamber during operation of the surface cleaning apparatus. Optionally, a wheel may be provided on an outer surface of a wall underlying a rib, e.g., the wheel may be mounted in a recess formed under the rib.
In accordance with another aspect of this disclosure, which may be used alone or in combination with any one or more other aspects, the surface cleaning apparatus includes a removeable wall of the air treatment chamber. The removeable wall, which may be a sidewall and/or a bottom wall, has ribs formed thereon. The removeable ribbed wall may be removed for ease of cleaning and/or to reconfigure the air treatment chamber between a ribbed and unribbed configuration.
In accordance with another aspect of this disclosure, which may be used alone or in combination with any one or more other aspects, the surface cleaning apparatus, which may be a wet/dry surface cleaning apparatus includes an air treatment chamber in which a non-porous bag is removably receivable. The air treatment chamber include an openable lid wherein the air inlet to the chamber is provided in the lid. The air outlet may also be in the lid.
In accordance with another aspect of this disclosure, which may be used alone or in combination with any one or more other aspects, an upper end of an air treatment chamber, which may removably receive a bag and have any bag retention features disclosed herein, may be wider than a lower end.
In accordance with another aspect of this disclosure, which may be used alone or in combination with any one or more other aspects, the surface cleaning apparatus may be a wet/dry surface cleaning apparatus that removably receives a bag and includes a bag retainer. The bag retainer is provided to hold the bag in position lining the chamber.
The bag retainer may comprise a mechanical bag retainer. The mechanical bag retainer includes a mechanical member contacting the bag to restrain movement of the bag during operation of the surface cleaning apparatus. The mechanical member may contact an inner surface of the bag opposite from a wall of the chamber that is lined by the bag. The mechanical member may extend through an interior of the air treatment chamber. The mechanical member may be attached to an air outlet of the chamber, such as a vortex finder. The mechanical member may be attached to the apparatus lid to be removed from the chamber when the lid is opened.
The bag retainer may comprise a pneumatic bag retainer. The pneumatic bag retainer may include a vacuum airflow path extending between an inlet that is located facing an exterior surface of the bag when the bag is installed to the bag and an outlet. The inlet to the vacuum airflow path may comprise a plurality of inlets along one or more inlets in a sidewall and/or a bottom wall of the air treatment chamber in which the bar is removably positionable. Accordingly, one or more walls of the air treatment chamber may be porous. Alternately, or in addition, if ribs are provided, then the inlet may comprise one or more channels between ribs in the air treatment chamber. As discussed previously, the bag retainer may be a removable ribbed surface. Alternately, if a wall is porous, then a non-porous wall insert, which may be unribbed, may be removably receivable to overlie the porous wall if a bag is not used.
Optionally, the air moving member used to produce the vacuum in the vacuum air flow path may be the same air moving member that is used in the main air flow path. Accordingly, the outlet (downstream end) of the vacuum airflow path be any location along the main air flow path of the surface cleaning apparatus, such as upstream of the air moving member. For example, the outlet may open into a vortex finder of an air treatment chamber (e.g., the first stage air treatment chamber), downstream of a second stage air treatment member, downstream of a filter (e.g., the pre-moving member filter), and the path may include multiple outlets. Optionally, the outlet is at a location in the main air flow path that has a lower pressure (higher vacuum level) than in the bag when the surface cleaning apparatus is in use with a bag positioned in the air treatment chamber.
The vacuum airflow path may extend along a sidewall of the air treatment chamber opposed to a pour out path to encourage water being poured out of the air treatment chamber to drain out of the vacuum airflow path into the chamber as the chamber is poured out via the pour out path and not towards the air moving member.
In accordance with another aspect of this disclosure, which may be used alone or in combination with any one or more other aspects, the vacuum airflow path is automatically closed when no bag is present in the air treatment chamber. The vacuum airflow path may be closed by a valve. The valve may be driven by an actuator. The actuator may be manually or electromechanically operable, e.g., by a user. For example, the on-off switch may be drivingly connected to the valve to close the valve when a bag is not present and may be disengaged from the valve when a bag is present, e.g., by a bag detector. Alternately, actuator may be pneumatically driven. For example, the vacuum airflow path may include a piston received in the airflow path biased to a closed position but drawn open by decreased air pressure at a downstream end of the vacuum airflow path when a bag blocks the upstream end of the vacuum airflow path.
In accordance with another aspect of this disclosure, which may be used alone or in combination with any one or more other aspects, a port in the bucket for the vacuum air flow path may be shielded. The shielding may prevent a bag wall and/or dirt from being drawn down the vacuum air flow path through the port. The shielding may be a wire mesh screen.
In accordance with another aspect of this disclosure, which may be used alone or in combination with any one or more other aspects, the surface cleaning apparatus includes a filter nested in an air treatment chamber and may be part of an air outlet of the air treatment chamber. The filter may be in a filter housing in the air outlet or directly exposed to the inner volume of the air treatment chamber. The air treatment chamber may be a second stage chamber. The filter may be a cylindrical filter media with an open (downstream) interior.
In accordance with another aspect of this disclosure, which may be used alone or in combination with any one or more other aspects, the surface cleaning apparatus includes a screen cleaner to clean a screen of an air outlet of an air treatment chamber. The screen cleaner may comprise one or more of air jets directed at the screen during a screen cleaning operation, a mechanical member which impacts the screen (e.g., a vibrator), a mechanical wiper that travels along a portion or all of the screen, or part or all of the screen and/or screen holder may be flexible. The screen cleaner may be actuated by any actuator disclosed herein and may be automatically actuated when the air moving member is deenergized.
In accordance with another aspect of this disclosure, which may be used alone or in combination with any one or more other aspects, the surface cleaning apparatus includes a user-accessed feature adjacent an air moving member. The user-accessed feature may be a dirty air inlet, pour out spout, and/or user interface. The air moving member is generally the heaviest component of the surface cleaning apparatus. When carrying the surface cleaning apparatus, the user may grasp the surface cleaning apparatus near the heaviest component and/or near the centre of gravity. Where the handle is at a top end of the surface cleaning apparatus, the user may hold the handle at a location that is generally in-line with (e.g., above) the centre of gravity of the surface cleaning apparatus. The user also has greater control over the movement of the end of the surface cleaning apparatus that is closest to the point at which the user grasps the surface cleaning apparatus. Accordingly, one or more components (i.e., user-accessed features) that require greater user control may be located adjacent (e.g., at the same end) as the air moving member.
In accordance with another aspect of this disclosure, which may be used alone or in combination with any one or more other aspects, the surface cleaning apparatus includes a non-circular air treatment chamber. The chamber may have a member sidewall with a non-circular profile in a transverse plane. The chamber may have a reduced curvature wall portion having a reduced curvature compared to other wall portions, and the reduced curvature wall portion may optionally be generally planar. Alternately, the sidewall of the air treatment chamber may be oval. The air treatment chamber may have the same cross-sectional area along the length of the sidewall or the cross-sectional area may vary, e.g., the lower end may be narrower (have a smaller cross-sectional area) then the upper end. The surface cleaning apparatus may be arranged with one or more components at and/or aligned with the reduced curvature wall portion. The air moving member, pre-moving member filter, and/or second stage air treatment member may be arranged at and/or positioned laterally spaced from the reduced curvature wall portion. The water pour out spout may be aligned with and/or provided at the reduced curvature wall position.
In accordance with another aspect of this disclosure, which may be used alone or in combination with any one or more other aspects, the surface cleaning apparatus includes a hose with a wrapped storage position. In the storage position the hose is wrapped around the surface cleaning apparatus and secured at both ends to the surface cleaning apparatus.
In accordance with another aspect of this disclosure, which may be used alone or in combination with any one or more other aspects, the surface cleaning apparatus includes an air treatment chamber shaped and sized to receive the hose or the hose and one or more accessory tool in the chamber when the chamber is closed. The hose may be coiled in the chamber. The hose or hose and one or more accessory tools may be received in the chamber for shipping and/or storage of the surface cleaning apparatus.
In accordance with another aspect of this disclosure, which may be used alone or in combination with any one or more other aspects, the surface cleaning apparatus may be reconfigurable between a suction mode and a blowing mode. The surface cleaning apparatus may include a dirty air inlet and a clean air outlet to which an external conduit (e.g., a flexible hose) may be attached (e.g., each has a conduit attachment member) such that a user can switch the distal end of an external conduit from a suction nozzle when the conduit is attached to the dirty air inlet to a blower nozzle when the conduit is attached to the clean air outlet. Alternately, the surface cleaning apparatus may include a port that can be switched (connected at different locations of the main air flow path) so as to switch between being the clean air outlet and the dirty air inlet. Alternately or in addition, the surface cleaning apparatus may include one or more selectively openable ports which are opened and/or closed by insertion of an attachment end of an external conduit into the surface cleaning apparatus.
In accordance with another aspect of this disclosure, which may be used alone or in combination with any one or more other aspects, the surface cleaning apparatus includes an external conduit which comprises dual suction and blowing conduits. The external conduit (e.g., a flexible hose alone or in combination with a rigid wand) includes two air flow pathways through the conduit such that a distal end of the conduit provides both a suction nozzle and a blower nozzle, which may be used alternately or concurrently. The distal end of the conduit can be used to dislodge dirt and suck the dislodged dirt up.
In accordance with another aspect of this disclosure, which may be used alone or in combination with any one or more other aspects, the surface cleaning apparatus includes and filter chamber that is accessible only when the air treatment assembly or a portion thereof is removed from the main body housing. The filter chamber may have an openable access door that is blocked from being opened when the air treatment assembly or a portion thereof is mounted to the main body housing. The filter chamber may house a pre-moving member filter and/or a post moving member filter.
It will be appreciated by a person skilled in the art that an apparatus or method disclosed herein may embody any one or more of the features contained herein and that the features may be used in any particular combination or sub-combination.
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.
Referring to
The surface cleaning apparatus 100 includes a main body 130. The main body 130 includes a main body housing 132 and a carry handle 134. It will be appreciated that the main body housing 132 houses one or more of a pre-motor filter, and an air moving member (e.g., a suction motor) and a post motor filter. As exemplified, the main body housing 132 may be selectively openable to provide access to a housed component. A cleaning stage may be removably mounted to the main body and/or incorporated as part of the main body. For example, the apparatus 100 may have a first cleaning stage that is removably mounted to the main body and a second cleaning stage that is housed in the main body and may be non-removable therefrom.
It will be appreciated that the carry handle 134 may be any suitable handle. In some embodiments, as exemplified, the carry handle 134 may be an under-hand carry handle. As exemplified, the carry handle 134 may be mounted to the apparatus upper end 116. The carry handle 134 may overly the main body housing 132 when the apparatus upper end 116 is above the apparatus lower end 118 (i.e., an in-use position of the surface cleaning apparatus). The carry handle 134 may be above the suction motor, the pre-motor filter and/or the air treatment assembly. Arranging the carry handle 134 above a heavy and/or bulky component of the surface cleaning apparatus 100 may result in a more desirable hand-feel of the surface cleaning apparatus 100.
The carry handle 134 may extend away from the main body housing 132, as exemplified, so as to provide an enclosed hand grip area between the handle 134 and an upper surface of the apparatus. It will be appreciated that a handle may alternatively be a recessed handle formed by providing a recess in a surface of the apparatus. The carry handle may have a hand grip portion 136 that extends generally horizontally when the apparatus upper end 116 is above the apparatus lower end 118. The hand grip portion 136 has a longest dimension in the direction of a grip portion axis 138. As exemplified, the grip portion axis 138 of the carry handle 134 may be generally transverse to the apparatus transverse axis 124 and/or the apparatus vertical axis 122. As exemplified, the grip portion axis 138 of the carry handle 134 may be generally parallel to the apparatus longitudinal axis 120.
The carry handle (e.g., a carry handle lower end 140 for a projecting handle) may be mounted to or formed in one or more of an openable and/or removeable apparatus lid, a suction motor housing, the pre-motor filter housing, and the air treatment assembly. As exemplified, the carry handle lower end 140 may be mounted to an upper surface of an openable top apparatus lid 150 by upwardly extending struts that extend between the upper surface of the lid (at the location of the carry handle lower end 140) and the hand grip portion 136.
It will be appreciated that the main body housing 132 and/or carry handle 134 may be in other configurations, shapes, and/or positions in other embodiments.
In some embodiments, as exemplified in
In some embodiments, as exemplified in
In some embodiments, a canister vacuum cleaner includes wheels 164 for, e.g., supporting the main body 130 and/or an air treatment assembly above a floor or other support surface. As exemplified, a wheel or wheels may be mounted to the main body and/or the air treatment assembly and/or a wheeled base to which the main body is removably mounted. Wheeled support reduces the weight that must be supported by a user, which may be particularly helpful when the vacuum is a large-capacity vacuum that can contain a substantial weight of separated material (e.g., dirt or liquid), such as more than 3 kg, more than 5 kg, more than 10 kg, or more than 15 kg of separated material. It will be appreciated that if the main body is removable mounted on a wheeled base, then the main body may optionally be operated as a hand-carriable unit that may be used with a flexible conduit 160 and/or rigid conduit.
It will be appreciated that any one or more of the features of the surface cleaning apparatus 100 set out herein may also or alternately be used in any type of surface cleaning apparatus, such as an upright surface cleaning apparatus, a stick vac, an extractor, or the like. It will also be appreciated that a surface cleaning apparatus may use any configuration of the operating components and the airflow paths exemplified herein.
As exemplified in
The apparatus dirty air inlet 172 may be provided at the apparatus rear end 114. As exemplified, the apparatus dirty air inlet 172 may be provided at the apparatus upper end 116. The apparatus dirty air inlet 172 may be at the apparatus rear end 114 and/or one lateral side of the surface cleaning apparatus 100, as exemplified. Arranging the dirty air inlet at one lateral side may help with wrapping a hose around the main body housing 132, as described further elsewhere herein. The apparatus dirty air inlet 172 may have an inlet end that faces rearwardly as exemplified (i.e., opening rearwardly). It will be appreciated that the dirty air inlet 172 may be located elsewhere, such as at the apparatus lower end 118 of the surface cleaning apparatus 100 and/or at the apparatus front end 112.
