CN106413497A - Surface cleaning apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

A surface cleaning apparatus is disclosed having an upper portion mounted to a surface cleaning head, a portable surface cleaning unit mounted to the upper portion, an above floor cleaning wand removably receivable in the upper portion, and a wand lock having a locked position in which the wand is secured to the upper portion and an unlocked position in which the wand is removable from the upper portion. The upper portion may stabilize the wand when the wand is drivingly connected to the cleaning head. An electrified flexible air flow conduit may electrically connect the surface cleaning head to the cleaning unit.

Description

surface cleaning device

Cross references to related patent applications

Co-pending U.S. Patent Application 14/290,844, filed May 29, 2014, entitled "SURFACE CLEANING APPARATUS" ("SURFACE CLEANING APPARATUS"), is required under 35 U.S.C. § 119, filed at Co-pending U.S. Patent Application 14/290,817, filed May 29, 2014, entitled "SURFACE CLEANING APPARATUS" ("SURFACE CLEANING APPARATUS"), and filed May 29, 2014, entitled "SURFACE CLEANING APPARATUS" (" Surface Cleaning Apparatus"), each of which is itself co-pending US Patent Application 13/781,441 filed February 28, 2013 and filed in 2012 Continuation-in-Part of co-pending U.S. Patent Application 13/541,745 filed July 4, 2010, claiming interest under 35 U.S.C. § 120, filed March 9, 2010 Divisional application of co-pending U.S. patent application 12/720,570, which itself claims Canadian patent application 2,658,402, filed March 13, 2009, July 2009, under 35 U.S.C. § 119 Priority to Canadian Patent Application 2,674,056, filed September 28, and Canadian Patent Application 2,678,220, filed September 8, 2009, entitled "SURFACE CLEANING APPARATUS," each of which is incorporated by reference in its entirety way incorporated into this article.

technical field

The present description relates to a surface cleaning apparatus, which may be an upright vacuum cleaner having an upper section, an off-the-floor cleaning nozzle, and a portable cleaning unit, such as a pod or a hand-held vacuum cleaner, wherein the upper section is movable, for example pivotable. The off-floor cleaning nozzle is removably mounted to the upper section, and the portable cleaning unit is removably mounted to the upper section. The off-floor cleaning nozzle and the portable cleaning unit are each removable by themselves, or can be removed together with the other of the off-floor cleaning nozzle and the portable cleaning unit.

introduction

The following does not mean that anything discussed below is part of the prior art or part of the common general knowledge of those skilled in the art.

Various types of surface cleaning devices are known. Typically, an upright vacuum cleaner includes an upper portion or section comprising air treatment components, such as one or more cyclones and/or filters, drivingly mounted to a surface cleaning head. An updraft conduit is typically provided between the surface cleaning head and the upper section. In some such vacuum cleaners, a spine, housing or trunk extends between the surface cleaning head and the upper portion to support the air treatment member. The suction motor can be located in the upper part or in the surface cleaning head.

Surface cleaning devices having a portable cleaning module removably mounted to an upright vacuum cleaner are known. See eg US 5,309,600, US 4,635,315 and US 2011/0314629. US 2011/0314629 discloses an upright vacuum cleaner having a surface cleaning head and an upright section pivotally mounted to the surface cleaning head. A handheld vacuum cleaner or pod is removably mounted on the upper portion and connected in airflow communication with the surface cleaning head via a flexible hose. A portion of the upper portion may be bent to allow the surface cleaning head to extend under furniture. The bendable portion is located outside the airflow path. In use, the handheld vacuum cleaner is locked on the upper part. A user may manually unlock the handheld vacuum cleaner, thereby removing it for use as a handheld vacuum cleaner and/or for emptying the cyclone bin assembly. In addition, an off-the-ground cleaning connection can be provided and can be detached together with the pod.

Contents of the invention

The summary of the present invention is intended to introduce the following more specific embodiments to the reader, and is not intended to limit or define any claimed or not yet claimed inventive content. One or more Summary Summary may be presented in any combination or sub-combination of elements or process steps disclosed in any part of this text, including its claims and drawings.

In a first aspect, there is provided an upright vacuum cleaner comprising a surface cleaning head and an upper section movably mounted to the surface cleaning head, wherein each of the off-floor cleaning nozzle and the portable cleaning unit is removable of. A liftoff nozzle may be receivable in the upper portion. The portable cleaning unit is removably mounted to the upper and off-floor cleaning nozzles. Optionally, the nozzle release actuator, and optionally, the nozzle locking mechanism including the locking member, are removable together with the nozzle. In one embodiment, the upper portion preferably comprises, consists essentially of, or consists of a tube or hood having an upper opening, wherein the off-floor cleaning nozzle is receivable in the upper opening middle. An advantage of the present design is that by using the adapter to provide an upper mount for the portable cleaning unit, the upper portion on or in which the adapter may be mounted may have a lower vertical extent, thereby simplifying the process of reinserting the adapter for the user. For example, the target for the user to align and install the nipple would be lower, giving him a better advantage of viewing the desired motion and allowing the user to manipulate the nipple at a more comfortable height during installation operations.

In a second aspect, there is provided an upright vacuum cleaner comprising an upper section, a floor cleaning nozzle, a portable surface cleaning unit, and an electrified flexible airflow conduit, wherein the upper section is removably mounted between a storage position and a floor cleaning position The surface cleaning head, the off-floor cleaning nozzle can be removably received in the upper part, the portable surface cleaning unit is removably mounted on the upper part, and optionally can also be mounted to the nozzle, the electrified flexible airflow duct forms the off-floor cleaning A nipple connects to at least a portion of the airflow path of the portable surface cleaning unit and electrically connects the surface cleaning head to the surface cleaning unit at a location inside when the nipple is received in the upper portion. An advantage of this design is that the adapter can electrically connect the surface cleaning head to a power source provided in the portable surface cleaning unit (eg, a battery or an AC power cord provided on the portable surface cleaning unit).

In a third aspect, there is provided a surface cleaning apparatus wherein the off-floor cleaning nozzle is removable from the upper portion together with the nozzle release actuator and optionally a nozzle locking structure including a locking member is removable with the nozzle. A nozzle may be removably mounted in the upper part. One advantage of this design is that the upper portion on or in which the nozzle may be mounted may have a lower vertical extent, but the nozzle release actuator may be positioned, for example, at about waist height so that the operator does not need to bend over to release the actuator. Take over the release actuator.

In a fourth aspect, there is provided an upright vacuum cleaner in which a portable surface cleaning unit such as a pod or a handheld vacuum cleaner is selectively detachable from above. The cleaner is provided with upper and lower mounting members, and one or both of the upper and lower mounting members may be configured to inhibit lateral movement and forward rotation of the surface cleaning unit. A lower mounting member may be disposed on the upper section, and an upper mounting member may be disposed on the stub. Thus, in floor cleaning mode, the surface cleaning device can be used as an upright vacuum cleaner with the portable surface cleaning unit mounted on the upper part, and the portable cleaning unit is stable when the handle is used to drive, preferably guide, the surface cleaning head. Install in place. For example, the upper part may be provided with two laterally extending wings. The surface cleaning unit may have an arm surrounding the upper portion and having recesses for receiving the wings. The wings may be of sufficient height to prevent lateral movement and forward rotation of the surface cleaning unit. This enables the portable unit to remain in place while in the unlocked mode. A second set of upper arms may be provided, for example, on a removable nozzle to assist or prevent forward rotation of the surface cleaning unit when the surface cleaning unit is unlocked.

In a fifth aspect, there is provided a surface cleaning apparatus having an upper portion, wherein the floor lift cleaning adapter is removably receivable in the upper portion, and the upper portion and adapter are configured to allow the adapter to operate in a driving manner when installed in the upper portion Attaches to surface cleaning head. The portable surface cleaning unit is removably mounted to, for example, an upper exterior surface.

For example, the upper portion may surround the updraft delivery tube from the surface cleaning head, and may be non-circular, such as egg-shaped, and the inlet end of the nipple may have a matching shape. Therefore, when the nipple is inserted into the upper part, the nipple can be installed dynamically and stably. For example, the upper portion provides lateral support for the stub when it is inserted into the upper portion. This supports the mechanical stress applied when the tube takes over for guiding the surface cleaning head. Additionally, a keyway can be provided in the upper housing to assist in aligning the nipple during insertion.

It will be understood by those skilled in the art that a surface cleaning device may embody any one or more of the features contained herein and that such features may be used in any particular combination or subcombination.

Specifically, the first aspect, or one or more of the second, third, fourth, and fifth aspects may be used alone.

The second aspect may be used alone, or one or more of the first, third, fourth, and fifth aspects.

The third aspect may be used alone, or one or more of the first, second, fourth, and fifth aspects.

The fourth aspect may be used alone, or one or more of the first, second, third, and fifth aspects.

The fifth aspect may be used alone, or one or more of the first, second, third and fourth aspects.

The drawings included with this document are intended to illustrate various examples of articles, methods, and apparatuses of the teachings of this specification and are not intended to limit the scope of the teachings in any way.

