HAND VACUUM CLEANER WITH A REMOVABLE AIR TREATMENT MEMBER

• US 20160150923A1
• Filed: 02/03/2016
• Published: 06/02/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/11/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Omachron Intellectual Property Inc.
• Original Assignee: Omachron Intellectual Property Inc.
• Inventors: Conrad, Wayne Ernest
• Granted Patent: US 11,253,119 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 5/24 Hand-supported suction cleaners
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/00 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
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/106 Dust removal
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/1691 Mounting or coupling means for cyclonic chamber or dust receptacles

Abstract

A hand vacuum cleaner has a main body comprising a suction motor, a front end, a rear end and a handle, the suction motor having a suction motor inlet end that faces the front end of the main body. A cyclone unit is positioned in the air flow passage upstream from the suction motor, the cyclone unit is removably mounted to the front end of the main body wherein the first cyclonic stage faces towards the suction motor inlet end. In another embodiment, the handle is provided on the top of the main body with a grip portion provided between a lower surface of the handle and an upper surface of the main body, the handle extending in the forward/rearward direction and having a front end, a rear end and a handle length that is greater than a length of the suction motor in the forward/rearward direction.

Claims

1. ) A hand vacuum cleaner comprising:

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

b) a main body comprising a suction motor positioned in the air flow passage, a front end, a rear end and a handle, the suction motor having a suction motor inlet end that faces the front end of the main body; and

,

c) a cyclone unit positioned in the air flow passage upstream from the suction motor and comprising a first cyclonic stage comprising a cyclone chamber and a dirt chamber, the cyclone unit removably mounted to the front end of the main body wherein the first cyclonic stage faces towards the suction motor inlet end.

2. ) The hand vacuum cleaner of claim 1, wherein the front end is spaced forwardly from the rear end in a forward direction and the cyclone unit is removable from the main body in the forward direction.

3. ) The hand vacuum cleaner of claim 1, further comprising a pre-motor filter positioned in the air flow passage and facing the suction motor inlet end, wherein when the cyclone unit is mounted to the front end of the main body the pre-motor filter is disposed between the cyclone chamber and the suction motor.

4. ) The hand vacuum cleaner of claim 3, wherein the pre-motor filter is exposed when the cyclone unit is removed from main body.

5. ) The hand vacuum cleaner of claim 1, further comprising a pre-motor filter positioned in the air flow passage, the suction motor has a motor rotation axis and air flowing thorough the pre-motor filter travels in a direction that is generally parallel to the motor rotation axis.

6. ) The hand vacuum cleaner of claim 1, wherein the front end is spaced forwardly from the rear end in a forward direction and the suction motor has a motor rotation axis that extends in the forward direction and a projection of the motor rotation axis intersects the cyclone unit.

7. ) The hand vacuum cleaner of claim 6, wherein the motor rotation axis intersects the cyclone chamber.

8. ) The hand vacuum cleaner of claim 6, wherein air exiting the cyclone unit travels in a direction that is generally parallel to the motor rotation axis.

9. ) The hand vacuum cleaner of claim 1, wherein the suction motor has a motor rotation axis, the cyclone chamber has a longitudinal axis and the longitudinal axis and the motor rotation axis are generally parallel.

10. ) The hand vacuum cleaner of claim 1, wherein the dirt chamber has a sidewall terminating at an open end, the open end is closed by an openable door, wherein all of the open end is opened when the door is in an open position.

11. ) The hand vacuum cleaner of claim 1, further comprising a second cyclonic stage downstream from the first cyclonic stage.

12. ) A hand vacuum cleaner comprising:

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

b) a main body comprising a suction motor positioned in the air flow passage and a handle provided on the top of the main body with a grip portion provided between a lower surface of the handle and an upper surface of the main body, the suction motor having a suction motor axis extending in a forward/rearward direction and a suction motor inlet end, the handle extending in the forward/rearward direction and having a front end, a rear end and a handle length that is greater than a length of the suction motor in the forward/rearward direction; and

,

c) an air treatment member positioned in the air flow passage upstream from the suction motor and, the air treatment member removably mounted at the suction motor inlet end of the main body.

13. ) The hand vacuum cleaner of claim 12, further comprising a power switch provided on the handle and operable to control the suction motor.

14. ) The hand vacuum cleaner of claim 13, wherein the power switch is provided toward the front end of the handle.

15. ) The hand vacuum cleaner of claim 13, wherein the power switch is provided at a position that is forward of the suction motor inlet end.

16. ) The hand vacuum cleaner of claim 13, wherein the handle comprises a forwardly sloping section that is inclined toward the suction motor axis and the power switch is on the forwardly sloping section.

17. ) The hand vacuum cleaner of claim 12, wherein the air treatment member has a unit length in the forward/rearward direction that is less than the handle length.

18. ) The hand vacuum cleaner of claim 12, wherein the air treatment member comprises a cyclone unit comprising a cyclone chamber.

19. ) The hand vacuum cleaner of claim 18, wherein the cyclone chamber has a cyclone axis about which air circulates within the cyclone chamber and a cyclone chamber length along the cyclone axis that is less than the handle length.

20. ) The hand vacuum cleaner of claim 12, further comprising a pre-motor filter facing the suction motor inlet end, wherein when the air treatment member is mounted to the main body, the pre-motor filter is disposed between the suction motor and the air treatment member.

21. ) The hand vacuum cleaner of claim 12, wherein the air treatment member is mounted directly to the main body.