The apparatus dirty air inlet 172 may be provided at an inlet end of an apparatus inlet conduit 180. The apparatus inlet conduit 180 extends from an apparatus inlet conduit inlet end 182 (forwardly as exemplified) to an apparatus inlet conduit outlet end 184. Optionally, as exemplified, the apparatus inlet conduit outlet end 184 opens into an internal chamber of the surface cleaning apparatus 100. As exemplified, in some embodiments the apparatus inlet conduit 180 is provided external to the internal chamber and may have an outlet port that is also an inlet port of the chamber provided in a wall (e.g., a sidewall or an upper wall) of the internal chamber. It will be appreciated that in some embodiments the apparatus inlet conduit outlet end 184 may extend into an internal chamber of the surface cleaning apparatus 100 (e.g., an air treatment chamber which may be a cyclone chamber).
The apparatus inlet conduit 180 may be a generally linear conduit having an inlet conduit longitudinal axis 186 along a longest dimension of the apparatus inlet conduit 180 and extending between the apparatus inlet conduit inlet end 182 and the apparatus inlet conduit outlet end 184. The inlet conduit longitudinal axis 186 may extend between the apparatus front end 112 and the apparatus rear end 114, and, as exemplified, may be generally horizontal when the apparatus upper end 116 is above the apparatus lower end 118. The inlet conduit longitudinal axis 186 may be generally parallel to the apparatus longitudinal axis 120 and/or the carry handle axis 138.
As exemplified in
It will also be appreciated that, in some embodiments, the surface cleaning apparatus 100 may not include an apparatus inlet conduit 180, and the apparatus dirty air inlet 172 may instead open directly into a downstream chamber (e.g., an air treatment chamber 210) rather than being at an upstream end of a conduit. However, an apparatus inlet conduit 180 allows, e.g., a nozzle 188 to be formed for application to a surface that is to be cleaned, provides directionality to an air flow entering the surface cleaning apparatus 100, and/or provides a convenient attachment interface for an accessory.
As exemplified in
It will also be appreciated that the apparatus dirty air inlet 172 and/or the apparatus clean air outlet 174 may each be provided at different locations (e.g., they need not be on the same side of apparatus 100) and/or be of different configurations.
As exemplified in
As exemplified in
The air treatment assembly includes one or more air treatment members 202 in one or more stages. Any air treatment member or members known in the art may be used. For example, an air treatment stage of the surface cleaning apparatus may use one or more cyclones, bags, screens, physical filter media (e.g., foam, felt, HEPA) or the like.
The air treatment assembly 200 or a portion thereof may be removably mounted to the main body housing 132. It will be appreciated that the air treatment assembly 200 or the portion thereof may be removeable from the main body housing 132 in any suitable way, such as translationally or rotationally (e.g., as exemplified by the apparatus lid 150 in
The air treatment assembly 200 may include two or more separable parts 204. As exemplified, the separable parts 204 may include the apparatus lid 150 and a bucket 206. The bucket 206 comprises a first stage air treatment chamber 210 and may includes an end wall (e.g., the member first end wall 222) and the member sidewall 220. It will be appreciated that the bucket 206 may have an open end opposite the end wall 222 of the first stage air treatment chamber 210 (e.g., closable by the apparatus lid 150) or may include a wall closing the end opposite the end wall of the first stage air treatment chamber 210 (e.g., an openable bucket lid separate from the apparatus lid 150). It will be appreciated that the end wall 22 may be integrally formed or non-openable connected to the sidewall 220 so as to provide a watertight container.
Optionally, the apparatus lid 150 may include at least one air treatment member 202 and/or air treatment stage, which may comprise a second stage air treatment member 202. The second stage air treatment member 202 or a portion thereof (e.g., a second stage air treatment chamber) may be fully contained in the apparatus lid 150. The second stage air treatment member 202 or a portion thereof may be removeable as part of the apparatus lid 150 and may be removed in a closed configuration, as exemplified.
Each separable part 204 may include at least one air treatment member 202 and/or at least one dirt collection region 230. In some embodiments, each separable part 204 contains a separation stage, such as a first separable part 204 containing the first stage air treatment member(s) 202 and a second separable part 204 containing the second stage air treatment member(s) 202. Each of the air treatment member(s) may be an air treatment chamber(s). As exemplified, a first separable part 204 may include a first stage air treatment member and a second separable part 204 may include a second stage air treatment member 202. The separable parts 204 may be separated from one another and may be removed separately from the main body or concurrently. At least one of the separable parts 204 is removeable from the main body housing 132, and optionally each of the separable parts 204 is removeable from the main body housing 132. The bucket 206 is a container for holding dirt and water. The bucket 206 may be removed from the main body housing 132 separate from another part of the assembly (e.g., the apparatus lid 150) to allow for easier emptying and/or cleaning of the bucket 206. For example, water may accumulate in the bucket 206 and a user may pour out the bucket.
In any embodiment, as exemplified in
It will be appreciated that if the air treatment assembly 200 or portion thereof is removable, then the removeable air treatment assembly 200 or portion thereof may be secured to the main body 130 in any suitable way. The removeable air treatment assembly 200 or portion thereof may be seated on or against one or more main body seating surfaces 240, as exemplified in
The apparatus lid 150 may be rotationally (e.g., pivotally) secured to the apparatus main body 130. The apparatus lid 150 may be secured to the apparatus main body by a rotational joint 250 on one end of the apparatus lid 150. As exemplified, the rotational joint 250 has a joint rotational axis 252 about which the rotational joint rotates. The joint rotational axis 252 may be generally parallel to the handle axis 138 and/or the apparatus longitudinal axis 120. Another portion (e.g., an opposite end) of the apparatus lid 150 may be releasably secured to the apparatus main body 130, such as by a releasable clasp 254 or other fastener, such that when the fastener is secured the apparatus lid is held closed and when the fastener is released the apparatus lid is free to rotate about the rotational joint 250 to the open position. It will be appreciated that the apparatus lid 150 may also or alternatively be secured to the main body in other ways and may be fully removeable from the apparatus main body 130.
It will be appreciated that any suitable rotational joint 250 may be used. As exemplified in
It will be appreciated that in some embodiments a removable air treatment assembly or part thereof may also or alternatively be secured to the main body 130 via one or more fasteners, such as screws, clips (e.g., releasable clasp 254), or magnets, which may be releasable or overcome by a predetermined force to be applied by a user. In some embodiments, the air treatment assembly 200 or portion thereof may be removeable without opening a lid, such as if an air treatment stage has its own lid which is removable with the air treatment stage and the apparatus does not have an apparatus lid 150 overlying a closed chamber, or if the assembly is removable without opening the lid 150, e.g., it is removed laterally. In some embodiments, the air treatment assembly 200 or a part thereof is released by a user action, such as by a user interaction with a button or other toggle of a user interface 260.
The air treatment member 202 may be openable to, e.g., allow for dirt removal. One or both of the member end walls (e.g., upper and/or lower walls), or a portion of one or each of the member end walls, may be openable. Opening an end of the chamber may facilitate access to the member air inlet and/or air outlet. Alternatively, or additionally, the member sidewall or a portion thereof may be openable. As exemplified by the air treatment member 202 of the first stage 280 in
The air treatment assembly 200 includes a dirt collection region 230. As exemplified by the air treatment member of the first stage 280 of
It will be appreciated that the air treatment assembly 200 may include any suitable number of discrete dirt collection regions 230. As exemplified in
It will be understood that the air treatment member 202 and dirt collection region 230 may be of any configuration suitable for separating dirt from an air stream and collecting the separated dirt, respectively.
As exemplified in
The air moving member 400 may be contained within a moving member housing 410. The moving member housing 410 may form part of the outer surface of the main body housing 132, or may be internal thereto. The moving member housing 410 may be of any suitable construction, including any of those exemplified herein.
The air moving member 400 in the illustrated example is positioned downstream from the air treatment assembly 200, although it will be appreciated that the air moving member 400 may be positioned upstream of the air treatment assembly 200 or an air treatment member thereof (e.g., a dirty air motor) in alternative embodiments.
As exemplified, in some embodiments the air moving member 400 rotates about a moving member axis of rotation 412 (e.g., a suction motor axis of rotation). Preferably, when the apparatus upper end 116 is positioned above the apparatus lower end 118, the moving member axis of rotation 412 is oriented generally vertically and extends between the apparatus upper end 116 and the apparatus lower end 118. In other examples, however, the moving member axis of rotation 412 may extend at any angle to the vertical, or it may extend horizontally. Accordingly, the air moving member 400 may be oriented in any direction within the surface cleaning apparatus 100. The moving member axis of rotation 412 may be spaced (e.g., horizontally spaced) from the member longitudinal axis 350 of one or more air treatment member and/or coaxial with one or more member longitudinal axis 350. As exemplified, the moving member axis of rotation 412 may intersect the carry handle axis 138. As exemplified, the moving member axis of rotation 412 may be generally parallel to the member longitudinal axis 350 of one or all of the air treatment member(s) 202.
The surface cleaning apparatus 100 may include one or more filters 420 in an air flow path of the surface cleaning apparatus 100. A filter 420 may be one or more of a foam filter, felt filter, HEPA filter, other physical filter media, electrostatic filter, and the like. Optionally, a filter 420 includes a series of screens, and, optionally, each downstream screen of the filter has finer pores than the preceding upstream screen. The filter 420 may be formed from any suitable physical, porous filter media and may have any suitable shape, including the examples disclosed herein.
The surface cleaning apparatus 100 may include a pre-moving member filter 420 upstream of the moving member 400 and/or a post-moving member filter 420 downstream of the moving member. A pre-moving member filter 420 removes dirt (e.g., fine dust) that could otherwise damage the moving member 400, such as by accumulating on fan blades or interfering with motor movement. A post-moving member filter 420 removes dirt (e.g., carbon dust from the motor) that would other wise be released by the surface cleaning apparatus 100. For example, the pre-moving member filter 420 may be a pre-motor filter provided in the air flow path 170 upstream of the motor and fan assembly. If a bypass or cooling motor is provided as discussed elsewhere herein, then the pre-moving member filter 420 may be upstream of a fan blade provided in the cooling air flow path. The post-moving member filter 420 may be a post-motor filter provided in the air flow path 170 downstream of the motor and fan assembly. If a bypass or cooling motor is provided as discussed elsewhere herein, then the post-moving member filter 420 may be downstream of a fan blade or motor provided in the cooling air flow path. It will be appreciated that the surface cleaning apparatus 100 may have any suitable number of filters 420.
A filter 420 may be provided in a filter housing 442. The filter housing 442 may be of any suitable construction, including any of those exemplified herein. The filter housing 442 may be openable or accessible to allow the filter 420 to be cleaned and/or replaced. As exemplified, the moving member axis of rotation 412 may intersect one or more filter housing 442. In some embodiments, the moving member axis of rotation 412 intersects at least one filter housing 442 of a pre-moving member filter 420 received in the main air flow path 170.
As exemplified in
As exemplified by the filter housing 442 of the post-moving member filter 420 in
A pre-moving member filter 420 may come in any suitable shape and be at any particular location. Optionally, as exemplified, the pre-moving member filter 420 may have a longest dimension in a vertical direction along a pre-moving member filter longitudinal axis 422. The pre-moving member filter may be a donut filter, such as with a body of filtration material surrounding a central cavity, as exemplified by the pre-moving member filter 420 in the main air flow path 170 of
As exemplified in
As exemplified in
As exemplified, the user interface 260 may be provided at the apparatus upper end 116. Optionally, the user interface 260 is provided on a top surface 440 of the main body housing 132 (e.g., on lid 150). The user interface may face upwardly as exemplified (i.e., visible when looking down at the surface cleaning apparatus 100 along the apparatus vertical axis 122). A user interface at the apparatus upper end 116 is more readily accessible to a user than a user interface at the apparatus lower end 118. As exemplified, the user interface may be provided adjacent the carry handle 134. A user interface adjacent the carry handle may be readily accessible to a user that is already interacting with the carry handle. However, it will be appreciated that the user interface 260 may be provide at any position on the surface cleaning apparatus 100.
The following is a discussion of a number of aspects, namely an actuator, bucket removable in a closed configuration, angled mating surfaces, dual actuators, air treatment assembly, air flow regulation at a second or subsequent stage, deflector, window, bypass motor, water-responsive valve in the air flow path, lid openable to a drip position, water pour spout, pour handle, screen in pour-out path, first stage axis intersects second stage, inverted multi-inlet cyclone, lateral air outlet, air outlet between air inlets, partially annular dirt collection region, angled dirt outlet, inter-emptying dirt collection regions, door opened by opening a dirt collection chamber, sloped dirt collection region sidewall, dirt collection expansion zone, laterally spaced arrangement, vertical stacking with the air moving member, plurality of apparatus lids, rib arrester, removeable ribbed wall, non-porous bag in air treatment member, bag retainer, mechanical bag retainer, pneumatic bag retainer, automatic control of the vacuum airflow path, shielded vacuum airflow path outlet, filter nested in air treatment chamber, screen cleaning, locating a user-accessed feature adjacent the air moving member, non-circular air treatment chamber, hose wraps around, nested storage or shipping configuration, reconfigurable between suction mode and blowing mode, dual suction and blowing external conduit, and filter door held closed by removeable air treatment assembly or part thereof, which are set out herein. It will be appreciated that any one or more of these aspects may be used with any one or more of the actuator, bucket removable in a closed configuration, angled mating surfaces, dual actuators, air treatment assembly, air flow regulation at a second or subsequent stage, deflector, window, bypass motor, water-responsive valve in the air flow path, lid openable to a drip position, water pour spout, pour handle, screen in pour-out path, first stage axis intersects second stage, inverted multi-inlet cyclone, lateral air outlet, air outlet between air inlets, partially annular dirt collection region, angled dirt outlet, inter-emptying dirt collection regions, door opened by opening a dirt collection chamber, sloped dirt collection region sidewall, dirt collection expansion zone, laterally spaced arrangement, vertical stacking with the air moving member, plurality of apparatus lids, rib arrester, removeable ribbed wall, non-porous bag in air treatment member, bag retainer, mechanical bag retainer, pneumatic bag retainer, automatic control of the vacuum airflow path, shielded vacuum airflow path outlet, filter nested in air treatment chamber, screen cleaning, locating a user-accessed feature adjacent the air moving member, non-circular air treatment chamber, hose wraps around, nested storage or shipping configuration, reconfigurable between suction mode and blowing mode, dual suction and blowing external conduit, and filter door held closed by removeable air treatment assembly or part thereof, which are disclosed herein.
