Abstract: A surface cleaning apparatus is disclosed having a forward portion and a rearward portion. The forward portion has a dirty air inlet, a front side, a rear side and a forward bridging section, the forward bridging section having a rearwardly extending air flow passage that is downstream from the dirty air inlet. The rearward portion positioned rearward of the forward portion, the rearward portion comprising a front side, a rearward side, a rearward bridging section, a lower planar surface, an upper surface and an up flow duct, the rearward bridging section being spaced rearward of the front side of the rearward portion. The rear side of the forward portion is spaced from and faces the front side of the rearward portion and the forward bridging section is connected to the rearward bridging section.

Abstract: A floor treatment device may include a body portion comprising one or more pumps, one or more spray outlets, and one or more reservoir receptacles configured to receive one or more reservoirs. The one or more pumps are operable to be activated and direct liquids to the spray outlets. The device may include swappable heads, each comprising a body connector configured to mate with a head connector of the body portion. In an embodiment, the head connector may include a sensor system and a controller communicatively connected to the sensor system. When one of swappable heads is connected to the body portion, the sensor system is configured to detect the identity of the swappable heads connected, and the controller is configured to selectively activate, based on the identity of the swappable heads, at least one of the one or more pumps.

Abstract: An upright surface cleaning apparatus, such as an upright vacuum cleaner, is provided wherein the upright section is moveable sideways about a pivot axis wherein the pivot axis is angled forwardly and downwardly. In other embodiments, a surface cleaning head is provided which is moveable sideways and is biased to the centered position. In other embodiments, a surface cleaning head is moveable sideways and is provided with a detent mechanism to inhibit sideways movement when in the storage position. In other embodiments, a surface cleaning apparatus is also provided which alternately uses a cleaning head adapted to receive a cloth or a traditional surface cleaning head.

Abstract: A hand vacuum cleaner and a mounting structure for the hand vacuum cleaner. The mounting structure has a base which is free standing on a floor and an upper portion comprising an air flow duct and a mounting apparatus provided at an upper end of the upper portion. The mounting apparatus has first and second laterally opposed first engagement members. The hand vacuum cleaner has first and second laterally opposed second engagement members. The hand vacuum cleaner is downwardly removably mountable to the mounting apparatus and the first and second engagement members are slideably interengagable. As the hand vacuum cleaner is moved downwardly to be mounted to the mounting apparatus, the first and second engagement members slideably interengage.

Abstract: A surface cleaning apparatus comprising a hand vacuum cleaner removably connectable to a rigid wand wherein the rigid wand is mounted a surface cleaning head. An accessory tool mount is removably mountable on the rigid wand and at least one accessory tool is removably mounted to the accessory tool mount.

Abstract: A hand carryable surface cleaning apparatus comprises a body housing a suction motor and comprising a handle. The handle has a handgrip portion that extends upwardly in an upward direction when the surface cleaning apparatus is disposed on a horizontal surface, wherein the handle and a rear surface of the body define a finger gap in which a user may place the user's fingers while gripping the handle. The suction motor is positioned adjacent the rear surface of the body.

Abstract: A surface cleaning apparatus is disclosed having a forward portion and a rearward portion. The forward portion has a dirty air inlet, a front side, a rear side and a forward bridging section, the forward bridging section having a rearwardly extending air flow passage that is downstream from the dirty air inlet. The rearward portion positioned rearward of the forward portion, the rearward portion comprising a front side, a rearward side, a rearward bridging section, a lower planar surface, an upper surface and an up flow duct, the rearward bridging section being spaced rearward of the front side of the rearward portion. The rear side of the forward portion is spaced from and faces the front side of the rearward portion and the forward bridging section is connected to the rearward bridging section.

Abstract: A surface cleaning apparatus comprises a hand vacuum cleaner, a surface cleaning head and an air flow conduit extending from the surface cleaning head air outlet to the hand vacuum cleaner air inlet, the air flow conduit comprising a rigid wand and a flexible suction hose positioned downstream of the rigid wand and upstream of the hand vacuum cleaner air inlet.

Abstract: A floor treatment device may include a body portion comprising one or more pumps, one or more spray outlets, and one or more reservoir receptacles configured to receive one or more reservoirs. The one or more pumps are operable to be activated and direct liquids to the spray outlets. The device may include swappable heads, each comprising a body connector configured to mate with a head connector of the body portion. In an embodiment, the head connector may include a sensor system and a controller communicatively connected to the sensor system. When one of swappable heads is connected to the body portion, the sensor system is configured to detect the identity of the swappable heads connected, and the controller is configured to selectively activate, based on the identity of the swappable heads, at least one of the one or more pumps.

