CN119212600A

CN119212600A - Surface cleaning device

Info

Publication number: CN119212600A
Application number: CN202380040320.7A
Authority: CN
Inventors: W·E·康拉德
Original assignee: Omachron Intellectual Property Inc
Current assignee: Omachron Intellectual Property Inc
Priority date: 2022-03-14
Filing date: 2023-01-31
Publication date: 2024-12-27
Also published as: EP4493035A1; WO2023173200A1

Abstract

A surface cleaning apparatus comprising a cyclone chamber. The cyclone chamber has a cyclone axis of rotation intersecting the first and second ends, a second axially spaced end, a cyclone chamber sidewall extending between the first and second ends, a cyclone air inlet, a cyclone air outlet, and an openable portion. The openable section is rotatably mounted about an opening axis parallel to the cyclone rotation axis.

Description

Surface cleaning device

Technical Field

The present invention relates generally to surface cleaning devices.

Background

The following does not constitute an admission that any of the matter discussed below is part of the prior art or part of the common general knowledge of a person skilled in the art.

Various arrangements for surface cleaning devices, such as vacuum cleaners, are known. Air may be drawn into the surface cleaning apparatus through a dirty air inlet and may be delivered to an air handling component, such as a cyclonic air handling component. Within the air handling component, some particulate matter (i.e., debris) trapped within the air stream may be separated from the air stream. These separated debris may then be collected in a dirt collection chamber. When the dirt collection chamber is filled with debris, a user of the surface cleaning apparatus may empty the dirt collection chamber, for example, by pouring into a dustbin.

Disclosure of Invention

This summary is intended to introduce the reader to the following more detailed description, and is not intended to limit or define any claimed or as yet unreclaimed invention. One or more inventions may exist in any combination or sub-combination of elements or process steps disclosed in any part of this document, including the claims and the accompanying drawings.

According to one aspect of the invention, which may be used alone or in combination with one or more other aspects disclosed herein, a cyclone (e.g., a cyclone of a hand-held vacuum cleaner) has an openable door, wherein the hinge extends generally in the direction of the cyclone axis of rotation. This has the advantage that part, substantially all or all of the cyclone may be opened along its axial length.

According to this aspect, there is provided a hand-held vacuum cleaner comprising:

(a) An airflow path extending from the dirty air inlet to the clean air outlet;

(b) A cyclone chamber having a cyclone axis of rotation, a first end, an axially spaced apart second end, a cyclone chamber sidewall extending between the first and second ends, a cyclone air inlet, a cyclone air outlet, and an openable portion, wherein the cyclone axis of rotation intersects the first and second ends, and wherein the openable portion is rotatably mounted about an opening axis parallel to the cyclone axis of rotation, and

(C) A motor and fan assembly disposed in the airflow path.

According to this aspect, there is also provided a vacuum cleaner comprising:

(a) An airflow path extending from the dirty air inlet to the clean air outlet;

(b) An air treatment chamber having a first end, an axially spaced apart second end, an air treatment chamber sidewall extending between the first end and the second end, an air treatment chamber air inlet, an air treatment chamber air outlet disposed at the second end of the air treatment chamber, an air treatment chamber axis intersecting the first end of the air treatment chamber and the second end of the air treatment chamber and defining an axial direction, and an openable portion rotatably mounted about an opening axis parallel to the air treatment chamber axis, and

(C) A motor and fan assembly disposed in the airflow path.

According to another aspect of the invention, which may be used alone or in combination with one or more other aspects disclosed herein, the handheld vacuum cleaner is powered by an on-board energy storage member (e.g., one or more batteries or capacitors), which may be positioned such that the energy storage member is accessible when the front end or door of the handheld vacuum cleaner is open. This aspect has the advantage that access to the energy storage member may be facilitated. For example, one or more energy storage members may be located radially outward of an air treatment member chamber (e.g., a cyclone chamber). Accordingly, the energy storage member chamber may be located on an outer surface of the air treatment member chamber and may be located below the air treatment member chamber and optionally may be located laterally beside the dirt collection chamber of the air treatment member chamber.

(a) An airflow path extending from the dirty air inlet to the clean air outlet;

(b) A cyclone chamber having a cyclone axis of rotation, an openable first end, an axially spaced apart second end, a cyclone chamber sidewall extending between the first and second ends, a cyclone air inlet and a cyclone air outlet, wherein the cyclone axis of rotation intersects the openable first and second ends;

(c) An energy storage member located in an energy storage chamber located radially outward of the cyclone chamber, and

(D) A motor and fan assembly disposed in the airflow path,

Wherein the energy storage chambers are simultaneously opened when the openable first ends are opened.

According to this aspect, there is also provided a vacuum cleaner comprising:

(a) An airflow path extending from the dirty air inlet to the clean air outlet;

(b) An air treatment chamber having an openable first end, an axially spaced apart second end, an air treatment chamber sidewall extending between the first and second ends, an air treatment chamber air inlet, an air treatment chamber air outlet disposed at the second end of the air treatment chamber, and an air treatment chamber axis intersecting the first end of the air treatment chamber and the second end of the air treatment chamber and defining an axial direction;

(c) An energy storage member located in the energy storage chamber, wherein the energy storage chamber is located outside the air treatment chamber, whereby a plane transverse to the air treatment chamber axis intersects the air treatment chamber and the energy storage chamber, and

(D) A motor and fan assembly disposed in the airflow path,

According to this aspect, there is also provided a vacuum cleaner comprising:

(a) An airflow path extending from the dirty air inlet to the clean air outlet;

(c) An energy storage member located in the energy storage chamber, and

(D) A motor and fan assembly disposed in the airflow path,

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, which may be used alone or in combination with one or more other aspects disclosed herein, a surface cleaning apparatus (e.g., a hand held vacuum cleaner) has an air treatment chamber (e.g., a cyclone chamber) with an associated dirt collection chamber. The air treatment chamber has a dirt outlet whereby the air treatment chamber is in flow communication with the dirt collection chamber. When the air treatment chamber is opened, a portion of the wall defining the dirt outlet moves, thereby opening the dirt outlet. Accordingly, dirt bridging the dirt outlet may fall out.

(a) An airflow path extending from the dirty air inlet to the clean air outlet;

(b) A motor and fan assembly disposed in the airflow path;

(c) A main body including a handle and a suction motor, and

(D) A cyclone bin assembly comprising a cyclone chamber in an airflow path, the cyclone chamber having a cyclone air inlet, a cyclone air outlet, a dirt outlet, a cyclone chamber front end having a cyclone chamber front end wall, a cyclone chamber rear end having a cyclone chamber rear end wall, and a cyclone axis of rotation intersecting the cyclone chamber front end wall and the cyclone chamber rear end wall, and a dirt collection chamber having a dirt collection chamber front end and an axially spaced apart dirt collection chamber rear end, the dirt collection chamber front end having a dirt collection chamber front end wall, the dirt collection chamber rear end having a dirt collection chamber rear end wall, a portion of the dirt collection chamber being spaced from the cyclone chamber in a direction transverse to the cyclone axis of rotation, whereby the portion is separated from the cyclone chamber by a sidewall,

Wherein the rear end of the cyclone bin assembly is rotatably mounted between a closed position and an open position in which the front end of the cyclone chamber and the front end of the dirt collection chamber are open,

Wherein the dirt outlet includes an opening having a perimeter with a first portion and a second portion, and only the first portion of the perimeter is moved when the rear end of the cyclone bin assembly is moved to the open position.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, which may be used alone or in combination with one or more other aspects disclosed herein, a surface cleaning apparatus (e.g., a hand held vacuum cleaner) has an air treatment chamber (e.g., a cyclone chamber) that may have an associated dirt collection chamber. The air treatment chamber has two parts, such as a front end or wall and/or an openable rear end or wall and an axially extending side wall part. For example, the front wall of the air treatment chamber may be pivotally mounted to the air treatment cartridge assembly and the bottom of the side wall of the air treatment chamber may be pivotally mounted to the air treatment cartridge assembly.

(a) An airflow path extending from the dirty air inlet to the clean air outlet;

(b) A motor and fan assembly disposed in the airflow path, and

(C) A cyclone bin assembly comprising a cyclone chamber in an airflow path, the cyclone chamber having a cyclone air inlet, a cyclone air outlet, a dirt outlet, a cyclone chamber first end having a cyclone chamber first end wall, a cyclone chamber second end having a cyclone chamber second end wall, a cyclone chamber side wall extending between the cyclone chamber first end wall and the second end wall, and a cyclone axis of rotation intersecting the cyclone chamber first end wall and the cyclone chamber second end wall, a dirt collection chamber having a dirt collection chamber first end with a dirt collection chamber first end wall, an axially spaced apart dirt collection chamber second end with a dirt collection chamber second end wall, a dirt collection chamber side wall extending between the dirt collection chamber first end wall and the second end wall, a portion of the dirt collection chamber being spaced from the cyclone chamber in a direction transverse to the cyclone axis of rotation, whereby the portion is separated from the cyclone chamber by the cyclone chamber side wall,

Wherein the cyclone bin assembly has a first openable portion comprising a first end wall of the dirt collection chamber and a movable portion movably mounted to the hand-held vacuum cleaner in a first position and movably mounted to the hand-held vacuum cleaner in a second position, wherein the movable portion comprises a portion of at least one of the cyclone chamber side wall and the dirt collection chamber side wall.

According to this aspect, there is also provided a vacuum cleaner comprising:

(a) An airflow path extending from the dirty air inlet to the clean air outlet;

(b) A motor and fan assembly disposed in the airflow path, and

(C) An air treatment cartridge assembly comprising an air treatment chamber and a dirt collection chamber in an air flow path, the air treatment chamber having an air treatment air inlet, an air treatment air outlet, a dirt outlet, an air treatment chamber first end having an air treatment chamber first end wall, an air treatment chamber second end having an air treatment chamber second end wall, an air treatment chamber side wall extending between the air treatment chamber first end wall and the second end wall, and a central air treatment axis intersecting the air treatment chamber first end wall and the air treatment chamber second end wall, the dirt collection chamber having a dirt collection chamber first end, an axially spaced apart dirt collection chamber second end, and a dirt collection chamber side wall, the dirt collection chamber first end having a dirt collection chamber first end wall, the dirt collection chamber second end having a dirt collection chamber second end wall, the dirt collection chamber side wall extending between the dirt collection chamber first end wall and the second end wall, a portion of the dirt collection chamber being spaced apart from the air treatment chamber in a direction transverse to the central air treatment axis, whereby the portion is separated from the air treatment chamber by the air treatment chamber side wall,

Wherein the air treatment cabin assembly has a first openable portion comprising a first end wall of the dirt collection chamber and a movable portion, the first openable portion being movably mounted to the vacuum cleaner in a first position and the movable portion being movably mounted to the vacuum cleaner in a second position, wherein the movable portion comprises a portion of at least one of the air treatment chamber side wall and the dirt collection chamber side wall.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, which may be used alone or in combination with one or more other aspects disclosed herein, a surface cleaning apparatus (e.g., a hand held vacuum cleaner) has an air treatment chamber (e.g., a cyclone chamber) that may have an associated dirt collection chamber. The front end of the air treatment chamber (e.g. the front end of a hand-held vacuum cleaner) or the air inlet end of the air treatment chamber is narrower. This has the advantage that the hand-held vacuum cleaner can clean places closer to corners or edges without the use of accessories such as extension bars.

(a) An air flow path extending from a dirty air inlet provided at an upper portion of a front end of the hand-held vacuum cleaner to a clean air outlet;

(b) A motor and fan assembly disposed in the airflow path, and

(C) A cyclone bin assembly comprising a cyclone chamber in an airflow path, the cyclone chamber having a cyclone air inlet, a cyclone air outlet, a cyclone chamber front end, a cyclone chamber rear end, a cyclone chamber side wall extending between the front and rear ends of the cyclone chamber, and a cyclone axis of rotation extending in a forward/rearward direction,

Wherein the front height of the front end of the cyclone chamber in a direction transverse to the cyclone rotation axis is smaller than the rear height of the cyclone chamber in a direction transverse to the cyclone rotation axis.

According to another aspect of the invention, which may be used alone or in combination with one or more other aspects disclosed herein, a surface cleaning apparatus (e.g., a hand held vacuum cleaner) powered by an on-board energy storage member may have the energy storage member divided into two or more groups or packs, which may be located in different positions. For example, the portable surface cleaning apparatus may have an on-board energy storage member disposed along the length of two or more portions of the external surface of the portable surface cleaning apparatus. This has the advantage that the energy storage means can be provided in two or more positions, which may allow a better hand weight of the hand-held vacuum cleaner and/or may allow more on-board energy of the surface cleaning apparatus without increasing or substantially increasing the size of the surface cleaning apparatus.

(a) An airflow path extending from a dirty air inlet provided at a front end of the hand-held vacuum cleaner to a clean air outlet;

(b) An air treatment cartridge assembly including an air treatment chamber positioned in the air flow path,

(C) A main body accommodating a motor and a fan assembly disposed in the airflow path;

(d) A handle;

(e) A first energy storage pack disposed at a first location in the hand-held vacuum cleaner, and

(F) A second energy storage pack disposed in the hand-held vacuum cleaner at a second location different from the first location.

According to this aspect, there is also provided a hand-held vacuum cleaner comprising:

(d) A handle;

(e) A detachable first energy storage pack, and

(F) A detachable second energy storage pack, wherein the detachable first energy storage pack and the detachable second energy storage pack are detachable separately.

According to another aspect of the invention, which may be used alone or in combination with one or more other aspects disclosed herein, a surface cleaning apparatus (e.g., a hand held vacuum cleaner) is powered by on-board energy storage members disposed along at least a portion of an outer surface of the surface cleaning apparatus. The energy storage member may comprise one or more shorter-height prismatic or pouch-type cells. This has the advantage that the energy storage means can be provided on the outer assembly of the surface cleaning apparatus without increasing or substantially increasing the size of the surface cleaning apparatus.

According to this aspect, there is provided a hand-held vacuum cleaner having a front end, a longitudinally spaced rear end, an upper end extending between the front and rear ends, and a lower end extending between the front and rear ends, the hand-held vacuum cleaner comprising:

(a) An airflow path extending from the dirty air inlet to the clean air outlet;

(d) Handle, and

(E) A plurality of energy storage members, wherein the energy storage members comprise a plurality of prismatic or pouch cells and the plurality of prismatic or pouch cells or a housing for the plurality of prismatic or pouch cells forms a portion of an outer surface of the hand-held vacuum cleaner.

According to this aspect, there is also provided a hand-held vacuum cleaner having a front end, a longitudinally spaced rear end, a central longitudinal axis, an upper end extending between the front end and the rear end, and a lower end extending between the front end and the rear end, the hand-held vacuum cleaner comprising:

(a) An airflow path extending from the dirty air inlet to the clean air outlet;

(C) A motor and fan assembly disposed in the airflow path, and

(D) A plurality of energy storage members, wherein the energy storage members comprise prismatic or pouch cells.

According to another aspect of the invention, which may be used alone or in combination with one or more of the other aspects disclosed herein, a hand-held vacuum cleaner has a reduced width portion. The width may be reduced to a diameter that enables the reduced width portion to function as a handle. On the outer surface of the component of the hand-held vacuum cleaner, an energy storage member may be provided in front of and/or behind the reduced width portion, and the energy storage member compartment may form a portion of the outer surface of the hand-held vacuum cleaner in front of and/or behind the reduced width portion. This has the advantage that a part of the body can thus be used as a handle.

According to this aspect, there is provided a hand-held vacuum cleaner having a front end, a longitudinally spaced rear end, a central longitudinal axis, an upper end extending between the front end and the rear end, and a lower end extending between the front end and the rear end, the hand-held vacuum cleaner comprising:

(a) An airflow path extending from the dirty air inlet to the clean air outlet;

(C) A main body accommodating the motor and the fan assembly disposed in the airflow path, and

(D) A handle, wherein the handle is longitudinally positioned between the air treatment cartridge assembly and the body.

According to another aspect of the invention, which may be used alone or in combination with one or more other aspects disclosed herein, a cyclone that may be used in a surface cleaning apparatus (e.g., a hand held vacuum cleaner) may have a region associated with the cyclone chamber that is located in the direction of flow of air exiting the cyclone chamber, axially rearward of a screen or other porous air outlet member, and/or radially outward of a non-porous portion of an air outlet duct of the cyclone chamber.