The following is a description of an actuator. This aspect may be used by itself or in combination with one or more of the other aspects disclosed herein. As exemplified in
The operated device 452 may be a moveable device, such as a valve, a door, a flap, a biasing member, or a wiper, and the actuator may apply a force to move the moveable device between a first position (e.g., an open position or an extended position) and a second position (e.g., a closed position or a compressed position). For example, the actuator may be, e.g., a linear actuator driving a door between open and closed positions. Several operated devices 452 are discussed in detail elsewhere herein and any one or more of these may be included in a surface cleaning apparatus 100 and may be actuated by any actuator 450 discussed herein.
It will be appreciated that the actuator may operate one operated device which in turn operates another, also or alternatively an actuator may operate more than one operated device in parallel either simultaneously or independently.
As exemplified by
Additionally, or alternatively, the actuator 450 may be mechanically drivingly connected to the operated device 452, such as via a mechanical linkage 456. As exemplified by
As exemplified in
The actuator 450 may be a manual actuator 450, such as a button or lever, which operates the operated device 452 by being manually moved (e.g., pressed or slid) by a user. As exemplified in
Optionally, the actuator 450 is also coupled to the control system 438, such as to provide a signal to operate a powered component of the surface cleaning apparatus 100. For example, a button may be both a manual actuator and a power button for the surface cleaning apparatus. Operating the actuator (e.g., depressing a button) may send a signal to the control system 438 to turn on the air moving member 400 and also operate a mechanical linkage 456 to actuate an operated device 452 (e.g., move a screen or door).
The actuator 450 may be an automatic actuator 450, such as a powered actuator, a pressure-responsive actuator, a float actuator, or a movement-responsive actuator, which operates the operated device 452 automatically in response to a changing condition.
As exemplified in
As exemplified in
As exemplified in
A pressure-responsive actuator 450, such as a flexible member (e.g., a diaphragm) or a piston moving within a piston housing, is in fluid communication with the air flow path 170 and actuates in response to a change in pressure such as in response to an air inlet or air outlet of an air flow path being opened or blocked and/or in response to the air moving member 400 being turned on, turned off, or changed from one operational mode to another (e.g., changed between a high-suction or power mode and a low-suction or power mode).
As exemplified in
As exemplified in
A mechanical movement-responsive actuator 450 is responsive to a movement (e.g., removal or reattachment) of a component of the surface cleaning apparatus 100 (e.g., the bucket 206) relative to another component (e.g., the main body housing 130) of the surface cleaning apparatus 100. In some embodiments, the movement-responsive actuator 450 is responsive to a removal of a component of the surface cleaning apparatus from another, such the removal of the air treatment assembly 200 or a part thereof from the main body housing 132. As exemplified in
The actuator 450 may be communicatively coupled to the control system 438 to send and/or receive signals from the control system. The actuator 450 may respond to signals from the control system (e.g., actuating as directed by the control system 438 to in turn cause an operated device to activate). The actuator 450 may provide signals to the control system 438 (e.g., providing status updates to the control system 438 to be used by the control system to determine a subsequent action of the control system which may then be used to cause an operated device to actuate).
It will be appreciated that in some embodiments an actuator, even a powered actuator may be independent from the control system 438, such as a powered actuator that is controlled by a simple circuit. A simple circuit may not include a processor or a data storage device, such as a circuit with a toggle (e.g., a switch, slider, or button) that closes the circuit when activated and breaks the circuit when deactivated. For example, an actuator may itself close a circuit to actuate a solenoid.
It will be appreciated that an actuator may be a dedicated actuator provided to move only one operated device, or may be a common actuator operable to move more than one operated device (e.g., at the same time, or separately such as directed by the control system 438).
An actuator 450 may be responsive to an activation event. The activation condition may be any suitable event, such as that the air flow path is active (e.g., air moving member 400 has been turned on) and/or that the air flow path has been deactivated (e.g., air moving member 400 has been turned off). The actuator 450 may operate continuously while an activation event is present, or intermittently while the activation event is met. The actuator 450 may operate once in response to an activation event.
In some embodiments, an actuator 450 is primed by a first event and triggered to actuate the operable device 452 by a second event. The primeable actuator 450 may be triggered only if it has first been primed. For example, the actuator 450 may be primed by the air moving member 400 being turned off or on, or by air pressure adjacent the actuator reaching or falling below a predetermined level.
As exemplified in
In some embodiments, an actuator operates an operated device 452 after a predetermined time delay from a triggering event. For example, an activation event may be turning off the air moving device and/or an air pressure dropping below a predetermined threshold, and the actuator may act after a predetermined delay after that activation event. For example, the actuator 450 may open a door (a second stage dirt collection chamber door which opens the second stage dirt collection chamber to empty dirt due to gravity into the first stage dirt collection region) after a predetermined delay following the turning off of the air moving device. It will be appreciated that any suitable delayed-operation actuator may be used. As exemplified in
In some embodiments, an actuator 450 automatically reverses the operation of an operated device 452 after a predetermined waiting time. For example, an actuator 450 may open a door in response to a triggering event and then close the door after a predetermined waiting time in the absence of a further applicable event. For example, the actuator may include a piston that moves in response to a predetermined pressure threshold, and the movement may change the pressure causing the piston to move back (e.g., driven by a biasing member).
It will be appreciated that any suitable actuator and/or operated device may be used and that any actuator disclosed herein may be used with any operated device disclosed herein.
The following is a description of a surface cleaning apparatus 100 in which the air treatment assembly 200 or a portion thereof (e.g., the bucket 206) is removeable from the main body housing 132 in a closed configuration. This aspect may be used by itself or in combination with one or more of the other aspects disclosed herein.
The air treatment assembly 200 that is removable may be a first stage air treatment chamber. Optionally a second stage air treatment member (e.g., chamber) may remain in the main housing when the first stage air treatment member is removed. In such a case material separated by the second stage air treatment member may be emptied into the first stage air treatment member as discussed elsewhere herein.
Optionally, the air treatment assembly 200 that is removable is an air treatment chamber such as bucket 206 and the bucket may be closed by, e.g., the apparatus lid 150 and/or a separate lid of the bucket 206 itself. Removing the assembly or a part thereof in a closed configuration inhibits dirt and/or water from falling out while the user carries the assembly or part thereof to a disposal location. Where the assembly or part thereof (e.g., the bucket 206) is used to collect water, removing the assembly or part thereof in a closed configuration inhibits water from sloshing out the assembly or part thereof is carried. The closed assembly or part thereof may have an open pour passage 600 (described elsewhere herein) such that a user may pour out liquid without opening the closed assembly or part thereof.
The following is a description of a surface cleaning apparatus 100 in which the air treatment assembly 200 or a portion thereof is removable. This aspect may be used by itself or in combination with one or more of the other aspects disclosed herein.
As exemplified in
The following is a description of a surface cleaning apparatus 100 in which two actuators are provided to provide optional ways of emptying a separation stage, such as a first stage separation chamber. This aspect may be used by itself or in combination with one or more of the other aspects disclosed herein.
Accordingly, the surface cleaning apparatus 100 may include a first actuator (e.g., a button) to allow a user to release the bucket 206 in a closed configuration (e.g., with the bucket lid still on) so the user can remove the bucket in a closed configuration and a second actuator (e.g., another button) to allow a user to release the lid to open the bucket whether the bucket remains secured to the main body housing or has been removed therefrom. A user is therefore given a choice in how to dispose of separated material. Any actuator disclosed herein may be used. Accordingly, if a bag is provided in the bucket, the bucket may be opened while mounted to the main body so that the bag may be removed. Alternately, if water has been collected, then the bucket may be removed, optionally closed) and moved to, e.g., a sink, at which location the water may be poured out of the bucket by, e.g., an optional pour spout as discussed elsewhere herein.
The following is a description of an air treatment assembly 200 that may be used in a surface cleaning apparatus 100. This aspect may be used by itself or in combination with one or more of the other aspects disclosed herein.
It will be appreciated that the air treatment assembly 200 may include any suitable number of air treatment stages, each with any suitable number of air treatment members in parallel. An air treatment member 202 may be any suitable air treatment member, such as an air treatment chamber which may be a non-cyclonic momentum separator or a cyclone (inverted, reverse flow, uniflow, multi-inlet, single inlet, single outlet, etc.). For example, the air treatment assembly 200 may include a single air treatment stage with one or a plurality of air treatment members (e.g., a plurality of momentum separators or cyclones) in parallel. As another example, the air treatment member 202 may include a first separation stage with a single air treatment chamber (e.g., a cyclone or momentum separator) and a downstream second stage comprising a plurality of air treatment chambers (e.g., an array of mini cyclones in parallel with one another).
As exemplified in
It will be appreciated that the surface cleaning apparatus 100 may include more than one type of air treatment member. For example, the first stage may include a first type of air treatment chamber (e.g., a non-cyclonic momentum separator) while the second stage includes a second type of air treatment chamber (e.g., a cyclone). Additionally, or alternatively, the surface cleaning apparatus 100 may include more than one configuration of a type of air treatment chamber. For example, the first stage may include a single-inlet cyclone while the second stage includes a multi-inlet cyclone.
As exemplified, each air treatment chamber includes a member (chamber) air inlet 290 and a member (chamber) air outlet 292. The air flow path 170 extends through each of the air inlet 290 and the air outlet 292. If the air treatment member is in parallel with another air treatment member, the air flow path may include a plurality of air flow path branches 294, as exemplified in
An air treatment member 202 may include only a single air inlet 290 and/or air outlet 292 see for example air treatment chamber 202 of the first stage 280 in
The air inlet 290 and the air outlet 292 may be of any design known in the art. An air inlet 290 may consist of an inlet opening 304 (e.g., a port) provided in a wall of an air treatment chamber of the air treatment member 202 and the member air outlet 292 may consist of an outlet opening 302 (e.g., a port) opening provided in a wall of air treatment chamber. Accordingly, the member air inlet 290 and/or the member air outlet 292 may each consist of an opening or port in a wall of an air treatment chamber. For example, if the air treatment chamber is a non-cyclonic air treatment chamber, then the port 304 may be the outlet end of conduit 180 (see for example
Alternatively, or additionally, the air inlet 290 and/or the air outlet 292 may include a guide conduit (e.g., see guide conduit 310 projecting into the air treatment chamber 210 in
If the air treatment chamber is a cyclone, then the guide conduit 310 may be a vortex finder 340. As exemplified in
While specific member air inlets and member air outlets have been described, it will be appreciated that the air treatment member 202 may have any air inlet and any air outlet known in the art.
The air treatment member 202 has a member longitudinal axis 350. The member longitudinal axis 350 extends between a member first end 352 and a member second end 354. The member first end 352 is axially spaced from the member second end 354 along the member longitudinal axis 350. As exemplified by the air treatment members of each of the first and second stages in
The air treatment chamber 210 may be the volume within a chamber housing 360. The chamber housing may include a set of walls enclosing the air treatment chamber 210. As exemplified in
The member sidewall 220 may be a generally cylindrical sidewall as exemplified in
The member longitudinal axis 350 may be centrally located within the air treatment chamber 210. The member longitudinal axis 350 may be a central axis extending through a radial centre of the air treatment chamber 210. The member longitudinal axis 350 may extend along a longest dimension of the air treatment chamber 210, as exemplified by the air treatment member of the first stage 280 in
As exemplified by the air treatment member of the first stage 280 in
The member air inlet 290 and the member air outlet 292 may be located at a common end of the first stage air treatment chamber 210 as exemplified or at different ends. For example, the first stage air inlet 290 and the first stage air outlet 292 may be located at opposite ends of the first stage air treatment chamber 210. The first stage air treatment chamber 210 may be a uniflow chamber (e.g., a uniflow cyclone).
The following is a description of air flow regulation at an air treatment member. The air flow characteristics such as velocity, volume, or pressure of air received at a second or downstream air treatment member may be maintained at or above predetermined levels during operation of the surface cleaning apparatus. The air flow provided to the air treatment member may be supplemented by a selectively openable air inlet (e.g., a bleed valve) introducing air into the air flow path upstream of the second or downstream air treatment member, e.g., in response to changes in air flow characteristics at a downstream air treatment member. This bleed valve may be a second bleed valve that is supplemental to a bleed valve that is provided upstream of a suction motor and downstream of a pre-motor filter. This aspect may be used by itself or in combination with one or more of the other aspects disclosed herein.
An air treatment member may be selected to have a predetermined efficiency in response to a predetermined air flow characteristic, e.g., the velocity of air travelling through a cyclone. As airflow through an air treatment member decreases, the efficiency of the air treatment member may be reduced. Where that air treatment member is downstream of an other upstream component of the air treatment apparatus, such as a screen or physical filter media (e.g., foam, felt, HEPA) or the like, the air flow passed downstream of the other component may be reduced over a period of time of operation of the surface cleaning apparatus. The performance characteristics of the other upstream component may deteriorate as dirt is picked up and collected within the surface cleaning apparatus, resulting in reduced air flow to a downstream air treatment member. For example, a screen or physical filter media or the like upstream of the downstream air treatment member may become partially or fully clogged.
A selectively openable air inlet opening into the air flow path upstream of the upstream air treatment member and downstream of the other component may introduce supplementary air flow to the air flow path to maintain one or more air flow characteristics at the air treatment member. The selectively openable air inlet may include a bleed valve, e.g., selected to respond to a predetermined pressure at the upstream air treatment member.
