IP Library Granted Patent US 10,568,481
Granted Patent B2
US 10,568,481 · App. 15/362,204 · Granted Feb 25, 2020

Battery powered cordless cleaning system

Inventors: Brett Reed (Alliance, OH); Markus Allemann (Chagrin Falls, OH); Doug Rukavina (Massillon, OH); Mark Reindle (Sagamore Hills, OH); Norm Siegel (Mentor, OH); Jack W. Gee (Willoughby, OH); Jamie Horvath (Lakewood, OH); Mark Butts (Akron, OH)
Assignee: Techtronic Floor Care Technology Limited
A47L9/2884A47L5/24A47L5/362A47L7/0004A47L9/00A47L9/2857A47L9/2873A47L9/2889A47L9/2894H01M2/1066
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,568,481
App. No.
15/362,204
Granted
Feb 25, 2020
Kind
B2
Abstract

A cordless, battery-powered system of cleaning products. The system of cleaning products includes devices such as upright vacuums (e.g., a stick vacuum, a lightweight upright vacuum, etc.), a hand-held vacuum, a carpet-cleaner, a canister vacuum, and the like. Each of the devices is powered by a battery pack which is interchangeable among the devices. The battery pack includes a combination of hardware and software for connecting to, identifying, and communicating with the cleaning products to ensure that each of the products receives the power necessary to ensure optimal performance.

Claims (38)

1. A cordless hand-held vacuum cleaner, comprising:

a body including a battery pack recess, the battery pack recess sized to receive a lithium-based battery pack,

a handle,

a refuse chamber,

a nozzle having a suction inlet,

a first power terminal and a second power terminal,

a lithium-based battery pack including a battery pack housing, a portion of the battery pack housing being insertable into the battery pack recess, the battery pack being selectively removably coupled to the body of the cordless hand-held vacuum cleaner, the battery pack electrically connected to the hand-held vacuum cleaner through the first power terminal and the second power terminal, the hand-held vacuum cleaner configured to receive power from the battery pack over the first power terminal and the second power terminal,

a communication terminal, the hand-held vacuum cleaner configured to communicatively connect the battery pack over the communication terminal,

a vacuum motor powered by the battery pack and configured to provide a suction force at the suction inlet, and

a switch configured to control the application of power to the vacuum motor.

2. The hand-held vacuum cleaner of claim 1 , further comprising a fuel gauge configured to provide an indication to the user of a charge level of the battery pack.

3. The hand-held vacuum cleaner of claim 1 , wherein the battery pack is configured to operate in a first mode and a second mode.

4. The hand-held vacuum cleaner of claim 3 , wherein the first mode is a sleep mode.

5. The hand-held vacuum cleaner of claim 1 , wherein the refuse chamber includes a disposable storage accessory.

6. The hand-held vacuum cleaner of claim 5 , wherein the disposable storage accessory includes a bag.

7. The hand-held vacuum cleaner of claim 1 , wherein the hand-held vacuum cleaner receives a signal over the communication terminal related to a cell voltage of at least one of a plurality of lithium-based battery cells within the battery pack.

8. The hand-held vacuum cleaner of claim 1 , wherein the battery pack is positioned above the refuse chamber.

9. The hand-held vacuum cleaner of claim 1 , wherein the battery pack is positioned above the vacuum motor.

10. The hand-held vacuum cleaner of claim 1 , wherein the battery pack is positioned above the vacuum motor, and the vacuum motor is positioned above the refuse chamber.

11. A cordless vacuum cleaner, comprising:

a body including a battery pack recess, the battery pack recess sized to receive a lithium-based battery pack,

a handle,

a refuse chamber,

a nozzle having a suction inlet,

a first power terminal and a second power terminal,

a lithium-based battery pack including a battery pack housing, a portion of the battery pack housing being insertable into the battery pack recess, the battery pack being selectively removably coupled to the body of the cordless vacuum cleaner, the battery pack electrically connected to the vacuum cleaner through the first power terminal and the second power terminal, the vacuum cleaner configured to receive power from the battery pack over the first power terminal and the second power terminal,

a communication terminal, the vacuum cleaner configured to communicatively connect the battery pack over the communication terminal,

a vacuum motor powered by the battery pack and configured to provide a suction force at the suction inlet, and

a switch configured to control the application of power to the vacuum motor.

12. The vacuum cleaner of claim 11 , further comprising a fuel gauge configured to provide an indication to the user of a charge level of the battery pack.

13. The vacuum cleaner of claim 11 , wherein the battery pack is configured to operate in a first mode and a second mode.

14. The vacuum cleaner of claim 13 , wherein the first mode is a sleep mode.

15. The vacuum cleaner of claim 11 , wherein the refuse chamber includes a disposable storage accessory.

16. The vacuum cleaner of claim 15 , wherein the disposable storage accessory includes a bag.

17. The vacuum cleaner of claim 11 , wherein the vacuum cleaner receives a signal over the communication terminal related to a cell voltage of at least one of a plurality of lithium-based battery cells within the battery pack.

18. The vacuum cleaner of claim 11 , wherein the battery pack is positioned above the refuse chamber.

19. The vacuum cleaner of claim 11 , wherein the battery pack is positioned above the vacuum motor.

20. The vacuum cleaner of claim 11 , wherein the battery pack is positioned above the vacuum motor, and the vacuum motor is positioned above the refuse chamber.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 20, 2019
From: REED, BRETT; ALLEMANN, MARKUS; RUKAVINA, DOUG; REINDLE, MARK; SIEGEL, NORM; GEE, JACK W., II; HORVATH, JAMIE; BUTTS, MARK
To: ROYAL APPLIANCE MFG. CO.
Reel/Frame 051068/0698 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 20, 2019
From: ROYAL APPLIANCE MANUFACTURING COMPANY
To: TECHTRONIC FLOOR CARE TECHNOLOGY LIMITED
Reel/Frame 051068/0787 →
Continuity (11)
Continuation 14109924 · Dec 17, 2013
Continuation 12580878 · Oct 16, 2009
Continuation In Part 12405033 · Mar 16, 2009
Continuation In Part 29326368 · Oct 16, 2008
Continuation In Part 29326362 · Oct 16, 2008
Continuation In Part 29326364 · Oct 16, 2008
Provisional Application 61105896 · Oct 16, 2008
Provisional Application 61105891 · Oct 16, 2008
Provisional Application 61105899 · Oct 16, 2008
Provisional Application 61036720 · Mar 14, 2008
Related Publication 20170071431A1 · Mar 16, 2017
Cited By (2)
US 12,339,324 US 12,551,072