Vacuum cleaner docking station

Abstract

A vacuum cleaner docking station is disclosed, the vacuum cleaner docking station includes a vacuum cleaner separator and a dock. The vacuum cleaner separator is operable to separate debris from a suction airflow. The vacuum cleaner separator includes a dirty air inlet, a clean air outlet, and a debris collector having a debris outlet. The vacuum cleaner separator is removably coupled to the dock. The dock includes an airflow source operable to generate an airflow. The dock further includes a dock debris collector and an airflow outlet in fluid communication with the airflow source such that the airflow generated by the airflow source is discharged from the airflow source through the airflow outlet. Airflow generated by the airflow source of the dock travels through the vacuum cleaner separator and through the debris outlet of vacuum cleaner to blow debris out of the debris outlet and into the dock debris collector.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A vacuum cleaner docking station comprising:
 a vacuum cleaner separator, the vacuum cleaner separator operable to separate debris from a suction airflow, the vacuum cleaner separator including a dirty air inlet, a clean air outlet, and a debris collector having a debris outlet;   a dock, the vacuum cleaner separator removably coupled to the dock, the dock including,
 an airflow source operable to generate an airflow, 
 an airflow outlet in fluid communication with the airflow source such that the airflow generated by the airflow source is discharged from the airflow source through the airflow outlet, 
 a dock debris collector, 
   wherein the vacuum cleaner separator is configured to be coupled to the dock with the vacuum cleaner separator in fluid communication with the airflow outlet of the dock and the debris outlet of the vacuum cleaner separator in fluid communication with the dock debris collector such that the airflow generated by the airflow source of the dock travels through the vacuum cleaner separator and through the debris outlet of the vacuum cleaner separator to blow debris out of the debris outlet and into the dock debris collector.   
     
     
         2 . The vacuum cleaner docking station of  claim 1 , further comprising a vacuum cleaner, the vacuum cleaner including,
 a body,   the vacuum cleaner separator coupled to the body   the body or the vacuum cleaner separator including a vacuum suction inlet, and   a suction source in fluid communication with the suction inlet and the vacuum cleaner separator, the suction source operable to generate the suction airflow through the suction inlet to draw debris from a surface being cleaned into the vacuum cleaner separator through the dirty air inlet of the vacuum cleaner separator.   
     
     
         3 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 2 , wherein the suction inlet is removably coupled to the airflow outlet of the dock such that airflow generated by the airflow source of the dock travels through the suction inlet of the vacuum cleaner when the vacuum cleaner separator is coupled to the dock. 
     
     
         4 . The vacuum cleaner docking station of  claim 2 ,
 wherein the vacuum cleaner further comprises a wand and a foot, the wand pivotally coupled to the foot, the foot including a foot suction inlet, and the wand provides fluid communication between the foot suction inlet and the vacuum suction inlet,   wherein the foot suction inlet is removably coupled to the airflow outlet of the dock such that airflow generated by the airflow source of the dock travels through the foot suction inlet, the wand, and the suction inlet of the vacuum cleaner when the vacuum cleaner separator is coupled to the dock.   
     
     
         5 . The vacuum cleaner docking station of  claim 2 ,
 wherein the vacuum cleaner further comprises a wand and a foot, the wand pivotally coupled to the foot, the foot including a foot suction inlet, and the wand provides fluid communication between the foot suction inlet and the vacuum suction inlet,   wherein the wand includes an aperture, wherein the wand aperture is removably coupled to the airflow outlet of the dock such that airflow generated by the airflow source of the dock travels through the aperture, the wand, and the separator when the vacuum cleaner is coupled to the dock.   
     
     
         6 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 5 , wherein the wand includes a valve movable between an open position to open the aperture and a closed position to close the aperture, and wherein the valve of the wand is biased toward the closed position. 
     
     
         7 . The vacuum cleaner docking station according to  claim 2 ,
 wherein the vacuum includes a foot having a suction inlet nozzle and a passageway between the suction inlet nozzle and the separator,   wherein the passageway has a valve connectable to the airflow outlet of the dock such that airflow generated by the airflow source of the dock travels through the valve, the passageway, and the separator when the vacuum cleaner is coupled to the dock.   
     
     
         8 . The vacuum cleaner docking station of  claim 2 , wherein the vacuum cleaner separator is uncoupled from the body of the vacuum cleaner in order to couple the vacuum cleaner separator to the dock such that the dirty air inlet of the vacuum cleaner separator is coupled to the airflow outlet of the dock so that the airflow generated by the airflow source travels from the airflow outlet of the dock and through the dirty air inlet of the vacuum cleaner separator. 
     
     
         9 . The vacuum cleaner docking station of  claim 2 , wherein the vacuum cleaner separator is uncoupled from the body of the vacuum cleaner in order to couple the vacuum cleaner separator to the dock such that the clean air outlet of the vacuum cleaner separator is coupled to the airflow outlet of the dock so that the airflow generated by the airflow source travels from the airflow outlet of the dock and through the clean air outlet of the vacuum cleaner separator. 
     
