Configuration of a surface cleaning apparatus

• US 10,542,856 B2
• Filed: 06/28/2018
• Issued: 01/28/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Omachron Intellectual Property Inc.
• Original Assignee: Omachron Intellectual Property Inc.
• Inventors: Conrad, Wayne Ernest
• Primary Examiner(s): Hail, Joseph J
• Assistant Examiner(s): McDonald, Shantese L
• Application Number:
  US16/021,780
• Publication Number:
  US 20180303297A1
• Time in Patent Office: 579 Days
• Field of Search: 15344, 15347, 15348, 15350, 15351
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 5/225 Convertible suction cleaners, i.e. convertible between different types thereof, e.g. from upright suction cleaners to sledge-type suction cleaners
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 5/24 Hand-supported suction cleaners
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 5/36 Suction cleaners with hose between nozzle and casing; Suction cleaners for fixing on staircases; Suction cleaners for carrying on the back
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/1625 for series flow
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/1641 for parallel flow
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/1666 with filtering means
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/1683 Dust collecting chambers; Dust collecting receptacles
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/327 for suction cleaners with hose between nozzle and casing

Abstract

A hand vacuum cleaner has a pre-motor filter, a suction motor and a post motor filter that are arranged linearly.

Claims

1. A hand vacuum cleaner comprising:

(a) a front end and a rear end;

(b) an air flow passage extending from a dirty air inlet of the hand vacuum cleaner to a clean air outlet of the hand vacuum cleaner;

(c) a cyclone unit positioned in the air flow passage upstream from a suction motor and comprising a first cyclonic stage comprising an openable front wall provided at the front end of the first cyclonic stage;

(d) the first cyclonic stage provided at a front end of a cleaner body, the first cyclonic stage comprising a front end, a rear end and a cyclone, the cyclone comprising a cyclone sidewall a cyclone air inlet, a first stage cyclone air outlet comprising a screen and a cyclone axis extending in an axial direction between the front end and the rear end of the hand vacuum cleaner, the first stage cyclone air outlet having a direction of flow;

(e) the cleaner body including a pre-motor filter, the pre-motor filter positioned in the air flow passage downstream from the first stage cyclone air outlet and rearward of the cyclone sidewall, the pre-motor filter having a diameter in a direction transverse to the cyclone axis that is larger than a diameter of the cyclone air outlet in the direction transverse to the cyclone axis;

(f) the cleaner body including the suction motor, the suction motor is positioned in the air flow passage downstream from the pre-motor filter, the suction motor having a motor axis and a downstream end;

(g) a post-motor filter positioned in the air flow passage downstream from the suction motor; and

,

(h) a handle provided between the front end and the rear end of the hand vacuum cleaner,

wherein each of the pre-motor filter and the post-motor filter has an outer perimeter defining a volume and the cyclone axis and the motor axis each extend through a centre of the volumes, and

wherein the cyclone axis is generally parallel to the motor axis, and

wherein the openable front wall has a diameter and the rear end of the first cyclonic stage has a diameter that is generally equal to the diameter of the openable front wall, and

wherein the first cyclonic stage is removable from the cleaner body with the openable front wall in a closed position, and

wherein, when the first cyclonic stage is removed, the pre-motor filter is accessible for removal.

2. The hand vacuum cleaner of claim 1, wherein the openable front wall has a radial centre and the cyclone axis and the motor axis extend through the radial centre.

3. The hand vacuum cleaner of claim 1, wherein the motor axis and the cyclone axis are co-axial.

4. The hand vacuum cleaner of claim 1, further comprising a second cyclonic stage downstream of the first cyclonic stage, the second cyclonic stage comprising a plurality of cyclones, wherein the cyclone axis extends through a centre of the second cyclonic stage.

5. The hand vacuum cleaner of claim 1, wherein the dirty air inlet is provided at the front end of the hand vacuum cleaner.

6. The hand vacuum cleaner of claim 5 wherein air travels rearwardly from the dirty air inlet to the cyclone air inlet of the first cyclonic stage.

