Surface cleaning apparatus

• US 10,219,661 B2
• Filed: 03/30/2016
• Issued: 03/05/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Omachron Intellectual Property Inc.
• Original Assignee: Omachron Intellectual Property Inc.
• Inventors: Conrad, Wayne Ernest
• Primary Examiner(s): Redding, David
• Application Number:
  US15/085,830
• Publication Number:
  US 20160206163A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,070 Days
• 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 5/28 Suction cleaners with handles and nozzles fixed on the casings, e.g. wheeled suction cleaners with steering handle A47L5/24 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/16 Arrangement or disposition of cyclones or other devices with centrifugal action
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/1608 Cyclonic chamber constructions
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/1625 for series flow
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/1641 for parallel flow
• 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 9/322 for hand-supported suction cleaners
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/325 for wheeled suction cleaners with steering handle

Abstract

A hand vacuum cleaner has a horizontally disposed cyclone handle and the main body has a handle axis that extends upwardly and forwardly with respect to the cyclone axis of rotation.

Claims

1. A hand vacuum cleaner having a front end having a dirty air inlet, a clean air outlet, an upper end and a bottom, the hand vacuum cleaner comprising:

(a) a vacuum cleaner body comprising an upper end, a lower end, a front end, a rear end and a handle, the handle extending between a first handle end and a second handle end, the hand vacuum cleaner body including 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 cyclone air inlet, a cyclone air outlet, a front end and a rear end,

wherein when the hand vacuum cleaner is positioned with the upper end above the bottom, the cyclone axis of rotation is generally horizontal and extends between the front and rear ends of the cyclone, and

wherein when the hand vacuum cleaner is positioned with the upper end above the bottom, the handle is inclined forwardly at an angle that is between 10 and 80 degrees from a vertical axis, and

wherein the handle is provided on a sidewall at a rear portion of the hand vacuum cleaner body, and

wherein the handle has a handle axis that intersects the suction motor.

2. The hand vacuum cleaner of claim 1 wherein the handle has a handle axis that intersects the suction motor axis of rotation.

3. The hand vacuum cleaner of claim 1 wherein the hand vacuum cleaner body comprises a suction motor and fan assembly housing and the handle extends away from the suction motor and fan assembly housing.

4. The hand vacuum cleaner of claim 1 wherein the handle has a hand grip portion that extends upwardly and forwardly when the hand vacuum cleaner body is positioned with the lower end on a horizontal surface.

5. The hand vacuum cleaner of claim 1 on a horizontal surface, the suction motor axis of rotation is generally horizontal.

6. The hand vacuum cleaner of claim 1 wherein when the hand vacuum cleaner body is positioned with the lower end on a horizontal surface, the suction motor axis of rotation is positioned below the cyclone axis of rotation.

7. The hand vacuum cleaner of claim 1 wherein the cyclone has a front end wall having the cyclone air inlet.

8. The hand vacuum cleaner of claim 1 wherein the cyclone axis of rotation is generally parallel to the suction motor axis of rotation.

9. The hand vacuum cleaner of claim 1 wherein the cyclone unit is provided at the front end of the hand vacuum cleaner body.

10. The hand vacuum cleaner of claim 1 wherein the dirty air inlet is provided at a front end of the cyclone unit.

11. The hand vacuum cleaner of claim 1 wherein the dirty air inlet comprises an inlet passage that extends longitudinally between an inlet end and an outlet end and has a longitudinal passage axis that is coaxial with the cyclone axis and the outlet end communicates with the cyclone air inlet.

12. The hand vacuum cleaner of claim 11 wherein the handle has a hand grip portion that extends upwardly and forwardly when the hand vacuum cleaner body is positioned with the lower end on a horizontal surface.

13. The hand vacuum cleaner of claim 11 wherein the suction motor axis of rotation is positioned below the cyclone axis of rotation when the hand vacuum cleaner body is positioned with the lower end on a horizontal surface.

14. The hand vacuum cleaner of claim 11 wherein the suction motor axis of rotation is positioned below longitudinal passage axis when the hand vacuum cleaner body is positioned with the lower end on a horizontal surface.

15. The hand vacuum cleaner of claim 1 wherein the handle is forward of a rear end of the hand vacuum cleaner body.

16. The hand vacuum cleaner of claim 1 wherein a plane that is perpendicular to the motor axis extends through the handle from the first handle end to the second handle end.