Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
SURFACE CLEANING APPARATUS
[0001] Blank.
FIELD
[0002] This specification relates to a surface cleaning apparatus. In one
embodiment, the surface cleaning apparatus, which may be a reconfigurable
upright
surface cleaning apparatus, includes a flexible, electrified air flow conduit.
Various
embodiments which use alternate placements of a main power control and a brush
control controllingly coupled to a brush motor are provided on the handle
assembly. In
another embodiment, a light source may be disposed on the handle assembly.
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INTRODUCTION
[0003] The following is not an admission that anything discussed below is
part of
the Nor art or part of the common general knowledge of a person skilled in the
art.
[0004] Various types of surface cleaning apparatus are known. Typically, an
upright vacuum cleaner includes an upper portion or upper section, including
an air
treatment member such as one or more cyclones and/or filters, drivingly
mounted to a
surface cleaning head. An up flow conduit is typically provided between the
surface
cleaning head and the upper portion. In some such vacuum cleaners, a spine,
casing or
backbone extends between the surface cleaning head and the upper portion for
supporting the air treatment member. The suction motor may be provided in the
upper
portion or in the surface cleaning head.
[0005] Surface cleaning apparatus having a portable cleaning module that is
removably mounted to an upright vacuum cleaner are known. See for example US
5,309,600, US 4,635,315 and US 2011/0314629. US 2011/0314629 discloses an
upright vacuum cleaner having a surface cleaning head and an upright section
pivotally
mounted thereto. A hand vacuum cleaner or a pod is removably mounted on the
upper
portion and is connected in airflow communication with the surface cleaning
head via a
flexible hose. A portion of the upper portion is bendable so as to allow the
surface
cleaning head to extend under furniture. This bendable portion is external to
the airflow
path. In use, the hand vacuum cleaner is locked on the upper portion. A user
may
manually unlock the hand vacuum cleaner so as to remove it for use as a hand
vacuum
cleaner and/or for emptying the cyclone bin assembly. In addition, an above
floor
cleaning wand may be provided and may be removable with the pod.
SUMMARY
[0006] This summary is intended to introduce the reader to the more
detailed
description that follows and not 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.
[0007] In accordance with a first aspect there is provided a surface
cleaning
apparatus having a surface cleaning head and an upper portion moveably mounted
to
the surface cleaning head between a storage position and a floor cleaning
position. A
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removable portable cleaning unit may be provided on the upper portion. A brush
motor
in the surface cleaning head is electrically connected to a power source by a
circuit that
includes the flexible electrified air flow conduit. A handle assembly
drivingly connected
to the surface cleaning head has a main power control and a brush control that
is
controllingly coupled to the brush motor.
[0008] An advantage of this design may be that the main power control and
the
brush control are located proximate each other and may be located so as to be
operable
by the same hand as is used to manipulate the surface cleaning apparatus, such
as
being provided proximate, and optionally on, a handle assembly, and may be on
the
hand grip portion of the handle assembly. This provides a user with
conveniently located
controls and enables the user to adjust the mode of vacuuming while continuing
to use
the vacuum cleaner. Further, the handle assembly may be electrically and
fluidically
connected to the surface cleaning head by a single step of connecting, e.g.,
an
electrified hose, to the handle assembly, thereby simplifying the steps used
by a person
when reconfiguring an upright vacuum cleaner.
[0009] In accordance with a second aspect, there is provided a surface
cleaning
apparatus that includes a surface cleaning head having and an upper portion
moveably
mounted to the surface cleaning head between a storage position and a floor
cleaning
position. A removable portable cleaning unit may be provided on the upper
portion. A
handle assembly drivingly connected to the surface cleaning head has a light
source
that is electrically connected to a power sorce by an electrified air flow
conduit.
[0010] An advantage of this design is that the light source on the handle
may be
used to illuminate surfaces that are being cleaned, especially when an
auxiliary cleaning
tool is connected to the handle assembly. In addition, using an electrified
air flow
conduit to connect the light source to the power source may help simplify the
design of
the apparatus and may help protect the light source electrical conductors from
damage
when the apparatus is in use. .
[0011] In accordance with a third aspect, there is provided an upright
surface
cleaning apparatus that includes a surface cleaning head having a brush driven
by a
brush motor, and an upper portion that is moveably mounted to the surface
cleaning
head between a storage position and a floor cleaning position. A portable
surface
cleaning unit is removably mounted to the upper portion and includes a suction
motor
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and an air treatment member. An air flow path extends from the cleaning head
to the air
treatment member and includes a flexible electrified air flow conduit wherein
the brush
motor is electrically connected to the surface cleaning unit by a circuit that
includes the
flexible electrified air flow conduit.
[0012] An advantage of this design, is that both air flow communication and
electrical communication between the surface cleaning unit and the surface
cleaning
head may be maintained by the electrified air flow conduit when the surface
cleaning
unit is removed from the upper portion. This eliminates the need for a
separate
electrical conductor extending between the surface cleaning unit and the
surface
cleaning head. This may also help reduce the amount of
reconfiguration/reconnection
required when removing the surface cleaning unit from the upper portion.
[0013] In accordance with a fourth aspect, an upright surface cleaning
apparatus
ay includes s handle assembly drivingly connected to a surface cleaning head
wherein
the handle assembly includes a multi-position brush control electrically
coupled to the
brush motor by a flexible electrified air flow conduit whereby the brush motor
is operable
in at least two different modes.
[0014] An advantage of this design is that a user can control the operation
of the
brush motor using a switch that is provided on the handle. This may eliminate
the need
for a user to reach down to other portions of the apparatus, such as the
surface cleaning
head, to control the brush motor. This simplifies the operation of the
apparatus and may
help facilitate "one handed' operation, where a user can drive the surface
cleaning head
and control the brush motor using single hand that is gripping the handle
assembly. IN
addition, electrically connecting the brush motor to the power source using a
circuit that
includes the electrified air flow conduit may help simplify the construction
of the
apparatus and may help protect the brush motor electrical conductors from
damage
while the apparatus is in use.
[0015] It will be appreciated by a person skilled in the art that a surface
cleaning
apparatus 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.
[0016] In particular, the first aspect may be used by itself or one or more
of the
second, third, and fourth aspects.
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[0017] The second aspect may be used by itself or one or more of the first,
third,
and fourth aspects.
[0018] The third aspect may be used by itself or one or more of the first,
second,
and fourth aspects.
[0019] The fourth aspect may be used by itself or one or more of the first,
second,
and third aspects.
[0020] 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.
DRAWINGS
[0021] FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a surface cleaning apparatus
in a
storage position;
[0022] FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the surface cleaning apparatus
of FIG.
1, in the storage position;
[0023] FIG. 3 is a front perspective view of the surface cleaning apparatus
of FIG.
1, in a floor cleaning position;
[0024] FIG. 3a is a side elevation view of the surface cleaning apparatus
of FIG.
1, in a storage position;
[0025] FIG. 4 is a partial cross-sectional view taken along line 4-4 in
FIG. 1;
[0026] FIG. 5 is a rear perspective view of the surface cleaning apparatus
of FIG.
1, in a partially disassembled configuration;
[0027] FIG. 6 is a front perspective view of the surface cleaning apparatus
of FIG.