Description of drawings

Figure 1 is a front perspective view of the surface cleaning device in a storage position;

Figure 2 is a rear perspective view of the surface cleaning device of Figure 1 in a storage position;

Figure 3 is a front perspective view of the surface cleaning device of Figure 1 in a floor cleaning position;

Figure 3a is a side elevational view of the surface cleaning device of Figure 1 in a storage position;

Figure 4 is a partial cross-sectional view taken along line 4-4 in Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a rear perspective view of the surface cleaning device of Figure 1 in a partially disassembled configuration;

Figure 6 is a front perspective view of the surface cleaning device of Figure 1 with the pod removed but still in airflow communication with the surface cleaning head;

Figure 7 is a front perspective view of the surface cleaning device of Figure 1 in an off-the-ground cleaning configuration;

Figure 8 is a rear perspective view of the off-floor cleaning adapter for off-floor cleaning, separated from the upper portion, with the remainder removed for clarity;

Figure 9 is a top plan view of the upper and surface cleaning head of Figure 8;

10 is a top plan view of the surface cleaning apparatus of FIG. 1 with the off-floor cleaning adapter removed from the upper portion;

Figure 11 is a rear perspective view of the floor lift nozzle partially removed from the upper portion;

Figure 12 is a rear perspective view of the portable surface cleaning unit;

Figure 13 is a bottom plan view of the surface cleaning unit of Figure 12;

Figure 14 is a front elevational view of the upper portion of the surface cleaning head of Figure 8;

Figure 15 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 15-15 in Figure 8;

Figure 16 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 16-16 in Figure 4;

Figure 17 is a rear elevational view of the surface cleaning unit of Figure 12;

Figures 18a-18d are rear perspective views of the surface cleaning unit of Figure 12 with the rear wall removed and the locking mechanism in different positions;

Figure 19 is a partial rear perspective view in section of the nozzle of Figure 11;

Figures 20a-20d are partial rear perspective views of the adapter of Figure 8 with the outer wall removed.

21 is a front perspective view of the surface cleaning apparatus of FIG. 1 with the surface cleaning unit and hose removed;

Figure 22 is a partial perspective cross-sectional view taken along line 4-4 in Figure 1;

23-25 are front perspective views of the surface cleaning unit mounted on the upper section.

detailed description

Various devices or processes are described below to provide examples of embodiments of each claimed invention. The embodiments described below do not limit any claimed invention, and any claimed invention may encompass processes or devices other than those described below. The claimed inventions are not limited to those devices or processes having all the features of any device or process described below, nor to features common to multiple or all devices described below. It is possible that the apparatus or process described below is not an embodiment of any claimed invention. Any invention disclosed in a device or process described below that is not protected by this document may be the subject of another protective device (e.g., a continuation patent application) and it is not the applicant's, inventor's or patentee's intention to waive, disclaim Any such inventions are disclosed in this document or contributed to the public.

General description of an upright vacuum cleaner

Referring to Figures 1-3, a first embodiment of a surface cleaning apparatus 100 is shown. In the illustrated embodiment, the surface cleaning device 100 is an upright vacuum cleaner. In alternative embodiments, the surface cleaning device may be another suitable type of upright surface cleaning device, such as a stick vacuum, a wet-dry vacuum, or a carpet extractor.

In the example shown, the surface cleaning apparatus 100 includes an upper or support structure 104 that is movably and drivably connected to a surface cleaning head 108 . A surface cleaning unit 112 is mounted on the upper portion 104 . The surface cleaning apparatus 100 also has at least one dirty air inlet 116, at least one clean air outlet 120, and an airflow path or channel extending therebetween. In the example shown, the airflow path includes at least one flexible airflow conduit member (eg, hose 124 or other flexible conduit). Alternatively, the airflow path may be formed by a rigid member.

Preferably, as illustrated in FIG. 4 , the portable surface cleaning unit 112 includes both a suction motor 128 , which may be located within a motor housing 132 , and an air handling member, which may be in the form of a cyclone bin assembly 136 . The air treatment means may be any suitable air treatment means including eg one or more cyclones, filters and bags, and preferably at least one air treatment means is arranged upstream of the suction motor. Thus, the surface cleaning unit 112 may be a handheld vacuum cleaner or a pod or the like. The cyclone bin assembly 136 includes a cyclone chamber 144 and a dust collection chamber 148 .

In the illustrated embodiment, the surface cleaning head 108 includes a dirty air inlet 116 in the form of a slot or opening 152 ( FIG. 4 ) formed on the generally downwardly facing surface of the surface cleaning head 108 . . The airflow path extends from dirty air inlet 116 through surface cleaning head 108 and through updraft conduit 156 ( FIG. 2 ) in upper portion 104 to surface cleaning unit 112 .

A handle 160 is provided on a nipple that is removable from the upper portion 104 to allow a user to manipulate the surface cleaning device 100 . Referring to FIGS. 2 , 3 and 3 a , the upper portion extends along an upper axis 164 and is movably mounted to the surface cleaning head 108 . In the example shown, upper portion 104 is pivotally mounted to the surface cleaning head via pivot joint 168 . Pivot joint 168 may be any suitable pivot joint. In this embodiment, upper portion 104 is movable relative to surface cleaning head 108 between a storage position (FIG. 1) and an in-use or floor cleaning position (FIG. 3). In the floor cleaning position, the upper portion 104 can be inclined relative to the surface being cleaned, and the angle 172 between a plane 176 parallel to the surface and the upper axis 164 can be between about 20° and about 85°. In the storage position (FIG. 3a), the upper portion 104 can be inclined relative to the surface being cleaned, and the angle 172 between a plane 176 parallel to the surface and the upper axis 164 can be between about 85° and about 135°.

It should be understood that the foregoing discussion is exemplary and that an upright vacuum cleaner may use any design of surface cleaning head and upper section, and that these components may be movably connected together by any means known in the art.

In one aspect, the upright vacuum cleaner 100 is operable in a number of different functional configurations or modes of operation. Versatility in operating in different modes of operation may be achieved by allowing the surface cleaning unit 112 and the off-floor cleaning nozzle to each be detached from the upper portion 104 .

In the example shown, mounting the surface cleaning unit 112 on the upper portion 104 increases the weight of the upper portion 104 and can affect the maneuverability and ease of use of the surface cleaning apparatus 100 . With the surface cleaning unit 112 attached, the vacuum cleaner 100 may operate like a conventional upright vacuum cleaner, as shown in FIGS. 1-3.

When the surface cleaning unit 112 is detached from the support structure 104, the airflow connection between the surface cleaning head 108 and the cleaning unit 112 is preferably Formed at least in part by a flexible conduit such as flexible hose 124 which may be an electrified hose. Preferably, the hose 124 is extendable, and more preferably elastically or resiliently extendable. The use of a flexible conduit allows the user to disassemble the surface cleaning unit 112 while maintaining the flow connection between the portable surface cleaning unit 112 and the surface cleaning head 108 without having to reconfigure or reconnect any portion of the airflow conduit 184 (FIG. 6 ).

In the example shown, the airflow path between the surface cleaning head 108 and the cleaning unit 112 also includes an off-floor cleaning adapter 180 . Adapter 180 may be positioned upstream of hose 124 and downstream of surface cleaning head 108 . Preferably, adapter 180 is drivably connectable to upper portion 104 such that adapter 180 can be used to guide surface cleaning head 108 (eg, forward and backward). Accordingly, adapter 180 comprises a rigid airflow conduit of any suitable shape. For example, the stub 180 may be straight as shown, or may be bent or curved. In some embodiments, the takeover 180 may be reconfigurable. For example, the adapter 180 may have upper and lower sections that may be movably mounted (eg, pivotally connected) relative to each other such that the adapter 180 may change from a straight configuration to a curved configuration. Additionally, adapter 180 may have any suitable cross-sectional shape, such as the circular cross-sectional shape shown, or another cross-sectional shape such as square, rectangular, or other regular or irregular shape, such as an "egg shape."

The adapter 180 may be a telescoping adapter for easy extension.

To enable a user to remotely manipulate the surface cleaning head 108 using the adapter 180, the adapter 180 may be provided with a handle assembly. Preferably, the handle assembly or handle 160 is positioned proximate to the upper (ie, downstream) end 188 of the adapter tube 180 . For example, handle 160 may be connected to one or both of nipple 180 and hose 124 . Optionally, handle 160 may form part of the airflow path between nipple 180 and hose 124 . Alternatively, the handle 160 may be attached to the periphery of one or both of the nipple 180 and the hose 124 without participating in the gas flow communication between the nipple 180 and the hose 124 .

A user may grasp the handle portion 182 of the handle 160 to manipulate the adapter 180 (eg, to move the upper portion 104, and to steer the direction of the surface cleaning head 108). In an alternative embodiment, the surface cleaning device 100 may not include the handle 160 , instead, the user may directly grasp the adapter 180 .

See Figure 5 now. As shown, the upper portion 104 is movably mounted relative to the surface cleaning head 108 . The upper portion 104 may be connected to the surface cleaning head 108 by any means known in the art (eg, the upper portion is pivotally mounted or rotatably mounted, etc.). As illustrated, pivot joint 168 allows upper portion 104 to tilt and/or pivot relative to surface cleaning head 108 .

As illustrated, each of the adapter 180 and the surface cleaning unit 112 are selectively attachable to or detachable from the upper portion 104 . An advantage of this design is that the user can switch the vacuum cleaner to the surface cleaning mode by removing the adapter without removing the surface cleaning unit 112 . Preferably, each of the nipple 180 and the surface cleaning unit 112 is selectively connectable to, or detachable from, the upper portion 104 in a manner independent of the other. For example, adapter 180 and surface cleaning unit 112 may be connected to or detached from upper portion 104 in any order, sequentially or simultaneously. This may simplify the process of reconfiguring the surface cleaning device 100 into a different cleaning mode without interrupting the operation of the surface cleaning device 100 .

As illustrated, when the upstream end 192 of the nipple 180 is connected to the upper portion 104, the surface cleaning head 108 joins the airflow path in a floor cleaning mode, such as for cleaning floors and stairs, and the like. In this case, the surface cleaning unit 112 may be mounted on the upper portion 104 for supporting the weight of the surface cleaning unit on the upper portion 104 (for example, as shown in FIG. 3 , which illustrates a conventional floor for an upright vacuum cleaner). cleaning mode). Alternatively, the surface cleaning unit 112 may be detached from the upper portion 104 and hand-held, worn as a backpack or placed on the floor, such as when the adapter 180 is connected to the surface cleaning head 108 (e.g., as shown in FIG. This diagram illustrates an alternative floor cleaning mode for an upright vacuum cleaner).

