Surface cleaning apparatus with user interface

Abstract

A surface cleaning apparatus includes a cleaning head adapted to move over a surface to be cleaned, a housing coupled with the cleaning head, a first user interface on the housing, and a second user interface on the cleaning head. The first user interface includes at least one user input control. The second user interface includes a plurality of status indicia.

1 . A surface cleaning apparatus, comprising:
 a cleaning head adapted to move over a surface to be cleaned;   a housing coupled with the cleaning head;   at least cleaning system selected from a vacuum collection system, a fluid delivery system, and a fluid recovery system;   a first user interface on the housing, the first user interface comprising:
 a mode select input control to select one of a plurality of modes of operation of the surface cleaning apparatus; and 
 a plurality of status indicators representing the plurality of modes of operation of the surface cleaning apparatus; and 
   a second user interface on the cleaning head, the second user interface comprising a status display having a plurality of duplicate status indicators representing the plurality of modes of operation of the surface cleaning apparatus;   wherein the first and second user interfaces are structured so that when the surface cleaning apparatus is on, a status indicator corresponding to a selected mode of operation is illuminated and visible to a user on each of the housing and the cleaning head.   
     
     
         2 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the second user interface is structured so that when the surface cleaning apparatus is off, the status display is blank. 
     
     
         3 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the first user interface is structured so that when the surface cleaning apparatus is off, the plurality of status indicators of the first user interface are visible. 
     
     
         4 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the housing comprises an upright body comprising a handle and a grip and the cleaning head comprises a base adapted to move over the surface to be cleaned, wherein the upright body is coupled with the base to direct the base over the surface to be cleaned. 
     
     
         5 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the first user interface is on the grip. 
     
     
         6 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the cleaning head comprises a cover defining at least one of a suction nozzle and an agitator chamber, and wherein the second user interface is disposed on an upper side of the base rearward of the cover. 
     
     
         7 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the housing comprises the fluid delivery system, and the fluid delivery system includes a supply container and a recovery system including a recovery container, and the cleaning head comprises a tool in fluid communication with the supply container and in fluid communication with the recovery container. 
     
     
         8 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 7 , comprising:
 a hose interconnecting the tool and the housing, the hose including a fluid delivery conduit in fluid communication with the supply container and an airflow conduit in fluid communication with the recovery container; and   a wand interconnecting the tool and the hose;   wherein the second user interface is on one of the tool and the wand.   
     
     
         9 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first user interface comprises at least one of:
 a power button to activate and de-active at least one electronic component of the surface cleaning apparatus;   a steam button to select a steam mode in which the surface cleaning apparatus generates steam; and   a clean-out cycle button to select a self-cleaning mode in which the surface cleaning apparatus executes an automatic, unattended clean-out cycle.   
     
     
         10 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of modes of operation comprise at least one liquid dispensing mode in which the surface cleaning apparatus dispenses liquid and at least one steam mode in which the surface cleaning apparatus generates steam. 
     
     
         11 . A surface cleaning apparatus, comprising:
 a cleaning head adapted to move over a surface to be cleaned;   a housing coupled with the cleaning head;   at least cleaning system selected from a vacuum collection system, a fluid delivery system, and a fluid recovery system;   a first user interface on the housing, the first user interface comprising a mode select input control to select one of a plurality of modes of operation of the surface cleaning apparatus; and   a second user interface on the cleaning head, the second user interface comprising a status display having a plurality of status indicators representing the plurality of modes of operation of the surface cleaning apparatus;   wherein the second user interface is structured so that when the surface cleaning apparatus is off, the status display is blank, and when the surface cleaning apparatus is on, a status indicator corresponding to a selected mode of operation is illuminated and visible to a user.   
     
     
         12 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the cleaning head comprises a translucent portion and includes a plurality of illuminating elements positioned within the cleaning head. 
     
     
         13 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the status display includes a masking layer on an outer surface of the cleaning head, etched regions extending through the masking layer defining the status indicators, and a light-transmitting layer covering at least the etched regions. 
     
     
         14 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the housing comprises an upright body comprising a handle and a grip and the cleaning head comprises a base adapted to move over the surface to be cleaned, wherein the upright body is coupled with the base to direct the base over the surface to be cleaned. 
     
     
         15 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the first user interface is on the grip. 
     
     
         16 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the cleaning head comprises a cover defining at least one of a suction nozzle and an agitator chamber, and wherein the second user interface is disposed on an upper side of the base rearward of the cover. 
     
     
         17 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the housing comprises the fluid delivery system, and the fluid delivery system includes a supply container and a recovery system including a recovery container, and the cleaning head comprises a tool in fluid communication with the supply container and in fluid communication with the recovery container. 
     
     
         18 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 17 , comprising:
 a hose interconnecting the tool and the housing, the hose including a fluid delivery conduit in fluid communication with the supply container and an airflow conduit in fluid communication with the recovery container; and   a wand interconnecting the tool and the hose;   wherein the second user interface is on one of the tool and the wand.   
     
     
         19 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the first user interface comprises at least one of:
 a power button to activate and de-active at least one electronic component of the surface cleaning apparatus;   a steam button to select a steam mode in which the surface cleaning apparatus generates steam; and   a clean-out cycle button to select a self-cleaning mode in which the surface cleaning apparatus executes an automatic, unattended clean-out cycle.   
     
     
         20 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the plurality of modes of operation comprise at least one liquid dispensing mode in which the surface cleaning apparatus dispenses liquid and at least one steam mode in which the surface cleaning apparatus generates steam.