# US 9,775,484 B2 · 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 9,775,484 B2 - Document ID: US9775484B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/782,058 - Filed: 2013-03-01 - Published: 2014-09-04 - Granted: 2017-10-03 - Earliest claimed: 2013-03-01 - Assignees: Omachron Intellectual Property Inc. - Applicants: Omachron Intellectual Property Inc. - Inventors: Wayne Ernest Conrad - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9775484B2 ## CPC - A47L 9/2868: {Arrangements for power supply of vacuum cleaners or the accessories thereof} - 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 5/32: with means for connecting a hose (hose couplings for suction cleaners A47L9/24) - 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 9/0027: {specially adapted for holding the suction cleaning tools} - A47L 9/009: {Carrying-vehicles; Arrangements of trollies or wheels; Means for avoiding mechanical obstacles} - A47L 9/0477: {Rolls} - A47L 9/1683: {Dust collecting chambers; Dust collecting receptacles} - A47L 9/1691: {Mounting or coupling means for cyclonic chamber or dust receptacles} - A47L 9/246: {with electrical connectors} - 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 9/2805: {Parameters or conditions being sensed} - A47L 9/2857: {User input or output elements for control, e.g. buttons, switches or displays} - A47L 9/2878: {Dual-powered vacuum cleaners, i.e. devices which can be operated with mains power supply or by batteries} - A47L 9/2884: {Details of arrangements of batteries or their installation} - A47L 9/325: {for wheeled suction cleaners with steering handle} - 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, wherein the suction motor is operable using current supplied from an energy storage member when the power cord is removed and operable using current supplied from an external source when the power cord is in electrical communication with the suction motor. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A surface cleaning apparatus comprising: (a) a surface cleaning head, (b) a fluid flow path extending from a dirty fluid inlet to a clean air outlet of the surface cleaning apparatus; (c) an upper portion moveably mounted to the surface cleaning head and a portable cleaning unit that is removably mountable on the surface cleaning apparatus, the portable cleaning unit comprises an air treatment member and a suction motor provided in the fluid flow path; and, (d) a power cord that is attachable to each of the portable cleaning unit and a portion of the surface cleaning apparatus other than the portable cleaning unit, whereby, in a first configuration, the power cord is attached to the portable cleaning unit and the suction motor is operable using power supplied by the power cord and, in a second configuration, the power cord is removed from the portable cleaning unit and is attached to the portion of the surface cleaning apparatus other than the portable cleaning unit and the suction motor is operable using power supplied by the power cord; (e) an energy storage member; and, whereby the suction motor is operable using current supplied from the energy storage member when the power cord is removed and operable using current supplied from an external source when the power cord is in electrical communication with the suction motor. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the surface cleaning apparatus further comprises an additional energy storage member that is exterior to the portable cleaning unit and the suction motor is operable using current from the additional energy storage member when the portable cleaning unit is mounted on the surface cleaning apparatus. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 2 wherein the additional energy storage member is provided on the surface cleaning head. ### Claim 4 A surface cleaning apparatus comprising: (a) a fluid flow path extending from a dirty fluid inlet to a clean air outlet; and (b) an air treatment member and a suction motor provided in the fluid flow path; (c) a surface cleaning unit housing the suction motor; and, (d) a power cord reel comprising a power cord wherein the power cord reel is configured to automatically wind or unwind the power cord based on at least one operating condition of the surface cleaning apparatus wherein the power cord reel is a separate unit that is positioned to be stationary when the suction motor is moved during a cleaning operation of the surface cleaning apparatus, and the power cord reel communicates wirelessly with the surface cleaning unit. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 4 wherein the at least one operating condition is a direction of travel of the surface cleaning apparatus. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 4 wherein the at least one operating condition is a direction of travel of the surface cleaning unit. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 6 further comprising a control system that is capable of detecting an operating condition of the surface cleaning apparatus and then controlling the cord reel based on the operating condition. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 7 wherein the control system includes a sensor and a controller that receives an output signal of the sensor. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 8 wherein the sensor detects a rate and direction of movement of the surface cleaning unit. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 9 wherein the control system is configured to determine when the surface cleaning unit is moving forward and to unwind the power cord from the power cord reel at a given rate based on the speed of the movement. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 9 wherein the control system is configured to determine when the surface cleaning unit is moving forward and to unwind the power cord from the power cord reel when the surface cleaning unit is moved forwards. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 9 wherein the control system is configured to determine when the surface cleaning unit is moving backwards and to wind the power cord onto the power cord reel when the surface cleaning unit is moved backwards. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 9 wherein the control system is configured to determine when the surface cleaning unit is moving in a direction and to adjust a length of the power cord that extends from the power cord reel based on the direction of movement. ### Claim 14 (depends on 8) The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 8, wherein the sensor is provided in the surface cleaning unit. ### Claim 15 (depends on 8) The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 8, wherein the power cord reel comprises the sensor, the surface cleaning unit includes the controller, and the sensor and controller communicate wirelessly. ### Claim 16 (depends on 4) The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 4 further comprising a control system that is configured to determine when the surface cleaning unit is moving forward and the control system is configured to unwind the power cord from the power cord reel at a given rate based on a speed of the movement. ### Claim 17 (depends on 4) The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 4 further comprising a control system that is configured to determine when the surface cleaning unit is moving forward and the control system is configured to unwind the power cord from the power cord reel when the surface cleaning unit is moved forwards. ### Claim 18 (depends on 4) The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 4 further comprising a control system that is configured to determine when the surface cleaning unit is moving backwards and the control system is configured to wind the power cord onto the power cord reel when the surface cleaning unit is moved backwards. ### Claim 19 (depends on 4) The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 4 further comprising a control system that is configured to determine when the surface cleaning unit is moving in a direction and to adjust a length of the power cord that extends from the power cord reel based on the direction of movement. ### Claim 20 (depends on 4) The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 4 wherein the power cord reel has a first short cord that is configured to plug into a household electrical outlet and a second longer cord that is configured to be plugged into the surface cleaning apparatus. ### Claim 21 (depends on 4) The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 4, wherein the power cord comprises a first cord portion connectable to the surface cleaning apparatus and a second cord portion connectable to an external power supply, and the power cord reel is configured to wind or unwind the first cord portion and the second cord portion simultaneously.