According to this aspect, there is provided a surface cleaning apparatus comprising:

(a) An airflow path extending from the dirty air inlet to the clean air outlet;

(b) An air treatment chamber in the airflow path, the air treatment chamber having a first end, an axially spaced apart second end, a sidewall, an air treatment chamber air inlet, and an air treatment chamber air outlet, the first end including a first end wall, the second end including a second end wall, the sidewall extending between the first end wall and the second end wall, the air treatment chamber air outlet being disposed at the second end;

(c) A first dirt collection region connected to the air treatment chamber and axially positioned from and closer to the second end wall than the first end wall, and

(D) A motor and fan assembly disposed in the airflow path.

According to this aspect, there is also provided a surface cleaning apparatus comprising:

(a) An airflow path extending from the dirty air inlet to the clean air outlet;

(b) An air treatment chamber in the airflow path, the air treatment chamber having a first end, an axially spaced apart second end, a sidewall, an air treatment chamber air inlet, and an air treatment chamber air outlet, the first end including a first end wall, the second end including a second end wall, the sidewall extending between the first end wall and the second end wall, the air treatment chamber air inlet being disposed at the second end, the air treatment chamber air outlet being disposed at the second end;

(c) A first dirt collection region connected to the air treatment chamber and axially positioned from the first and second end walls and closer to the first end wall than the second end wall, and

(D) A motor and fan assembly disposed in the airflow path.

According to another aspect of the invention, which may be used alone or in combination with one or more other aspects disclosed herein, the axially extending screen or other porous member of the air treatment chamber has dimples that extend axially along part or all of the axial length of the screen or porous member. The screen may be thin walled, for example, the porous section of the porous member or the wall thickness of the screen may be 0.001 to 0.06 inches, 0.002 to 0.03 inches, or 0.005 to 0.015 inches. Such cyclone outlets may be used in cyclones as small as 0.5-4 inches or 0.5-2.5 inches in diameter. This aspect has the advantage that a self-supporting thin-walled screen or porous member may be provided.

(a) An airflow path extending from the dirty air inlet to the clean air outlet;

(b) An air treatment chamber in the airflow path, the air treatment chamber having a first end including a first end wall, a second end axially spaced apart, a central longitudinal axis extending between the first end wall and the second end wall, a sidewall extending between the first end wall and the second end wall, an air treatment chamber air inlet disposed at the second end and extending inwardly from the second end wall, and an air treatment chamber air outlet including an axially extending porous member, wherein the axially extending porous member has at least one axially extending pocket, and

(C) A motor and fan assembly disposed in the airflow path.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, which may be used alone or in combination with one or more other aspects disclosed herein, a surface cleaning apparatus has a cyclone chamber, wherein the dirt outlet comprises an opening in a sidewall of the cyclone chamber. The dirt outlet has an upstream side in the direction of air rotation in the cyclone chamber and a downstream side in the direction of rotation. The upstream side includes a curved (e.g., tangential) portion. Thus, air rotating in the cyclone chamber may travel along the curved portion and past the dirt outlet, and dirt of a greater density tends to fall through the dirt outlet into the dirt collection chamber. This has the advantage that the dirt separation efficiency of the cyclone can be improved.

(a) An airflow path extending from the dirty air inlet to the clean air outlet;

(b) A cyclone chamber in the airflow path, the cyclone chamber having a cyclone axis of rotation, an axially extending sidewall, a cyclone chamber air inlet, a cyclone chamber air outlet, and a dirt outlet, the dirt outlet comprising an axially extending slot in the sidewall;

(c) A dirt collection chamber located outside the cyclone chamber, the dirt collection chamber having first and second opposing walls, wherein the first opposing wall is an extension of the side wall, and

(D) A motor and fan assembly disposed in the airflow path.

(a) An airflow path extending from the dirty air inlet to the clean air outlet;

(b) A cyclone chamber in the airflow path, the cyclone chamber having a first end comprising a first end wall, a second axially spaced end comprising a second end wall, a cyclone axis of rotation extending between the first and second end walls, a side wall extending between the first and second end walls, a cyclone chamber air inlet disposed at the second end and extending inwardly from the second end wall, and a cyclone chamber air outlet;

(c) A dirt collection chamber located outside the cyclone chamber and communicating with the cyclone chamber via a dirt outlet, and

(D) A motor and fan assembly disposed in the airflow path,

Wherein the dirt outlet includes an opening in a side wall, the dirt outlet having an upstream side in a direction of rotation of air in the cyclone chamber and a downstream side in the direction of rotation,

Wherein the dirt collection chamber includes a curved wall extending from a downstream side of the dirt outlet.

According to another aspect of the invention, which may be used alone or in combination with one or more of the other aspects disclosed herein, the air outlet of the cyclone chamber comprises a porous section extending in an axial direction. The air impermeable wall is located inside the air outlet and faces at least a portion of the porous section. The air impermeable wall prevents dirt from entering the air outlet via the porous section. This has the advantage that the dirt separation efficiency of the cyclone can be improved.

(a) An airflow path extending from the dirty air inlet to the clean air outlet;

(D) A motor and fan assembly disposed in the airflow path,

Wherein the dirt outlet comprises an opening positioned radially outwardly and facing a portion of the cyclone chamber air outlet,

Wherein the portion of the cyclone chamber air outlet comprises a porous section,

Wherein the air impermeable member is located inside the cyclone air chamber air outlet and faces the porous section whereby a plane transverse to the cyclone axis of rotation intersects the dirt outlet, the porous section and the air impermeable member.

(a) An airflow path extending from the dirty air inlet to the clean air outlet;

(b) A cyclone chamber in the airflow path, the cyclone chamber having a cyclone rotational axis, a cyclone chamber air inlet, a cyclone chamber air outlet, and a dirt outlet;

(c) Dirt collecting chamber, and

(D) A motor and fan assembly disposed in the airflow path,

Wherein a plane transverse to the axis of rotation of the cyclone intersects the dirt collection chamber, the dirt outlet, the porous section of the cyclone chamber air outlet facing the dirt outlet, and the air impermeable member located inside the cyclone air chamber air outlet.

Those of skill in the art will understand that an apparatus or method disclosed herein may embody any one or more of the features contained herein and that the features may be used in any specific combination or sub-combination.

These and other aspects and features of the various embodiments are described in more detail below.

Drawings

For a better understanding of the described embodiments and to show more clearly how they may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1A is a front perspective view of a hand-held vacuum cleaner;

FIG. 1B is a rear perspective view of the hand-held vacuum cleaner of FIG. 1A;

FIG. 1C is a bottom perspective view of the hand-held vacuum cleaner of FIG. 1A with the openable section in an open position;

FIG. 1D is a cross-sectional view of the handheld vacuum cleaner of FIG. 1A taken along line 1D-1D;

FIG. 1E is a cross-sectional view of the hand-held vacuum cleaner of FIG. 1A, taken along line 1E-1E, with the openable section in a closed position;

FIG. 1F is a cross-sectional view of the hand-held vacuum cleaner of FIG. 1A, taken along line 1E-1E, with the openable section in an open position;

FIG. 1G is a cross-sectional view of the hand-held vacuum cleaner of FIG. 1A, taken along line 1G-1G, with the openable section in a closed position;

FIG. 1H is a cross-sectional view of the hand-held vacuum cleaner of FIG. 1A, taken along line 1G-1G, with the openable section in an open position;

Figure 2A is a front perspective view of another example of a hand-held vacuum cleaner;

FIG. 2B is a cross-sectional view of the hand-held vacuum cleaner of FIG. 2A, taken along line 2B-2B, with the openable section in a closed position;

FIG. 2C is a cross-sectional view of the hand-held vacuum cleaner of FIG. 2A, taken along line 2B-2B, with the openable section in an open position;

Figure 3A is a front perspective view of another example of a hand-held vacuum cleaner with an openable section in a closed position;

FIG. 3B is a top perspective view of the hand-held vacuum cleaner of FIG. 3A with the openable section in an open position;

FIG. 3C is a cross-sectional view of the handheld vacuum cleaner of FIG. 3B taken along line 3C-3C;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of another example of a hand-held vacuum cleaner with the openable section in an open position;

Figure 5A is a front perspective view of another example of a hand-held vacuum cleaner;

FIG. 5B is a rear perspective view of the hand-held vacuum cleaner of FIG. 5A;

FIG. 5C is a perspective view of the hand-held vacuum cleaner of FIG. 5A with the openable section in an open position;

FIG. 5D is a cross-sectional view of the handheld vacuum cleaner of FIG. 5A, taken along line 5D-5D, with the openable section in a closed position;

FIG. 5E is a cross-sectional view of the handheld vacuum cleaner of FIG. 5A, taken along line 5D-5D, with the openable section in an open position;

figure 6A is a front perspective view of another example of a hand-held vacuum cleaner;

FIG. 6B is a front perspective view of the hand-held vacuum cleaner of FIG. 6A with the openable section in an open position;

FIG. 6C is a front bottom perspective view of the hand-held vacuum cleaner of FIG. 6A with the openable section in an open position;

figure 7A is a front perspective view of another example of a hand-held vacuum cleaner;

FIG. 7B is a rear perspective view of the hand-held vacuum cleaner of FIG. 7A with the openable section in an open position;

FIG. 7C is a cross-sectional view of the handheld vacuum cleaner of FIG. 7B taken along line 7C-7C;

Figure 8A is a front perspective view of another example of a hand-held vacuum cleaner;

FIG. 8B is a perspective view of the hand-held vacuum cleaner of FIG. 8A with the openable section in an open position;

FIG. 8C is a cross-sectional view of the handheld vacuum cleaner of FIG. 8B taken along line 8C-8C;

Figure 9 is a perspective view of another example of a hand-held vacuum cleaner with an openable section in an open position;

figure 10A is a front perspective view of another example of a hand-held vacuum cleaner;

FIG. 10B is a perspective view of the hand-held vacuum cleaner of FIG. 10A with the openable section in an open position;

figure 11 is a front perspective view of another example of a hand-held vacuum cleaner with an openable section in an open position;

figure 12A is a front perspective view of another example of a hand-held vacuum cleaner;

FIG. 12B is a rear perspective view of the hand-held vacuum cleaner of FIG. 12A;

FIG. 12C is a front perspective view of the hand-held vacuum cleaner of FIG. 12A with the openable section in an open position;

FIG. 12D is a cross-sectional view of the handheld vacuum cleaner of FIG. 12A taken along line 12D-12D;

FIG. 12E is a cross-sectional view of the handheld vacuum cleaner of FIG. 12A taken along line 12E-12E;

Figure 13 is a cross-sectional view of another example of a hand-held vacuum cleaner;

figure 14A is a front perspective view of another example of a hand-held vacuum cleaner;

Figure 14B is a rear perspective view of the hand-held vacuum cleaner of figure 14A;

figure 14C is a perspective view of the hand-held vacuum cleaner of figure 14A with the openable section in the open position;

figure 14D is a cross-sectional view of the hand-held vacuum cleaner of figure 14A taken along line 14D-14D;

figure 15A is a front perspective view of another example of a hand-held vacuum cleaner;

figure 15B is a perspective view of the hand-held vacuum cleaner of figure 15A with the openable section in the open position;

Figure 16A is a front perspective view of another example of a hand-held vacuum cleaner;

figure 16B is a perspective view of the hand-held vacuum cleaner of figure 16A with the openable section in the open position;

Figure 17 is a cross-sectional view of another example of a hand-held vacuum cleaner with the openable section in an open position;

figure 18A is a front perspective view of another example of a hand-held vacuum cleaner;

Figure 18B is a rear perspective view of the hand-held vacuum cleaner of figure 18A with the first openable section in a closed position and the second openable section in a closed position;

Figure 18C is a front view of the hand-held vacuum cleaner of figure 18A with the first openable section in an open position and the second openable section in a closed position;

figure 18D is a front perspective view of the hand-held vacuum cleaner of figure 18C;

Figure 18E is a rear perspective view of the hand-held vacuum cleaner of figure 18A with the first openable section in an open position and the second openable section in an open position;

figure 18F is a front view of the hand-held vacuum cleaner of figure 18E;

figure 18G is a front perspective view of the hand-held vacuum cleaner of figure 18E;

figure 19 is a front perspective view of another example of a hand-held vacuum cleaner;

Figure 20 is a front perspective view of another example of a hand-held vacuum cleaner;

figure 21A is a front perspective view of another example of a hand-held vacuum cleaner;

FIG. 21B is a cross-sectional view of the hand-held vacuum cleaner of FIG. 21A, taken along line 21B-21B;

Figure 22A is a front perspective view of another example of a hand-held vacuum cleaner;

figure 22B is a rear perspective view of the hand-held vacuum cleaner of figure 22A;

FIG. 22C is a side view of the hand-held vacuum cleaner of FIG. 22A;

FIG. 22D is a cross-sectional view of the handheld vacuum cleaner of FIG. 22A taken along line 22D-22D;

figure 23 is a cross-sectional view of another example of a hand-held vacuum cleaner;

Figure 24 is a cross-sectional view of another example of a hand-held vacuum cleaner;

Figure 25 is a cross-sectional view of another example of a hand-held vacuum cleaner;

Figure 26A is a front perspective view of another example of a hand-held vacuum cleaner;

figure 26B is a rear perspective view of the hand-held vacuum cleaner of figure 26A;

figure 26C is a side view of the hand-held vacuum cleaner of figure 26A;

FIG. 26D is a top view of the hand-held vacuum cleaner of FIG. 26A;

FIG. 26E is a cross-sectional view of the handheld vacuum cleaner of FIG. 26A taken along line 26E-26E;

figure 27 is a cross-sectional view of another example of a hand-held vacuum cleaner;

figure 28 is a cross-sectional view of another example of a hand-held vacuum cleaner;

Figure 29A is a cross-sectional view of another example of a hand-held vacuum cleaner;

figure 29B is a front view of the hand-held vacuum cleaner of figure 29A with the openable section in the open position;

Figure 30A is a cross-sectional view of another example of a hand-held vacuum cleaner;

FIG. 30B is a cross-sectional view of the hand-held vacuum cleaner of FIG. 30A;

Figure 31A is a cross-sectional view of another example of a hand-held vacuum cleaner;

FIG. 31B is a cross-sectional view of the hand-held vacuum cleaner of FIG. 31A;

Figure 32A is a front perspective view of another example of a hand-held vacuum cleaner;

FIG. 32B is a cross-sectional view of the hand-held vacuum cleaner of FIG. 32A, taken along line 32B-32B;

Fig. 33 is a perspective view of the porous member;

Fig. 34 is a perspective view of another example of a porous member;

Figure 35A is a cross-sectional view of another example of a hand-held vacuum cleaner;

FIG. 35B is a cross-sectional view of the hand-held vacuum cleaner of FIG. 35A;

FIG. 35C is a cross-sectional view of the handheld vacuum cleaner of FIG. 35A taken along line 35C-35C;

Figure 36A is a front perspective view of another example of a hand-held vacuum cleaner;

FIG. 36B is a rear perspective view of the hand-held vacuum cleaner of FIG. 36A;

FIG. 36C is a side view of the hand-held vacuum cleaner of FIG. 36A;

Figure 36D is a top view of the hand-held vacuum cleaner of figure 36A, and

Figure 36E is a cross-sectional view of the hand-held vacuum cleaner of figure 36A taken along line 36E-36E.

The drawings included herein are intended to depict various examples of articles, methods, and devices taught by the present specification, and are not intended to limit the scope of the teachings in any way.

Detailed Description

Various means are described below to provide examples of embodiments of each of the claimed inventions. Any of the embodiments described below are not limiting of any of the claimed inventions, and any of the claimed inventions may encompass different devices than those described below. The claimed invention is not limited to devices having all of the features of any one device described below, nor to common features of multiple or all devices described below. The apparatus described below may not be an embodiment of any of the claimed inventions. Any inventions disclosed in the devices described below, which if not claimed in this document, may be the subject of another protective document (e.g., a continued patent application), applicant, inventor and/or owner does not intend to discard, disclaim, or dedicate any such inventions to the public by virtue of their disclosure in this document.

Unless specifically stated otherwise, the terms "an embodiment," embodiments, "" the embodiments, "" one or more embodiments, "" some embodiments, "and" one embodiment "all refer to" one or more (but not all) embodiments of the invention.

