Convertible Patents (Class 15/328)
  • Publication number: 20150096143
    Abstract: An upright surface cleaning apparatus may comprise an air flow path extending from a dirty air inlet to a clean air outlet, a surface cleaning head having the dirty air inlet, a support structure moveably mounted to the surface cleaning head, the support structure comprising a cleaning unit. The cleaning unit may comprise suction motor and an air treatment member and positioned in the air flow path. A lock releasably locks the cleaning unit on the support structure and the cleaning unit and the support structure are configured to retain the cleaning unit on the support structure when the lock is in an unlocked position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2014
    Publication date: April 9, 2015
    Inventor: Wayne Ernest Conrad
  • Patent number: 8959706
    Abstract: A vacuum cleaner is provided. The vacuum cleaner includes a first suction unit, a main body, a second suction unit, a connection flow-tube, and a flow-passage switching device. The main body communicates with the first suction unit and includes a suction motor to generate a suction force. The second suction unit is configured to be selectively attached to the main body. The connection flow-tube is configured to selectively connect the first suction unit or the second suction unit to the suction motor. The flow-passage switching device is configured to connect the connection flow-tube to the first section unit or the second suction unit according to a disposition state of the second suction unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Seong-Ho Park, Hae-Seock Yang, Young-Min Hyun, Hyuk-Joo Kwon, Hyo-Churl Shin, Sang-Jun Park, Jin-Wook Seo
  • Patent number: 8943647
    Abstract: A vacuum cleaner includes a base having a foot with a suction nozzle and a handle assembly removably coupled to the foot. The handle assembly is movable between a first position, in which the handle assembly is connected to the foot, and a second position, in which the handle assembly is disconnected to the foot. The vacuum cleaner also includes a canister assembly supported by the base. The canister assembly is removable from the base. The vacuum cleaner further includes a latch supported by one of the foot and the handle assembly. The latch is engageable with the other of the foot and the handle assembly to selectively secure the handle assembly to the foot. The latch is inaccessible when the canister assembly is supported by the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Techtronic Floor Care Technology Limited
    Inventor: Gregg A. Henderson
  • Publication number: 20150026916
    Abstract: An upright surface cleaning, apparatus comprises an upper section moveably mounted to the surface cleaning head between a floor cleaning position, in which the upright surface cleaning apparatus is useable for cleaning a floor, and a storage position, the upper section also being rotatably coupled to the surface cleaning head whereby rotation of the upper section relative to the surface cleaning head is enabled. The upright surface cleaning apparatus further comprises an anti-rotation locking mechanism inhibiting rotation of the upper section when the upper section is in the storage position and a cleaning unit that is removably mounted to the upper section and is removable while the upper section is in the storage position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2014
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Inventor: Wayne Ernest Conrad
  • Publication number: 20150026915
    Abstract: An upright surface cleaning apparatus is provided wherein the upper section is provided with an openable post motor filter housing. The post motor filter may be axially removable and may be positioned below the suction motor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2013
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Inventor: Wayne Ernest Conrad
  • Patent number: 8901887
    Abstract: A mobile electric appliance is disclosed. The mobile electric appliance includes at least one battery bay for accommodating a battery with at least one voltage-generating cell and a battery-side charge status indicator, an electrical consumer, a power connector, as well as a charging device for charging the at least one battery. In addition, the mobile electric appliance includes means for detecting the charge status of the at least one battery and a device-side charge status indicator arranged on the mobile electric appliance. The battery may also include an interface, which is prepared to relay the charge status determined to an external processing unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Hilti Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Eduard Sever, Joachim Vedder, Franz Huber, Bernd Ziegler, Dragomir Ljubojevic
  • Patent number: 8881340
