Surface cleaning apparatus

Abstract

A reconfigurable surface cleaning apparatus includes a floor cleaning unit comprising a surface cleaning head, and a portable cleaning unit comprising an energy storage member and an inverted cyclone. The reconfigurable surface cleaning apparatus is operable in an above floor cleaning mode in which the portable cleaning unit is removed from the floor cleaning unit and in a floor cleaning mode in which the portable cleaning unit is mounted to the floor cleaning unit. In the floor cleaning mode. In the floor cleaning mode, the cyclone air inlet is located up to 20 inches above the floor.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16 / 106,229 filed on Aug. 21, 2018, which is pending, which itself is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15 / 046,895, filed on Feb. 18, 2016, which issued as U.S. Pat. No. 10,076,217 on Sep. 18, 2018, which itself is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14 / 036,818, which issued as U.S. Pat. No. 9,301,662 on Apr. 5, 2016, which itself is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13 / 396,918 filed on Feb. 15, 2012, which issued as U.S. Pat. No. 8,567,006 on Oct. 29, 2013, which is itself a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11 / 954,310 filed on Dec. 12, 2007, which issued as U.S. Pat. No. 8,166,607 on May 1, 2012, which claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60 / 869,586, filed on Dec. 12, 2006, each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.FIELD[0002]This disclosure relates ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The patent text describes a reconfigurable surface cleaning apparatus that can adjust its performance based on the intended use. By changing the cross-sectional area of the air flow path, the apparatus can provide higher lifting power for floor cleaning or higher airflow for above floor cleaning. The apparatus also includes a cyclone air inlet that reduces the power needed for lifting dirt and debris. The technical effects of this design include improved performance in different cleaning modes and longer run time on a single change of the energy storage members.

Problems solved by technology

However, where the suction motor of a hand vacuum cleaner is powered by an onboard energy storage member (e.g. one or more rechargeable batteries), the weight and / or power output of the suction motor may be limited, e.g. due to the weight, cost, and / or other concerns of, e.g., the on board energy storage members (e.g., a battery pack).

For example, this may increase the number of types of debris that the surface cleaning apparatus can ‘pick-up’ from the floor surface.

The lower back pressure may result in a lower power utilization rate and therefore a longer run time from the on board energy storage members.

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