# US 11,076,729 B2 · Upright vacuum cleaner > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,076,729 B2 - Document ID: US11076729B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/106,229 - Filed: 2018-08-21 - Published: 2018-12-13 - Granted: 2021-08-03 - Earliest claimed: 2006-12-12 - Assignees: Omachron Intellectual Property Inc. - Applicants: Omachron Intellectual Property Inc. - Inventors: Wayne Ernest Conrad - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11076729B2 ## CPC - A47L 5/225: {Convertible suction cleaners, i.e. convertible between different types thereof, e.g. from upright suction cleaners to sledge-type suction cleaners} - A47L 5/365: {of the vertical type, e.g. tank or bucket type} - A47L 5/28: Suction cleaners with handles and nozzles fixed on the casings, e.g. wheeled suction cleaners with steering handle (A47L5/24 takes precedence) - A47L 5/32: with means for connecting a hose (hose couplings for suction cleaners A47L9/24) - A47L 9/1608: {Cyclonic chamber constructions} - A47L 9/165: {Construction of inlets} - 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 An upright surface cleaning apparatus has a portable cleaning unit that is removably mounted to the support member. The upright surface cleaning apparatus is operable in a floor cleaning mode, in which the portable cleaning unit is mounted to the support member, and in an above floor cleaning mode, in which the portable cleaning unit, an above floor cleaning wand and a hose are concurrently removed from the support member. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An upright surface cleaning apparatus that is operable in a floor cleaning mode and in an above floor cleaning mode, the surface cleaning apparatus comprising in the floor cleaning mode: (a) a surface cleaning head having a dirty fluid inlet; (b) a support member moveably mounted to the surface cleaning head; (c) a suction and filtration unit comprising a suction motor, at least one cleaning stage, a housing and a clean air outlet, the housing defining an inlet to the suction and filtration unit, the housing of the suction and filtration unit engages the support member; (d) a fluid flow path extending from the dirty fluid inlet to the clean air outlet and including the suction motor and the at least one cleaning stage; (e) an above floor cleaning wand has an inlet end that is removably received in the housing whereby the above floor cleaning wand is drivingly connected to the support member; (f) a hose having an inlet end that is downstream from the above floor cleaning wand and an outlet end that is upstream of the suction and filtration unit; and, (g) a handle drivingly connected to the above floor cleaning wand, wherein the suction and filtration unit, the above floor cleaning wand and the hose are concurrently removable as a unit from the support member with the hose in fluid flow communication with the above floor cleaning wand and the suction and filtration unit, whereby in the above floor cleaning mode, the suction and filtration unit, the above floor cleaning wand and the hose have been removed from the support member, the inlet end of the above floor cleaning wand has been removed from the housing on the suction and filtration unit and the inlet end of the hose is downstream from the above floor cleaning wand and the outlet end of the hose is upstream of the suction and filtration unit, and wherein the suction and filtration unit has an upper portion having an upper portion height, a middle portion having a middle portion height and a lower portion having a lower portion height, and the upper portion height, the middle portion height and the lower portion height are approximately equal and, wherein the portion of the housing that engages the support member is located at the middle portion of the suction and filtration unit. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The upright surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the support member comprises an up flow duct. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The upright surface cleaning apparatus of claim 2 wherein the support member is removably receivable in the housing. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The upright surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the support member is removably receivable in the housing. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The upright surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the inlet end of the hose is located adjacent the handle. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The upright surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein, when the suction and filtration unit is mounted to the support member and the support member extends generally vertically, the housing is located at an elevation of an inlet of the at least one cleaning stage. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The upright surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein, the housing includes an air flow passage extending between the hose and the inlet to the at least one cleaning stage wherein the air flow passage extends generally horizontally when the suction and filtration unit is mounted to the support member and the support member extends generally vertically. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The upright surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein, when the suction and filtration unit is mounted to the support member and the inlet end of the above floor cleaning wand is mounted to the housing, the above floor cleaning wand and the support member are vertically aligned. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The upright surface cleaning apparatus of claim 8 wherein, when the suction and filtration unit is mounted to the support member and the inlet end of the above floor cleaning wand is mounted to the housing, the hose is located rearward of the above floor cleaning wand. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The upright surface cleaning apparatus of claim 9 wherein the inlet end of the wand is removable from the housing when the suction and filtration unit is mounted to the support member. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The upright surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein, when the suction and filtration unit is mounted to the support member and the inlet end of the above floor cleaning wand is mounted to the housing, the hose is located rearward of the above floor cleaning wand. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The upright surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the inlet end of the wand is removable from the housing when the suction and filtration unit is mounted to the support member.