WO2017177318A1 - Appareil de nettoyage de surface - Google Patents

Appareil de nettoyage de surface Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO2017177318A1
WO2017177318A1 PCT/CA2017/050436 CA2017050436W WO2017177318A1 WO 2017177318 A1 WO2017177318 A1 WO 2017177318A1 CA 2017050436 W CA2017050436 W CA 2017050436W WO 2017177318 A1 WO2017177318 A1 WO 2017177318A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
cyclone
vacuum cleaner
hand vacuum
axis
main body
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/CA2017/050436
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Wayne Ernest Conrad
Original Assignee
Omachron Intellectual Property Inc.
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from US15/095,832 external-priority patent/US10016105B2/en
Priority claimed from US15/095,806 external-priority patent/US11241129B2/en
Priority claimed from US15/095,767 external-priority patent/US10016104B2/en
Priority claimed from US15/095,903 external-priority patent/US20170290480A1/en
Priority claimed from US15/095,714 external-priority patent/US9986880B2/en
Priority claimed from US15/095,941 external-priority patent/US10258208B2/en
Application filed by Omachron Intellectual Property Inc. filed Critical Omachron Intellectual Property Inc.
Priority to GB1817750.1A priority Critical patent/GB2566833B/en
Priority to CN201780036172.6A priority patent/CN109310254B/zh
Publication of WO2017177318A1 publication Critical patent/WO2017177318A1/fr

Links

Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47L—DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47L5/00—Structural features of suction cleaners
    • A47L5/12—Structural features of suction cleaners with power-driven air-pumps or air-compressors, e.g. driven by motor vehicle engine vacuum
    • A47L5/22—Structural features of suction cleaners with power-driven air-pumps or air-compressors, e.g. driven by motor vehicle engine vacuum with rotary fans
    • A47L5/24—Hand-supported suction cleaners
    • A47L5/26—Hand-supported suction cleaners with driven dust-loosening tools
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47L—DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47L9/00—Details or accessories of suction cleaners, e.g. mechanical means for controlling the suction or for effecting pulsating action; Storing devices specially adapted to suction cleaners or parts thereof; Carrying-vehicles specially adapted for suction cleaners
    • A47L9/28—Installation of the electric equipment, e.g. adaptation or attachment to the suction cleaner; Controlling suction cleaners by electric means
    • A47L9/2868—Arrangements for power supply of vacuum cleaners or the accessories thereof
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47L—DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47L5/00—Structural features of suction cleaners
    • A47L5/12—Structural features of suction cleaners with power-driven air-pumps or air-compressors, e.g. driven by motor vehicle engine vacuum
    • A47L5/22—Structural features of suction cleaners with power-driven air-pumps or air-compressors, e.g. driven by motor vehicle engine vacuum with rotary fans
    • A47L5/225—Convertible suction cleaners, i.e. convertible between different types thereof, e.g. from upright suction cleaners to sledge-type suction cleaners
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47L—DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47L5/00—Structural features of suction cleaners
    • A47L5/12—Structural features of suction cleaners with power-driven air-pumps or air-compressors, e.g. driven by motor vehicle engine vacuum
    • A47L5/22—Structural features of suction cleaners with power-driven air-pumps or air-compressors, e.g. driven by motor vehicle engine vacuum with rotary fans
    • A47L5/24—Hand-supported suction cleaners
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47L—DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47L5/00—Structural features of suction cleaners
    • A47L5/12—Structural features of suction cleaners with power-driven air-pumps or air-compressors, e.g. driven by motor vehicle engine vacuum
    • A47L5/22—Structural features of suction cleaners with power-driven air-pumps or air-compressors, e.g. driven by motor vehicle engine vacuum with rotary fans
    • A47L5/28—Suction cleaners with handles and nozzles fixed on the casings, e.g. wheeled suction cleaners with steering handle
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47L—DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47L9/00—Details or accessories of suction cleaners, e.g. mechanical means for controlling the suction or for effecting pulsating action; Storing devices specially adapted to suction cleaners or parts thereof; Carrying-vehicles specially adapted for suction cleaners
    • A47L9/10—Filters; Dust separators; Dust removal; Automatic exchange of filters
    • A47L9/106—Dust removal
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47L—DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47L9/00—Details or accessories of suction cleaners, e.g. mechanical means for controlling the suction or for effecting pulsating action; Storing devices specially adapted to suction cleaners or parts thereof; Carrying-vehicles specially adapted for suction cleaners
    • A47L9/10—Filters; Dust separators; Dust removal; Automatic exchange of filters
    • A47L9/12—Dry filters
    • A47L9/122—Dry filters flat
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47L—DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47L9/00—Details or accessories of suction cleaners, e.g. mechanical means for controlling the suction or for effecting pulsating action; Storing devices specially adapted to suction cleaners or parts thereof; Carrying-vehicles specially adapted for suction cleaners
    • A47L9/10—Filters; Dust separators; Dust removal; Automatic exchange of filters
    • A47L9/16—Arrangement or disposition of cyclones or other devices with centrifugal action
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47L—DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47L9/00—Details or accessories of suction cleaners, e.g. mechanical means for controlling the suction or for effecting pulsating action; Storing devices specially adapted to suction cleaners or parts thereof; Carrying-vehicles specially adapted for suction cleaners
    • A47L9/10—Filters; Dust separators; Dust removal; Automatic exchange of filters
    • A47L9/16—Arrangement or disposition of cyclones or other devices with centrifugal action
    • A47L9/1616—Multiple arrangement thereof
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47L—DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47L9/00—Details or accessories of suction cleaners, e.g. mechanical means for controlling the suction or for effecting pulsating action; Storing devices specially adapted to suction cleaners or parts thereof; Carrying-vehicles specially adapted for suction cleaners
    • A47L9/10—Filters; Dust separators; Dust removal; Automatic exchange of filters
    • A47L9/16—Arrangement or disposition of cyclones or other devices with centrifugal action
    • A47L9/165—Construction of inlets
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47L—DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47L9/00—Details or accessories of suction cleaners, e.g. mechanical means for controlling the suction or for effecting pulsating action; Storing devices specially adapted to suction cleaners or parts thereof; Carrying-vehicles specially adapted for suction cleaners
    • A47L9/10—Filters; Dust separators; Dust removal; Automatic exchange of filters
    • A47L9/16—Arrangement or disposition of cyclones or other devices with centrifugal action
    • A47L9/1658—Construction of outlets
    • A47L9/1666—Construction of outlets with filtering means
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47L—DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47L9/00—Details or accessories of suction cleaners, e.g. mechanical means for controlling the suction or for effecting pulsating action; Storing devices specially adapted to suction cleaners or parts thereof; Carrying-vehicles specially adapted for suction cleaners
    • A47L9/10—Filters; Dust separators; Dust removal; Automatic exchange of filters
    • A47L9/16—Arrangement or disposition of cyclones or other devices with centrifugal action
    • A47L9/1683—Dust collecting chambers; Dust collecting receptacles
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47L—DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47L9/00—Details or accessories of suction cleaners, e.g. mechanical means for controlling the suction or for effecting pulsating action; Storing devices specially adapted to suction cleaners or parts thereof; Carrying-vehicles specially adapted for suction cleaners
    • A47L9/10—Filters; Dust separators; Dust removal; Automatic exchange of filters
    • A47L9/16—Arrangement or disposition of cyclones or other devices with centrifugal action
    • A47L9/1691—Mounting or coupling means for cyclonic chamber or dust receptacles
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47L—DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47L9/00—Details or accessories of suction cleaners, e.g. mechanical means for controlling the suction or for effecting pulsating action; Storing devices specially adapted to suction cleaners or parts thereof; Carrying-vehicles specially adapted for suction cleaners
    • A47L9/22—Mountings for motor fan assemblies
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47L—DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47L9/00—Details or accessories of suction cleaners, e.g. mechanical means for controlling the suction or for effecting pulsating action; Storing devices specially adapted to suction cleaners or parts thereof; Carrying-vehicles specially adapted for suction cleaners
    • A47L9/32—Handles
    • A47L9/322—Handles for hand-supported suction cleaners