     
         10 . The vacuum cleaner docking station of  claim 9 , wherein the vacuum cleaner separator includes a filter having a downstream side and a dirty side, wherein the airflow generated by the airflow source travels through the filter in the direction from the downstream side to the dirty side pushing dust and debris from the filter before passing through the debris outlet of the vacuum cleaner separator. 
     
     
         11 . The vacuum cleaner docking station according to  claim 1 , wherein the vacuum cleaner separator includes a door that moves between an open position to open the debris outlet and a closed position to close the debris outlet, and wherein the door is automatically opened when the vacuum cleaner separator is coupled to the dock. 
     
     
         12 . The vacuum cleaner docking station of  claim 11 , wherein the vacuum cleaner separator includes a latch that retains the door in the closed position, wherein either the dock or the vacuum cleaner separator includes an actuator that operates the latch to allow the door to move to the open position when the vacuum cleaner separator is coupled to the dock. 
     
     
         13 . The vacuum cleaner docking station according to  claim 1 , wherein the dock debris collector includes a filter bag. 
     
     
         14 . The vacuum cleaner docking station according to  claim 1 , wherein the dock includes a return duct in fluid communication with the dock debris collector, wherein the vacuum cleaner separator is received in the return duct when the vacuum cleaner separator is coupled to the dock such that debris travels out of the debris outlet, through the return duct, and into the dock debris collector. 
     
     
         15 . The vacuum cleaner of the docking station of  claim 14 , wherein the return duct includes a seal that seals against the vacuum cleaner separator. 
     
     
         16 . The vacuum cleaner of the docking station according to  claim 1 , wherein the airflow source includes a motor and a fan. 
     
     
         17 . The vacuum cleaner docking station according to  claim 1 , wherein the dock includes a sensor operable to determine a characteristic regarding the vacuum cleaner docking station and to send a signal to a dock controller, the dock controller being operable to operate the airflow source in accordance with the signal. 
     
     
         18 . The vacuum cleaner docking station of  claim 17 , wherein the sensor is operable to determine whether the vacuum cleaner separator is attached to the dock, and the dock controller operates the airflow source based on the attachment of the vacuum cleaner separator to the dock. 
     
     
         19 . The vacuum cleaner docking station according to  claim 17 , wherein the sensor is a pressure sensor in fluid communication with the airflow source, the pressure sensor operable to sense a pressure of fluid from the airflow source, and the dock controller operates the airflow source in accordance with the pressure. 
     
     
         20 . The vacuum cleaner docking station according to  claim 17 , wherein the vacuum cleaner separator further includes an identifier indicative of a characteristic of the vacuum cleaner separator, the sensor is operable to sense the identifier, and the dock controller operates the airflow source in accordance with the identifier. 
     
     
         21 . The vacuum cleaner docking station according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the vacuum cleaner separator includes a vacuum contact and the dock includes a dock contact,   wherein when the vacuum cleaner separator is connected to the dock, the vacuum contact and the dock contact are electrically connected and operable to transfer electricity between the vacuum cleaner separator and the dock.   
     
     
         22 . The vacuum cleaner docking station of  claim 21 ,
 wherein the vacuum cleaner separator includes a vacuum controller and the dock includes a dock controller,   wherein when the vacuum cleaner separator is connected to the dock and the vacuum contact is electrically connected to the dock contact, the vacuum controller sends a signal to the dock controller through the vacuum contact and the dock contact indicative of a characteristic of the vacuum cleaner separator.   
     
     
         23 . The vacuum cleaner docking station according to  claim 21 , wherein the dock is configured to receive and charge a battery separate from the vacuum cleaner. 
     
     
         24 . A vacuum cleaner docking station operated by a user, the vacuum cleaner docking station comprising:
 a vacuum cleaner operable to separate debris from a suction airflow, the vacuum cleaner including,
 a first sidewall that faces in a direction away from the user in a normal in-use vacuuming position of the vacuum cleaner, 
 a second sidewall that faces in a direction toward the user in the normal in-use vacuuming position of the vacuum cleaner, and 
 a debris collector having a debris outlet; and 
   a dock configured to receive and store the vacuum cleaner in a docked position, the dock including a dock debris collector, and in the docked position the dock is configured to selectively couple the dock debris collector and the debris collector of the vacuum cleaner such that the dock debris collector receives debris separated by the vacuum cleaner from the debris outlet of the debris collector of the vacuum cleaner when the vacuum cleaner is coupled to the dock;   wherein the vacuum cleaner is coupled to the dock by the user with the second sidewall facing in a direction toward the user and the first side wall faces in a direction away from the user.   
     
