Surface cleaning apparatus

Abstract

An upright support configured to dock a hand vacuum cleaner comprising a first battery and a dust collection chamber. The upright support comprises a first end, a second end, and a longitudinal axis extending between the first end and the second end, wherein the first end is higher than the second end when the upright support is perpendicular to a flat surface, a dust collector positioned between the first end and the second end; and a power source positioned between the first end and the second end. A docked configuration corresponds to the hand vacuum cleaner being docked with the upright support and in the docked configuration, the dust collector receives detritus from the dust collection chamber of the hand vacuum cleaner and the power source charges the battery of the hand vacuum cleaner.

1 . A vertical support configured to dock a hand vacuum cleaner comprising a first battery and a dust collection chamber, the vertical support comprising:
 a first end, a second end, and a longitudinal axis extending between the first end and the second end, wherein the first end is higher than the second end when the vertical support is perpendicular to a flat surface, a dust collector positioned between the first end and the second end; and   a power source positioned between the first end and the second end, wherein a docked configuration corresponds to the hand vacuum cleaner being docked with the vertical support and in the docked configuration, the dust collector receives detritus from the dust collection chamber of the hand vacuum cleaner and the power source charges the battery of the hand vacuum cleaner.   
     
     
         2 . The vertical support of  claim 1 , wherein, in the docked configuration, a door of the dust collection chamber of the hand vacuum cleaner is aligned with an inlet of the vertical support. 
     
     
         3 . The vertical support of  claim 2 , wherein the door is adjacent to a dirty air inlet of the hand vacuum cleaner. 
     
     
         4 . The vertical support of  claim 3 , wherein, when the vertical support is perpendicular to the flat surface, the dirty air inlet faces downwardly. 
     
     
         5 . The vertical support of  claim 3 , wherein, when the vertical support is perpendicular to the flat surface, the inlet of the dust collector is higher than the dirty air inlet of the hand vacuum cleaner. 
     
     
         6 . The vertical support of  claim 2 , wherein the door is biased closed. 
     
     
         7 . The vertical support of  claim 2 , wherein the inlet of the vertical support is sized and positioned to receive the door when the door is open, the door configured to be opened outwardly. 
     
     
         8 . The vertical support of  claim 2 , further comprising a protrusion proximate the inlet of the dust collector, wherein, upon docking of the hand vacuum cleaner with the vertical support, the protrusion is configured to unlock the door by rotating a lever of the hand vacuum cleaner that keeps the door locked. 
     
     
         9 . The vertical support of  claim 1 , further comprising a separator. 
     
     
         10 . The vertical support of  claim 9 , wherein the separator comprises a cyclonic separator. 
     
     
         11 . The vertical support of  claim 8 , wherein, when the vertical upright support is perpendicular to the flat surface, a handle of the hand vacuum cleaner is higher than an inlet of the vertical support dust collector. 
     
     
         12 . (canceled) 
     
     
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         19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . The vertical support of  claim 1 , wherein, when the vertical support is perpendicular to the flat surface, a handle of the hand vacuum cleaner is higher than an inlet of the vertical support. 
     
     
         22 . The vertical support of  claim 1 , wherein the detritus comprises any one or more of dust, dirt, and debris. 
     
     
         23 . The vertical support of  claim 1 , wherein the hand vacuum includes a housing having a handle, and when the vertical support is perpendicular to a flat surface and the vacuum housing is connected to the vertical support, the handle is higher than an inlet of the dust collector. 
     
     
         24 . The vertical support of  claim 1 , wherein the hand vacuum includes a surface cleaning head. 
     
     
         25 . A dock of a hand-carriable surface cleaner, the dock comprising:
 a dust collection chamber connectable in fluid communication with a dirt collection chamber of the hand-carriable surface cleaner, the dirt collection chamber of the hand-carriable surface cleaner including walls creating an internal volume, wherein at least a portion of one of the walls comprises a door and the door is pivotally openable to establish said fluid communication;   a mechanical interface mechanically mating with surfaces of the hand-carriable surface cleaner, the mechanical interface configured to vertically support the hand-carriable surface cleaner; and   a power interface establishing electrical communication with a battery of the hand-carriable surface cleaner when the hand-carriable surface cleaner is docked with the dock, the power interface charging the battery.   
     
     
         26 . The dock of claim  26 , comprising a suction motor operable to draw air from the dirt collection chamber of the hand-carriable surface cleaner to the dust collection chamber. 
     
     
         27 . The dock of  claim 26 , wherein the door is biased closed. 
     
     
         28 . The dock of  claim 26 , comprising a seal operable with said door to enhance airtightness of the fluid communication between the dust collection chamber of the dock and the dirt collection chamber of the hand-carriable surface cleaner. 
     
     
         29 . The dock of  claim 26 , comprising linkages operable to open the door when the hand-carriable surface cleaner is vertically supported by the mechanical interface. 
     
     
         30 . The dock of  claim 26 , comprising an air treatment chamber.