Docking unit for a surface cleaning apparatus

Abstract

A mobile free standing air treatment unit comprises an air treatment unit, a first docking unit for a first vacuum cleaner comprising a first dirty air inlet in flow communication with an outlet port of the first vacuum cleaner and a first clean air outlet in flow communication with an inlet port of the first vacuum cleaner and a vacuuming unit, wherein the mobile free standing air treatment unit is operable in a docking mode using a first air flow path and a cleaning mode using a second air flow path.

1 . A mobile free standing air treatment unit comprising:
 (a) an air treatment unit having a carry handle;   (b) a first docking unit for a first vacuum cleaner comprising a first dirty air inlet and a first clean air outlet wherein, when the first vacuum cleaner is docked at the first docking unit, the first dirty air inlet is connected in flow communication with an outlet port of the first vacuum cleaner, which outlet port is downstream from a dirt collection unit of the first vacuum cleaner, and the first clean air outlet is connected in flow communication with an inlet port of the first vacuum cleaner, which inlet port is upstream of a motor and fan assembly of the first vacuum cleaner;   (c) a vacuuming unit comprising a second dirty air inlet;   (d) a first air flow path extending from the first dirty air inlet to the first clean air outlet, wherein the air treatment unit is provided in the first air flow path;   (e) a second air flow path extending from the second dirty air inlet to the first clean air outlet, wherein the air treatment unit is also provided in the second air flow path,   wherein the mobile free standing air treatment unit is operable in a first docking mode in which the first vacuum cleaner is docked at the first docking unit and is connected in air flow communication with the first dirty air inlet whereby the mobile free standing air treatment unit is operable using the first air flow path to withdraw dirt from the first vacuum cleaner and collect withdrawn dirt in the air treatment unit, and   wherein the mobile free standing air treatment unit is operable in a cleaning mode in which the first vacuum cleaner is docked at the first docking unit and the first clean air outlet is connected in air flow communication with the inlet port of the first vacuum cleaner whereby the mobile free standing air treatment unit is carryable by a user using the carry handle and operable using the second air flow path to clean a surface.   
     
     
         2 . The mobile free standing air treatment unit of  claim 1  wherein the mobile free standing air treatment unit has an absence of a fan and motor assembly. 
     
     
         3 . The mobile free standing air treatment unit of  claim 1  wherein, when the first vacuum cleaner is docked at the first docking unit, the fan and motor assembly of the first vacuum cleaner is the sole air moving member of a combined mobile free standing air treatment unit and first vacuum cleaner. 
     
     
         4 . The mobile free standing air treatment unit of  claim 1  wherein the air treatment unit is removably mounted to the mobile free standing air treatment unit, the air treatment unit has an openable door and, when the door is opened, dirt is emptyable from the air treatment unit, and the air treatment unit is removable from the mobile free standing air treatment unit with the door closed. 
     
     
         5 . The mobile free standing air treatment unit of  claim 1  wherein the air treatment unit comprises a first stage air treatment member, which comprises a first dirt collection region, and a downstream second stage comprising a second stage air treatment member. 
     
     
         6 . The mobile free standing air treatment unit of  claim 5  wherein the first dirt collection region comprises a first stage cyclone and the second stage air treatment member comprises a second cyclone. 
     
     
         7 . The mobile free standing air treatment unit of  claim 5  wherein the first dirt collection region comprises a first stage air treatment chamber having a dirt collection region at a lower end thereof and the second stage air treatment member comprises a second cyclone. 
     
     
         8 . The mobile free standing air treatment unit of  claim 5  wherein an air impermeable bag is removably receivable in the first dirt collection region whereby, in operation dirt is collected in the bag and the first dirt collection region is openable and, when the first dirt collection region is opened, the bag is removable. 
     
     
         9 . The mobile free standing air treatment unit of  claim 8  wherein the first dirt collection region has an openable lid and, when the lid is opened, the bag is removable upwardly. 
     
     
         10 . The mobile free standing air treatment unit of  claim 1  wherein the vacuuming unit includes a flexible hose and, in the second cleaning mode, the flexible hose is positioned upstream of the second dirty air inlet. 
     
     
         11 . The mobile free standing air treatment unit of  claim 1  further comprising a second docking unit for a second vacuum cleaner and a third air flow path, the second docking unit comprising a third dirty air inlet and the third air flow path extending from the third dirty air inlet to the first clean air outlet, wherein the mobile free standing air treatment unit is operable in a second docking mode in which the first vacuum cleaner is docked at the first docking unit and is connected in air flow communication with the first dirty air inlet and the second vacuum cleaner is docked at the second docking unit and is connected in air flow communication with the first dirty air inlet, whereby the mobile free standing air treatment unit is operable using the third air flow path to withdraw dirt from the second vacuum cleaner. 
     