As illustrated, adapter 180 may be detached from upper portion 104 for off-the-floor cleaning mode. In one embodiment, surface cleaning unit 112 may be mounted on upper portion 104 for supporting the weight of the surface cleaning unit on upper portion 104 when adapter 180 is used in off-floor cleaning mode (eg, as shown in FIG. 7 ). Alternatively, in another optional embodiment, the surface cleaning unit 112 can also be detached from the upper portion 104 and hand-held, worn as a backpack or placed on the floor.

Adapter 180 and surface cleaning unit 112 may be connected to upper portion 104 in any suitable manner. In the example shown, adapter 180 is inserted into upper section 104 and surface cleaning unit 112 is mounted on the exterior of upper section 104 . In such cases, upper portion 104 may provide some or all of the airflow path from surface cleaning head 108 to nipple 180 . In other embodiments, upper portion 104 need not be part of the airflow path. For example, nipple 180 may be mounted on the exterior of upper portion 104 and the inlet port may be located on the outlet end of a delivery tube provided on the outer surface of upper portion 104 .

Referring to FIG. 6 , when the surface cleaning apparatus 100 is in use, the user can detach the surface cleaning unit 112 from the upper portion 104 without interrupting the airflow communication between the cleaning unit 112 and the surface cleaning head 108 . This allows a user to selectively detach and reattach cleaning unit 112 to support structure 104 during use without having to stop and reconfigure connection hose 124 or other portions of airflow conduit 184 . As illustrated, adapter 180 is attached to upper portion 104 and surface cleaning unit 112 is detached from upper portion 104 .

In this configuration, upper portion 104 may provide a connection between nipple 180 and surface cleaning head 108 that may allow a user to actuate surface cleaning head 108 by manipulating nipple 180 .

In addition to being operable to clean floors or surfaces, vacuum cleaners may operate in a variety of cleaning modes that do not include the use of a surface cleaning head and may generally be described as an off-the-floor cleaning mode. As opposed to cleaning large, flat surfaces, the off-floor cleaning mode can often include cleaning furniture, walls, drapes, and other objects.

In one example of an off-the-floor cleaning mode, as illustrated in FIG. 7 , the surface cleaning unit 112 may still be mounted on the upper portion 104 . This eliminates the need for the user to individually support the weight of the surface cleaning unit 112 in the off-floor cleaning mode. In the configuration shown, the surface cleaning unit 112 is still mountable on the upper portion 104 and the adapter 180 is detachable from the upper portion 104 to provide extended coverage for off-floor cleaning. Additionally, as shown in FIG. 5 , the upstream end 200 of the handle 160 may be separable from the downstream end 188 of the nipple 180 . In this configuration, the upstream end 200 of the handle 160 may serve as a dirty air inlet for the vacuum cleaner 100 . Optionally, an accessory tool such as a nipple, crevice tool, turbo brush, hose, or other device may be coupled to the upstream end 200 of the handle 160 .

In one example of an off-the-floor cleaning mode, as illustrated in FIG. 5 , both the surface cleaning unit 112 and adapter 180 are detachable from the upper portion 104 . The upstream end 200 of the handle 160 can be selectively connected to or disconnected from the downstream end 188 of the nipple 180 as desired. This configuration may be advantageous when the surface cleaning unit 112 must be kept off the ground, such as when a user is standing on a ladder. In such cases, upper portion 104 and surface cleaning head 108 may add unnecessary weight to surface cleaning unit 112 . Optionally, adapter 180 and upper portion 104 may be configured to provide support and/or positioning or alignment of adapter 180 relative to upper portion 104 .

In the example shown, upper portion 104 is configured to receive an upstream end of nipple 180 to connect nipple 180 to upper portion 104 . The outer wall of adapter 180 and the inner wall of upper portion 104 can contact each other for a sufficient length when inserted to stabilize adapter 180 so that upper portion 104 can provide a drive connection between adapter 180 and surface cleaning head 108 . This may allow upper portion 104 to transfer force applied to nipple 180 (eg, via handle 160 or directly to nipple 180 ) to surface cleaning head 108 via, for example, pivot joint 168 .

As illustrated in FIG. 8 , the nipple 180 includes an upstream portion 1002 bounded by an upstream end 192 . Upstream end 192 may define a nipple air inlet for receiving dirty air for communication downstream via nipple 180 to downstream end 188 ( FIG. 5 ). Additionally, the upper portion 104 is shown to include a downstream portion 1006 bounded by a downstream end 1010 . As shown, downstream portion 1006 may include or surround an air outlet for exhausting air received from surface cleaning head 108 downstream (eg, to adapter 180 ). For example, the downstream portion 1006 may include a cowl surrounding and extending upwardly from the outlet of the airflow path extending through the surface cleaning head 108 . Accordingly, the upstream portion 1002 of the nipple 180 may be removably received in the downstream portion 1006 of the upper portion 104 . The downstream end 1010 of the upper portion 104 may define an opening 1014 for receiving the upstream end 192 of the nipple 180 .

Referring now to FIGS. 8-10 , downstream portion 1006 may include an inner wall 1018 having a transverse profile corresponding to the transverse profile of outer wall 1022 of upstream portion 1002 of nipple 180 . For example, the lateral profile of inner wall 1018 may be substantially similar in size and shape to the lateral profile of outer wall 1022 . Preferably, the lateral profile of the outer wall 1022 is slightly smaller than the lateral profile of the inner wall 1018 to provide sufficient clearance for insertion and removal of the adapter 180 without creating a gap when the adapter 180 is inserted into the upper portion 104 . This may allow the upstream portion 1002 to be easily inserted into the downstream portion 1006 .

The lateral profiles of inner wall 1018 and outer wall 1022 may have any suitable shape. For example, the lateral profile may be circular, triangular, square or other regular or irregular shape. Preferably, the transverse profile may have a non-circular or irregular shape such that the outer wall 1022 may fit between the inner walls 1018 in only one orientation. This may force the nipple 180 into a particular orientation relative to the upper portion 104 (eg, to provide the surface cleaning head 108 with a desired orientation of the handle 160 ). In the example shown, the lateral profile of inner wall 1018 and outer wall 1022 may be described as "egg-shaped." That is, the transverse profile is generally rounded and tapered in width from side to side.

Alternatively or in addition to the correspondence of the lateral profiles of the inner wall 1018 and outer wall 1022 , the adapter 180 and upper portion 104 may include cooperating elements that limit the number of orientations in which the upstream portion 1002 may be received in the downstream portion 1006 . For example, the adapter 180 and the upper portion 104 may together include one or more mating protrusions and grooves.

In the example shown, adapter 180 includes a protrusion (or key) 1026 in upstream portion 1002 that projects outwardly along outer wall 1022 . The protrusion 1026 is configured to fit (ie, insert) into a groove (or slot) 1030 formed in a lip 1034 of the inner wall 1018 when the upstream portion 1002 is received in the downstream portion 1006 . When adapter 180 is properly oriented relative to upper portion 104 , key 1026 will align with slot 1030 to allow insertion of upstream portion 1002 into downstream portion 1006 . However, if an attempt is made to insert upstream portion 1002 into downstream portion 1006 when nipple 180 is improperly oriented relative to upper portion 104 such that key 1026 is misaligned with slot 1030 , lip 1034 of downstream portion 1006 will interfere with key 1026 .

In the example shown, the hose 124 is electrified and forms part of the conduit extending from the surface cleaning unit 112 to the surface cleaning head. Accordingly, surface cleaning unit 112 may be provided with a cord or on-board power source (eg, one or more batteries) and provide power to electrical components in surface cleaning head 108 via hose 124 and nipple 180 . Accordingly, the nipple 180 may provide an electrified airflow conduit for electrical conduction along the length of the nipple 180 . As illustrated, the upstream portion 1002 of the nipple 180 includes an electrical connector 1038 and the downstream portion 1006 of the upper portion 104 includes a mating electrical connector 1042 . Electrical connectors 1038 and 1042 may be any suitable mating electrical connectors, such as male connectors (or plugs) and female connectors (or receptacles). Additionally, electrical connectors 1038 and 1042 may connect any number of electrical conductors (eg, 1 to 100 electrical conductors). As illustrated, each of connectors 1038 and 1042 connects three electrical conductors 1046 . Upstream portion 1002 and downstream portion 1006 may each include any number of mating electrical connectors, each of which may connect to a different electrical conductor.

In some cases, electrical connectors 1038 and 1042 may be somewhat fragile. For example, electrical connectors 1038 and 1042 may be damaged if subjected to certain stresses. In one aspect, the stability provided by upper portion 104 to adapter 180 may advantageously reduce stress on electrical connectors 1038 and 1042 . For example, mating elements of upper portion 104 and adapter 180 rather than electrical connectors 1038 and 1042 (such as keys 1026 and slots 1030, and/or corresponding lateral profiles of walls 1018 and 1022) may provide stability (such as relative to adapters 180 and 1022). resistance to relative rotational movement between upper parts 104 ), this stability would otherwise be borne by electrical connectors 1042 and 1046 .

As illustrated in FIG. 4 , the downstream portion 1006 of the upper portion 104 surrounds the upstream portion 1002 of the nipple 180 when the upstream portion 1002 is received in the downstream portion 1006 . Preferably, the upper portion 104 surrounds the stub 180 at a sufficient height to provide support to the stud 180 such that the stud rests in an upright position. For example, upper portion 104 may surround any portion of the nozzle, and may surround the entire nozzle. As illustrated, the upper portion may surround 10% to 30% of the overall height of nipple 180 (measured from upstream end 192 to downstream end 188 ), and more preferably, about 20% of the overall height of nipple 180 . Also as illustrated, upstream end 192 is positioned near lower end 1062 of surface cleaning unit 112 and well below upper end 1066 of surface cleaning unit 112 (when both surface cleaning unit 112 and adapter 180 are connected to upper portion 104 Time). It should be appreciated that the upstream end 192 may be seated against, or within, the outlet end of the pivot joint 168 .

When the nipple 180 is connected to the upper portion 104, the nipple may form an airtight seal with airflow passages. As illustrated, when nipple 180 is connected to upper portion 104 , upstream end 192 of nipple 180 may press against seal 1070 (eg, an O-ring) surrounding air outlet 1074 of upper portion 104 . Seal 1070 prevents air from entering or escaping through the interface between nipple 180 and upper portion 104 .