1, with the pod removed but still in air flow communication with the surface
cleaning
head;
[0028] FIG. 7 is a front perspective view of the surface cleaning apparatus
of FIG.
1, in an above-floor cleaning configuration;
[0029] FIG. 8 is a rear perspective view of the wand of FIG. 1 disconnected
from
the upper portion;
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[0030] FIG. 9 is a top plan view of the surface cleaning apparatus of FIG.
1, with
the wand disconnected from the upper portion;
[0031] FIG. 10 is a rear perspective view of the surface cleaning unit of
FIG. 1;
[0032] FIG. 11 is a bottom plan view of the surface cleaning unit of FIG.
1;
[0033] FIG. 12 is a front elevation view of the upper portion and surface
cleaning
head of FIG. 1;
[0034] FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view taken alone line 13-13 in FIG. 8;
[0035] FIG. 14 is a rear elevation view of the surface cleaning unit of
FIG. 1;
[0036] FIG. 15 is a front perspective view of the handle of FIG. 1;
[0037] FIGS. 16a and 16b are cross sectional views taken along line 16-16
in
FIG. 15 showing a brush control in different positions;
[0038] FIG. 17 is a bottom perspective view of the surface cleaning head
and the
upper portion of FIG. 1;
[0039] FIG. 18 is a front perspective view of the surface cleaning
apparatus of
FIG. 1, in an above-floor cleaning position;
[0040] FIG. 19 is an abstracted schematic diagram of the electric circuits
and
conductors of the surface cleaning apparatus of FIG. 1;
[0041] FIG. 20 is an example circuit diagram of the electric circuits and
conductors of FIG. 19; and,
[0042] FIG. 21 is an example logic flow diagram executed by one or more
processors of the surface cleaning apparatus of FIG. 1.
DESCRIPTION OF VARIOUS EMBODIMENTS
[0043] Various apparatuses or processes will be 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 processes or
apparatuses that differ from those described below. The claimed inventions are
not
limited to apparatuses or processes having all of the features of any one
apparatus or
process described below or to features common to multiple or all of the
apparatuses
described below. It is possible that an apparatus or process described below
is not an
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embodiment of any claimed invention. Any invention disclosed in an apparatus
or
process 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
applicants, inventors or owners do not intend to abandon, disclaim or dedicate
to the
public any such invention by its disclosure in this document.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF AN UPRIGHT VACUUM CLEANER
[0044] Referring to FIGS. 1-3, a first embodiment of a surface cleaning
apparatus
100 is shown. In the embodiment shown, the surface cleaning apparatus 100 is
an
upright vacuum cleaner. In alternate embodiments, the surface cleaning
apparatus may
be another suitable type of surface cleaning apparatus, such as a canister
type vacuum
cleaner, and hand vacuum cleaner, a stick vac, a wet-dry type vacuum cleaner
or a
carpet extractor.
[0045] In the illustrated example, the surface cleaning apparatus 100
includes an
upper portion or support structure 104 that is movably and drivingly connected
to a
surface cleaning head 108. A surface cleaning unit 112 is mounted on the upper
portion
104. The surface cleaning apparatus 100 also has at least one dirty air inlet
116, at
least one clean air outlet 120, and an air flow path or passage extending
therebetween.
In the illustrated example, the air flow path includes at least one flexible
air flow conduit
member (such as a hose 124 or other flexible conduit). Alternatively, the air
flow path
may be formed from rigid members.
[0046] Preferably, as exemplified in FIG. 4, the portable surface cleaning
unit 112
includes both the suction motor 128, which may be in a motor housing 132, and
an air
treatment member, which may be in the form of a cyclone bin assembly 136. The
air
treatment member may be any suitable air treatment member, including, for
example,
one or more cyclones, filters, and bags, and preferably the at least one air
treatment
member is provided upstream from the suction motor Accordingly, surface
cleaning unit
112 may be a hand vacuum cleaner, a pod or the like. The cyclone bin assembly
136
includes a cyclone chamber 144 and a dirt collection chamber 148.
[0047] In the embodiment shown, the surface cleaning head 108 includes the
dirty air inlet 116 in the form of a slot or opening 152 (FIG. 4) formed in a
generally
downward facing surface of the surface cleaning head 108. From the dirty air
inlet 116,
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the air flow path extends through the surface cleaning head 108, and through
an up flow
conduit 156 (FIG. 2) in the upper portion 104 to the surface cleaning unit
112.
[0048] A handle 160 is provided on a wand that is removably, drivingly
connected
to the upper portion 104 to allow a user to manipulate the surface cleaning
apparatus
100. Referring to FIGS. 2, 3, and 3a, the upper portion extends along an upper
axis 164
and is moveably mounted to the surface cleaning head 108. In the illustrated
example,
the upper portion 104 is pivotally mounted to the surface cleaning head via a
pivot joint
168. The pivot joint 168 may be any suitable pivot joint. In this embodiment,
the upper
portion 104 is movable, relative to the surface cleaning head 108, between a
storage
position (FIG. 1), and a use or floor cleaning position (FIG. 3). In the floor
cleaning
position, the upper portion 104 may be inclined relative to the surface being
cleaned,
and an angle 172 between a plane 176 parallel to the surface and the upper
axis 164
may be between about 20 and about 85 . In the storage position (FIG. 3a), the
upper
portion 104 may be inclined relative to the surface being cleaned, and the
angle 172
between the plane 176 parallel to the surface and the upper axis 164 may be
between
about 85 and 135 .
[0049] It will be appreciated that the forgoing discussion is exemplary and
that an
upright vacuum cleaner may use a surface cleaning head, the surface cleaning
unit and
upper portion of any design and they may be moveably connected together by any
means known in the art.
[0050] In one aspect, the upright vacuum cleaner 100 may be operable in a
variety of different functional configurations or operating modes. The
versatility of
operating in different operating modes may be achieved by permitting each of
the
surface cleaning unit 112 and the above floor cleaning wand to be individually
to be
detachable from the upper portion 104. In the examples illustrated, mounting
the
surface cleaning unit 112 on the upper portion 104 increases the weight of the
upper
portion 104 and can affect the maneuverability and ease of use of the surface
cleaning
apparatus 100. With the surface cleaning unit 112 attached, the vacuum cleaner
100
may be operated like a traditional upright style vacuum cleaner, as
illustrated in FIGS. 1-
3.
[0051] To enable the vacuum suction generated by the surface cleaning unit
112
to remain in airflow communication with the surface cleaning head 108 when the
surface
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cleaning unit 112 is detached from the support structure 104, the airflow
connection
between the surface cleaning head 108 and the cleaning unit 112 is preferably
at least
partially formed by a flexible conduit, such as flexible hose 124, which may
be an
electrified hose. Preferably, the hose 124 is extensible and more preferably
is elastically
or resiliently extensible. The use of a flexible conduit allows a user to
detach the
surface cleaning unit 112 and maintain a flow connection between the portable
surface
cleaning unit 112 and the surface cleaning head 108 without having to
reconfigure or
reconnect any portions of the airflow conduit 184 (FIG. 6).
