Surface cleaner

Abstract

A surface cleaner includes a suction airflow, a base air inlet, a housing, a wand coupled to the housing, a wand housing, a handle, a hose coupled to the handle, a first airflow path, a second airflow path, and a valve moveable between a first position and a second position. In the first position, the suction airflow is directed along the first airflow path and the suction airflow along the second airflow path is inhibited. In the second position, the suction airflow is directed along the second airflow path and the suction airflow along the first airflow path is inhibited. The valve moves from the first position to the second position in response to the handle being uncoupled from the wand. The valve moves from the first position to the second position in response to the wand being removed from the wand housing.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A surface cleaner comprising:
 a suction source operable to generate a suction airflow;   a debris collector in fluid communication with the suction source, the debris collector configured to separate debris from the suction airflow;   a base including a base air inlet in fluid communication with the debris collector, the suction airflow operable to draw the debris from a surface through the base air inlet along a first airflow path;   a housing pivotally coupled to the base;   a wand releasably coupled to the housing, the wand having a first end and a second end, the first end of the wand includes a wand air inlet, the suction airflow operable to draw the debris from the surface through the wand air inlet along a second airflow path;   a wand housing receiving the first end of the wand when the wand is coupled to the housing;   a handle removably coupled to the second end of the wand, the handle having a handle air inlet in fluid communication with the wand air inlet when the handle air inlet is coupled to the second end of the wand;   a hose coupled to the handle in fluid communication with the handle air inlet, the hose in fluid communication with the wand air inlet when the handle air inlet is coupled to the second end of the wand;   a valve movable between a first position and a second position, in the first position, the suction airflow is directed along the first airflow path and the suction airflow along the second airflow path is inhibited, in the second position, the suction airflow is directed along the second airflow path and the suction airflow along the first airflow path is inhibited; and   a linkage extending along the wand operably positioned between the handle and the valve when the handle air inlet is coupled to the second end of the wand, the linkage inhibiting movement of the valve from the first position to the second position when the handle air inlet is coupled to the second end of the wand,   wherein the valve moves from the first position to the second position in response to the handle air inlet being uncoupled from the second end of the wand, and   wherein the valve moves from the first position to the second position in response to the first end of the wand being removed from the wand housing.   
     
     
         2 . The surface cleaner of  claim 1 , wherein the valve moves from the second position to the first position in response to the handle air inlet being coupled to the second end of the wand when the first end of the wand is coupled to the wand housing. 
     
     
         3 . The surface cleaner of  claim 1 , wherein the valve moves from the second position to the first position in response to the first end of the wand being inserted into the wand housing. 
     
     
         4 . The surface cleaner of  claim 1 , wherein the second airflow path extends through the wand air inlet when the wand is removed from the wand housing and the handle air inlet is coupled to the second end of the wand. 
     
     
         5 . The surface cleaner of  claim 1 , wherein the wand includes a handle release button that uncouples the handle air inlet from the second end of the wand. 
     
     
         6 . The surface cleaner of  claim 1 , wherein the housing includes a wand release button that uncouples the wand from the housing. 
     
     
         7 . The surface cleaner of  claim 1 , wherein the valve includes an actuator that moves the valve between the first position and the second position, the actuator is moveable between a first actuator position and a second actuator position, the valve is in the first position when the actuator is in the second actuator position and the valve is in the second position when the actuator is in the first actuator position. 
     
     
         8 . The surface cleaner of  claim 7 , wherein the first end of the wand engages the actuator when the wand is coupled to the housing, the first end of the wand moves the actuator from the first actuator position to the second actuator position. 
     
     
         9 . The surface cleaner of  claim 7 , wherein the actuator moves from the second actuator position to the first actuator position in response to the handle air inlet being uncoupled from the second end of the wand. 
     
     
         10 . The surface cleaner of  claim 7 , wherein the actuator moves from the second actuator position to the first actuator position when the first end of the wand is removed from the wand housing. 
     
     
         11 . The surface cleaner of  claim 7 , wherein the actuator moves from the first actuator position to the second actuator position in response to the handle air inlet being coupled to the second end of the wand when the wand is coupled to the wand housing. 
     
     
         12 . The surface cleaner of  claim 7 , wherein the actuator includes a rack. 
     
     
         13 . The surface cleaner of  claim 12 , wherein the actuator includes a pinion rotatable by movement of the rack between the first actuator position to the second actuator position, wherein the rotation of the pinion rotates the valve. 
     
     
         14 . The surface cleaner of  claim 7 , wherein the linkage includes a telescoping member movable between a retracted state and an extended state. 
     
     
         15 . The surface cleaner of  claim 14 , wherein the telescoping member moves the actuator from the first actuator position to the second actuator position when the telescoping member moves from the retracted state to the extended state. 
     
     
         16 . The surface cleaner of  claim 1 , wherein the valve includes a spring that operably forces the valve toward the second position. 
     
     
         17 . The surface cleaner of  claim 16 , wherein the spring is a torsion spring operable to rotate the pinion when the telescoping member is in the retracted state. 
     
     
         18 . The surface cleaner of  claim 1 , wherein the suction airflow is operable to draw the debris from the surface through the handle air inlet when the handle is removed from the wand and the valve is in the second position. 
     
