Surface cleaning apparatus

Abstract

A surface cleaning apparatus is capable of both vacuum cleaning and steam cleaning, and can be operated in a vacuum cleaning mode and a steam cleaning mode. In the vacuum cleaning mode, power is supplied to the vacuum motor, and the heated vapor generator is inoperable. In the steam cleaning mode, power is supplied to the heated vapor generator, and the vacuum motor is inoperable.

1 . A surface cleaning apparatus, comprising:
 a vacuum motor for generating a vacuum force;   a supply tank for containing a supply of fluid;   a heated vapor generator for generating steam from the fluid in the supply tank; and   a control circuit for controlling the supply of electrical energy to the vacuum motor and the heated vapor generator, the control circuit comprising a power supply line and a switch, wherein:
 in a steam cleaning mode, the switch is configured to connect the heated vapor generator to the power supply line to supply electrical energy to the heated vapor generator; and 
 in a vacuum cleaning mode, the switch is configured to connect the vacuum motor to the power supply line to supply electrical energy to the vacuum motor; and 
   wherein the vacuum motor is inoperable in the steam cleaning mode and the heated vapor generator is inoperable in the vacuum cleaning mode.   
     
     
         2 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 1 , and further comprising a rotatable brushroll having radially extending bristles, wherein the brushroll is rotatably driven in the vacuum cleaning mode. 
     
     
         3 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the brushroll is operated independently of the heated vapor generator. 
     
     
         4 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 1 , and further comprising a pump fluidly coupled to the supply tank, wherein the pump is activatable in the steam cleaning mode. 
     
     
         5 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the pump is powered independently of the vacuum motor. 
     
     
         6 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the surface cleaning apparatus comprises an upright unit including a base module and a handle assembly pivotally attached to the base module. 
     
     
         7 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the base module comprises the heated vapor generator, vapor nozzle, and a vapor conduit. 
     
     
         8 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the base module comprises a brushroll having radially extending bristles and a suction nozzle. 
     
     
         9 . A surface cleaning apparatus, comprising:
 a vacuum cleaning system comprising a suction nozzle, a vacuum motor for generating a vacuum force at the suction nozzle, and a brushroll;   a heated vapor cleaning system comprising a supply tank for containing a supply of fluid, a pump, and a heated vapor generator for generating steam from the fluid in the supply tank; and   a control circuit for supplying electrical energy to the vacuum cleaning system in a vacuum cleaning mode and supplying electrical energy to the heated vapor cleaning system in a steam cleaning mode, the control circuit comprising a switch, wherein:   in the vacuum cleaning mode, the switch is configured to couple the vacuum motor to a power supply to supply electrical energy to the vacuum motor, and the heated vapor generator is inoperable; and   in the steam cleaning mode, the switch is configured to couple the heated vapor generator to a power supply to supply electrical energy to the heated vapor generator, and the vacuum motor is inoperable.   
     
     
         10 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the brushroll is operated independently of the heated vapor generator. 
     
     
         11 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the pump is powered independently of the vacuum motor. 
     
     
         12 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the surface cleaning apparatus comprises an upright unit including a base module and a handle assembly pivotally attached to the base module. 
     
     
         13 . A method of operating a surface cleaning apparatus having a vacuum cleaning system comprising a vacuum motor for generating a vacuum force at the suction nozzle, and a brushroll, and a heated vapor cleaning system comprising a supply tank for containing a supply of fluid, a pump, and a heated vapor generator for generating steam from the fluid in the supply tank, the method comprising:
 supplying power to the vacuum motor in a vacuum cleaning mode, wherein the vapor generator is inoperable in the vacuum cleaning mode; and   supplying power to the heated vapor generator in a steam cleaning mode, wherein the vacuum motor is inoperable in the steam cleaning mode.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , and further comprising generating a vacuum force at the suction nozzle when power is supplied to the vacuum motor. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , and further comprising generating steam in the heated vapor generator when power is supplied to the heated vapor generator. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , and further comprising releasing the generated steam to a surface to be cleaned.