The screen or physical filter media or the like may be part of an upstream air treatment member (e.g., a screen over an air outlet of a first stage cyclone or other air treatment member). Introducing supplementary air into the air flow path upstream of a second or subsequent stage air treatment member may compensate partially or fully for a reduced air flow entering the second or subsequent stage air treatment member due to clogging of a downstream screen or filter media and thereby maintain or assist in maintaining the efficiency of the second or subsequent stage air treatment member.
As exemplified in
As exemplified, the other component 922 may be a screen. The illustrated screen is a screen of the air permeable portion 346 of an air outlet 292 of the first stage air treatment chamber 210. The screen includes pores which may become clogged as dirt is collected on the screen, changing the characteristics of air that is passed downstream of the screen.
As exemplified, the selectively openable air inlet 920 may be provided in a portion 924 of the air flow path 170 that is between the other component 922 (the first stage air treatment chamber 210 as exemplified) and the upstream air treatment member 202. The portion 924 may be a portion that extends between stages of the air treatment assembly (e.g., between the first stage and the second stage as exemplified). The selectively openable air inlet 920 may open into a portion 924 of the air flow path 170 that is directly upstream of an air treatment member 202, in other words there may be no additional filtering member (e.g., screen or physical filter media or the like) between the selectively openable air inlet 920 and the air inlet 290 of the downstream air treatment member which could become clogged and reduce the air flow to the air treatment member. However, it will be appreciated that in some examples the selectively openable air inlet 920 may open into a portion 924 of the air flow path 170 that is downstream of the upstream component 922 but that is also separated from the air inlet 290 of the next downstream air treatment member 202 by at least one filtering member (e.g., a screen or physical filter media or the like) to filter air that has passed through the downstream air treatment member 202. Alternately, the selectively openable air inlet 920 may be provided downstream of the upstream air treatment component 202 but downstream from any subsequent filter media or screen, such as a pre-motor filter.
The selectively openable air inlet 920 may be opened and/or closed in any suitable way. For example, the selectively openable air inlet 920 may be opened and/or closed by an actuator, such as an actuator controlled by a computer processor of the surface cleaning apparatus 100. The selectively openable air inlet 920 may include a piston, flap, or door. However, in some examples, the selectively openable air inlet 920 is opened and/or closed in direct response to changes in air pressure. The selectively openable air inlet 920 may include any conventional bleed valve 926. The bleed valve 926 may control when the selectively openable air inlet 920 is open and/or closed. The bleed valve 926 may be selected to respond to a predetermined drop in air pressure in the portion 924 of the air flow path 170. The air pressure in the portion 924 of the air flow path 170 may be the same as the air pressure at the inlet of the downstream air treatment member 202 (e.g., where the portion 924 is directly upstream of the air treatment member 202 as exemplified).
In some examples, the selectively openable air inlet 920 is selected such that additional air flow is provided to the downstream air treatment member to maintain good efficiency at a cost of between 2 AW and 20 AW, between 5 AW and 15 AW, or about 10 AW.
The following is a description of a deflector 380. This aspect may be used by itself or in combination with one or more of the other aspects disclosed herein.
As exemplified in
The following is a description of a window 390. This aspect may be used by itself or in combination with one or more of the other aspects disclosed herein.
Optionally, as exemplified in
The following is a description of a surface cleaning apparatus 100 which has a bypass air flow path and in which the air movement member 400 may include a bypass motor 530 or a fan in the bypass air flow path that is driven by the motor and fan assembly used in the air flow path 170. The surface cleaning apparatus 100 may be a wet/dry vacuum. This aspect may be used by itself or in combination with one or more of the other aspects disclosed herein.
As exemplified in
Optionally, as exemplified in
As exemplified in
It will be appreciated that the surface cleaning apparatus 100 may also or alternatively include more than one motor 532, such as a first motor to drive a first fan 534 in the main air flow path 170 and a second motor 532 to drive a second fan 534 in the cooling airflow path 540. Motors 532 may optionally operate with different characteristics from one another (e.g., at different rates of rotation per unit of time), and may be independently controlled.
It will also be appreciated that the surface cleaning apparatus 100 may include more than two fans, such as more than one fan in the main air flow path 170, more than one fan in the cooling airflow path 540, and/or more than two air flow paths each including a fan. The fans 534 may be operated with different characteristics from one another (e.g., at different rates of rotations per unit of time). Fans operating with different characteristics may be operated by different motors, but may alternatively be operated by a common motor but with different characteristics (e.g., one or both of the fans is operated via a clutch system to allow the fans to be rotated at different rates of rotations per unit of time).
As exemplified in
Optionally, as exemplified in
Optionally, as exemplified in
The cooling airflow path 540 may be shorter than the main air flow path 170. Filters 420 in the cooling airflow path 540 may be relatively flat (planar) filters.
Filters 420 in the cooling airflow path 540 may be arranged with the shortest dimension of the filter extending in the air flow direction 550 through the filter 420. In some embodiments, as exemplified, a filter 420 in the cooling airflow path 540 is arranged with an inlet face 552 and/or an outlet face 554 extending generally vertically (i.e., generally parallel to the apparatus vertical axis 122).
If the air moving member 400 includes a bypass motor 530, then the main air flow path 170 may still includes an air treatment member 202 and/or a filter 420 even though motor 532 is not in the main air flow path 170. Particles carried by the main air flow path 170 to the first fan 534 may accumulate on the fan 534. Particles accumulating on the fan 534 may cause an imbalance of the fan 534. An unbalanced fan may operate at a reduced efficiency and/or reduce the lifespan of the fan or mechanically coupled components.
The following is a description of a water-responsive valve 560 arranged in the air flow path. The water-responsive valve 560 is moveable between an open position in which the water-responsive valve 560 does not close an air flow path, e.g., the air flow path 170 and/or a vacuum line, and a closed position in which the water-responsive valve 560 closes an air flow path, e.g., the air flow path 170 and/or a vacuum line. A surface cleaning apparatus 100 comprising the water-responsive valve 560 may be a wet/dry vacuum. This aspect may be used by itself or in combination with one or more of the other aspects disclosed herein.
As exemplified in
The valve 560 is a water-responsive valve, moving between the open and closed positions in response to changes in the quantity of water contained in the surface cleaning apparatus. In some embodiments, the valve is operable to close the air flow path based on a water level 502 in the first stage air treatment member 202. As the water level 502 within the first stage air treatment member 202 approaches an upper end of the air treatment member 202 (e.g., due to water accumulation or tipping of the first stage air treatment chamber 210), the valve responds by moving from the open position to the closed position. The water-responsive valve 560 may move to the closed position upon the water level 502 reaching a predetermined level.
The air flow path 170 may include a partially treated airflow path 570 extending downstream from the first stage air treatment member 202. The water-responsive valve 560 may selectively closes the partially treated airflow path 570, such as a partially treated airflow path 570 that extends between the first stage air treatment chamber 210 and a downstream filter 420. The valve inhibits or prevents water from reaching the filter 420 and motor 532. Water may damage the filter 420 or combine with dirt on the filter 420 to cover the filter 420 or a portion thereof with an air-impermeable layer. In some embodiments, the partially treated airflow path 570 extends between the first stage air treatment member 202 and a downstream air treatment member 202. The water-responsive valve 560 helps to prevent water form reaching the downstream air treatment member 202. The downstream air treatment member 202 may not be optimized for retaining or emptying water (e.g., lacking a pour out opening and/or having an outlet at a lower end of the member).
As exemplified, the water-responsive valve 560 may close the partially treated airflow path 570 at the upstream end of the path.
As exemplified in
The air outlet 292 of the first stage air treatment chamber 210 may include a screen 344 (e.g., a metal or plastic mesh fluff screen) upstream of the water-impermeable portion 574. In some embodiments, the valve is positioned within the screen 344 and moveable between a first position within the screen in which it does not close the air flow path 170 (e.g., a lower position along the member longitudinal axis 350, as exemplified in
As exemplified in
Alternatively, the water-responsive valve 560 may be an operated device 452 driven by an actuator 450, such as one of the operated devices described elsewhere herein.
The following is a description of an apparatus lid 150 that is moveable between a closed position and an open drip position. The apparatus lid 150 that is openable to an open drip position may be included in a wet/dry vacuum. This aspect may be used by itself or in combination with one or more of the other aspects disclosed herein.
As exemplified in
When the lid is closed and water is received in the air treatment member 202 water may accumulate on the inner surface of the lid. When the lid is subsequently opened (e.g., as illustrated in
As exemplified, the apparatus lid 150 may be moveable between a closed position (e.g.,
In the drip position, the apparatus lid 150 may remain coupled to the air treatment assembly 200 (e.g., the bucket 206).
In the drip position, water which drips from the lid is inhibited from falling onto a surface on which the surface cleaning apparatus 100 is positioned. For example, water may fall directly into the air treatment member 202 or onto a surface that directs the water into the air treatment member 202.
For example, in the drip position, an accumulation surface 580 of the apparatus lid 150, which forms a wall of the air treatment chamber 210 in the closed position, may be angled relative to the horizontal to encourage water to flow along the accumulation surface 580. The accumulation surface 580 may be joined to a drip edge 582 on the apparatus lid 150 such that water that flows along the accumulation surface is directed towards the drip edge 582. In the drip position, the apparatus lid 150 forms a drip flow path 584 extending between the accumulation surface 580 and the drip edge 582. The drip flow path 584 is generally sloped downwards relative to gravity to encourage water flow along the drip flow path. In some embodiments, the drip flow path 584 is sloped downwards at each point along the drip flow path 584.
In the drip position, the drip edge 582 may be positioned over a catch basin 586 in the surface cleaning apparatus. The catch basin 586 may be, e.g., the dirt collection region 230 of the first stage air treatment member 202.
The following is a description of a water pour spout 590 of a surface cleaning apparatus. The water pour spout 590 is fluidically coupled to a dirt collection region 230 within the surface cleaning apparatus 100. The apparatus comprising the water pour spout 590 may be a wet/dry vacuum. This aspect may be used by itself or in combination with one or more of the other aspects disclosed herein.
As exemplified in
It will be appreciated that the water pour spout 590 may alternatively be provided on the air treatment assembly 200, such as on a removeable air treatment assembly 200 or part thereof. In some embodiments, the water pour spout 590 is provided on the bucket 206. As exemplified in
The water may be collected in a dirt collection region 230. The water pour spout 590 is fluidically coupled to a dirt collection region 230 such that water collected in the dirt collection region 230 may be poured out thought the water pour spout 590. As exemplified in
As exemplified in
A surface cleaning apparatus may include more than one spout 590, such as a spout 590 for each of more than one air treatment member 202 and/or dirt collection region 230. In some embodiments, a spout 590 is coupled to each air treatment member 202 and/or dirt collection region 230 of a second stage 282, as exemplified in
It will be appreciated that if the water is poured out through a conduit, such as inlet conduit 180, then a screen may be provided in the flow path to retain larger particulate material in the dirt collection region. If the conduit is the air inlet conduit 180, then as discussed elsewhere herein, the screen is moveable into the conduit for emptying the dirt collection region and out of the inlet conduit 180 for when the apparatus is used to clean a surface. Any actuator discloses herein may be used and the screen may be an operated device 452.
The following is a description of a pour handle that is mounted to a liquid container. The pour handle may be used with a wet/dry vacuum. This aspect may be used by itself or in combination with one or more of the other aspects disclosed herein.
According to this aspect, a pour handle 610 may be mounted to the liquid container in a configuration that facilitates pouring liquid from the liquid container. It will be appreciated that the liquid container may be any container that can hold liquid picked up by the surface cleaning apparatus. The liquid container may be, e.g., the bucket 206, the air treatment assembly 200 as a whole, or the surface cleaning apparatus 100 as a whole.
The pour handle 610 includes a hand grip portion 136 with a grip portion axis 138 that extends in a direction that facilitates pouring. For example, the pour handle may have a grip portion that extends vertically and is at an end of the dirt collection region that is spaced from (opposite to) the pour spout. Accordingly, the grip portion axis 138 of a pour handle grip portion may extend generally perpendicular to a pour axis 622 of the pour spout 590 (see e.g.,
Alternately, the pour handle may be on an upper surface of the dirt collection region and extend transverse to the direction of water when it is poured out through the pour spout. In such a case, the grip portion axis 138 of the grip portion of the pour handle 610 may extend at an angle 612 to the grip portion axis 138 of the grip portion of the carry handle 134 (see for example
As exemplified in
Alternately, the handle assembly 620 may be an integrally formed or one piece assembly that comprises both a pour handle 610 and a carry handle 134. For example, the handle assembly 620 may be L-shaped with a horizontally extending carry handle 134 and a vertically extending pour handle 610 or a T-shaped handle. In the latter case, as exemplified in
It will be appreciated that, the grip portion axis 138 of a pour handle grip portion may extend generally parallel to a pour axis 622 of the pour spout 590, and/or intersects the pour axis 622 of the pour spout 590 (e.g., if the handle assembly is T-shaped).
Alternately or in addition, as exemplified in
Optionally reconfiguring the handle between the pour configuration and the carry configuration may open and/or close a latch or lock (e.g., lock or unlock a lid and/or lock or unlock the bucket from the main housing). For example, the bucket 206 may be secured to the main body housing 132 via a releasable latch or lock, and reconfiguration the handle from the carry configuration to the pour configuration may release the latch or lock. Reconfiguring from the pour configuration to the carry configuration may close the latch or lock, and vice versa.
