# US 11,998,157 B2 · Upright surface treatment apparatus having removable pod > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,998,157 B2 - Document ID: US11998157B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/878,693 - Filed: 2022-08-01 - Published: 2023-04-13 - Granted: 2024-06-04 - Earliest claimed: 2018-07-31 - Assignees: SharkNinja Operating LLC - Applicants: SharkNinja Operating, LLC - Inventors: Scott B Niedzwecki; Andre D. Brown; Mingshun (Aaron) Su; Robert Yang; Lee M. Cottrell; Patrick Cleary - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11998157B2 ## 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 5/28: 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 9/0054: {Stands or the like for temporary interruption of work} - A47L 9/1427: {Means for mounting or attaching bags or filtering receptacles in suction cleaners; Adapters} - A47L 9/246: {with electrical connectors} - A47L 9/248: {Parts, details or accessories of hoses or pipes (nozzles A47L9/02)} - A47L 9/2884: {Details of arrangements of batteries or their installation} - 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 treatment apparatus may include a wand and a pod removably coupled to the wand. The wand may have a first distal end that is configured to couple to a surface cleaning head and a second distal end that is configured to couple to a handle. The pod may include a suction motor assembly cavity, a battery cavity, and a dust cup cavity. The suction motor assembly cavity and the battery cavity may be disposed on opposing sides of a vertical plane, wherein the vertical plane extends along a central longitudinal axis of the pod. The dust cup cavity may be disposed between the suction motor assembly cavity and the battery cavity such that at least a portion of the dust cup cavity is disposed on each side of the vertical plane. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A pod for a reconfigurable surface treatment apparatus comprising: a suction motor assembly cavity; a battery cavity being configured to receive a filter, wherein the battery cavity includes a battery protrusion configured to transition from a rigid state to a depressible state in response to the battery cavity receiving the filter; and a dust cup cavity configured to receive a dust cup. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The pod of claim 1, wherein the battery cavity is fluidly coupled to the suction motor assembly cavity when the dust cup is received in the dust cup cavity. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The pod of claim 1, wherein the battery protrusion is further configured to be depressed when a battery pack and the filter are disposed within the battery cavity. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The pod of claim 1 further comprising a battery pack disposed within the battery cavity. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The pod of claim 4, wherein the battery pack includes a housing having a plurality of apertures configured to allow air to pass therethrough. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The pod of claim 5, wherein at least one of the plurality of apertures has a circular shape and at least one of the plurality of apertures has an elongated shape. ### Claim 7 A reconfigurable surface treatment apparatus comprising: a wand having a first distal end that is configured to couple to a surface cleaning head and a second distal end that is configured to couple to a handle; and a pod removably coupled to the wand, wherein the pod includes: a suction motor assembly cavity; a battery cavity being configured to receive a filter, wherein the battery cavity includes a battery protrusion configured to transition from a rigid state to a depressible state in response to the battery cavity receiving the filter; and a dust cup cavity configured to receive a dust cup. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The reconfigurable surface treatment apparatus of claim 7, wherein the battery cavity is fluidly coupled to the suction motor assembly cavity when the dust cup is received in the dust cup cavity. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The reconfigurable surface treatment apparatus of claim 7, wherein the battery protrusion is further configured to be depressed when a battery pack and the filter are disposed within the battery cavity. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) The reconfigurable surface treatment apparatus of claim 7 further comprising a battery pack disposed within the battery cavity. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The reconfigurable surface treatment apparatus of claim 10, wherein the battery pack includes a housing having a plurality of apertures configured to allow air to pass therethrough. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The reconfigurable surface treatment apparatus of claim 11, wherein at least one of the plurality of apertures has a circular shape and at least one of the plurality of apertures has an elongated shape. ### Claim 13 A reconfigurable surface treatment apparatus comprising: a wand; a surface cleaning head coupled to the wand; and a pod removably coupled to the wand, wherein the pod includes: a suction motor assembly cavity; a battery cavity being configured to receive a filter, wherein the battery cavity includes a battery protrusion configured to transition from a rigid state to a depressible state in response to the battery cavity receiving the filter; and a dust cup cavity configured to receive a dust cup. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The reconfigurable surface treatment apparatus of claim 13 further comprising a flexible conduit configured to fluidly couple the pod to the wand, the flexible conduit being electrified. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The reconfigurable surface treatment apparatus of claim 13 further comprising further comprising a handle coupled to the wand, the handle including a toggle configured to decouple the handle from the wand. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The reconfigurable surface treatment apparatus of claim 13, wherein the battery cavity is fluidly coupled to the suction motor assembly cavity when the dust cup is received in the dust cup cavity. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) The reconfigurable surface treatment apparatus of claim 13, wherein the battery protrusion is further configured to be depressed when a battery pack and the filter are disposed within the battery cavity. ### Claim 18 (depends on 13) The reconfigurable surface treatment apparatus of claim 13 further comprising a battery pack disposed within the battery cavity. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The reconfigurable surface treatment apparatus of claim 18, wherein the battery pack includes a housing having a plurality of apertures configured to allow air to pass therethrough. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The reconfigurable surface treatment apparatus of claim 19, wherein at least one of the plurality of apertures has a circular shape and at least one of the plurality of apertures has an elongated shape.