    Abstract: An apparatus for diverting a fluid flow path automatically diverts a fluid flow path in accordance with inclining of a main body, and includes two or more selectable fluid flow paths through which an external air stream is drawn, a fixed fluid flow path to be selectively connected to one of the selectable fluid flow paths, a path selecting unit to connect the fixed fluid flow path to one of the selectable fluid flow paths, and a driving member to provide a driving force for path selecting of the path selecting unit. If mounted in an external apparatus, the driving member causes the path selecting unit to move and connect to the fixed fluid flow path in accordance with inclining of the external apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Byung-Jo Lee, See-hyun Kim, Myoung-Sun Choung
  • Patent number: 8850654
    Abstract: An upright bare floor cleaner with a handle assembly pivotally mounted to a base assembly. The handle includes a water tank to store a quantity of water and a fluid distribution system that includes a heater and a spray nozzle. Steam is generated by the heater and is distributed to a removable cleaning cloth that applies the steam to the surface to be cleaned. The fluid distribution system further includes an auxiliary hand tool for steam cleaning above-floor surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: BISSELL Homecare, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew P. Nolan, Alan J. Krebs, Kurt E. Ashbaugh
  • Patent number: 8834641
    Abstract: A method of using a hand-held power tool having a debris removal attachment is provided. The method includes providing a hand-held power tool having an output shaft and selectively coupling an extension shaft to the output shaft. The method also includes coupling a first impeller to the extension shaft and providing a housing adjacent the first impeller. The method further includes rotating the first impeller to generate a pressure differential sufficient to draw debris into the housing. The extension shaft has a first end and a second end, the first end configured to couple to the output shaft of the hand-held power tool, and the second end configured to couple to a tool bit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Credo Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Timothy Baker, Josh Barhitte, Barry Jacobs, Harald Krondorfer
  • Publication number: 20140237754
    Abstract: An surface cleaning apparatus comprises at least one of a surface cleaning unit lock and a cyclone bin assembly lock. A lockout member disables the at least one of the surface cleaning unit lock and the cyclone bin assembly lock when a handle is used to carry the surface cleaning apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2013
    Publication date: August 28, 2014
    Applicant: G.B.D. Corp.
    Inventor: Wayne Ernest Conrad
  • Patent number: 8789234
    Abstract: An apparatus for diverting a fluid flow path automatically diverts a fluid flow path in accordance with inclining of a main body, and includes two or more selectable fluid flow paths through which an external air stream is drawn, a fixed fluid flow path to be selectively connected to one of the selectable fluid flow paths, a path selecting unit to connect the fixed fluid flow path to one of the selectable fluid flow paths, and a driving member to provide a driving force for path selecting of the path selecting unit. If mounted in an external apparatus, the driving member causes the path selecting unit to move and connect to the fixed fluid flow path in accordance with inclining of the external apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Byung-Jo Lee, See-hyun Kim, Myoung-Sun Choung
  • Patent number: 8769764
    Abstract: A hand-held and conversion vacuum cleaner includes a housing carrying a suction generator, a dirt collection vessel and a suction inlet. A first connector is carried on the housing. The first connector secures the suction inlet in fluid communication with a first cleaning attachment. The vacuum cleaner also includes an adapter having a second connector that secures the suction inlet in fluid communication with a second cleaning attachment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation of North America
    Inventors: James Todd Crouch, Shawn M. Smith, Julio C. Leguen-Perez
  • Patent number: 8756753
    Abstract: A cordless, battery-powered system of cleaning products. The system of cleaning products includes devices such as upright vacuums (e.g., a stick vacuum, a lightweight upright vacuum, etc.), a hand-held vacuum, a carpet-cleaner, a canister vacuum, and the like. Each of the devices is powered by a battery pack which is interchangeable among the devices. The battery pack includes a combination of hardware and software for connecting to, identifying, and communicating with the cleaning products to ensure that each of the products receives the power necessary to ensure optimal performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Techtronic Floor Care Technology Limited
    Inventors: Brett Reed, Markus Allemann, Doug Rukavina, Mark Reindle, Norm Siegel, Jack W. Gee, Jamie Horvath, Mark Butts
  • Patent number: 8671509
    Abstract: A cordless, battery-powered system of cleaning products. The system of cleaning products includes devices such as upright vacuums (e.g., a stick vacuum, a lightweight upright vacuum, etc.), a hand-held vacuum, a carpet-cleaner, a canister vacuum, and the like. Each of the devices is powered by a battery pack which is interchangeable among the devices. The battery pack includes a combination of hardware and software for connecting to, identifying, and communicating with the cleaning products to ensure that each of the products receives the power necessary to ensure optimal performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Techtronic Floor Care Technology Limited
