CONFIGURATION OF A SURFACE CLEANING APPARATUS

• US 20100251506A1
• Filed: 03/10/2010
• Published: 10/07/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/11/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Omachron Intellectual Property Inc.
• Original Assignee: GBD Corporation (G.B.D.)
• Inventors: Conrad, Wayne Ernest
• Granted Patent: US 8,950,039 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 15/344
• 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 surface cleaning apparatus has a cyclone unit comprising at least one cyclone having a cyclone inlet positioned in the air flow passage. A generally linear air flow path is provided from the cyclone outlet to the suction motor.

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 to a clean air outlet;

c) a first cyclone unit positioned in the air flow passage, the first cyclone unit comprising at least one cyclone comprising a cyclone inlet and a cyclone outlet having a direction of flow and at least one dirt collection chamber;

d) a suction motor positioned in the air flow passage downstream from the first cyclone unit; and

,

e) the air flow passage includes a generally linear air flow path from the cyclone outlet to the suction motor.

2. The hand vacuum cleaner of claim 1 further comprising a pre-motor filter wherein the first cyclone unit, the pre-motor filter and the suction motor are arranged linearly.

3. The hand vacuum cleaner of claim 1 wherein the at least one cyclone has a cyclone axis extending longitudinally through the at least one cyclone, the hand vacuum cleaner has an axis extending from the front end to the rear end and the cyclone axis is generally parallel to the axis of the hand vacuum cleaner.

4. The hand vacuum cleaner of claim 1 wherein the at least one cyclone has a cyclone axis extending longitudinally through the at least one cyclone, the suction motor has a motor axis extending generally parallel to the axis of rotation of a suction fan and the cyclone axis is generally parallel to the motor axis.

5. The hand vacuum cleaner of claim 1 wherein the suction motor is positioned rearward of the first cyclone unit.

6. The hand vacuum cleaner of claim 1 wherein the first cyclone unit is positioned at the front end of the hand vacuum cleaner.

7. The hand vacuum cleaner of claim 1 wherein the dirt collection chamber has an openable door provided at a front end of the first cyclone unit.

8. The hand vacuum cleaner of claim 1 wherein the at least one cyclone has a cyclone front end, a cyclone rear end and the cyclone air inlet and the cyclone air outlet are at the same end of the at least one cyclone.

9. The hand vacuum cleaner of claim 8 wherein the cyclone air inlet and the cyclone air outlet are at the cyclone rear end.

10. The hand vacuum cleaner of claim 1 wherein the cyclone front end is proximate the front end of the hand vacuum cleaner, the cyclone front end has a dirt outlet and a separation plate is mounted in facing relation to the dirt outlet.

11. The hand vacuum cleaner of claim 10 wherein the dirt collection chamber has an openable door provided at the cyclone front end and the separation plate is mounted to the door.

12. The hand vacuum cleaner of claim 1 wherein the at least one dirt collection chamber is openable when mounted to the hand vacuum cleaner.

13. The hand vacuum cleaner of claim 1 further comprising a suction motor housing, the suction motor is positioned in the suction motor housing and the first cyclone unit is removably mounted to the suction motor housing.

14. The hand vacuum cleaner of claim 1 further comprising a pre-motor filter positioned facing the cyclone air outlet and having a pre-motor filter air inlet are and a pre-motor filter air outlet, the suction motor has a motor axis extending generally parallel to the axis of rotation of a suction fan and the pre-motor filter air inlet and the pre-motor air outlet are generally transverse to the motor axis.

15. The hand vacuum cleaner of claim 1 further comprising a post motor filter having a post motor filter air inlet and a post motor filter air outlet, the suction motor has a motor axis extending generally parallel to the axis of rotation of a suction fan and the post motor filter air inlet and the post motor air outlet are generally transverse to the motor axis.

16. The hand vacuum cleaner of claim 1 further comprising a pre-motor filter having a pre-motor filter air inlet and a pre-motor filter air outlet and a post motor filter having a post motor filter air inlet and a post motor filter air outlet, and the pre-motor filter air inlet, the pre-motor air outlet, the post motor filter air inlet and the post motor air outlet are aligned.

17. The hand vacuum cleaner of claim 1 further comprising a post motor filter positioned downstream from the suction motor and comprising an air outlet at the rear end of the hand vacuum cleaner.

18. The hand vacuum cleaner of claim 1 wherein the first cyclone unit comprises a single cyclone and a single dirt collection chamber.

19. The hand vacuum cleaner of claim 1 further comprising a second cyclone unit downstream from the first cyclone unit.

20. The hand vacuum cleaner of claim 19 wherein the second cyclone unit has a second cyclone air inlet having a direction of flow and a second cyclone air outlet having a direction of flow and the direction of flow through the second cyclone air inlet and the second cyclone air outlet is in the same direction as the direction of air flow through the cyclone outlet.

21. A surface cleaning apparatus comprising:

a) an air flow passage extending from a dirty air inlet to a clean air outlet;

b) a floor cleaning unit comprising a surface cleaning head and a handle drivingly connected thereto; and

,

c) a surface cleaning unit removably mounted to the floor cleaning unit and comprising;

(i) a first cyclone unit positioned in the air flow passage, the first cyclone unit comprising at least one cyclone comprising a cyclone inlet and a cyclone outlet and at least one dirt collection chamber;

(ii) a suction motor positioned in the air flow passage downstream from the first cyclone unit; and

,

(iii) the air flow passage includes a generally linear air flow path from the cyclone outlet to the suction motor.

22. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 21 wherein the surface cleaning unit is operable when removed from the floor cleaning unit.

23. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 21 wherein the air flow passage comprises a portion extending from the surface cleaning head to the surface cleaning unit and the portion comprises a flexible conduit.

24. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 21 wherein the first cyclone unit is positioned above the suction motor when the surface cleaning unit is mounted to the floor cleaning unit.

25. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 24 wherein the first cyclone unit has a portion that is openable or removable and the portion is located at an upper end of the first cyclone unit.

26. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 21 wherein the surface cleaning unit is removably mounted to the handle.

27. A upright surface cleaning apparatus comprising:

a) an air flow passage extending from a dirty air inlet to a clean air outlet;

b) a floor cleaning unit comprising a surface cleaning head and a handle drivingly connected thereto;

c) a first cyclone unit supported by the handle and in the air flow passage, the first cyclone unit comprising at least one cyclone comprising a cyclone inlet and a cyclone outlet and at least one dirt collection chamber; and

,

d) a suction motor supported by the handle below the first cyclone unit.

28. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 27 wherein the cyclone unit is mounted to the handle.

29. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 28 wherein the cyclone unit is mounted to a suction motor housing.

30. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 27 wherein the air flow passage comprises a portion extending from the surface cleaning head to the first cyclone unit and the portion comprises a flexible conduit.

31. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 27 wherein the first cyclone unit has a portion that is openable or removable and the portion is located at an upper end of the first cyclone unit.

32. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 27 the air flow passage includes a generally linear air flow path from the cyclone outlet to the suction motor.