Definitions

  • the specification relates to surface cleaning apparatus.
  • the surface cleaning apparatus comprises a portable surface cleaning apparatus, such as a hand vacuum cleaner or a pod.
  • Various types of surface cleaning apparatus include vacuum cleaners.
  • a vacuum cleaner typically uses at least one cyclonic cleaning stage.
  • cyclonic hand vacuum cleaners have been developed. See for example, US 7,931 ,716 and US 2010/0229328. Each of these discloses a hand vacuum cleaner which includes a cyclonic cleaning stage.
  • US 7,931 ,716 discloses a cyclonic cleaning stage utilizing two cyclonic cleaning stages wherein both cyclonic stages have cyclone axis of rotation that extends vertically.
  • US 2010/0229328 discloses a cyclonic hand vacuum cleaner wherein the cyclone axis of rotation extends horizontally and is co-axial with the suction motor.
  • hand carriable cyclonic vacuum cleaners are also known (see US 8,146,201 and US 8,549,703).
  • a hand vacuum cleaner has a uniflow cyclone with a front cyclone air inlet and a rear air cyclone outlet. Accordingly, the cyclone axis extends rearwardly from the front end of the cyclone.
  • the cyclone air inlet may be in an upper portion of the cyclone and may be in an upper portion of the sidewall (e.g., most and preferably essentially all of the inlet opening may be in the sidewall of the cyclone above the axis of rotation of the cyclone).
  • the dirt collection area may be a dirt collection chamber that is external to the cyclone chamber and may be provided below the cyclone chamber.
  • the dirt outlet of the cyclone chamber may be provided in a lower portion of the sidewall of the cyclone near or at the rear end of the cyclone.
  • a hand vacuum cleaner having a front end having a dirty air inlet, a rear end, a clean air outlet, an upper end and a bottom, the hand vacuum cleaner comprising:
  • a main body comprising an upper end having a dirty air inlet, a lower end, a front end and a rear end, the main body housing a suction motor and fan assembly, the suction motor and fan assembly having a suction motor axis of rotation; and, (b) a cyclone unit comprising a cyclone having a cyclone axis of rotation, a front end having a cyclone air inlet and a longitudinally spaced apart rear end having a cyclone air outlet, wherein the cyclone air inlet is in an upper portion of the cyclone; wherein when the hand vacuum cleaner is oriented with the cyclone underneath the upper end, the cyclone axis of rotation is generally horizontal.
  • the cyclone axis of rotation when the hand vacuum cleaner is positioned with the bottom on a horizontal surface, the cyclone axis of rotation may be generally horizontal.
  • the suction motor axis of rotation may be generally horizontal.
  • the suction motor axis of rotation may be positioned below the cyclone axis of rotation.
  • the cyclone has a sidewall having an upper portion and a lower portion and a dirt outlet may be provided in the lower portion and is in communication with a dirt collection chamber that is exterior to the cyclone.
  • the cyclone air inlet may be provided in the upper portion of the sidewall of the cyclone.
  • the cyclone axis of rotation may be generally parallel to the suction motor axis of rotation.
  • the main body may be provided with a handle.
  • the hand vacuum cleaner further comprises a handle having a hand grip portion that may extend upwardly and forwardly when the hand vacuum cleaner is oriented with the cyclone underneath the upper end.
  • the lower end of the main body may comprise the bottom.
  • the cyclone unit may be provided on the front end of the main body. Alternately, or in addition, the cyclone unit may be removably mounted to the main body.
  • the dirty air inlet may be provided on a front end of the cyclone unit.
  • the dirty air inlet may comprise an inlet passage that extends longitudinally between an inlet end and an outlet end and has a longitudinal passage axis, the outlet end of the inlet passage communicates with the cyclone air inlet and the inlet passage axis may be positioned between an upper and a lower end of a handle of the hand vacuum cleaner.
  • the handle may comprise a hand grip portion that extends upwardly and forwardly when the hand vacuum cleaner is oriented with the cyclone underneath the upper end.
  • the suction motor axis of rotation may be positioned below the cyclone axis of rotation when the hand vacuum cleaner is oriented with the cyclone underneath the upper end.
  • the inlet passage may have a longitudinal passage axis that is linear and all of the longitudinal passage may be positioned above the cyclone axis of rotation when the hand vacuum cleaner is oriented with the cyclone underneath the upper end.
  • a surface cleaning apparatus comprising the hand vacuum cleaner discussed herein, a surface cleaning head and a rigid air flow conduit extending between the surface cleaning head and the hand vacuum cleaner wherein an outlet end of the rigid air flow conduit is removable connectable in air flow communication with the inlet passage.
  • a hand vacuum cleaner having a front end, a rear end, a clean air outlet, an upper end and a bottom, the hand vacuum cleaner comprising:
  • a main body comprising an upper end, a lower end, a front end and a rear end, the main body housing a suction motor and fan assembly, the suction motor and fan assembly having a suction motor axis of rotation;
  • an air treatment member having a front end having an air treatment member air inlet and a longitudinally rearwardly spaced apart rear end having an air treatment member air outlet, wherein the air treatment member air inlet is in a longitudinally extending sidewall of the air treatment member;
  • a dirty air inlet comprising an inlet passage that extends longitudinally between an inlet end and an outlet end and has a longitudinal passage axis, the outlet end of the inlet passage communicates with the air treatment member air inlet.
  • air travels through the air treatment member air outlet in a flow direction and the flow direction may be generally parallel to the suction motor axis of rotation.
  • a hand vacuum cleaner has an air treatment member with an air flow conduit or passage wherein the conduit is also a handle of the air treatment member.
  • a hand vacuum cleaner having a front end having a dirty air inlet, a rear end, a clean air outlet, an upper end and a bottom, the hand vacuum cleaner comprising:
  • a main body comprising an upper end, a lower end, a front end, a rear end and a driving handle, the main body housing a suction motor and fan assembly, the suction motor and fan assembly having a suction motor axis of rotation;
  • an air treatment member comprising an air treatment member handle, a dirt collection region having an openable door and an openable door lock comprising a door release actuator wherein the door is moveable to an open position when the door release actuator is actuated;
  • an air inlet comprises an inlet passage that extends longitudinally between an inlet end and an outlet end and has a longitudinal passage axis and the inlet passage comprises the air treatment member handle.
  • the driving handle may comprise a portion spaced from the main body whereby a finger receiving area is provided between the driving handle and the main body.
  • the driving handle may be provided at the rear end of the main body.
  • the air treatment member handle may comprise a portion spaced from the air treatment member whereby a finger receiving area is provided between the air treatment member handle and the air treatment member.
  • the air treatment member handle may be provided above the air treatment member.
  • the openable door may be provided at the front end of the hand vacuum cleaner.
  • the openable door may have a lower end that is moveably mounted to the air treatment member and an upper end that may be engaged by the door lock.
  • the door release actuator may be positioned proximate the air treatment member handle.
  • the inlet passage may extend generally rearwardly.
  • the door release actuator may be positioned at a forward end of the inlet passage.
  • a hand vacuum cleaner having a front end having a dirty air inlet, a rear end, a clean air outlet, an upper end and a bottom
  • the hand vacuum cleaner comprising: (a) a main body comprising an upper end, a lower end, a front end, a rear end and a driving handle, the main body housing a suction motor and fan assembly, the suction motor and fan assembly having a suction motor axis of rotation; and,
  • a cyclone unit comprising a cyclone having a cyclone axis of rotation, a cyclone unit handle, a dirt collection region having an openable door and an openable door lock comprising a door release actuator wherein the door is moveable to an open position when the actuator is actuated;
  • the door release actuator is operable by the same hand.
  • the driving handle may comprise a portion spaced from the main body whereby a finger receiving area is provided between the driving handle and the main body.
  • the driving handle may be provided at the rear end of the main body.
  • the cyclone unit handle may comprise a portion spaced from the cyclone unit whereby a finger receiving area is provided between the cyclone unit handle and the cyclone unit.
  • the cyclone unit handle may be provided above the cyclone unit.
  • the openable door may be provided at the front end of the hand vacuum cleaner.
  • the air inlet may comprise an inlet passage that extends longitudinally between an inlet end and an outlet end and the inlet passage comprises the cyclone unit handle.
  • the cyclone axis of rotation may be generally horizontal.
  • the air treatment member e.g., a cyclone unit
  • the air treatment member may be removably mounted to the rest of the hand vacuum cleaner.
  • the air treatment member may include a dirty air inlet that is connectable to an upper end of a longitudinally extending rigid member (e.g., which may be hollow to enable airflow therethrough) and a surface cleaning head may be provided (preferably removably connected) to a lower end of the longitudinally extending rigid member.
  • the handle of the hand vacuum cleaner When assembled as an upright or stick vacuum cleaner with the hand vacuum cleaner drivingly connected to the surface cleaning head by the longitudinally extending rigid member (e.g., a rigid wand), the handle of the hand vacuum cleaner may be used to steer the surface cleaning head.
  • the longitudinally extending rigid member e.g., a rigid wand
  • lateral stresses i.e., stresses transverse to the longitudinal forward/rearward axis of the hand vacuum cleaner
  • lateral stability members may be provided at the interface of the air treatment member and the rest of the hand vacuum cleaner.
  • inter-engagement members may be provided which extend in a direction that extends generally between the lower end and the upper end of the hand vacuum cleaner.
  • These lateral stability members may extend continuously or they may have discontinuities and they may extend linearly or otherwise.
  • the lateral stability members will strengthen the joint of the air treatment member and the rest of the hand vacuum cleaner.
  • at least one pair is provided on either lateral side of a center line extending in the longitudinal forward/rearward direction of the hand vacuum cleaner.
  • the lateral stability members may be any members that have sides that abut to resist the lateral stresses and may comprise a longitudinally extending protrusion or spline and a mating groove or abutting longitudinally extending protrusions or splines.
  • a surface cleaning apparatus comprising: (a) a hand vacuum cleaner having a front end having a dirty air inlet, a longitudinally spaced apart rear end, a clean air outlet, an upper end and a bottom, the hand vacuum cleaner comprising:
  • a main body comprising an upper end, a lower end, a front end and a rear end, the main body housing a suction motor and fan assembly, the suction motor and fan assembly having a suction motor axis of rotation;
  • an air treatment member removably mounted at the front end of the main body, the air treatment member comprising an upper end, a lower end, a front end and a rear end, the lower end of the air treatment member is rotationally mounted to the lower end of the main body;
  • an air treatment member release lock comprising a release actuator and first and second engagement members wherein the first engagement member is provided on the upper end of the air treatment member and the second engagement member is provided on the upper end of the main body and the release actuator is provided on one of the air treatment member and the main body,
  • the lower end of one of the air treatment member and the main body may be provided with a transversely extending rod and the lower end of the other of the air treatment member and the main body may be provided with a hook removably connectable with the rod.
  • the lower end of the air treatment member may be rotationally mounted to the lower end of the main body at a position longitudinally spaced from the first and second engagement members.
  • the lower end of the air treatment member may be rotationally mounted to the lower end of the main body at a position longitudinally spaced from a position at which the upper end of the air treatment member abuts the upper end of the main body.
  • one of the air treatment member and the main body may be provided with an outwardly extending protrusion and the other of the air treatment member and the main body may be provided with a groove in which the outwardly extending protrusion is received when the air treatment member is secured to the main body.
  • the main body may have a driving handle and the dirty air inlet is part of the air treatment member.
  • the air treatment member may comprise a cyclone unit and the driving handle may be provided at the rear end of the main body and the dirty air inlet may comprise an inlet passage that extends longitudinally between an inlet end provided at a front end of the cyclone unit and an outlet end, and the inlet end may be adapted to receive an accessory cleaning tool.
  • the accessory cleaning tool may comprise a rigid air flow conduit.
  • the air treatment member may comprise a cyclone unit and the driving handle may be provided at the rear end of the main body and the dirty air inlet may comprise an inlet passage that extends longitudinally between an inlet end provided at a front end of the cyclone unit and an outlet end, and the inlet end may be positioned forward of the cyclone unit.
  • dirty air inlet may be provided above the air treatment member.
  • the air treatment member may comprise a dirt collection region having an openable door and the openable door may be provided at the front end of the air treatment member.
  • the cyclone axis of rotation may be generally horizontal.
  • a hand vacuum cleaner having a front end having a dirty air inlet, a longitudinally spaced apart rear end, a clean air outlet, an upper end and a bottom, the hand vacuum cleaner comprising:
  • a main body comprising an upper end, a lower end, a front end and a rear end, the main body housing a suction motor and fan assembly, the suction motor and fan assembly having a suction motor axis of rotation;
