Surface cleaning apparatus

Abstract

An upright surface cleaning apparatus has a surface cleaning head and an upper section moveably mounted to the surface cleaning head between a storage position and a floor cleaning position. The upper section comprises a bendable wand and a portable surface cleaning unit. The wand comprises an upper wand portion and a lower wand portion that are hollow and form part of the air flow path. The upper wand portion is rotationally mounted to the lower wand portion between a first configuration and a second configuration wherein, when the upper section is in the storage position and the upper section is in the first configuration, the upper wand portion extends upwardly from the lower wand portion and, when the upper section is in the storage position and the support structure is moved to the second configuration, the upper wand portion is rotated forwardly with respect to the lower portion.

1 .- 23 . (canceled) 
     
     
         24 . An upright surface cleaning apparatus comprising:
 (b) a surface cleaning head having a dirty air inlet;   (c) an upper section moveably mounted to the surface cleaning head between a storage position and a floor cleaning position, the upper section comprises a bendable wand and a portable surface cleaning unit;   (d) the bendable wand comprises an upper wand portion and a lower wand portion, the upper wand portion is rotationally mounted to the lower wand portion between a first configuration and a second configuration wherein, when the upper section is in the storage position and the upper section is in the first configuration, the upper wand portion extends upwardly from the lower wand portion and, when the upper section is in the storage position and the support structure is moved to the second configuration, the upper wand portion is rotated forwardly with respect to the lower wand portion; and,   (e) the portable surface cleaning unit comprises a suction motor, an air treatment member and a carry handle,   wherein the lower wand portion is removably connectable to the surface cleaning head whereby, in operation with the lower wand portion mounted to the surface cleaning head, the lower wand portion is in air flow communication with the surface cleaning head,   wherein the portable surface cleaning unit is removably mountable to the lower wand portion and the portable surface cleaning unit is removable from the lower wand portion while the lower wand portion remains in air flow communication with the surface cleaning head,   wherein the bendable wand is movable from the first configuration to the second configuration while the portable surface cleaning unit is mounted to the lower wand portion, and   wherein, in operation as an upright surface cleaning apparatus with the portable surface cleaning unit mounted to the lower wand portion, an air flow path extends from the dirty air inlet to a clean air outlet and comprises an upstream portion that extends from the dirty air inlet to the portable surface cleaning unit, the upstream portion includes the lower wand portion and the upper wand portion.   
     
     
         25 . The upright surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 24  wherein, in operation as an upright surface cleaning apparatus with the portable surface cleaning unit mounted to the lower wand portion, an air flow path extends from the dirty air inlet to a clean air outlet and comprises an upstream portion that extends from the dirty air inlet to the portable surface cleaning unit, the upstream portion further comprises a flexible air flow conduit that is positioned downstream of the bendable wand. 
     
     
         26 . The upright surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 25  wherein, when the upper section is in the storage position and the upper section is in the first configuration, the upper wand portion has an upper end that is in air flow communication with a downstream end of the flexible air flow conduit. 
     
     
         27 . The upright surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 24  wherein the upper wand portion and lower wand portion are mechanically and fluidly connected by a hinge member. 
     
     
         28 . The upright surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 27  wherein the hinge member comprises a flexible hose. 
     
     
         29 . The upright surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 24  wherein the air treatment member comprises a cyclone bin assembly and the cyclone bin assembly is removable from the portable surface cleaning unit while the portable surface cleaning unit is mounted to the cleaning unit mount. 
     
     
         30 . The upright surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 24  wherein, when the upper section is in the storage position and the upper section is in the first configuration, the upper wand portion has an upper end and a drive handle is provided on the upper end of the upper wand portion whereby, in operation with the lower wand portion is mounted to the surface cleaning head, the drive handle is operable to move the surface cleaning head across a floor. 
     
     
         31 . The upright surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 24  wherein, when the upper section is in the storage position and the upper section is in the first configuration, the upper wand portion has an upper end and a drive handle section is removable connectable to an upper end of the upper wand portion whereby, in operation with the lower wand portion is mounted to the surface cleaning head, a drive handle provided on the drive handle section is operable to move the surface cleaning head across a floor. 
     
     
         32 . The upright surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 31  wherein, in operation with the bendable wand in air flow communication with the surface cleaning head and the drive handle section is connected to the upper end of the upper wand portion, the drive handle section comprises a portion of the air flow path. 
     
     
         33 . The upright surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 24  wherein a first section of the upper wand portion is removable connectable from a remainder of the bendable wand. 
     
     
         34 . The upright surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 33  wherein the upper wand portion and lower wand portion are mechanically connected by a hinge member and the upper wand portion further comprises a second section wherein, when the upper section is in the storage position and the upper section is in the first configuration, the second section is positioned between an elevation of the hinge and an elevation of a lower end of the first section. 
     
     
         35 . The upright surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 24  wherein the surface cleaning head has a front end, a rear end spaced from the front end in a rearward direction and first and second lateral sides that extend rearwardly from the front end to the rear end, the first and second lateral sides are spaced apart in a direction that is transverse to the rearward direction and the lower wand portion is centrally positioned between the first and second lateral sides. 
     
     
         36 . The upright surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 24  wherein the lower wand portion is a single hollow tube-like conduit member. 
     
     
         37 . The upright surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 24  wherein the portable surface cleaning unit has a latch which releasable secures the portable surface cleaning unit to the lower mounting member. 
     
     
         38 . The upright surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 37  wherein, when the upper section is in the storage position and the portable surface cleaning unit is mounted to the lower wand portion, the lower wand portion has a first part that supports the portable cleaning unit and the latch is located above the first part.