Abstract: A vacuum cleaner including a debris collector having a base, a longitudinal axis extending perpendicular to the base, and a plurality of housing segments coupled to the base. A lid is coupled to the debris collector and a suction source is configured to generate an airflow to draw fluid and debris into the debris collector. The vacuum cleaner further includes an exhaust passageway downstream from the suction source for discharging the airflow from the debris collector. The debris collector is moveable between a collapsed position and an extended position along a longitudinal axis, thereby changing a distance between the base and the lid. At least one of the plurality of housing segments nest within a remainder of the plurality of housing segments when the debris collector is in the collapsed position.

Abstract: A surface cleaner includes a suction airflow, a base air inlet, a housing, a wand coupled to the housing, a wand housing, a handle, a hose coupled to the handle, a first airflow path, a second airflow path, and a valve moveable between a first position and a second position. In the first position, the suction airflow is directed along the first airflow path and the suction airflow along the second airflow path is inhibited. In the second position, the suction airflow is directed along the second airflow path and the suction airflow along the first airflow path is inhibited. The valve moves from the first position to the second position in response to the handle being uncoupled from the wand. The valve moves from the first position to the second position in response to the wand being removed from the wand housing.

Abstract: A robotic vacuum cleaner is provided having a suction source, a dirt collector, a floor sensor, a primary brush, and an auxiliary brush. The floor sensor includes an emitter and a detector having an intersecting region. The auxiliary brush includes microfiber fingers that are spaced around a perimeter of the brush, or the auxiliary brush includes a pad having apertures, the apertures allow the emitter and detector to sense whether a floor surface is present.

Abstract: A vacuum cleaner docking station is disclosed, the vacuum cleaner docking station includes a vacuum cleaner separator and a dock. The vacuum cleaner separator is operable to separate debris from a suction airflow. The vacuum cleaner separator includes a dirty air inlet, a clean air outlet, and a debris collector having a debris outlet. The vacuum cleaner separator is removably coupled to the dock. The dock includes an airflow source operable to generate an airflow. The dock further includes a dock debris collector and an airflow outlet in fluid communication with the airflow source such that the airflow generated by the airflow source is discharged from the airflow source through the airflow outlet. Airflow generated by the airflow source of the dock travels through the vacuum cleaner separator and through the debris outlet of vacuum cleaner to blow debris out of the debris outlet and into the dock debris collector.

Abstract: A vacuum cleaner including a separator assembly that includes a first stage cyclonic separator and a clean air outlet that discharges airflow from the separator assembly. The separator assembly further includes a shroud having an air transfer portion forming an airflow passageway between a dirty air inlet and the clean air outlet and a guide wall extending from an upper end of a air transfer portion toward an upper end of a container. The dirty air inlet defines a perimeter having an upper point closest to the upper end of the container, and the guide wall is positioned substantially above the upper point. The air transfer portion is positioned substantially below the upper point, and the guide wall extends at an oblique angle relative to the separator axis.

Abstract: A robotic vacuum cleaner is provided having a suction source, a dirt collector, a floor sensor, a primary brush, and an auxiliary brush. The floor sensor includes an emitter and a detector having an intersecting region.