    Inventors: Brett Reed, Markus Allemann, Doug Rukavina, Mark Reindle, Norm Siegel, Jack W. Gee, II, Jamie Horvath, Mark Butts
  • Publication number: 20140053363
    Abstract: A floor cleaning apparatus comprising a steam generator 21 for providing a steam cleaning mode, a rotary brush 25 for providing a dry cleaning mode, a switch 17 operable to select the steam and/or dry cleaning mode, an upstanding handle 13, and a switch 15 disposed adjacent the upper end of the handle 13 which can be actuated to operate the cleaner in accordance with the selected mode(s). A user is thus able to operate the cleaner to provide the selected mode(s) of cleaning by actuating the switch 15 which is conveniently located on the handle 13.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2013
    Publication date: February 27, 2014
    Applicant: HOOVER LIMITED
    Inventors: Davide Barlotti, Jin Jin Luo
  • Patent number: 8635738
    Abstract: This invention relates to a dusting system (1) comprising a dusting tool (20) with a cleaning portion (21) connected to a handle (22), and an elongated chamber (10) for holding the dusting tool. The chamber comprises a storage compartment (15) arranged for storing at least a part of the cleaning portion as the dusting tool is inserted into the chamber, and a cleaning compartment (11) arranged between the opening (13) of the chamber and the storing compartment (15). Further, an outlet channel (12) is arranged for enabling fluid communication between the chamber and a vacuum source. The outlet channel is arranged at the cleaning compartment, thereby enabling a cleaning of the cleaning portion upon insertion or extraction of the cleaning portion into or from the storage compartment. The system may be a self standing unit or be integrated into a vacuum cleaner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: AB Electrolux
    Inventor: Johann Zita
  • Patent number: 8627543
    Abstract: A cleaning appliance is capable of performing two or more cleaning functions. The cleaning appliance may include a vacuum cleaner and a steam cleaner such that a user can vacuum a floor prior to steam cleaning the floor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2014
    Assignee: Euro-Pro Operating LLC
    Inventors: Ognjen Vrdoljak, Chow Hung, Stephen Gatchell, Mason Isaac Greene, Homero Garza Malacara
  • Patent number: 8607406
    Abstract: A vacuum cleaner apparatus for securing a hand held vacuum cleaner having a housing, the housing comprising a motor-fan unit, a dust container, and an air passage. The vacuum cleaner apparatus has a shaft part to which the housing can be secured, the shaft part comprising a handle and one or more batteries. The vacuum cleaner apparatus also has a floor nozzle and a tube passage configured to connect the floor nozzle to the air passage when the housing is secured to the shaft part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: AB Electrolux
    Inventors: Häkan Miefalk, Fredrik Bergling, Stefan Jonsson, Esbjörn Svantesson, Christian Ågren
  • Patent number: 8607405
    Abstract: A cordless, battery-powered system of cleaning products. The system of cleaning products includes devices such as upright vacuums (e.g., a stick vacuum, a lightweight upright vacuum, etc.), a hand-held vacuum, a carpet-cleaner, a canister vacuum, and the like. Each of the devices is powered by a battery pack which is interchangeable among the devices. The battery pack includes a combination of hardware and software for connecting to, identifying, and communicating with the cleaning products to ensure that each of the products receives the power necessary to ensure optimal performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: Techtronic Floor Care Technology Limited
    Inventors: Brett Reed, Markus Allemann, Doug Rukavina, Mark Reindle, Norm Siegel, Jack W. Gee, II, Jamie Horvath, Mark Butts
  • Patent number: 8590099
    Abstract: A vacuum cleaner includes a dirt tank, a tank cover mounted on the dirt tank, and a blower detachably mounted on the tank cover and including a main body. The blower forms a single handle which is located on a top face of the main body. Thus, the vacuum cleaner can be easily lifted up by one single hand of an operator due to the single handle located on a top face of the main body of the blower. A locking assembly for a vacuum cleaner including a tank cover and a blower detachably engaged with the tank cover is arranged between the tank cover and the blower. The locking assembly includes a latch, a resilient member and a locking shoulder, the resilient member being connected between the blower and the latch, the latch being pivotally mounted at the blower and engageable with the locking shoulder. Therefore, the blower is easily and reliably attached with or detached from the tank cover via the locking assembly which includes the latch and the locking shoulder simply latching with or detaching from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: Suzhou Cleva Electric Appliance Co. Ltd.
