Compact surface cleaning apparatus

• US 9,693,666 B2
• Filed: 11/04/2015
• Issued: 07/04/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/04/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Omachron Intellectual Property Inc.
• Original Assignee: Omachron Intellectual Property Inc.
• Inventors: Conrad, Wayne Ernest
• Primary Examiner(s): Waggle, Jr., Larry E
• Assistant Examiner(s): HONG, HENRY Y
• Application Number:
  US14/932,816
• Publication Number:
  US 20160073842A1
• Time in Patent Office: 608 Days
• Field of Search: 153271-3277, 15347, 55345
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 5/24 Hand-supported suction cleaners
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/0018 integrated in or removably mounted upon the suction cleaner for storing parts of said suction cleaner
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/0027 specially adapted for holding the suction cleaning tools
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/0036 specially adapted for holding the suction hose
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/12 Dry filters
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/149 Emptying means; Reusable bags
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/1608 Cyclonic chamber constructions
• 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 9/1691 Mounting or coupling means for cyclonic chamber or dust receptacles
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/242 Hose or pipe couplings
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2842 Suction motors or blowers
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2857 User input or output elements for control, e.g. buttons, switches or displays
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2894 Details related to signal transmission in suction cleaners
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/322 for hand-supported suction cleaners

Abstract

A portable surface cleaning apparatus has an air flow path extending from a dirty air inlet to a clean air outlet; a main body comprising a suction motor provided in the air flow path, the suction motor having a suction motor axis, an inlet end and an outlet end; a cyclone bin assembly provided in the air flow path, the cyclone bin assembly comprising a cyclone chamber and a dirt collection chamber, the cyclone chamber having a longitudinal cyclone axis, a cyclone air inlet and a cyclone air outlet provided at a lower end of the cyclone chamber and a dirt outlet provided at an upper end of the cyclone chamber; and, a handle.

Claims

1. A portable surface cleaning apparatus having a top and a bottom and comprising:

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

(b) a main body comprising a suction motor provided in the air flow path, the suction motor having a suction motor axis, an inlet end and an outlet end;

(c) a cyclone bin assembly provided in the air flow path, the cyclone bin assembly comprising a cyclone chamber and a dirt collection chamber, the cyclone chamber having a longitudinal cyclone axis, a cyclone air inlet and a cyclone air outlet provided at a lower end of the cyclone chamber and a dirt outlet provided at an upper end of the cyclone chamber;

(d) a filter chamber having a pre-motor filter provided therein, wherein a plane extends through the pre-motor filter, wherein a projection of each of the motor axis and the longitudinal cyclone axis extend through the pre-motor filter and the plane and wherein, when opened, a single lower openable door exposes a portion of the pre-motor filter through which the motor axis and the longitudinal cyclone axis extend; and

,

(e) a handle.

2. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the cyclone bin assembly is removably mounted to the main body.

3. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the cyclone chamber further comprises a sidewall and an upper end wall at the upper end of the cyclone chamber and the dirt outlet comprises a slot formed between the sidewall and the upper end wall.

4. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the suction motor inlet end is below the suction motor outlet end.

5. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 4 wherein the longitudinal cyclone axis and the suction motor axis are generally parallel.

6. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 5 wherein the suction motor is positioned rearward of the cyclone chamber axis.

7. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 6 wherein the air flow path comprises a portion extending between the cyclone air outlet and the suction motor inlet end and the portion of the air flow path extends rearwardly.

8. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 7 wherein the portion of the air flow path extends to a position underneath the suction motor.

9. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the longitudinal cyclone axis and the suction motor axis are generally parallel.

10. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the suction motor is positioned rearward of the cyclone chamber axis.

11. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the air flow path comprises a portion extending between the cyclone air outlet and the suction motor inlet end and the portion of the air flow path extends rearwardly.

12. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 11 wherein the portion of the air flow path extends to a position underneath the suction motor.

13. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein a portion of the handle is positioned above the suction motor outlet end.

14. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the handle is positioned above the suction motor outlet end.

15. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the dirty air inlet is provided at the lower end of the cyclone chamber.

16. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 15 wherein the cyclone air inlet is a tangential air inlet and the dirty air inlet is aligned with an inlet end of the tangential air inlet.

17. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the dirty air inlet is configured to receive a suction hose.

18. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein air exiting the cyclone bin assembly travels to a lower surface of the pre-motor filter prior to passing through the pre-motor filter.

19. A portable surface cleaning apparatus having a top and a bottom and comprising:

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

(b) a main body comprising a suction motor provided in the air flow path, the suction motor having a suction motor axis, an inlet end and an outlet end;

(c) an air treatment member provided in the air flow path, the air treatment member having a longitudinal air treatment member axis, an air treatment member air inlet and an air treatment member air outlet provided at a lower end of the air treatment member and a dirt outlet provided at an upper end of the air treatment member;

(d) a filter chamber having a pre-motor filter provided therein and a lower openable door, the pre-motor filter having a proximal face facing the air treatment member air outlet and a distal face spaced from and opposed to the proximal face, wherein a plane extends through the pre-motor filter and wherein a projection of each of the motor axis and the longitudinal air treatment member axis extend through the pre-motor filter and the plane wherein air exiting the air treatment member travels to the distal face of the pre-motor filter prior to passing through the pre-motor filter; and

,

(e) a handle.

20. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 19 wherein an air flow conduit extends through the pre-motor filter for passage of air to the distal face of the pre-motor filter.