Floor cleaning apparatus with wireless control interface

Abstract

A floor cleaning apparatus includes a nozzle assembly and a canister assembly pivotally connected to the nozzle assembly. A suction generator and dirt collection vessel are carried on one of these assemblies. A control handle with a user interface is carried on the canister assembly. A transmitter is carried on the control handle and a receiver, remote from the transmitter, is carried on either the nozzle assembly or canister assembly.

Description

[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60 / 615,781 filed on 4 Oct. 2004.TECHNICAL FIELD [0002] The present invention relates generally to the floor care equipment field and, more particularly, to a floor cleaning apparatus equipped with a wireless control interface. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] Upright vacuum cleaners have become increasingly popular over recent years. An upright vacuum cleaner may be generally described as comprising a canister assembly that is pivotally connected to a nozzle assembly. The canister assembly includes an operating handle that is manipulated by the operator to move the vacuum cleaner back and forth across the floor during the cleaning operation. The canister assembly also includes a dirt collection vessel, in the form of a dirt cup or filter bag that traps dirt and debris. A suction generator, in the form of a motor driven fan, is provided on either the nozzle assembly or the canister assembly. It is t...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

"The present invention provides an upright vacuum cleaner with a nozzle assembly and a canister assembly pivotally connected to the nozzle assembly. The vacuum cleaner also includes a suction generator and a dirt collection vessel. A control handle with user interface is carried on the canister assembly. A transmitter is carried on the control handle and a receiver and controller are carried on one of the nozzle assembly and the canister assembly. The floor cleaning apparatus includes a housing and both a suction generator and a dirt collection vessel carried on the housing. The handle is displaceable between a floor cleaning position and a remote cleaning position. The control actuator, transmitter, receiver, and a first filter are carried on the handle. The vacuum cleaner also includes at least one rotary agitator mounted for rotation relative to the nozzle assembly. The dirt collection vessel may take the form of a porous filter bag or a dirt cup with a tangentially directed inlet. A second filter may be provided downstream from the suction generator and a first filter may be provided downstream from the second filter. The invention provides a wireless control interface for the vacuum cleaner."

Problems solved by technology

This limits the interior space available for the routing of the hardwiring from the control buttons and switches to the other electrical components of the vacuum cleaner.

As a consequence, routing of the hardwiring has become quite complicated and the necessary space for hardwiring has often limited the aesthetic designs that may be applied to the control handle.

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