     
         25 . The vacuum cleaner docking station of  claim 24 , wherein in the normal in-use vacuuming position, the second sidewall faces away from a reference plane and in the docked position, the second sidewall also faces away from the reference plane. 
     
     
         26 . The vacuum cleaner docking station of  claim 24 , wherein the vacuum cleaner is moved to the docked position by the user without rotating the second sidewall away from the user. 
     
     
         27 . The vacuum cleaner docking station of  claim 24 , wherein the vacuum cleaner includes a handle that is configured to be used by the user to move the vacuum cleaner into the docked position and also to move the vacuum cleaner when the vacuum cleaner is being used in the normal in-use vacuuming position. 
     
     
         28 . The vacuum cleaner docking station of  claim 27 , wherein the handle is used to move the vacuum cleaner to the docked position by the user without rotating the second sidewall away from the user. 
     
     
         29 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 24 , wherein the vacuum cleaner includes a battery, wherein the battery is adjacent the second sidewall. 
     
     
         30 . The vacuum cleaner docking station of  claim 29 , wherein
 the vacuum cleaner includes a vacuum contact,   the dock includes a dock contact, and   when the vacuum cleaner is coupled to the dock in the docked position, the vacuum contact is electrically coupled to the dock contact to charge the battery.   
     
     
         31 . A vacuum cleaner docking station comprising:
 a vacuum cleaner separator, the vacuum cleaner separator operable to separate debris from a suction airflow, the vacuum cleaner separator having a first sidewall and a second sidewall opposite the first sidewall;   a dock, the vacuum cleaner separator removably coupled to the dock, the dock including,
 a first sidewall configured to face a reference plane, 
 a second sidewall opposite the first sidewall, 
   wherein in regular use of the vacuum cleaner separator, the vacuum cleaner separator is advanced in an advancing direction extending away from the first sidewall of the vacuum cleaner separator; and   wherein the vacuum cleaner separator is configured to be coupled to the dock with the vacuum cleaner separator in fluid communication with the dock and with the second sidewall of the vacuum cleaner separator facing the second sidewall of the dock and with the second sidewall of the vacuum cleaner separator facing away from the reference plane.   
     
     
         32 . The vacuum cleaner docking station of  claim 31 , wherein
 the vacuum cleaner separator further includes
 a dirty air inlet, 
 a clean air outlet, 
 a debris collector having a debris outlet, 
   the dock further includes
 an airflow source operable to generate an airflow, 
 an airflow outlet in fluid communication with the airflow source such that the airflow generated by the airflow source is discharged from the airflow source through the airflow outlet, 
 a dock debris collector, and 
   wherein the vacuum cleaner separator is configured to be coupled to the dock with the vacuum cleaner separator in fluid communication with the airflow outlet of the dock and the debris outlet of the vacuum cleaner separator in fluid communication with the dock debris collector such that the airflow generated by the airflow source of the dock travels through the vacuum cleaner separator and through the debris outlet of the vacuum cleaner separator to blow debris out of the debris out of the debris outlet and into the dock debris collector.   
     
     
         33 . The vacuum cleaner docking station of  claim 31 , further comprising a vacuum cleaner, the vacuum cleaner including,
 a body,   the vacuum cleaner separator coupled to the body   a suction inlet, and   a suction source in fluid communication with the suction inlet and the vacuum cleaner separator, the suction source operable to generate suction airflow through the suction inlet to draw debris from a surface being cleaned into the vacuum cleaner separator.   
     
     
         34 . The vacuum cleaner docking station of  claim 33 , wherein the suction source is powered by a battery and the battery is coupled to the body, when the vacuum cleaner separator is coupled to the dock the battery of the vacuum cleaner is adjacent the second sidewall of the dock. 
     
     
         35 . The vacuum cleaner docking station according of  claim 34 ,
 wherein the vacuum cleaner includes a vacuum contact and the dock includes a dock contact, and   wherein when the vacuum cleaner is connected to the dock, the vacuum contact and the dock contact are electrically connected and operable to transfer electricity between the vacuum cleaner separator and the dock.   
     
     
         36 . The vacuum cleaner docking station of  claim 33 , wherein the body further includes a handle configured for a user to grasp the handle during regular use of the vacuum cleaner separator and the handle configured for a user to couple the vacuum cleaner separator to the dock. 
     
     
         37 . The vacuum cleaner docking station of  claim 33 ,
 wherein the vacuum cleaner further comprises a wand and a foot, the wand pivotally coupled to the foot, the foot including a foot suction inlet, and the wand provides fluid communication between the foot suction inlet and the suction inlet of the body,   wherein the foot suction inlet is removably coupled to the airflow outlet of the dock such that airflow generated by the airflow source of the dock travels through the foot suction inlet, the wand, and the suction inlet of the vacuum cleaner when the vacuum cleaner separator is coupled to the dock.