    Inventors: Shuhua Sang, Juan Wei
  • Publication number: 20130269145
    Abstract: An upright surface cleaning apparatus has an upper section that is moveably mounted to the surface cleaning head between an in use position and a storage position. The upper section is rotationally mounted to the surface cleaning head. The upright surface cleaning apparatus has an alignment mechanism comprising a first cooperating alignment member associated with the surface cleaning head and a second cooperating alignment member associated with the upper section, the first and second members guiding the upper section to a particular orientation or range of orientations when the upper section is moved into the storage position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2013
    Publication date: October 17, 2013
    Inventor: Wayne Ernest CONRAD
  • Patent number: 8539635
    Abstract: A portable vacuum wand for use with a surface maintenance machine, for collection of debris remote from the machine. The vacuum wand is detachable from a rear squeegee assembly of the surface maintenance machine, and includes a handle and a wand head. A vacuum conduit of the vacuum wand is adapted to be coupled to the rear squeegee assembly when not in use so as to provide vacuum to the rear squeegee assembly. A method of cleaning a floor surface with a surface maintenance machine and a portable vacuum wand is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Assignee: Tennant Company
    Inventors: Kevin L. Shinler, John C. Ickes, Matthew Betteker, Bruce M. Becker
  • Patent number: 8516648
    Abstract: An indoor unit of an air conditioner having an air filter provided on a suction side of an indoor fan has a construction in which dust removed from the air filter by a dust removing part can be recovered easily and reliably. The construction includes a dust removing part (51) for removing dust captured by an air filter (30) provided on the suction side of an indoor fan (21), storage containers (60), (81) having the dust removing part (51) stored therein, a nozzle insertion part (110) into which a nozzle (150) of a cleaner can be inserted, and a suction passage (95) for making the storage containers (60), (81) to communicate with the nozzle insertion part (110).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: Daikin Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Akihiko Sakashita, Yoshiharu Michitsuji
  • Patent number: 8484797
    Abstract: A cleaner which removes dirt from an additional cleaning apparatus automatically is provided. The cleaner includes a cleaning apparatus which is removably mounted in the cleaner and is dismounted from the cleaner to perform an additional cleaning operation, and includes a housing to store dirt therein, an outlet through which the dirt stored in the housing is discharged, and a movable cover movable between a closing position to close the outlet and an opening position to open the outlet, a receiving unit for receiving the cleaning apparatus, a conversion unit for converting the movable cover of the cleaning apparatus from the closing position to the opening position, a suction unit for drawing in dirt from a cleaning surface along with air, and a dust-collector which is fluidly connected to the suction unit and the cleaning apparatus to separate dirt from air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Dong-Hun Yoo
  • Patent number: 8465597
    Abstract: A modular recycling cleaning system comprising in combination: a pressure washing and control module, a vacuum motor assembly module, a reservoir module, an air/liquid separator module, a flexible hose system, a control system and a cleaning head, capable of being easily configured so as to function as any one of: a straight through pressure washer with cleaning liquid supplied from an external source; a straight through pressure washer with cleaning liquid supplied internally from an integral water reservoir; a recycling pressure washer with cleaning liquid being supplied and reused from an integral cleaning liquid reservoir replenished with cleaning liquid by means of a vacuum recovery system; a straight through pressure washer with recovery of contaminated cleaning liquid but without reuse; a conventional wet vacuum cleaning system or a conventional dry vacuum cleaning system. The appliance being capable of further configuration as a shampooing machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2013
    Inventor: John C. Turner
  • Patent number: 8429789
    Abstract: A vacuum including a housing with a suction device disposed within the housing is provided. The vacuum can also include a frame having a plurality of wheels mounted thereto. The frame can include an aperture, which can be adapted to removably receive the housing therein. The frame can have a handle attached thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: Black & Decker Inc.
    Inventors: Gregg L. Sheddy, Stuart J. Wright, Kathy E. DiPasquale, Spencer G. Maid
  • Patent number: 8359705
    Abstract: A surface cleaning apparatus has a cleaning unit that is mounted on a wheeled base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: G.B.D. Corp.
