Surface cleaning apparatus

Abstract

A reconfigurable surface cleaning apparatus includes a floor cleaning unit comprising a surface cleaning head, and a portable cleaning unit comprising an energy storage member and an inverted cyclone. The reconfigurable surface cleaning apparatus is operable in an above floor cleaning mode in which the portable cleaning unit is removed from the floor cleaning unit and in a floor cleaning mode in which the portable cleaning unit is mounted to the floor cleaning unit. In the floor cleaning mode. In the floor cleaning mode, the cyclone air inlet is located up to 20 inches above the floor.

1 . A reconfigurable surface cleaning apparatus comprising:
 (a) a floor cleaning unit comprising a surface cleaning head, an upper section and a floor cleaning unit air flow path extending from a surface cleaning head dirty air inlet to a floor cleaning unit air outlet, the upper section being moveably mounted to the surface cleaning head between an upright storage position and an inclined floor cleaning position, the floor cleaning unit air flow path including an upflow conduit extending to the floor cleaning unit air outlet; and   (b) a portable cleaning unit removably mountable to the floor cleaning unit, the portable cleaning unit comprising an energy storage member, a cyclone and a suction motor, the cyclone having a cyclone axis of rotation, a cyclone inlet and a cyclone outlet, and, when the portable cleaning unit is mounted to the floor cleaning unit and the upper section is in the upright storage position, the cyclone has an upper end and a lower end and the cyclone axis extends generally vertically,   wherein the reconfigurable surface cleaning apparatus is operable in a floor cleaning mode in which the portable cleaning unit is mounted to the floor cleaning unit and the energy storage member is operated to power the suction motor,   wherein, when the reconfigurable surface cleaning apparatus is in the floor cleaning mode, the floor cleaning unit is positioned on a floor and the upper section is in the upright storage position, the cyclone air inlet is located no more than 20 inches above the floor, and   wherein the reconfigurable surface cleaning apparatus is also operable in an above floor cleaning mode in which the portable cleaning unit is disconnected from air flow with the floor cleaning unit and operated using the energy storage member.   
     
     
         2 . The reconfigurable surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 1  wherein portable cleaning unit further comprises an inlet conduit and the upflow conduit is slideably receivable in the inlet conduit. 
     
     
         3 . The reconfigurable surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 2  wherein the inlet conduit extends generally vertically when the portable cleaning unit is mounted to the floor cleaning unit and the upper section is in the upright storage position, whereby the upflow conduit is seated in the inlet conduit as the portable cleaning unit is mounted to the floor cleaning unit. 
     
     
         4 . The reconfigurable surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 2  wherein the portable cleaning unit further comprises a dirt collection chamber in communication with the cyclone via a cyclone dirt outlet and the inlet conduit extends through the dirt collection chamber. 
     
     
         5 . The reconfigurable surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the cyclone air inlet is provided at the upper end of the cyclone. 
     
     
         6 . The reconfigurable surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the cyclone air inlet is provided at the lower end of the cyclone. 
     
     
         7 . The reconfigurable surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 6  wherein the portable cleaning unit further comprises a dirt collection chamber in communication with the cyclone via a cyclone dirt outlet and the inlet conduit extends through the dirt collection chamber. 
     
     
         8 . The reconfigurable surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the suction motor is operated at the same power level in the floor cleaning mode and in the above floor cleaning mode. 
     
     
         9 . The reconfigurable surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the suction motor is operated at a first power level in the floor cleaning mode and at a second, higher power level in the above floor cleaning mode. 
     
     
         10 . A reconfigurable surface cleaning apparatus comprising:
 (a) a floor cleaning unit comprising a surface cleaning head, an upper section and a floor cleaning unit air flow path extending from a surface cleaning head dirty air inlet to a floor cleaning unit air outlet, the upper section being moveably mounted to the surface cleaning head between an upright storage position and an inclined floor cleaning position, the floor cleaning unit air flow path including an upflow conduit extending to the floor cleaning unit air outlet; and   (b) a portable cleaning unit removably mountable to the floor cleaning unit, the portable cleaning unit comprising an energy storage member, an air treatment member and a suction motor, the air treatment member having an air treatment member inlet and an air treatment member outlet, and, when the portable cleaning unit is mounted to the floor cleaning unit and the upper section is in the upright storage position, the air treatment member has an upper end and a lower end,   wherein the reconfigurable surface cleaning apparatus is operable in a floor cleaning mode in which the portable cleaning unit is mounted to the floor cleaning unit and the energy storage member is operated to power the suction motor,   wherein, when the reconfigurable surface cleaning apparatus is in the floor cleaning mode, the surface cleaning unit is positioned on a floor and the upper section is in the upright storage position, the air treatment member air inlet is located no more than 20 inches above the floor, and   wherein the reconfigurable surface cleaning apparatus is also operable in an above floor cleaning mode in which the portable cleaning unit is disconnected from air flow with the floor cleaning unit and operated using the energy storage member.   
     
     
         11 . The reconfigurable surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 10  wherein portable cleaning unit further comprises an inlet conduit and the upflow conduit is slideably receivable in the inlet conduit. 
     
     
         12 . The reconfigurable surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 11  wherein the inlet conduit extends generally vertically when the portable cleaning unit is mounted to the floor cleaning unit and the upper section is in the upright storage position, whereby the upflow conduit is seated in the inlet conduit as the portable cleaning unit is mounted to the floor cleaning unit. 
     
     
         13 . The reconfigurable surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 12  wherein the portable cleaning unit further comprises a dirt collection chamber in communication with the air treatment member via an air treatment member dirt outlet, and the inlet conduit extends through the dirt collection chamber. 
     
     
         14 . The reconfigurable surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 10  wherein the air treatment member air inlet is provided in the upper end of the air treatment member. 
     
     
         15 . The reconfigurable surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 10  wherein the air treatment member air inlet is provided in the lower end of the air treatment member. 
     
     
         16 . The reconfigurable surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 15  wherein the portable cleaning unit further comprises a dirt collection chamber in communication with the air treatment member via an air treatment member dirt outlet, and the inlet conduit extends through the dirt collection chamber. 
     
     
         17 . The reconfigurable surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 10  wherein the suction motor is operated at the same power level in the floor cleaning mode and in the above floor cleaning mode. 
     
     
         18 . The reconfigurable surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 10  wherein the suction motor is operated at a first power level in the floor cleaning mode and at a second, higher power level in the above floor cleaning mode. 
     
     
         19 . The reconfigurable surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 10  wherein the suction motor is operated at the same power level provided by the energy storage member in the floor cleaning mode and in the above floor cleaning mode. 
     
     
         20 . The reconfigurable surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 10  wherein the suction motor is operated at a first power level provided by the energy storage member in the floor cleaning mode and at a second, higher power level in the above floor cleaning mode.