As discussed previously, the surface cleaning apparatus 100 may include two or more discrete handles (see, e.g.,
It will be appreciated that the ends of a handle may be rigidly mounted to the support body or moveably mounted. For example, the ends of the handle may be rotationally mounted to the support body, such as to allow the handle to be reconfigured. As exemplified in
Accordingly, as exemplified, the pour handle may rotate, e.g., about axis 644) from a storage position (see e.g.,
Optionally, the handle may be hidden in the storage position. As exemplified in
Optionally, as exemplified in
A discussed previously, handle may include a body extending from a supporting surface and secured at one or both ends of the body to the supporting surface, and may be referred to as a projecting or extending handle. However, it will be appreciated that a handle may also or alternatively include a recessed handle 646, as exemplified at the bottom of the first stage air treatment member in
The following is a description of a pour-through screen in a pour path. The pour-through screen may be moveable between a first position extending across the pour path and a second position in which the screen is partially or fully removed from the pour path. A moveable pour-through screen may be manually moved or automatically moved. The moveable pour-through screen may be automatically moved when a first body of the surface cleaning apparatus 100 is removed from a second body of the surface cleaning apparatus 100 (e.g., a dirt collection region such as the bucket is removed for emptying). The moveable screen may be part of the first body. The first body may be the air treatment assembly 200 or a part thereof (e.g., the bucket 206). The second body may be the main body housing 132. The pour-through screen 650 may be used in a wet/dry vacuum. This aspect may be used by itself or in combination with one or more of the other aspects disclosed herein.
As exemplified in
Optionally, the screen may extend from the lip 592 of the bucket 206 or a portion of the lip 592 even where the bucket 206 does not include a pour spout. The pour-through screen 650 may be provided to encourage a user to screen water being poured out, although it will be appreciated that the container being emptied of water may also include one or more potential pour paths that do not extend through the pour-through screen such that a user can choose whether or not to screen the water being poured out. The pour-through screen 650 removes large debris that may otherwise clog a disposal device, such as a toilet, used to dispose of liquid poured out through the pour path.
The pour-through screen 650 may be fixed in place (e.g., rigidly secured to a wall of the pour path). However, it will be appreciated that the pour-through screen 650 may be moveable. The screen may be moved from a first position in which it extends across the pour path and a second position in which it is at least partially removed from the pour path. Moving the screen reduces the extent to which the screen obstructs the path. For example, the path may be a multi-purpose path that is used for another purpose at another time. For example, the pour path may include a portion of the air flow path 170, and at least partially removing the screen may reduce backpressure when the path is used as an air flow path 170.
A moveable pour-through screen 650 may be automatically or manually moveable. A moveable pour-through screen 650 may be moved by an actuator 450, such as any of the actuators 450 described herein, e.g., it may be moved into the pour flow path 600 (e.g., conduit 180) when the bucket is removed from the main body and moved out when the bucket is reinserted into the main body.
The following is a description of a surface cleaning apparatus in which the member longitudinal axis 350 of a first stage 280 extends through the second stage 282. The second stage 282 may be partially or fully above the first stage 280 and/or partially or fully nested within the first stage 280. This aspect may be used by itself or in combination with one or more of the other aspects disclosed herein.
Arranging the first and second stages such that the member longitudinal axis 350 of the first stage 280 intersects the second stage 282 compacts the construction of a multi-stage air treatment assembly 200 and/or reduces back-pressure by straightening the air flow path 170. The second stage 282 may be outside the first stage 280 or nested fully or partially inside the first stage 280, such as fully or partially within the air treatment chamber 210 and/or air outlet 292 of the first stage 280.
As exemplified in
As exemplified, in some embodiments the first and/or second stage includes a single air treatment member 202 when the member longitudinal axis 350 of the first stage air treatment member 202 extends through the second stage air treatment member 202. In some embodiments, the second stage 282 overlies the first stage and/or is vertically above or directly above the first stage 280 when the surface cleaning apparatus 100 is in the in-use position.
Accordingly, the first stage may be a single air treatment chamber (a cyclone chamber or a non-cyclonic momentum separator chamber) and the second stage may be a single second stage air treatment chamber (optionally a cyclone). The second stage cyclone may be a multi-inlet cyclone and the multi-inlet cyclone may be inverted (i.e., the air inlet and the air outlet may be at a lower end thereof). Optionally, the longitudinal axis of the first stage (e.g., a cyclone axis of rotation) may extend through the second stage cyclone and optionally may be co-axial with the second stage multi-inlet cyclone.
The following is a description of an air treatment chamber 202 that includes a plurality of air inlets 290, and in which the air inlets 290 and an air outlet 290 are optionally located at a lower end of the air treatment chamber 202. The air treatment chamber 202 may be a cyclone. The air treatment chamber 202 may have a chamber longitudinal axis 350 (e.g., a cyclone axis of rotation) that extends generally vertically (e.g., parallel to the apparatus vertical axis 122 and an optional first stage cyclone axis of rotation). The air treatment chamber 202 may be part or all of the second stage 282. This aspect may be used by itself or in combination with one or more of the other aspects disclosed herein.
A multi-inlet cyclone is highly efficient for a small axial length, allowing a second stage cyclone to be used with a reduced axial length then would otherwise be required. An inverted cyclone, in which the inlet and outlet are at a lower end (e.g., relative to gravity) when the surface cleaning apparatus is in an in-use position, reduces the air flow path 170 length when the cyclone is at an upper end of the surface cleaning apparatus 100, e.g., above and optionally partially or fully overlying the first stage as exemplified.
The inverted cyclone may also or alternatively allow the dirt outlet 370 to be at an upper end of the cyclone, encouraging dirt to fall into a dirt collection chamber 382 that is laterally beside the cyclone rather than below the cyclone.
As discussed elsewhere herein, by providing an inverted second stage air treatment chamber, the portion of the air flow path leading to the inverted second stage air treatment chamber and from the inverted second stage air treatment chamber may be positioned between the first and second air treatment chambers. Further, one or both of the air flow path leading to the inverted second stage air treatment chamber and from the inverted second stage air treatment chamber may be opened when the lid 150 is opened.
The following is a description of an air treatment member having a lateral air outlet conduit. This aspect may be used by itself or in combination with one or more of the other aspects disclosed herein.
The air outlet 292 may extend through an end wall (e.g., lower wall) of the air treatment chamber 202 and then extend laterally, which may be in a radial direction or generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 350 of the air treatment chamber 202, to the outer perimeter 676 of the air treatment chamber 210 (see for example
Alternately part or all of a lateral air outlet may exit through an air treatment chamber sidewall 220. For example, as exemplified in
The laterally extending portion of the air outlet 292 may include a top or bottom end that is further axially (in the direction of axis 350) into the chamber 210 than the other of the top or bottom end, and at least the end further into the chamber 210 may be curved. As exemplified, the upper end 670 of the air outlet 292 is curved in the direction 674.
Optionally, all of the perimeter of the laterally extending portion of the lateral air outlet is curved (e.g., a circular or oval cross-sectional profile in a direction transverse to the axis 672 of the conduit), such as if the laterally extending conduit is vertically spaced (e.g., below) the air treatment chamber.
As exemplified in
Alternately, the air inlet may be at the upper end and the air outlet may be at the lower end. Accordingly, the laterally extending conduit of the air outlet 292 may be located between the lower wall of the second stage air treatment chamber and the upper wall of the first stage air treatment chamber. If the air moving member 400 is positioned laterally from the first or second d treatment stage, then the air treated by the second treatment stage may have to travel laterally to the air moving member 400, e.g., if the second stage is above the first stage. Accordingly, as discussed elsewhere herein, the laterally extending conduit of the air outlet 292 may travel through a region containing other conduits or an air treatment region and thereby reduce the height of the apparatus.
The laterally extending portion of the air outlet 292 may have an axis 672 that extends generally perpendicular to the member axis 350.
Alternately, a portion of the air outlet that extends laterally may be is curved (e.g., rounded) in a direction 674 perpendicular to the air treatment chamber axis 350.
The following is a description of an air treatment chamber air outlet extending between air treatment chamber air inlets. This aspect may be used by itself or in combination with one or more of the other aspects disclosed herein.
For example, as exemplified in
Optionally, the plurality of inlets may be spaced around the cyclone chamber except for a location (sector). The laterally extending portion of the air outlet 292 may be located at that sector and positioned between two of the air inlets.
It will be appreciated that the inlets and the laterally extending outlet conduit may be coextensive, i.e., their upper ends may be at the same elevation and the lower ends may be at the same elevation). Accordingly, a horizontal plane may intersect the vertical centre of the air inlets and the laterally extending portion of the air outlet 292. Alternately, the inlets and the laterally extending outlet conduit may be partially coextensive, i.e., the inlets and the laterally extending outlet conduit may be vertically offset so that a horizontal plane may intersect the air inlets and the laterally extending portion of the air outlet 292 but not the vertical centre of each. Alternately, the inlets and the laterally extending outlet conduit may not be coextensive, i.e., the inlets and the laterally extending outlet conduit may be vertically offset so that a horizontal plane will not intersect the air inlets and the laterally extending portion of the air outlet 292.
The following is a description of a dirt collection region 230 that is partially, e.g., semi-annular, in shape. The partially annularly shaped region may be a dirt collection chamber 382 exterior to an air treatment chamber 210 and in communication with the air treatment chamber 210 via a dirt outlet 370. The partially annularly shaped region may be a dirt collection chamber 382 may be positioned adjacent the air treatment chamber or abutting the air treatment chamber (e.g., the inner wall of the dirt collection chamber may be the outer wall of the air treatment chamber). This aspect may be used by itself or in combination with one or more of the other aspects disclosed herein.
A partially annular collection region 230 can be arranged around a portion of an outside perimeter of an air treatment chamber 210. For example, the air treatment chamber 210 may be a cylindrical chamber, and the dirt collection region 230 may surround the air treatment chamber on multiple sides without encircling the air treatment chamber entirely. Accordingly, if the air treatment chamber and the dirt collection chamber abut, then a portion of the air treatment chamber sidewall 220 may form a wall of the dirt collection region 230 while at least one other portion of the air treatment chamber sidewall 220 does not form a wall of the dirt collection region. The uncovered portion of the air treatment chamber (e.g., uncovered portion of the member sidewall 220) is available for other uses, such as having one or more air inlets and/or an air outlet as discussed elsewhere herein.
As exemplified in
It will be appreciated that the air treatment chamber 202 may also or alternatively include another laterally extending or laterally adjacent feature, such as a laterally extending member air inlet 290 or a laterally adjacent chamber, external wall, or component (e.g., a motor). The dirt collection region 230 is unobstructed by the laterally extending or adjacent feature.
For example, in the embodiment of
As exemplified in
In the embodiment of
Providing a partially annular second stage dirt collection chamber may enable to the second stage dirt collection region, or a portion thereof, to overlie the first stage dirt collection region and/or a ramp of downwardly extending path that leads to the first stage dirt collection region so that the a door may be openable to empty dirt into the first stage dirt collection region.
It will be appreciated that the partially annular second stage dirt collection region may alternately or in addition, be located between two second stage air inlets or a second stage air inlet and a second stage air outlet.
Accordingly, the volume between the upper end of a first stage air treatment chamber and the lower end of a second stage air treatment chamber may accommodate all or a part of the air flow passage from the first stage air treatment chamber to the second stage air treatment chamber, all or a part of the flow path from the second stage air treatment chamber to the pre-motor filter and/or fan and motor assembly air inlet and/or part or all of the second stage dirt collection chamber or a passage from the second stage dirt collection chamber to the first stage dirt collection region.
The following is a description of a dirt outlet 370 between a dirt collection chamber 382 and an air treatment chamber 210 having an angled wall. The angled wall may be angled downwardly. This aspect may be used by itself or in combination with one or more of the other aspects disclosed herein.
An angled dirt outlet directs dirt into the dirt collection region 230 and may inhibit dirt from re-entering the first collection chamber. For example, as exemplified in
As exemplified, the angled wall 684 may be a wall closest to an end of the air treatment chamber 210 (e.g., the upper end of cyclone, as exemplified). The angled wall 684 may be angled downwardly in the flow direction of dirt, with a first end (inlet end) of the angled wall 684 which is closer to the air treatment chamber 210 being closer to the nearest (e.g., upper) end wall of the chamber 210 than a second (outlet) end of the angled wall 684 opposite the first end.
The angled wall 684 may extend at a generally constant angle along the length 686 of the passageway 688 of the dirt outlet 370. However, it will be appreciated that the angled wall 684 may alternatively be curved along the length of the passageway 688.
It will be appreciated that the angled dirt outlet may be the gap defining the dirt outlet in the sidewall 220. Alternately, the angled dirt outlet may be part of a downwardly extending passage (e.g., ramp) leading to a second stage dirt collection chamber as exemplified in
The following is a description of a surface cleaning apparatus 100 with a plurality of discrete dirt collection regions, at least one of which is selectively emptiable into another. This aspect may be used by itself or in combination with one or more of the other aspects disclosed herein.
Emptying one dirt collection region into another simplifies emptying by gathering dirt in a reduced number of regions. A reduced number of dirt collection regions need be accessed to empty dirt. The dirt collection regions themselves can be placed in more optimal positions relative to the air treatment member(s) of the air treatment assembly 200.
As exemplified in
Accordingly, the first and second dirt collection regions may be in different parts of the surface cleaning apparatus 100 wherein only the first dirt collection region is removable for emptying. For example, the second stage dirt collection region 230 may be in the apparatus lid 150 and the first stage dirt collection region may be the bucket 206.
In some embodiments, when the apparatus is in the in-use position, the first dirt collection region 230 is at a lower elevation relative to gravity than the second dirt collection region 230. Dirt may move from the second collection region to the first collection region due to the force of gravity (i.e., without an actuator driving dirt movement). However, it will be appreciated that the apparatus may include an actuator driving dirt movement, such as a motor operating a wiper to push dirt out of the first dirt collection region or a vibration or agitation member.
As exemplified, the selectively openable door 690 may open directly into the first collection region. The selectively openable door 690 may open directly from the second collection region (e.g., it may be part of a wall or floor of the second dirt collection region. However, it will be appreciated that the surface cleaning apparatus may include a transfer passageway upstream or downstream of the selectively openable door 690.
The selectively openable door 690 may be opened and/or closed in any suitable way, such as manually or automatically. Any of the actuators 450 described herein may be used to open and/or close the door 690.
Opening and/or closing of the selectively openable door 690 may be triggered in any suitable way. In some embodiments, opening and/or closing of the door 690 is triggered by one or more of turning the air moving member 400 on, turning the air moving member 400 off, removing the air treatment assembly 200 or a part thereof, reattaching the air treatment assembly 200 or a part thereof, release a lock or latch holding the air treatment assembly 200 or a part thereof to the main body housing 132, fasten a lock or latch holding the air treatment assembly 200 or a part thereof to the main body housing 132, by air pressure within one of the dirt collection regions reaching a predetermined level, and/or by air pressure within one of the dirt collection regions dropping below a predetermined level.