In the example shown, upstream portion 1002 of nipple 180 includes lower section 1078 and upper section 1082 . Lower section 1078 is bounded by upstream end 192 , and upper section 1082 is downstream of lower section 1078 . The transverse section of the upper section 1082 is sized and shaped for a close fit with the downstream portion 1006 of the upper section 104 . At the same time, the lower section 1078 can have a substantially smaller lateral section that can provide a larger margin of alignment error when initially inserting the lower section 1078 into the opening 1014 . Accordingly, a user may insert upstream end 192 into upper portion 104 . This insertion is facilitated by the clearance between the walls of the upstream end 192 and the upper portion 104 facing each other. Some or all of the weight of the adapter 180 may then be supported by the upper portion 104 . The user may then rotate the nipple 180 to the desired insertion orientation and complete insertion of the nipple 180 into the upper portion 104 by inserting a portion or all of the upper section 1082 . Inserting the narrower lower section 1078 into the upper section 104 followed by the wider upper section 1082 in a stepwise fashion makes it easier for the user to insert the upstream section 1002 into the upper section 104 . Once the lower section 1078 is inserted into the opening 1014, the lateral movement of the nipple 180 is substantially constrained by the interaction between the lower section 1078 and the inner wall 1018 near the narrow range of positions that would allow the upper section 1082 Enters downstream portion 1006 through opening 1014 . Such constraints allow the user to find the correct location more quickly and easily because they increase the proportion of available locations that allow the upper section 1082 to enter the downstream portion 1006 .

Alternatively, or in addition to the narrower lower section 1078, the downstream end 1010 of the upper portion 104 at the opening 1014 may be laterally sloped (or "skewed"). As shown, the front side 1086 of the opening 1014 extends higher than (ie, extends further downstream) the rear side 1090 . This may allow a user to more easily position upstream portion 1002 in opening 1014 . In use, the user can simply move the front side 1094 of the upstream portion 1002 against the front side 1086 of the opening 1014 so that the upstream portion 1002 is aligned with the opening 1014, and then move the upstream portion 1002 downward through the remainder of the opening 1014. part. In this way, front side 1086 of opening 1014 may act as a guide for guiding upstream portion 1002 downward into the remainder of opening 1014 . Given that such an opening forms a complete rim at its uppermost edge, this may be easier to maneuver than having to maneuver the upstream portion 1002 through a laterally unsloped (ie horizontal) opening. If upstream portion 1002 includes narrower lower section 1078, then more preferably, lower section 1078 and upper section 1082 may be flush along front side 1094, thereby allowing upstream section 1002 to slide down through opening 1014, as described above, without being affected. Interference with overhanging lip of upper segment 1082.

See Figure 11 now. Alternatively or in addition, the angled opening 1014 may assist in correcting rotational misalignment of the nipple 180 relative to the upper portion 104 . After at least partially inserting the lower section 1078 of the upstream portion 1002 of the adapter 180 through the opening 1014 of the upper section 104, if the adapter 180 and the opening 1014 are not properly oriented in rotation (ie, rotationally misaligned), the lip of the upper section 1082 1098 may contact downstream end 1010 at opening 1014 . In this case, the downward force F _w of the adapter 180 , whether by gravity or the force exerted by the user on the point of contact between the lip 1098 and the downstream end 1010 , will encounter the force of the angled downstream end 1010 . Reaction force F _N . As shown, in addition to the horizontal component _FH , the reaction force _FN also includes a vertical component FV that _opposes the downward force _Fw . Horizontal component _FH forces adapter 180 to rotate rearward for alignment. For example, if nipple 180 is rotated in clockwise direction 1102 out of alignment, force component _FH will force nipple 180 to rotate counterclockwise into alignment. In this way, the angled opening 1014 interacts with the upper section 1082 of the upstream portion 1002 to force the nipple 180 into proper alignment for insertion into the opening 1014 .

Take over the locking mechanism

The following is a description of a nozzle locking mechanism that may be used in any surface cleaning device by itself, or in any combination or subcombination with any other one or more features disclosed herein.

See Figure 8 now. Preferably, once the adapter 180 is connected to the upper portion 104 , the adapter 180 remains connected to the upper portion 104 until the adapter 180 is selectively detached from the upper portion 104 . The connection between nipple 180 and upper portion 104 may be maintained by one or more retaining elements of a locking mechanism that are selectively disengageable. When the locking mechanism is engaged, the upstream portion 1002 cannot be withdrawn from the downstream portion 1006 unless the locking mechanism is unlocked. This may, for example, prevent the adapter 180 from being separated from the upper portion 104 when the adapter 180 is used to manipulate the surface cleaning head 108 .

Referring now to FIGS. 8 and 19 . FIG. 19 shows a partial view of nozzle 180 including upstream portion 1002 with outer wall 1022 removed to expose inner locking mechanism (or “receptacle lock”) 1106 . Nozzle lock 1106 may include a locking member that releasably engages upper portion 104 to selectively secure nozzle 180 in the locked position of upper portion 104 . As illustrated, the nozzle lock 1106 includes a plunger 1050 that is extendable through an opening 1054 in the downstream portion 1006 to resist withdrawal of the upstream portion 1002 from the downstream portion 1006 . Additionally, the plunger 1050 may be retractable to be withdrawn from the opening 1054 and stop blocking the withdrawal of the upstream portion 1002 from the downstream portion 1006 .

As illustrated, plunger 1050 is positioned within slot 1110 for transition between an extended position (shown) and a retracted position. A resilient member, such as a spring 1114 (FIG. 20a), may act on the plunger 1050 to bias the plunger 1050 toward the extended or locked position. In the extended position, end portion 1118 of plunger 1050 protrudes from slot 1110 through opening 1122 in outer wall 1022 . In the retracted position, the end portion 1118 of the plunger 1050 is at least partially drawn back into the slot 1110 .

Preferably, the nozzle lock 1106 is configured to automatically lock the nozzle 180 to the upper portion 104 when the nozzle 180 is inserted into the upper portion 104 . For example, when the upstream portion 1002 is inserted into the downstream portion 1006 , the locking member of the nozzle lock 1106 may automatically engage the upper portion 104 to secure the nozzle 180 to the upper portion 104 . In some cases, the locking member is translatable laterally (ie, substantially perpendicular to the airflow path) to releasably engage upper portion 104 . As illustrated, upon insertion of upstream portion 1002 into downstream portion 1006, plunger 1050 can automatically translate laterally outward (or “extend”) through opening 1054 in downstream portion 1006 without further action by the user. Actions.

In the example shown, end portion 1118 of plunger 1050 includes a lower side 1126 and an opposing upper side 1130 . The underside 1126 includes an inclined surface 1134 . Initially, with the upstream portion 1002 withdrawn from the downstream portion 1006, the plunger 1050 may be in the extended position. In the extended position, the end portion 1118 of the sloped surface 1134 including the underside 1126 can protrude through the opening 1122 . As the upstream portion 1002 is inserted into the downstream portion 1006, the sloped surface 1134 of the underside 1126 may be brought into contact with the downstream end 1010 at the opening 1014 during the insertion. For example, the space between outer wall 1022 and inner wall 1018 may be less than the distance that end portion 1118 protrudes through opening 1122 when in the extended position. The downstream end 1010 can be cammed along the inclined surface 1134 , forcing the plunger 1050 to retract against the bias of the spring 1114 until the tip 1138 of the plunger 1050 hits the inner wall 1018 . Upon further insertion, the plunger 1050 can be aligned with the opening 1054 and translate laterally through the opening 1054 under the bias of the spring 1114 .

When plunger 1050 is in the extended position and extends through opening 1054 , nipple 180 cannot be withdrawn from upper portion 104 without first at least partially retracting plunger 1050 . As illustrated, the plunger 1050 includes an upper side 1130 . The upper side 1130 is shown to include a sloped lateral side 1142 bounded by the tip 1138 , and an unsloped (or less sloped) medial side 1146 inboard of the lateral side 1142 . Preferably, at least a portion of inner side 1146 protrudes through opening 1054 in the extended position. In such a case, if the upstream portion 1002 attempts to be withdrawn from the downstream portion 1006 without first retracting the plunger 1050 , the inner side 1146 may contact the upper wall of the opening 1054 . In turn, the slope (or lack thereof) of the inner side 1146 may not be sufficient for the upper wall of the opening 1054 to cam along the inner side 1146 to retract the plunger 1050 . Thus, the upstream portion 1002 cannot be withdrawn from the downstream portion 1006; the takeover lock 1106 is in the locked (or "engaged") position.

The takeover lock 1106 may be unlocked by mechanical, electrical, or electromechanical means in response to user action. For example, the takeover lock 1106 may include a takeover release actuator operable to unlock the takeover lock 1106 . The nozzle 180 is freely removable from the upper portion 104 when the nozzle lock 1106 is in the unlocked position.

As illustrated, upper portion 104 may terminate well below waist height. For example, the upper portion may be 12 inches to 14 inches high. One advantage of the shorter upper member is that it facilitates insertion of nipple 180 into upper portion 104 . To avoid the user having to bend down to release the stub 180 while enabling the stud 180 to be locked in the upper portion 104, the actuator 1058 may be positioned at a height where it can be actuated when the user is standing upright. An actuator such as button 1058 may be drivingly connected to lock 1106 by a longitudinally extending member such as shaft 1150 . The actuator and shaft and linking member may be provided as part of the adapter 180 and may be removed together with the adapter. Thus, by incorporating the lock and actuator into the nipple 180, the upper portion 104 can be shorter.

For example, in the embodiment of FIG. 19, the nozzle lock 1106 includes a longitudinally extending transmission member that drivingly connects the nozzle release actuator and the locking member. For example, the transfer member may translate downward to move the takeover lock 1106 to the unlocked position. Moving the transfer member downward moves the locking member laterally to the disengaged position and sets the takeover lock 1106 in the unlocked position.