  • a cyclone unit removably mounted at the front end of the main body, the cyclone unit comprising an upper end, a lower end, a front end, a rear end and a cyclone axis of rotation, the lower end of the cyclone unit is rotationally mounted to the lower end of the main body;
  • a cyclone unit release lock comprising a release actuator and first and second engagement members wherein the first engagement member is provided on the upper end of the cyclone unit and the second engagement member is provided on the upper end of the main body and the release actuator is provided on one of the cyclone unit and the main body.
  • the lower end of one of the cyclone unit and the main body may be provided with a transversely extending rod and the lower end of the other of the cyclone unit and the main body may be provided with a hook removably connectable with the rod.
  • the lower end of the cyclone unit may be rotationally mounted to the lower end of the main body at a position longitudinally spaced from the first and second engagement members.
  • the lower end of the cyclone unit may be rotationally mounted to the lower end of the main body at a position longitudinally spaced from a position at which the upper end of the cyclone unit abuts the upper end of the main body.
  • one of the cyclone unit and the main body may be provided with an outwardly extending protrusion and the other of the cyclone unit and the main body is provided with a groove in which the outwardly extending protrusion is received when the cyclone unit is secured to the main body.
  • the main body may have a driving handle and the dirty air inlet is part of the cyclone unit.
  • the driving handle may be provided at the rear end of the main body and the dirty air inlet may comprise an inlet passage that extends longitudinally between an inlet end provided at a front end of the cyclone unit and an outlet end, and the inlet end may be adapted to receive an accessory cleaning tool.
  • the accessory cleaning tool may comprise a rigid air flow conduit.
  • the driving handle may be provided at the rear end of the main body and the dirty air inlet may comprise an inlet passage that extends longitudinally between an inlet end provided at a front end of the cyclone unit and an outlet end, and the inlet end may be positioned forward of the cyclone unit.
  • the dirty air inlet may be provided above the cyclone unit.
  • the cyclone unit may comprise a dirt collection region having an openable door and the openable door may be provided at the front end of the cyclone unit.
  • the cyclone axis of rotation may be generally horizontal.
  • an air treatment member includes an air flow passage which functions as a handle of the air treatment member.
  • the air flow passage may be part of the air flow path from a dirty air inlet to the air treatment member air inlet.
  • the air flow passage may be part of an air flow path for a bleed stream and a bleed valve may be provided in the air flow passage.
  • a hand vacuum cleaner having a front end, a rear end, an upper end and a bottom
  • the hand vacuum cleaner comprising: (a) a main body comprising an upper end, a lower end, a front end, a rear end and a driving handle, the main body housing a suction motor and fan assembly, the suction motor and fan assembly having a suction motor axis of rotation; and,
  • an air treatment member comprising an air treatment member axis and an air treatment member handle wherein the air treatment member handle comprises an air flow passage.
  • the air flow passage may comprise an inlet passage of the air treatment member.
  • the inlet passage may extend longitudinally between a dirty air inlet end and an outlet end.
  • the air treatment member handle may comprise a portion spaced from the air treatment member whereby a finger receiving area is provided between the air treatment member handle and the air treatment member.
  • the air treatment member handle may be provided above the air treatment member.
  • the passage may extend generally axially in the direction of the air treatment member axis.
  • the driving handle may comprise a portion spaced from the main body whereby a finger receiving area is provided between the driving handle and the main body.
  • the driving handle may be provided at the rear end of the main body.
  • the air treatment member may be removable from the main body and the air treatment member handle may be removable with the air treatment member.
  • a bleed valve may be positioned in the air treatment member handle.
  • a hand vacuum cleaner having a front end, a rear end, an upper end and a bottom, the hand vacuum cleaner comprising:
  • a main body comprising an upper end, a lower end, a front end, a rear end and a driving handle, the main body housing a suction motor and fan assembly, the suction motor and fan assembly having a suction motor axis of rotation;
  • a cyclone unit comprising a cyclone having a cyclone axis of rotation, a cyclone unit handle, wherein the cyclone unit handle comprises an air flow passage.
  • the cyclone unit handle may comprise an inlet passage of the cyclone unit.
  • the inlet passage may extend longitudinally between a dirty air inlet end and an outlet end.
  • the cyclone unit handle may comprise a portion spaced from the cyclone unit whereby a finger receiving area is provided between the cyclone unit handle and the cyclone unit.
  • the cyclone unit handle may be provided above the cyclone unit.
  • the passage may extend generally parallel to the cyclone axis.
  • the driving handle may comprise a portion spaced from the main body whereby a finger receiving area is provided between the driving handle and the main body.
  • the driving handle may be provided at the rear end of the main body.
  • the cyclone unit may be removable from the main body and the cyclone unit handle may be removable with the cyclone unit.
  • the cyclone axis of rotation may be generally horizontal.
  • a bleed valve may be positioned in the cyclone unit handle.
  • a surface cleaning apparatus is electrically connectable with an accessory cleaning tool (e.g., a rigid air flow conduit, a crevice tool, a brush or the like) and a circuit electrically connecting the accessory tool with a source or power provided for the surface cleaning apparatus (e.g., AC power from a wall outlet or an on board energy storage member such as one or more batteries) is moved from a circuit open position to a circuit closed position when the accessory tool is mounted in air flow communication with the surface cleaning apparatus.
  • a source or power provided for the surface cleaning apparatus e.g., AC power from a wall outlet or an on board energy storage member such as one or more batteries
  • an electrical conductor element of the accessory cleaning tool drives an electrical conductor element of the surface cleaning apparatus to a circuit closed position when the accessory tool is mounted in air flow communication with the surface cleaning apparatus.
  • one or more of the electrical conductor elements of the surface cleaning apparatus may be biased to a circuit open position and may be moveable (e.g., linearly moveable, by contact with the electrical conductor element of the accessory tool).
  • the driving member provided on the accessory cleaning tool may be a non-conductive (e.g., plastic) engagement member (e.g., finger), that engages a member (e.g., a slideable tab of a housing of the electrical conductor elements of the surface cleaning apparatus) to move the electrical conductor elements of the surface cleaning apparatus to a circuit closed position.
  • a non-conductive (e.g., plastic) engagement member e.g., finger
  • a member e.g., a slideable tab of a housing of the electrical conductor elements of the surface cleaning apparatus
  • a surface cleaning apparatus comprising:
  • a main body housing a suction motor and fan assembly that is positioned in the air flow passage;
  • an air treatment member positioned in the air flow passage;
  • a circuit extending between a source of power and the electrical outlet comprising first and second electrical conductor elements, at least the first electrical conductor element is biased to a circuit open position wherein the first electrical conductor element is moved to a circuit closed position when an accessory cleaning tool is connected to the dirty air inlet.
  • the first and second electrical conductor elements may engage electrical conductors of the accessory tool whereby the first and second electrical conductor elements are electrically connectable with the accessory cleaning tool and at least the first electrical connector conductor may be biased to a circuit open position.
  • the first and second electrical conductor elements may comprise first and second electrical connector conductors, each of the electrical conductor elements may have an accessory tool contact end and a terminal end contact end, at least the first electrical connector conductor may be biased to a circuit open position and at least one of the accessory tool contact ends may be recessed in the electrical outlet when in the circuit open position.
  • the circuit may comprise electrical conductive members, each of which extends from the source of power to a terminal end, at least the first electrical conductor element may be moveably mounted from a position in which it contacts one of the terminal ends to a position in which it is spaced from the terminal end.
  • each of the electrical conductor elements may be moveably mounted from a position in which each of the electrical conductor elements contacts one of the terminal ends to a position in which the electrical conductor elements contacts are spaced from the terminal ends.
  • the circuit may comprise electrical conductive members, each of which may extend from the source of power to a terminal end, the first and second electrical conductor elements may comprise first and second electrical connector conductors, each of the electrical conductor elements may have an accessory tool contact end and a terminal end contact end, at least the first electrical conductor element may be moveably mounted from a position in which it contacts one of the terminal ends to a position in which it is spaced from the terminal end.
  • surface cleaning apparatus may further comprise a compression spring positioned between the first electrical conductor element and one of the terminal ends.
  • the compression spring may be non-conductive.
  • the source of power may comprise a power cord.
  • the circuit further may comprise a main power switch.
  • the accessory cleaning tool may comprise a rigid air flow conduit.
  • the surface cleaning apparatus may comprise a hand vacuum cleaner and the electrical outlet is provided adjacent the dirty air inlet.
  • an electrical outlet housing having first and second electrical conductor elements, each of the electrical conductor elements has a first contact end and a second contact end;
  • a circuit including the electrical conductor elements and a main power switch operable between a circuit closed position and a circuit open position, at least the first electrical conductor element is moveable between a circuit closed position and a circuit open position and is biased to the circuit open position wherein the first electrical conductor element is moved to a circuit closed position upon mechanical engagement of a part having an air flow conduit with the electrical outlet housing.
  • the circuit may comprise electrical conductive members, each of which may extend from the source of power to a terminal end, at least the first electrical conductor element may be moveably mounted from a position in which it contacts one of the terminal ends to a position in which it is spaced from the terminal end.
  • each of the electrical conductor elements may be moveably mounted from a position in which each of the electrical conductor elements contacts one of the terminal ends to a position in which the electrical conductor elements contacts are spaced from the terminal ends.
  • the surface cleaning apparatus may further comprise a compression spring positioned between the first electrical conductor element and the one of the terminal ends.
  • the compression spring may be non-conductive.
  • the source of power may comprise a power cord.
  • the first electrical conductor element may be longitudinally moveable in the electrical outlet housing
  • the surface cleaning apparatus may comprise a hand vacuum cleaner and the electrical outlet housing is provided adjacent a dirty air inlet.
  • a hand vacuum cleaner is provided with a front openable door of a dirt collection area and the hand vacuum cleaner has a handle that extends upwardly and forwardly when the hand vacuum cleaner is oriented with the upper end above the lower end (e.g., when the hand vacuum cleaner is seated on a horizontal surface).
  • a hand vacuum cleaner having a front end having a dirty air inlet, a rear end, a clean air outlet, an upper end and a bottom, the hand vacuum cleaner comprising:
  • a main body comprising an upper end, a lower end, a front end, a rear end and a driving handle, the main body housing a suction motor and fan assembly, the suction motor and fan assembly having a suction motor axis of rotation wherein the driving handle has a hand grip portion that extends upwardly and forwardly when the hand vacuum cleaner is oriented with the upper end above the lower end;
  • an air treatment member comprising a dirt collection region having an openable door provided on a front end of the air treatment member and an openable door lock comprising a door release actuator wherein the door is moveable to an open position when the door release actuator is actuated.
  • the hand grip portion may be spaced from the main body whereby a finger receiving area is provided between the hand grip portion and the main body.
  • At least a portion of the finger receiving area may be positioned linearly rearwardly from the air treatment member.
  • the main body may comprise a suction motor housing and the driving handle has an end that may extend from the suction motor housing.
  • the main body may comprise a suction motor housing and the driving handle may have an end that extends upwardly and forwardly from the suction motor housing.
  • the driving handle may be provided at the rear end of the main body.
  • the inlet passage may extend generally rearwardly.
  • the inlet passage may be positioned above the openable door.
  • the dirty air inlet may comprise an inlet passage that extends longitudinally between an inlet end and an outlet end and has a longitudinal passage axis and the longitudinal passage axis interests the driving handle.
  • the air treatment member may have a front end having an air treatment member air inlet and a longitudinally rearwardly spaced apart rear end having an air treatment member air outlet.
  • the inlet passage may be positioned above the openable door.
  • a hand vacuum cleaner having a front end having a dirty air inlet, a rear end, a clean air outlet, an upper end and a bottom, the hand vacuum cleaner comprising:
