Surface cleaner and dock

Abstract

A combination of a surface cleaner comprising and a dock. The surface cleaner is operable in a cleaning mode wherein air is drawn in through the dirty air inlet of the surface cleaner and through the air treatment chamber of the surface cleaner to the clean air outlet of the surface cleaner, and dirt is collected in the dirt collection region of the surface cleaner. The surface cleaner is also operable in a dirt emptying mode wherein air travels from the suction motor of the surface cleaner and through the outlet port of an air treatment unit of the surface cleaner prior to travelling through the docking station air flow path. The suction motor of the surface cleaner induces the air flow in each of the cleaning mode and the emptying mode.

1 . A surface cleaner comprising:
 (a) a cleaning air flow path extending from a dirty air inlet to a clean air outlet:   (b) a suction motor positioned in the cleaning air flow path; and,   (c) an air treatment unit positioned in the cleaning air flow path, the air treatment unit comprising an air treatment chamber and a dirt collection region, the air treatment chamber having an air inlet and an air outlet, the air treatment unit having an openable wall,   
       wherein the surface cleaner is operable in a cleaning mode wherein air is drawn in through the dirty air inlet and through the air treatment chamber to the clean air outlet, and dirt is collected in the dirt collection region, and 
       wherein, the surface cleaner is also operable in a dirt emptying mode to produce an air flow which pushes dirt out of the dirt collection region through an emptying port that is provided when the openable wall is in an open position. 
     
     
         2 . The surface cleaner of  claim 1  wherein the suction motor is operated in the cleaning mode and in the dirt emptying mode. 
     
     
         3 . The surface cleaner of  claim 2  wherein a fan of the suction motor rotates in a first direction during the cleaning mode and the fan also rotates in the first direction during the dirt emptying mode. 
     
     
         4 . The surface cleaner of  claim 3  wherein the dirt collection region is a dirt collection chamber that is exterior to the air treatment chamber. 
     
     
         5 . The surface cleaner of  claim 3  further comprising a first valve which is in a first position during the cleaning mode and is in a second position in the dirt emptying mode. 
     
     
         6 . The surface cleaner of  claim 4  further comprising a second valve which is in a first position during the cleaning mode and is in a second position in the dirt emptying mode. 
     
     
         7 . The surface cleaner of  claim 1  further comprising a first valve which is in a first position during the cleaning mode and is in a second position in the dirt emptying mode. 
     
     
         8 . The surface cleaner of  claim 7  further comprising a second valve which is in a first position during the cleaning mode and is in a second position in the dirt emptying mode. 
     
     
         9 . The surface cleaner of  claim 8  wherein the suction motor is operated in the cleaning mode and in the dirt emptying mode. 
     
     
         10 . A combination comprising:
 (a) a surface cleaner comprising:
 i. a cleaning air flow path extending from a dirty air inlet to a clean air outlet: 
 ii. a suction motor positioned in the cleaning air flow path; 
 iii. an air treatment unit positioned in the cleaning air flow path, the air treatment unit comprising an air treatment chamber and a dirt collection region, the air treatment chamber having an air inlet and an air outlet, the air treatment unit having an emptying port that is closed by an openable wall; and 
 iv. an emptying air flow path which includes a portion that extends through the air treatment unit to and through the emptying port, and 
   (b) a dock comprising:
 i. a docking station air flow path extending from a docking station air inlet to a docking station air outlet; and, 
 ii. a docking station dirt receptacle, 
   
       wherein the surface cleaner is operable in a cleaning mode wherein air is drawn in through the dirty air inlet and through the air treatment chamber to the clean air outlet, and dirt is collected in the dirt collection region, and 
       wherein, the surface cleaner is also operable in a dirt emptying mode wherein air travels from the suction motor and through the emptying port prior to travelling through the docking station air flow path, and 
       wherein the suction motor induces the air flow in each of the cleaning mode and the emptying mode. 
     
     
         11 . The combination of  claim 10  wherein, in the floor cleaning mode air travels through the cleaning air flow path and, in the dirt emptying mode air travels through a secondary air flow path through the surface cleaner, and the surface cleaner further comprises a first valve operable between a floor cleaning position in which the suction motor is in fluid flow communication with the clean air outlet and a dirt emptying position in which the suction motor is in fluid flow communication with the secondary air flow path. 
     
     
         12 . The combination of  claim 11  wherein the secondary air flow path includes an air treatment unit air inlet whereby, during the dirt emptying mode, air travels through the secondary air flow path to the air treatment unit air inlet and out the emptying port. 
     
     
         13 . The combination of  claim 10  wherein, in the floor cleaning mode air travels through the cleaning air flow path and, in the dirt emptying mode air travels through a secondary air flow path through the surface cleaner, and the surface cleaner further comprises a first valve and a second valve each of which is operable between a floor cleaning position in which the suction motor is in fluid flow communication with the clean air outlet and a dirt emptying position in which the suction motor is in fluid flow communication with the secondary air flow path. 
     
     
         14 . The combination of  claim 13  wherein the secondary air flow path includes an air treatment unit air inlet whereby, during the dirt emptying mode, air travels through the secondary air flow path to the air treatment unit air inlet and out the emptying port. 
     
     
         15 . The combination of  claim 10  wherein the suction motor is operated in the cleaning mode and in the dirt emptying mode. 
     
     
         16 . The combination of  claim 15  wherein a fan of the suction motor rotates in a first direction during the cleaning mode and the fan also rotates in the first direction during the dirt emptying mode. 
     
     
         17 . The combination of  claim 16  wherein the dirt collection region is a dirt collection chamber that is exterior to the air treatment chamber. 
     
     
         18 . The combination of  claim 11  wherein the suction motor is operated in the cleaning mode and in the dirt emptying mode. 
     
     
         19 . The combination of  claim 18  wherein a fan of the suction motor rotates in a first direction during the cleaning mode and the fan also rotates in the first direction during the dirt emptying mode. 
     
     
         20 . The combination of  claim 13  wherein the suction motor is operated in the cleaning mode and in the dirt emptying mode. 
     
     
         21 . The combination of  claim 20  wherein a fan of the suction motor rotates in a first direction during the cleaning mode and the fan also rotates in the first direction during the dirt emptying mode.