In the example shown, button 1058 is mounted on nipple 180 with its drive shaft 1150 translating toward plunger 1050 . A biasing member, such as spring 1152, can bias shaft 1150 upward to the retracted position. The shaft 1150 can interact with the plunger 1050 to move the plunger 1050 to a retracted position, allowing the upper wall of the opening 1054 to pass over at least the inner side 1146 (i.e., conversely engage the sloped outer side 1142 or over the entire plunger). 1050). As illustrated, the plunger 1050 includes an upwardly facing face 1154 and the shaft 1150 includes a lower portion 1158 including a downwardly facing face 1162 . Faces 1154 and 1162 may be positioned to meet each other when shaft 1150 is translated downwardly toward plunger 1050 (as shown in Figure 20b when the button is partially depressed to move the lock to the unlocked position). Faces 1154 and 1162 may be shaped to provide a camming action to retract plunger 1050 against the bias of spring 1114 as shaft 1150 translates further toward plunger 1050 . In the example shown, each of faces 1154 and 1162 is correspondingly sloped. As the shaft 1150 translates downward, the face 1158 of the shaft 1150 cams along the face 1154 of the plunger 1050, causing the plunger 1050 to retract to the retracted position. In the retracted position, the upstream portion 1002 can be withdrawn from the downstream portion 1006; the nozzle lock is unlocked (or "disengaged"). The upper wall of the opening 1054 is capable of at least passing over the inner side 1146 of a withdrawal event that is preventing a locked condition from occurring.

Preferably, takeover lock 1106 may remain in the unlocked (or "disengaged") position after button 1058 is released. This may allow a user to actuate button 1058 (unlock stub 180 ) and subsequently remove stub 180 from upper portion 104 using the same hand. In the example shown, shaft 1150 may be biased upward (eg, by means of a resilient element such as spring 1152). When the plunger 1050 is in the retracted position, the shaft 1150 can resist the extension of the plunger 1050 under the bias of the spring 1114, and the plunger 1050 can resist the upward retraction of the shaft 1150. As illustrated, plunger 1050 includes lip 1166 below face 1154 and shaft 1150 includes lip 1170 above face 1162 . Additionally, lower face 1162 may move across upper face 1154 during downward translation of shaft 1150 . When this occurs, plunger 1050 translates laterally outward a short distance, thereby moving lip 1166 and lip 1170 into contact. Contact between lip 1166 and lip 1170 prevents shaft 1150 from being withdrawn upwardly. Additionally, the location of the lower portion 1158 in front of the plunger 1050 prevents further translation of the plunger 1050 (as shown in Figure 20c) toward the extended position. Therefore, the lock is held in the unlocked position.

Preferably, the nozzle lock 1106 may not remain in the unlocked position while the nozzle 180 is being removed and/or reinserted into the upper portion 104 . For example, shaft 1150 and plunger 1050 may be disengaged when upstream portion 1002 is withdrawn from or reinserted into downstream portion 1006 . As illustrated, when the plunger 1050 is in the retracted position, a portion of the sloped outer side 1142 and the sloped lower face 1134 of the plunger 1050 can protrude outwardly through the opening 1122 in the upstream portion 1002 . This may allow the upper wall of the opening 1054 to cam the sloped outer side 1142 during withdrawal of the upstream portion 1002 from the downstream portion 1006 to further retract the plunger 1050 . This action moves the lip 1166 of the plunger 1050 out of contact with the lip 1170 of the shaft 1150 (as shown in Figure 2Od), allowing the shaft 1150 to retract upward. After the plunger 1050 has passed the downstream end 1010 of the upper portion 104 , the plunger 1050 can be extended to the extended position under the bias of the spring 1114 .

Nozzle lock 1106 may also be held in an unlocked position when nozzle 180 is removed from upper portion 104 . For example, when nipple 180 is removed from upper portion 104 , button 1058 may be depressed to retract plunger 1050 and entangle shaft 1150 with plunger 1050 . In this case, reinserting the nipple 180 into the upper portion 104 releases the nipple lock from the unlocked position. As illustrated, a portion of the sloped lower face 1134 of the plunger 1050 may protrude outwardly through the opening 1122 in the upstream portion 1002 when the plunger 1050 is in the retracted position. This may allow the downstream end 1010 at the opening 1014 to cam the sloped lower face 1134 to further retract the plunger 1050 during insertion of the upstream portion 1002 into the downstream portion 1006 . This action moves the lip 1166 of the plunger 1050 out of contact with the lip 1170 of the shaft 1150 (as shown in Figure 2Od), allowing the shaft 1150 to retract upward. Once plunger 1050 is aligned with opening 1054 in downstream portion 1006 , plunger 1050 is biased by spring 1114 to translate laterally outward to the extended position.

Take over the lock release actuator

The following is a description of a nozzle lock release actuator that may be used in any of the surface cleaning devices by itself, or in any combination or subassembly having any one or more of the other features disclosed herein. In combination, for example, any combination or sub-combination of one or more of the first aspect, the second aspect, the third aspect, the fourth aspect and the fifth aspect.

In some embodiments, a locking mechanism (eg, nozzle lock 1106 ) that prevents separation of nozzle 180 from upper portion 104 after connection may be released by a nozzle lock release actuator. The actuator can be connected mechanically, electrically or electromechanically to the nozzle lock. Preferably, the actuator is positioned away from the upper portion 104 in a position higher than the upper portion 104 towards the handle 160 ( FIG. 5 ). For example, the actuator may be positioned higher than the upper portion 104 on the nipple 180 or on the handle 160 . In some cases, the actuator may be positioned between the height of the user's knees and the height of the chest, and more preferably, between the height of the user's thighs and the height of the waist. This may reduce or eliminate the need for the user to bend over to activate the actuator to release the nozzle lock and separate the nozzle 180 from the upper portion 104 (eg, to use the surface cleaning apparatus 100 in an off-the-floor cleaning mode).

Referring to FIGS. 8 and 19 , the button 1058 may be positioned at approximately the midpoint along the length of the nipple 180 , as illustrated. Button 1058 is an example of a lock release actuator. This may roughly correspond to the height of the user's thigh. As shown, button 1058 may be generally parallel to upper end 1066 of surface cleaning unit 112 . Button 1058 is drivingly connected to plunger 1050 by shaft 1150 .

A lock release actuator may be connected to adapter 180 and may be removed from upper portion 104 and surface cleaning unit 112 when adapter 180 is detached from upper portion 104 and surface cleaning unit 112 (eg, for off-floor cleaning mode). Similarly, a longitudinally extending transmission member that drivingly connects the lock release actuator to the locking member of the nozzle lock 1106 may be mounted to the nozzle 180 and may be removed from the upper portion 104 and the surface cleaning unit 112 when the nozzle 180 is separated from the upper portion 104 and the surface cleaning unit 112. 104 and surface cleaning unit 112 are removed. For example, nozzle lock 1106 may be integrally mounted to nozzle 180 and removable from upper portion 104 and surface cleaning unit 112 when nozzle 180 is detached from upper portion 104 and surface cleaning unit 112 . This advantageously allows surface cleaning device 100 to be easily reconfigured into different modes of operation. For example, when surface cleaning unit 112 is detached (removed) from upper portion 104 , nozzle lock 1106 may remain with nozzle 180 to allow nozzle 180 to remain releasably connected to upper portion 104 .

In the example shown, nozzle lock 1106 , shaft 1150 , and plunger 1050 , including button 1058 , are all connected to nozzle 180 independently of surface cleaning unit 112 and upper portion 104 and remain in place after surface cleaning unit 112 and upper portion 104 are separated from nozzle 180 . this connection.

Surface cleaning unit installation structure

The following is a description of a surface cleaning unit mounting structure that may be used in any surface cleaning apparatus by itself, or in any combination or subcombination with any one or more of the other features disclosed herein, For example any combination or sub-combination of one or more of the first aspect, the second aspect, the third aspect, the fourth aspect and the fifth aspect.

See Figure 5 now. Surface cleaning unit 112 may be removably mounted on one or more of upper portion 104 and adapter 180 . Preferably, the surface cleaning unit 112 is mountable on the upper portion 104 independently of the adapter 180, so that the surface cleaning unit 112 can be mounted on the upper portion 104 and removed from the upper portion 104 without adjusting the position of the adapter 180 or removing the adapter 180. The upper part is disassembled. Thus, for example, the nipple 180 may remain in the upper portion 104 when the surface cleaning unit 112 is installed on or removed from the upper portion 104 .

Alternatively, or in addition, when the surface cleaning unit 112 is mounted on the upper portion 104, the upper portion 104 can stabilize the surface cleaning unit 112 (e.g., when the upper portion 104 is manipulated to manipulate the surface cleaning head 108, the surface can be cleaned Unit 112 remains in a fixed position on upper portion 104). For example, upper portion 104 may inhibit translational movement of surface cleaning unit 112 along upper axis 164 toward surface cleaning head 108 ( FIG. 2 ), and/or may inhibit rotational movement of surface cleaning unit 112 about upper axis 164 .

Accordingly, the surface cleaning unit 112 may be mounted to the exterior of the upper portion 112 by two mounting members disposed at two longitudinally (e.g., along axis 164) spaced apart locations where the upper portion 104 is operated to At least one of the two mounting members provides lateral stability when the surface cleaning head 108 is manipulated. It should be understood that more than two mounting members may be provided.

Surface cleaning unit 112 may be slidably received on one or both of the mounting members. For example, surface cleaning unit 112 may have one or more grooves to receive one of the mounting members therein. Thus, if one of the mounting members includes a pair of laterally extending portions (eg, a left laterally extending wing and a right laterally extending wing extending outward from opposite sides of the upper portion, or a left laterally extending wing and the right side laterally extending the mounting member to the front or rear of the exterior of the wing), the surface cleaning unit 112 may have one or two grooves into which the laterally extending position is receivable.