The terms "comprising," "including," and variations thereof mean "including but not limited to," unless expressly specified otherwise. The listed items are not meant to imply that any or all of the items are mutually exclusive unless explicitly indicated otherwise. Unless specifically stated otherwise, the terms "a," an, "and" the "all refer to" one or more.

As used herein and in the claims, when two or more components are joined together or operated together, either directly or indirectly (i.e., through one or more intermediate components), such components are referred to as being "coupled," "connected," "attached," or "fastened" whenever there is an association. As used herein and in the claims, when two or more components are in physical contact with each other, the components are referred to as being "directly coupled," directly connected, "" directly attached, "or" directly fastened. As used herein, when two or more components are coupled to move as a unit while maintaining a constant orientation relative to each other, the components are referred to as "rigidly coupled," rigidly connected, "" rigidly attached, "or" rigidly fastened. The terms "coupled," "connected," "attached," and "fastened" do not distinguish between a manner in which two or more components are joined together.

Some elements herein may be identified by a part number consisting of a base and a letter or subscript number suffix (e.g., 112a or 112 ₁). Elements herein may be identified by part numbers that share a common radix, but differ in suffix (e.g., 112 ₁、112₂ and 112 ₃). All elements with a common radix may be collectively or generically referred to using a radix without a suffix (e.g., 112).

It should be noted that terms of degree such as "substantially," "about," and "approximately" as used herein refer to a reasonable amount of deviation of the modified term such that the end result is not significantly changed. These terms of degree may also be construed as including a deviation of the modified term such as 1%, 2%, 5% or 10% as long as such deviation would not negate the meaning of the term it modifies.

Furthermore, the recitation of numerical ranges by endpoints herein includes all numbers and fractions subsumed within that range (e.g., 1 to 5 includes 1, 1.5, 2, 2.75, 3, 3.90, 4, and 5). It should also be understood that all numbers and their fractional numbers are assumed to be modified by the term "about", which means that the amount of change in the number mentioned is at most a certain amount, e.g. 1%, 2%, 5% or 10%, as long as the end result is not significantly changed.

Overview of surface cleaning apparatus

Referring to the drawings, exemplary embodiments of a surface cleaning apparatus are shown. The following is a general discussion of the surface cleaning apparatus, providing a basis for understanding several of the features discussed herein. As discussed later, each feature may be used alone or in any particular combination or sub-combination in the present or other embodiments disclosed herein.

In the illustrated embodiment, the surface cleaning apparatus is a hand-held vacuum cleaner 1000, which may also be referred to as a "hand-held cleaner" or a "hand-held vacuum cleaner". As used herein, a hand-held vacuum cleaner 1000 is a surface cleaning device that is typically operable with one hand to clean a surface. That is, the entire weight of the hand-held vacuum cleaner 1000 may be borne by the same hand used to align the dirty air inlet 1002 of the hand-held vacuum cleaner 1000 with the surface to be cleaned. For example, the handle 1004 and the dirty air inlet 1002 may be rigidly coupled to each other (directly or indirectly) to move as a unit while maintaining a constant orientation relative to each other. This is in contrast to, for example, canister and upright vacuum cleaners, whose weight is typically supported by a surface (e.g., a floor) during use.

While the illustrated embodiment depicts an example of a handheld vacuum cleaner 1000, it should be appreciated that many of the features described herein may be associated with and may be used with non-handheld vacuum cleaners, such as canister vacuum cleaners, upright vacuum cleaners, stick vacuum cleaners, full head vacuum cleaners, carpet extractor cleaners, dry/wet vacuum cleaners, and the like.

As shown in fig. 1A-1H, the surface cleaning apparatus may include a main body 1006, a handle 1004, an air handling member 1008, a dirty air inlet 1002, a clean air outlet 1010, and an airflow path extending between the dirty air inlet 1002 and the clean air outlet 1010. The air handling member 1008 is located in the airflow path between the dirty air inlet 1002 and the clean air outlet 1010.

As shown, the body 1006 of the surface cleaning apparatus has a front end 1014, a rear end 1016, an upper end 1018 (i.e., top end), and a lower end 1020 (i.e., bottom end). As shown in the embodiment shown in fig. 1A, the dirty air inlet 1002 may be located at an upper end 1018 of the front end 1014 of the main body 1006, while the clean air outlet 1010 may be located intermediate the front end 1014 and the rear end 1016, or alternatively at the rear end. It should be appreciated that the dirty air inlet 1002 and the clean air outlet 1010 may be provided in different locations.

A suction motor 1022 (i.e., a motor and fan assembly) (see, e.g., fig. 1D) is disposed within the main body 1006 to generate vacuum suction through the airflow path, and may be located within a motor housing 1024. In the example shown, the suction motor 1022 is located downstream of the air treatment member 1008, but in alternative embodiments it may be located upstream of the air treatment member 1008 (e.g., a dirty air motor). As an example, the motor housing 1024 may form a portion of an outer surface of the hand-held vacuum cleaner.

The air treatment member 1008 is configured to remove dirt particles and other debris from the airflow and/or otherwise treat the airflow. Any air handling member 1008 known in the art may be used. As an example, the air treatment member 1008 can include an air treatment chamber 1044 and a dirt collection chamber 1032 located outside of the air treatment chamber 1044. Dirty air may enter the air treatment chamber 1044 via the air treatment chamber intake ports 1046 and exit the air treatment chamber 1044 as relatively clean air via the air treatment chamber output ports 1048.

In the example shown in FIG. 1D, the air handling member 1008 is a cyclone assembly 1026, the cyclone assembly 1026 having a single cyclone chamber 1032 and a dirt collection chamber 1032 (i.e., a single cyclonic cleaning stage) located outside of the cyclone chamber 1030. The cyclone chamber 1030 and the dirt collection chamber 1032 may be of any configuration suitable for separating debris from an airflow and collecting the separated debris, respectively. In the example shown in fig. 1D, the cyclone chamber 1030 is a single-flow cyclone (i.e., a cyclone in which air flows unidirectionally). As shown, the unidirectional flow cyclone may have a cyclone air inlet 1034 at a first end (front end 1036 in the illustrated example) of the cyclone chamber 1030 and a cyclone chamber air outlet 1038 at the other end (rear end 1040 in the illustrated example) of the cyclone chamber 1030. In other examples, the cyclone chamber 1030 may not be unidirectional flow and the cyclone air inlet 1034 and the cyclone air outlet 1038 may be disposed at the same end of the cyclone chamber 1030. It will also be appreciated that the separated dirt may be collected in a dirt collection region associated with the cyclone chamber.

The cyclone chamber 1030 may be oriented in any direction. For example, when the upper end 1018 of the surface cleaning apparatus is above the lower end 1020, e.g., positioned generally parallel to a horizontal plane, the central axis 1050 or axis of rotation of the cyclone chamber 1030 may be oriented horizontally, as shown in fig. 1D. In alternative embodiments, the cyclone chamber 1030 may be oriented vertically, or at any angle between horizontal and vertical.

In alternative embodiments, the cyclone assembly 1026 may include two or more cyclone cleaning stages arranged in series with each other. Each cyclone cleaning stage may include one or more cyclone chambers 1030 (arranged in parallel or series with each other) and one or more dirt collection chambers 1032 of any suitable configuration. The dirt collection chamber 1032 may be located outside of the cyclone chamber 1030, or may be internal to the cyclone chamber 1030 (i.e., configured as a dirt collection region or area 1032 within the cyclone chamber). It should be appreciated that the air treatment assembly may have two or more stages, and that each stage may use one or more air treatment chambers.

Alternatively, the outer dirt collection chamber 1042 may be positioned radially outward from the air treatment chamber 1044 of the air treatment member 1008. The dirt outlet may connect the air treatment chamber 1044 to the dirt collection chamber 1032. In the example shown in FIG. 1D, the outer dirt collection chamber 1042 is located radially outwardly from the cyclone chamber 1030. As shown, when the dirt collection chamber 1032 is located outside of the cyclone chamber 1042, the dirt outlet 1052 or dirt outlets can fluidly connect the cyclone chamber 1030 with the external dirt collection chamber 1042.

Alternatively, the air treatment chamber 1044 of the air treatment member 1008 may not be a cyclonic cleaning stage. Such a non-cyclone stage may be a non-cyclone air treatment chamber or it may comprise a bag, porous physical filter media (e.g. foam or felt) or other air treatment device. A combination of non-cyclonic and cyclonic treating members may be used.

The air handling member 1008 may include an openable portion 1060 that is movable between an open position and a closed position. The openable portion 1060 may facilitate the removal of debris separated from the airflow by the air treatment member from the air treatment member when in the open position and/or may facilitate the removal of debris compacted within the air treatment member 1008 from the air treatment member 1008 when moved from the closed position to the open position. The openable portion 1060 may include a portion of the outer surface 1062 of the body 1006 of the surface cleaning device, so opening the openable portion 1060 may facilitate the removal of debris from the surface cleaning device. Various configurations of openable portion 1060 are described in more detail later.

As shown in fig. 1D, the hand-held vacuum cleaner 1000 may include a pre-motor filter 1066. The pre-motor filter may be disposed in a pre-motor filter housing 1064, with the pre-motor filter housing 1064 disposed in the airflow path downstream of the air handling component 1008 and upstream of the suction motor 1022. The pre-motor filter housing 1064 may be of any suitable construction known in the art. The pre-motor filter 1066 may be located within a pre-motor filter housing 1064. The pre-motor filter 1066 may have a front end 1054 and a rear end 1058. The pre-motor filter 1066 may be formed of any suitable physically porous filter media and have any suitable shape. For example, the pre-motor filter 1066 may be one or more of a foam filter, a felt filter, a HEPA filter, other physical filter media, an electrostatic filter, and the like.

Alternatively, the pre-motor filter housing 1064 may be opened to provide access to the interior of the pre-motor filter housing 1064.

The hand-held vacuum cleaner 1000 may also include a post-motor filter (not shown) disposed in the airflow path downstream of the suction motor 1022 and upstream of the clean air outlet 1010. The post-motor filter may be formed of any suitable physically porous filter media and have any suitable shape. The post-motor filter may be any suitable type of filter, such as one or more of a foam filter, felt filter, HEPA filter, other physical filter media, electrostatic filter, and the like.

Still referring to fig. 1D, in the example shown, the dirty air inlet 1002 of the surface cleaning apparatus is the inlet end 1068 of the inlet duct 1070 disposed at the front end 1014 of the surface cleaning apparatus. Alternatively, the inlet end 1068 of the inlet conduit 1070 may be used as a nozzle to directly clean a surface. In this example, the inlet duct 1070 is a generally linear hollow duct that extends along an inlet duct axis 1072, the inlet duct axis 1072 being oriented in a longitudinal forward/rearward direction and being generally horizontal when the upper end 1018 of the handheld vacuum cleaner 1000 is positioned above the lower end 1020. Alternatively, or in addition to serving as a nozzle, the inlet conduit 1070 may also be connected or directly connected to the downstream end of any suitable accessory tool, such as a rigid air flow conduit (e.g., an above-floor cleaning wand), crevice tool, mini-brush, etc. As shown, the dirty air inlet 1002 is located in front of the air handling member 1008, but this is not necessarily the case.

As an example, the suction motor 1022 and other electrical components of the handheld vacuum cleaner 1000 may be powered from the on-board energy storage member 1074, for example, the on-board energy storage member 1074 may include one or more batteries, capacitors, or other energy storage devices. Optionally, the location and type of the battery will be described in more detail later herein. In alternative embodiments, the handheld vacuum cleaner 1000 may be powered by an electrical cord (not shown) that is connected to the handheld vacuum cleaner 1000 and that may be connected to a standard wall outlet, in addition to the energy storage member 1074 or in lieu of the energy storage member 1074.

A power switch (not shown) may be provided to selectively control operation of the motor and fan assembly 1022 (e.g., on/off or variable power level or both) by, for example, establishing a power connection between the energy storage member 1074 and the motor and fan assembly 1022. The power switch may be provided in any suitable configuration and location, including a push button, a rotary switch, a slide switch, a toggle actuator, and the like. The power switch or standby controller may also be configured to control other aspects of the hand-held vacuum cleaner 1000 (brush motor on/off, etc.).

Openable part

According to this aspect of the invention, which may be used alone or in combination with one or more other aspects of the invention, the air handling member 1008 of the surface cleaning apparatus may include an openable portion 1060.

The openable portion 1060 is movable between a first position (i.e., an open position) and a second position (i.e., a closed or operative or cleaning position). In some examples, debris separated from the airflow by the air handling member 1008 can be discharged from the air handling member 1008 through the openable portion 1060 when the openable portion 1060 is in the open position. In the closed position, the openable portion 1060 may close the air treatment member 1008 for efficient operation of the air treatment member 1008. Optionally, the openable portion 1060 includes a portion of the outer surface 1062 of the main body 1006 such that opening the openable portion 1060 may facilitate the discharge of debris from the surface cleaning apparatus and into, for example, a dustbin.

Movement of the openable portion 1060 from the closed position to the open position may cause debris (which may have accumulated within the air treatment member 1008 and may have compacted within the corners and small openings) to fall off by moving one of the walls forming the corners relative to the other wall forming the corners and/or moving a portion of the perimeter of the opening (e.g., the dirt outlet) relative to the other portion of the opening. By separating the walls forming the corners and/or moving a portion of the walls defining the dirt outlet, compacted dirt (e.g. dirt that partially or fully bridges the dirt outlet) may loosen and thus fall under gravity when the openable portion is opened. In contrast, in known devices, an operator may often need to repeatedly strike the surface cleaning device, particularly the dirt collection chamber, to loosen and dislodge compacted collected debris.

This aspect has the advantage that compacted debris may be more easily removed, which may obstruct the airflow through the air handling member 1008 and thus may result in reduced cleaning efficiency (i.e., the ability to separate debris from the airflow and/or the energy required to operate the surface cleaning device).

For example, over time, the dirt outlet 1052 or air treatment chamber may become clogged with compacted debris. Movement of the openable portion 1060 from the closed position to the open position may cause a wall forming part (but not all) of the perimeter of the dirt outlet 1052 to move relative to the remainder of the perimeter of the dirt outlet, thereby opening the dirt outlet 1052, which may cause compacted debris that may be partially bridging the dirt outlet 1052 to fall out of the dirt outlet 1052.

It will be appreciated that a cleaning member may be provided, for example, which may be movable axially or toward the opening when the openable portion 1060 is open, to assist in removing debris from the air treatment member 1008.

Operation of the openable section

According to this aspect of the invention, which may be used alone or in combination with one or more other aspects of the invention, the openable portion 1060 may be moved between the closed and open positions by any means known in the art if an openable portion is provided.

For example, to open the dirt outlet 1052, the size of the perimeter 1078 of the dirt outlet 1052 may be increased and/or a wall defining a portion of the perimeter 1078 may be moved to open the perimeter 1078.

Fig. 5D and 8C illustrate a first example in which the dirt outlet 1052 may have a perimeter 1078 defined by a portion of the cyclone sidewall 1084 and a portion of the cyclone chamber rear end wall 1086 (it will be appreciated that, as this is a cross-sectional view, a portion of the perimeter 1078 of the dirt outlet 1052 is not shown). By way of example, the cyclone chamber rear end wall 1086 is the rear end wall of the air handling component. As an example, the dirt outlet 1052 may be an opening in the cyclone chamber sidewall 1084, the dirt outlet 1052 may have a perimeter 1078, and the cyclone chamber sidewall 1084 may include only a portion of the perimeter 1078 of the dirt outlet 1052. As shown in fig. 1C and 1H, when the openable portion 1060 moves to the open position, the dirt outlet 1052 is opened. More specifically, a portion of the cyclone chamber side wall 1084 (i.e., the side wall 1084 of the air treatment chamber 1044) containing the dirt outlet 1052 rotates away from the rear end wall 1086, the rear end wall 1086 defining a portion of the periphery 1078 of the dirt outlet 1052 when the openable portion 1060 is closed. Thus, as shown, the dirt outlet 1052 may be opened when the openable portion 1060 is moved to the open position.

