Abstract: A surface cleaning apparatus has a surface cleaning head having a pivoting connector, an upper end of the pivoting connector providing an air outlet of the surface cleaning head. A support consisting of an upflow duct is pivotally mounted to the surface cleaning head by the pivoting connector. A surface cleaning unit is vertically removably mounted to an upper end of the support. The surface cleaning unit comprises a cyclone unit, a pre-motor filter, a suction motor and flexible hose.

Abstract: A vacuum cleaner includes an upright handle assembly, a foot assembly adapted to be moved along a surface to be cleaned and having a suction nozzle, a multi-axis joint swivelably mounting the upright handle assembly to the foot assembly and defining a first axis about which the upright handle assembly twists relative to the foot assembly and a second axis about which the upright handle assembly pivot relative to the foot assembly, and a detachable vacuum module supported on the upright handle assembly by the module platform.

Abstract: A wrench is provided, including: a connection seat, including two seat bodies and a connection portion, the two seat bodies respectively including two first pivot portions; and a driving member, movably connected with the connection seat, the driving member including two second pivot portions, and the two second pivot portions being rotatably connected with the two first pivot portions.

Abstract: A cleaning apparatus comprising a housing, at least one agitator configured to be rotatably coupled to the housing, a combing unit comprising a plurality of spaced teeth configured to contact the agitator for preventing build up and removing debris, and a switch configured to cause the combing unit to move between an active mode in which the plurality of spaced teeth are configured to contact the agitator for preventing build up and removing debris, and an inactive mode in which the plurality of spaced teeth are configured to not contact the agitator. The switch may be configured to cause the combing unit to rotate about a pivot axis between the active mode and the inactive mode. The switch may be configured to convert linear motion of the switch into the rotational motion of the combing unit about the pivot axis.

Abstract: A reconfigurable surface cleaning apparatus includes a floor cleaning unit comprising a surface cleaning head, and a portable cleaning unit. 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 an upflow duct is received in the portable cleaning unit and defines the air flow passage upwardly through the portable cleaning unit to a cyclone chamber air inlet.

Abstract: A cleaning apparatus includes a combing unit including a series of spaced protrusions or teeth extending into a cleaning roller for preventing build up and removing debris (such as hair, string, and the like). The protrusions extend along a substantial portion of the cleaning roller and extend partially into the cleaning roller to intercept the debris as it passes around the roller. The protrusions have angled leading edges that are not aligned with a rotation center of the cleaning roller and are directed into or against a direction of rotation of the cleaning roller. The combing unit and protrusions have a shape and configuration designed to facilitate debris removal from the cleaning roller with minimal impact on the operation of the cleaning apparatus. The cleaning apparatus may include a surface cleaning head of an upright vacuum cleaner or sweeper or a robotic vacuum cleaner.

Abstract: A robot cleaner is provided, including a main body forming a robot cleaner exterior, a driver coupled to the main body to move the main body, a cleaning module coupled to the main body to suck dust from a traveling surface, a dust collector removing dust from air suctioned through the cleaning module, and a wet-mop module coupled to the main body to mop the traveling surface, wherein the wet-mop module includes a wet-mop module housing surrounding at least a portion of the main body and accommodating water in an internal space, a wet-mop module wheel disposed in the wet-mop module housing, a mop disposed between the wet-mop module housing and the traveling surface, and a wet-mop pump connected to the wet-mop module wheel to supply water to the mop in response to rotation of the wet-mop module wheel. Mopping may be performed without applying physical force of a person.

Abstract: A floor cleaner including a vacuum source, a handle, and a base. The handle is pivotally coupled to the base, the handle pivotable between an upright storage position and an inclined operating position, the base movable over a surface to be cleaned. The base includes a suction inlet in fluid communication with the vacuum source, a brushroll chamber including a rear wall, a brushroll in the brushroll chamber, the brushroll rotatable about a brushroll axis, and a brushroll cover releaseably attached to the base, the brushroll cover removable to access the brushroll chamber and the brushroll, and the brushroll chamber rear wall is attached to and removable with the brushroll cover.

Abstract: An extraction cleaner for a floor surface includes an extraction nozzle. The extraction nozzle that defines a fluid flow path having an elongated nozzle opening, and includes one or more stiffening elements that stiffens the walls around the nozzle opening to prevent collapsing or deformation of the extraction nozzle during use.

Abstract: A removable rotatable driven agitator is used in a surface cleaning head and is driven by a drive mechanism that axially engages a driven end of the agitator. The removable rotatable driven agitator may be located in an openable agitator chamber for purposes of removing debris and/or removing the agitator. The openable agitator chamber may be covered by an external cover that is movable between an open position and a closed position. The removable agitator may be secured in the agitator chamber by the external cover. The removable rotatable agitator may have an end cap mounted on a rotatable bushing at a non-driven end and may have a splined driven member at the driven end to engage a splined drive member on the drive mechanism.

Abstract: A removable rotatable driven agitator is used in a surface cleaning head and is driven by a drive mechanism that axially engages a driven end of the agitator. The removable rotatable driven agitator may be located in an openable agitator chamber for purposes of removing debris and/or removing the agitator. The openable agitator chamber may be covered by an external cover that is movable between an open position and a closed position. The removable agitator may be secured in the agitator chamber by the external cover. The removable rotatable agitator may have an end cap mounted on a rotatable bushing at a non-driven end and may have a splined driven member at the driven end to engage a splined drive member on the drive mechanism.