One of the mounting members may be of sufficient height so that the surface cleaning unit remains in a fixed position when the adapter 180 is removed and/or the surface cleaning unit 112 is unlocked for removal from above. For example, if the mounting member includes a laterally extending portion that is received in a groove, groove, etc., then in the unlocked position, and the nipple is removed, the engagement between the laterally extending portion and the abutting surface of the groove, groove, etc. may The surface cleaning unit 112 is dimensionally stabilized in place.

Referring to FIGS. 12-15 and 21-25 , the surface cleaning unit 112 and upper portion 104 may include one or more mounting elements or members for attaching the surface cleaning unit 112 to the upper portion 104 . For example, the mounting element may comprise outwardly protruding mounting members or wings and corresponding mounting grooves for receiving these mounting members.

As illustrated, upper portion 104 includes outwardly projecting wings 1174a and 1174b. Wings 1174 are examples of mounting members. As shown, wings 1174 may extend laterally from a front side 1178 of upper portion 104 . Although upper portion 104 is shown as including two mounting members, in alternative embodiments, upper portion 104 may include any suitable number of mounting members. For example, upper portion 104 may include between 1 wing 1174 and 10 wings 1174 that may extend in any number of directions. Additionally, the wings 1174 may each be separate elements, or they may be integrally formed, such as 1174a and 1174b in the example shown.

As illustrated, surface cleaning unit 112 includes grooves 1182a and 1182b. Each groove 1182 may include an opening 1186 in a bottom surface 1190 of the surface cleaning unit 112 . Grooves 1182 may be sized and positioned to receive wings 1174 . For example, surface cleaning unit 112 may be positioned above upper portion 104 and lowered to slide wings 1174 into grooves 1182 . Surface cleaning unit 112 may then be separated from upper portion 104 by moving surface cleaning unit 112 vertically away from upper portion 104 to remove wings 1174 from groove 1182 .

Although surface cleaning unit 112 is shown as including two recesses 1182, in alternative embodiments, surface cleaning unit 112 may include any suitable number of recesses for receiving some or all of the mounting members of upper portion 104. groove. Additionally, the arrangement of the grooves and protruding mounting members may be reversed. Each of the surface cleaning device 112 and the upper portion 104 may include one or more grooves and mounting members sized and positioned to cooperate with each other.

Optionally, opening 1186 of groove 1182 may be shaped to make it easier for a user to insert wing 1174 into groove 1182 . In some cases, fitting groove 1182 over wings 1174 may include lowering surface cleaning unit 112 onto upper portion 104 . The opening 1186 of the groove 1182 on the bottom surface 1190 of the surface cleaning unit 112 may be completely below the user's eye level and cannot be seen. This can make it more difficult for opening 1186 to align with groove 1182 .

As illustrated, each groove 1182 may expand in a lower portion 1194 of the groove 1182 to provide an enlarged opening 1186 . The enlarged opening 1186 may make aligning the opening 1186 onto the wing 1174 less difficult. Once the wings 1174 enter the enlarged opening 1186 , the surface cleaning unit 112 will self-align as the surface cleaning unit 112 descends further and the wings 1174 enter the narrower upper portion 1198 of the groove 1182 .

In the example shown, at least the upper portion 1198 of each groove 1182 has a cross-sectional profile that closely corresponds to the cross-sectional profile of the corresponding mating wing 1174 . This can provide a tight engagement between the grooves 1182 and the wings 1174 for securing the surface cleaning unit 112 on the upper portion 104 .

The cooperation between wings 1174 and grooves 1182 stabilizes surface cleaning unit 112 against rotation in all directions. This may prevent the surface cleaning unit 112 from tipping over, for example, when the upper portion 104 is operated to manipulate the surface cleaning head 108 . Additionally, wings 1174 may support surface cleaning unit 112 from translation toward surface cleaning head 108 . For example, one or more of grooves 1182 may include an upper portion 1198 bounded by end wall 1202 . Wings 1174 may be inserted into groove 1182 far enough that upper surface 1204 of at least one of wings 1174 contacts end wall 1202 . This contact may inhibit further translation of the surface cleaning unit 112 toward the surface cleaning head 108 . Thus, for example, when the adapter 180 is removed and/or the surface cleaning unit 112 is unlocked for removal from the upper portion, then the surface cleaning unit 112 can remain in place on the upper portion 104 .

In an alternative embodiment, a different mounting element inhibits movement of the surface cleaning unit 112 toward the surface cleaning head 108 . In such a case, groove 1182 may be open (ie, without end wall 1202 ), wing 1174 may not touch end wall 1202 , or both. Instead, the different mounting elements may inhibit movement of the surface cleaning unit 112 toward the surface cleaning head 108 .

Referring now to FIGS. 12 , 14 and 17 . In addition to or instead of wings 1174 and grooves 1182 , surface cleaning unit 112 may include a different mounting member that engages downstream end 1010 of upper portion 104 . As illustrated, surface cleaning unit 112 includes gripper 1206 . Clamp 1206 is an example of a mounting member. Clamp 1206 may extend downwardly in spaced relation to rear surface 1210 of surface cleaning unit 112 to form slot 1214 for receiving a portion of downstream end 1010 of upper portion 104 .

In use, the surface cleaning unit 112 may be lowered onto the upper portion 104 such that the front side 1178 of the downstream portion 1006 enters the slot 1214 and the gripper 1206 enters the upper portion 104 . Clamp 1206 may grip front side 1178 of upper portion 104 to inhibit surface cleaning unit 112 from rotating forward, on surface cleaning head 108 , or backward. In some cases, upper portion 104 may abut upper end 1218 of slot 1214 such that the weight of surface cleaning unit 112 may be supported on downstream end 1010 of upper portion 104 . Clamp 1206 may be disconnected from upper section 104 by vertically raising surface cleaning unit 112 away from upper section 104 . Thus, upper portion 104 provides a support upon which surface cleaning unit 112 (clamp 1206 ) may rest when mounted to upper portion 104 .

As shown in FIG. 15 , a void 1222 may be disposed between the inner wall 1018 of the upper portion 104 and the outer wall 1022 of the adapter 180 toward the front side 1178 of the upper portion 104 when the adapter 180 is inserted into the upper portion 104 . The void 1222 may provide space for the clamp 1206 to be received in the upper portion 104 at the same time as the nipple 180 . Additionally, either clamp 1206 or adapter 180 may be removed from upper portion 104 while the other remains inserted in upper portion 104 . This allows for quick and easy reconfiguration of the surface cleaning device 100 to a different cleaning mode.

Referring now to FIGS. 8 , 10 , 12 and 17 . As an alternative or in addition to wings 1174, grooves 1182 and clamps 1206, adapter 180 may include mounting members for supporting surface cleaning unit 112 and/or dynamically securing surface cleaning unit 112 to upper portion 104, Or to help dynamically stabilize the surface cleaning unit on the upper part. Thus, for example, the mounting feature of the adapter 180 enhances the stability of the surface cleaning unit 112 when the adapter 180 and the surface cleaning unit 112 are both connected to the upper portion 104 . For example, the mounting features of adapter 180 may inhibit forward rotation and/or translation of surface cleaning unit 112 , such as when upper portion 104 and/or adapter 180 are operated to manipulate surface cleaning head 108 .

As illustrated, nipple 180 may include wings 1226a and 1226b. Wings 1226 are examples of mounting members. Additionally, surface cleaning unit 112 may include arms 1230a and 1230b for at least partially surrounding wings 1226 . As shown, each arm 1230 may define a slot 1234 for receiving a wing 1226 . Preferably, slot 1234 is open. This may allow wings 1226 to be received from above or below slot 1234 . For example, if surface cleaning unit 112 is attached to upper portion 104 , wings 1226 may enter and exit slot 1234 through open upper end 1238 of slot 1234 as nipple 180 is lowered into upper portion 104 or raised out of upper portion 104 . Additionally, if nipple 180 is attached to upper section 104 , wings 1226 may enter and exit slot 1234 through open upper end 1242 of slot 1234 as surface cleaning unit 112 is lowered onto or raised off upper section 104 .

Slot 1234 may be shaped such that wing 1226 aligns with slot 1234 more easily. As illustrated, each end 1238 and 1242 of the slot 1234 may be expanded to provide a widened opening for easier alignment of the wings 1226 . Additionally, each slot 1234 can include a narrow region 1246 between the upper end 1238 and the lower end 1242 . Preferably, narrow region 1246 may contact wing 1226 when wing 1226 is received in slot 1234 . As illustrated, each wing 1226 includes a front surface 1250 facing the surface cleaning unit 112 (when the surface cleaning unit 112 and adapter 180 are attached to the upper portion 104 ) and an opposing rear surface 1254 . In use, the slot 1234 may contact at least a portion of the rear face 1254 of the wing 1226 when the wing 1226 is received in the slot 1234 . This may allow the arm 1230 to inhibit the surface cleaning unit 112 from tilting forward over the surface cleaning head 108 .

As an alternative or in addition to providing support to surface cleaning unit 112, the interaction between wings 1226 and arms 1230 may help support adapter 180 in an upright position. The adapter 180 is releasably securable to the upper portion 104 . For example, a nozzle lock can be releasably engageable to secure the nozzle 180 to the upper portion 104 . However, in some embodiments, the upper portion 104 may not provide good support to maintain the nozzle 180 in place when the nozzle lock is disengaged. For example, the nozzle 180 may tip over after the nozzle lock disengages if no further support is provided. This can be exacerbated if the receiver lock remains disengaged after the user ceases interaction with the receiver lock release actuator. In this case, when the user activates the nozzle lock release actuator, the user may release control of the nozzle 180 such that the nozzle 180 may fall if no further support is provided to hold the nozzle 180 in place. Down. Such further support may be provided by arms 1230, which may receive wings 1226 to support nozzle 180 in an upright position, such as when the nozzle lock is unlocked. This gives the user time to build a proper grip on the nipple 180 after unlocking the nipple lock.