[0052] In the example shown, the airflow path between the surface cleaning
head
108 and the cleaning unit 112 further includes an above floor cleaning wand
180. Wand
180 may be positioned upstream of hose 124 and downstream of surface cleaning
head
108. Preferably, wand 180 may be drivingly connected to upper portion 104 so
that
wand 108 may be used to direct surface cleaning head 108 (e.g., forwardly and
rearwardly). Accordingly, wand 180 comprises a rigid airflow conduit having
any
suitable shape. For example, wand 180 may be straight as shown or it may be
curved
or bent. In some embodiments, wand 180 may be reconfigurable. For example,
wand
108 may have upper and lower sections that are moveably mounted with respect
to
each other (e.g., pivotally connected) so that wand 180 may be converted from
a
straight configuration to a bent configuration. Further, wand 180 may have any
suitable
cross-sectional shape, such as a circular cross-section as shown, or another
cross-
sectional shape such as square, triangular, or another regular or irregular
shape, such
as egg-shaped.
[0053] Wand 180 may be telescopic so that it is extendable.
[0054] In order to enable a user to use wand 180 to remotely maneuver
surface
cleaning head 108, wand 180 may be provided with a handle assembly.
Preferably,
handle assembly or handle 160 is positioned proximate an upper (i.e.
downstream) end
188 of wand 180. For example, handle 160 may be connected to one or both of
wand
180 and hose 124. Optionally, handle 160 may form part of the airflow path
between
wand 180 and hose 124. Alternatively, handle 160 may be peripherally attached
to one
or both of wand 180 and hose 124 without participating in the airflow
communication
between wand 180 and hose 124.
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[0055] A user
may grasp a hand grip portion 182 of handle 160 to manipulate
wand 180 (e.g. for moving upper portion 104 and steering surface cleaning head
108).
In alternative embodiments, surface cleaning apparatus 100 may not include a
handle
160 and instead a user may grasp wand 180 directly.
[0056] Reference
is now made to FIG. 5. As shown, upper portion 104 is
moveably mounted with respect to surface cleaning head 108. Upper portion 104
may
be connected to surface cleaning head 108 by any means known in the art,
(e.g., it may
be pivotally mounted, rotationally mounted or the like). As exemplified, pivot
joint 168
permits upper portion 104 to tilt and/or pivot with respect to surface
cleaning head 108.
[0057] As
exemplified, each of wand 180 and surface cleaning unit 112 is
selectively attachable or detachable from upper portion 104. An advantage of
this
design is that a user may convert the vacuum cleaner to a surface cleaning
mode by
removing the wand without having to remove surface cleaning unit 112.
Preferably, each
of wand 180 and surface cleaning unit 112 may be selectively connected or
disconnected from upper portion 104 independently of the other. For example,
wand
180 and surface cleaning unit 112 may be connected or disconnected from upper
portion 104 in any order, sequentially or simultaneously. This may
simplify the
reconfiguration of surface cleaning apparatus 100 into different cleaning
modes without
requiring disruption to the operation of surface cleaning apparatus 100.
[0058] As
exemplified, when upstream end 192 of wand 180 is connected to
upper portion 104, the surface cleaning head 108 participates in the airflow
path in a
floor cleaning mode, e.g., for cleaning floors, stairs, and the like. In such
a case, the
surface cleaning unit 112 may be mounted on upper portion 104, for supporting
the
weight of surface cleaning unit on upper portion 104 (e.g., as shown in FIG. 3
which
exemplifies a traditional floor cleaning mode for an upright vacuum cleaner).
Alternately,
surface cleaning unit 112 may be dismounted from upper portion 104 and carried
by
hand, worn as a backpack, or placed on the floor for example while wand 180 is
connected to surface cleaning head 108 (e.g., as shown in FIG. 6 which
exemplifies an
alternate floor cleaning mode for an upright vacuum cleaner).
[0059] As
exemplified, wand 180 may be disconnected from upper portion 104 for
use in an above-floor cleaning mode. In one embodiment, surface cleaning unit
112 may
be mounted on upper portion 104, for supporting the weight of surface cleaning
unit on
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upper portion 104 while wand 180 is used in the above floor cleaning mode
(e.g., as
shown in FIG. 7). Alternately, in another optional embodiment, surface
cleaning unit 112
may also be dismounted from upper portion 104 and carried by hand, worn as a
backpack, or placed on the floor for example while wand 180 is used in the
above floor
cleaning mode.
[0060] Wand 180 and surface cleaning unit 112 may connect to upper portion
104
in any suitable fashion. In the example shown, wand 180 is inserted into upper
portion
104, and surface cleaning unit 112 is mounted to an exterior of upper portion
104. In
such a case, upper portion 104 may provide part or all of the air flow path
from surface
cleaning head 108 to wand 180. In other embodiments, upper portion 104 need
not be
part of the air flow path. For example, wand 180 may be mounted to the
exterior of
upper portion 104 and the inlet end may seat on an outlet end of a duct
provided on the
outer surface of the upper portion 104.
[0061] Referring to FIG. 6, when the surface cleaning apparatus 100 is in
use, a
user may detach the surface cleaning unit 112 from the upper portion 104
without
interrupting the airflow communication between the cleaning unit 112 and the
surface
cleaning head 108. This allows a user to selectively detach and re-attach the
cleaning
unit 112 to the support structure 104 during use without having to stop and
reconfigure
the connecting hose 124 or other portions of the airflow conduit 184. As
exemplified,
wand 180 is attached to upper portion 104 and surface cleaning unit 112 is
detached
from upper portion 104.
[0062] In this configuration, upper portion 104 may provide a connection
between
wand 180 and surface cleaning head 108, which may permit surface cleaning head
108
to be driven by manipulating wand 180.
[0063] In addition to being operable to clean floors or surfaces, the
vacuum
cleaner may be operated in a variety of cleaning modes that do not include use
of the
surface cleaning head, and may be generally described as above floor cleaning
modes.
This can generally include cleaning furniture, walls, drapes and other objects
as
opposed to cleaning a large, planar surface.
[0064] In one example of an above floor cleaning mode, as exemplified in
FIG. 7,
the surface cleaning unit 112 can remain mounted on the upper portion 104.
This
eliminates the need for the user to separately support the weight of the
surface cleaning
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unit 112 in an above floor cleaning mode. In the illustrated configuration,
the surface
cleaning unit 112 may remain mounted on the upper portion 104 and the wand 180
may
be detached from upper portion 104 to provide an extended reach for above
floor
cleaning. Optionally, additional accessory tools may be coupled to the
upstream end
192 of wand 180, including for example a crevice tool, a cleaning brush
(optionally an
electrically powered brush or an air driven turbo brush) and any other type of
accessory
including a power tool such as a sander.
[0065] Further, as illustrated in FIG. 5, the upstream end 200 of the
handle 160
may be separated from the downstream end 188 of wand 180. In this
configuration the
upstream end 200 of the handle 160 can function as the dirty air inlet for the
vacuum
cleaner 100. Optionally, accessory tools, such as wands, crevasse tools, turbo
brushes,
hoses or other devices may be coupled to the upstream end 200 of the handle
160.