     
         19 . A surface cleaner comprising:
 a suction source operable to generate a suction airflow;   a debris collector in fluid communication with the suction source, the debris collector configured to separate debris from the suction airflow;   a base including a base air inlet in fluid communication with the debris collector, the suction airflow operable to draw the debris from a surface through the base air inlet along a first airflow path;   a housing pivotally coupled to the base;   a wand releasably coupled to the housing, the wand having a first end, a second end, a first tube, and a rod extending along the first tube, the first end of the wand includes a wand air inlet and a telescoping member, the telescoping member is moveable with the rod relative to the first tube between an extended state and a retracted state, the suction airflow operable to draw the debris from the surface through the wand air inlet along a second airflow path;   a wand housing receiving the first end of the wand when the wand is coupled to the housing;   a handle removably coupled to the second end of the wand, the handle having a handle air inlet in fluid communication with the wand air inlet when the handle air inlet is coupled to the second end of the wand, the handle operably coupled to the rod when the handle is coupled to the wand;   a hose coupled to the handle in fluid communication with the handle air inlet, the hose in fluid communication with the wand air inlet when the handle air inlet is coupled to the second end of the wand;   a valve movable between a first valve position and a second valve position, in the first valve position, the suction airflow is directed along the first airflow path and the suction airflow along the second airflow path is inhibited, in the second valve position, the suction airflow is directed along the second airflow path and the suction airflow along the first airflow path is inhibited; and   an actuator that moves the valve between the first valve position and the second valve position, the actuator is moveable between a first actuator position and a second actuator position, the valve is in the first valve position when the actuator is in the second actuator position, and the valve is in the second valve position when the actuator is in the first actuator position,   wherein the actuator moves from the first actuator position to the second actuator position in response to the telescoping member moving from the retracted state to the extended state when the handle is coupled to the wand while the wand is coupled to the housing.   
     
     
         20 . The surface cleaner of  claim 19 , wherein the telescoping member moves from the retracted state to the extended in response to the handle being coupled to the second end of the wand. 
     
     
         21 . The surface cleaner of  claim 19 , wherein the telescoping member moves from the extended state to the retracted state in response to the handle being uncoupled from the second end of the wand while the wand is coupled to the housing. 
     
     
         22 . The surface cleaner of  claim 19 , wherein the rod is axially moveable between a first rod position and a second rod position, the rod moves the telescoping member into the extended state when the rod moves from the first rod position to the second rod position. 
     
     
         23 . The surface cleaner of  claim 22 , wherein the rod moves from the first rod position to the second rod position in response to the handle being coupled to the second end of the wand. 
     
     
         24 . The surface cleaner of  claim 22 , wherein the rod moves from the second rod position to the first rod position in response to the handle being uncoupled from the second end of the wand while the wand is coupled to the housing. 
     
     
         25 . The surface cleaner of  claim 19 , wherein the valve includes a spring configured to force the actuator to the first actuator position. 
     
     
         26 . The surface cleaner of  claim 19 , wherein the actuator includes a rack and pinion. 
     
     
         27 . The surface cleaner of  claim 19 , wherein the spring is a torsion spring operable to rotate the pinion when the telescoping member is in the retracted state. 
     
     
         28 . The surface cleaner of  claim 19 , wherein the actuator moves from the second actuator position to the first actuator position in response to the telescoping member moving from the extended state to the retracted state when the handle is removed from the wand while the wand is coupled to the housing. 
     
     
         29 . A surface cleaner comprising:
 an airflow valve having a first inlet, a second inlet, a valve outlet, and a valve passageway, the valve passageway movable between a valve first position forming a first airflow path through the first inlet and the valve outlet and a valve second position forming a second airflow path through the second inlet and the valve outlet;   a suction source operable to generate a suction airflow through the airflow valve;   a debris collector in fluid communication with the valve outlet and the suction source, the debris collector configured to separate debris from the suction airflow;   a base including a base air inlet in fluid communication with the valve first inlet, the suction airflow operable to draw the debris from a surface through the base air inlet along the first airflow path;   a housing pivotally coupled to the base;   a wand releasably coupled to the housing, the wand including a wand air inlet in fluid communication with the valve second inlet, the suction airflow operable to draw the debris from the surface through the wand air inlet along the second airflow path;   a valve actuator operably connected to the valve passageway movable between a second actuator position enabling the valve first position and a first actuator position enabling the valve second position; and   a spring operably applying a spring force on the valve actuator toward the first actuator position;   the wand having a first tube and a telescoping member including a telescoping part, the telescoping member forming the wand air inlet, the telescoping member movable between an extended state with the telescoping part extending past an end of the first tube and a retracted state,   the wand having a first configuration wherein the telescoping member in the extended state and holds the valve actuator in the second actuator position against the force of the spring, and   the wand having a second configuration wherein the telescoping member in the retracted state and allows the spring to move the valve actuator to move to the first actuator position, the spring force sufficient to move the valve actuator from the second actuator position to the first actuator position.   
     
     
         30 . The surface cleaner of  claim 29 , wherein the actuator includes a rack and pinion. 
     
     
         31 . The surface cleaner of  claim 30 , wherein the spring is a torsion spring operable to rotate the pinion when the telescoping member is in the retracted state. 
     
     
         32 . The surface cleaner of  claim 29 , further comprising a handle removably coupled to the wand. 
     
     
         33 . The surface cleaner of  claim 32 , wherein the telescoping member moves from the retracted state to the extended in response to the handle being coupled to the wand.