  • a main body comprising an upper end, a lower end, a front end, a rear end and a driving handle, the main body housing a suction motor and fan assembly, the suction motor and fan assembly having a suction motor axis of rotation wherein the driving handle has a hand grip portion that extends upwardly and forwardly when the hand vacuum cleaner is oriented with the upper end above the lower end;
  • a cyclone unit comprising a cyclone having a cyclone axis of rotation, a dirt collection region having an openable door provided on a front end of the cyclone unit and an openable door lock comprising a door release actuator wherein the door is moveable to an open position when the actuator is actuated.
  • the hand grip portion may be spaced from the main body whereby a finger receiving area is provided between the hand grip portion and the main body.
  • At least a portion of the finger receiving area may be positioned linearly rearwardly from the cyclone unit.
  • the main body may comprise a suction motor housing and the driving handle has an end that extends from the suction motor housing.
  • the main body may comprise a suction motor housing and the driving handle has an end that extends upwardly and forwardly from the suction motor housing.
  • the driving handle may be provided at the rear end of the main body.
  • the inlet passage may extend generally rearwardly. [00128] In some embodiments, the inlet passage may be positioned above the openable door.
  • the dirty air inlet may comprise an inlet passage that extends longitudinally between an inlet end and an outlet end and has a longitudinal passage axis and the longitudinal passage axis interests the driving handle.
  • the inlet passage may be positioned above the openable door.
  • the cyclone axis of rotation is generally horizontal.
  • Figure 1 is a front perspective view of a surface cleaning apparatus in accordance with at least one embodiment
  • Figure 2 is a rear perspective view of the surface cleaning apparatus of Figure 1 ;
  • Figure 3 is a top perspective view of the surface cleaning apparatus of Figure 1 ;
  • Figure 4 is a bottom perspective view of the surface cleaning apparatus of Figure 1 ;
  • Figure 5 is a perspective view of the surface cleaning apparatus of Figure 1 mounted to a wand and surface cleaning head in a stickvac configuration;
  • Figure 5A is a cross-sectional view taken along line 5A-5A in Figure 5;
  • Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 6-6 in Figure 1 , showing an air flow path;
  • Figure 7 is a front perspective view of the surface cleaning apparatus of Figure 1 , with a cyclone unit partially cutaway;
  • Figure 8 is a front perspective view of the surface cleaning apparatus of Figure 1 with the cyclone unit separated from a main body and a pre-motor filter chamber in an open position;
  • Figure 8A is the front perspective view of Figure 8 with a pre-motor filter in the pre-motor filter chamber
  • Figure 9 is a side elevation view of the surface cleaning apparatus of Figure 1 with the cyclone unit separated from the main body;
  • Figure 10 is a rear perspective view of the surface cleaning apparatus of Figure 1 with the cyclone unit separated from the main body;
  • Figure 10A is the rear perspective view of Figure 10 showing the cyclone unit being held by the cyclone unit handle;
  • Figure 1 1 is a front perspective view of the surface cleaning apparatus of Figure 1 with the cyclone unit separated from the main body;
  • Figure 12 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 6-6 in Figure 1 , with an enlargement of a first connector pair in a locked position;
  • Figure 13 is the cross-sectional view of Figure 12, with the first connector pair in an unlocked position;
  • Figure 14 is the rear perspective view of Figure 10, with the first connector pair exploded;
  • Figure 15 is a partial cross-sectional view taken along line 6-6 in Figure 1 , showing an alternative first connector pair in a locked position;
  • Figure 16 is the partial cross-sectional view of Figure 15 showing the alternative first connector pair in an unlocked position
  • Figure 17 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 6-6 in Figure 1 , showing an airflow path through a bleed valve;
  • Figure 18 is a front perspective view of the surface cleaning apparatus of Figure 1 , with a front cyclone unit wall in an open position;
  • Figure 19 is the front perspective view of Figure 1 , with an exploded cyclone unit lock and lock actuator;
  • Figure 20 is the front perspective view of Figure 1 , with an enlarged and partially cutaway cyclone unit lock in an engaged position;
  • Figure 21 is the front perspective view of Figure 20, with the cyclone unit lock in a disengaged position;
  • Figure 22 is a cross-sectional perspective view taken along line 6-6 in Figure 1 ;
  • Figure 23 is a bottom perspective view of a surface cleaning apparatus with a counterweight stand, in accordance with at least one embodiment
  • Figure 24 is a side-elevation view of the surface cleaning apparatus of Figure 1 supported on a horizontal surface;
  • Figure 25 is the front perspective view of Figure 20, with an exploded electrical coupling
  • Figure 26 is a perspective view of a surface cleaning apparatus with the cyclone unit separated from the main body, in accordance with another embodiment
  • Figure 27 is a partial cross-sectional view of the surface cleaning apparatus of Figure 26 with the cyclone unit connected to the main body;
  • Figure 28 is a perspective view of a surface cleaning apparatus with the cyclone unit separated from the main body, in accordance with another embodiment
  • Figure 29 is a perspective view of a surface cleaning apparatus with the cyclone unit separated from the main body, in accordance with another embodiment.
  • Figure 30 is a perspective view of a surface cleaning apparatus with the cyclone unit separated from the main body, in accordance with another embodiment.
  • two or more parts are said to be “coupled”, “connected”, “attached”, or “fastened” where the parts are joined or operate together either directly or indirectly (i.e., through one or more intermediate parts), so long as a link occurs.
  • two or more parts are said to be “directly coupled”, “directly connected”, “directly attached”, or “directly fastened” where the parts are connected in physical contact with each other.
  • two or more parts are said to be “rigidly coupled”, “rigidly connected”, “rigidly attached”, or “rigidly fastened” where the parts are coupled so as to move as one while maintaining a constant orientation relative to each other. None of the terms “coupled”, “connected”, “attached”, and “fastened” distinguish the manner in which two or more parts are joined together.
  • FIG. 1 an embodiment of a surface cleaning apparatus 100 is shown.
  • the following is a general discussion of this embodiment which provides a basis for understanding each of the features which is discussed herein. As discussed in detail subsequently, each of the features may be used in other embodiments.
  • the surface cleaning apparatus 100 is a handheld vacuum cleaner, which is commonly referred to as a "hand vacuum cleaner” or a "handvac”.
  • a hand-held vacuum cleaner or hand vacuum cleaner or handvac is a vacuum cleaner that can be operated one-handedly to clean a surface while its weight is held by the same one hand.
  • upright and canister vacuum cleaners the weight of which is supported by a surface (e.g. floor below) during use.
  • surface cleaning apparatus 100 could be removably mountable on a base so as to form, for example, an upright vacuum cleaner, a canister vacuum cleaner, a stick vac, a wet-dry vacuum cleaner and the like.
  • Power can be supplied to the surface cleaning apparatus 100 by an electrical cord (not shown) that can be connected to a standard wall electrical outlet.
  • the power source for the surface cleaning apparatus can be an onboard energy storage device, including, for example, one or more batteries.
  • the surface cleaning apparatus 100 may comprise a main body 104 having a handle 108, an air treatment member 1 12 connected to the main body 104, a dirty air inlet 1 16, a clean air outlet 120, and an air flow path extending between the inlet 1 16 and outlet 120, ;
  • Surface cleaning apparatus 100 includes a front end 121 , a rear end 122, an upper end 123, and a bottom 125.
  • the dirty air inlet 1 16 is at the front end 121 .
  • dirty air inlet 1 16 is the inlet end 124 of an inlet passage 128. Dirty air inlet 1 6 may be positioned forward of air treatment member 1 12 as shown.
  • the inlet end 124 can be used as a nozzle to directly clean a surface.
  • the inlet end 124 can be connected or directly connected to the downstream end of any suitable accessory tool such as a rigid air flow conduit (e.g. wand, crevice tool, mini brush or the like) for example.
  • a rigid air flow conduit e.g. wand, crevice tool, mini brush or the like
  • Figures 5 and 5A show an exemplary surface cleaning apparatus 132 (e.g. a stickvac) including surface cleaning apparatus 100 with connector inlet end 124 directly connected to a wand 36 (e.g., wand outlet end 612 may be removably connectable in air flow communication with inlet connector 128) that is pivotally connected to a surface cleaning head 140.
  • the Wand may be securable to connector 128 by any means known in the art such as a locking member or a friction fit.
  • the surface cleaning apparatus 100 can be used to clean a floor or other surface in a manner analogous to conventional upright-style vacuum cleaners.
  • the air flow path may extend through an air treatment member 1 12.
  • the air treatment member 1 12 may be any suitable member that can treat the air in a desired manner, including, for example, removing dirt particles and debris from the air.
  • the air treatment member is a cyclone unit 1 12, which may be of any design.
  • the air treatment member may comprise one or more of a bag, a filter or other air treating means.
  • Cyclone unit 1 12 may include one or a plurality of cyclones for separating dirt from the air flow, and one or a plurality of dirt collection regions for receiving dirt separated in the cyclone(s).
  • cyclone unit 1 12 includes a cyclone or cyclone chamber 160 and an external dirt collection chamber 164.
  • the cyclone 160 and dirt collection chamber 164 may be of any configuration suitable for separating dirt from an air stream and collecting the separated dirt, respectively.
  • Cyclone 160 may be oriented in any direction.
  • cyclone axis of rotation 484 may be oriented horizontally as exemplified, vertically, or at any angle between horizontal and vertical.
  • a suction motor and fan assembly 152 may be mounted within a motor housing portion 156 of the main body 104. In this configuration, the suction motor and fan assembly 152 is downstream from the cyclone unit 1 12, and the clean air outlet 120 is downstream from the suction motor and fan assembly 152.
  • one or more pre-motor filters may be placed in the air flow path between the air treatment member and the suction motor and fan assembly.
  • one or more post-motor filters may be provided downstream from the suction motor and fan assembly.
  • main body 104 is shown including a pre-motor filter housing portion 208 that is positioned in the air flow path downstream of cyclone unit 1 12.
  • Pre-motor filter housing 208 may be of any construction known in the vacuum cleaner art.
  • filter housing 208 may be bounded by one or more walls, which may be integral with or discrete from the main body exterior walls 212.
  • pre- motor filter housing 208 including a filter housing first wall 216 axially opposite a filter housing second wall 220, and a filter housing sidewall 224 that extends in the direction of the cyclone axis of rotation between the first and second walls 216 and 220.
  • first wall 216 is optional and second wall 220 may be in the form of ribs to hold the filter in place.
  • filter housing sidewall 224 is discrete from main body exterior walls 212, which may provide enhanced sound insulation for air passing through the pre-motor filter housing 208.
  • filter housing sidewall 224 may be defined in whole or in part by main body exterior walls 212 for a more compact design.
  • one or more filters made of or comprising a porous filter media may be positioned within the pre-motor filter housing 208 to filter particles remaining in the air flow exiting the cyclone air outlet 184, before the air flow passes through the suction motor and fan assembly 152.
  • pre-motor filter housing 208 contains an upstream filter 228 and a downstream filter 232.
  • the pre-motor filters 228 and 232 may be of any suitable configuration and formed from any suitable materials.
  • the pre-motor filters 228 and 232 are made of porous media such as foam, felt, or filter paper.
  • a foam pre-motor filter is provided upstream of a felt pre-motor filter.
  • Pre-motor filter housing 208 may include a filter housing air inlet and a filter housing air outlet of any suitable design and arrangement within the housing 208.
  • pre-motor filter housing 208 includes a filter housing air inlet 236 formed in filter housing first wall 216, and a filter housing air outlet 240 formed in filter housing second wall 220.
  • pre-motor filter housing 208 may promote the air flow to broadly distribute across the pre-motor filters 228 and 232 inside. This allows the collected dust particles to be more evenly distributed throughout pre-motor filters 228 and 232 instead of concentrating in a narrow air flow path.
  • An advantage of this design is that the pre-motor filters 228 and 232 will have a greater effective dirt capacity, which allows the pre-motor filters 228 and 232 to be cleaned or replaced less frequently.
  • pre- motor filter housing 208 may have any structure suitable for broadly distributing the air flow across pre-motor filters 228 and 232.
  • pre-motor filter housing 208 may provide an upstream header 256, a downstream header 260, or both as shown.
  • Headers 256 and 260 may be provided by spacing the pre-motor filters from the filter housing end walls 216 and 220 respectively.
  • pre-motor filter housing 208 includes spacing members positioned to hold the pre-motor filters 228 and 232 away from the filter housing end walls 216 and 220.
  • filter housing first wall 216 may include upstanding ribs 264 that hold the upstream side 268 of pre-motor filter 228 spaced apart from filter housing first wall 216 to allow air from filter housing air inlet 236 to flow laterally between pre-motor filter 228 and filter housing first wall 216 before penetrating pre-motor filter 228.
  • the illustrated example also shows filter housing second wall 220 including upstanding ribs 272 that hold the downstream side 276 of pre-motor filter 232 spaced apart from filter housing second wall 220 to allow air exiting pre-motor filter 232 to flow laterally between pre-motor filter 232 and filter housing second wall 220, to filter housing air outlet 240.