In operation, a user may position surface cleaning unit 112 adjacent upper portion 104 and above upper wing 1226 and lower wing 1174 . Slot 1234 can be generally aligned with upper wing 1226 and groove 1182 can be generally aligned with lower wing 1174 . This is the position shown in FIG. 23 . The surface cleaning unit 112 may then be lowered. As the surface cleaning unit 112 is lowered, the arms 1230 extend to surround the upper wing 1226 and the lower wing 1174 , becoming received in the groove 1182 . This is the position shown in FIG. 24 . The surface cleaning unit is lowered continuously to the installed position shown in FIG. 1226.

Surface cleaning unit locking mechanism

The following is a description of a surface cleaning unit locking mechanism that may be used in any surface cleaning device by itself, or in any combination or subcombination with any one or more of the other features disclosed herein, For example any combination or sub-combination of one or more of the first aspect, the second aspect, the third aspect, the fourth aspect and the fifth aspect.

Preferably, once surface cleaning unit 112 is connected to upper portion 104 , surface cleaning unit 112 remains connected to upper portion 104 until surface cleaning unit 112 is selectively disconnected from upper portion 104 . The connection between the surface cleaning unit 112 and the upper portion 104 may be maintained by one or more retaining elements of a locking mechanism that are selectively disengageable. When the locking mechanism is engaged, the surface cleaning unit 112 may not separate from the upper portion 104 unless the locking mechanism is unlocked. This prevents the surface cleaning unit 112 from being disconnected from the upper portion 104 when the upper portion 104 is used to manipulate the surface cleaning head 108, or if the surface cleaning device 100 is carried by holding the surface cleaning unit 112, for example.

As previously mentioned, upper portion 104 may terminate well below waist height. One advantage of the shorter upper member is that it facilitates insertion of nipple 180 into upper portion 104 . To avoid the user having to bend down to release the surface cleaning unit 112 when enabling the surface cleaning unit 112 to be locked in the upper portion 104, the actuator can be set at a height at which the user can actuate while standing upright. The actuator may be drivingly connected to the lock by a longitudinally extending member such as a shaft. The actuator and shaft and any linking members may be provided as part of the surface cleaning unit 112 and may be removed with the surface cleaning unit. Thus, by incorporating the lock and actuator into the surface cleaning unit 112, the upper portion 104 can be shorter.

Referring to Figures 14, 17 and 18a-18d, like part numbers refer to like parts in the other figures. As illustrated, the surface cleaning unit 112 may include a locking mechanism 1258 that is substantially similar to the nozzle lock 1106 described above. Accordingly, the following description of locking mechanism 1258 is simplified so as not to unnecessarily repeat details and variations described above.

In the example shown, locking mechanism 1258 may include an unlocking actuator 1058 drivingly connected to locking member 1050 via longitudinally extending transmission member 1150 . The locking member 1050 is translatable laterally outward to engage the upper portion 104, thereby placing the locking mechanism 1258 in the locked position (Fig. 18a). Vertical translation of the longitudinally extending transmission member 1150 toward the locking member 1050 (e.g., through interaction with the unlocking actuator 1058) can force the locking member 1050 to translate laterally inward (FIG. The locking mechanism 1258 is placed in the unlocked position (Fig. 18c). Once in the unlocked position, locking mechanism 1258 may remain unlocked until surface cleaning unit 112 is withdrawn from or re-engaged with upper portion 104 . The act of withdrawing or re-engaging the surface cleaning unit 112 from the upper portion 104 releases the locking mechanism 1258 from the unlocked position (FIG. 18d), allowing the locking mechanism 1258 to move to the locked position when appropriate.

As illustrated, locking mechanism 1258 may be fully attached to surface cleaning unit 112 . When the surface cleaning unit 112 is removed from the upper portion 104 , the locking mechanism 1258 is also removable from the upper portion 104 , which remains attached to the surface cleaning unit 112 . In the example shown, locking mechanism 1258 is positioned behind rear surface 1210 of surface cleaning unit 112 . Locking member 1050 of locking mechanism 1258 is illustrated as a plunger that is extendable through opening 1262 in rear surface 1210 of surface cleaning unit 112 . Locking member 1050 of locking mechanism 1258 is engageable with front side 1178 of upper portion 104 . As illustrated, front side 1178 includes opening 1266 . Opening 1266 may be sized and positioned to receive locking member 1050 when locking mechanism 1258 is in the locked position.

The lock release actuator 1058 may be positioned in any suitable location. Preferably, the lock release actuator 1058 is positioned proximate the upper end 1066 of the surface cleaning device 112 . This may allow the user to activate the lock release actuator 1058 (eg, depress a button actuator) with little or no bending down. Additionally, the lock release actuator 1058 is preferably positioned proximate the handle 160 . In some embodiments, this may allow a user to hold handle 160 and activate lock release actuator 1058 at the same time. In the example shown, the lock release actuator 1058 is positioned on the openable cover 228 of the cyclone bin assembly 136 . As shown in FIG. 18c , the lock release actuator 1058 can extend through an opening 1270 on the inner surface of the cover 228 to interact with the transmission member 1150 . The lock release actuator 1058 can be disengaged (eg, separated) from the transmission member 1150 when the cover 228 is in the open position. When the cover 228 is in the closed position, the lock release actuator 1058 can re-engage (eg, re-establish contact) the transmission member 1150 to drive the transmission member 1150 in translation.

Preferably, the locking mechanism 1258 will inhibit vertical translation of the surface cleaning unit 112 away from the upper portion 104 (eg, in a downstream direction) when the locking mechanism 1258 is in the locked state. However, in some embodiments, locking mechanism 1258 may not inhibit forward rotation of locking mechanism 1258 (ie, on surface cleaning head 108 ), which in some cases may move locking member 1050 from Opening 1266 is removed, thereby disabling locking mechanism 1258 . Accordingly, the surface cleaning apparatus 100 may include additional retaining elements for at least inhibiting forward rotation of the surface cleaning unit 112 when coupled to the upper portion 104 . For example, one or both of surface cleaning unit 112 and upper portion 104 may include one or more mounting members, such as wings 1174 and/or clips 1206, for mounting surface cleaning unit 112 to upper portion 104 and inhibiting surface cleaning. Unit 112 rotates at least forward.

The foregoing description is intended to illustrate rather than limit the present invention, and it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that other changes and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention as defined in the appended claims . The scope of the claims should not be limited by the preferred embodiments and examples, but should be given the broadest interpretation generally consistent with the description.

Claims (56)