     
         12 . The mobile free standing air treatment unit of  claim 11  wherein the air treatment unit is also provided in the third air flow path and, in the second docking mode the mobile free standing air treatment unit is operable using the third air flow path to withdraw dirt from the second vacuum cleaner and collect withdrawn dirt in the air treatment unit. 
     
     
         13 . The mobile free standing air treatment unit of  claim 12  wherein the second vacuum cleaner is an autonomous vacuum cleaner. 
     
     
         14 . The mobile free standing air treatment unit of  claim 1  wherein the first vacuum cleaner has an on board energy storage member and the first docking unit further comprises a first charging unit whereby the first vacuum cleaner is rechargeable when docked at the first docking unit. 
     
     
         15 . A docking apparatus comprising:
 (a) an air treatment unit having an openable door;   (b) a first docking unit for a first vacuum cleaner comprising a first dirty air inlet and a first clean air outlet wherein, when the first vacuum cleaner is docked at the first docking unit, the first dirty air inlet is connected in flow communication with an outlet port of the first vacuum cleaner, which outlet port is downstream from a dirt collection unit of the first vacuum cleaner, and the first clean air outlet is connected in flow communication with an inlet port of the first vacuum cleaner, which inlet port is upstream of a motor and fan assembly of the first vacuum cleaner;   (c) a second docking unit comprising a second dirty air inlet, wherein, when a second vacuum cleaner is docked at the second docking unit, the second dirty air inlet is connected in flow communication with an outlet port of the second vacuum cleaner, which outlet port is downstream from a dirt collection unit of the second vacuum cleaner;   (d) a first air flow path extending from the first dirty air inlet to the first clean air outlet, wherein the air treatment unit is provided in the first air flow path;   (e) a second air flow path extending from the second dirty air inlet to the first clean air outlet, wherein the air treatment unit is also provided in the second air flow path,   wherein the docking apparatus is operable in a first docking mode in which the first vacuum cleaner is docked at the first docking unit and is connected in air flow communication with the first dirty air inlet whereby the docking apparatus is operable using the first air flow path to withdraw dirt from the first vacuum cleaner and collect withdrawn dirt in the air treatment unit,   wherein the docking apparatus is operable in a second docking mode in which the first vacuum cleaner is docked at the first docking unit and is connected in air flow communication with the first clean air outlet and the second vacuum cleaner is docked at the second docking unit and is connected in air flow communication with the second dirty air inlet whereby the docking apparatus is operable using the second air flow path to withdraw dirt from the second vacuum cleaner and collect withdrawn dirt in the air treatment unit, and   wherein the air treatment unit is removably mounted and is removable with the door in a closed position.   
     
     
         16 . A docking unit comprising:
 (a) an air treatment unit comprising a first stage air treatment stage, which comprises an openable first dirt collection region, wherein an air impermeable bag is removably receivable in the first dirt collection region;   (b) a first docking unit for a first vacuum cleaner comprising a first dirty air inlet wherein, when the first vacuum cleaner is docked at the first docking unit, the first dirty air inlet is connected in flow communication with an outlet port of the first vacuum cleaner, which outlet port is downstream from a dirt collection unit of the first vacuum cleaner; and,   (c) a first air flow path extending from the first dirty air inlet to a clean air outlet, wherein the air treatment unit is provided in the first air flow path,   wherein the docking unit operable in a first docking mode in which the first vacuum cleaner is docked at the first docking unit and is connected in air flow communication with the first dirty air inlet whereby the docking unit is operable using the first air flow path to withdraw dirt from the first vacuum cleaner and collect withdrawn dirt in the bag, and   wherein, when the first dirt collection region is opened, the bag is removable, and   wherein the docking unit is inoperable when the first dirt collection region is open.   
     
     
         17 . The docking unit of  claim 16  wherein the docking unit is inoperable when a bag is absent from the first dirt collection region. 
     
     
         18 . The docking unit of  claim 17  wherein the first dirt collection region has an openable lid and, when the lid is opened, the bag is removable upwardly. 
     
     
         19 . The docking unit of  claim 17  wherein the air treatment unit comprises a second stage air treatment member comprising a second dirt collection region and dirt collected in the second dirt collection region is emptyable into the bag.