  • a cyclone that may be used by itself in any surface cleaning apparatus or in any combination or sub-combination with any other feature or features disclosed including uniflow cyclone, the positioning of the dirt collection chamber, the orientation of the suction motor, the air treatment member handle, the position and orientation of a driving handle, pre-motor filter housing door, the air treatment member door actuator, and the electrical coupling members and the air treatment member door inhibitor.
  • a cyclone comprises a cyclone with a unidirectional flow of air or a "uniflow" cyclone.
  • the uniflow cyclone may be horizontally disposed as opposed to being vertically disposed which is typical in the art.
  • the axis of the cyclone chamber may be closer to horizontal than vertical.
  • the cyclone air inlet may be at the front end and the cyclone air outlet may be at the rear end.
  • An advantage of this design is that the cyclone inlet may be used to redirect the air from the inlet passage 124 to the cyclone chamber and the air may exit the cyclone and travel linearly to the pre-motor filter. Accordingly, dirty air may travel from the dirty air inlet to the pre-motor filter without passing through any bends, thereby reducing the backpressure created by flow through the vacuum cleaner.
  • the cyclone air inlet may be in an upper portion of the sidewall 168 of the cyclone.
  • the dirt collection chamber 164 may be external to the cyclone chamber 160.
  • the dirt outlet 88 of the cyclone chamber 160 may be at a rear end of the cyclone chamber and/or may be in a lower portion of the cyclone chamber, such as in a lower part of sidewall 168 of the cyclone chamber.
  • Figure 7 exemplifies a cyclone unit including these aspects.
  • cyclone 160 comprises a cyclone sidewall 168 extending axially from a cyclone first end 172 (e.g. front end comprising first end wall 192) to a cyclone second end 176 (e.g. rear end comprising second end wall 196), a cyclone air inlet 180 which enters cyclone 160 at a front portion of sidewall 168, a cyclone air outlet 184 provided in cyclone second end wall 196, and a cyclone dirt outlet 188.
  • Cyclone sidewall 168 includes an upper wall 169 and a lower wall 171 .
  • dirty air may enter cyclone 160 tangentially at cyclone air inlet 180 (which may be provided in the upper wall 169), and swirl (e.g. move cyclonically) through cyclone 160 to separate dirt from the air flow, and then exit cyclone 160 through cyclone air outlet 184.
  • the separated dirt may exit cyclone 160 through cyclone dirt outlet 188 and deposit into dirt collection chamber 164.
  • Vortex finder 204 may extend axially between cyclone first and second ends 172 and 176.
  • Vortex finder 204 may have any configuration known in the art.
  • vortex finder 204 may be connected to cyclone second end wall 196 and extend axially towards cyclone first end 172.
  • Vortex finder 204 may surround cyclone air outlet 184, so that air exiting cyclone 160 travels downstream through vortex finder 204 to cyclone air outlet 184.
  • Vortex finder 204 may include filter media 206 (e.g. mesh) to capture large dirt particles (e.g. hair and coarse dust) that remains in the air flow exiting cyclone 160.
  • filter media 206 e.g. mesh
  • cyclone air inlet 180 is located at an upper end of the cyclone 160, then inlet passage 128 is may be located above the central longitudinal axis of cyclone 160 and preferably is located above cyclone 160.
  • cyclone air inlet 180 may be a tangential air inlet so that air entering the cyclone 160 will tend to rotate as the air travels axially through the cyclone 160, thereby dis-entraining dirt and debris from the air flow, before leaving the cyclone via the air outlet 184.
  • inlet passage 128 extends longitudinally between passage inlet end 124 (i.e., the dirty air inlet 1 16) and passage outlet end 130 along a longitudinal passage axis 364, and passage outlet end 130 communicates (e.g. is positioned upstream) of cyclone air inlet 180.
  • Passage axis 364 may be linear, and all of the longitudinal passage axis 364 may be positioned above cyclone axis of rotation 484 when surface cleaning apparatus 100 is positioned with bottom 125 on a horizontal surface 584.
  • Cyclone air inlet 180 may be positioned and constructed in any manner suitable for directing air tangentially into cyclone 160.
  • cyclone air inlet 180 is formed as a curved passage extending from a cyclone air inlet upstream end 532 to a cyclone air inlet downstream end 536.
  • the cyclone air inlet downstream end 536 may be oriented to direct air substantially tangentially to the inner surface of sidewall 168.
  • cyclone air inlet 180 may be positioned above cyclone axis of rotation 484 and suction motor axis of rotation 540.
  • cyclone air inlet 180 may be positioned at an upper end 544 of cyclone 160.
  • cyclone air inlet 180 is formed in cyclone sidewall 168 at cyclone first end 172
  • cyclone air outlet 184 is formed in cyclone second end wall 196 at cyclone second end 176.
  • air may exit cyclone air outlet 184 in a flow direction 616 that is generally parallel to the suction motor axis of rotation 540.
  • main body lower end 568 may comprise bottom 125.
  • cyclone 160 when bottom 125 is placed on a horizontal surface, cyclone 160 may be oriented horizontally if bottom or base 125 is parallel to the cyclone axis. If will be appreciated that if bottom 125 is oriented at an angle to the horizontal, e.g., so that dirt air inlet 1 16 points downwardly when bottom 125 is on a horizontal surface, cyclone 160 may be not be oriented horizontally when bottom 125 is on a horizontal surface. It will be appreciated that, as referred to herein, cyclone 160 being horizontal relates to the orientation if bottom 125 is parallel to the cyclone axis of rotation 484.
  • inlet connector 128 when inlet connector 128 is mounted to a wand 557 (i.e. rigid air flow conduit), the wand axis 559, the inlet connector axis 364, and the cyclone axis of rotation 484 may be parallel.
  • An advantage of this embodiment is that This reduces bends in the air flow for improved air efficiency. It will be appreciated that only some of these axes may be parallel. For example, only the inlet connector axis 364 and the cyclone axis of rotation 484 may be parallel.
  • a dirt collection chamber for a cyclone chamber may be provided external to and below the cyclone chamber.
  • a cyclone dirt outlet 188 may be provided in a lower portion of the cyclone chamber (e.g., cyclone dirt outlet 188 is provided in lower wall 171 ) such that dirt which remains in the cyclone chamber after termination of operation of the vacuum cleaner may fall into the dirt collection chamber when the vacuum cleaner is held with the cyclone extending horizontally and slightly upwardly.
  • the width of the vacuum cleaner may be narrower as the dirt collection chamber is not located on the lateral sides of the cyclone chamber. Therefore, as exemplified in Figure 18, the maximum width of a handvac may be determined by the width of the suction motor housing or the width of the cyclone 160.
  • dirt collection chamber 164 extends around approximately one-half of cyclone 160.
  • partition wall 556 may circumscribe approximately one-half of cyclone 160.
  • dirt collection chamber 164 may extend around less than or greater than one-half of cyclone 160, and partition wall 556 may similarly circumscribe less than or greater than one-half of cyclone 160.
  • dirt collection chamber 164 may not surround cyclone 160.
  • cyclone sidewall 168 and dirt collection chamber sidewall 548 may have any construction suitable for separating the cyclone 160 from dirt collection chamber 164 and allowing the passage of dis-entrained dirt therebetween.
  • cyclone sidewall 168 and dirt collection chamber sidewall 548 may be discrete walls that are spaced apart and connected by a dirt outlet passage.
  • dirt collection chamber sidewall 548 is formed at least in part by portions of cyclone sidewall 168 and portions of cyclone unit exterior wall 552.
  • cyclone sidewall 168 as shown is formed at least in part by portions of dirt collection chamber sidewall 548 and cyclone unit exterior wall 552. Accordingly, the wall portion 556 in common between cyclone 160 and dirt collection chamber 164 may operate as a dividing wall. Sharing a common dividing wall may help reduce the overall size of the cyclone unit 1 12, for a more compact design.
  • cyclone 160 may include any dirt outlet 188 suitable for directing dis-entrained dirt from cyclone 160 to dirt collection chamber 164.
  • dirt outlet 188 may be formed in or connected to one or more (or all) of cyclone sidewall 168 and cyclone end walls 192 and 96.
  • dirt outlet 188 is formed in cyclone sidewall 168.
  • Dirt outlet 188 may have any shape and size suitable for allowing dirt particles to pass into dirt collection chamber 164.
  • dirt outlet 188 is formed as a rectangular aperture in wall portion 556.
  • dirt outlet 188 may be circular, triangular, or another regular or irregularly shaped aperture.
  • cyclone dirt outlet 188 may be bounded in part by cyclone second end wall 196.
  • cyclone dirt outlet 188 may be positioned anywhere at or between cyclone first and second ends 172 and 176.
  • cyclone 160 is a uniflow cyclone and accordingly cyclone dirt outlet 188 is positioned at cyclone second end 176 proximate cyclone air outlet 184. This allows the dirt and air to travel towards the same end of the cyclone 160 before parting ways - the air exiting through air outlet 184 and the dirt exiting through dirt outlet 188.
  • the air stream inside cyclone 160 swirls towards cyclone air outlet 184 at cyclone second end 176, which dis-entrains dirt particles against cyclone sidewall 168. Under the influence of the rearward air stream, the dirt particles travel towards cyclone second end 176 and exit through cyclone dirt outlet 188 to dirt collection chamber 164.
  • dirt collection chamber 164 may have any size and shape suitable to accommodate dirt separated by cyclone 160 during one or more uses.
  • a larger dirt collection chamber 164 can store more dirt to allow apparatus 100 to run longer before emptying dirt collection chamber 164, but will add bulk and weight to the apparatus 100.
  • a smaller dirt collection chamber 164 is smaller and lighter, but must be emptied more frequently.
  • a suction motor that may be used by itself in any surface cleaning apparatus or in any combination or sub-combination with any other feature or features disclosed herein including the uniflow cyclone, the positioning of the dirt collection chamber, the lateral stability members, the air treatment member handle, the position and orientation of a driving handle, pre-motor filter housing door, the air treatment member door actuator, and the electrical coupling members and the air treatment member door inhibitor.
  • the axis of rotation of the suction motor may be generally parallel to the cyclone axis of rotation and/or the inlet conduit axis.
  • the suction motor axis of rotation 540 may be generally horizontal.
  • cyclone sidewall 168 may extend generally horizontally between longitudinally spaced apart cyclone end walls 172 and 176, when surface cleaning apparatus 100 is positioned with bottom 125 on a horizontal surface 584.
  • suction motor axis of rotation 540 may be generally parallel with cyclone axis of rotation 484. This allows for fewer bends in the air flow between dirty air inlet 1 16 and clean air outlet 120, which can result in reduced backpressure, all other elements remaining the same.
  • the suction motor axis of rotation 540 may be positioned below cyclone axis of rotation 484. This may provide surface cleaning apparatus 100 with a relatively lower center of gravity for greater stability when surface cleaning apparatus 100 is positioned with bottom 125 on a horizontal surface 584.
  • the pre-motor filter air inlet and outlet 236 and 240 may be axially offset as shown.
  • filter housing air inlet axis 248 is located above and spaced apart from filter housing air outlet axis 252.
  • An advantage of this design is that one or both of the headers may be used to change to elevation at which the air travels rearwardly with without using a conduit with bends. For example, air may travel generally rearwardly (linearly) into the pre- motor filter housing and air may travel generally rearwardly (linearly) out of the pre-motor filter housing, but at a lower elevation.
  • filter housing air inlet and outlet axes 248 and 252 may not be spaced apart (e.g. they may be collinear).
  • suction motor and fan assembly 152 may be positioned in main body 104 with its axis of rotation 540 oriented in any direction.
  • an air treatment member handle that may be used by itself in any surface cleaning apparatus or in any combination or sub-combination with any other feature or features disclosed herein including the uniflow cyclone, the positioning of the dirt collection chamber, the orientation of the suction motor, the position and orientation of a driving handle, pre-motor filter housing door, the air treatment member door actuator, and the electrical coupling members and the air treatment member door inhibitor.
  • the air treatment member may include a handle in addition to the main body handle ("driving handle"). This allows a user to hold the main body and the air treatment member simultaneously, with different hands before, during, and after disconnecting the main body from the air treatment member.
  • the air treatment member handle may for part of an air flow conduit of the air treatment member.
  • the air treatment member handle may extend along the axial direction of the air treatment member and/or may be on an upper portion thereof and/or may provide a gap for receiving fingers of the user.
  • cyclone unit handle 344 is connected to cyclone unit 1 12 when cyclone unit 1 12 is disconnected from main body 104, and driving handle 108 is connected to main body 104 when main body 104 is disconnected from cyclone unit 1 12.
  • Cyclone unit handle 344 may have any suitable size, shape, and position on cyclone unit 1 12 which allows a user to easily grasp the cyclone unit handle 344 by hand to carry the cyclone unit 1 12 (see Figure 10A).
  • cyclone unit handle 344 is formed as a substantially cylindrical member, which extends rearwardly along cyclone unit upper portion 348.
  • cyclone unit handle 344 may have a different regular or irregular cross-sectional shape, and may extend along a different portion of cyclone unit 1 12, such as along lower portion 352, or a lateral side 356 for example.
  • cyclone unit handle 344 may include a portion or gap 347 spaced from cyclone unit 1 12 whereby a finger receiving area 349 is provided between the cyclone unit handle 344 and the cyclone unit 12.
  • apparatus 100 is configured to allow the user to take whatever action disconnects the main body 104 from air treatment member 1 12 while holding air treatment member handle 344 with one hand and holding driving handle 108 with the other hand.
  • cyclone unit handle 344 or driving handle 108 may be positioned proximate (e.g. within finger-reach of) an actuator that releases the connector(s) which hold air treatment member 1 12 and main body 104 together. This would allow the user to use a finger to operate the actuator while holding the handle 344 or 108 with the remaining fingers of their hand.