    Inventor: Wayne Ernest Conrad
  • Patent number: 8302251
    Abstract: A vacuum cleaner having a base with an inlet facing a surface, a handle connected to the base, an air passage connecting the base inlet to the handle, and a removable handheld unit. The handheld has an inlet nozzle, a dirt separator, a vacuum fan to generate a working airflow into the inlet nozzle and through the dirt separator, and a housing joining the handheld, the dirt separator and the vacuum fan. The vacuum has a docking latch with a first latch position in which the latch holds the handheld in an operating position on the handle, and a second position in which the latch permits removal of the handheld from the operating position. The vacuum also has a safety catch with a catch member on the handle and a second member on the handheld. The catch members resiliently hold the handheld unit on the handle in a partially-removed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: AB Electrolux
    Inventors: Jonas Beskow, H{dot over (a)}kan Miefalk, Ulrik Danestad
  • Publication number: 20120204378
    Abstract: Several embodiments of an upright surface cleaning apparatus are disclosed. The surface cleaning apparatus has a first cyclonic cleaning stage and comprises a surface cleaning head having a dirty fluid inlet. A fluid flow path extends from the dirty fluid inlet to a clean air outlet of the upright surface cleaning apparatus. A support member is mounted to the surface cleaning head. A mounting member mounted to the support member. At least one of a first cleaning stage of the upright surface cleaning apparatus and a suction motor is mounted directly or indirectly to the mounting member. A suction motor is provided in the fluid flow path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2012
    Publication date: August 16, 2012
    Applicant: G.B.D. CORP.
    Inventor: Wayne Ernest Conrad
  • Patent number: 8239999
    Abstract: A mop assembly includes a handle having a control member connected to a lower end thereof and the control member is located within a connection unit which is connected to the handle. A locking unit is connected to outside of the connection unit and is hooked to a main body. The main body includes a case in which a tank, a steam generation device and a pivotal member are located therein. An operation bar is pivotably connected to the case. The pivotal member is able to activate the steam generation device by pushing the handle downward. The main body can be disengaged from the locking unit and used individually. The steam generation device can be activated by operation of an operation bar on the main body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Inventor: Pet-Cheng Hsu
  • Publication number: 20120124770
    Abstract: Vacuum cleaner (1) of stick or upright type, which vacuum cleaner (1) comprises a housing (2), a nozzle (3) with an air inlet (4), a dust separation chamber (5), a fan unit (6) and at least one air outlet, whereby the fan unit (6) is adapted to create an air flow in a flow path extending from the air inlet (4) via the dust separation chamber (5) to the air outlet, and whereby the housing (2) comprises two main separate parts (7, 8) connectable to each other, of which one part (7) comprises the dust separation chamber (5) and the fan unit (6), and the other part (8) comprises a handle for the stick or upright type vacuum cleaner. At least one air outlet (15) is placed in the part (8) comprising the handle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2009
    Publication date: May 24, 2012
    Inventors: Christer Engström, Ulrik Danestad
  • Patent number: 8117713
    Abstract: A canister vacuum cleaner comprises a base, a recovery tank, and a clean solution tank. The vacuum cleaner can be used for dry vacuuming, wet vacuuming, and can distribute cleaning solution to a floor surface and has means for a fluid distribution system and a recovery system. The clean solution tank can be filled with a cleaning solution for distribution to a floor surface and the recovery tank is used for collecting dry or liquid matter recovered from vacuuming.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: BISSELL Homecare, Inc.
