# US 11,896,183 B2 · Surface cleaning apparatus with different cleaning configuration > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,896,183 B2 - Document ID: US11896183B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/115,917 - Filed: 2020-12-09 - Published: 2021-03-25 - Granted: 2024-02-13 - Earliest claimed: 2009-03-13 - Assignees: Omachron Intellectual Property Inc. - Applicants: Omachron Intellectual Property Inc. - Inventors: Wayne Ernest Conrad - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11896183B2 ## 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 5/24: 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 5/36: Suction cleaners with hose between nozzle and casing; Suction cleaners for fixing on staircases; Suction cleaners for carrying on the back - A47L 9/0018: {integrated in or removably mounted upon the suction cleaner for storing parts of said suction cleaner} - A47L 9/0027: {specially adapted for holding the suction cleaning tools} - A47L 9/0045: {specially adapted for holding the suction tube} - A47L 9/16: Arrangement or disposition of cyclones or other devices with centrifugal action - A47L 9/242: {Hose or pipe couplings} - A47L 9/248: {Parts, details or accessories of hoses or pipes (nozzles A47L9/02)} - A47L 9/325: {for wheeled suction cleaners with steering handle} - A47L 11/38: Machines, specially adapted for cleaning walls, ceilings, roofs, or the like - 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 reconfigurable surface cleaning apparatus has a surface cleaning head, a support structure moveably mounted to the surface cleaning head between a storage position and a floor cleaning position and a portable cleaning unit removably mountable to the support structure. The support structure has a pair of laterally extending portions and the portable cleaning unit has a first mounting member comprising mating grooves which slideably receive the laterally extending portions when the portable cleaning unit is mounted to the support structure. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A reconfigurable upright surface cleaning apparatus comprising, when configured in an upright operating mode: (a) a surface cleaning head having a dirty air inlet; (b) a support structure moveably mounted to the surface cleaning head between a storage position and a floor cleaning position; (c) a portable cleaning unit removably mountable to the support structure, the portable cleaning unit comprising an air treatment member and a suction motor; and, (d) an upright mode air flow path extending from the dirty air inlet to the air treatment member to a clean air outlet provided on the portable cleaning unit, the upright mode air flow path comprising the support structure, a wand and a flexible air flow conduit, wherein the reconfigurable upright surface cleaning apparatus is reconfigurable into a first portable mode in which the wand is removed from air flow communication with the surface cleaning head while the portable cleaning unit remains mounted to the support structure and a portable mode air flow path extends from an inlet of the wand to the clean air outlet provided on the portable cleaning unit and the portable mode air flow path comprises the wand and the flexible air flow conduit, and wherein the reconfigurable upright surface cleaning apparatus is reconfigurable into a second portable mode in which the wand is removed from air flow communication with the surface cleaning head and the portable cleaning unit is removed from the support structure, and wherein the support structure has a pair of laterally extending portions and the portable cleaning unit has a first mounting member comprising mating grooves which slideably receive the laterally extending portions when the portable cleaning unit is mounted to the support structure. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The reconfigurable upright surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the laterally extending portions are planar. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The reconfigurable upright surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the portable cleaning unit has a second mounting member that is spaced from the first mounting member. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The reconfigurable upright surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein, when the reconfigurable upright surface cleaning apparatus is in the storage position and the portable cleaning unit is mounted to the support structure, the portable cleaning unit has vertically spaced apart upper and lower ends, the portable cleaning unit has a second mounting member that is vertically spaced from the first mounting member. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The reconfigurable upright surface cleaning apparatus of claim 4 wherein the first mounting member is provided at one of the upper and lower ends of the portable cleaning unit. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The reconfigurable upright surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein, when the reconfigurable upright surface cleaning apparatus is in the storage position and the portable cleaning unit is mounted to the support structure, the portable cleaning unit has vertically oriented, and the first mounting member is provided at a vertical end of the portable cleaning unit. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The reconfigurable upright surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the inlet of the wand is at an inlet end of the wand and the inlet end of the wand is slideably receivable in the support structure. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The reconfigurable upright surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein when the upright surface cleaning apparatus is reconfigured into a second portable mode, the wand is removed from air flow communication with the surface cleaning head concurrently with the portable cleaning unit being removed from the support structure. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The reconfigurable upright surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein, when the reconfigurable upright surface cleaning apparatus is in the storage position and the portable cleaning unit is mounted to the support structure, a top surface of the portable cleaning unit has a carry handle. ### Claim 10 A reconfigurable upright surface cleaning apparatus comprising, when configured in an upright operating mode: (a) a surface cleaning head having a dirty air inlet; (b) a support structure moveably mounted to the surface cleaning head between a storage position and a floor cleaning position; (c) a portable cleaning unit removably mountable to the support structure, the portable cleaning unit comprising an air treatment member and a suction motor; and, (d) an upright mode air flow path extending from the dirty air inlet to the air treatment member to a clean air outlet provided on the portable cleaning unit, the upright mode air flow path comprising the support structure, a wand and a flexible air flow conduit, wherein the support structure has a pair of laterally extending portions and the portable cleaning unit has a first mounting member comprising mating grooves which slideably receive the laterally extending portions when the portable cleaning unit is mounted to the support structure. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The reconfigurable upright surface cleaning apparatus of claim 10 wherein the laterally extending portions are planar. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The reconfigurable upright surface cleaning apparatus of claim 10 wherein the portable cleaning unit has a second mounting member that is spaced from the first mounting member. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The reconfigurable upright surface cleaning apparatus of claim 10 wherein, when the reconfigurable upright surface cleaning apparatus is in the storage position and the portable cleaning unit is mounted to the support structure, the portable cleaning unit has vertically spaced apart upper and lower ends, the portable cleaning unit has a second mounting member that is vertically spaced from the first mounting member. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The reconfigurable upright surface cleaning apparatus of claim 13 wherein the first mounting member is provided at one of the upper and lower ends of the portable cleaning unit. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The reconfigurable upright surface cleaning apparatus of claim 10 wherein, when the reconfigurable upright surface cleaning apparatus is in the storage position and the portable cleaning unit is mounted to the support structure, the portable cleaning unit has vertically oriented, and the first mounting member is provided at a vertical end of the portable cleaning unit. ### Claim 16 (depends on 10) The reconfigurable upright surface cleaning apparatus of claim 10 wherein the inlet of the wand is at an inlet end of the wand and the inlet end of the wand is slideably receivable in the support structure. ### Claim 17 (depends on 10) The reconfigurable upright surface cleaning apparatus of claim 10 wherein, when the reconfigurable upright surface cleaning apparatus is in the storage position and the portable cleaning unit is mounted to the support structure, a top surface of the portable cleaning unit has a carry handle. ### Claim 18 (depends on 10) The reconfigurable upright surface cleaning apparatus of claim 10 wherein when the upright surface cleaning apparatus is reconfigurable into a portable mode wherein the wand is removed from air flow communication with the surface cleaning head concurrently with the portable cleaning unit being removed from the support structure.