7. The hand vacuum cleaner of claim 6 wherein the cyclone air inlet of the first cyclonic stage is located at a rear end of the first cyclonic stage.

8. The hand vacuum cleaner of claim 5 wherein air travels in the axial direction from the dirty air inlet to the cyclone air inlet of the first cyclonic stage.

9. A hand vacuum cleaner comprising:

(a) a front end and a rear end;

(b) an air flow passage extending from a dirty air inlet of the hand vacuum cleaner to a clean air outlet of the hand vacuum cleaner, wherein the dirty air inlet is provided at the front end of the hand vacuum cleaner;

(c) a cyclone unit positioned in the air flow passage upstream from a suction motor and comprising a first cyclonic stage comprising an openable front wall provided at the front end of the first cyclonic stage;

(d) the first cyclonic stage provided at a front end of the hand vacuum cleaner, the first cyclonic stage comprising a front end and a rear end a cyclone comprising a cyclone sidewall, a cyclone air inlet, a first stage cyclone air outlet and a cyclone axis extending in an axial direction between the front end and the rear end of the hand vacuum cleaner, the first stage cyclone air outlet having a direction of flow;

(e) a cleaner body including a pre-motor filter, the pre-motor filter having a diameter in a direction transverse to the cyclone axis that is larger than a diameter of the cyclone air outlet in the direction transverse to the cyclone axis;

(f) the cleaner body including the suction motor, the suction motor is positioned in the air flow passage downstream from the pre-motor filter, the suction motor having a motor axis and a downstream end;

(g) a post-motor filter positioned in the air flow passage downstream from the suction motor; and

,

h) a second cyclonic stage downstream of the first cyclonic stage, the second cyclonic stage comprising a plurality of cyclones, wherein the cyclone axis extends through a centre of the second cyclonic stage,

wherein the pre-motor filter is positioned in the air flow passage downstream from the second cyclonic stage and rearward of the second cyclonic stage,

wherein each of the pre-motor filter and the post-motor filter has an outer perimeter defining a volume and the cyclone axis and the motor axis each extend through a centre of the volumes, and

wherein the motor axis extends in the axial direction, and

wherein air travels rearwardly from the dirty air inlet to the cyclone air inlet of the first cyclonic stage, and, wherein the first cyclonic stage is removable from the cleaner body with the openable front wall in a closed position.

10. The hand vacuum cleaner of claim 9, wherein, when the front wall is in an open position, the front wall opens a cyclone chamber and a dirt collection chamber.

11. The hand vacuum cleaner of claim 9, wherein the motor axis and the cyclone axis are co-axial.

12. The hand vacuum cleaner of claim 9, wherein the pre-motor filter has a diameter and the post-motor filter has a diameter that is different to the pre-motor filter diameter.

13. The hand vacuum cleaner of claim 9, wherein the suction motor has a diameter that is smaller than a diameter of the pre-motor filter.

14. The hand vacuum cleaner of claim 13, wherein the post-motor filter has a diameter that is smaller than a diameter of the rear end of the first cyclonic stage.

15. The hand vacuum cleaner of claim 14, wherein the diameter of the pre-motor filter is different to the diameter of the post motor filter.

16. The hand vacuum cleaner of claim 9, wherein the front wall has a radial centre and the cyclone axis and the motor axis extend through the radial centre.

17. The hand vacuum cleaner of claim 16, wherein the motor axis and the cyclone axis are co-axial.

18. The hand vacuum cleaner of claim 16, wherein the front wall has a diameter and the rear end of the first cyclonic stage has a diameter that is generally equal to the diameter of the front wall.

19. The hand vacuum cleaner of claim 9 wherein air travels in the axial direction from the dirty air inlet to the cyclone air inlet of the first cyclonic stage.

20. The hand vacuum cleaner of claim 19 wherein the cyclone air inlet of the first cyclonic stage is located at a rear end of the first cyclonic stage.