    Inventors: Gary A. Kasper, Allen W. Scott, Jose Carlito Santiago
  • Patent number: 8108967
    Abstract: A handle assembly for a cleaning appliance includes a slidably extendible wand and a connecting portion that includes a first locking arrangement releasably securing the handle assembly to the main body of the cleaning appliance, a second locking arrangement releasably locking the wand in a pre-determined position with respect to the connecting portion and an actuator. The actuator is adapted and arranged to move the first and second locking arrangements between locked and unlocked positions. The first locking arrangement is movable independently of the actuator. This arrangement allows a single actuator to be operated by a user to unlock both the first and second locking arrangements simultaneously. However, because the first locking arrangement can move independently of the second locking arrangement, it is possible to secure the handle assembly to the main body of the cleaning appliance while keeping the wand in a locked position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2012
    Assignee: Dyson Technology Limited
    Inventor: Ralph Michael Wood
  • Patent number: 8091168
    Abstract: A handheld vacuum cleaner housing with a frame element forming at least a portion of a handle and extending in a main handle direction. A through hole passes through and is encircled by the frame element, and is configured to receive one or more fingers of an operator. A top casing element is connected to the frame element and covers at least some of a top side of the frame element. A bottom casing element is connected to the frame element and covers at least some of the bottom side of the frame element. The frame element, top casing element and bottom casing element are arranged to form at least part of a vacuum source housing for accommodating at least a part of a vacuum source. A vacuum cleaner having a similar housing, as well as a detachable second housing having a debris compartment and nozzle, is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: AB Electrolux
    Inventors: Henrik Holm, Roger Karlsson, Oskar Fjellman
  • Patent number: 8074321
    Abstract: The disclosed vacuum cleaner has a smaller, separable vacuum unit that is releasably attached to a larger, base unit tank assembly. It provides a combination vacuum cleaner that has small- and large-capacity configurations suited for vacuum applications having different volumes, locations, or other features. The vacuum cleaner includes a single vacuum source sized for use with the larger tank structure, yet coupled to and removable integrally with the smaller vacuum unit. The smaller vacuum unit can be quickly and easily attached to and removed from the larger tank assembly to facilitate use of the vacuum cleaner in the desired configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Assignee: Shop Vac Corporation
    Inventors: Kevin D. Fry, Robert Lent Crevling, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20110283476
    Abstract: The invention relates to a vacuum cleaner with a golf massage club, including a handle (4), a cleaner body (3) connected to the first end of the handle (4), and a suction head (1) connected to the head of the cleaner body (3), wherein a golf massage head (5) is connected to the second end of the handle (4). With the vacuum cleaner of the invention, the user can use the handle for human body massage when the vacuum cleaner is not in use. The vacuum cleaner of the invention is of compact structure and multiple functions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2011
    Publication date: November 24, 2011
    Inventor: Yathung TAM
  • Patent number: 8042224
    Abstract: A cleaning appliance includes a main body, a handle assembly and a hose. The handle assembly includes a tube and a gripping portion fixedly attached thereto. The hose has one end attached to the main body. The tube is movable relative to the main body between a stored position in which at least a part of the tube lies within the hose and an extended position in which the gripping portion can be used to manipulate the cleaning appliance in use. By providing such an arrangement, the handle assembly and the hose can be stored compactly. When the user wishes to store the cleaning appliance, the tube can be retracted inside the hose for storage. When the tube is extended, the gripping portion is at a convenient height to be manipulated by a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: Dyson Technology Limited
    Inventors: William Robert James White, Tom Vallance Hamilton Crawford
  • Publication number: 20110219567
    Abstract: A surface cleaning apparatus comprises a floor cleaning head having a dirty air inlet, a cleaning brush and a brush motor. An air flow passage extending from the dirty air inlet to a clean air outlet. An upper section is moveably mounted to the surface cleaning head between an storage position and an in use position. The upper section comprises a cleaning unit including a suction motor positioned in the air flow passage. At least one of the upper section and the cleaning unit is removably mounted to the floor cleaning head in a preset orientation. When the surface cleaning apparatus is assembled, the cleaning unit is spaced from the floor cleaning head. An alignment member is provided on the surface cleaning apparatus. The alignment member requires the one of the upper section and the cleaning unit to be in the preset orientation when mounted on the floor cleaning head. An electrical conductive member is electrically connected to the brush motor and releaseably electrically connected to the cleaning unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2010
    Publication date: September 15, 2011
    Applicant: G.B.D. CORP.
