A portable surface cleaning apparatus for a floor surface includes a main housing assembly adapted to be hand carried by a user, the main housing assembly carrying a fluid delivery system adapted for storing cleaning fluid and delivering the cleaning fluid to the surface to be cleaned, and a fluid recovery system adapted for removing the cleaning fluid and debris from the surface to be cleaned and storing the cleaning fluid and debris that was recovered, the main housing assembly comprising a base housing, a supply tank received on the main housing assembly, a recovery tank received on the main housing assembly separately from the supply tank.

A vacuum cleaner includes a cleaner body that includes a suction motor, wheels that are configured to move the cleaner body, a driving motor that is configured to drive the wheels, a suction unit that is configured to communicate with the cleaner body, a connector coupled to the suction unit, the connector being rotatably connected to the cleaner body, a sensor that is disposed on the connector and configured to sense a movement of the connector, an elastic member that is configured to provide an elastic force to the connector toward an initial position of the connector, and a controller that is configured to control the driving motor based on movement information sensed by the sensor.

A vacuum cleaner includes a cleaner body having a moving unit; a suction unit configured to suction dust and air; a detecting unit configured to detect movement of the suction unit; and a control part configured to determine whether movement of the cleaner body is required, based on information detected by the suction unit, and to control the moving unit when the movement of the cleaner body is required, wherein the control part determines a target location to which the cleaner body will be moved, determines a moving route to the target location based on a detected obstacle, controls the moving unit so that the cleaner body is moved along the determined moving route, stops a motor when it is determined that the cleaner body is not in contact with a floor surface, and thus prevents a user's injury.

A reconfigurable surface cleaning apparatus includes a floor cleaning unit comprising a surface cleaning head, and a portable cleaning unit. The reconfigurable surface cleaning apparatus is operable in an above floor cleaning mode in which the portable cleaning unit is removed from the floor cleaning unit and in a floor cleaning mode in which an upflow duct is received in the portable cleaning unit and defines the air flow passage upwardly through the portable cleaning unit to a cyclone chamber air inlet.

A latch mechanism has two pieces that mount in an opening on the lid of a conventional vacuum cleaner. A stationary part is held in place by a hooked end that fits over a pivot edge on the lid, and by a retaining surface that engages a retaining edge on the lid. The other part is a pivoting latch that hooks onto the same pivot edge. In a latched position, an engagement surface on a deflectable arm fits over a latching surface on the stationary part, holding a moving part in position with a latching part beneath a bead on the tank. A tab surface can be used to force the deflectable arm to deflect over the latching part and simultaneously move the latching part clear of the bead.

A battery pack, power tool, and power tool combination. The battery pack includes one or more battery cells, a first terminal electrically connected to the one or more battery cells, a high current power supply terminal, a power switch electrically connected between the one or more battery cells and the high current power supply terminal, and a low current power supply terminal electrically connected to the one or more battery cells. The first terminal and low current power supply terminal are operable to provide a substantially continuous low current to the power tool during a normal operating state of the battery pack. The battery pack also includes a controller operable to control the power switch to provide high current power through the high current power supply terminal in response to a call for power from the power tool.

A vacuum cleaner has a portable cleaning unit that is removably mounted to the surface cleaning head. The vacuum cleaner is operable in a floor cleaning configuration in which the portable cleaning unit is mounted to the surface cleaning head and is part of the air flow path through the vacuum cleaner. The portable cleaning unit is also useable in a portable cleaning configuration in which the portable cleaning unit is removed from the surface cleaning head and the suction motor is powered by an energy storage member.

A shop vac includes a handle, a canister, a vacuum tube, and a pick-up device. The canister holds an enclosure that generates a negative pressure by forcing compressed, high velocity air through a orifice plug and out a muffler to create a vacuum in the enclosure. The vacuum in the enclosure is transferred to the vacuum tube and the pick-up device to pick up liquid or debris on a shop floor. The enclosure inside the canister includes a flow control valve such as a ball in cage device to prevent fluid from entering the enclosure. An evacuation spout is located at the bottom of the canister for draining the vacuum when the canister becomes full.

A vacuum cleaner having a power head, a collection drum, and a filter. The filter of the present invention is of rectangular cross section about the vertical axis, but is curved away from the power head under the blower along at least one horizontal axis.

A cleaning apparatus for use in explosive atmospheres is disclosed, the cleaning apparatus being configured to conduct to earth any electrostatic charges generated in the components of the apparatus thereby preventing electrostatic discharge. The apparatus comprises a flexible hose member comprised of an electrically conductive material and having first and second open ends, the hose member being suitable for attachment at its first end to a port of an associated suction unit to mechanically and electrically couple said hose thereto; and a substantially rigid tubular pole member comprised of an electrically conductive material and having first and second open ends, said pole member being mechanically and electrically coupled at said first end to the second end of said hose member.