Cleaning apparatus with backlit debris receptacle and method of illuminating dirt collection

Abstract

The principles and embodiments of the presently claimed invention relate to selectively illuminating a debris receptacle while it is collecting debris, obscuring the view of the collected debris when the cleaning activity is concluded, and supplying power and/or electrical signals to a debris receptacle, where the light sources are provided with electricity over electrical paths between the main body of the cleaning apparatus and a selectively detachable debris receptacle through electrical contacts that form a physical connection when the debris receptacle is inserted in the cleaning apparatus.

1 - 17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . A surface cleaning apparatus comprising:
 a handle;   a power source electrically connected to at least one electrical component of the cleaning apparatus and a suction source for providing suction;   a main body including a main body electrical contact;   a debris receptacle removably secured to the main body, the debris receptacle comprising
 an air ingress for receiving debris-laden air; 
 an air egress for discharging cleaned air from the receptacle; 
 a receptacle wall that forms a peripheral boundary of the receptacle; 
 at least one receptacle electrical contact disposed on the receptacle wall, corresponding to the main body electrical contact and forming an electrical connection when the debris receptacle is operatively engaged with the main body; 
   at least one illumination source electrically connected to the receptacle electrical contact; and   a suction base unit in fluid communication with the suction source.   
     
     
         19 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 18 , which further comprises a flapper operatively associated with a bottom peripheral edge of the receptacle wall, wherein the at least one illumination source is located around the receptacle wall and at least a distance from the bottom peripheral edge of the receptacle wall to allow the flapper to fully close and seal the debris receptacle. 
     
     
         20 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 18 , which further comprises
 a flapper operatively associated with a bottom peripheral edge of the debris receptacle wall; and   a controlled tension apparatus aligned vertically along an exterior surface of the debris receptacle wall and operatively associated with the flapper, wherein the at least one illumination source is located substantially adjacent to and parallel with the controlled tension apparatus.   
     
     
         21 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the main body electrical contact is located on the exterior surface of the main body in proximity to a mating edge of a suction conduit, and the receptacle electrical contact is located adjacent to the air ingress or the air egress of the debris receptacle and in a location corresponding to the position of the main body electrical contact, so that an exposed surface of the main body electrical contact is placed in physical contact with an exposed surface of the receptacle electrical contact when the receptacle is physically engaged and operatively associated with the main body, so that an electrical current may flow across the abutting surfaces. 
     
     
         22 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the main body electrical contact is located on the exterior surface of the main body corresponding to a mating surface of the debris receptacle, and the receptacle electrical contact is located on the exterior surface of the debris receptacle wall in a location corresponding to the position of the main body electrical contact, so that an exposed surface of the main body electrical contact is placed in physical contact with an exposed surface of the receptacle electrical contact when the receptacle is physically engaged and operatively associated with the main body, so that an electrical current may flow across the abutting surfaces. 
     
     
         23 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the main body electrical contact is located on an exterior surface of the main body corresponding to a mating surface of the debris receptacle, and the receptacle electrical contact is located on the exterior surface of the debris receptacle wall in a location corresponding to the position of the main body electrical contact, so that an exposed surface of the main body electrical contact is placed in physical contact with an exposed surface of the receptacle electrical contact when the receptacle is physically engaged and operatively associated with the main body, so that an electrical current may flow across the abutting surfaces. 
     
     
         24 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 18 , which further comprises a flapper operatively associated with a bottom peripheral edge of the receptacle wall, wherein the main body electrical contact is located on the exterior surface of the main body corresponding to a mating surface of the debris receptacle flapper, and the receptacle electrical contact is located on the exterior surface of the debris receptacle flapper in a location corresponding to the position of the main body electrical contact, so that an exposed surface of the main body electrical contact is placed in physical contact with an exposed surface of the receptacle electrical contact when the receptacle is physically engaged and operatively associated with the main body, so that an electrical current may flow across the abutting surfaces. 
     