[0066] In another example of an above floor cleaning mode, as exemplified
in
FIG. 5, the surface cleaning unit 112 and wand 180 can both be detached from
the
upper portion 104. The upstream end 200 of handle 160 may be selectively
connected
or disconnected from downstream end 188 of wand 180 as desired. This
configuration
may be advantageous when surface cleaning unit 112 must be held above the
floor (e.g.
while the user is standing on a ladder). In this case, the upper portion 104
and surface
cleaning head 108 may add unnecessary weight to the surface cleaning unit 112.
[0067] Reference is now made to FIG. 5. Surface cleaning unit 112 may be
removably mountable to one or more of upper portion 104 and wand 180.
Preferably,
surface cleaning unit 112 may be mounted to upper portion 104 independent of
wand
180, such that surface cleaning unit 112 may be mounted and dismounted from
upper
portion 104 without adjusting the position of wand 180 or removing wand 180.
Accordingly, for example, wand 180 may remain in upper portion 104 while
surface
cleaning unit 112 is mounted to or removed from upper portion 104.
[0068] Alternately, or in addition, when surface cleaning unit 112 is
mounted to
upper portion 104, upper portion 104 may stabilize surface cleaning unit 112
(e.g.
surface cleaning unit 112 may remain in a fixed position on upper portion 104
as upper
portion 104 is manipulated to maneuver surface cleaning head 108). For
example,
upper portion 104 may inhibit translational movement of surface cleaning unit
112 along
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upper axis 164 (FIG. 2) toward surface cleaning head 108, and/or may inhibit
rotational
movement of surface cleaning unit 112 around upper axis 164.
[0069] The surface cleaning unit 112 may be mounted on the exterior of
upper
portion 112 by two spaced apart mounting members Optionally, the surface
cleaning
unit 112 may have one or more recesses to slidably receive on one or both of
the
mounting members.
[0070] Referring to FIGS. 10-13, in the illustrated example the upper
portion 104
includes mounting members in the form of outwardly projecting wings 1174a and
1174b
that extend laterally from a front side 1178 of upper portion 104. Although
upper portion
104 is shown including two mounting members, in alternative embodiments, upper
portion 104 may include any suitable number of mounting members.
[0071] The surface cleaning unit 112 includes recesses 1182a and 1182b each
of
which has an opening 1186 in a bottom surface 1190 of surface cleaning unit
112 to
receive wings 1174.
[0072] The engagement between wings 1174 and recesses 1182 may stabilize
surface cleaning unit 112 from rotating in all directions. This may prevent
surface
cleaning unit 112 from tipping over, e.g. when upper portion 104 is
manipulated to
maneuver surface cleaning head 108. Further, wings 1174 may support surface
cleaning unit 112 from translating toward surface cleaning head 108.
[0073] Reference is now made to FIGS. 10, 12, and 14. In addition to, or
instead
of wings 1174 and recesses 1182, surface cleaning unit 112 may include a
different
mounting member that engages downstream end 1010 of upper portion 104. As
exemplified, surface cleaning unit 112 may include another mounting member in
the
form of a clip 1206. Clip 1206 may extend downwardly in spaced apart relation
from a
rear surface 1210 of surface cleaning unit 112 forming a slot 1214 for
receiving a portion
of downstream end 1010 of upper portion 104.
[0074] In use, surface cleaning unit 112 may be lowered onto upper portion
104
such that a front side 1178 of downstream portion 1006 enters slot 1214, and
clip 1206
enters upper portion 104. Clip 1206 may grasp front side 1178 of upper portion
104 to
inhibit surface cleaning unit 112 from rotating forwardly, over surface
cleaning head 108,
or rearwardly. Reference is now made to FIGS. 8, 9, 10, and 14. Alternatively,
or in
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addition to wings 1174, recesses 1182, and clip 1206, the wand 180 may include
mounting members for supporting surface cleaning unit 112 and or dynamically
stabilizing or assisting in dynamically stabilizing surface cleaning unit 112
on upper
portion 104.
[0075] In the illustrated example, the wand 180 includes mounting members
in
the form of wings 1226a and 1226b and the surface cleaning unit 112 has arms
1230a
and 1230b for at least partially surrounding wings 1226. As shown, each arm
1230 has
an open ended a slot 1234 for receiving a corresponding wing 1226 from above
or
below slots 1234. For example, if surface cleaning unit 112 is connected to
upper
portion 104, then wings 1226 may enter and exit slots 1234 through the open
upper end
1238 of slots 1234, as wand 180 is lowered into upper portion 104 or raised
away from
upper portion 104. Further, if wand 180 is connected to upper portion 104,
then wings
1226 may enter and exit through slots 1234 through the open bottom end 1242 of
slots
1234, as surface cleaning unit 112 is lowered onto upper portion 104 or raised
away
from upper portion 104.
[0076] As exemplified, each of wings 1226 includes a front surface 1250
that
faces forward toward surface cleaning unit 112 (when surface cleaning unit 112
and
wand 180 are connected to upper portion 104), and an opposite rear face 1254.
In use,
when wings 1226 are received in slots 1234, slots 1234 may contact at least a
portion of
rear faces 1254 of wings 1226. This may permit arms 1230 to inhibiting surface
cleaning unit 112 from tilting forwardly over surface cleaning head 108.
BRUSH CONTROL
[0077] The following is a description of a brush control that may be used
by itself
in any surface cleaning apparatus or in any combination or sub-combination
with any
other feature or features disclosed herein, for example with one or more of
the first,
second, third and fourth aspects.
[0078] Reference is now made to FIG. 17. In some embodiments, surface
cleaning apparatus 100 includes an electrically powered peripheral device,
other than a
suction motor. For example, surface cleaning head 108 may include a power
brush
2034. Power brush 2034 may include a plurality of bristles 2038 which are
driven by a
brush motor 3094 (e.g. an electric motor) 3094 as shown in FIG. 19 to rotate
about an
axis of rotation 2042. In use, bristles 2038 may be positioned to contact the
surface to
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be cleaned, in order to dislodge and collect dirt and hair. The brush drive
motor may be
drivingly connected to the brush by any means known in the surface cleaning
arts, such
as a belt drive or direct drive.
[0079] Generally, it is recommended to use a power brush on certain surface
types, such as carpet which may retain dirt and hair more persistently, and to
disable
the power brush for certain other surface types, such as hard surfaces (e.g.
hardwood
or tiles) where the bristles may deflect dirt away from the dirty air inlet or
scratch the
surface. Further, it may be recommended to change the speed of the power brush
(i.e.
the rotary speed of the bristles) to a faster speed for certain surface types
(e.g. thick
carpet) than for other surface types (e.g. short carpet).
[0080] Reference is now made to FIGS. 16a-16b, 17, 18 and 19. In some
embodiments, the surface cleaning apparatus 100 may include a control member
operably connected to adjust the speed of the brush. The control member may be
operably connected to the brush drive motor or to a transmission member
positioned
between the brush drive motor and the brush to selectively activate and/or
control the
speed of the power brush. This may permit a user to selectively activate,
deactivate,
speed up or slow down the power brush according to the surface type to be
cleaned.