    Inventor: Wayne Ernest Conrad
  • Patent number: 8015661
    Abstract: A vacuum cleaner includes a tank having a bottom and an inlet for receiving debris, a motor assembly disposed adjacent to the tank, the motor assembly adapted to draw debris into the tank through the inlet, a battery pack disposed adjacent the bottom of the tank, and a connection from the battery pack to the motor assembly that is adapted to carry current between the battery pack and the motor assembly. The battery pack includes at least one battery and supplies power to the motor assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: Shop Vac Corporation
    Inventors: Mark E. Baer, Li H. Liu, Jonathan Miller
  • Patent number: 7987549
    Abstract: The invention relates to a vacuum cleaner with a golf massage club, including a handle (4), a cleaner body (3) connected to the first end of the handle (4), and a suction head (1) connected to the head of the cleaner body (3), wherein a golf massage head (5) is connected to the second end of the handle (4). With the vacuum cleaner of the invention, the user can use the handle for human body massage when the vacuum cleaner is not in use. The vacuum cleaner of the invention is of compact structure and multiple functions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Inventor: Yathung Tam
  • Publication number: 20110173771
    Abstract: A vacuum cleaner is provided. The vacuum cleaner includes a first suction unit, a main body, a second suction unit, a connection flow-tube, and a flow-passage switching device. The main body communicates with the first suction unit and includes a suction motor to generate a suction force. The second suction unit is configured to be selectively attached to the main body. The connection flow-tube is configured to selectively connect the first suction unit or the second suction unit to the suction motor. The flow-passage switching device is configured to connect the connection flow-tube to the first section unit or the second suction unit according to a disposition state of the second suction unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2009
    Publication date: July 21, 2011
    Inventors: Seong-Ho Park, Hae-Seock Yang, Young-Min Hyun, Hyuk-joo Kwon, Hyo-Churl Shin, Sang-Jun Park, Jin-Wook Seo
  • Patent number: 7958597
    Abstract: A handheld vacuum cleaner having a housing with an electric motor, a fan driven by the motor, a debris emptying hole for removal of debris from a debris collecting compartment inside the vacuum cleaner, a lid pivotally hinged about a pivot axis and adapted to allow closing and opening of the debris emptying hole, a nozzle defining a nozzle opening in a forward end of the vacuum cleaner through which an air stream may be drawn for collecting debris, and at least two wheels, which are positioned adjacent the nozzle opening and are rotatable about a common rotation axis. The pivot axis for the lid and the rotation axis for the wheels are located on a common axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Assignee: AB Electrolux
    Inventors: Thommy Frantzen, Henrik Holm, Roger Karlsson
  • Patent number: 7917990
    Abstract: A duct cleaning apparatus for cleaning ventilation ducts in a household environment comprises a typical household or light industrial vacuum cleaning having a sealed container, a blower having suction and exhaust, a first flexible hose attached to the suction port and a second flexible hose attached to the exhaust port. The hoses are adjacent and parallel to each other and fixed together using a plurality regularly spaced elastic bands. A blower nozzle and a suction nozzle are adjacent to each other and placed in a duct for cleaning. The blower nozzle directs a jet of air into the vacuum zone of the suction nozzle thereby agitating dirt and debris within the vacuum zone for a more efficient cleaning action.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2011
    Inventor: Doug Moroz
  • Patent number: 7908705
    Abstract: The invention relates to a bare floor cleaner capable of wet pickup through a first nozzle opening with the aid of a squeegee, wet scrubbing with an agitator, and dry pickup through a second nozzle opening. The bare floor cleaner comprises a dual-path nozzle assembly having a wet suction path in communication with the first nozzle opening and a dry suction path in communication with the second nozzle opening. A diverter valve selectively controls fluid communication between a suction source and one of the first and second nozzle openings for conversion between wet and dry modes. The bare floor cleaner further comprises a single actuator that controls the positions of the agitator and of the diverter valve. As a result, the cleaning mode of the bare floor cleaner can be controlled with a single switch that is preferably located on the handle assembly for convenient access by a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Assignee: BISSELL Homecare, Inc.