As exemplified in
The following is a description of a selectively openable door 690 that, when open, enables dirt in a first dirt collection region 230a to be emptied to a second dirt collection region 230b and optionally when the second dirt collection region 230b is opened. As the second dirt collection region 230b is opened, the first dirt collection region 230a may be emptied into the second dirt collection region, e.g., dirt may pass through the second collection region and be emptied concurrently with dirt that was collected in the second dirt collection region. This aspect may be used by itself or in combination with one or more of the other aspects disclosed herein.
As exemplified in
The door 690 is moveably mounted between a closed position (
The door 690 may be unbiased so as to be free to move between the open and closed positions, e.g., such that it moves freely between the open and closed positions under the influence of, e.g., gravity. Accordingly, the door 690 may rotate open under the influence of gravity when, e.g., the second dirt collection region 230b is opened. The door 690 may also be rotated back to the closed position when, e.g., the second dirt collection region 230b is closed, such as by being moved along a cam surface. Alternately, the door 690 may be biased in one direction.
As exemplified, the door 690 may be at a lower end of an openable component 693 (e.g., the lid 150) of the surface cleaning apparatus 100. The door 690 may form part of a bottom surface of the lid 150. The openable component 693, such as lid 150, may be at the upper end 116 of the surface cleaning apparatus 100.
The openable component 693, such as lid 150 may be openable in an upward direction, i.e., along a vector that includes a component directed upwards (i.e., from the lower end 118 towards the upper end 116) parallel to the vertical axis 122. For example, the lid 150 may be lifted vertically upwardly or rotated about a horizontal axis so as to extend, e.g., generally vertically. As the openable component 693 is opened, the door 690 may be moved under the influence of gravity to the open position. When the door is closed, the door may encounter a cam member that moves the door to the closed position.
As exemplified, the door 690 may be driven closed by being driven against a seat 930 when the openable component 693 is closed. The seat 930 is provided on a portion of the surface cleaning apparatus 100 and an outer surface of the door 90 may abut against the seat 930 when the openable component 693 is closed. Accordingly, the seat 930 may be shaped as a cam surface so that, as the openable component 693 is moved from an open position to a closed position, e.g., it is rotated from an open position to a closed position, the door 690 may travel along the cam surface and be moved to the closed position. As exemplified, the seat 930 may be provided on a wall of a chamber in which the second dirt collection region 230b is formed. The seat 930 may hold the door 690 closed when the lid is closed. The seat 930 may define a fixed position relative to one or both of the discrete dirt collection regions 230a, 230b between which the door 690 governs communication, and door 690 may be moved to a closed position as it moves towards the fixed position.
As the dirt collection chamber 230b is opened (e.g., lid 150 is opened), the door 690 is moved, e.g., lifted, away from the seat 930 and opens to allow dirt to move from the first dirt collection region 230a to the second dirt collection region 230b. The second dirt collection region 230b may then be, e.g., removed for emptying. The door 690 is forced closed when the second dirt collection region 230b is in an operational configuration in which the second dirt collection region 230b is closed to permit use of the surface cleaning apparatus 100.
The following is a description of a dirt collection region wherein a portion of the dirt collection region, which is rotatable between an in-use position and an emptying position, has a sidewall that is shaped to encourage dirt to fall off the wall when the portion of the dirt collection region is in the emptying position. The sidewall may form an inner surface that extends outwardly and downwardly (e.g., downward facing) when in the portion of the dirt collection region is in the in-use position. This aspect may be used by itself or in combination with one or more of the other aspects disclosed herein.
As exemplified in
The dirt collection chamber 382 has a top end and a bottom end opposite the top end with a dumping opening in the bottom end. The dirt collection chamber 382 includes a sidewall 940 forming an inner surface 942 of the dirt collection chamber 382. The lateral wall 940 is a lateral side of the dirt collection region 230 when the upper end 116 of the surface cleaning apparatus 100 is above the lower end 118 of the surface cleaning apparatus 100 and the surface cleaning apparatus 100 is in an operational configuration with the air flow path 170 closed for a surface cleaning operation (i.e., the in-use position, as exemplified in
The sidewall 940 is the lateral wall nearest to the axis 252 about which the dirt collection chamber 382 rotates between the in-use position (
As exemplified, the sidewall 940 may have a non-linear slope between an upper end 948 and a lower end 950. The inner surface 942 may have a smoothly varying surface between an upper end 948 and a lower end 950. The inner surface 942 may be concave as exemplified. A concave surface may especially encourage debris near the upper end of the dirt collection region to move along the inner surface 942. However, it will be appreciated that any suitable slope for encouraging debris movement over the surface when the inner surface 942 is rotated may be used. In some examples, the slope may be a linear slope between the upper end 948 and the lower end 950, for example the inner surface 942 may be a generally planar surface. The inner surface 942 may be formed of a plurality of angled planar surfaces meeting at edges thereof.
When the dirt collection chamber 382 is in the in-use position one or more portions of the inner surface 942 may be angled downwardly from the horizontal by an angle 952 of between 100° and 170°, between 120° and 160°, or about 135°.
The following is a description of a dirt collection chamber having an expansion zone that is located above a sloped floor that extends outwardly from at dirt outlet of an air treatment chamber. The expansion zone is formed by a step between the dirt outlet and a sloped floor leading to, or that is part of, the dirt collection chamber. This aspect may be used by itself or in combination with one or more of the other aspects disclosed herein.
As discussed previously, the dirt collection chamber may include a sloped floor, e.g., directing dirt towards a dumping opening to another dirt collection region. The sloped floor is angled downwardly and outwardly away from the dirt outlet. In accordance with this aspect, a step is provided between the dirt outlet and the sloped floor. The step may result in a more immediate loss of momentum at the dirt outlet than would result if the sloped floor extended outwardly from the lower edge of the dirt outlet.
As exemplified in
The step 962 has a vertical height between an upper end 966 that is located at the bottom edge of the dirt outlet and a lower end 968. The step 962 may have a height 970 of between 1 mm and 20 mm, between 2 mm and 15 mm, or about 5 mm. While exemplified as extending vertically, the step may be at a small angle (e.g., up to 15° to the vertical).
When the surface cleaning apparatus 100 is in the in-use position, the upper end 972 of the sloped floor 960 may start at the same elevation along the vertical axis 122 as the lower end 968 of the step 962 and/or may start at (i.e., directly connected to) the lower end 968 of the step 962. In addition, or as an alternative to, a fixed floor, the sloped floor may be formed by a selectively openable door when the door is in an open position, e.g., by selectively openable door 690 when the door 690 is in the open position.
As exemplified, the sloped floor 960 is sloped relative to the dirt travel direction 964 and/or the axis of rotation 350 of the adjacent air treatment chamber. The sloped floor 960 may be linearly sloped as exemplified, and may be a generally planar floor. Although it will be appreciated that other sloped floors may be used, with any slope (planar or curved) suitable for encouraging dirt to move over the floor. An upper surface of the sloped floor may form an angle of at least 10°, at least 20°, or at least 30° from the horizontal when the apparatus in the in-use position (e.g., the apparatus upper end 116 is above the apparatus lower end 118 and the surface cleaning apparatus 100 is closed and in an operational configuration as exemplified in
The following is a description of a laterally spaced arrangement. An air treatment member 202 of the first stage 280, a member axis 350 thereof, and/or an axial projection thereof is fully or partially laterally spaced from a laterally spaced component 700 of the surface cleaning apparatus. The laterally spaced component may be, e.g., the air moving member 400, a pre-moving member filter 420, and/or a second stage air treatment member 202. A horizontal plane and/or a plane extending generally perpendicular to the member axis 350 may intersect the first stage air treatment member 202 and one or more of the laterally spaced component. This aspect may be used by itself or in combination with one or more of the other aspects disclosed herein.
One or more laterally spaced components may be arranged fully or partially to one lateral side of the first stage air treatment member 202 or an axis or projection thereof, e.g., rather than being directly over or under the first stage air treatment member 202. A laterally spaced arrangement reduces the axial height of the surface cleaning apparatus and/or lowers the centre of gravity of the surface cleaning apparatus 100. A lateral spacing may be a spacing in a generally horizontal plane when the surface cleaning apparatus 100 is placed on a floor. In some examples a laterally spaced component may also be partially or fully spaced in a plane that extends generally perpendicular to the apparatus vertical axis 122.
As exemplified by the pre-motor filter and the air moving member 400 in
Alternatively, the laterally spaced component 700 may be laterally spaced from the axis 350 of the first stage air treatment chamber 202 but not a projection of the first stage air treatment chamber 202 along the axis 350 thereof. For example, the part or all of the laterally spaced component 700 may extend within a projection of the air treatment chamber along the member axis while remaining spaced from the axis 350 itself.
Additionally, or alternatively, part or all of a laterally spaced component 700 may be within a projection of the first stage air treatment chamber along the axis 350 and the axis 350 of the first stage air treatment member 202 may extend through the laterally spaced component 700 but not a central portion thereof.
In any case, the laterally spaced component 700 may be partially or fully vertically spaced from the first stage air treatment chamber 202. Accordingly, the first stage air treatment member 202 and the laterally spaced component 700 may each be intersected by a common horizontal plane 702, as exemplified in
Additionally, or alternatively, the center of gravity of the laterally spaced component 700 may be laterally spaced from the centre of gravity of the air moving member 400 or a vertical (e.g., generally parallel to the apparatus vertical axis 122) projection thereof.
As exemplified, the laterally spaced component (e.g., the air moving member 400) may be forward of the cyclone air treatment assembly 200. The first stage air treatment member 202 may be generally located at the apparatus rear end 114 and the laterally spaced component may be located generally at the apparatus front end 112.
In some embodiments, the laterally spaced component 700 is or includes the air moving member 400. In some embodiments, the laterally spaced component 700 is or includes the pre-moving member filter 420.
As exemplified, the carry handle 134 may be an elongated handle overlying the air treatment assembly 200 and the laterally spaced component 700. The carry handle 134 may extend generally horizontally. An elongated handle 134 allows a user to shift their grip along the handle as the centre of gravity of the surface cleaning apparatus shifts. The laterally spaced component 700 may be heavier than an empty first stage air treatment member 202 or may include a plurality of components that are together heavier than an empty first stage air treatment member 202. The first stage air treatment member 202 may include at least one dirt collection region, and as the first stage air treatment member 202 removes dirt or liquid, the center of gravity of the surface cleaning apparatus may shift from the first stage air treatment member 202 towards the laterally spaced component 700. The carry handle 134 may include a hand grip portion 136 with a length 704 (
As exemplified in
Vertical Stacking with the Air Moving Member
The following is a description of vertically spacing one or more vertically spaced components 710 from the air moving member 400. The vertically spaced component 710 may be or include a second stage air treatment member 202 and/or a pre-moving member filter 420. This aspect may be used by itself or in combination with one or more of the other aspects disclosed herein.
A vertical spacing may be a spacing in a generally vertical plane when the surface cleaning apparatus 100 is on a floor or in an in-use cleaning orientation. Accordingly, a vertical spacing may be a spacing in a plane that extends generally parallel to the apparatus vertical axis 122.
Arranging one or more vertically spaced components above or below the air moving member 400 increases the total vertical length of the air moving member and the vertically spaced component(s). Arranging one or more vertically spaced components above or below the air moving member 400 may bring the total vertical length of the air moving member and the vertically spaced component(s) closer to the vertical length (height) of a laterally spaced portion of the surface cleaning apparatus 100 (e.g., the first stage 280 of the surface cleaning apparatus 100).
The air moving member 400 may be vertically spaced from (e.g., below) a second stage air treatment member 202. Optionally, in such a case, the second stage air treatment member 202 may have a vertical height that is less than the vertical height of another air treatment member of the surface cleaning apparatus 100 (e.g., the first stage air treatment chamber 202).
As exemplified in
As exemplified in
It will be appreciated that the vertically spaced components may be vertically aligned. For example, a vertical axis may extend through a centre of two or more of the vertically spaced components. Accordingly, the motor axis of rotation may extend through a centre of two or more of the vertically spaced components (e.g., if a single second stage cyclone is provided, then the motor axis may be co-axial with the axis of rotation of the single second stage cyclone). Alternately a projection of the air moving member 400 may extend through two or more of the vertically spaced components and the motor axis may also extend through two or more of the vertically spaced components.
The following is a description of a surface cleaning apparatus 100 comprising a plurality of apparatus lids 150. The apparatus lids 150 may be independently openable from one another. This aspect may be used by itself or in combination with one or more of the other aspects disclosed herein.
Independently openable lids allows one internal area of the surface cleaning apparatus 100 to be accessed while another is kept closed. For example, the pre-moving member filter 420 may be accessed without opening a dirt collection region 230 of the first stage 280.
As exemplified in
The lid covering the first stage dirt collection region 230 may be separately openable from the lid covering the pre-moving member filter 420. The lid covering the first stage dirt collection region 230 may be openable without uncovering the pre-moving member filter 420 and/or the associated filter housing 442. The lid covering the pre-moving member filter may be openable without opening the first stage dirt collection region 230. It will be appreciated that, optionally, the lids may be concurrently openable.
In some embodiments, an apparatus lid 150 in a closed configuration abuts another apparatus lid 150 in a closed configuration. The air flow path 170 may be defined in whole or in part by the apparatus lids. For example, the lids may define an upper portion, e.g., an upper wall, of an air flow path and the air flow path is opened when one or both lids is opened. Alternately, a conduit may extend through the lids and when a lid is opened, and end of a conduit is exposed.
In some embodiments, one apparatus lid 150 opens in a generally opposite direction from another apparatus lid 150. In some embodiments, one apparatus lid 150 opens generally rearwardly and another apparatus lid 150 opens generally forwardly, as exemplified. Alternately, they may open in alternate lateral directions.