The control member may be mechanically, electrically, or electromechanically
coupled
to the brush motor controlling the speed of the power brush. Examples of
suitable
control members include dials, switches, levers, slides, buttons, and touch-
screens.
[0081] As exemplified, handle 160 includes a brush control 3026. Brush
control
3026 is an example of a suitable control member. Brush control 3026 may be
electrically
coupled to the brush motor of power brush 2034 in any suitable manner, such as
by way
of an electrical connector or by way of one or more conductors as shown, for
example,
in FIG. 19. In the example shown, brush control 3026 is movable between at
least an off
position as shown in FIG. 16b and a high speed position as shown in FIG. 16a.
In some
cases, brush control 3026 includes, or is mechanically coupled to, a multi-
position
switch 3020, and may also have one or more intermediate selectable positions
in
addition to the off and high speed positions shown, such as a medium speed. In
some
embodiments, brush control 3026 is infinitely positionable between the off and
high
speed positions shown for selecting a speed within a continuous spectrum from
off to
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high speed. In use, a user may move brush control 3026 from the off position
to any
other non-zero speed position to operate the power brush at the selected
speed.
[0082] In the illustrated embodiments, multi-position switch 3020 can be
positioned electrically downstream from a main power control 3014. Multi-
position switch
3020 is provided in electrical communication between the main power control
3014 and
the surface cleaning head 108 and, in particular, brush motor 3094. In this
configuration,
the supply of power to the surface cleaning head 108 and brush motor 3094 may
be
controlled via the multi-position switch 3020 and one or more processors and
circuits as
exemplified herein with reference to FIGS. 19 and 20. This allows the surface
cleaning
head 108 to be selectively energized or de-energized while the surface
cleaning unit
112, and the suction motor 128 therein, remain energized. Using the multi-
position
switch 3020, a user may, e.g., control the rotating brush within the surface
cleaning
head when cleaning one surface (e.g. a thick carpet), may control the rotating
brush
within the surface cleaning head to rotate at a lower or intermediate speed
when
cleaning another surface (e.g., a short carpet) and may turn off the rotating
brush when
cleaning another surface (e.g. a non-carpeted floor such as a tile or hardwood
floor)
without interrupting the suction supplied by the surface cleaning unit 112.
[0083] The multi-position switch 3020 may be located at any position that
is
electrically connected to the main power control 3014 and the surface cleaning
head
108. In the illustrated embodiment, the multi-position switch 3020 is provided
on the
handle 160, and is generally adjacent the hand grip portion 182 and may be on
the hand
grip portion 182. This may allow a user to operate the brush control 3026 and
thus
control the power brush during use, such as by changing the position of brush
control
3026, as the cleaning surface type changes (e.g., using the same hand as is
moving
surface cleaning head 108 using handle 160). For example, brush control 3026
may be
positioned on the handle 160 so that it is operable by a user's hand, while
the user uses
the hand to direct the surface cleaning head. Alternatively, the auxiliary
power switch
may be provided in another location, including, for example on the surface
cleaning unit,
on the surface cleaning head, on the upper or lower wand portion, on the hand
grip, or
on the cuff or other portion of the hose 124.
[0084] In some embodiments, an indicator 3010 may be provided adjacent
brush
control 3026, with visual markings which communicate a correspondence between
the
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different positions of brush control 3026 and the speed of power brush 2034.
For
example, visual markings may be provided for OFF, LOW SPEED, and HIGH SPEED.
Alternatively or in addition, the visual markings may communicate a
correspondence
between the different positions of brush control 3026 and the recommended
surface
type for the corresponding speed. For example, visual markings may be provided
for
HARD FLOOR (at the off position), SHORT CARPET (at the medium or intermediate
speed position), and THICK CARPET (at the high speed position).
[0085] In some embodiments, the indicator may be illuminated, for example
using
LEDs. For example, a backlight LED may be provided to align with the selected
position
of the brush control 3026 when the multi-position switch is moved by the user.
In
another example, separate backlight LEDs for each position of the brush
control 3026
may be selected enabled or disabled, for example by a handle control
processor, when
the switch is moved.
MAIN POWER CONTROL
[0086] The following is a description of a main power control that may be
used by
itself in any surface cleaning apparatus or in any combination or sub-
combination with
any other feature or features disclosed herein, including, for example, with
one or more
of the first, second, third and fourth aspects.
[0087] The surface cleaning apparatus 100 may include a main power control
or
master on/off electrical switch 3014 that controls the supply of power
received from the
wall socket (or any other type of power source that is connected to the
surface cleaning
unit, including, for example, a battery). Preferably, the main power control
3014 controls
the supply of power to the suction motor 128, brush motor 3094 and other
components
within the surface cleaning apparatus 100. Accordingly, main power control
3014 may
be used to turn all electrical components on or off, or if a component has an
individual
on/off control switch such as brush control 3026, main power control 3014 may
energize
a circuit including the individual on/off control switch. In some embodiments,
and as
described further with respect to FIGS. 19 and 20, main power control 3014 is
interposed in series with one or more hot conductors, which allows the main
power
control 3014 to be provided in handle 160, wand 180, hose 124, surface
cleaning head
108 or surface cleaning unit 112.
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[0088] When the main power control 3014 is off, the surface cleaning unit
112
(and the hose 124, surface cleaning head 108 and other components) may be de-
energized. When the main power control 3014 is on, the surface cleaning unit
112 (and
hose 124, surface cleaning head 108, etc.) may be energized.
[0089] Main power control 3014 may be located at any position. Preferably,
main
power control 3014 is located on or adjacent the handle 160 to provide easy
user
access while operating the surface cleaning apparatus 100. For example, main
power
control 3014 may be provided at a location that is operable by the same hand
of a user
that is user to move the surface cleaning head 108 using handle 160.
Accordingly, for
example, the control member may be provided on hand grip portion 182. In this
way, a
user may use, e.g., their thumb to adjust the control while vacuuming.
[0090] As exemplified, handle 160 includes a main power control 3014. Main
power control 3014 may be electrically coupled to the suction motor 128 of
surface
cleaning unit 112 and the brush motor 3094 of power brush 2034 in any suitable
manner, such as by way of an electrical connector or by way of one or more
conductors
as shown, for example, in FIGS. 19 and 20. In the example shown, main power
control
3014 is a toggle switch movable between an off position and on position. In
some cases,
main power control 3014 may be a slider switch or other suitable switch.
[0091] In the illustrated embodiments, main power control 3014 may be
interposed between a hot conductor 3510 of an AC electrical plug and a power
control
conductor 3550 for controlling a suction motor relay circuit 3090. In this
configuration,
the supply of power to the suction motor 128 may be controlled via the main
power
control 3014, which may be located in the handle 160. This allows the surface
cleaning
unit 112 to be selectively energized or de-energized from the handle by a user
while
grasping the hand grip, and without requiring the user to locate a power
control on the
surface cleaning unit 112 or surface cleaning head 108.
ELECTRIFIED HOSE
[0092] The following is a description of an electrified, stretchable
suction hose
that may be used by itself in any surface cleaning apparatus or in any
combination or
sub-combination with any other feature or features disclosed herein,
including, for
example, with one or more of the first, second, third and fourth aspects.