As a second example, referring now to fig. 5A-5E, a rear end 1088 of a portion of the air handling member 1008 (specifically, a rear end 1090 of a lower portion of the cyclone assembly 1026) is rotatably mounted between a closed position and an open position, thereby defining an openable portion 1060. As shown in fig. 5C, the front end 1092 of the air handling member 1008 (specifically, the front end 1094 of the cyclone assembly 1026) may be opened when in the open position. In the illustrated example, opening the front end 1094 of the cyclone assembly 1026 can open the front end 1096 (and lower end) of the cyclone chamber 1030 and the front end 1098 of the dirt collection chamber 1032. Still referring to fig. 5C, the dirt outlet 1052 is shown as open with a perimeter 1078 having a first portion 1100 and a second portion 1102. In the illustrated example, the first portion 1100 of the perimeter 1078 is defined by a movable portion (i.e., the generally U-shaped portion 1104) of the air treatment chamber side wall 1084, while the second portion 1102 is defined in part by a fixed portion of the air treatment chamber rear end wall 1086. As shown in fig. 5C, when the cyclone assembly 1026 is moved to the open position, thereby opening the dirt outlet 1052, only the first portion 1100 of the periphery 1078 can move.

It should be appreciated that any portion of the perimeter 1078 may be movable and that this portion may be any portion of the air handling member 1008. Accordingly, as shown by way of example, a portion of the perimeter 1078 may be movable while a portion is fixed. Accordingly, for example, the dirt outlet 1052 may be defined only by the side wall 1084 of the air treatment chamber and the openable portion may include only a portion of the side wall 1084. This portion of the sidewall can have a first portion 1100 of the perimeter 1078, while a second, non-movable portion of the sidewall 1084 has a second portion 1102 of the perimeter 1078. Thus, moving the openable section may open the dirt outlet 1052.

It is also understood that two or more portions of the perimeter 1078 may be movable, and that the movable portions may define part or all of the perimeter 1078. Accordingly, for example, two portions of the perimeter 1078 may be movable, and these portions may be any portion of the air handling member 1008.

Alternatively, the openable portion 1060 may be rotatable, as in the example shown in fig. 1C, 1H, and 5C. More specifically, in the example shown, the openable portion 1060 is pivotable about the hinge 1110. When the openable section 1060 is rotatable, it may be rotated in any direction relative to the main body 1006 of the surface cleaning apparatus. For example, the hinge 1110 may extend transverse to the axis 1050, and the hinge 1110 may be located at a rear end of the openable portion 1060, and the openable portion may be rotated downward (see, e.g., fig. 5C), the hinge 1110 may extend transverse to the axis 1050, and the hinge 1110 may be located at a front end of the openable portion 1060, and the openable portion 1060 may be rotated downward (see, e.g., fig. 7B), and/or the hinge 1110 may extend parallel to the axis 1050, and the hinge 1110 may be located on one lateral side of the openable portion 1060, and the openable portion 1060 may be rotated laterally (see, e.g., fig. 1H). As a specific example, in the example shown in fig. 1H, the openable portion 1060 is rotatably mounted around an opening axis 1112, the opening axis 1112 being parallel to the rotation axis 1050 of the cyclone chamber 1030. More specifically, in the example shown in fig. 1H, the hand-held vacuum cleaner 1000 has a front end 1014, a rear end 1016, and first and second laterally opposite sides 1114, 1116 extending in a forward/rearward direction, the front end 1014 having a dirty air inlet 1002, an open axis 1112 being located on one of the laterally opposite sides 1114, 1116.

Alternatively, as shown in fig. 10A, the openable portion 1060 may be translatably mounted to the main body 1006. Specifically, in the example shown, the openable portion 1060 slides along a rail 1128 that is coupled to the main body 1006 of the surface cleaning apparatus. When the openable portion 1060 is translatably mounted to the main body 1006, the openable portion 1060 may translate in any direction known in the art. For example, the openable portion 1060 may translate upward, downward (see fig. 10B), forward (see fig. 11A), rearward, and/or laterally.

It should be appreciated that the openable portion 1060 may be rotated, translated, or moved in any other direction.

Movement of the openable portion 1060 from the closed position to the open position, and vice versa, may be controlled by any means known in the art. For example, a handle (not shown) may be provided on the outer surface 1118 of the openable portion 1060 for grasping by a user. Alternatively, the openable portion 1060 may open when the actuator 1120 is actuated. The actuator 1120 may be mechanical or electromechanical.

Optionally, the openable portion 1060 may include a stop to limit movement of the openable portion. For example, a portion of the openable portion 1060 may engage a portion of the main body 1006 of the surface cleaning apparatus to limit rotation of the openable portion 1060.

The openable portion 1060 may be maintained in the closed position by any means known in the art. For example, the openable portion 1060 may be held in the closed position by a male engagement member (not shown) and a female engagement member (not shown) that engage with each other. More specifically, the openable portion 1060 may include tabs that engage recesses on the body in a friction fit manner to retain the openable portion 1060 in the closed position. In some examples, a mechanical lock or an electromechanical lock may be used to hold the openable portion 1060 in the closed position. Alternatively, the openable portion 1060 may be biased to the closed position. Any locking means known in the art may be used.

Position of openable portion

According to this aspect of the invention, which may be used alone or in combination with one or more other aspects of the invention, the openable portion 1060 may be located anywhere along the air treatment member 1008 if an openable portion is provided.

For example, the openable portion 1060 may be a portion or all of the side wall 1084 of the air treatment member 1008, as shown in fig. 1H. Alternatively, the openable portion 1060 may be a portion or all of the front end wall 1076 of the air treatment member 1008 as shown in fig. 12C. It should be appreciated that the openable portion 1060 may be part or all of the rear end wall 1086 of the air treatment member 1008. In any such case, the openable portion 1060 may be located at least partially at the upper end 1018, the lower end 1020, and/or intermediate the upper end 1018 and the lower end 1020 of the surface cleaning apparatus.

It should be appreciated that if openable portion 1060 is a portion or all of front end wall 1076 and/or rear end wall 1086, the openable portion may also include a portion of side walls 1124 and/or 1184. Accordingly, openable portion 1060 may open the front and/or rear ends of the air treatment chamber and/or dirt collection chamber.

The openable portion 1060 may be located at any position along the air treatment member 1008, but the openable portion 1060 may also include any portion of the air treatment member 1008. That is, the openable portion 1060 may include only a portion of the air treatment chamber 1044, only a portion of the dirt collection chamber 1032, or may include a portion of the air treatment chamber 1044 and a portion of the dirt collection chamber 1032. Openable portion 1060 may also include a portion of outer surface 1062 of the surface cleaning apparatus.

The openable portion 1060 can open both the air treatment chamber 1044 and the dirt collection chamber 1032. For example, in the example shown in fig. 1H, the dirt collection chamber 1032 is an external dirt collection chamber 1042, and the openable portion 1060 includes a portion of a side wall 1084 of the air treatment chamber 1044 and a portion of a side wall 1124 of the dirt collection chamber 1032. Accordingly, when the openable portion 1060 moves to the open position, the openable portion 1060 opens both the air treatment chamber 1044 and the dirt collection chamber 1032. More specifically, in the example shown in FIG. 1H, the dirt collection chamber 1032 has a dirt collection chamber sidewall 1124 spaced apart from the cyclone chamber sidewall 1084. As shown, a portion of the dirt collection chamber 1032 may be located between the cyclone chamber side wall 1084 and the dirt collection chamber side wall 1124, with the openable portion 1060 including at least a portion of the dirt collection chamber side wall 1124 and a portion of the cyclone chamber side wall 1084.

Optionally, as discussed in more detail later, and as shown in fig. 11, the openable portion 1060 may also open the energy storage chamber 1140 of the surface cleaning apparatus when moving from the closed position to the open position.

Multiple openable portions

According to this aspect of the invention, which may be used alone or in combination with one or more other aspects of the invention, the air treatment member 1008 or air treatment chamber 1044 of the surface cleaning apparatus may include a plurality of openable portions 1060.

The two or more openable portions 1060 may be opened simultaneously, sequentially (the second openable portion is automatically opened after the first openable portion has been partially or fully opened), or the user may select whether to open one or both of the first and second openable portions.

It should be appreciated that each openable portion 1060 may have its own handle or actuator. Alternatively, a single handle or actuator may be operable to open each openable portion 1060. That is, operation of a single actuator 1120 may open a plurality of openable portions 1060. For example, the first openable portion 1060a may be drivingly connected to the second openable portion 1060b, and thus, opening the first openable portion 1060a may drive the second openable portion 1060b toward or into the open position.

In some examples, the first openable portion 1060a may hold the second openable portion 1060b in the closed position when the first openable portion 1060a is in the closed position. That is, the actuator 1120 may be operatively connected to the first openable portion 1060a and the first openable portion 1060a may be operatively connected to the second openable portion 1060b such that when the actuator 1120 is moved to the open position, the first openable portion 1060a is opened and opening the first openable portion 1060a opens the second openable portion 1060b.

For example, as shown in fig. 4, the surface cleaning apparatus is shown having a first openable section 1060a and a second openable section 1060b. The first openable portion 1060a and the second openable portion 1060b move like a bomb door (i.e., they rotate away from each other when moving from the closed position to the open position). In the example shown in fig. 4, each of the first and second movable portions 1060a and 1060b may be opened simultaneously. It should be appreciated that a first portion (e.g., male portion) of the locking member may be disposed on the first movable portion 1060a, while a second portion (e.g., female portion) of the locking member may be disposed on the second movable portion 10606. Thus, unlocking the locking member will cause both openable portions 1060a, 1060b to open at the same time. One or both of the openable portions 1060a, 1060b may be biased to an open position by a biasing member (e.g., a spring).

As discussed above, the openable portion 1060 may be moved to an open position to facilitate the evacuation of debris from the air treatment member 1008 (i.e., from the air treatment chamber 1044 and/or the dirt collection chamber 1032), and/or (b) the openable portion 1060 may be moved to an open position to facilitate the shedding of compacted debris within the air treatment member 1008.

Accordingly, the surface cleaning apparatus may have a first openable portion 1060a and a second openable portion 1060b, the first openable portion 1060a may facilitate the discharge of debris from the air treatment member 1008 and/or the external dirt collection chamber when moving from the closed position to the open position, and the second openable portion 1060b may facilitate or shed compacted debris (e.g., compacted debris in corners or compacted debris blocking the dirt outlet 1052).

Fig. 15A and 15B illustrate an example surface cleaning apparatus having a first openable portion 1060a and a second openable portion 1060B, the first openable portion 1060a facilitating the discharge of debris from the air treatment member 1008 when moving from the closed position to the open position, the second openable portion 1060B including a portion of the periphery 1078 opening the dirt outlet 1052, thereby facilitating the shedding of compacted debris.

In the example shown in fig. 15A and 15B, each of the first openable portion 1060a and the second openable portion 1060B is independently operable. That is, the first openable portion 1060a may be opened, while the second openable portion 1060b may be left in the closed position. Alternatively, as previously discussed with respect to the embodiment of fig. 4 or subsequently with respect to the embodiment of fig. 18A-18G, the first openable portion 1060a and the second openable portion 1060b may be opened simultaneously, or alternatively they may be opened sequentially (e.g., once one of the openable portions is opened, the other of the openable portions may be unlocked so as to be openable, or one of the openable portions may be drivingly connected to the other of the openable portions such that opening one of the openable portions may drive the other of the openable portions to the open position). More specifically, the cyclone assembly 1026 has a first openable portion 1060a that includes a dirt collection chamber 1032 and a front end wall 1076 of the air treatment chamber 1044. The cyclone assembly 1026 is shown to have a second openable section 1060b that includes a side wall 1124 of the dirt collection chamber 1032 and a portion (e.g., the lower end of the example) of the side wall 1084 of the air treatment chamber 1044. As shown, the first openable portion 1060a is movably mounted to the hand-held vacuum cleaner 1000 in a first position and the second openable portion 1060b is movably mounted to the hand-held vacuum cleaner 1000 in a second position. Alternatively, as shown, the first position may be spaced from the second position in a direction transverse to the cyclone axis of rotation 1050. Alternatively, as shown, the first location may be axially spaced from the second location. Alternatively, as shown in the example of fig. 14C, the first and second openable portions 1060a, 1060b may be located at the same portion (e.g., the same end) of the air treatment member 1008.

In the example shown in fig. 15B, the first openable portion 1060a is movably mounted to the main body 1006 at the front end 1014 of the main body 1006. Specifically, the first openable portion 1060a is movably mounted to the main body 1006 at the front end 1014 of the main body 1006 such that the first openable portion 1060a includes only the air treatment chamber 1044 and the front end wall 1076 of the dirt collection chamber 1032. Alternatively, the first openable portion 1060a may be movably mounted along at least one of the first and second laterally opposite sides 1114, 1116 of the main body 1006 or an upper end of the main body 1006, as shown in fig. 16B. Accordingly, the first openable portion 1060a can include a portion of the side wall 1084 of the air treatment chamber 1044 and the rear end wall 1086 of the air treatment chamber 1044 and dirt collection chamber 1032.

Another example is shown in fig. 14A-14D. As shown in fig. 14C, when the first openable portion 1060a is in the open position, debris may be discharged from the dirt collection chamber 1032. When the second openable portion 1060b is in the open position, the dirt outlet 1052 of the air treatment member 1008 is opened and debris may be expelled from the air treatment chamber 1044.

It has been found that the velocity of the accumulation of debris in the dirt collection chamber 1032 may be greater than the velocity of the compaction and accumulation of debris within the air treatment chamber 1044 and/or the dirt outlet 1052. Accordingly, it may not be necessary to open the air treatment chamber 1044 and/or the dirt outlet 1052 each time the dirt collection chamber 1032 is opened to expel debris from the dirt collection chamber 1032. It may be desirable not to open the air treatment chamber 1044 and/or the dirt outlet 1052 each time the dirt collection chamber 1032 is opened to reduce wear of the components used in opening the air treatment chamber 1044 and/or the dirt outlet 1052. Accordingly, instead of a single actuator opening both openable portions 106a, 106b, two actuators may be provided, one for opening a respective one of the openable portions 1060a, 1060 b. Alternatively, a single actuator having two positions may be provided. When moved to the first position, one openable portion 1060a is opened, and when moved further to the second position, the other openable portion 1060a, 1060b is opened.

The openable portion being flexible

According to this aspect of the invention, which may be used alone or in combination with one or more other aspects of the invention, the openable portion 1060 may be made of any material known in the art. In some examples, one or more openable portions 1060 may be made of the same material as the main body 1006 and/or the air treatment member 1008. In other examples, openable portion 1060 may be, for example, flexible film 1130.

Referring now to fig. 18A-18G, there is shown one example of a hand-held vacuum cleaner 1000 in which the openable portion 1060b is or includes a flexible membrane 1130 (e.g., an elastomeric material). 18D and 18G, when the openable portion 1060b is in the open position, a portion of the air treatment chamber side wall 1084 (which optionally includes the dirt outlet 1052) and a portion of the dirt collection chamber side wall 1124 translate outwardly from their operational positions, thereby forming an opening 1126 in the outer surface 1062 of the surface cleaning apparatus. Thus, in the illustrated example, when the openable portion 1060b is in the open position, debris within the air treatment chamber 1044 and/or dirt collection chamber 1032 can be discharged from the surface cleaning apparatus via the openings 1146 (fig. 18G) left in the air treatment chamber side wall 1084 and dirt collection chamber side wall 1124 by moving the openable portion 1060 b. In the illustrated example, moving the openable portion 1060b from the closed position to the open position may also loosen debris within the air treatment chamber 1044, the dirt collection chamber 1032, and/or the dirt outlet 1052 connecting the air treatment chamber 1044 to the dirt collection chamber 1032 that may have been compacted.

Alternatively, when the openable portion 1060b is in the open position, a portion of the air treatment chamber sidewall 1084 (which portion optionally includes the dirt outlet 1052) translates outwardly from its operational position, thereby enlarging the dirt outlet.

If a portion or all of the openable portion is flexible, the openable portion may deform when an actuator acts thereon. The actuator may be movable, for example axially as discussed later, or angularly about a portion of the outer circumference of the hand-held vacuum cleaner.