  • cyclone unit handle 344 and actuator 328 are both located on the cyclone unit upper portion 348 and in close proximity.
  • the user may also use the same hand to open a front door of the air treatment member as discussed subsequently in more detail.
  • cyclone unit handle 344 is shown extending along a cyclone unit handle axis 360.
  • cyclone unit handle axis 360 may be parallel with and may be coaxial with inlet connector axis 364. This may promote a compact shape for apparatus 100 in contrast with handles with an axis that extends above the inlet connector axis 364.
  • cyclone unit handle 344 may comprise an air flow passage (e.g. an air flow conduit). This may promote a compact design for apparatus 100 by reducing or eliminating the volume added to apparatus 100 to incorporate cyclone unit handle 344.
  • an existing air flow conduit may be reshaped and/or repositioned to provide handle functionality.
  • handle 344 is positioned rearward and coaxial with the inlet conduit extending from dirty air inlet 1 16. It will be appreciated that if the inlet to the air treatment member chamber (e.g., cyclone chamber 160) is rearward of the front of handle 344, then part of handle 344 form part of inlet conduit 124. Alternately, or in addition as exemplified in Figure 17, handle 344 may provide part or all of a bleed air conduit 380 having a longitudinal passage axis 390. Bleed conduit 380 provides a portion of the air flow path between the bleed air inlet 384 and the suction motor and fan assembly 152 and houses bleed valve 388.
  • the bleed valve 388 may be any suitable valve that known in the art, which typically open automatically in response to low pressure.
  • bleed valve 388 may be a pressure relief valve.
  • Bleed valve 388 may help maintain adequate volumetric air flow through the suction motor and fan assembly 152 during low pressure events to avoid overheating of the suction motor and fan assembly 152.
  • Low pressure may occur where there is a partial or total blockage in the air flow upstream of the suction motor and fan assembly 152 (e.g. a plastic bag is blocking dirty air inlet 116).
  • cyclone unit handle 344 is grasped primarily when apparatus 100 is turned off (e.g. when separating, reconnecting, or transporting cyclone unit 1 12) so that there is little or no concern of the bleed air inlet 384 being blocked by a user's hands when apparatus 100 is turned on.
  • Figure 17 exemplifies an optional air flow path from bleed air inlet 384 to suction motor and fan assembly 152 which bypasses cyclone 160 and pre-motor filters 228 and 232.
  • the air flow path may extend rearwardly through bleed valve conduit 380 to filter housing downstream header 260 bypassing filter housing upstream header 256 and pre-motor filters 228 and 232.
  • the air flow path may extend through pre-motor filters 228 and 232 to filter fine particulates that may be present in the ambient air drawn into bleed air inlet 384.
  • filter housing upstream header 256 may be positioned downstream of bleed valve 388 in the air flow path from bleed air inlet 384.
  • a driving handle that may be used by itself in any surface cleaning apparatus or in any combination or sub-combination with any other feature or features disclosed herein including the uniflow cyclone, the positioning of the dirt collection chamber, the orientation of the suction motor, the air treatment member handle, the pre- motor filter housing door, the air treatment member door actuator, and the electrical coupling members and the air treatment member door inhibitor.
  • the driving handle is which extends upwardly and forwardly.
  • Driving handle 108 may extend upwardly from the suction motor housing (e.g., an upper surface of the main body that houses the suction motor).
  • Driving handle 108 may terminate at Or above an upper end of the handvac 100.
  • the inlet conduit axis 364 and/or the handle axis 360 may intersect the driving handle 108.
  • An advantage of this design is that the weight of the motor is below the hand grip.
  • the driving axis of the handvac when connected to a wand (the wand axis) is at an opposite end of the handle to the suction motor. This provides improved hand weight for a user.
  • driving handle 108 may extend from its lower end 368 to its upper end 372 along a driving handle axis 376.
  • driving handle axis 376 may extend generally upwardly and forwardly (e.g. at an angle 378 of less than 45 degrees to vertical) to provide a comfortable natural grip during use.
  • driving handle axis 376 may be at an angle to cyclone unit handle axis 360.
  • axes 360 and 376 may be angularly offset by 30 degrees or more.
  • the driving handle 108 and cyclone unit handle 344 may have different functions.
  • the driving handle 108 may be configured to provide a comfortable grip for the user during use, and the cyclone unit handle 344 may be configured with a compact design.
  • driving handle 108 includes a portion 377 spaced from main body 104 whereby a finger receiving area 379 is provided between the driving handle 108 and the main body 104.
  • driving handle 108 may be positioned at main body rear end 434 and longitudinally spaced apart from cyclone unit handle 344.
  • pre-motor filter door that may be used by itself in any surface cleaning apparatus or in any combination or sub-combination with any other feature or features disclosed herein including the uniflow cyclone, the positioning of the dirt collection chamber, the orientation of the suction motor, the air treatment member handle, the position and orientation of a driving handle, the air treatment member door actuator, and the electrical coupling members and the air treatment member door inhibitor.
  • a surface cleaning apparatus may have a pre- motor filter chamber which is closed by an openable door that is accessible when the air treatment member is removed from the remainder of the surface cleaning apparatus (as exemplified in Figure 6).
  • a pre-motor filter may be accessed for cleaning or replacement when the door is opened.
  • the pre-motor filter door may include a handle for user operation.
  • the pre-motor filter chamber may be provided in the removable air treatment member 1 12 or the main body 104. The door may be held in a closed position by a part of the surface cleaning apparatus that does not include the pre-motor filter chamber.
  • the door may be held closed by a part of the main body when the air treatment member is attached to the main body.
  • the pre-motor filter chamber is provided in the main body as exemplified in Figure 8
  • the door may be held closed by a part of the air treatment member when the air treatment member is attached to the main body.
  • FIGs 8, 8A and 1 1 exemplify an embodiment in which pre-motor filter housing 208 is accessible when air treatment member 1 12 is disconnected from main body 104.
  • one of the filter housing walls 216 and 220 e.g., filter housing upstream wall 216 as exemplified in Figure 8 may be exposed when air treatment member 1 12 is disconnected from main body 104.
  • the openable filter housing wall may be openable in any manner suitable for providing access to clean or replace the pre-motor filters inside.
  • the openable wall may be moveably mounted or removably mounted.
  • filter housing wall 216 or 220 may be pivotally attached to the pre-motor filter housing 208, slideably attached to the pre-motor filter housing 208, or removable altogether from the pre- motor filter housing 208.
  • filter housing upstream wall 216 is pivotally attached to pre-motor filter housing 208.
  • filter housing upstream wall 216 is rotatable about a filter-housing wall pivot axis 392 between a closed position ( Figure 1 ), and an open position ( Figure 8A). It will be appreciated that filter housing upstream wall 216 may be rotatable in any manner and direction suitable for moving the filter housing upstream wall 216 generally away from the pre-motor filter housing 208 to provide access to the pre-motor filters 228 and 232 inside. In the illustrated embodiment, filter housing upstream wall 216 is upwardly rotatable about a laterally extending (e.g. horizontal) filter housing wall pivot axis 392 located at an upper end 396 of the pre-motor filter housing 208.
  • a laterally extending (e.g. horizontal) filter housing wall pivot axis 392 located at an upper end 396 of the pre-motor filter housing 208.
  • the filter housing wall pivot axis 392 is transverse to (e.g. substantially perpendicular to) the inlet connector axis 364, the cyclone unit handle axis 360, and the filter housing air inlet axis 248.
  • filter housing upstream wall 216 may rotate in a different direction about a different axis.
  • filter housing upstream wall 216 may move laterally outwardly by rotation about a substantially vertical axis positioned proximate a left or right side of the pre-motor filter housing 208.
  • the filter housing upstream wall 216 may have any construction suitable for allowing the filter housing upstream wall 216 to rotate about the filter housing wall pivot axis 392.
  • filter housing upstream wall 216 may be connected to filter housing sidewall 224 by a hinge 404 of any suitable type.
  • filter housing upstream wall 216 may be resiliently bendable to connect with pre-motor filter housing 208 by a living hinge.
  • filter housing upstream wall 216 may be at least partially transparent (e.g., the wall may be made of a transparent material or it may have a window) to provide visibility of the upstream surface 268 ( Figure 8A) of the pre-motor filter inside. This would allow the user to inspect the pre-motor filter through the filter housing upstream wall 216, without opening the pre-motor filter housing 208, in order to assess whether to clean or replace the pre-motor filter.
  • the filter housing upstream wall 216 may be opaque, and the pre-motor filter may not be visible through the filter housing upstream wall 216.
  • the openable filter housing wall is preferably manually user openable (e.g. by hand). This allows the user to selectively open the openable filter housing wall to access the pre-motor filters inside.
  • the filter housing upstream wall 216 includes a filter housing handle 408 that is user operable to move the filter housing upstream wall 216 between the open and closed positions.
  • the filter housing handle 408 may have any construction that allows the user to easily grasp and pull the filter housing handle 408 to open the pre-motor filter housing 208.
  • the filter housing handle 408 extends outwardly from an end opposed to the hinged end (in this case lower end 412 of the filter housing upstream wall 216).
  • the filter housing handle 408 extends from a filter housing handle inboard end 416 to a filter housing handle outboard end 420.
  • the filter housing handle inboard end 416 may be connected to an upstream face 424 of the filter housing upstream wall 216.
  • the filter housing outboard end 420 may include a gripping feature, which may be of any design such a lip 428. In the illustrated example, lip 428 is curls approximately 90 degrees.
  • the filter housing handle 408 may extend from filter housing upstream wall 216 outwardly towards cyclone unit 1 12.
  • a front end 432 of main body 104 is connectable to the rear end 436 of cyclone unit 1 12, and filter housing handle 408 extends forwardly from filter housing upstream wall 216 towards cyclone unit 1 12.
  • the filter housing handle outboard end 420 extends into a handle recess 440 of cyclone unit 1 12 outside of cyclone 160 and dirt collection chamber 164. In this way, the handle may overlap a portion of the cyclone chamber so as to have a longer length in the direction of the cyclone axis.
  • This construction allows the filter housing handle 408 to have a greater dimension 444 between its inboard and outboard ends 416 and 420, while permitting the filter housing upstream wall 216 to contact at least a portion of cyclone second wall 196 to fluidly connect the cyclone air outlet 184 to the filter housing air inlet 236.
  • the filter housing handle 408 extends from filter housing upstream wall lower end 412, and cyclone unit handle recess 440 is provided in cyclone unit lower portion 352.
  • pre-motor filter housing 208 may be free of locking members, such as latches or clasps, which are operable to secure the openable wall in the closed position. Accordingly, when the main body 104 and cyclone unit 1 12 are connected together (see, e.g. Figure 1 ) filter housing handle 408 extends forwardly from filter housing upstream wall 216 and abuts a part of air treatment member 112, e.g., rear end wall 196 of the air treatment member.
  • locking members such as latches or clasps
  • the openable door of the pre-motor filter housing 208 may be held in its closed position by interaction with cyclone unit 12, when cyclone unit 12 is connected to main body 104.
  • cyclone unit rear end 436 may contact filter housing upstream wall 216 to hold the filter housing upstream wall 216 in its closed position.
  • cyclone second wall 196 is bordered by a peripheral lip 448 which contacts upstream face 424 of filter housing upstream wall 216
  • cyclone air outlet 184 is bordered by a peripheral lip 452 that contacts a peripheral recess 456 of filter housing air inlet 236.
  • Peripheral lip 452 and recess 456 may form a substantially air tight connection between cyclone air outlet 184 and filter housing air inlet 236.
  • a gasket such as an O-ring (not shown) may be provided and compressed when the air treatment member is attached to provide an air tight seal between the openable door and the rest of the pre-motor filter chamber.
  • an air treatment member door actuator that may be used by itself in any surface cleaning apparatus or in any combination or subcombination with any other feature or features disclosed herein including the uniflow cyclone, the positioning of the dirt collection chamber, the orientation of the suction motor, the air treatment member handle, the position and orientation of a driving handle, the pre- motor filter housing door, the electrical coupling members and the air treatment member door inhibitor.
  • the air treatment member may include an openable door that provides access to empty or clean the air treatment member (e.g. to empty or clean a dirt collection region of the air treatment member).
  • the air treatment member door may be openable by an actuator positioned within finger-reach of the air treatment member handle. This allows for one handed operation of the air treatment member door.
  • air treatment member 1 12 includes an openable wall (e.g., a door) to provide access to clean or empty the air treatment member (e.g., cyclone 160 and dirt collection chamber 164). Any portion of air treatment member 1 12 suitable for emptying air treatment member 1 12 may be openable.
  • air treatment member 1 12 includes an openable front end 472 wherein all of the front end is opeanable.
  • the air treatment member may be a cyclone unit comprising a cyclone and a dirt collection chamber external to the cyclone and may have a front end 472 the includes cyclone first end wall 192, and dirt collection chamber first end wall 476. It will be appreciated that, in some embodiments, only a portion of the front end 472 may be openable.