     
         25 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 18 , which further comprises
 a flapper operatively associated with a bottom peripheral edge of the receptacle wall, and   protruding engagement teeth disposed on the main body, wherein the main body electrical contact is located on a surface of the protruding engagement teeth corresponding to a mating surface of the flapper, and the receptacle electrical contact is located on the exterior surface of the flapper in a location corresponding to the position of the main body electrical contact, so that an exposed surface of the main body electrical contact is placed in physical contact with an exposed surface of the receptacle electrical contact when the receptacle is physically engaged and operatively associated with the main body, so that an electrical current may flow across the abutting surfaces.   
     
     
         26 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 18 , which further comprises a control feature on the handle configured to form an electrical circuit between the power source and the at least one electrical component and suction source, so that sufficient electricity is supplied to the suction source and the at least one illumination source to power the suction source and the at least one illumination source at the same time. 
     
     
         27 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 26 , wherein the receptacle wall is sufficiently tinted so the interior volume of the debris receptacle is substantially unviewable unless the at least one illumination source is receiving electricity from the power source. 
     
     
         28 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the at least one illumination source is configured to illuminate an interior of the debris receptacle to permit a user to view the interior of the debris receptacle when the surface cleaning apparatus is in operation and wherein the debris receptacle is tinted to inhibit a user from viewing the interior of the debris receptacle when the surface cleaning apparatus is not in operation. 
     
     
         29 . A surface cleaning apparatus comprising:
 a power source;   a suction source for providing suction electrically connected to the power source;   a main body comprising
 a recess; and 
 at least one main body electrical contact disposed within the recess; 
   a debris collecting device removably secured to the main body, the debris collecting device comprising
 a debris receptacle; and 
 at least one receptacle electrical contact disposed on the debris receptacle and corresponding to the at least one body electrical contact when the debris collecting device is operatively engaged in the recess of the main body; and 
   a suction base unit in fluid communication with the suction source.   
     
     
         30 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 29 , wherein the main body electrical contact and receptacle electrical contact are electro-mechanical contacts. 
     
     
         31 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 29 , wherein the at least one main body electrical contact is located on a mating surface of suction conduit, debris conduit, a recess seat, or a tooth top surface. 
     
     
         32 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 29 , wherein the at least one receptacle electrical contact is located on an exterior surface of the receptacle wall, a mating surface of air ingress, a mating surface of air egress, or a bottom surface of a flapper. 
     
     
         33 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 29 , wherein the at least one main body electrical contact is configured to provide electric power to at least one illumination source. 
     
     
         34 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 33 , wherein the at least one illumination source is configured to illuminate an interior of the debris receptacle to permit a user to view the interior of the debris receptacle when the surface cleaning apparatus is in operation and wherein the debris receptacle is tinted to inhibit a user from viewing the interior of the debris receptacle when the surface cleaning apparatus is not in operation. 
     
     
         35 . A surface cleaning apparatus comprising:
 a handle;   at least one electrical component;   a suction source;   a power source electrically connected to the at least one electrical component of the cleaning apparatus and the suction source for providing suction;   a main body;   a debris receptacle removably secured to the main body, the debris receptacle comprising
 an air ingress for receiving debris-laden air; 
 an air egress for discharging cleaned air from the receptacle; and 
 a receptacle wall that forms a peripheral boundary of the receptacle; 
   at least one illumination source introducing light into the interior of the debris receptacle; and   a suction base unit in fluid communication with the suction source.   
     
     
         36 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 35 , further comprising at least one main body electrical contact and at least one receptacle electrical contact configured to engage the at least one main body electrical contact to thereby provide electric power to at least one illumination source when the debris receptacle is secured to the main body. 
     
     
         37 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 35 , wherein the at least one illumination source is configured to illuminate an interior of the debris receptacle to permit a user to view the interior of the debris receptacle when the surface cleaning apparatus is in operation and wherein the debris receptacle is tinted to inhibit a user from viewing the interior of the debris receptacle when the surface cleaning apparatus is not in operation.