SURFACE CLEANING APPARATUS

• US 20170290477A1
• Filed: 04/11/2016
• Published: 10/12/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 04/11/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Omachron Intellectual Property Inc.
• Original Assignee: Omachron Intellectual Property Inc.
• Inventors: Conrad, Wayne Ernest
• Granted Patent: US 10,016,104 B2
• Time in Patent Office: 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 9/106 Dust removal
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/122 flat
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/165 Construction of inlets
• 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 9/22 Mountings for motor fan assemblies
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2868 Arrangements for power supply of vacuum cleaners or the accessories thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/322 for hand-supported suction cleaners

Abstract

A hand vacuum cleaner has an air treatment member having an air inlet passage which comprises a handle for the air treatment member and a door lock of the air treatment member wherein, when a user'"'"'s hand is holding the air treatment member by the air treatment member handle, the door release actuator is operable by the same hand.

Claims

1. A hand vacuum cleaner having a front end having a dirty air inlet, a rear end, 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 driving handle, the main body housing a suction motor and fan assembly, the suction motor and fan assembly having a suction motor axis of rotation;

(b) an air treatment member comprising an air treatment member handle, a dirt collection region having an openable door and an openable door lock comprising a door release actuator wherein the door is moveable to an open position when the door release actuator is actuated; and

,

(c) an air inlet comprises an inlet passage that extends longitudinally between an inlet end and an outlet end and has a longitudinal passage axis and the inlet passage comprises the air treatment member handle

wherein when a user'"'"'s hand is holding the air treatment member by the air treatment member handle, the door release actuator is operable by the same hand.

2. The hand vacuum cleaner of claim 1 wherein the driving handle comprises a portion spaced from the main body whereby a finger receiving area is provided between the driving handle and the main body.

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

4. The hand vacuum cleaner of claim 1 wherein the air treatment member handle comprises a portion spaced from the air treatment member whereby a finger receiving area is provided between the air treatment member handle and the air treatment member.

5. The hand vacuum cleaner of claim 1 wherein the air treatment member handle is provided above the air treatment member.

6. The hand vacuum cleaner of claim 1 wherein the openable door is provided at the front end of the hand vacuum cleaner.

7. The hand vacuum cleaner of claim 1 wherein the openable door has a lower end that is moveably mounted to the air treatment member and an upper end that is engaged by the door lock.

8. The hand vacuum cleaner of claim 1 wherein the door release actuator is positioned proximate the air treatment member handle.

9. The hand vacuum cleaner of claim 1 wherein the inlet passage extends generally rearwardly.

10. The hand vacuum cleaner of claim 9 wherein the door release actuator is positioned at a forward end of the inlet passage.

11. A hand vacuum cleaner having a front end having a dirty air inlet, a rear end, 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 driving handle, 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 unit handle, a dirt collection region having an openable door and an openable door lock comprising a door release actuator wherein the door is moveable to an open position when the actuator is actuated;

wherein when a user'"'"'s hand is holding the cyclone unit by the cyclone unit handle, the door release actuator is operable by the same hand.

12. The hand vacuum cleaner of claim 11 wherein the driving handle comprises a portion spaced from the main body whereby a finger receiving area is provided between the driving handle and the main body.

13. The hand vacuum cleaner of claim 11 wherein the driving handle is provided at the rear end of the main body.

14. The hand vacuum cleaner of claim 11 wherein the cyclone unit handle comprises a portion spaced from the cyclone unit whereby a finger receiving area is provided between the cyclone unit handle and the cyclone unit.

15. The hand vacuum cleaner of claim 11 wherein the cyclone unit handle is provided above the cyclone unit.

16. The hand vacuum cleaner of claim 11 wherein the openable door is provided at the front end of the hand vacuum cleaner.

17. The hand vacuum cleaner of claim 11 wherein the air inlet comprises an inlet passage that extends longitudinally between an inlet end and an outlet end and the inlet passage comprises the cyclone unit handle.

18. The hand vacuum cleaner of claim 11 wherein when the hand vacuum cleaner is positioned with the bottom on a horizontal surface, the cyclone axis of rotation is generally horizontal.