As discussed elsewhere herein, one of the lids may be openable to a drip position.
The following is a description of a rib 720 provided in the air treatment assembly 200. This aspect may be used by itself or in combination with one or more of the other aspects disclosed herein.
The rib 720 may be provided in an air treatment chamber 210 (e.g., a cyclone chamber). The rib 720 disrupts airflow within the chamber, and may encourage dirt accumulation adjacent the rib 720. Accordingly, the rib maybe provided in a dirt collection region. For example, if the dirt collection region is a lower end of an air treatment chamber, such as a cyclone or non-cyclonic momentum separator, the rib may be located on the lower wall of the air treatment chamber and/or a lower portion of the sidewall of the air treatment chamber (e.g., below a fill line).
As exemplified in
It will be appreciated that the rib 720 may be provided in any suitable location. The rib 720 may be provided at a lower end of a first stage air treatment chamber (e.g., the lower end of the bucket 206). As exemplified in
The rib 720 may be joined to one or more walls of the chamber. For example, a rib 720 may be secured only to an end (e.g., lower) wall of an air treatment chamber 210. The rib may also or alternatively be secured to the sidewall 220. The rib 720 may be secured to both an end wall (e.g., the lower end wall 222) and the sidewall 220. As exemplified in
The rib may extend along part or all of a sidewall and/or an end wall. For example, rib 720 may extend along all of a lower wall and have opposed ends that are each secured to the sidewall (e.g., extending across the chamber along the end wall).
A rib 720 may extend upwardly within the chamber 210 to a predetermined minimum distance 722 (
One or more ribs may be provided. Optionally, a plurality of rib 720 are provided. The ribs may be discrete or interconnected. The plurality of rib 720 may be the same shape as one another or different shapes. For example, the plurality of rib 720 may be different lengths along the end wall. As exemplified in
A rib 720 may be a generally linearly body along a wall from which it projects, as exemplified. However, it will be appreciated that a rib arrestor 720 may be curved along the wall from which it projects.
As exemplified in
As exemplified in
The following is a description of a removeable wall on a surface of which are formed a plurality of ribs. This aspect may be used by itself or in combination with one or more of the other aspects disclosed herein.
A removeable ribbed wall allows a chamber to be reconfigured between a first configuration (in which the wall is in the chamber) and a second configuration (in which the wall is removed from the chamber), such as a configuration in which a chamber includes ribs and a configuration in which the chamber does not include ribs (i.e., if no other wall of the chamber includes ribs). A removeable ribbed wall may be removeable for cleaning. In addition, as discussed elsewhere herein the ribbed wall may be insertable to provide vacuum flow channels to secure a bag in position when a bag is installed in the air treatment chamber.
As exemplified in
As exemplified, the removeable wall 740 may form a plurality of channels 730 between ribs, and the channels 730 may extend across a lower end of the chamber when the wall is in the chamber 210. The lower end of the chamber may be unribbed when the removeable wall 740 is removed (
As exemplified in
The following is a description of a removeable, optionally non-porous, bag 750 for an air treatment chamber 210. The bag 750 may be a plastic garbage bag, and may line a dirt collection region, which may be an air treatment chamber. The bag 750 may be removably received in the first stage air treatment chamber 210. This aspect may be used by itself or in combination with one or more of the other aspects disclosed herein.
A bag collects dirt and, if non-porous, or liquid to be disposed of. The bag is optionally positionable in the air treatment assembly to collect dirt or liquid during operation of the surface cleaning apparatus. The bag lines a dirt collection region and may be arranged in an air treatment chamber. Arranging a removeable bag 750 in the air treatment member 202 frees a user from emptying the air treatment member 202 into an external bag. A user is able to remove the bag 750 from the air treatment member 202 and dispose of the bag. It will be appreciated that a user may only install a bag during some cleaning operations and not others. Accordingly, as discussed elsewhere herein, a user may elect to use a bag sometimes and not at other times.
As exemplified in
The member air inlet 290 is configured or positioned so that the bag 750 may be installed in the air treatment chamber 210 without the member air inlet 290 extending through the bag 750. As exemplified in
Accordingly, the air inlet(s) and air outlet(s) may be in the openable lid. Accordingly, the air inlet may be through a sidewall of the openable lid (e.g., it may be a tangential air inlet for a cyclone) and the air outlet may be through the upper end wall of the lid (e.g., a vortex finder). As exemplified in
It will be appreciated that a removable bag may be positionable in any number of stages. For example, one or more first stage air treatment member, one or more second stage air treatment member, or one or more member from each of the first stage and the second stage may each receive a removeable bag. In some embodiments, only one stage receives a removeable bag. As exemplified, in some embodiments the bag is received in the first stage. The first stage may remove larger and/or more dirt and/or water and so the bag may be used to collect that dirt. In some embodiments, a dirt collection region of a stage without a bag empties into the dirt collection region of a stage with a bag (e.g., the bag in one stage is used to collect dirt from more than one stage).
The apparatus lid 150 may be opened to provide access to the chamber for the installation of the bag 750. The rim 754 of the bag 750 at the open end 752 may optionally be held between the apparatus lid 150 and another wall of the air treatment chamber 210 (e.g., the sidewall 220) when the apparatus lid 150 is closed over the bag installed in the chamber. In some embodiments, the air treatment assembly or a part thereof (e.g., the bucket) can be removed from the main body housing with the bag contained in the removable member, and optionally the removeable member may be removed with the chamber closed (i.e., the bag contained in a closed container).
It will be appreciated that various member air inlet configurations may be used. The member air inlet 290 may include a guide conduit 310 extending below the lid 150 or the lid may form a cavity 758 into which the member air inlet 290 opens.
As exemplified in
As exemplified in
It will be appreciated that the inlet profile 766 in transverse plane 768 may have any suitable shape. The inlet profile 766 may be circular (as exemplified in
As exemplified in
It will also be appreciated that the sidewall may be angled inwardly and need not have a share bend as exemplified in
It will also be appreciated that the wider portion of the chamber may be the region which receives dirt from an openable second stage dirt collection chamber as discussed elsewhere herein. Accordingly, the first stage air treatment chamber may have a wider portion that is positioned to underlie an openable door from the second stage dirt collection region.
The following is a description of a retainer to hold the bag in place lining the air treatment chamber while the air flow path 170 is active (i.e., while the air-moving member 400 is moving air through the air flow path 170, e.g., during a cleaning operation). This aspect may be used by itself or in combination with one or more of the other aspects disclosed herein.
The bag 750 may be arranged in a chamber in which air is moving or circulating when the air flow path 170 is active. Where the chamber is a cyclone chamber, the air may be circling the chamber. Negative air pressure is created at the member air outlet 292. Air flow and/or pressure characteristics may draw the bag 750 out of a position lining a wall or walls of the chamber, resulting in sub-optimal collection or airflow. A bag retainer 770 may be used to hold the bag in position.
It will be appreciated that the bag retainer 770 may be any suitable bag retainer. The bag retainer may be a mechanical retainer 770 (e.g.,
It will be appreciated that a bag retainer may optionally be used with a porous bag. A porous bag may also be affected by air movement or pressure differences, and a bag retainer may assist in holding the porous bag open and/or in place. The bag retainer may engage an inner surface of the bag (porous or non-porous) to hold the bag open and/or in place.
The following is a description of a mechanical bag retainer. This aspect may be used by itself or in combination with one or more of the other aspects disclosed herein.
A mechanical bag retainer 770 may be easy for a user to understand and work with. A mechanical member 772 contacts the bag 750 to restrain the movement of the bag 750. As exemplified in
A mechanical bag retainer 770 may be one or a plurality of bag engaging members 774. If a plurality of bag engaging members 774 are provided, then they may be spaced apart from one another.
A mechanical bag retainer 770 includes a bag retaining member 774 and a member to position the bag retaining member in position. Accordingly, as exemplified in
A bag engaging member 774 is any member which contacts a bag to secure the bag in position. The member 774 may be of various configurations and may contact the bag at a single location or multiple locations or may have a dimension such that it extends across a portion of the interior of the bag. As exemplified in
As exemplified in
A mechanical bag retainer 770 may be a separate element that is positioned in the bag and then retained in place when the air treatment chamber is closed, e.g., the lid 150 is closed. Alternately, the mechanical bag retainer 770 may be rigidly or moveably connected to another portion of the apparatus, such as the openable portion. Accordingly, the mechanical bag retainer 770 may be removed or partially removed when the air treatment chamber is opened. Accordingly, for example, mechanical bag retainer 770 may be secured to, a lower side, of the lid 150. The bag retainer 770 may extend downwardly from the apparatus lid 150. Securing the bag retainer to the lid may allow the bag retainer 770 to be positioned within the air treatment chamber 210 as part of closing the apparatus lid 150 over the air treatment chamber 210. The mechanical bag retainer 770 may be rigidly fixed to the apparatus lid 150 such that the lid and retainer move as a single body. Accordingly, if the lid is lifted off, the bag retainer 770 is removed. It will be appreciated that, if the lid 150 is pivotally mounted, a flexible or rotatable mount may be used to connect the bag retainer to the lid whereby the lid maybe pivoted open with the bar retainer held in position. Alternately, bag retainer 770 may be releasably mounted to the apparatus lid 150. Accordingly, the bag retainer may then be moved out of the bag of disconnected from the lid and then removed from the bag.
As exemplified in
The following is a description of a pneumatic bag retainer. This aspect may be used by itself or in combination with one or more of the other aspects disclosed herein.
A pneumatic bag retainer 770 is easy to use and/or does not include a mechanical member extending through an open volume of an air treatment chamber 210, although a mechanical bag retainer may be used in conjunction with a pneumatic bag retainer.
As exemplified in
The vacuum airflow path may provide more than a single point of suction and therefore, as exemplified in
Each inlet 974 may be a point source of vacuum (e.g., on inlet port of a conduit. Alternately, an inlet 794 may be a channel that extends across a portion of the bag. Accordingly, when air is drawn through the channels, the bag is drawn against the channel. The bag may therefore form a wall of a channel to thereby essentially from a closed air flow path.
As exemplified in
As exemplified in
Optionally, as exemplified in
The downstream end of the vacuum flow path may have one or more vacuum outlets 794 that are pneumatically connected to the same air moving member 400 which moves air in the main air flow path 170. Optionally, the vacuum outlet 794 may terminate at a portion of the main air flow path 170 that is optionally upstream of the air moving member 400. The vacuum outlet 794 may be in a member air outlet 292 (e.g., first or second stage), a member air inlet 290 (e.g., first or second stage), the apparatus inlet conduit 180, the partially treated airflow path 570, the pre-moving member filter housing 442, a post-moving member filter housing 442, and/or a moving member housing 410. The outlet 794 may be downstream of one or more second stage air treatment members 202 or a filter 420, such as a pre-moving member filter 420. The outlet 794 may be downstream of the filter so that as the filter collects dirt and air flow characteristics of an air stream upstream of the filter change, the force drawings air into the inlets 792 will not be affected or not as affected.
It will be appreciated that there may be more than one vacuum outlet 794, and the vacuum outlets 794 may open into different portions of the main air flow path 170. Multiple vacuum outlets 794 may allow for a more regular airflow through the vacuum airflow path 660 throughout a cleaning operation.
It will also be appreciated that the vacuum outlet 794 may optionally be in an exterior surface of the surface cleaning apparatus 100, such as if the vacuum airflow path 660 is isolated from the main airflow path 170. In some embodiments, the surface cleaning apparatus 100 includes only a single air moving member 400. However, it will be appreciated that in some embodiments the surface cleaning apparatus 100 may include separate air moving members for different air flow paths.
Accordingly, the vacuum air flow path may have its' own suction motor or, alternately, if a motor and fan assembly is provided in a cooling air flow path as described elsewhere herein, then that motor and fan assembly may provide the suction for vacuum air flow path 660.
The vacuum airflow path 660 may include a middle portion 810 between the vacuum inlet 792 and vacuum outlet 794 which is generally vertical and/or generally parallel to the member sidewall 220. The middle portion 810 may extend along and/or generally parallel to the member sidewall 220.
As exemplified in
Optionally, a filter 420 is received in the vacuum airflow path 660. The filter 420 in the vacuum airflow path 660 may remove dirt that would otherwise be introduced back into the main air flow path 170 downstream of one or more air treatment members 202.
The following is a description of automatic control over the vacuum airflow path 660. The vacuum airflow path 660 may be automatically opened and/or closed in response to one or more events. The vacuum airflow path 660 may be automatically opened and/or closed in response to installation and/or removal of a bag 750 from a chamber at the inlet end of the vacuum airflow path 660. This aspect may be used by itself or in combination with one or more of the other aspects disclosed herein.
Optionally, the vacuum airflow path 660 is closed when no bag is installed to prevent dirt or liquid from being drawn through the vacuum airflow path 660. Dirt or liquid drawn through the vacuum airflow path 660 may bypass one or more air treatment members and/or filters. For example, the vacuum airflow path 660 may be manually opened and closed by a user, such as by sliding a plug in or out of the path (e.g., via moving a lever that extends to an exterior of the surface cleaning apparatus 100). Alternately, the vacuum airflow path 660 may also, or alternatively, be automatically opened and/or closed in response to a bag being installed, removed, detected, or not detected. In some embodiments, an automatic mechanism may be overridden by a parallel manual mechanism. An automatically opened and/or closed vacuum airflow path responsive to whether a bag is in position may be referred to as a bag detect vacuum line.
Any of the actuators 450 and/or operated devices 452 disclosed herein may be used. For example, the operated device 452 may include a valve, including any valve described herein.
As exemplified in
It will also be appreciated that a detect sensor, such as a hall effect sensor or optical sensor as discussed elsewhere herein, may be used to open and close path 660 (e.g., by moving a valve or door).
Alternately, an on/off control may have a first on position (bag present) and a second on position (bag not present) and the path 660 is open if a user selects the first on position and the path 660 is closed if a user selects the second on position. If the actuator is a manually moveable button (e.g., a slide control), then the position of the button may manually of electromechanically open and close the valve. If the actuator is on a touch screen, then the actuator may send an electrical signal that drives an electromechanical member to open and close the path 660.
