Vacuum cleaner docking station

Abstract

A vacuum cleaner docking station includes a separator and a dock. A fluid flow path extends through a receiving portion of the dock, an airflow source of the dock, a dock debris collector, and a dock air outlet. The dock and the separator are coupled having the separator in fluid communication with a dock air outlet and a debris outlet of the separator in fluid communication with the dock debris collector such that the airflow generated by the airflow source of the dock travels through the debris outlet of the separator along the fluid flow path into the dock debris collector.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A vacuum cleaner docking station comprising:
 a separator operable to separate debris from a suction airflow when connected to a vacuum cleaner, the separator including a dirty air inlet, a clean air outlet, and a separator debris collector having a debris outlet;   a dock, the separator removably coupled to the dock, the dock further including
 a receiving portion in fluid communication with the separator debris collector when the separator is coupled to the dock, 
 a dock air outlet, 
 an airflow source operable to generate an airflow along a fluid flow path that extends from the debris outlet of the separator to the dock air outlet, and 
 a dock debris collector along the fluid flow path downstream of the receiving portion, 
   a first power supply configured to provide a voltage to operate the airflow source; and   a second power supply configured to provide a voltage to operate the airflow source when the first power supply is not available or energized, the second power supply including a DC-to-AC inverter.   
     
     
         2 .- 18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . The vacuum cleaner docking station according to  claim 1 , wherein the 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 separator is coupled to the dock. 
     
     
         20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . The vacuum cleaner docking station according to  claim 1 , wherein the airflow source includes a motor and an impeller, and wherein debris in the separator debris collector moves with the airflow generated by the impeller along the fluid flow path from the receiving portion through the impeller and into the dock debris collector. 
     
     
         22 .- 27 . (canceled) 
     
     
         28 . The vacuum cleaner docking station according to  claim 1 , further comprising a dock controller configured to control a battery charging circuit, wherein the vacuum cleaner includes a vacuum contact having a first connector, a second connector, and a third connector, and the dock includes a dock contact having a fourth connector, a fifth connector, and a sixth connector, wherein when the vacuum cleaner is connected to the dock the first connector and the fourth connector are electrically connected and operable to transfer electricity charging a battery attached to the vacuum cleaner, the second connector and the fifth connector are electrically connected configured to communicate charging information, and the dock controller is configured to receive a signal when the third connector and the sixth connector are electrically connected. 
     
     
         29 . The vacuum cleaner docking station according to  claim 28 , wherein the dock controller is configured to operate the airflow source based on the signal to the dock controller. 
     
     
         30 . The vacuum cleaner docking station according to  claim 28 , wherein the third connector and the sixth connector are additional connectors operable to charge the battery attached to the vacuum cleaner. 
     
     
         31 .- 38 . (canceled) 
     
     
         39 . The vacuum cleaner docking station according to  claim 1 , wherein the dock includes a battery charging circuit, and wherein the dock is configured to receive and charge two batteries in a predetermined sequence. 
     
     
         40 . The vacuum cleaner docking station according to  claim 1 , further comprising a dock controller configured to control a battery charging circuit, wherein the dock controller charges a first battery attached to the vacuum cleaner attached to the dock and charges a second battery received separate from the vacuum cleaner, wherein the dock controller prioritizes charging of the first battery when the first battery and the second battery are connected to the dock. 
     
     
         41 . The vacuum cleaner docking station according to  claim 1 , further comprising a dock controller, wherein the dock includes a battery charging circuit, wherein the dock controller receives a signal from a battery and determines a charging voltage, and wherein the battery charging circuit charges the battery at the charging voltage. 
     
     
         42 . The vacuum cleaner docking station according to  claim 1 , wherein the dock includes a battery charging circuit, and wherein the dock is configured to receive and charge three batteries. 
     
     
         43 . The vacuum cleaner docking station according to  claim 1 , wherein the dock includes a battery charging circuit, and wherein the dock is configured to receive and charge four batteries. 
     
     
         44 . The vacuum cleaner docking station according to  claim 1 , wherein the dock includes a battery charging circuit, and wherein the dock is configured to receive and charge a first battery and a second battery, where the voltage of the first battery is different from the voltage of the second battery. 
     
     
         45 . The vacuum cleaner docking station according to  claim 44 , wherein the charging voltage of the first battery is less than thirty (30) volts and the charging voltage of the second battery is greater than thirty (30) volts. 
     
     
         46 . The vacuum cleaner docking station according to  claim 1 , wherein the airflow source is configured to operate by the first power supply when the first power supply is energized and the second power supply when the first power supply is not energized, wherein the second power supply includes a battery. 
     
     
         47 . (canceled) 
     
     
         48 . The vacuum cleaner docking station according to  claim 1 , wherein the second power supply charges a battery attached to the vacuum cleaner when the first power supply is not energized. 
     
     
         49 . The vacuum cleaner docking station according to  claim 1 , further comprising a dock controller, wherein the dock controller monitors the voltage of the second power supply and charges the second power supply from the first power supply when the voltage of the second power supply drops below a threshold. 
     
     
         50 . The vacuum cleaner docking station according to  claim 1 , further comprising a dock controller, wherein the dock controller monitors the voltage of the second power supply and disables the second power supply when the voltage of the second power supply drops below a threshold. 
     
     
         51 .- 56 . (canceled) 
     
     
         57 . The vacuum cleaner docking station according to  claim 1 , wherein the dock debris collector includes a wall forming an exterior surface of the dock, wherein a portion of the wall is air permeable. 
     
     
         58 . The vacuum cleaner docking station according to  claim 1 , wherein a portion of the dock debris collector includes an air-permeable fabric forming the dock air outlet. 
     
     
         59 . The vacuum cleaner docking station according to  claim 1 , wherein the dock debris collector includes a filter bag. 
     
     
         60 .- 71 . (canceled)