# US 2016/0249778 A1 · Surface cleaning apparatus > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2016/0249778 A1 - Document ID: US20160249778A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/033,480 - Filed: 2014-02-04 - Published: 2016-09-01 - Earliest claimed: 2013-11-01 - Applicants: Techtronic Floor Care Technology Limited - Inventors: Mark Barnsley; Daniel William Carter; Thomas Robert Harries; Darren David Holmes; Simon Matthew Pougher - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20160249778A1 ## CPC - A47L 9/26: Incorporation of winding devices for electric cables (devices specially adapted for repeatedly paying-out or re-storing cables B65H75/34; arrangements of electrical cables or lines between relatively-movable parts H02G11/00) - 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 5/362: {of the horizontal type, e.g. canister or sledge type} - A47L 9/00: Details or accessories of suction cleaners, e.g. mechanical means for controlling the suction or for effecting pulsating action; Storing devices specially adapted to suction cleaners or parts thereof; Carrying-vehicles specially adapted for suction cleaners - A47L 9/009: {Carrying-vehicles; Arrangements of trollies or wheels; Means for avoiding mechanical obstacles} - A47L 9/1616: {Multiple arrangement thereof} - A47L 9/1633: {Concentric cyclones} - A47L 9/1641: {for parallel flow} - A47L 9/1683: {Dust collecting chambers; Dust collecting receptacles} - A47L 9/242: {Hose or pipe couplings} - A47L 9/2821: {Pressure, vacuum level or airflow} - A47L 9/327: {for suction cleaners with hose between nozzle and casing} - 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 surface cleaning apparatus having a body (12), a primary air inlet (70), a first wheel (14), preferably the first wheel being positioned at or near a first end of the body, and a second wheel (16), preferably the second wheel being positioned at or near a second end of the body, a source of suction, and a chamber (100) for receiving dirt, which chamber is in fluid communication with the primary air inlet (70). The primary air inlet (70) is moveable relative to the body (12). ## Claims ### Claim 1 A surface cleaning apparatus having: a body; a primary air inlet; a first wheel, preferably the first wheel being positioned at or near a first end of the body; and a second wheel, preferably the second wheel being positioned at or near a second end of the body, a source of suction; and a chamber for receiving dirt, which chamber is in fluid communication with the primary air inlet; wherein the primary air inlet is pivotally moveable relative to the body and at least a portion of the primary air inlet is received in a recess in the body. ### Claim 2 (canceled) ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the primary air inlet is laterally moveable relative to the body. ### Claim 4 (canceled) ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the primary air inlet is moveable between a first position in which an axis of the inlet is angled towards the first wheel, and a second position in which an axis of the inlet is angled towards the second wheel. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein when the primary air inlet is in a third position, between the first and second positions, an axis of the inlet is substantially perpendicular to an axis of the body. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein when the primary air inlet is in a third position, between the first and second positions, an axis of the inlet is substantially perpendicular to an axis of one or both wheels. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the primary air inlet is biased to a third position which is substantially midway between its first and second positions. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein at least a portion of the fluid communication between the primary air inlet and the chamber for receiving dirt is provided by way of a flexible conduit. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) An apparatus according to claim 9 wherein the flexible conduit is of the corrugated type. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) An apparatus according to claim 9 wherein the conduit extends in a direction towards one of the wheels. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the primary air inlet is connected to or is connectable to a floor tool via a conduit/hose/wand or the like. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the primary air inlet includes a formation for the releasable connection of a conduit/hose/wand or the like for connection to a floor tool. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) An apparatus according to claim 13 wherein the formation includes an electrical connection for providing power to a floor tool. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the body has an elongate axis. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) An apparatus according to claim 15 wherein the primary air inlet is moveable in a plane which intersects the elongate axis of the body. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) An apparatus according to claim 15 wherein the primary air inlet is moveable in a plane which lies close to the elongate axis of the body. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) An apparatus according to claim 15 wherein the primary air inlet is moveable in a plane which intersects an axis of one or both wheels. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) An apparatus according to claim 15 wherein the primary air inlet is moveable in a plane which lies close to an axis of one or both wheels. ### Claim 20 (canceled) ### Claim 21 (depends on 1) An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the body has first and second end, which are substantially opposite each other, and wherein the primary air inlet is positioned substantially midway between the first and second ends. ### Claim 22 (canceled) ### Claim 23 (depends on 1) An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the primary air inlet extends through a generally upwardly facing exterior surface of the body. ### Claim 24 (canceled) ### Claim 25 (depends on 1) An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the body is generally cylindrical and wherein a portion of the body positioned in between a central region of the body and each end and/or wheel of the body has a radius which increases as it extends towards each end and/or wheel. ### Claim at position 26 -42. (canceled)