Referring to fig. 18B and 18E, in the illustrated example, the openable portion 1060B includes a cam surface 1132 and a user-activated button 1134, the user-activated button 1134 being drivingly connected to an actuator 1120 (e.g., a wedge, see fig. 18E). As shown, the actuator 1120 may abut the cam surface 1132 such that when a user of the handheld vacuum cleaner 1000 translates the button 1134 axially forward, axial movement of the actuator 1120 along with the button 1134 may cause the cam surface 1132 to travel angularly along the actuator 1120 (i.e., upward in fig. 8E), thereby driving the second openable portion 1060B from the closed position (fig. 18B) to the open position (fig. 18E). Optionally, the button 1134 (and thus the actuator 1120) may be biased to the closed position. In the example shown, a spring (not shown) is used to bias the user activated button 1134 to the closed position of the openable portion 1060 b. It should be appreciated that if the openable portion 1060b is flexible, the openable portion 1060b may provide some or all of the biasing force. Alternatively, a handle may be provided on the outer surface 1118 of the openable portion 1060 for a user to grasp and pull the openable portion 1060 from the closed position to the open position.

As shown, the button 1134 may be drivingly connected to the locking member 1152 of the first openable portion 1060a, for example, by an association member 1150. As illustrated, the locking member 1152 may be in the form of a rocker switch and is pivotally mounted about a pivot 1154. When the button 1134 is moved axially forward, the associated member 1150 may drive the rear end 1152a of the locking member 1152 inwardly, while the front end 1152b of the locking member 1152 may rotate outwardly, disengaging the lip 1156 and unlocking the first openable portion 1060A, and moving the first openable portion 1060A from the closed position (fig. 18A) to the open position (fig. 18D), such as by a biasing spring provided as part of the pivot 1110 when a user of the handheld vacuum cleaner 1000 translates the button 1134 axially forward.

Energy storage component

According to this aspect of the invention, which may be used alone or in combination with one or more other aspects of the invention, the surface cleaning apparatus may be powered by the energy storage member 1074, the energy storage member 1074 may be any suitable device (e.g., including one or more batteries, capacitors) that may be provided as part of a pack (pack).

Alternatively, the energy storage member may be rechargeable (optionally when installed in a hand-held vacuum cleaner), or may be a replaceable non-rechargeable battery. Alternatively, or in addition to being powered by the energy storage means 1074, the surface cleaning device may be powered by an electrical cord connected to the surface cleaning device (which may be connected to a standard wall outlet).

Type of energy storage member

The energy storage member 1074 may include any suitable number of batteries, and may include, for example, lithium ion battery cells, lithium polymer batteries, and/or prismatic or pouch-type batteries. Alternatively, the energy storage member 1074 may include a plurality of prismatic or pouch-shaped cells, which may be arranged in one or more longitudinally extending rows. The row of prismatic or pouch-type cells may include a multi-layered prismatic or pouch-type cell.

Any number of batteries may be used to create a power supply with the desired voltage and current, and any type of energy storage means 1074 may be used, including nickel metal hydride batteries, alkaline batteries, and the like. The energy storage member 1074 may be of any known design and may be electrically connected to the handheld vacuum cleaner 1000 by any means known in the art.

Position of energy storage member

The energy storage member 1074 may be located anywhere within the surface cleaning apparatus.

The energy storage member 1074 may be housed within the energy storage chamber 1140. Accordingly, the energy storage chamber 1140 may be located anywhere within the surface cleaning apparatus.

More than one energy storage member 1074 may be housed within a single energy storage chamber 1140. It may be desirable to house the energy storage member 1074 within the energy storage chamber 1140 to separate the energy storage member 1074 from any debris that may pass through the surface cleaning apparatus. The energy storage chamber 1140 may also protect the energy storage member 1074 from accidental damage, such as puncture.

As shown in fig. 1F, the energy storage member 1074 may be positioned radially outward from the air treatment chamber 1044. That is, a plane transverse to the central axis 1050 of the air treatment chamber 1044 may intersect the air treatment chamber 1044 and the energy storage member 1074.

The energy storage member 1074 can be positioned forward, rearward of the dirt collection chamber 1032 and/or laterally beside the dirt collection chamber 1032. In the example shown in fig. 1D and 1E, the energy storage member 1074 is located forward of the first portion 1032a of the dirt collection chamber 1032 and laterally beside the second portion 1032b of the dirt collection chamber 1032.

Thus, as shown in the example of fig. 1E, the energy storage member 1074 can be located beside the dirt collection chamber 1032 and extend axially with the dirt collection chamber 1032. Further, as discussed later, the energy storage member 1074 is accessible to the dirt collection chamber 1032. It should be appreciated that two or more energy storage members 1074a, 1074b may be provided and located in separate compartments 1040a, 1040b (see fig. 1E) or in a single compartment.

As a second example, as shown in fig. 8C, the energy storage member 1074 may be located rearward of the air handling member 1008. Alternatively, as shown in fig. 8C, the energy storage member 1074 may be located above the pre-motor filter 1066 and/or the motor and fan assembly 1022. That is, the motor and fan assembly 1022 may have an axis of rotation 1138, and a plane transverse to the axis of rotation 1138 may intersect the energy storage member 1074 and the motor and fan assembly 1022.

In the example shown in fig. 22A-22D, the energy storage member 1074 is located rearward of the handle 1004.

As a third example, the energy storage member 1074 may be located in the handle 1004 as shown in fig. 13.

As a fourth example, the energy storage member 1074 may form part of the outer surface 1062 of the surface cleaning device, as shown in fig. 19 and 20. When forming a portion of the outer surface 1062 of the surface cleaning apparatus, the energy storage member 1074 may be located on the upper end 1018, lower end 1020, and/or lateral sides 1114, 1116 of the surface cleaning apparatus (which includes the upper, lower, and/or lateral sides of the handle 1004). While the examples shown in fig. 19 and 20 illustrate the energy storage chamber 1140 protruding from the outer surface 1062 of the hand-held vacuum cleaner 1000, in some embodiments (e.g., see fig. 22A), a smooth transition may occur from a portion of the outer surface 1062 defined by the energy storage chamber 1140 to a portion of the outer surface 1062 defined by the energy storage chamber 1140. As shown in the fig. 22A example, a row of energy storage members 1074a may be provided along the top of the air handling member, while a row of energy storage members 1074b may be provided along the top of the body 1006, the body 1006 may house a suction motor and one or more filters, and optionally may house additional energy storage members, as shown in the fig. 22D example. In such embodiments, the energy storage member extending along the top of the air handling member 1008 and the main body 1006 may be pouch or prismatic batteries that are thin and may be arranged to increase the height of the hand held vacuum cleaner by, for example, 10-20mm. The energy storage member may not extend along the top of the handle 1004 and thus may help define the handle 1004 because the top of the handle 1004 may be recessed inward due to the absence of the energy storage member extending along the top of the handle 1004.

Alternatively, for example, the energy storage member 1074 may extend from the front end 1014 of the surface cleaning device to the rear end 1016 of the surface cleaning device, including along the top of the handle 1004 in fig. 22A.

It should be appreciated that the locations of the energy storage members 1074 described herein are not mutually exclusive. As shown in the example of fig. 22D, the energy storage member 1074c may be positioned radially outward from both the air treatment chamber 1044 and the motor and fan assembly 1022, while the additional energy storage members 1074a and 1074b extend along a portion or all of the entire length of the surface cleaning device (including within the handle 1004/along the handle 1004).

Alternatively, the energy storage chamber 1140 may comprise part of other components of the surface cleaning apparatus. For example, as shown in FIG. 1E, a portion of the dirt collection chamber sidewall 1124 and a portion of the cyclone chamber sidewall 1084 each define a sidewall 1142 of the energy storage chamber 1140.

Multiple energy storage components

According to this aspect of the invention, which may be used alone or in combination with one or more other aspects of the invention, the energy storage member 1074 may be divided between two locations within the surface cleaning apparatus.

Each of the first and second energy storage members 1074a, 1074b may be used to simultaneously power a surface cleaning device. Alternatively, the first and second energy storage members 1074a, 1074b may independently power the surface cleaning device.

Each of the first and second energy storage members 1074a, 1074b may be contained within a separate energy storage chamber 1140. As shown in the example of fig. 1E, first and second energy storage members 1074a, 1074b are located in first and second energy storage chambers 1040a, 1040 b.

It should be appreciated that the first and second energy storage chambers 1040a, 1040b may be located in the same portion on the hand-held vacuum cleaner, and they may be spaced apart from each other in the lateral direction (e.g., they may extend simultaneously). As shown in fig. 1E, the first and second energy storage chambers 1040a and 1040b extend simultaneously with the dirt collection chamber 1032, but are located on opposite lateral sides of the dirt collection chamber 1032. Alternatively, the first and second energy storage members 1074a, 1074b may be located at different locations within the surface cleaning apparatus. For example, the first location may be spaced apart from the second location in a forward/rearward (axial) direction. Optionally, the first location is spaced apart from the second location in both the forward/rearward and lateral directions.

For example, referring to fig. 22A, there may be a first energy storage member that extends forward of the handle 1004 on the outer surface 1062 of the surface cleaning device and rearward of the handle 1004 on the outer surface 1062 of the surface cleaning device. Thus, the handle 1004 may be devoid of an energy storage member.

Fig. 21B shows a second example of a surface cleaning apparatus having a separate energy storage member 1074. In the example shown in fig. 21B, a first energy storage member 1074a is located in the body 1006 and a second energy storage member 1074B is located in the handle 1004. In the illustrated example, the first energy storage member 1074a is positioned axially from the dirt collection chamber 1032, wherein a projection of the energy storage member 1074a intersects the dirt collection chamber 1032.

Proximity energy storage member

According to this aspect of the invention, which may be used alone or in combination with one or more other aspects of the invention, the energy storage member 1074 may be accessed by any means known in the art. For example, the energy storage member 1074 may be accessed when it is charged or replaced. The energy storage member 1074 may be charged within the surface cleaning apparatus or the energy storage member 1074 may be removed from the surface cleaning apparatus for charging.

The surface cleaning apparatus may include an energy storage chamber door 1144, the energy storage chamber door 1144 being openable to allow access to the energy storage member 1074. Optionally, the energy storage chamber door 1144 may include a portion of the outer surface 1062 of the surface cleaning apparatus. As shown in fig. 1F, in the illustrated example, the handheld vacuum cleaner 1000 includes a first energy storage chamber door 1144a for opening a first energy storage chamber 1140a, and a second energy storage chamber door 1144b for opening a second energy storage chamber 1140 b. Alternatively, the first and second energy storage chambers 1040a, 1040b may be opened when the dirt collection chamber door is open (e.g., if the front end 1014 in fig. 1A is a front openable door as shown in fig. 12C, or when the openable portion 1060 in the embodiment of fig. 11 is moved from the closed position to the open position).

As shown in fig. 12C, the open openable portion 1060 may alternatively be accessed to power the power source coupling 1148 to power (e.g., charge) the energy storage member 1074. Any suitable power coupler 1148 may be used, for example, a female coupler configured to receive a male coupler of an electrical cord connectable to an ac or dc power source (e.g., a household electrical outlet).

Cyclone unit

According to this aspect of the invention, which may be used alone or in combination with one or more other aspects of the invention, the air handling member 1008 of the surface cleaning apparatus may be a cyclone assembly 1026.

As shown in the example of fig. 1A-1H, the cyclone assembly 1026 may include a cyclone chamber 1030 (shown as a single flow cyclone chamber 1030) and a dirt collection chamber 1032 located outside the cyclone chamber 1030. The dirt collection chamber 1032 may be in communication with the dirt outlet 1052 to receive debris separated from the airflow by the cyclone chamber 1030. In the illustrated example, the cyclone air inlet 1034 and the dirt outlet 1052 are positioned towards opposite ends 1036, 1040 of the cyclone chamber 1030, and the cyclone chamber air outlet 1038 is positioned towards the same end (rear end 1040 in the illustration) as the dirt outlet 1052. In this configuration, dirty air may enter at the front end 1036 of the cyclone chamber 1030, while cleaner air and separated dirt particles both exit the cyclone chamber 1030 at the opposite rear end 1040.

In this embodiment, the cyclone chamber 1030 has a front end wall 1076 and an opposite rear end wall 1086, the rear end wall 1086 being spaced apart from the front end wall 1076 along the cyclone axis 1050, air circulating within the cyclone chamber 1030 about the cyclone axis 1050 during operation of the surface cleaning apparatus. The cyclone chamber side walls 1084 extend between the front end wall 1076 and the rear end wall 1086. In the example shown, when the hand-held vacuum cleaner 1000 is oriented with the upper end 1018 above the lower end 1020, the cyclone axis 1050 is generally horizontal and more nearly horizontal than vertical, such as ±20°, ±15°, ±10°, or ±5° from the horizontal. As illustrated, the cyclone axis 1050 may be substantially parallel to the inlet conduit axis 1072 of the inlet conduit 1070, for example within ±20°, ±15°, ±10°, or ±5°, and vertically offset below the inlet conduit axis 1072 of the inlet conduit 1070, with both the cyclone chamber 1030 and the dirt collection chamber 1032 being located below the inlet conduit axis 1072.

In the embodiment shown in fig. 1D, the height 1056 and width (i.e., diameter in the example shown) of the cyclone chamber 1030 are substantially constant along its length 1158. That is, the height 1056 and width at the front end 1036 of the cyclone chamber 1030 in a direction transverse to the cyclone axis of rotation 1050 is substantially equal to the height 1056 and width at the rear end 1040 of the cyclone chamber 1030 in a direction transverse to the cyclone axis of rotation 1050.

Alternatively, as shown in fig. 23-25, the height 1056 and/or width of the cyclone chamber 1030 can increase along its length 1158 (i.e., the cyclone chamber 1030 can have a stepped cyclone chamber sidewall 1084). That is, the height 1056 and/or width of the cyclone chamber 1030 at the front end 1036 in a direction transverse to the cyclone axis of rotation 1050 may be less than the height 1056 and/or width of the cyclone chamber 1030 at the rear end 1040 in a direction transverse to the cyclone axis of rotation 1050. The cyclone chamber having a stepped cyclone chamber sidewall 1084 will be further discussed below.

Referring back to fig. 1A-1H, in this embodiment, the cyclone air inlet 1034 is a tangential air inlet 1160, which tangential air inlet 1160 terminates in an outlet end 1162 or port, as illustrated, formed in the cyclone sidewall 1084 adjacent the front end wall 1076, optionally in an upper portion of the cyclone sidewall 1084 (see, e.g., fig. 1F). Alternatively, the cyclone air inlet 1034 may be provided in an alternative location, such as in the front end wall 1076 (see fig. 8C).

The cyclone air inlet 1034 is fluidly connected to the dirty air inlet 1002 by an inlet duct 1070. The cyclone air inlet 1034 may have any suitable arrangement and/or configuration, which in the example shown in fig. 1D is configured as a tangential air inlet. As shown in fig. 1D, connecting the cyclone air inlet 1034 to the dirty air inlet 1002 may reduce or eliminate the need for additional bending or airflow direction changes between the dirty air inlet 1002 and the cyclone chamber 1030. Reducing the length of the tubing and the number of bends can help reduce back pressure and airflow losses in the airflow path.

Positioning the cyclone air inlet 1034 toward the front end 1036 of the cyclone chamber 1030 may help facilitate a desired airflow configuration within the cyclone chamber 1030. For example, in this configuration, the cyclone chamber 1030 itself serves as part of the airflow path that transports air rearwardly from the front end 1014 of the surface cleaning apparatus without the need for a separate fluid conduit.

In the example shown, the cyclone air inlet 1034 is directly adjacent the front end wall 1076. Alternatively, the cyclone air inlet 1034 may be axially spaced from the front end wall 1076 and may be located at another position along the length of the cyclone chamber 1030.

As shown in fig. 1D, the cyclone chamber air outlet 1038 may be provided in the rear end wall 1086 of the cyclone chamber 1030. The cyclone chamber air outlet 1038 may include an axially extending vortex finder 1170, and the vortex finder 1170 may extend from the rear end wall 1086 and may be aligned with the cyclone chamber air outlet 1038.

The vortex finder 1170 may have any shape and configuration known in the art. In the example shown in fig. 1D, the vortex finder 1170 is tapered toward the cyclone air inlet 1034 of the cyclone chamber 1030 and has a circular cross section.

As shown in fig. 1D, vortex finder 1170 may include a conduit portion 1172. The conduit portion 1172 may be of any shape and configuration known in the art and may extend inwardly within the cyclone chamber 1030. For example, the conduit portion 1172 shown in fig. 1D is frustoconical, while in other examples, the conduit portion 1172 may be cylindrical. In some examples, conduit portion 1172 may taper at an angle of up to 25 °, alternatively 2 ° to 15 °,3 ° to 9 °, or 4 ° to 7 °. As illustrated, all of the conduit portion 1172 may be void-free (i.e., gas impermeable or non-porous).