  • the openable door may be openable in any manner suitable for providing access to clean or empty air treatment member 1 12, e.g., cyclone 160 and dirt collection chamber 164.
  • the door may be pivotally attached to the air treatment member 1 12 which is exemplified in Figure 18, slideably attached to the air treatment member 12, and/or removable altogether from the air treatment member 1 12.
  • cyclone unit front door 472 is rotatable about a cyclone unit wall pivot axis 480 between a closed position ( Figure 1 ), and an open position ( Figure 18).
  • cyclone unit front door 472 may be rotatable in any manner and direction suitable for moving cyclone unit front door 472 generally away from the cyclone unit 1 12 to provide access to the cyclone 160 and dirt collection chamber 164 inside.
  • cyclone unit front door 472 is downwardly rotatable about a laterally extending (e.g. horizontal) cyclone unit wall pivot axis 480 located at a lower portion 352 of the cyclone unit 1 12.
  • the cyclone unit wall pivot axis 480 is transverse to (e.g. substantially perpendicular to) the inlet connector axis 364, the cyclone unit handle axis 360, and the cyclone axis of rotation 484.
  • cyclone unit front door 472 may rotate in a different direction about a different axis.
  • cyclone unit front door 472 may move laterally outwardly by rotation about a substantially vertical axis positioned proximate a left or right side of the cyclone unit 1 12.
  • cyclone unit front door 472 may move upwardly by rotation about a substantially horizontal axis positioned proximate cyclone unit lower portion 352.
  • the cyclone unit front door 472 may have any construction suitable for allowing the cyclone unit front door 472 to rotate about the cyclone unit wall pivot axis 480.
  • cyclone unit front door 472 may be connected to cyclone unit 1 12 by a hinge 486 of any type known in the art.
  • cyclone unit front door 472 may be resiliently bendable to connect with cyclone unit 1 12 by a living hinge.
  • the openable cyclone unit wall is locked in the closed position, and manually user openable (e.g. by hand). This allows the openable cyclone unit wall to remain closed while the apparatus 100 is operating, and allows the user to selectively open the openable cyclone unit wall to empty the cyclone 160 and dirt collection chamber 164 inside when the apparatus 100 is turned off.
  • cyclone unit 1 12 includes a door lock 492, which inhibits opening of cyclone unit front door 472 when engaged.
  • Door lock 492 is user operable to disengage door lock 492 to thereby permit cyclone unit front door 472 to move to its open position.
  • Door lock 492 may be any type of lock suitable for retaining cyclone unit front door 472 in its closed position, and which is user releasable to permit cyclone unit 1 12 to open.
  • door lock 492 may have a manually operable actuator for moving the lock between its engaged and disengaged positions.
  • door lock 492 includes an engaging member 496 and an actuator 504.
  • actuator is positioned proximate the air treatment member handle 344 so that a user may operate actuator 504 with the same hand that is used to hold handle 504.
  • actuator 504 may be located within close proximity (e.g. finger- reach) of handle 344, e.g., it may be provided on or adjacent handle 344 and may be provided at the end of handle 344 at which the door is located. Accordingly while holding handle 344, the user may use their thumb of the same hand to operate actuator 504, i.e., door release actuator 504 may be operated by the same hand which is holding the cyclone unit 1 12 for single-handed emptying of cyclone unit 1 12.
  • unit door release actuator 504 is positioned forward of handle 344 on upper portion 348 (e.g. at a forward end of inlet passage 380). In other embodiments, door release actuator 504 may be located on handle 344, or rearwardly of handle 344.
  • the door release actuator 504 is manually user operable (i.e. by hand) to move the engaging member 496 between its engaged position ( Figure 20) and its disengaged position ( Figure 21 ).
  • door release actuator 504 may engage cyclone unit front door 472 to inhibit movement of front door 472 to its open position. This prevents front door 472 from rotating about its cyclone unit wall pivot axis 480 to its open position.
  • disengaged position Figure 21
  • door release actuator 504 releases cyclone unit front door 472 to permit front door 472 to move to its open position.
  • lock engaging member 496 may be of any construction having an engaged position for retaining the openable cyclone unit wall in its closed position, and a disengaged position for releasing the openable cyclone unit to move to its open position.
  • lock engaging member 496 is connected to an exterior of air treatment member 1 12.
  • lock engaging member 496 has a front end 508 which is sized and positioned to releasably hook onto a recess 512 formed in cyclone unit front door 472 to retain the front door 472 in its closed position.
  • Lock engaging member 496 may be movable in any suitable manner between its engaged and disengaged positions.
  • lock engaging member 496 may be rotatable as shown, translatable, or combinations thereof.
  • lock engaging member 496 is pivotally connected to air treatment member 1 12 for rotation about a lock engaging member axis 516 ( Figure 19) between its engaged and disengaged positions.
  • lock engaging member 496 may hook onto front wall lock recess 512.
  • Lock engaging member 496 may then be rotated about its axis 516 away from cyclone unit front door 472 to unhook from front wall lock recess 512.
  • lock engaging member 496 may be biased to the locked position.
  • a biasing member e.g. torsional spring, not shown
  • door lock 492 may have any door release actuator 504 suitable for moving the lock engaging member 496 between its engaged and disengaged positions.
  • door release actuator 504 is formed as a button which is operable to rotate lock engaging member 496 to its unlocked position.
  • door release actuator 504 and lock engaging member 496 may both include abutments 520 and 524, respectively, which make contact to move lock engaging member 496 when door release actuator 504 is depressed.
  • abutment 520 moves abutment 524 downwardly which teeters lock engaging member 496 to rotate about its lock engaging member axis 516 to its disengaged position.
  • door release actuator 504 may be movable in any suitable manner.
  • door release actuator 504 may be rotatable (e.g. pivotal) as shown, or translatable (e.g. slidable).
  • door release actuator 504 is rotatably connected to cyclone unit 1 12 about a lock actuator axis 528 between its raised position ( Figure 20) and its depressed position ( Figure 21 ).
  • an air treatment member door inhibitor that may be used by itself in any surface cleaning apparatus or in any combination or subcombination with any other feature or features disclosed herein including the uniflow cyclone, the positioning of the dirt collection chamber, the orientation of the suction motor, the air treatment member handle, the position and orientation of a driving handle, the pre- motor filter housing door, the air treatment door actuator and the electrical coupling members.
  • the air treatment member (which may be a cyclone unit) may include an openable door that provides access to empty or clean the air treatment member (e.g. to empty or clean a dirt collection region of the air treatment member).
  • the air treatment member door may be inhibited from opening when the wand 136 is attached to the dirt air inlet 1 16.
  • wand 136 may be provided with a cowling 474 or the like which interferes with the opening of door 472 when wand 136 is mounted to the surface cleaning apparatus 100.
  • cowling 474 may have a rear end 476 that abuts the front surface of door 472 wand 136 is mounted to the surface cleaning apparatus 100. Accordingly, attaching wand 136 to surface cleaning apparatus 100 may inhibit or prevent door 472 being accidentally opened.
  • the apparatus may include an electrical outlet with electrical conductor element(s) that are movable from a circuit closed position to a circuit open position upon removal of an accessory tool such as a wand, crevice tool, mini brush or the like.
  • the accessory tool which is mounted on the apparatus may have a member which engages a driven member on the apparatus.
  • the driven member When engaged, the driven member mechanically moves an element of the circuit to open the circuit so that the electrical conductor elements on the apparatus are not live. This allows the electrical outlet to be safe to touch when the accessory tool is disconnected.
  • connector 128 may be any suitable connector that is operable to connect to, and preferably detachably connect to, a hose, cleaning tool or other accessory tool.
  • connector 128 may also include an electrical connection. Providing an electrical connection may allow accessory tools that are coupled to the connector 128 to be powered by the surface cleaning apparatus 100.
  • the surface cleaning unit 100 can be used to provide both power and suction to a surface cleaning head, or other suitable accessory tool.
  • the connector 128 includes an electrical outlet 144 in the form of a female socket member, and a corresponding male connector member may be provided on the hose, cleaning tool or other accessory tool that is connected to the connector inlet end 124.
  • electrical outlet 144 may include male connectors.
  • apparatus 100 includes an electrical circuit 624 between a source of power and electrical conductor elements 588.
  • the source of power may be an energy storage member 580 (e.g. battery) or a power cord 628 (connectable to an external power outlet), for example.
  • electrical conductor elements 588 may be de-energized when not connected with a mating electrical coupling (e.g. of a power accessory). This may prevent user injury from being hurt by inadvertent contact with the electrical conductor elements 588.
  • the electrical circuit 624 may include two or more electrical conductor elements 588, at least one of which, and preferably two of which, may be movable between a circuit closed position and a circuit open position, and biased to the circuit open position.
  • the electrical conductor element 588 In the circuit closed position, the electrical conductor element 588 is electrically connected to the source of power.
  • the electrical conductor 588 In the circuit open position, the electrical conductor 588 is electrically disconnected from the source of power. Accordingly, at least one of the electrical conductor elements 588 is normally electrically disconnected from the source of power, which may prevent accidental electric shock.
  • the electrical conductor element 588 is moved to the circuit closed position upon attaching an accessory tool to dirty air inlet 1 16.
  • the electrical conductor elements 588 may be moved to the circuit closed position by engagement with the electrical conductor elements of an accessory tool. Accordingly, when the accessory tool is mounted on inlet 1 16, the electrical conductor elements of the accessory tool may drive electrical conductor elements 588 to the circuit closed position.
  • electrical conductor elements 588 may be a rigid rod movably mounted in a housing 596 of electrical outlet 144. Each electrical conductor element 588 extends from a first contact end 640 to a second contact end 644.
  • the first contact end 640 may be an accessory tool contact end which makes electrical contact with a mating electrical conductor element of an attached accessory tool.
  • the second contact ends 644 may be a terminal end contact end which makes electrical contact with the terminal ends 636 of electrical conductive members 590 when the electrical conductor elements 588 are in a circuit closed position. Accordingly, when an accessory tool is electrically connected to electrical outlet 144 and electrical conductor elements 588 are in the circuit closed position, the conductor element 588 can conduct electricity from the source of power to the connected accessory tool.
  • electrical conductive members (e.g. wires) 590 extend from the source of power to terminal ends 636.
  • One or both of electrical conductor elements 588 may be movable between a circuit closed position, in which second contact end 644 contacts terminal end 636 of an electrical conductive member 590, and a circuit open position, in which second contact end 644 is spaced apart from the terminal ends 636 of electrical conductive members 590.
  • one or both of electrical conductor elements 588 may be axially slidable in electrical outlet housing between the circuit open and circuit closed positions.
  • electrical conductor elements 588 are rearwardly slideable in rearwardly extending housing channels 604 formed in electrical outlet housing 596.
  • first end 640 of one or both of electrical conductor elements 588 may be recessed into the electrical outlet 144 when in the circuit open position.
  • first end 640 may be positioned rearwardly of electrical outlet front end 608.
  • Electrical conductor element 588 may be biased to the circuit open position in any manner.
  • electrical outlet 144 includes a biasing member 648 that applies a biasing force urging electrical conductor element 588 toward the circuit open position.
  • biasing member 648 is a compression spring positioned between the electrical conductor element 588 and the terminal end 636 of electrical conductive member 590 which urges electrical conductor element 588 forwardly. The force of biasing member 648 may be overcome when connecting an accessory tool to dirty air inlet 1 6 to move the electrical conductor element 588 rearwardly to the circuit closed position.
  • biasing member 648 is substantially non-electrically conductive.
  • biasing member 648 may be formed of (or coated with) plastic, rubber, a non-conductive metal or another substantially non-electrically conductive material. This helps to prevent biasing member 648 from short circuiting electrical circuit 624 or electrically connecting electrical conductor element 588 and terminal end 632 when the electrical conductor element 588 is in the closed position.
  • electrical conductor elements 588 may be mounted in a moveable (e.g., plastic or other non-conductive material) housing and the housing may have an engagement member that is engaged by, e.g., a protrusion or finger provided on the accessory tool. In this way, the electrical conductor elements of the accessory tool need not be used to drive the circuit 624 to a closed position.
  • main power switch 650 which is movable between a circuit closed position and a circuit open position to energize the suction motor, may be part of electrical circuit 624.
  • the power switch may be manually user. In the circuit open position, power switch 650 electrically disconnects electrical terminal end 636 from the power source. In the circuit closed position, power switch 650 electrically connects circuit terminal end 636 with the power source.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Filters For Electric Vacuum Cleaners (AREA)
  • Cyclones (AREA)
  • Cleaning In General (AREA)

