Cleaning apparatus with removable handle

Abstract

A cleaning apparatus includes a base, a cleaning head and a handle. The cleaning head is configured to be attached to the base and moved against a household surface to clean the surface. The handle is configured to be removably attached to the base for manually moving the base by the handle. The handle has an electronic user interface with which a user can control or monitor operation of the base.

1 . A cleaning apparatus comprising: 
 a base;    a cleaning head configured to be attached to the base and moved against a household surface to clean the surface;    a handle configured to be removably attached to the base for manually moving the base by the handle, and having an electronic user interface with which a user can control or monitor operation of the base;    a power cord configured to conduct electricity to the base even when the handle is removed.    
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the user interface is a control for the user to control an operating condition of the base.  
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the user interface is a display for displaying an operating condition of the base.  
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the base is free of an electronic user interface.  
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the cleaning head is a vacuuming head, and the base includes a fan for moving dirt laden air through the head into a dirt receptacle.  
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the handle is configured to output a signal to the base indicating to the base which type of handle it is.  
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a different handle configured to be removably attached to the base for manually moving the base and having an electronic user interface with which the user can control or monitor operation of the base.  
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 7  wherein the base is configured to sense which of the handles is attached and control an operating condition of the apparatus based on which of the handles is attached.  
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the base and the handle have respective terminals that are interconnectable and through which the user interface communicates with the base, the terminal of the handle being configured to be moved toward and into connection with the terminal of the base by movement of the handle toward and into an installed position removably attached to the handle.  
   
   
       10 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the handle is configured to hook onto the base and pivot into an installed position removably attached to the base.  
   
   
       11 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the base includes a pivotable bracket that connects the handle to the base and that has a terminal configured to mate with a terminal on the handle, for the interface to communicate with the base through the terminals.  
   
   
       12 . A cleaning apparatus comprising: 
 a base;    a cleaning attachment configured to be attached to the base and moved against a household surface to clean the surface; and    a handle removably attachable to the base for manually moving the base by the handle;    the base being configured to operatively sense whether the handle is attached to the base and to control an operating condition of the apparatus based on whether the handle is attached.    
   
   
       13 . The apparatus of  claim 12  wherein the base has a drive assist capability, and the operating condition is activation of the drive assist capability.  
   
   
       14 . The apparatus of  claim 12  further comprising a different handle removably attachable to the base for manually moving the base, and wherein the base is configured to sense which of the handles is attached and control an operating of the apparatus based on which of the handles is attached.  
   
   
       15 . A cleaning apparatus comprising: 
 a base;    a cleaning attachment configured to be attached to the base and moved against a household surface to clean the surface; and    different handles removably attachable to the base for manually moving the base by the handle;    the base being configured to sense which of the handles is attached and control an operating condition of the apparatus based on which of the handles is attached.    
   
   
       16 . The apparatus of  claim 15  wherein the base has a drive assist capability, and the operating condition is activation of the drive assist capability.  
   
   
       17 . A cleaning apparatus comprising: 
 a base;    a cleaning attachment configured to be attached to the base and moved against a household surface to clean the surface; and    different handles removably attachable to the base for manually moving the base by the handle, each handle configured to output an electrical signal to the base when the handle is attached to the base indicating to the base which handle is attached.    
   
   
       18 . The apparatus of  claim 17  wherein the base is configured to receive the signal and control an operating condition of the apparatus based on which of the handles is attached.