As shown, conduit portion 1172 may have an inlet end 1174 and an outlet end 1176. The outlet end 1176 of the conduit portion 1172 may be bonded (e.g., glued, welded, etc.) to the rear end wall 1086 of the outlet end of the cyclone chamber 1030. Alternatively, the conduit portion 1172 may be an integral part of the rear end wall 1086 of the outlet end of the cyclone chamber 1030 (i.e., in some examples, the rear end wall 1086 of the outlet end and the conduit portion 1172 may be formed from the same piece).

In the example shown in fig. 1D, the vortex finder 1170 also includes a porous portion 1180 (i.e., a screen portion) at its forward end. In some examples, as discussed in more detail below, vortex finder 1170 may consist of porous portion 1180 or consist essentially of porous portion 1180 (i.e., it may not include conduit portion 1172). Porous portion 1180 may have any shape and configuration known in the art. For example, porous portion 1180 may be tapered, as shown in FIG. 1D. As a second example, porous portion 1180 may be cylindrical (i.e., linear).

The length 1182 of the porous portion 1180 in the axial direction may be equal to the length 1184 of the cyclone air inlet 1034 in the axial direction (see, e.g., fig. 5D). Alternatively, the length 1182 of the porous portion 1180 in the axial direction may be 1 to 10 times, 1.25 to 8 times, 1.5 to 6 times, 1.5 to 4 times, 2 to 6 times, or 2 to 4 times the length 1184 of the cyclone air inlet 1034 in the axial direction.

When tapered, the porous portion 1180 may be tapered at an angle of up to 25 °, alternatively, an angle of 2 ° to 15 °,3 ° to 9 °, or 4 ° to 7 °. As shown, the porous portion 1180 may extend inwardly in the cyclone chamber 1030 from the inlet end 1174 of the conduit portion 1172.

Positioning the cyclone chamber air outlet 1038 toward the rear end 1040 (optionally in the rear end wall 1086) may help facilitate a desired airflow through the cyclone chamber 1030 such that air travels generally axially through the cyclone chamber 1030 from the front end wall 1176 toward the rear end wall 1086 while swirling.

Positioning the cyclone chamber air outlet 1038 in the rear end wall 1086 of the cyclone chamber 1030 may also help facilitate airflow connection between the cyclone chamber 1030 and other downstream components in the hand-held vacuum cleaner 1000 (e.g., the pre-motor filter housing 1064 and the suction motor housing 1024). In the illustrated embodiment, the cyclone chamber air outlet 1038 is disposed in the rear end wall 1086 and is connected to the pre-motor filter housing 1064 by a duct. This may help to simplify the airflow path and structure of the hand-held vacuum cleaner 1000. Alternatively, the airflow path may comprise one or more additional ducts connected downstream from the cyclone chamber air outlet 1038.

In this configuration, air traveling through the hand-held vacuum cleaner 1000 will travel generally rearwardly along the inlet duct 1070 (i.e., parallel to the inlet duct axis 1072) and then enter the tangential air inlet 1160, which tangential air inlet 1160 substantially changes the direction of the air to travel generally downwardly through the cyclone air inlet 1034 (i.e., generally orthogonal to the cyclone axis 1050). The air may then circulate within the cyclone chamber 1030 and travel generally rearwardly toward the cyclone chamber air outlet 1038, after traveling in a rearward direction (i.e., generally parallel to the cyclone axis 1050) through the vortex guide 1170, ultimately exiting the cyclone chamber 1030 via the cyclone chamber air outlet 1038. In this configuration, the airflow is redirected only once between entering the dirty air inlet 1002 and exiting the cyclone chamber air outlet 1038 (and only by approximately 90 °, which may be achieved by the tangential air inlet 1160).

The cyclone dirt outlet 1052 may be of any suitable configuration, in the embodiment shown an opening, provided in the cyclone chamber side wall 1084 towards the rear end wall 1086. The dirt outlet 1052 may extend around at least a portion of the perimeter of the cyclone sidewall 1084 and may have any suitable length 1188 in the axial direction (see, e.g., fig. 17). As illustrated, the dirt outlet 1052 may be provided only in a lower portion of the cyclone sidewall 1084.

Although the dirt outlet 1052 is shown directly adjacent the rear end wall 1086 such that the dirt outlet 1052 is defined in part by the cyclone side wall 1084 and the rear end wall 1086, the dirt outlet 1052 may be located at other positions along the length of the cyclone side wall 1084, and need not be directly adjacent the rear end wall 1086. Alternatively, the dirt outlet 1052 may be disposed towards the midpoint of the cyclone chamber side wall 1084, or may be disposed towards the front end wall 1076. Although shown with a single dirt outlet 1052, the cyclone chamber 1030 can include two or more dirt outlets 1052 that communicate with the same dirt collection chamber 1032, or alternatively with different dirt collection chambers 1032.

Cyclone chamber with angled and/or stepped cyclone chamber sidewalls

According to this aspect of the invention, which may be used alone or in combination with one or more other aspects of the invention, the cyclone chamber 1030 may have an angled and/or stepped cyclone chamber sidewall 1084.

As exemplified herein, the cyclone chamber sidewall may be a sidewall 1084 defining a first height 1056 and/or width (e.g., diameter) of the cyclone chamber 1030 at a front end 1036 of the cyclone chamber 1030 and defining a second height 1056 and/or width (e.g., diameter) of the cyclone chamber 1030 at a rear end 1040 of the cyclone chamber 1030, wherein the second height 1056 and/or width is greater than the first height 1056 and/or width.

The cyclone chamber sidewall 1084 may have any shape to provide the cyclone chamber 1030, wherein the height 1056 and/or width of the cyclone chamber 1030 at the front end 1036 may be less than the height 1056 and/or width of the cyclone chamber 1030 at the rear end 1040.

As shown in fig. 23, when the upper end 1018 of the handheld vacuum cleaner 1000 is above its lower end 1020, at least a portion of the lower portion 1190 of the cyclone chamber sidewall 1084 may extend downwardly and rearwardly to provide the cyclone chamber 1030, wherein the height 1056 and/or width at the front end 1036 of the cyclone chamber 1030 is less than the height 1056 and/or width at the rear end 1040 of the cyclone chamber 1030. Alternatively, or in addition, the side walls may be stepped, as shown in figures 24 and 25,

In other examples, alternatively or in addition to the lower portion 1190 of the cyclone chamber sidewall 1084 extending downwardly and rearwardly, the upper portion 1192 of the sidewall 1084 may extend upwardly and rearwardly and/or the lateral portion may extend outwardly and rearwardly.

The non-axial extension of the cyclone sidewall 1084 may extend along any path known in the art (i.e., linearly, arcuately, exponentially, stepwise, etc.). In some examples, the cyclone chamber side walls 1084 may extend at an acute angle from the front end wall 1076 of the cyclone chamber 1030. In the example shown in fig. 23, the lower portion 1190 of the cyclone chamber sidewall 1084 extends linearly. In the example shown in fig. 24, the lower portion 1190 of the cyclone chamber sidewall 1084 extends in a stepwise manner of 90 °. In the example shown in fig. 25, the lower portion 1190 of the cyclone chamber sidewall 1084 is stepped in an exponentially curved step.

In the example shown in fig. 23, the lower portion 1190 of the cyclone chamber sidewall 1084 extends downwardly and rearwardly at an angle along the entire length of the cyclone chamber sidewall 1084. In other examples, the lower portion 1190 of the cyclone chamber sidewall 1084 may extend downwardly and rearwardly at an angle along only a portion of the length of the cyclone chamber sidewall 1084.

Alternatively, the cyclone chamber sidewall 1084 may form part of the lower surface 1200 of the surface cleaning apparatus. This configuration may minimize the height of the front end 1014 of the surface cleaning apparatus, thereby allowing the surface cleaning apparatus to extend into confined spaces. In the example shown in fig. 23-25, the cyclone chamber sidewall 1084 comprises a portion of the lower surface 1200 of the hand-held vacuum cleaner 1000.

In some examples, as shown in fig. 23, the cyclone chamber sidewall 1084 may comprise a portion of the lower surface 1200 of the surface cleaning apparatus, and the external dirt collection chamber 1042 may be located below the cyclone chamber sidewall 1084. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 25, the cyclone chamber sidewall 1084 may comprise a portion of the lower surface 1200 of the surface cleaning apparatus, and the external dirt collection chamber 1042 may be located only at the rear of the cyclone chamber 1030.

The height 1056 of the front end 1036 of the cyclone chamber 1030 may be sized relative to the diameter 1202 of the dirty air inlet 1002. In examples where the dirty air inlet 1002 is not circular, the height 1056 of the front end 1036 of the cyclone chamber 1030 may be sized relative to the height 1204 of the dirty air inlet 1002, wherein the height 1204 of the dirty air inlet 1002 is measured along the same axis as the height 1056 of the cyclone chamber 1030. In some examples, the height 1056 of the front end 1036 of the cyclone chamber 1030 is 1-1.5 times the diameter 1202 of the dirty air inlet 1002, 1-1.25 times the diameter 1202 of the dirty air inlet 1002, or 1-1.1 times the diameter 1202 of the dirty air inlet 1002.

Dirt collection chamber connected to an air treatment chamber

According to this aspect of the invention, which may be used alone or in combination with one or more other aspects of the invention, the dirt collection chamber 1032 may be connected to the air treatment chamber 1044. That is, the dirt collection chamber 1032 may be axially positioned from the front end wall 1076 and the rear end (e.g., the rear end wall 1106) of the air treatment chamber 1044 (e.g., the cyclone chamber).

In the example shown in fig. 26E, there is a dirt collection chamber 1032 associated with the air treatment chamber 1044, the dirt collection chamber 1032 being positioned axially (rearwardly) from the rear end wall 1106 of the air treatment chamber 1044 and positioned closer to the rear end wall 1106 than the front end wall 1076. Accordingly, such a dirt collection chamber may be located rearward of the cyclone chamber (rearward of the rear wall 1106) and forward of the rear end of the air treatment member 1008 (e.g., forward of the rear wall 1086).

It should be appreciated that the air treatment member 1008 having a dirt collection chamber or region 1032 associated with the air treatment chamber 1044 may also include an outer, radially outwardly positioned dirt collection chamber 1032.

A surface cleaning apparatus having a dirt collection chamber 1032 connected to an air treatment chamber 1044 may provide a longer but more slim body 1006 than a surface cleaning apparatus having a dirt collection chamber 1032 positioned radially outwardly from the air treatment chamber 1044. The slim body 1006 may extend into a confined space that is inaccessible to the surface cleaning device of the wider body.

The dirt collection chamber 1032 associated with the air treatment chamber 1044 may extend around the entire perimeter of the air treatment chamber 1044, or may extend around only a portion of the perimeter of the air treatment chamber 1044 (e.g., around the cyclone chamber air outlet 1038 in the illustrated example). For example, the dirt collection chamber 1032 may extend around the periphery of the air treatment chamber 1044 between angles of 15 ° -360 °, 30 ° -180 °, or 45 ° -120 °. Optionally, there may be one or more dirt collection chambers 1032, each associated with the air treatment chamber 1044 and each positioned about the periphery of the air treatment chamber 1044. The plurality of dirt collection chambers 1032 together may extend around the periphery of the air treatment chamber 1044 between angles of 15 ° -360 °, 30 ° -180 °, or 45 ° -120 °. That is, for example, there may be a first dirt collection chamber 1032 extending partially angularly about the cyclone chamber air outlet 1038 and at least a second dirt collection chamber 1032 extending partially angularly about the cyclone chamber air outlet 1038, and each of the first and second dirt collection chambers 1032 may be connected to the air treatment chamber 1044. Accordingly, the dirt collection chamber 1032 associated with the air treatment chamber 1044 may encircle some or all of the airflow path extending downstream from the air treatment chamber. Alternatively, as shown in the example of fig. 27, if the pre-motor filter 1066 is partially or fully nested forward, the dirt collection chamber 1032 associated with the air treatment chamber 1044 may surround some or all of the pre-motor filter 1066.

As shown in the example of fig. 26E, the cyclone chamber air outlet 1038 extends axially from the rear end wall 1106 into the air treatment chamber 1044. In the example shown, the rear end wall 1106 of the cyclone chamber 1030 (i.e., the end wall opposite the cyclone air inlet 1034) has a radially outer end 1220, the radially outer end 1220 being located radially inward of the side wall 1084 of the cyclone chamber 1030. Thus, in the illustrated example, the dirt outlet 1052 connecting the cyclone chamber 1030 to the dirt collection chamber 1032 is defined by a radial space or gap between the radially outer end 1220 of the rear end wall 1106 and the side wall 1084 of the cyclone chamber 1030.

Alternatively, as shown, the rear end wall 1106 may extend radially outwardly from the cyclone chamber air outlet 1038 (i.e., a shelf (shell) may extend between the cyclone chamber air outlet 1038 and the dirt outlet 1052). The rear end wall 1086 may extend outwardly in a radial direction from the cyclone chamber air outlet 1038, for example, between 1mm and 25mm, between 3mm and 20mm, or between 4mm and 12 mm.

In other examples, as shown in the example of fig. 28, the rear end wall 1106 may not be provided and the radially inner wall of the associated dirt collection chamber 1032 may extend rearwardly from the vortex guide. Thus, a smooth transition may be provided between the cyclone chamber air outlet 1038 and the dirt collection chamber 1032 (as shown in figure 22D).

In some examples, the dirt collection chamber 1032 associated with the air treatment chamber 1044 may extend around the cyclone chamber air outlet 1038 and may thus define a radially inward cavity 1224, the cavity 1224 being located downstream of the cyclone chamber air outlet 1038. As shown in fig. 26E, the pre-motor filter 1066 may be located within a cavity 1224 defined by the dirt collection chamber 1032. That is, in some examples, some or all of the pre-motor filter 1066 may be located radially inward of the dirt collection chamber 1032, and the radially inner wall of the associated dirt collection chamber may form a manifold for the pre-motor filter 1066. Accordingly, a plane transverse to the air treatment chamber axis 1050 extends through the first dirt collection region and the pre-motor filter. In other examples, other components (e.g., the motor and fan assembly 1022 and/or the energy storage member 1074) can be located radially inward of the dirt collection chamber 1032. Alternatively, the second stage air treatment member 1008 can be located radially inward of the dirt collection chamber 1032.

The dirt collection chamber 1032 associated with the air treatment chamber 1044 may be any shape known in the art. More specifically, the cross-sectional profile of the dirt collection chamber 1032 can be any shape known in the art. In the example shown in fig. 26E, the dirt collection chamber 1032 has an open first end 1226 at the dirt outlet 1052 and an axially spaced second end 1228, the dirt collection chamber 1032 being axially tapered from the first end 1226 to the second end 1228. As a second example, as shown in fig. 13, the cross-section of the dirt collection chamber 1032 is constant along its length.

The dirt collection chamber 1032 can have any depth 1232. For example, in the example shown in fig. 13 and 31B, the depth 1232 of the dirt collection chamber 1032 extends to the rear end 1058 of the pre-motor filter 1066. In the example shown in fig. 30B, the dirt collection chamber 1032 terminates before the rear end 1058 of the pre-motor filter 1066.

The radial width 1230 of the dirt collection chamber 1032 at the dirt outlet 1052 of the air treatment chamber 1044 may be between 3mm and 50mm, between 5mm and 30mm, or between 6mm and 15 mm. The depth 1232 of the dirt collection chamber 1032 in the axial direction may be between 2mm and 100mm, between 5mm and 75mm, or between 10mm and 44 mm.

Optionally, as discussed in more detail later, the dirt collection chamber 1032 can include a baffle 1240 therein.

Baffle plate

According to this aspect of the invention, which may be used alone or in combination with one or more other aspects of the invention, the soil collection chamber 1032 may include one or more baffles 1240.

A baffle 1240 can be positioned in the dirt collection chamber 1032, particularly the dirt collection chamber 1032 in communication with the air treatment chamber 1044, to facilitate the retention of debris within the dirt collection chamber 1032. The baffles may help reduce air movement in the dirt collection chamber 1032.

