SURFACE CLEANING APPARATUS

• US 20160206163A1
• Filed: 03/30/2016
• Published: 07/21/2016
• 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
• Granted Patent: US 10,219,661 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 main body comprising an upper end, a lower end, a front end, a rear end and a handle having an upper end and a lower end, the main body housing 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,

wherein when the hand vacuum cleaner is positioned with the bottom on a horizontal surface, the cyclone axis of rotation is generally horizontal.

2. The hand vacuum cleaner of claim 1 wherein the handle is provided at a rear end of the main body.

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

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

5. The hand vacuum cleaner of claim 2 wherein the handle has a handle axis that extends upwardly and forwardly with respect to the cyclone axis of rotation.

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

7. 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 is positioned with the bottom on a horizontal surface.

8. The hand vacuum cleaner of claim 1 wherein when the hand vacuum cleaner is positioned with the bottom on a horizontal surface, the suction motor axis of rotation is generally horizontal.

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

10. The hand vacuum cleaner of claim 1 wherein the cyclone has a front end wall having the cyclone air inlet and a rear end wall having the cyclone air outlet.

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

12. The hand vacuum cleaner of claim 1 wherein the cyclone unit is provided on the front end of the main body.

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

14. 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, the outlet end communicates with the cyclone air inlet and the longitudinal passage axis intersects the handle.

15. The hand vacuum cleaner of claim 14 wherein the handle has a hand grip portion that extends upwardly and forwardly when the hand vacuum cleaner is positioned with the bottom on a horizontal surface.

16. The hand vacuum cleaner of claim 14 wherein the suction motor axis of rotation is positioned below the cyclone axis of rotation when the hand vacuum cleaner is positioned with the bottom on a horizontal surface.

17. The hand vacuum cleaner of claim 15 wherein the longitudinal passage axis is generally coaxial with the cyclone axis of rotation.

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