1. A surface cleaning device comprising: (a) a surface cleaning head having a dirty air inlet; (b) an upper portion removably mountable to said surface cleaning head between a storage position and a floor cleaning position; (c) a portable surface cleaning unit removably mounted to said upper portion, said portable surface cleaning unit comprising a suction motor and an air handling member; (d) an off-floor cleaning nipple removably receivable in said upper portion, said nipple comprising a lower end mounted to said upper portion and an upper end comprising a nipple air inlet, and said upper end includes a nipple air outlet, a shank disposed proximate said upper end of said nipple whereby said nipple is drivingly connected to said surface cleaning head when said nipple is mounted to said upper portion, and said portable surface cleaning unit is removably mounted to said adapter; (e) a socket lock having a locked position in which the socket is secured to the upper portion and an unlocked position in which the socket is removable from the upper portion; and, (f) a flexible airflow conduit forming at least part of the airflow path from the liftoff cleaning nozzle to the surface cleaning unit. 2. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein said upper portion is in airflow communication with said dirty air inlet, and said nipple is in airflow communication with said dirty air inlet when said nipple is mounted to said upper portion , and a portion of the upper portion extends around the adapter. 3. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 or 2, further comprising an airflow passage from the dirty air inlet to the upper portion, and when the nipple is received in the upper portion, air from the nipple The inlet end is aligned with the outlet end of the airflow channel. 4. Surface cleaning apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the upper part is configured as an alignment member and in a particular alignment the nipple is receivable in the upper part. 5. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 4, wherein the upper portion is generally egg-shaped in cross-section, and a portion of the outer surface of the nipple is generally egg-shaped in cross-section. 6. The surface cleaning apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein when the nipple is positioned in the upper portion, the upper portion extends upwardly to surround a sufficient portion of the nipple whereby when The nozzle will remain in the upper portion when the nozzle lock is in the unlocked position. 7. The surface cleaning apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the portable surface cleaning unit is removably mounted to an outer surface of the upper portion. 8. The surface cleaning apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the portable surface cleaning unit is slidably receivable on an upper mounting member disposed on the adapter . 9. The surface cleaning apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein when the portable surface cleaning unit and the nipple are mounted to the upper portion, the upper portion terminates in the portable surface cleaning unit below the upper end. 10. The surface cleaning apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the flexible airflow conduit comprises an electrified flexible airflow conduit having a nipple electrical engagement member, the upper portion having an interior receiving the nipple therein , the interior includes a cleaning head electrical engagement member, and when the electrified flexible airflow conduit is received in the upper portion, the electrical engagement member is electrically connected, whereby the electrified flexible airflow conduit is electrically connected to the Surface cleaning head. 11. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 10, further comprising an airflow passage from the dirty air inlet to the upper portion, and when the adapter is mounted to the upper portion, the air inlet end of the adapter is Align the outlet end of the airflow channel. 12. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 11, wherein the outlet end of the airflow channel and the cleaning head electrical engagement member are positioned at a lower end of the interior. 13. The surface cleaning apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the nozzle lock includes a nozzle release actuator disposed on the nozzle and engageable with the nozzle. Remove the nipple together from the upper part. 14. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 13 , further comprising a longitudinally extending transmission member drivingly connecting said nozzle release actuator to said locking member, when said nozzle lock is moved to said unlocked position , the transmission member can translate downward. 15. Surface cleaning apparatus according to claim 13 or 14, wherein the locking member translates laterally to a position where it engages the upper portion when the transport member translates downwardly. Disengage. 16. The surface cleaning apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 15, wherein the portable surface cleaning unit and the off-floor cleaning nozzle are each individually removable from the upper portion. 17. The surface cleaning device of any one of claims 1 to 16, further comprising a lower mounting member disposed on an outer surface of the upper portion and an upper mounting member disposed on the nipple. 18. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 17, wherein the portable surface cleaning unit is slidably mountable relative to the upper and lower mounting members. 19. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 17, wherein the portable surface cleaning unit is vertically removable from the upper and lower mounting members. 20. The surface cleaning apparatus of any one of claims 17 to 19, wherein the lower mounting member includes a pair of lower wings extending laterally outward from the upper portion, and the portable surface cleaning unit has a Fitting grooves on its lower surface. 21. The surface cleaning apparatus of any one of claims 17 to 20, wherein the upper mounting member includes a pair of upper wings extending laterally outwardly from the adapter, the portable surface cleaning apparatus comprising at least part ground around the pair of arms of the upper wing. 22. The surface cleaning apparatus of any one of claims 17 to 20, wherein the upper mounting member includes a pair of wings extending laterally outward from the adapter, each wing having a surface facing the portable surface. cleaning a first surface and an opposing surface of the unit, and the portable surface cleaning device includes a pair of arms, wherein each arm contacts a portion of the opposing surface of one of the wings. 23. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 21 or 22, wherein once the nozzle lock is moved to the unlocked position, the nozzle lock is operable to remain in the unlocked position, whereby when the nozzle lock The nipple remains in place when the lock is moved to the unlocked position. 24. A surface cleaning device comprising: (a) a surface cleaning head having a dirty air inlet and electrically operated components; (b) an upper portion removably mounted to said surface cleaning head between a storage position and a floor cleaning position, said upper portion having an interior, an airflow channel extending from said dirty air inlet to said upper portion, and said the outlet of the airflow channel is located in the interior; (c) a portable surface cleaning unit removably mounted to said upper portion, said portable surface cleaning unit comprising a suction motor and an air handling member; (d) an off-the-floor cleaning nipple removably receivable in the upper portion, the nipple including a lower end having an air inlet and an upper end having an air outlet; (e) a socket lock having a locked position in which the socket is secured to the upper portion and an unlocked position in which the socket is removable from the upper portion; and, (f) an electrified flexible airflow conduit forming at least a portion of the airflow path from the liftoff cleaning adapter to the surface cleaning unit and when the adapter is received in the upper portion, A location in the interior electrically connects the surface cleaning head to the surface cleaning unit. 25. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 24, wherein the upper portion is configured as a first alignment member, and the nipple is receivable in the upper portion under certain alignment conditions. 26. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 25, further comprising a cleaning head electrical engagement member located in the interior, when the nipple is received in the upper portion and the second alignment member is electrically engaged with the cleaning head. When the coupling member is associated, the cleaning head electrical coupling component can be electrically connected with the nozzle electrical coupling component provided on the nozzle. 27. Surface cleaning apparatus according to claim 25 or 26, wherein the upper portion is generally egg-shaped in cross-section and a portion of the outer surface of the nipple is generally egg-shaped in cross-section. 28. Surface cleaning apparatus according to any one of claims 24 to 27, wherein when the nipple is positioned in the upper portion, the upper portion extends upwardly to surround a sufficient portion of the nipple whereby when The nozzle will remain in the upper portion when the nozzle lock is in the unlocked position. 29. A surface cleaning device comprising: (a) a surface cleaning head having a dirty air inlet; (b) an upper portion removably mountable to said surface cleaning head between a storage position and a floor cleaning position; (c) a portable surface cleaning unit removably mounted to said upper portion, said portable surface cleaning unit comprising a suction motor and an air handling member; (d) an off-floor cleaning nipple removably mounted to said upper portion; (e) a flexible airflow conduit forming at least part of the airflow path from the liftoff cleaning nozzle to the surface cleaning unit; (f) a socket lock having a locked position in which the socket is secured to the upper portion and an unlocked position in which the socket is removable from the upper portion and an unlocked position in which the socket The lock includes a socket release actuator disposed on the socket and removable from the upper portion with the socket. 30. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 29, wherein the nozzle lock further comprises a locking member releasably engaged with the upper portion. 31. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 30, further comprising a longitudinally extending transmission member drivingly connecting said nozzle release actuator to said locking member, when said nozzle lock is moved to said unlocked position , the transmission member can translate downward. 32. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 30, wherein the locking member translates laterally to a position where it disengages the upper portion when the transport member translates downwardly . 33. The surface cleaning apparatus of any one of claims 29 to 32, wherein the portable surface cleaning unit is removably mounted to an outer surface of the upper portion. 34. The surface cleaning apparatus of any one of claims 29 to 33, wherein the portable surface cleaning unit and the off-floor cleaning nozzle are each individually removable from the upper portion. 35. The surface cleaning apparatus of any one of claims 29 to 34, further comprising a portable surface cleaning unit lock having a locked position and an unlocked position in which the portable surface cleaning unit is secured to the the upper portion from which the portable surface cleaning unit is removable in the unlocked position, the portable surface cleaning unit lock includes a The unit is removed from the upper portion of the portable surface cleaning unit with the release actuator. 36. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 35, wherein the portable surface cleaning unit is removably mounted to an exterior surface of the upper portion. 37. The surface cleaning apparatus of any one of claims 29 to 36, wherein the portable surface cleaning unit is also removably mountable to the adapter. 38. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 37, wherein the portable surface cleaning unit is slidably receivable on an upper mounting member disposed on the adapter. 39. Surface cleaning apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 29 to 38, wherein the nipple is removably received in the upper portion. 40. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 39, wherein the upper portion is in airflow communication with the dirty air inlet, and when the nipple is positioned in the upper portion, the nipple is in airflow communication with the dirty air inlet. communicated, and a portion of the upper portion extends around the adapter. 41. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 39, further comprising an airflow passage from the dirty air inlet to the upper portion, and when the adapter is received in the upper portion, the air inlet end of the adapter Align the outlet end of the airflow channel. 42. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 39, wherein the nozzle includes an upper end and a lower end received in the upper portion, the lower end includes a nozzle air inlet, and the upper end includes a nozzle air outlet, the handle is provided into proximity to the upper end of the nipple, whereby when the nipple is received in the upper section, the nipple is drivingly connected to the surface cleaning head, and the upper section is configured for when the nipple is received in the upper section A nipple is secured when the nipple is drivingly connected to the surface cleaning head. 43. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 39, wherein the upper portion is configured as an alignment member, and the nipple is receivable in the upper section under certain alignment conditions. 44. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 40, wherein the upper portion is generally egg-shaped in cross-section, and a portion of the outer surface of the nipple is generally egg-shaped in cross-section. 45. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 40, wherein when the nozzle is positioned in the upper portion, the upper portion extends upwardly to surround a sufficient portion of the nozzle such that when the nozzle lock is in the In the unlocked position, the nipple will remain in the upper portion. 46. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 29, wherein the surface cleaning apparatus is reconfigurable from a first floor cleaning configuration and a second floor cleaning configuration in which the The portable surface cleaning unit is mounted to the upper portion, the off-floor cleaning adapter is mounted to the upper portion, and the flexible airflow conduit forms at least part of an airflow path from the surface cleaning head to the surface cleaning unit , and in the second floor cleaning configuration, the portable surface cleaning unit is removed from the upper portion, the off-floor cleaning adapter is mounted to the upper portion, and the flexible airflow conduit is formed from the surface At least a portion of the airflow path of the cleaning head to the surface cleaning unit. 47. A surface cleaning device comprising: (a) a surface cleaning head having a dirty air inlet; (b) an upper portion removably mountable to said surface cleaning head between a storage position and a floor cleaning position; (c) an off-the-floor cleaning nozzle removably receivable in the upper portion and having a longitudinally extending axis; (d) a flexible airflow conduit forming at least part of the airflow path from the liftoff cleaning nozzle to the surface cleaning unit; (e) a lower mounting member disposed on an outer surface of the upper portion; (f) an upper mounting member disposed on the adapter; and (g) A portable surface cleaning unit removably mounted to said upper mounting member and said lower mounting member, said portable surface cleaning unit comprising a suction motor and an air handling member. 48. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 47, wherein at least one of the upper mounting member and the lower mounting member inhibits rotational movement of the portable surface cleaning unit about the axis of the adapter. 49. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 47 or 48, wherein the portable surface cleaning unit is slidably mountable relative to the upper and lower mounting members. 50. The surface cleaning apparatus of any one of claims 47 to 49, wherein the portable surface cleaning unit is vertically removable from the upper and lower mounting members. 51. The surface cleaning apparatus of any one of claims 47 to 50, wherein the lower mounting member includes a pair of lower wings extending laterally outward from the upper portion, and the portable surface cleaning unit has a Fitting grooves on its lower surface. 52. The surface cleaning apparatus of any one of claims 47 to 51 , further comprising a nozzle lock having a locked position in which the nozzle is secured to the upper portion and an unlocked position in which In the unlocked position, the nipple is removable from the upper portion. 53. The surface cleaning apparatus of any one of claims 47 to 52, wherein the upper mounting member includes a pair of upper wings extending laterally outwardly from the adapter, the portable surface cleaning apparatus comprising at least partly ground around the pair of arms of the upper wing. 54. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 53, wherein once the nozzle lock is moved to the unlocked position, the nozzle lock is operable to remain in the unlocked position, whereby when the nozzle lock is moved When the unlocked position is reached, the connection tube remains in place. 55. The surface cleaning apparatus of any one of claims 47 to 52, wherein the upper mounting member includes a pair of wings extending laterally outward from the adapter, each wing having a surface facing the portable surface. cleaning a first surface and an opposing surface of the unit, and the portable surface cleaning device includes a pair of arms, wherein each arm contacts a portion of the opposing surface of one of the wings. 56. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 55, wherein once the nozzle lock is moved to the unlocked position, the nozzle lock is operable to remain in the unlocked position, whereby when the nozzle lock is moved When the unlocked position is reached, the connection tube remains in place.