Alternatively, the baffle 1240 can be positioned within the dirt collection chamber 1032 at an end of the dirt collection chamber 1032 opposite the dirt outlet 1052 (e.g., a rear end as illustrated in fig. 27 and 35A). In the example shown in fig. 27, the dirt collection chamber 1032 has an open first end 1226 at the cyclone chamber air outlet 1038 and an axially spaced second end 1228, the second end 1228 including a second end wall 1242 (which may also be the rear end wall 1086 of the air treatment member 1008). As shown, the baffle 1240 can be disposed on the second end wall 1242 and can extend forward part or all of the axial length of the associated dirt collection chamber 1032. In this case, the baffle 1240 can be spaced apart from the radially inner wall 1244 of the dirt collection chamber 1032 and/or from the radially outer wall 1246 of the dirt collection chamber 1032

Alternatively or additionally, one or more baffles 1240 may (a) be disposed on the radially inner wall 1244 and may extend radially outward, and/or (b) be disposed on the radially outer wall 1246 and may extend radially inward. If baffles are provided on the radially inner or outer wall, the baffles 1240 can be spaced apart from the second end 1228 and/or the open end 1226 of the dirt collection chamber 1032.

The baffles 1240 may be any shape known in the art. Further, there may be any number of baffles 1240 positioned with the dirt collection chamber 1032. In the example shown in fig. 27, each baffle 1240 extends axially toward the open front end 1226 of the dirt collection chamber 1032, and the baffles 1240 are generally transverse to the angular direction. In the example shown, baffles 1240 have a generally rectangular cross-sectional profile in a direction transverse to air treatment chamber axis 1050. In other examples, baffles 1240 may have circular, triangular, square, etc. cross-sectional profiles in a direction transverse to air treatment chamber axis 1050.

In the example shown, baffles 1240 have a constant profile along their height 1248. In other examples, the baffle 1240 can taper toward the dirt outlet 1052 and the dirt collection chamber 1032. The taper of the baffles 1240 may be between 1 deg. -45 deg., between 3 deg. -20 deg., or between 5 deg. -12 deg..

The height 1248 of the baffle 1240 can be between 5% -150%, between 10% -125%, or between 25% -100% of the axial depth 1250 of the dirt collection chamber 1032.

The width 1252 of the baffle 1240 can be between 5% -100%, between 10% -60%, or between 25% -50% of the radial width 1254 of the dirt collection chamber 1032.

Cyclone chamber with slot shaped dirt outlet

According to this aspect of the invention, which may be used alone or in combination with one or more other aspects of the invention, the cyclone chamber 1030 may have a slot-shaped dirt outlet 1052 (i.e., slot-shaped dirt outlet 1260).

The slot-shaped dirt outlet 1260 may connect the cyclone chamber 1030 to the external dirt collection chamber 1042 such that debris separated from the airflow within the cyclone chamber 1030 may be communicated to and stored in the dirt collection chamber 1032. As described below, the slot-shaped dirt outlet 1260 is defined in part by a side wall 1262 common to each of the cyclone chamber 1030 and the dirt collection chamber 1032.

An example of a slot-shaped dirt outlet 1260 is shown in fig. 32B. As shown in the illustrated example, the slot-shaped dirt outlet 1260 is located in a side wall 1084 of the cyclone chamber 1030. Accordingly, the slot-shaped dirt outlet 1260 has an upstream side 1264 in the direction of air rotation in the cyclone chamber 1030 and a downstream side 1266 in the direction of air rotation in the cyclone chamber 1030.

Outside of the cyclone chamber 1030 is a dirt collection chamber 1032. As shown, the dirt collection chamber 1032 can be defined in part by at least first and second opposing walls 1268, 1270. In the illustrated example, the dirt collection chamber 1032 extends only partially around the cyclone chamber, and thus illustratively has a third wall 1272 opposite the channel-shaped dirt outlet 1260, the third wall 1272 extending between the first and second opposite walls 1268, 1270. It will be appreciated that the dirt collection chamber may extend around the entire cyclone chamber.

As shown, the first opposing wall 1268 is an extension of the side wall 1084 of the cyclone chamber 1030. Specifically, the inner surface 1274 of the first opposing wall 1268 is an extension of the inner surface 1276 of the side wall 1084 of the cyclone chamber 1030. In other words, the first opposing wall 1268 extends continuously from the downstream side 1266 of the slot-shaped dirt outlet 1260. Accordingly, the first opposing wall 1268 and the side wall 1084 of the cyclone chamber 1030 may comprise continuous uninterrupted surfaces.

The slot-shaped dirt outlet 1260 can have any angular length 1278 (i.e., length in the direction of airflow) and an axial length 1280. Alternatively, the slot-shaped dirt outlet 1260 extends at least 50%, 75% or 90% of the axial length of the cyclone chamber 1030.

As the air swirls within the cyclone chamber 1030, the air flow passes over the slot-shaped dirt outlet 1260. In addition to the dirt outlet 1260, the cyclone chamber may be circular and the angular projection of the cyclone chamber sidewall 1084 in the angular length direction of the dirt outlet 1260 may define a circle with the cyclone chamber sidewall 1084 in a plane transverse to the cyclone axis.

Still referring to FIG. 32B, as the airflow passes over the slot-shaped dirt outlet 1260, the airflow continues to swirl around the cyclone chamber 1030. However, the entrained debris is heavy, may not pass over the dirt outlet, and thus may travel through the dirt outlet 1260 into the dirt collection chamber. Further, after passing over the dirt outlet 1260, some of the debris may strike the sidewall 1262, and the entrained debris within the airflow may be separated from the airflow and may pass through the slot-shaped dirt outlet 1260 and be collected in the dirt collection chamber 1032.

Alternatively, the first opposing wall 1268 may tangentially incorporate the side wall 1262 (e.g., the first opposing wall 1268 may be a curved wall) (as shown in fig. 32B) such that (a) the airflow is encouraged to continue to spiral within the cyclone chamber 1030, and (B) debris separated from the airflow may slide along the side wall 1262 as it transitions to the first opposing wall 1268 of the dirt collection chamber 1032 without any obstruction impeding its movement.

There may be a screen (not shown) extending across the slot-shaped dirt outlet 1260. The screen may prevent larger debris from collecting in the dirt collection chamber 1032 connected to the trough-shaped dirt outlet 1260.

It should be appreciated that the surface cleaning apparatus can have a trough-shaped dirt outlet 1260 connected to the first dirt collection chamber 1032 and any other dirt outlet discussed herein.

Porous member with axially extending dimples

According to this aspect of the invention, which may be used alone or in combination with one or more other aspects of the invention, the air treatment chamber outlet 1048 may include an axially extending porous member 1180, the axially extending porous member 1180 having at least one axially extending dimple 1286.

The axially extending porous member 1180 may act as a screen that allows air to pass through and may prevent debris such as hair from entering the pre-motor filter 1066 and/or the motor and fan assembly 1022.

The axially extending porous member 1180 may comprise at least one axially extending dimple 1286, and the axially extending dimple 1286 may provide rigidity to the axially extending porous member 1180 such that it does not collapse during normal use of the surface cleaning device. Known screens may have a plurality of axially extending support ribs to prevent the screen from collapsing during use. These support ribs reduce the total surface area of the screen through which air can pass. Reducing the surface area of the screen through which air may pass may increase the back pressure of the surface cleaning apparatus.

The axially extending porous member 1180 having at least one axially extending dimple 1286 may be devoid of axially extending support ribs to maximize the surface area through which air may pass through the axially extending porous member 1180. Thus, the axially extending porous member 1180 may extend uninterrupted 360 ° about the central longitudinal axis 1288 of the axially extending porous member 1180.

Referring now to fig. 33, an example of an axially extending porous member 1180 having four axially extending pockets 1286a, 1286b, 1286c, 1286d is shown. The axially extending porous member 1180 may be any shape known in the art. For example, the axially extending porous member 1180 may be conical, cylindrical, dome-shaped, or the like. In the example shown, the axially extending porous member 1180 is frustoconical in shape.

As shown in fig. 33, each axially extending pocket 1286 may have a first axially extending side 1290 and a second axially extending side 1292, and the first axially extending side 1290 and the second axially extending side 1292 may taper radially inward toward each other. That is, the axially extending dimples 1286 can have a generally U-shaped profile or V-shaped profile in a plane transverse to the central longitudinal axis 1288 of the axially extending porous member 1180. The first axially extending side 1290 may be spaced between 0.25mm and 2mm from the second radially extending side 1292 at a radially outer side 1294 of the axially extending pocket 1286. Alternatively, as shown in fig. 34, the axially extending pocket 1286 may have a first axially extending side 1290 and a second axially extending side 1292 that are contiguous.

Alternatively, the air treatment chamber 1044 may be a cyclone chamber 1030 and the axially extending porous member may include a vortex finder conduit portion 1172.

Vortex pilot with increased air-permeable surface area

According to this aspect of the invention, which may be used alone or in combination with one or more other aspects of the invention, the surface area of the porous portion 1180 (i.e., the screen portion) of the vortex finder 1170 may be increased by perforating at least a portion of the conduit portion 1172 of the vortex finder 1170 without increasing the surface area of the vortex finder 1170 itself.

The surface area of the porous portion 1180 relative to the outlet area of the cyclone air inlet 1034 may have an impact on the performance characteristics of the surface cleaning apparatus. For example, if the surface area of the porous portion 1180 is less than the outlet area of the cyclone air inlet 1034, then an undesirable amount of back pressure may be created by the cyclone chamber 1030 during use. Accordingly, the surface area of the porous portion 1180 is preferably equal to or greater than the outlet area (outlet port) of the cyclone air inlet 1034. Alternatively, the ratio of the surface area of the porous portion 1180 to the outlet area of the cyclone air inlet 1034 may be between 1:1 and 20:1, or between 2:1 and 15:1, or between 3:1 and 8:1, or between 3.5:1 and 5:1.

It should be appreciated that if the cyclone air inlet 1034 includes a plurality of ports (i.e., ports leading to the cyclone chamber 1030), the outlet area of the cyclone air inlet 1036 is the total outlet area of each port. Accordingly, the surface area of the porous portion 1180 is preferably equal to or greater than the total outlet area of the plurality of outlet ports.

It may be desirable to increase the surface area of the porous portion 1180 without increasing the surface area of the vortex finder 1170 itself, as a larger vortex finder 1170 may require a larger cyclone chamber 1030, which may be undesirable. Furthermore, it may be undesirable to reduce the outlet area of the cyclone air inlet 1034 such that the surface area of the porous portion 1180 is less than or equal to the outlet area of the cyclone air inlet 1034, as reducing the outlet area of the cyclone air inlet 1034 would reduce the air flow in the cyclone chamber 1030 without increasing the power input to the suction motor.

Accordingly, it may be desirable to increase the surface area of the porous portion 1180 without increasing the surface area of the vortex finder 1170, as this may reduce the size of the cyclone chamber 1030 without sacrificing performance.

To increase the surface area of porous portion 1180 without increasing the surface area of vortex finder 1170, the surface area of at least a portion of generally void-free conduit portion 1172 in vortex finder 1170 as known in the art may be replaced with porous section 1296.

The porous section 1296 (e.g., conduit portion 1172) at the first or rear end 1298 of the vortex finder 1170 may have a degree of porosity less than, greater than, or equal to the porous portion 1180 at the second or front end 1300. In some embodiments, the porous portion 1180 at the second end 1300 may be a screen (e.g., a metal mesh screen) that is more porous than the porous section 1296 at the first end 1298, which may be perforations in the molded plastic conical wall of the cyclone chamber air outlet 1038.

In some examples, the porous section 1296 at the first end 1298 of the vortex finder 1170 and the porous portion 1180 at the second end 1300 of the vortex finder 1170 may be formed from a single unitary piece.

The porosity of the porous section 1296 at the first end 1298 of the vortex finder 1170 may vary around the circumference of the first end 1298 of the vortex finder 1170. Thus, a first section of conduit portion 1172 may be porous, while a second section of conduit portion 1172 may be gas impermeable, the second section of conduit portion 1172 being angularly spaced from the first portion of conduit portion 1172 about conduit portion 1172. Alternatively, conduit portion 172 may include two or more porous sections angularly spaced apart from one another about conduit portion 1172.

For example, a first section of conduit portion 1172 radially opposite to the dirt outlet 1052 and facing the dirt outlet 1052 (a first portion of conduit portion 1172) may be porous. Alternatively or additionally, the second section of conduit portion 1172 may also be porous, the second section of conduit portion 1172 being located on a side of conduit portion 1172 radially opposite to the dirt outlet 152. The section of conduit portion 1172 between the porous first section and the second section of conduit portion 1172 may be gas impermeable. In some examples, the opposing second section may be more porous than the porous section 1296 facing the dirt outlet 1052.

Optionally, the porous section 1296 of the vortex guide 1170 facing the dirt outlet 1052 of the cyclone chamber 1030 is less porous than the rest of the vortex guide 1170, so that the likelihood of air passing through is less. When the porous section 1296 of the vortex finder 1170 facing the dirt outlet 1052 is less permeable to air than the remainder of the vortex finder 1170, debris separated from the airflow may more readily pass through the dirt outlet 1052 of the cyclone chamber 1030.

Alternatively or additionally, in some embodiments, an air impermeable member 1310 may be provided inside the cyclone chamber air outlet 1038, the air impermeable member 1310 facing the porous section 1296 of the vortex finder 1170, and the porous section 1296 of the vortex finder 1170 facing the dirt outlet 1052. Thus, in some examples, a plane transverse to the cyclone axis of rotation 1050 may intersect the dirt outlet 1052, the porous section 1296, and the gas impermeable member 1310.

The gas impermeable member 1310 may be any shape known in the art. In the example shown in fig. 35A, gas impermeable member 1310 is arcuate. The gas impermeable member 1310 may be spaced apart from the porous section 1296 in a radial direction. Alternatively, at least a portion of the gas impermeable member 1310 may abut the porous section 1296. In the example shown in fig. 35C, the gas impermeable member 1310 is spaced apart from the porous section 1296 in a radial direction. As also shown in fig. 35C, the gas impermeable member 1310 may be located radially between the cyclone axis of rotation 1050 and the porous section 1296.

Referring now to fig. 35C, in the example shown, the dirt outlet 1052 extends angularly about the cyclone sidewall from a first end 1312 to a second end 1314. Thus, as shown, the dirt outlet 1052 has an arc length 1316 and a dirt outlet fan angle 1318 that define a section of the cyclone chamber 1030. In some examples, the dirt outlet fan angle 1318 may be from 30 ° to 90 °, or from 45 ° to 75 °.

Alternatively, the porous section sector angle of the porous section 1296 can be equal to or greater than the dirt outlet sector angle 1318 (in the example shown, the porous section sector angle is 360 °). For example, the porous section fan angle of the porous section 1296 can be 10 °, 20 °, 30 °, 40 °, 50 °, or 60 ° greater than the dirt outlet fan angle 1318. Accordingly, for example, the porous section 1296 may extend angularly about the conduit portion 172 in one direction 5 °, 10 °, 15 °, 20 °, 25 °, or 30 ° from one angular end of the dirt outlet and may extend angularly about the conduit portion 172 in another direction 5 °, 10 °, 15 °, 20 °, 25 °, or 30 ° from the other angular end of the dirt outlet.

Likewise, the air impermeable member 1310 may have an air impermeable fan angle 1322, the air impermeable fan angle 1322 being equal to or greater than the dirt outlet fan angle 1318 and/or the porous section fan angle. Accordingly, the fan angle of the gas impermeable member 1310 may be 10 °,20 °, 30 °, 40 °, 50 °, or 60 ° greater than the fan angle of the porous section 1296. Accordingly, for example, the gas impermeable member 1310 may extend angularly about the conduit portion 172 by 5 °, 10 °,15 °,20 °, 25 °, or 30 ° in one direction from one angular end of the porous section 1296, and may extend angularly about the conduit portion 172 by 5 °, 10 °,15 °,20 °, 25 °, or 30 ° in another direction from the other angular end of the porous section 1296.

Similarly, the section of conduit portion 1172 that is located on the radially opposite side of conduit portion 1172 from dirt outlet 152 (i.e., the upper portion in fig. 35C) may be porous and may have a fan angle that is the same as or similar to fan angle 1318.