Advantageously, an electrified hose may be mounted directly or indirectly to a
surface
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cleaning unit 112 and removable therewith from upper portion 104. Accordingly,
when
the surface cleaning unit is used in a hand carriable configuration, the
electrified hose
may still be electrified and used to power a tool or handle 160.
[0093] In at least some embodiments, hose 124 may include one or more
electrical conductors (e.g. wires) that can carry electrical power and/or
control or data
signals between the upstream and downstream ends of the hose. Optionally, the
conductors within the hose may be limited to carrying electrical power and the
transmission of control or data signals may be accomplished using another
suitable
means. For example, the means for transmitting the control or data signals may
be a
wireless transmitter, which may help reduce the need to provide separate data
conductors in addition to the hose.
[0094] Upstream or downstream ends of hose 124 may include multi-conductor
connectors that are mateable with corresponding multi-conductor connectors of
surface
cleaning unit 112 or handle 160. In the illustrated example of FIGS. 10 and
19, a
downstream end of hose 124 has a multi-conductor connector 3042, in which male
push-type connectors for each of the respective conductors of hose 124 are
provided.
Multi-conductor connector 3042 is mateable with a multi-conductor connector
3038 of
surface cleaning unit 112, which has female push-type connectors corresponding
to the
male connectors of multi-conductor connector 3042. It will be appreciated that
the male-
female relationship may be reversed, or connectors of other suitable types may
be used.
[0095] Providing electrical conductors within the hose 124 may allow the
hose to
transmit electrical signals (power and/or control signals) between its
upstream and
downstream ends. Optionally, the conductors may be attached to the inner
surface of
the hose (i.e. within the air flow path), attached to the outer surface of the
hose or
incorporated within the sidewall of the hose 124. This may eliminate the need
for a
separate wire or other power transfer apparatus to be provided in addition to
the hose
and/or to run in parallel with the hose. Reducing the need for external power
or control
wires may reduce the chances that the exposed electrical wires may be damaged,
unintentionally disconnected during use or otherwise compromised.
[0096] Providing electrical conductors within the hose 124 may allow the
hose
124 to serve as a primary, and optionally only, electrical connection between
the surface
cleaning unit 112 and the surface cleaning head 108 (or any other portion of
the vacuum
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cleaner that is connected to an external power supply) and the rest of the
vacuum
cleaner upstream from the hose. Optionally, in configurations in which the
surface
cleaning unit 112 is the only portion of the vacuum cleaner connected to the
electrical
power cord which is plugged into the wall, the hose 124 may serve as the
primary
electrical conduit for carrying power and/or control signals to the surface
cleaning head
108, a plurality of cleaning tools, auxiliary tools, lights, sensors, power
tools and other
components that are connected to the upstream end of the hose 124 and used in
combination with the surface cleaning unit. For example, as exemplified, hose
124 may
be wired in series with wand 108 and therefore hose 124 and wand 180 (and
optionally
handle 160 to which each of hose 124 and wand 180 may be removably connected)
may be used to provide power from surface cleaning unit 112 to surface
cleaning head
108.
[0097] In an example embodiment, surface cleaning unit 112 is connected to
the
source of power. Accordingly hose 124 is used to carry a power control signal
used to
energize surface cleaning unit 112. In addition, hose 124 is used to carry a
power
control signal and power to energize surface cleaning head 108. In other
embodiments,
hose 124 may perform only one or two of these functions.
[0098] It will be appreciated that transmitting power via the hose 124 will
allow the
hose to be used to supply power to cleaning tools and/or other power tools
which may
eliminate the need to provide a separate power connection for the tools or to
require the
use of batteries or an air turbine. For example, using an electrified hose to
supply
electrical power may allow the surface cleaning head 108 to be powered in a
variety of
different cleaning configurations, including those in which the surface
cleaning unit 112
is removed from upper portion 104.
[0099] In some embodiments, some or all of the wand 180 may also be
configured to include conductors corresponding to those of hose 124, to
transmit power
and/or signals. This may help provide an electrical connection between the
hose, e.g.,
upstream end of the hose 124, and other portions of the vacuum cleaner.
[00100] Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 19, the handle 160 and surface
cleaning unit
112 are provided with electrical connections via conductors and connectors.
Providing
electrical connections between the portions of the apparatus allows power to
be
transmitted from the surface cleaning unit 112 to the handle 160 and on to the
surface
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cleaning head 108 (for example to power a rotating brush assembly) via the
wand 180
and without the need for a separate electrical wire or connection.
[00101] In the example embodiment of FIGS. 19 and 20, a power control
circuit
3002 is provided in surface cleaning unit 112. Power control circuit 3002 has
three
conductors connected via a multi-conductor connector to respective conductors
of hose
124: a hot conductor 3510, a neutral conductor 3520 and a power control
conductor
3550b. Hose 124 carries the hot, neutral and power control conductors, each of
which is
connected using a multi-conductor connector to a respective conductor of the
handle
control circuit 3102.
[00102] Handle control circuit has a main power control 3014 interposed in
a hot
conductor 3510b. A power control conductor 3550a is tied to the downstream
portion of
hot conductor 3510b, such that it can only be energized when the main power
control
3014 is on (e.g., switch is closed). When main power control 3014 is on, power
control
conductor 3550a also becomes 'hot' and energizes power control circuit 3002.
Power
control circuit 3002 includes a suction motor relay circuit 3090 which is
activated when
power control conductor 3550a and 3550b are energized, and operates to close a
relay,
allowing suction motor 128 to become energized.
ELECTRIFIED WAND
[00103] The following is a description of an electrified wand that may be
used by
itself in any surface cleaning apparatus or in any combination or sub-
combination with
any other feature or features disclosed herein, including, for example, with
one or more
of the first, second, third and fourth aspects. Advantageously, an electrified
wand may
be mounted directly or indirectly to a surface cleaning unit 112 and removable
therewith
from a base. The electrified wand may be used to power a tool or surface
cleaning head
108.
[00104] In at least some embodiments, wand 180 may include one or more
electrical conductors (e.g. wires) that can carry electrical power and/or
control or data
signals between the ends of the hose. Optionally, the conductors within the
wand may
be limited to carrying electrical power and the transmission of control or
data signals
may be accomplished using another suitable means. For example, the means for
transmitting the control or data signals may be a wireless transmitter, which
may help
reduce the need to provide separate data conductors in addition to the wand.
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[00105] Upstream and/or downstream ends of wands 180 may include multi-
conductor connectors that are mateable with corresponding multi-conductor
connectors
of surface cleaning head 108 and/or handle 160 respectively. In the illustrate
example of
FIGS. 9 and 19, upper portion 104 which is mounted to surface cleaning head
108 has a
multi-conductor connector 1042, in which male push-type connectors for each of
the
respective conductors of wand 180 are provided. Multi-conductor connector 1042
is
mateable with a multi-conductor connector 1038 of an upstream end of wand 180,
which
has female push-type connectors corresponding to the male connectors of multi-
conductor connector 1042. It will be appreciated that the male-female
relationship may
be reversed, or connectors of other suitable types may be used. It will be
appreciated
that multi-conductor connector 1042 may be provided on surface cleaning head
108 or
any other location on upper portion 104, such as an exterior surface thereof.
