Floor cleaning apparatus with wireless control interface

Abstract

A floor cleaning apparatus includes a nozzle assembly and a canister assembly pivotally connected to the nozzle assembly. A suction generator and dirt collection vessel are carried on one of these assemblies. A control handle with a user interface is carried on the canister assembly. A transmitter is carried on the control handle and a receiver, remote from the transmitter, is carried on either the nozzle assembly or canister assembly.

1 . An upright vacuum cleaner, comprising: 
 a nozzle assembly;    a canister assembly pivotally connected to said nozzle assembly;    a suction generator carried on one of said nozzle assembly and said canister assembly;    a dirt collection vessel carried on one of said nozzle assembly and said canister assembly;    a control handle with a user interface carried on said canister assembly;    a transmitter carried on said control handle; and    a receiver and controller, remote from said transmitter, carried on one of said nozzle assembly and said canister assembly.    
   
   
       2 . The upright vacuum cleaner of  claim 1 , wherein said nozzle assembly includes a suction inlet.  
   
   
       3 . The upright vacuum cleaner of  claim 2 , further including a rotary agitator carried on said nozzle assembly adjacent said suction inlet.  
   
   
       4 . The upright vacuum cleaner of  claim 3 , wherein said dirt collection vessel is a porous filter bag.  
   
   
       5 . The upright vacuum cleaner of  claim 3 , wherein said dirt collection vessel is a dirt cup.  
   
   
       6 . The upright vacuum cleaner of  claim 5 , wherein said dirt cup includes a cylindrical dirt collection chamber and a tangentially directed inlet.  
   
   
       7 . The upright vacuum cleaner of  claim 6 , wherein a first filter is provided in said dirt cup.  
   
   
       8 . The upright vacuum cleaner of  claim 7 , wherein a second filter is provided downstream from said suction generator.  
   
   
       9 . The upright vacuum cleaner of  claim 1 , wherein said receiver is carried on said nozzle assembly and a second receiver is carried on said canister assembly.  
   
   
       10 . The upright vacuum cleaner of  claim 9 , wherein said controller is carried on said nozzle assembly and a second controller is carried on said canister assembly.  
   
   
       11 . The upright vacuum cleaner of  claim 10 , wherein said suction generator includes a first motor and a second motor drives said rotary agitator.  
   
   
       12 . The upright vacuum cleaner of  claim 11 , wherein a third motor provides propulsion to said upright vacuum cleaner.  
   
   
       13 . A floor cleaning apparatus, comprising: 
 a housing;    a suction generator carried on said housing;    a dirt collection vessel carried on said housing;    a handle displaceable between a first, floor cleaning position wherein said handle is carried on said housing and a second, remote cleaning position wherein said handle is removed from said housing;    a control actuator carried on said handle;    a transmitter carried on said handle and operatively connected to said control actuator; and    a receiver responsive to said transmitter and carried on said housing.    
   
   
       14 . A vacuum cleaner, comprising: 
 a nozzle assembly including a suction inlet;    a canister assembly connected to said nozzle assembly;    a suction generator carried on one of said nozzle assembly and said canister assembly;    a dirt collection vessel carried on one of said nozzle assembly and said canister assembly;    a handle displaceable between a first, floor cleaning position wherein said handle is carried on one of said nozzle assembly and said canister assembly and a second, remote cleaning position wherein said handle is removed from said one of said nozzle assembly and said canister assembly;    a control actuator carried on said handle;    a transmitter carried on said handle and operatively connected to said control actuator; and    a receiver responsive to said transmitter and carried on one of said nozzle assembly and said canister assembly.    
   
   
       15 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 14  further including at least one rotary agitator mounted for rotation relative to said nozzle assembly in said suction inlet.  
   
   
       16 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 14 , wherein said dirt collection vessel is a porous filter bag.  
   
   
       17 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 14 , wherein said dirt collection vessel is a dirt cup.  
   
   
       18 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 17 , wherein said dirt cup includes a cylindrical dirt collection chamber and a tangentially directed inlet.  
   
   
       19 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 18 , wherein a first filter is provided in said dirt cup.  
   
   
       20 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 19 , wherein said suction generator is provided downstream from said dirt cup.  
   
   
       21 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 20 , wherein a second filter is provided downstream from said suction generator.