Abstract

Un aspirateur à main comprend un cyclone à flux continu horizontal avec une entrée d'air de cyclone avant et une sortie de cyclone d'air arrière.
PCT/CA2017/050436 2016-04-11 2017-04-10 Appareil de nettoyage de surface WO2017177318A1 (fr)

Priority Applications (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB1817750.1A GB2566833B (en) 2016-04-11 2017-04-10 Surface Cleaning Apparatus
CN201780036172.6A CN109310254B (zh) 2016-04-11 2017-04-10 表面清洁装置

Applications Claiming Priority (12)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US15/095,832 US10016105B2 (en) 2016-04-11 2016-04-11 Surface cleaning apparatus
US15/095,806 US11241129B2 (en) 2016-04-11 2016-04-11 Surface cleaning apparatus
US15/095,767 US10016104B2 (en) 2016-04-11 2016-04-11 Surface cleaning apparatus
US15/095,941 2016-04-11
US15/095,903 US20170290480A1 (en) 2016-04-11 2016-04-11 Surface cleaning apparatus
US15/095,832 2016-04-11
US15/095,714 2016-04-11
US15/095,767 2016-04-11
US15/095,714 US9986880B2 (en) 2016-04-11 2016-04-11 Surface cleaning apparatus
US15/095,941 US10258208B2 (en) 2016-04-11 2016-04-11 Surface cleaning apparatus
US15/095,903 2016-04-11
US15/095,806 2016-04-11

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2017177318A1 true WO2017177318A1 (fr) 2017-10-19

Family

ID=60041330

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/CA2017/050436 WO2017177318A1 (fr) 2016-04-11 2017-04-10 Appareil de nettoyage de surface

Country Status (3)

Country Link
CN (2) CN113598644A (fr)
GB (2) GB2594886B (fr)
WO (1) WO2017177318A1 (fr)

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP3409161A1 (fr) 2017-05-31 2018-12-05 BSH Hausgeräte GmbH Aspirateur pourvu de dispositif d'arrêt électrique et mécanique combiné
DE102017209154A1 (de) * 2017-05-31 2018-12-06 BSH Hausgeräte GmbH Schmutzbehälter für einen handstaubsauger
EP3841939A1 (fr) * 2019-12-23 2021-06-30 Koninklijke Philips N.V. Aspirateur pour liquides ou matières sèches
EP3954262B1 (fr) 2020-08-11 2023-06-21 Seb S.A. Aspirateur portatif equipe d'un filtre amovible

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN110151053A (zh) * 2019-04-29 2019-08-23 拓浦精工智能制造（邵阳）有限公司 第一导风体及所应用的气尘分离装置和真空吸尘器

Citations (11)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP2002085297A (ja) * 2000-09-11 2002-03-26 Matsushita Electric Ind Co Ltd 電気掃除機
US20070271724A1 (en) * 2003-02-10 2007-11-29 Miefalk Haekan Hand Held Vacuum Cleaner
JP2008206613A (ja) * 2007-02-23 2008-09-11 Twinbird Corp 電気掃除機
US20100229324A1 (en) * 2009-03-11 2010-09-16 G.B.D. Corp. Configuration of a hand vacuum cleaner
US20110289719A1 (en) * 2010-05-31 2011-12-01 Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. Hand-held and stick vacuum cleaner
CN202739907U (zh) * 2012-08-24 2013-02-20 宁波美妙电器有限公司 一种手持吸尘、清洗一体机
CN204363891U (zh) * 2015-01-06 2015-06-03 宁波中洁家电制造有限公司 一种新型手持型吸尘器
US20150230677A1 (en) * 2014-02-14 2015-08-20 Techtronic Industries Co., Ltd. Guide channel for a vacuum cleaner dust separator
WO2015129387A1 (fr) * 2014-02-27 2015-09-03 三菱電機株式会社 Aspirateur électrique
CN105816104A (zh) * 2015-01-28 2016-08-03 日立空调·家用电器株式会社 电动吸尘器
CN205671986U (zh) * 2016-04-18 2016-11-09 苏州诚河清洁设备有限公司 一种手持式吸尘器

Family Cites Families (11)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN101032384A (zh) * 2006-03-10 2007-09-12 苏州宝时得电动工具有限公司 便携式吸尘器
CN101061932A (zh) * 2006-04-28 2007-10-31 光荣电业有限公司 旋风手持真空吸尘装置
US8146201B2 (en) * 2006-12-12 2012-04-03 G.B.D. Corp. Surface cleaning apparatus
US8151407B2 (en) * 2007-03-09 2012-04-10 G.B.D. Corp Surface cleaning apparatus with enlarged dirt collection chamber
CA2658006A1 (fr) * 2009-03-11 2010-09-11 G.B.D. Corp. Appareil de nettoyage de surfaces cyclonique
CN202932850U (zh) * 2012-11-09 2013-05-15 苏州普发电器有限公司 一种旋风吸尘器
CA2977233C (fr) * 2013-02-27 2019-09-03 Omachron Intellectual Property Inc. Appareil de nettoyage de surface
CN203970286U (zh) * 2014-07-30 2014-12-03 苏州诚河清洁设备有限公司 旋风分离式吸尘器
CN104840152A (zh) * 2015-06-09 2015-08-19 莱克电气股份有限公司 一种具有螺旋式二级龙卷风尘气分离结构的手持式吸尘器
CN205031178U (zh) * 2015-08-21 2016-02-17 江苏美的清洁电器股份有限公司 旋风锥、尘杯组件以及具有尘杯组件的吸尘器
US10327610B2 (en) * 2016-01-08 2019-06-25 Omachron Intellectual Property Inc. Hand carryable surface cleaning apparatus

Patent Citations (11)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP2002085297A (ja) * 2000-09-11 2002-03-26 Matsushita Electric Ind Co Ltd 電気掃除機
US20070271724A1 (en) * 2003-02-10 2007-11-29 Miefalk Haekan Hand Held Vacuum Cleaner
JP2008206613A (ja) * 2007-02-23 2008-09-11 Twinbird Corp 電気掃除機
US20100229324A1 (en) * 2009-03-11 2010-09-16 G.B.D. Corp. Configuration of a hand vacuum cleaner
US20110289719A1 (en) * 2010-05-31 2011-12-01 Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. Hand-held and stick vacuum cleaner
CN202739907U (zh) * 2012-08-24 2013-02-20 宁波美妙电器有限公司 一种手持吸尘、清洗一体机
US20150230677A1 (en) * 2014-02-14 2015-08-20 Techtronic Industries Co., Ltd. Guide channel for a vacuum cleaner dust separator
WO2015129387A1 (fr) * 2014-02-27 2015-09-03 三菱電機株式会社 Aspirateur électrique
CN204363891U (zh) * 2015-01-06 2015-06-03 宁波中洁家电制造有限公司 一种新型手持型吸尘器
CN105816104A (zh) * 2015-01-28 2016-08-03 日立空调·家用电器株式会社 电动吸尘器
CN205671986U (zh) * 2016-04-18 2016-11-09 苏州诚河清洁设备有限公司 一种手持式吸尘器

Cited By (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP3409161A1 (fr) 2017-05-31 2018-12-05 BSH Hausgeräte GmbH Aspirateur pourvu de dispositif d'arrêt électrique et mécanique combiné
DE102017209150A1 (de) * 2017-05-31 2018-12-06 BSH Hausgeräte GmbH Staubsauger mit kombinierter elektrischer und mechanischer Arretierungsvorrichtung
DE102017209154A1 (de) * 2017-05-31 2018-12-06 BSH Hausgeräte GmbH Schmutzbehälter für einen handstaubsauger
DE102017209154B4 (de) 2017-05-31 2022-06-09 BSH Hausgeräte GmbH Schmutzbehälter für einen handstaubsauger
DE102017209150B4 (de) 2017-05-31 2022-10-20 BSH Hausgeräte GmbH Staubsauger mit kombinierter elektrischer und mechanischer Arretierungsvorrichtung
EP3841939A1 (fr) * 2019-12-23 2021-06-30 Koninklijke Philips N.V. Aspirateur pour liquides ou matières sèches
WO2021130103A1 (fr) * 2019-12-23 2021-07-01 Koninklijke Philips N.V. Aspirateur pour liquides et poussières
RU2770243C1 (ru) * 2019-12-23 2022-04-14 Конинклейке Филипс Н.В. Пылесос для влажной и сухой уборки
US11969135B2 (en) 2019-12-23 2024-04-30 Versuni Holding B.V. Wet and dry vacuum cleaner
EP3954262B1 (fr) 2020-08-11 2023-06-21 Seb S.A. Aspirateur portatif equipe d'un filtre amovible

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB2566833B (en) 2021-09-15
GB2594886B (en) 2022-02-23
GB201817750D0 (en) 2018-12-19
CN109310254A (zh) 2019-02-05
GB202110920D0 (en) 2021-09-15
CN109310254B (zh) 2021-08-27
GB2566833A (en) 2019-03-27
CN113598644A (zh) 2021-11-05
GB2594886A (en) 2021-11-10

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US11202539B2 (en) Surface cleaning apparatus
US10568477B2 (en) Surface cleaning apparatus
US9986880B2 (en) Surface cleaning apparatus
US10016105B2 (en) Surface cleaning apparatus
US20170290480A1 (en) Surface cleaning apparatus
US11241129B2 (en) Surface cleaning apparatus
US10016104B2 (en) Surface cleaning apparatus
US10405710B2 (en) Portable surface cleaning apparatus
US9451853B2 (en) Portable surface cleaning apparatus
US9585530B2 (en) Portable surface cleaning apparatus
WO2017177318A1 (fr) Appareil de nettoyage de surface
US9420925B2 (en) Portable surface cleaning apparatus
CA2913364C (fr) Appareil de nettoyage de surface portable
US20240032754A1 (en) Surface cleaning apparatus
US11896186B1 (en) Surface cleaning apparatus
US11918170B2 (en) Surface cleaning apparatus
US20240016351A1 (en) Surface cleaning apparatus
US20230017024A1 (en) Hand vacuum cleaner

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
NENP Non-entry into the national phase

Ref country code: DE

ENP Entry into the national phase

Ref document number: 201817750

Country of ref document: GB

Kind code of ref document: A

Free format text: PCT FILING DATE = 20170410

121 Ep: the epo has been informed by wipo that ep was designated in this application

Ref document number: 17781671

Country of ref document: EP

Kind code of ref document: A1

122 Ep: pct application non-entry in european phase

Ref document number: 17781671

Country of ref document: EP

Kind code of ref document: A1