Preferably,
it is located internally of upper portion 104 such that an electrical
connection is made
when wand 180 is inserted into upper portion 104.
[00106] Similarly, a downstream end of wand 180 may be provided with a
multi-
conductor connector 3344, which is mateable with a multi-conductor connector
2046 of
handle 180, as seen in FIGS. 16a and 16b.
[00107] Providing electrical conductors within the wand 180 may allow the
wand to
transmit electrical signals (power and/or control signals) between its
upstream and
downstream ends. Optionally, the conductors may be attached to the inner
surface of
the wand (i.e. within the air flow path), attached to the outer surface of the
wand or
incorporated within the sidewall of the wand 180. This may eliminate the need
for a
separate wire or other power transfer apparatus to be provided in addition to
the wand
and/or to run in parallel with the wand. Reducing the need for external power
or control
wires may reduce the chances that the exposed electrical wires may be damaged,
unintentionally disconnected during use or otherwise compromised.
[00108] Providing electrical conductors within the wand 180 may allow the
wand
180 to serve as a primary, and optionally only, electrical connection between
the surface
cleaning unit 112 and the surface cleaning head 108 (or any other portion of
the vacuum
cleaner that is connected to an external power supply) and the rest of the
vacuum
cleaner upstream from the wand. Optionally, in configurations in which the
surface
cleaning unit 112 is the only portion of the vacuum cleaner connected to the
electrical
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power cord which is plugged into the wall, the wand 180 may serve as the
primary
electrical conduit (e.g., in series with hose 124) for carrying power and/or
control signals
to the surface cleaning head 108, a plurality of cleaning tools, auxiliary
tools, lights,
sensors, power tools and other components that are connected to the upstream
end of
the wand 180 and used in combination with the surface cleaning unit. In an
example
embodiment, wand 180 is used to carry a power control signal used to energize
surface
cleaning unit 112.
[00109] Transmitting power via the wand 180 may also allow the wand to be
used
to supply power to cleaning tools and/or other power tools which may eliminate
the need
to provide a separate power connection for the tools or to require the use of
batteries or
an air turbine. For example, using an electrified wand to supply electrical
power may
allow the surface cleaning head 108 to be powered in a variety of different
cleaning
configurations, including those in which the surface cleaning unit 112 is
removed from
upper portion 104.
[00110] Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 19, the handle 160 and surface
cleaning
head 108 are provided with electrical connections via conductors and
connectors.
Providing electrical connections between the portions of the apparatus allows
power to
be transmitted from the surface cleaning unit 112 to the handle 160 and on to
the
surface cleaning head 108 (for example to power a rotating brush assembly) via
the
wand 180 and without the need for a separate electrical wire or connection. In
other
embodiments, it will be appreciated that hose 124 may be connected directly to
wand
180 and the controls provided on either the hose 124 or wand 180.
[00111] In the example embodiment of FIGS. 19 and 20, a handle control
circuit
3102 is provided in handle 160. Handle control circuit 3102 has three
conductors
connected via a multi-conductor connector to respective conductors of wand
180: a hot
conductor 3510c, a neutral conductor 3520c and a brush control conductor
3552a.
Wand 180 carries the hot, neutral and brush control conductors, each of which
is
connected using a multi-conductor connector to a respective conductor of the
brush
control circuit 3202.
[00112] Handle control circuit has a handle control processor 3110, which
is
coupled to brush control 3020. Based on the selected position of brush control
3020,
handle control processor 3110 is configured to transmit a brush control signal
via brush
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control conductor 3552a. The signal is relayed via the control conductor of
wand 180 to
brush control conductor 3552b of brush control circuit 3202. Brush control
circuit 3202
has a brush control processor 3210, which receives the brush control signal,
and is
configured to modulate a motor speed of brush motor 3094 accordingly.
[00113] Each of handle control processor 3110 and brush control processor
3210
may be a suitable microprocessor or microcontroller. In one example
embodiment, the
processors are 8-bit microcontrollers with a RISC-type instruction set.
POWER CONTROL CIRCUIT
[00114] Reference is made to FIGS. 19 and 20 illustrating a schematic
diagram of
a power control circuit 3002 for a surface cleaning apparatus that may be used
by itself
in any surface cleaning apparatus or in any combination or sub-combination
with any
other feature or features disclosed herein, including, for example, with one
or more of
the first, second, third and fourth aspects.
[00115] Power control circuit 3002 comprises a power connector 3040, a
suction
motor relay circuit and a suction motor 128. It will be appreciated that power
control
circuit 3002 may also comprise various other elements, such as resistors,
capacitors,
diodes, transistors, varistors and fuses, the description of which is omitted
here to ease
explanation and understanding.
[00116] Power connector 3040 may be a two- or three-prong power connector,
connectable to a 120V or 240V alternating current (AC) power supply. Power
connector
connects to a line-level or hot conductor 351 0 and a neutral conductor 3520.
[00117] Hot conductor 3510 may be electrically coupled to a first terminal
of a
power control switch. In the example embodiment, hot conductor 3510 is
coupled, via
hose 124, to a first terminal of main power control 3014 of handle control
circuit 3102,
which is described in further detail herein. Both handle control circuit 3102
and main
power control 3014 may be provided in handle 160, rather than in surface
cleaning unit
112. A second terminal of main power control 3014 is tied to a power control
conductor
3550a. Power control conductor 3550a is electrically coupled, via hose 124, to
power
control conductor 3550b.
[00118] Power control conductor 3550b is electrically coupled to suction
motor
relay circuit 3090. Suction motor relay circuit 3090 is configured such that
when the
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power control conductor 3550b is energized (e.g., when main power control 3014
is in
the 'on' position), the relay circuit operates to close a relay, allowing
suction motor 128
to become electrically coupled to hot conductor 3510, and thereby energized.
Conversely, when main power control is `off' (e.g., switch is open), suction
motor relay
circuit 3090 is configured to open the relay and thereby de-energize the
suction motor
128.
[00119] The suction motor relay circuit 3090 allows the main power control
3014 to
be disposed elsewhere on the surface cleaning apparatus, for example in handle
160,
without requiring separate power and control wiring. It will be appreciated
that power
control circuit 3002 may also be adapted for a DC circuit, e.g., if the power
supply is a
battery or the like.
HANDLE CONTROL CIRCUIT
[00120] Reference is made to FIGS. 19 and 20 illustrating a schematic
diagram of
a handle control circuit 3102 for a surface cleaning apparatus that may be
used by itself
in any surface cleaning apparatus or in any combination or sub-combination
with any
other feature or features disclosed herein.
[00121] Handle control circuit 3102 includes hot conductors 3510 and 3510b,
power control conductor 3550a, brush control conductor 3552a, neutral
conductors
3520b and 3520c, main power control 3014, brush control 3020 and handle
control
processor 3110. Optionally, handle control circuit 3102 may include one or
more
indicator lights, whose operation is described with reference to FIG. 21. It
will be
appreciated that handle control circuit 3102 may also comprise various other
elements,
such as resistors, capacitors, diodes, transistors, TRIACs (triodes for
alternating current)
and fuses, the description of which is omitted here to ease explanation and
understanding.