Abstract: A surface cleaning apparatus comprises: (a) a cleaning head having a front, a rear, two opposed sides extending between the front and the rear, a bottom and a dirty air inlet; (b) an airflow path extending from the dirty air inlet to a clean air outlet; (c) a suction motor and an air treatment member positioned in the airflow path; (d) an upright section moveably mounted with respect to the cleaning head between a storage position and a rearward in-use position; and, (e) the upright section also pivotally mounted for movement sideways with respect to the cleaning head between a centered position and a sideways position.

Abstract: A pivoting and swiveling floor treatment appliance includes a lock-prevention member that prevents a body from becoming pivotally locked in a forward/backward direction when a portion of the body is in a swiveled position. The lock-prevention member may move relative to an appliance head and to a portion of the body that swivels. In some embodiments, components of the lock-prevention member contribute to locking the swivel of the body when the body is pivotally locked.

Abstract: A surface cleaning apparatus is provided with a brush drive motor control and/or a bleed valve control is provided on a handle assembly.

Abstract: A surface cleaning apparatus comprises a hand vacuum cleaner, a surface cleaning head and an air flow conduit extending from the surface cleaning head air outlet to the hand vacuum cleaner air inlet, the air flow conduit comprising a rigid wand and a flexible suction hose positioned downstream of the rigid wand and upstream of the hand vacuum cleaner air inlet.

Abstract: A hand carryable surface cleaning apparatus comprises a body housing a suction motor and comprising a handle. The handle has a handgrip portion that extends upwardly in an upward direction when the surface cleaning apparatus is disposed on a horizontal surface, wherein the handle and a rear surface of the body define a finger gap in which a user may place the user's fingers while gripping the handle. The suction motor is positioned adjacent the rear surface of the body.

Abstract: A hand carryable surface cleaning apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a main body housing a suction motor. An air treatment member has an assembly air inlet provided at the upper end of the assembly. The assembly is removably mounted to the main body as a sealed unit.

Abstract: A multi-functional cleaning system usable as both a vacuum cleaner and a steam cleaner includes (a) a body having a motor assembly for generating suction and a dust collector for collecting foreign matters, (b) a first cleaning head, such as a vacuum nozzle, detachably coupleable to the body and having an inlet for directing the foreign matters into the dust collector, and (c) a second cleaning head, such as a steam cleaning head, detachably coupleable to the body and having an outlet for directing steam onto a surface. Attaching the body to the first cleaning head forms a vacuum cleaner configuration. while attaching the body to the second cleaning head forms a steam cleaner configuration. Electrical wiring and connectors enable operation of the blower motor only in the vacuum cleaner configuration, and include protection against water ingress that can cause malfunctioning or create a safety hazard.

Abstract: A floor treatment device may include a body portion comprising one or more pumps, one or more spray outlets, and one or more reservoir receptacles configured to receive one or more reservoirs. The one or more pumps are operable to be activated and direct liquids to the spray outlets. The device may include swappable heads, each comprising a body connector configured to mate with a head connector of the body portion. In an embodiment, the head connector may include a sensor system and a controller communicatively connected to the sensor system. When one of swappable heads is connected to the body portion, the sensor system is configured to detect the identity of the swappable heads connected, and the controller is configured to selectively activate, based on the identity of the swappable heads, at least one of the one or more pumps.

Abstract: A surface cleaning apparatus is disclosed having a forward portion and a rearward portion. The forward portion has a dirty air inlet, a front side, a rear side and a forward bridging section, the forward bridging section having a rearwardly extending air flow passage that is downstream from the dirty air inlet. The rearward portion positioned rearward of the forward portion, the rearward portion comprising a front side, a rearward side, a rearward bridging section, a lower planar surface, an upper surface and an up flow duct, the rearward bridging section being spaced rearward of the front side of the rearward portion. The rear side of the forward portion is spaced from and faces the front side of the rearward portion and the forward bridging section is connected to the rearward bridging section.

Abstract: A vacuum cleaner is provided with a handle assembly drivingly connected to the surface cleaning head and comprising a multi-position brush control electrically coupled to the brush motor whereby the brush motor is operable in at least two different modes. An upright surface cleaning apparatus with a removable portable surface cleaning unit is also provided. The upright surface cleaning apparatus includes an air flow path extending from the cleaning head air outlet to the air treatment member air inlet and comprising 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, a handle assembly drivingly connected to the surface cleaning head and a brush control electrically coupled to the brush motor.

Abstract: A hand carryable surface cleaning apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a main body housing a suction motor, and a cyclone bin assembly. The cyclone bin assembly comprises a cyclone chamber and a dirt collection chamber. At least a portion of the dirt collection chamber may extend under at least a portion of the suction motor. The suction motor may be oriented at an angle to a vertical axis and a horizontal axis.