Also, or alternatively, as exemplified in
For example, a piston may have one side in communication with an air flow path. When the apparatus is actuated, a vacuum drawn by the movement of air in the air flow path may cause the piston to move in one direction and, when air flow terminates, a biasing member may drive the piston in the other direction. Movement of the piston in one direction, e.g., due to air flow, may open the path 660 and movement in the other direction, e.g., when air flow terminates, may drive the piston in the other direction.
Alternately, each end of the piston may be exposed to air flow. As exemplified in
Optionally, the vacuum airflow path 660 and the bag detect path 662 are adjacent one another.
The following is a description of a vacuum air flow path port shielded to prevent the bag from obstructing the port. The port opens through a wall of the air treatment chamber, such as through a wall of the bucket 206. The port may be shielded by one or more projecting members or a porous member such as a screen. This aspect may be used by itself or in combination with one or more of the other aspects disclosed herein.
The vacuum airflow path 660 is provided to hold a bag in position lining a chamber, and the path 660 includes a vacuum port 980 through a wall of the chamber. As exemplified in
The shield 982 may be any member that will inhibit the bag from blocking part or all of the port 980. Accordingly, the shield 982 may include a member extending outwardly from an upper end of the vacuum airflow path 660 at port 980. Alternately, the shield 982 may overlie the port 980, such as an open frame member that extends outwardly from the port 980. The frame member may be open or partially or fully covered by a screen or other porous member. For example, the shield 982 may include a rib portion 984 and/or a screen 800 (e.g., a wire mesh screen). Optionally, the shield 982 may be a mesh or screen 800 that is provided in port 980.
The following is a description of a filter 420 nested in an air treatment chamber 210. The filter 420 may be received directly in the air treatment chamber 210 or in a filter chamber 442 that is received in the air treatment chamber 210. The air treatment chamber 210 in which the filter 420 is nested may be a second stage air treatment chamber 210. This aspect may be used by itself or in combination with one or more of the other aspects disclosed herein.
Arranging a filter 420 nested in an air treatment chamber 210 compacts the surface cleaning apparatus. The filter 420 may be directly received in the air treatment chamber, wherein the air treatment chamber may form a filter chamber around the filter, effectively reducing the number of chambers in the surface cleaning apparatus. Alternatively, the filter 420 may be received in a filter chamber 442 that is nested in the air treatment chamber 210. The air treatment chamber may include an open volume in addition to the nested filter 420 and/or filter housing 442.
As exemplified in
The filter 420 may be received in a member air outlet 292 of the air treatment member 202. A dirt collection region 230 may be formed within the air treatment chamber against a wall from which the air impermeable portion extends, e.g., axially outward of an air impermeable portion 342 of the member air outlet 292. The member air outlet 292 may exit out of a bottom end of the chamber, as exemplified. The air impermeable portion 342 may reduce air flow within the dirt collection region 230 within the chamber 210.
As exemplified in
The annular plate or flange 830 may extend into the chamber from a sidewall of the chamber and/or from a wall of the member air outlet 292. As exemplified, the annular plate or flange 830 may be a rib extending outwardly from a wall of the chamber and/or a member air outlet 292, such as the sidewall 220 or the air impermeable portion 342 of the member air outlet 292. In embodiments in which the annular plate or flange 830 extends from the member air outlet 292, the annular plate or flange 830 may extend out from an interface 832 between the air permeable portion 346 and the air impermeable portion 342, as exemplified in
The following is a description of a screen cleaner 850 operable to clean the screen of a member air outlet. This aspect may be used by itself or in combination with one or more of the other aspects disclosed herein.
Dirt may accumulate on the screen of a member air outlet 292, obstructing air flow through the screen. Cleaning the screen 344 allows for increased air flow through the screen.
It will be appreciated that the screen cleaner 850 may be a manual or automatic screen cleaner. The screen cleaner 850 may include any of the actuators 450 and/or operated devices 452 described herein. A screen cleaner 850 may be a pneumatic screen cleaner, a vibratory screen cleaner, an impact screen cleaner, a wiper screen cleaner, and/or a flexing screen cleaner. The screen cleaner may be actuated when the apparatus is turned off, then the air treatment chamber containing the screen is removed for emptying and/or when the air treatment chamber is opened.
As exemplified in
The air outlet 854 of the cleaner airflow path 852 of a pneumatic screen cleaner 850 forms a nozzle to direct a jet of air at the screen. The nozzle may be directed at a downstream surface of the screen (e.g., to blow through the screen to dislodge dirt on the outside). The nozzle may be directed at an upstream surface of the screen. A nozzle directed at the downstream surface of the screen may be directed generally parallel to the downstream surface to generate a jet to peel dirt off of the upstream surface. A nozzle directed at the upstream surface of the screen may be directed at the screen in a downward tangential angle as exemplified.
It will be appreciated that other screen cleaners may be used. For example, an actuator 450 may actuate a vibratory motor (the operated device 452) that is operatively coupled to the screen 344 whereby the screen 344 may be vibrated by the vibratory motor.
As another example, the surface cleaning apparatus 100 may include an impact member as an operated device 452, the impact member (e.g., a hammer) driven by an actuator against the screen 344 to knock dirt off the screen 344.
As another example, the apparatus 100 may include a wiper (e.g., a flexible wiper, such as a rubber wiper) as an operated device 452, the wiper operable to be moved across the screen 344 (e.g., an upstream surface of the screen 344) by an actuator 450 to wipe dirt off the screen 344.
As exemplified in
The following is a description of a surface cleaning apparatus 100 having an air moving member 400 located adjacent a user-accessed feature 860. The user-accessed feature 860 may be a dirty air inlet 172, water pour spout 590, and/or user interface 260. The air moving member and the user-accessed feature may be at a common end or side of the surface cleaning apparatus, and the common end or side may be the apparatus rear end 114. This aspect may be used by itself or in combination with one or more of the other aspects disclosed herein.
The air moving member 400 is generally the heaviest component of the surface cleaning apparatus 100, at least when the surface cleaning apparatus 100 is empty of debris and water. When carrying the surface cleaning apparatus 100, the user may grasp the surface cleaning apparatus 100 near the heaviest component and/or near the centre of gravity. Where the handle 134 is at a top end of the surface cleaning apparatus, the user may hold the handle at a location that is generally vertically axially in-line with (e.g., above) the centre of gravity of the surface cleaning apparatus. The user also has greater control over the movement of the end of the surface cleaning apparatus that is closest to the point at which the user grasps the surface cleaning apparatus. Accordingly, one or more components (i.e., user-accessed features 860) that require greater user control may be located adjacent (e.g., at the same end) as one or more heavy components (e.g., the air moving member 400).
As exemplified in
In some embodiments, the user accessed feature 860 includes or consists of the user interface 260 (
The first stage air treatment chamber 210 may be located on an opposite side or end of the surface cleaning apparatus 100 from the air moving member 400, the dirty air inlet 172, the user interface 260, and/or the pour spout 590. The first stage air treatment chamber 210 may be a relatively light component, at least when empty, and located opposite to further encourage a laterally shifted centre of gravity.
In some embodiments, as exemplified, a surface cleaning apparatus 100 having a water pour spout 590 on an end of the surface cleaning apparatus opposite the first stage air treatment chamber 210 includes at least two discrete handles.
The following is a description of an air treatment chamber that has a non-circular profile in a transverse plane. The non-circular air treatment chamber may be a first stage air treatment chamber. This aspect may be used by itself or in combination with one or more of the other aspects disclosed herein.
A non-circular air treatment chamber 210 provides space adjacent the laterally extending side of the air treatment chamber for additional components of the surface cleaning apparatus. As exemplified in
In some embodiments, as exemplified, the air moving member 400, pre-moving member filter 420, and/or subsequent air treatment member 202 is closer to the reduced-curvature wall portion than to any other wall portions and may be provided on that side of the air treatment member. Alternately, or in addition, accessory tools may be removably positionable on accessory tools mounts provided on that side of the air treatment member 202.
In some embodiments, the air treatment chamber 210 has radiuses of between 1 and 10 inches, between 2 and 6 inches, or about 4 inches. The radiused portions may be joined by planar portions or slightly convex shaped portions (e.g., the long side of an oval), which may be between 1 and 15 inches, between 2 and 10 inches, or about 4 inches and about 8 inches. Optionally, the air treatment chamber 210 has three radiused portions joined by two shorter portions and one longer portion to form a generally triangular shaped profile.
In accordance with this aspect, the width between the reduced curvature wall portions 874 (e.g., in the lateral side to side direction) of the air treatment member may be reduced thereby enabling the accessory tools and or a downstream component of the air flow path (e.g., one or more of a second stage air treatment member, a pre-motor filter and an air moving member) to be positioned on one or both of the lateral sides.
The following is a description of an air treatment chamber in which an external hose has a storage position in which the hose wraps around the surface cleaning apparatus. This aspect may be used by itself or in combination with one or more of the other aspects disclosed herein.
Wrapping the hose around the surface cleaning apparatus 100 provides for a convenient storage position. In some embodiments, the external conduit 160 includes a hose 160a, and the hose 160a is wrapped around the surface cleaning apparatus in a storage position while remaining in fluid flow communication with the dirty air inlet 172.
As exemplified in
Also, or alternatively, as exemplified in
Optionally, the hose may be wrapped around an upper part of the apparatus and, if an openable lid 150 is provided, the hose may be wrapped around the lid. Accordingly, if the lid 150 is pivoted open, then the hose will pivot with the lid 150 and may be moved out of the way thereby enabling a user to remove the first stage air treatment member more readily.
The following is a description of an air treatment chamber sized and shaped to receive an external hose and one or more accessory attachments within the chamber while the chamber is closed. This aspect may be used by itself or in combination with one or more of the other aspects disclosed herein.
When the surface cleaning apparatus is stored or shipped, it may be stored or shipped along with a cooperating external hose 160a and one or more accessory attachments 880 (e.g., floor cleaning head or crevice tool). The surface cleaning apparatus 100 may include an air treatment chamber 210 sized and shaped to hold the external hose 160a and one or more accessory attachments 880 within the chamber while the chamber is closed in a shipping or storage configuration, as exemplified in
The surface cleaning apparatus 100 may be prepared for storage or shipping by opening the air treatment chamber, inserting (optionally coiling) the hose within the chamber 210 and inserting the one or more accessory tools (on, below, and/or encircled by the hose), and closing the air treatment chamber 210 (e.g., closing the apparatus lid 150). The surface cleaning apparatus 100 may then be shipped, displayed, and/or stored.
The following is a description of a surface cleaning apparatus that is reconfigurable between a suction mode and a blowing mode. This aspect may be used by itself or in combination with one or more of the other aspects disclosed herein.
A surface cleaning apparatus 100 is operable to generate an air flow (e.g., via the air moving member 400). The air flow may be used to carry dirt into the surface cleaning apparatus (the suction mode). The air flow may also or attentively be directed as a blower output (the blowing mode). The surface cleaning apparatus may therefore be reconfigurable as a blower.
As exemplified in
As exemplified in
In some embodiments, as exemplified in
Alternatively, as exemplified in
The apparatus may have a clean air outlet that comprises a grill on a sidewall of the apparatus, as exemplified in
As exemplified in
When the downstream end 878 of an external conduit 160 (e.g., a rigid wand) is inserted into the horizontal duct 892 (the suction mode), then the downstream end 878 of an external conduit 160 may overlie the openings 892a, thereby essentially closing the openings 892a. Concurrently, the downstream end 878 of an external conduit 160 connects the right side of the duct 892r to the left side of the duct 892l, thereby forming a continuous inlet duct.
Similarly, when the downstream end 878 of an external conduit 160 is inserted into the vertical duct 892 (the blowing mode), then the downstream end 878 of an external conduit 160 may overlie the openings 892b, thereby essentially closing the openings 892b. Concurrently, the downstream end 878 of an external conduit 160 connects the downward or lower side of the duct 892d to the upper side of the duct 892u, thereby forming a continuous outlet duct.
In the suction mode, air travels into the conduit 892r and travels to the air treatment members. The openings in the vertical conduit are open and some or all of the air may exit through those to exit the surface cleaning apparatus via a grill on the sidewall of the apparatus. In the blowing mode, the air from the downstream side is directed through the opening 890b as the holes 892b are closed. Air may be drawn into flow path 170 through opening 890a and/or the openings 892a, which are open to the ambient.
The following is a description of a surface cleaning apparatus with an external conduit having dual air flow paths, one coupled to an air inlet of the surface cleaning apparatus and one coupled to an air outlet of the surface cleaning apparatus. This aspect may be used by itself or in combination with one or more of the other aspects disclosed herein.
When suction is applied to a surface, dirt can be drawn off of the surface. In some cases, the dirt is stuck, wedged, or otherwise not free to be moved. In some cases, dirt is more readily picked up by suction if the dirt is simultaneously subject to a blowing air flow. A blowing air flow may dislodge dirt, such as releasing it or lifting it off of a surface, thereby facilitating a suction air flow picking up the dirt.
As exemplified in
Optionally, one or more end tools 906 may be coupled to the external conduit having dual conduit flow paths. An end tool 906 may be, e.g., a floor cleaning head (e.g., with a blower nozzle directed towards a rotating brush 908) configured to direct a blower air flow at a floor surface and direct an air flow from the floor surface into the suction nozzle, as exemplified in
Alternately, a dual conduit attachment may be used when the apparatus is useable as a blower or a surface cleaning apparatus as discussed elsewhere herein. In such a case, the suction and blowing conduit may always be available and a user may merely redirect the air flow path to provide alternate suction and blowing.
The following is a description of a filter chamber 442 access door of the main body housing 132 that is openable only when the air treatment assembly 200 or part thereof is removed from the main body housing 132. This aspect may be used by itself or in combination with one or more of the other aspects disclosed herein.
As exemplified in
As exemplified in
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.
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.
This applications is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/994,557, which was filed on Nov. 28, 2022, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 17994557 | Nov 2022 | US |
| Child | 18312034 | US |