[00122] Hot conductor 3510 is electrically couplable to hot conductor 3510b
via
main power control 3014. When main power control 3014 is in the `on' position,
hot
conductor 3510b conducts line-level power, via wand 180 (and multi-conductor
connectors), to surface cleaning head 108.
[00123] In the example embodiment of FIG. 20, brush control 3020 is a multi-
position switch. The switch is electrically connected, via jumpers to
input/output pins of
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handle control processor 3110. Handle control processor 3110 is configured to
detect a
selected position of the switch, based on the I/O pin signals, and to select a
desired
brush speed. Based on the selected position of the multi-position switch, the
handle
control processor 3110 can generate a brush control signal.
[00124] A brush control conductor 3552a is also electrically coupled to
another I/O
pin of brush control processor 3210. Accordingly, brush control processor 3210
can
transmit the brush control signal via brush control conductor 3552a (and wand
180) to a
brush control processor 3210 provided in surface cleaning head 108. Thereupon,
the
brush control processor 3210 is configured to select between at least two
different brush
power level outputs of the brush motor 128 based on the brush control signal.
[00125] It will be appreciated that handle control circuit 3102 may also be
adapted
for a DC circuit, e.g., if the power supply is a battery or the like.
BRUSH CONTROL CIRCUIT
[00126] Reference is made to FIGS. 19 and 20 illustrating a schematic
diagram of
a brush control circuit 3202 for a surface cleaning apparatus that may be used
by itself
in any surface cleaning apparatus or in any combination or sub-combination
with any
other feature or features disclosed herein, including, for example, with one
or more of
the first, second, third and fourth aspects.
[00127] Brush control circuit 3202 includes hot conductor 3510d, brush
control
conductor 3552b, neutral conductor 3520d, brush control processor 3210, bridge
rectifier 3280 and TRIAC 3290. Optionally, brush control circuit 3202 may
include one or
more LEDs 3024 and other indicator lights (e.g., a brush indicator light 3086
as shown in
FIG. 19), under the control of brush control processor 3210 as described with
reference
to FIG. 20. It will be appreciated that brush control circuit 3202 may also
comprise
various other elements, such as resistors, capacitors, diodes, transistors and
fuses, the
description of which is omitted here to ease explanation and understanding.
[00128] Hot conductor 3510d is electrically coupled to TRIAC 3290, which is
coupled to bridge rectifier 3280.
[00129] Both brush control conductor 3552b and hot conductor 3510d are
electrically coupled to an I/O pin of brush control processor 3210. The input
of the I/O
pin can be modulated by a brush control signal provided by handle control
processor
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3110. Brush control processor 3210 detects the input and determines an
appropriate
brush power level output for brush motor 3094.
[00130] The desired brush power level output can be attained by using
another I/O
pin of brush control processor 3210 to control TRIAC 3290. For example, brush
control
processor 3210 may provide a small trigger pulse signal at a controlled phase
angle to
control the percentage of current that flows through TRIAC 3290 to bridge
rectifier 3280.
Bridge rectifier converts the incoming modulated current to DC, which allows
brush
motor 3094 to be powered accordingly. It will be appreciated that brush motor
3094 may
be AC or DC powered and brush control circuit 3202 modified accordingly.
[00131] Optionally, brush control circuit 3202 may also include an upright
switch
3350. In the example embodiment, upright switch 3350 may be coupled to yet
another
I/O pin of brush control processor 3210, which may detect the state of the
upright switch
3350. Upright switch 3350 may also be mechanically coupled to surface cleaning
head
108 and upper portion 104, such that the switch is engaged in the 'on'
position when the
upper portion 104 is inclined relative to the vertical, and disengaged in the
'off position
when the upper portion 104 is returned to the vertical.
[00132] It will be appreciated that brush control circuit 3202 may also be
adapted
for a DC circuit, e.g., if the power supply is a battery or the like.
INDICATOR LIGHT LOGIC
[00133] The following is a description of an indicator light circuit logic
that may be
used by itself in any surface cleaning apparatus or in any combination or sub-
combination with any other feature or features disclosed herein, including,
for example,
with one or more of the first, second, third and fourth aspects.
[00134] Reference is made to FIG. 21, which illustrates a logic flow
diagram for
operating various indicator lights of surface cleaning apparatus 100. In the
example
embodiment illustrated, the logic flow is for controlling brush indicator
light 3086 and
headlight LEDs 3024 of surface cleaning head 108, handle light 3006 and brush
selection indicators 3010a, 3010b and 3010c (FIG. 15).
[00135] The logic flow may be executed by any suitable processor. In the
illustrated example, the logic flow is executed by handle control processor
3110 and
brush control processor 3210 in co-operation. For ease of exposition, only one
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processor will be referred to herein, however it will be appreciated that
various acts of
the logic flow may be performed by one or the other, or both, of handle
control
processor 3110 and brush control processor 3210.
[00136] Logic flow 3600 begins at 3602. At 3606, the processor determines,
based
on one or more switches, or based on a state of the circuits formed by
conductors within
hose 124, whether hose 124 is in a 'home' position (e.g., whether the hose 124
and
handle 160 are attached to wand 180).
[00137] If it is determined at 3606 that the hose 124 is not in a 'home'
position,
handle light 3006 may be enabled at 3610, to provide illumination for the user
while
using the handle 160, and also to provide a visual indication that the handle
160 is not in
complete engagement with wand 180.
[00138] If it is determined at 3606 that the hose 124 is in the 'home'
position,
handle light 3006 may be disabled, and LEDs 3024 of surface cleaning head 108
may
be enabled at 3614. LEDs 3024 are arranged in a strip, and may act as
headlights for
the surface cleaning head, illuminating the surface to be cleaned.
[00139] At 3618, the processor determines a position of brush control 3020.
If a
'thick carpet' mode is presently selected by brush control 3020, a 'thick
carpet' indicator
may be enabled at 3622 and brush indicator 3086 may also be enabled at 3626.
Other
indicator lights not corresponding to a currently-selected mode, such as the
'short
carpet' or 'bare floor' indicators, may be disabled.
[00140] Brush indicator 3086 indicates that the brush motor is engaged, and
that
the brushes are rotating.
[00141] If instead, a 'short carpet' mode is presently selected by brush
control
3020, the processor determines this at 3630, and enables a 'short carpet'
indicator at
3634, along with brush indicator 3086 at 3638. Other indicator lights not
corresponding
to a currently-selected mode, such as the 'thick carpet' or 'bare floor'
indicators, may be
disabled.
[00142] If instead, a 'bare floor' mode is presently selected by brush
control 3020,
the processor determines this at 3642, and enables a 'bare floor' indicator at
3642.
Brush indicator 3086 may be disabled, along with other indicator lights not
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corresponding to a currently-selected mode, such as the 'thick carpet' or
'short carpet'
indicators.
[00143] The processor or processors may continuously monitor the handle
control
circuit 3102 and brush control circuit 3202 for any changes in state, such as
the user
detaching the handle 160 from wand 180, or changing the selected mode via
brush
control 3020. When a change is detected, the logic flow may be repeated.
[00144] What has been described above has been intended to be illustrative
of the
invention and non-limiting and 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.
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