# US 11,297,985 B2 · Multi-mode cleaning apparatus with suction > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,297,985 B2 - Document ID: US11297985B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/346,794 - Filed: 2017-11-01 - Published: 2019-09-12 - Granted: 2022-04-12 - Earliest claimed: 2016-11-01 - Assignees: SharkNinja Operating LLC - Applicants: SharkNinja Operating, LLC - Inventors: Jason B. Thorne; Gao Wenxiu; Peter Hutchinson - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11297985B2 ## CPC - A47L 5/30: with driven dust-loosening tools, e.g. rotating brushes - A47L 5/12: with power-driven air-pumps or air-compressors, e.g. driven by motor vehicle engine vacuum - A47L 5/24: Hand-supported suction cleaners - 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 7/02: with driven tools for special purposes (with floor-polishing tools A47L11/20) - A47L 9/0477: {Rolls} - A47L 9/10: Filters (in general B01D; cyclones B04C); Dust separators; Dust removal; Automatic exchange of filters {(for machines for cleaning floors A47L11/40)} - A47L 9/1409: {Rigid filtering receptacles (dust collecting receptacles for cyclones A47L9/1683)} - A47L 11/22: Floor-sweeping machines, hand-driven - 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 multi-mode cleaning apparatus with suction may include a wand with a handle, a suction motor for providing suction, a bare floor unit configured to be movable by the wand and fluidly coupled to the suction motor, and a sweeper unit configured to be movable by the wand and fluidly coupled to the suction motor. The bare floor unit is configured for use in a suction only mode. The sweeper unit includes a rotatable brush roll and is configured for use in a brush roll only mode or a suction and brush roll mode. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A multi-mode cleaning apparatus with suction, comprising: a wand with a handle at a first end; a bare floor unit coupled to a second end of the wand, the bare floor unit including: a bare floor inlet proximate a bottom side of the bare floor unit; a bare floor air path from the bare floor inlet through at least a portion of the bare floor unit; and a dust cup along the air path for holding debris removed from air passing along the air path; a suction motor fluidly coupled to the air path for drawing air through the air path; and a sweeper unit configured to be coupled to the bare floor unit, the sweeper unit including: a sweeper inlet proximate a bottom side of the sweeper unit; a sweeper air path extending from the sweeper inlet and configured to be fluidly coupled to the bare floor air path when the sweeper unit is coupled to the bare floor unit; and a sweeper brush roll located proximate the sweeper inlet for causing debris to move into the sweeper air path and the bare floor air path. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The multi-mode cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the bare floor unit further includes a bare floor brush roll proximate the bare floor inlet. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The multi-mode cleaning apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a brush roll drive mechanism drivingly engaged with the sweeper brush roll for driving the brush roll. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The multi-mode cleaning apparatus of claim 3 wherein the bare floor unit further includes a bare floor brush roll proximate the bare floor inlet, and wherein the brush roll drive mechanism is drivingly engaged with the bare floor brush roll and the sweeper brush roll. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The multi-mode cleaning apparatus of claim 3 wherein the brush roll drive mechanism is located in the sweeper unit. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The multi-mode cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the suction motor is located in the wand. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The multi-mode cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the suction motor is located in the bare floor unit. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The multi-mode cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the bare floor unit includes an alternate suction inlet, wherein the alternate suction inlet is closed when the sweeper unit is not coupled to the bare floor unit, and wherein the alternate suction inlet is opened and in fluid communication with the sweeper air path when the sweeper unit is coupled to the bare floor unit. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The multi-mode cleaning apparatus of claim 8 wherein the bare floor inlet is closed when the sweeper unit is coupled to the bare floor unit. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The multi-mode cleaning apparatus of claim 8 wherein the bare floor unit includes a diverter door for covering the alternate suction inlet, wherein the diverter door is in a closed position when the sweeper unit is not coupled to the bare floor unit, and wherein the diverter door is in an opened position when the sweeper unit is coupled to the bare floor unit. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The multi-mode cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the sweeper unit includes a bare floor unit receiving region for receiving the bare floor unit when coupled. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The multi-mode cleaning apparatus of claim 1 further including a release mechanism to release the bare floor unit when coupled to the sweeper unit. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The multi-mode cleaning apparatus of claim 12 wherein the release mechanism includes a foot pedal. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The multi-mode cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the bare floor unit further includes at least one filter in the flow path after the dust cup for filtering air passing through the flow path toward the suction motor. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The multi-mode cleaning apparatus of claim 14 wherein the at least one filter is located in a filter chamber proximate a top portion of the bare floor unit, and wherein the bare floor unit further includes a top cover over the filter chamber. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The multi-mode cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the bare floor unit further includes a pivoting bottom door for emptying the dust cup. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The multi-mode cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the bare floor unit further includes a felt strip or other soft fabric or textile material on a bottom side for contacting the floor when used without the sweeper unit. ### Claim 18 A multi-mode cleaning apparatus with suction, comprising: a wand with a handle at a first end and a base at a second end; a suction motor coupled to the wand; a brush roll drive motor coupled to the base of the wand; a bare floor unit configured to be coupled to the base of the wand, the bare floor unit including a bare floor inlet at a bottom side, a bare floor air path extending from the bare floor inlet and configured to be fluidly coupled to the suction motor when the bare floor unit is coupled to the base of the wand, a dust cup located along the bare floor air path for holding debris, and a bare floor brush roll proximate the bare floor inlet and configured to be drivingly engaged with the brush roll drive motor when the bare floor unit is coupled to the base of the wand; and a sweeper unit configured to be coupled to the base of the wand, the sweeper unit including a sweeper inlet at a bottom side, a sweeper air path extending from the sweeper inlet and configured to be fluidly coupled to the suction motor when the sweeper unit is coupled to the base of the wand, a dust cup located along the sweeper air path for holding debris, and a sweeper brush roll proximate the bare floor inlet and configured to be drivingly engaged with the brush roll drive motor when the sweeper unit is coupled to the base of the wand, wherein the sweeper brush roll and the bare floor brush roll have different characteristics. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The multi-mode cleaning apparatus of claim 18 wherein the sweeper brush roll has stiffer bristles than the bare floor brush roll. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The multi-mode cleaning apparatus of claim 18 further including at least one drive gear coupled to the base of the wand and coupled to the brush roll drive motor, and wherein the bare floor unit and the sweeper unit each include at least one brush roll gear coupled to the respective brush rolls and configured to engage the drive gear when coupled to the base of the wand. ### Claim 21 A multi-mode cleaning apparatus with suction, comprising: a wand with a handle; a suction motor for providing suction; a bare floor unit configured to be movable by the wand and fluidly coupled to the suction motor, wherein the bare floor unit is configured for use in a suction only mode; and a sweeper unit configured to be movable by the wand and fluidly coupled to the suction motor, the sweeper unit including a rotatable brush roll, wherein the sweeper unit is configured for use in a brush roll only mode or a suction and brush roll mode. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The multi-mode cleaning apparatus of claim 21 further including a switch configured to select between the brush roll only mode and the suction and brush roll mode.