    Inventor: Gabriel S. VanderBaan
  • Patent number: 7891045
    Abstract: Disclosed is a robot cleaner system having superior functions of sucking dust and exhausting dust to a docking station. The robot cleaner includes a dust suction port to suck dust, a dust collecting chamber to collect dust introduced through the dust suction port, a dust exhaust port to exhaust dust collected in the dust collecting chamber to the docking station, a connection path extending from the dust suction port to the dust exhaust port in adjacent to the dust collecting chamber, and a valve device provided between the connection path and the dust collecting chamber, an opening/closing of the valve device allowing the dust collecting chamber to selectively communicate with the dust suction port or the dust exhaust port according to a pressure difference between the dust collecting chamber and the connection path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yong Tae Kim, Hoon Wee, Dong Won Kim
  • Patent number: 7861366
    Abstract: A robot cleaner system having an improved docking structure between a robot cleaner and a docking station, which is capable of an easy docking operation of the robot cleaner and preventing loss of a suction force generated in the docking station. The robot cleaner includes a docking portion to be inserted into a dust suction hole of the docking station upon a docking operation. The docking portion may be a protrusion, which protrudes out of a robot body to be inserted into a dust suction path defined in the docking station, the protrusion communicates a dust discharge hole of the robot cleaner with the dust suction path of the docking station. The robot cleaner system includes a coupling device to keep the robot cleaner and the docking station in their docked state. The coupling device is configured to have a variety of shapes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jung Yoon Hahm, Kurgi Eduard, Hoon Wee, Jin Ha Jeong, Jae Man Joo
  • Patent number: 7823250
    Abstract: The invention relates to a bare floor cleaner capable of wet pickup through a first nozzle opening with the aid of a squeegee, wet scrubbing with an agitator, and dry pickup through a second nozzle opening. The bare floor cleaner comprises a dual-path nozzle assembly having a wet suction path in communication with the first nozzle opening and a dry suction path in communication with the second nozzle opening. A diverter valve selectively controls fluid communication between a suction source and one of the first and second nozzle openings for conversion between wet and dry modes. The bare floor cleaner further comprises a single actuator that controls the positions of the agitator and of the diverter valve. As a result, the cleaning mode of the bare floor cleaner can be controlled with a single switch that is preferably located on the handle assembly for convenient access by a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2010
    Assignee: BISSELL Homecare, Inc.
    Inventor: Gabriel S. Vander Baan
  • Publication number: 20100263159
    Abstract: A canister vacuum cleaner includes a housing, a suction hose connectable to the housing, a vacuum attachment, and a suction wand. The suction wand includes at least an upper wand section and a lower wand section that can be separated from one another, an upper end of the upper wand section being couplable with the suction hose, a lower end of a lower wand section being couplable with the vacuum attachment, at least one of the lower wand section and the vacuum attachment being configured to be held to the housing in a parked position by a first connector, a second connector being disposed on the upper wand section and attachable to the lower wand section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2008
    Publication date: October 21, 2010
    Applicant: MIELE & CIE. KG
    Inventors: Christian Finke, Volker Gerth, Dirk Wegener
  • Patent number: 7779505
    Abstract: A wet/dry canister vacuum cleaner has a base assembly, a recovery tank, and a solution tank. A hose interface adapted to mount a vacuum hose is pivotally mounted on the base assembly for selective fluid communication with the inlet to the recovery tank. The hose interface is moveable between a position in which the hose interface is coupled with the recovery tank and a suction source in fluid communication with the recovery tank can draw fluid through the hose interface and the recovery tank, and a second position, in which the hose interface is removed from the recovery tank and the recovery tank can be removed from the vacuum cleaner without having to disconnect the vacuum hose from the vacuum cleaner. The vacuum cleaner can further comprise a diverter assembly for switching between dry and wet mode cleaning, where the diverter assembly forms an inlet to the recovery tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2010
    Assignee: Bissell Homecare, Inc.
    Inventors: Alan J. Krebs, Kenneth M. Lenkiewicz
  • Patent number: 7779504
    Abstract: A cleaner system having an improved connecting position and structure between a robot cleaner and a docking station for achieving an improvement in dust removal performance of the docking station. The docking station performs manual cleaning. The robot cleaner has a dust outlet at a top wall of the robot body to discharge the dust collected in the first dust collector into the docking station, and the docking station has a connection port at a position thereof corresponding to the dust outlet to receive the dust discharged from the dust outlet. The robot cleaner or docking station includes a connector to connect the dust outlet to the connection port. The docking station includes a suction part, suction pipe, and suction hole for manual operation. A channel switching member is mounted in the docking station to selectively apply power required to suck dust to the connection port or suction hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2010
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jun Hwa Lee, Jae Man Joo