# US 10,765,278 B2 · Handheld surface cleaning apparatus

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- Number: US 10,765,278 B2
- Document ID: US10765278B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/882,575
- Filed: 2018-01-29
- Published: 2019-01-10
- Granted: 2020-09-08
- Earliest claimed: 2017-07-06
- Assignees: Omachron Intellectual Property Inc.
- Applicants: Omachron Intellectual Property Inc.
- Inventors: Wayne Ernest Conrad; Jason Thorne; Andre D. Brown
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10765278B2

## CPC

- A47L 5/24: Hand-supported suction cleaners
- A47L 9/0081: {Means for exhaust-air diffusion; Means for sound or vibration damping}
- A47L 9/106: {Dust removal}
- A47L 9/122: {flat}
- A47L 9/127: {tube- or sleeve-shaped}
- A47L 9/1608: {Cyclonic chamber constructions}
- A47L 9/1625: {for series flow}
- A47L 9/1641: {for parallel flow}
- A47L 9/1666: {with filtering means}
- A47L 9/1683: {Dust collecting chambers; Dust collecting receptacles}
- A47L 9/246: {with electrical connectors}
- A47L 9/2842: {Suction motors or blowers}
- A47L 9/2857: {User input or output elements for control, e.g. buttons, switches or displays}
- A47L 9/2878: {Dual-powered vacuum cleaners, i.e. devices which can be operated with mains power supply or by batteries}
- A47L 9/2884: {Details of arrangements of batteries or their installation}
- A47L 9/2889: {Safety or protection devices or systems, e.g. for prevention of motor over-heating or for protection of the user}
- A47L 9/322: {for hand-supported suction cleaners}
- A47L: DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING (brushes A46B; cleaning quantities of bottles or of other hollow articles of one kind B08B9/00; laundry D06F); SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL (cleaning in general B08)

## Abstract

A hand vacuum cleaner has an inlet conduit that is removably connectable to an accessory tool. An accessory power coupler extends in the same direction as the inlet conduit and is positioned laterally to one side of the inlet conduit The accessory power coupler has electrical connectors, wherein the electrical connectors of the accessory power coupler are inter-engaged with compatible electrical connectors provided on the accessory tool.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A hand vacuum cleaner having a front end, a rear end, an upper end, a lower end spaced apart from the upper end in a vertical direction, and first and second sides that are literally spaced apart in a horizontal direction, the hand vacuum cleaner comprises:
(a) a main body having a front face;
(b) an inlet conduit located at the upper end and extending forwardly from the front face, the inlet conduit having a dirty air inlet, the inlet conduit being removably connectable to an accessory tool;
(c) an air flow path extending from the dirty air inlet to a clean air outlet;
(d) an air treatment member and a suction motor positioned in the air flow path, a portion of the air treatment member is positioned at the lower end;
(e) a handle provided rearward of the inlet conduit; and,
(f) an accessory power coupler extending forwardly from the front face and positioned laterally to one side of the inlet conduit, the accessory power coupler having electrical connectors,
wherein the electrical connectors of the accessory power coupler are inter-engageable with compatible electrical connectors provided on the accessory tool.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The hand vacuum cleaner of claim 1 wherein the accessory power coupler extends parallel to the inlet conduit.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The hand vacuum cleaner of claim 1 wherein the accessory power coupler is shorter than the inlet conduit.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The hand vacuum cleaner of claim 1 wherein the accessory tool is a rigid air flow conduit.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The hand vacuum cleaner of claim 1 wherein the accessory power coupler is positioned adjacent to the inlet conduit.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The hand vacuum cleaner of claim 1 wherein the accessory power coupler comprises three electrical connectors.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The hand vacuum cleaner of claim 1 wherein the accessory power coupler comprises a male connector.

### Claim 8

A hand vacuum cleaner having a front end, a rear end, an upper end spaced apart from the upper end in a vertical direction, a lower end and first and second sides that are laterally spaced apart in a horizontal direction, the hand vacuum cleaner comprises:
(a) an inlet conduit provided on the front end, the inlet conduit having a dirty air inlet, the inlet conduit being removably connectable to an accessory tool;
(b) an air flow path extending from the dirty air inlet to a clean air outlet;
(c) an air treatment member and a suction motor positioned in the air flow path;
(d) a handle provided rearward of the inlet conduit, the handle having an upper end and a lower end and extending generally parallel to the vertical direction; and,
(e) an accessory power coupler positioned laterally to one side of the inlet conduit,
wherein the accessory power coupler is inter-engageable with compatible electrical connectors provided on the accessory tool.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The hand vacuum cleaner of claim 8 further comprising a main body having a front face and the inlet conduit and the accessory power coupler extend forwardly from the front face.

### Claim 10 (depends on 8)

The hand vacuum cleaner of claim 8 wherein the accessory power coupler extends parallel to the inlet conduit.

### Claim 11 (depends on 8)

The hand vacuum cleaner of claim 8 wherein the accessory power coupler is shorter than the inlet conduit.

### Claim 12 (depends on 8)

The hand vacuum cleaner of claim 8 wherein the accessory tool is a rigid air flow conduit.

### Claim 13 (depends on 8)

The hand vacuum cleaner of claim 8 wherein the accessory power coupler is positioned adjacent to the inlet conduit.

### Claim 14 (depends on 8)

The hand vacuum cleaner of claim 8 wherein the accessory power coupler comprises a set of electrical connectors.

### Claim 15 (depends on 8)

The hand vacuum cleaner of claim 8 wherein the accessory power coupler comprises three electrical connectors.

### Claim 16 (depends on 8)

The hand vacuum cleaner of claim 8 wherein the accessory power coupler comprises a male connector.

### Claim 17 (depends on 8)

The hand vacuum cleaner of claim 8 wherein the accessory power coupler is positioned above a front openable door of a dirt collection region.