Abstract: A vacuum accessory may include a head including a head body defining an inlet and a fitting interface, the head body extending from a fitting interface to a base and enclosing a cavity. A fitting includes a fitting body symmetrically disposed about a longitudinal axis of the fitting. The fitting body defines a fitting inlet, an outlet, and a flow path connecting the fitting inlet and the outlet. The fitting is connected to the head at the fitting interface and a fluid flow path fluidly connects the inlet and the outlet. A blade is removably coupled to the head and at least partially disposed within the cavity of the head. The blade includes a flat blade body that is coplanar with a reference plane dividing the fitting body and containing the longitudinal axis of the fitting.

Abstract: A method for operating a cleaning system with a plurality of mobile cleaning devices and a base station for the cleaning devices as well as a base station for a plurality of mobile cleaning devices are proposed, wherein the cleaning devices can be emptied by the base station and/or filled with a cleaning agent by the base station simultaneously and/or according to a prioritization. In addition, a filter apparatus for a base station is proposed which has a plurality of connection openings in order to be able to empty a plurality of cleaning devices.

Abstract: An example torque reaction tool includes a first arm having an end with a longitudinally extending cavity, and an opposite end with a first socket drive element disposed perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the cavity. The torque reaction tool further includes a second arm having an end portion slidably disposed within the cavity, and an opposite end with a second socket drive element thereon, oriented in the same direction as the first socket drive element. The torque reaction tool further includes a first fastener, disposed in a first threaded hole in the first arm that extends into the cavity, the first fastener being adjustable to engage the end portion of the second arm to restrict sliding movement of the second arm relative to the first arm.

Abstract: A disposable bidirectional ratchet, which has a tubular hollow handle with an interior surface having teeth thereon; a toggle mounted movably within the handle; a knob connected to an end of the toggle moves the toggle inside the handle; a plurality of pins on another end of the toggle; a plurality of actuators each comprising: fingers, levers, toes and a head, and having a post guide formed therein; a plurality of posts affixed to a clutch; and, wherein the actuators are movable affixed to the clutch via the posts, and the pin position selects the direction of engagement via adjustment of the actuator position via applying force to the levers, which moves the lateral edges of the actuator towards or away from the teeth.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for cleaning surfaces of an object. A platform may be moved along a path relative to the object using a robotic device. A liquid may be applied onto the plurality of surfaces of the object using an applicator associated with the platform. The liquid may be worked into the plurality of surfaces using a plurality of cleaning elements associated with the platform to dislodge undesired material from the plurality of surfaces. A plurality of flexible members may be moved along the plurality of surfaces to dry the plurality of surfaces and remove the undesired material from the plurality of surfaces. An airflow may be generated that moves the undesired material into a vacuum duct in a vacuum system.

Abstract: A hand vacuum cleaner is provided with a first cyclonic cleaning stage, a pre-motor filter and a fluid flow motor. The first cyclonic stage has a bottom end, an upper end spaced longitudinally from the bottom end along a first stage axis, an air inlet and an air outlet, the first cyclonic cleaning stage comprising a first cyclone chamber and a first dirt collection region, the first dirt collection region having an end wall at the bottom end that is openable to empty the first dirt collection region. The pre-motor filter is positioned downstream from the first cyclonic cleaning stage and spaced from the openable end wall of the first dirt collection region in a direction of the first stage axis. The fluid flow motor is downstream from the pre-motor filter. The pre-motor filter is removable in the direction of the central longitudinal axis through an opening in an upper end of the hand vacuum cleaner.

Abstract: A cyclone separator useable in a surface cleaning apparatus comprises a cyclone chamber and a dirt collection chamber exterior to, and surrounding at least a portion of the cyclone chamber. The dirt collection chamber is in communication with the cyclone chamber via a dirt outlet. An air flow passage extending to the cyclone air inlet travels generally axially through the dirt collection chamber.

Abstract: An attachment is described that is configured for attachment to an arm of a piece of heavy construction equipment. The attachment is configured to rotate a section of pipe during break out (i.e. disconnection or disassembly) from another section of pipe and/or make up (i.e. connection or assembly) with another section of pipe. The attachment is configured to break the joint or torque the joint to a predetermined torque value, unthread or thread pipe, and lift the pipe under the power of the heavy construction equipment.

Abstract: Applicant has created vacuum apparatuses with improved stability and methods for improving the stability of a wet/dry vacuum. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a motor, a removable drum adapted to store debris collected by the apparatus, and a base that can be adapted to receive the removable drum. The motor can be adapted to be interposed between the removable drum and the base. The methods can include the step of providing a base, the step of providing a removable drum adapted to be coupled to the base, and the step of coupling a vacuum motor to the base such that the vacuum motor is adapted to be disposed beneath the removable drum when the drum is coupled to the base. By relocating the motor of vacuum apparatus beneath the drum, the vacuum's center of gravity can be lowered significantly and, thus, its propensity to tip over is minimized.