The cyclone chamber 1030 may have more than one dirt outlet 1052. If the cyclone chamber 1030 includes more than one dirt outlet 1052, a porous section 1296 having aligned air impermeable members 1310 positioned inside the cyclone chamber air outlet 1038 may face each dirt outlet 1052.

Handle

According to this aspect of the invention, which may be used alone or in combination with one or more other aspects of the invention, the surface cleaning apparatus may include a handle 1004.

The handle 1004 is designed to be grasped by a user so that the user can comfortably hold the surface cleaning apparatus in an operational position. The user may also grasp the handle 1004 when emptying debris from the dirt collection chamber 1032. In theory, the handle 1004 is typically a unique area of the surface cleaning apparatus, although any portion of the surface cleaning apparatus may be grasped. The handle 1004 may have any shape known in the art and may be located anywhere on the surface cleaning apparatus. Alternatively, the handle 1004 may be a pistol grip.

As shown in fig. 1A, the handle 1004 may extend axially (or generally axially as shown in the example of fig. 8A) from a rear end 1016 of the body 1006 of the surface cleaning apparatus. As shown, in fig. 1D, the handle 1004 may extend generally parallel to the cyclone axis of rotation 1050. Alternatively, the handle 1004 may extend at an angle to the cyclone axis of rotation 1050, as shown in fig. 8A.

Referring now to fig. 22A, handle 1004 may be positioned between distal ends 1320, 1322 of the surface cleaning apparatus. When the handle 1004 is positioned between the distal ends 1320, 1322 of the surface cleaning apparatus, either side of the handle 1004 may have components of the surface cleaning apparatus. For ergonomic purposes, it may be desirable to balance the weight of the components on one side of the handle 1004 with the components on the other side of the handle 1004.

As shown in fig. 22D, the handle 1004 may be positioned longitudinally between an air treatment cartridge assembly (i.e., the air treatment member 1008) including the air treatment chamber 1044 and the main body 1006 including the motor and fan assembly 1022. More specifically, in the illustrated example, the rear end 1324 of the air treatment cartridge assembly 1008 has an air treatment chamber air outlet 1048, the front end 1014 of the main body 1006 has an air inlet 1326, and the handle 1004 extends between the rear end 1324 of the air treatment cartridge assembly 1008 and the front end 1014 of the main body 1006.

Accordingly, the handle 1004 may include a portion of an airflow path therein to fluidly connect the air treatment chamber outlet 1048 of the air treatment cartridge assembly 1008 to the air inlet 1326 of the main body 1006. Optionally, a portion of the airflow path within the handle 1004 may include a pre-motor filter 1066.

Still referring to the example shown in fig. 22A-22D, the air treatment cartridge assembly 1008 and the main body 1006 each have a height 1330, 1332 in a direction transverse to the central longitudinal axis 1052 of the handheld vacuum cleaner 1000. As shown, the handle 1004 also has a height 1334 that is less than the heights 1330, 1332 of the air treatment cartridge assembly 1008 and the body 1006 in the lateral direction.

As previously discussed, there may be an energy storage member 1074, the energy storage member 1074 optionally being housed in the energy storage chamber 1140, the energy storage chamber 1140 extending along at least a portion of the outer surface 1062 of the surface cleaning device shown in fig. 22A-22D. In such examples, the height 1330 of the air treatment cartridge assembly 1008, the height 1334 of the handle 1004, and/or the height 1332 of the body 1006 can include the height 1336 of the energy storage member 1074 (and optionally the energy storage chamber 1140).

As shown, the height 1334 of the handle 1004 may be less than the heights 1330, 1332 of the air treatment cartridge assembly 1008 and/or the body 1006 (whether or not the energy storage member 1074 is present, the energy storage member 1074 optionally being housed in the energy storage chamber 1140). The handle 1004 may be positioned in any vertical position relative to the air treatment cartridge assembly 1008 and the body 1006. That is, in some examples, (a) the upper longitudinally extending side 1340 of the handle 1004 may be flush with at least one of the upper longitudinally extending side 1342 of the air treatment cartridge assembly 1008 and the upper longitudinally extending side 1344 of the body 1006 (as shown in fig. 22A), (b) the lower longitudinally extending side 1348 of the handle 1004 may be flush with at least one of the lower longitudinally extending side 1350 of the air treatment cartridge assembly 1008 and the lower longitudinally extending side 1352 of the body 1006, or (C) the upper longitudinally extending side 1340 and the lower longitudinally extending side 1348 of the handle 1004 may be recessed inwardly (as shown in fig. 26C) as compared to the respective sides 1342, 1344, 1350, 1352 of the air treatment cartridge assembly 1008 and the body 1006.

Similarly, the first and second laterally opposed longitudinally extending sides 1354, 1356 of the handle 1004 may be positioned flush or radially inward as compared to the respective sides 1358, 1360, 1362, 1364 of the air treatment cartridge assembly 1008 and the body 1006. In the example shown in fig. 22A, the first and second laterally opposed longitudinally extending sides 1354, 1356 of the handle 1004 are positioned radially inward as compared to the respective sides 1358, 1360, 1362, 1364 of the air treatment cartridge assembly 1008 and the body 1006.

Alternatively, the energy storage members 1074a, 1074b may be disposed along the surfaces of the air treatment member 1008 and the body 1006 (e.g., the upper surface in the orientation of fig. 22A-22D), but not along the handle 1004, such that the upper longitudinally extending sides 1340 are recessed inwardly. Alternatively, the lower longitudinally extending side 1348 of the handle 1004 may be recessed inwardly.

Accordingly, the above is intended to be illustrative of the claimed concept, and not limiting. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that other variations and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. The scope of the claims should not be limited by the preferred embodiments and examples, but should be given the broadest interpretation consistent with the description as a whole.

The present specification also includes the subject matter of the following clause group:

Clause group 1

1. A surface cleaning apparatus comprising:

(a) An airflow path extending from the dirty air inlet to the clean air outlet;

(D) A motor and fan assembly disposed in the airflow path.

2. The surface cleaning apparatus of clause 1 wherein the air treatment chamber air outlet extends axially into the air treatment chamber from a second end wall having a radially outer end located radially inward of the side wall, the second end wall extending radially outward from the air treatment chamber air outlet, and the first dirt collection region is located at the radially outer end of the second end wall.

3. The surface cleaning apparatus of clause 2 wherein the first dirt collection region is axially recessed from the radially outer end of the second end wall.

4. The surface cleaning apparatus of clause 1 wherein the air treatment chamber air inlet is disposed at the first end.

5. The surface cleaning apparatus of clause 1 wherein the first dirt collection region extends 5 ° -360 °,30 ° -180 °, or 45 ° -120 ° around the air treatment chamber air outlet.

6. The surface cleaning apparatus of clause 1, wherein a plane transverse to an axis extending between the first end wall and the second end wall extends through the first dirt collection region and the pre-motor filter.

7. The surface cleaning apparatus of clause 1 wherein the pre-motor filter is located radially inward of the first dirt collection region.

8. The surface cleaning apparatus of clause 1, wherein the first dirt collection region extends at an angle partially around the air treatment chamber air outlet, and the surface cleaning apparatus further comprises a second dirt collection region extending at an angle partially around the air treatment chamber air outlet, and the second dirt collection region is connected to the air treatment chamber.

9. The surface cleaning apparatus of clause 1 wherein the first dirt collection region has an open first end at the air treatment chamber air outlet and an axially spaced second end, and the dirt collection region tapers axially from the open first end to the second end.

10. The surface cleaning apparatus of clause 1 wherein the first dirt collection region comprises a baffle.

11. The surface cleaning apparatus of clause 10 wherein the first dirt collection region has an open first end at the air treatment chamber air outlet and an axially spaced second end including a second end wall, and the baffle is disposed on the second end wall.

12. The surface cleaning apparatus of clause 11 wherein the first dirt collection region extends angularly about the air treatment chamber air outlet by 5 ° -360 °, the baffle extends axially toward the open front end and the baffle is generally transverse to the angular direction.

13. The surface cleaning apparatus of clause 12 wherein the baffle is spaced apart from the radially inner wall of the dirt collection region and the radially outer wall of the dirt collection region.

14. The surface cleaning apparatus of clause 10 wherein the first dirt collection region has an open first end at the air treatment chamber air outlet, an axially spaced second end, a radially inner wall, and a radially outer wall, and the baffle is disposed on the radially inner wall and extends radially outwardly or is disposed on the radially outer wall and extends radially inwardly.

15. The surface cleaning apparatus of clause 1, wherein the air treatment chamber comprises a cyclone chamber.

16. A surface cleaning apparatus comprising:

(a) An airflow path extending from the dirty air inlet to the clean air outlet;

(D) A motor and fan assembly disposed in the airflow path.

17. The surface cleaning apparatus of clause 16 wherein the first end wall has a radially outer end located radially inward of the sidewall and the first dirt collection region is located at the radially outer end of the first end wall.

18. The surface cleaning apparatus of clause 17 wherein the first dirt collection region is axially recessed from the radially outer end of the first end wall.

19. The surface cleaning apparatus of clause 16 wherein the first dirt collection region extends 5 ° -360 °,30 ° -180 °, or 45 ° -120 ° around the radially outer end of the first end wall.

20. The surface cleaning apparatus of clause 16, wherein the air treatment chamber comprises a cyclone chamber.

Clause group 2

1. A hand-held vacuum cleaner, comprising:

(a) An airflow path extending from the dirty air inlet to the clean air outlet;

(D) A motor and fan assembly disposed in the airflow path,

2. The hand-held vacuum cleaner of clause 1, further comprising a dirt collection chamber located radially outward of the cyclone chamber, wherein the dirt collection chamber is simultaneously open when the openable first end is open.

3. The hand-held vacuum cleaner of clause 2, wherein the cyclone chamber has first and second axially extending laterally opposite sides, and the energy storage chamber is laterally beside the dirt collection chamber.

4. The hand-held vacuum cleaner of clause 3, wherein a horizontal plane intersects the first and second laterally opposite sides, the cyclone axis of rotation is located within the horizontal plane, and each of the energy storage chamber and the dirt collection chamber is spaced apart from the cyclone axis of rotation in a direction transverse to the horizontal plane.

5. The handheld vacuum cleaner of clause 1, wherein the openable first end is pivotally mounted to the handheld vacuum cleaner.

6. The handheld vacuum cleaner of clause 1, wherein the openable first end is translatably mounted to the handheld vacuum cleaner.

7. The hand-held vacuum cleaner of clause 1, wherein the cyclone chamber sidewall defines a portion of an energy storage member chamber.

8. The hand-held vacuum cleaner of clause 2, wherein the cyclone chamber sidewall defines a portion of the dirt collection chamber and the energy storage member chamber.

9. A vacuum cleaner, comprising:

(a) An airflow path extending from the dirty air inlet to the clean air outlet;

(D) A motor and fan assembly disposed in the airflow path,

10. The vacuum cleaner of clause 9, further comprising a dirt collection chamber located outside the air treatment chamber, whereby the plane intersects the dirt collection chamber, wherein the dirt collection chamber is simultaneously open when the openable first end is open.

11. The vacuum cleaner of clause 10, wherein the air treatment chamber has first and second axially extending laterally opposite sides, the plane intersects the laterally opposite sides, and the energy storage chamber is laterally beside the dirt collection chamber.

12. The vacuum cleaner of clause 9, wherein the openable first end is pivotally mounted to the vacuum cleaner.

13. The vacuum cleaner of clause 9, wherein the openable first end is translatably mounted to the vacuum cleaner.

14. The vacuum cleaner of clause 9, wherein the air treatment chamber sidewall defines a portion of an energy storage member chamber.

15. The vacuum cleaner of clause 10, wherein the air handling chamber sidewall defines a portion of the dirt collection chamber and the energy storage member chamber.

16. A vacuum cleaner, comprising:

(a) An airflow path extending from the dirty air inlet to the clean air outlet;

(c) An energy storage member located in the energy storage chamber, and

(D) A motor and fan assembly disposed in the airflow path,

17. The vacuum cleaner of clause 16, further comprising a dirt collection chamber located outside the air treatment chamber, whereby a plane transverse to the air treatment chamber axis intersects the dirt collection chamber, wherein the dirt collection chamber is simultaneously open when the openable first end is open.

18. The vacuum cleaner of clause 17, wherein the air treatment chamber has first and second axially extending laterally opposite sides, the plane intersects the laterally opposite sides, and the energy storage chamber is laterally beside the dirt collection chamber.

Clause group 3

1. A hand-held vacuum cleaner, comprising:

(a) An airflow path extending from the dirty air inlet to the clean air outlet;

(b) A motor and fan assembly disposed in the airflow path;

(c) A main body including a handle and a suction motor, and

2. The hand-held vacuum cleaner of clause 1, wherein the dirt outlet is disposed in a sidewall.

3. The hand-held vacuum cleaner of clause 2, wherein the opening extends axially inward into the cyclone chamber from the cyclone chamber rear end wall, whereby the second portion of the perimeter comprises a portion of the rear end wall.

4. The handheld vacuum cleaner of clause 3, wherein the first portion of the perimeter is located in a sidewall.

5. The hand-held vacuum cleaner of clause 4, wherein the first portion of the perimeter is generally U-shaped, the rear end of the first portion of the perimeter abuts the cyclone chamber rear end wall when the rear end of the cyclone bin assembly is in the closed position, and the cyclone chamber rear end wall comprises the second portion.

6. The hand-held vacuum cleaner of clause 1, wherein the cyclone air inlet is disposed at the front end of the cyclone chamber and the cyclone air outlet is disposed at the rear end of the cyclone chamber.

7. The hand-held vacuum cleaner of clause 6, wherein the dirt outlet is disposed in a sidewall.

8. The hand-held vacuum cleaner of clause 7, wherein the opening extends axially inward into the cyclone chamber from the cyclone chamber rear end wall, whereby the second portion of the perimeter comprises a portion of the rear end wall.

9. The handheld vacuum cleaner of clause 8, wherein the first portion of the perimeter is located in a sidewall.

10. The hand-held vacuum cleaner of clause 9, wherein the first portion of the perimeter is generally U-shaped, the rear end of the first portion of the perimeter abuts the cyclone chamber rear end wall when the rear end of the cyclone bin assembly is in the closed position, and the cyclone chamber rear end wall comprises the second portion.

11. The hand-held vacuum cleaner of clause 1, wherein the rear end of the cyclone bin assembly is rotatably mounted to the main body.

12. The hand-held vacuum cleaner of clause 1, further comprising an inlet duct extending from the dirty air inlet to the cyclone air inlet, the inlet duct being located at an upper end of the hand-held vacuum cleaner and at least a portion of the dirt collection chamber being located below the cyclone chamber.

53. The hand-held vacuum cleaner of clause 12, wherein the rear end of the dirt collection chamber is rotatably mounted to the main body.

Clause group 4

1. A hand-held vacuum cleaner, comprising:

(a) An airflow path extending from the dirty air inlet to the clean air outlet;

(b) A motor and fan assembly disposed in the airflow path, and

(D) A cyclone bin assembly comprising a cyclone chamber in an airflow path, the cyclone chamber having a cyclone air inlet, a cyclone air outlet, a dirt outlet, a cyclone chamber first end having a cyclone chamber first end wall, a cyclone chamber second end having a cyclone chamber second end wall, a cyclone chamber side wall extending between the cyclone chamber first end wall and the second end wall, and a cyclone axis of rotation intersecting the cyclone chamber first end wall and the cyclone chamber second end wall, a dirt collection chamber having a dirt collection chamber first end with a dirt collection chamber first end wall, an axially spaced apart dirt collection chamber second end with a dirt collection chamber second end wall, a dirt collection chamber side wall extending between the dirt collection chamber first end wall and the second end wall, a portion of the dirt collection chamber being spaced from the cyclone chamber in a direction transverse to the cyclone axis of rotation, whereby the portion is separated from the cyclone chamber by the cyclone chamber side wall,

2. The hand-held vacuum cleaner of clause 1, wherein the movable portion comprises a portion of a cyclone chamber sidewall, the dirt outlet comprises an opening having a perimeter with a first portion and a second portion, and the first portion of the perimeter moves relative to the second portion of the perimeter when the movable portion is opened.

3. The hand-held vacuum cleaner of clause 2, wherein the portion of the dirt collection chamber sidewall remains in place when the second openable portion is opened.

4. The hand-held vacuum cleaner of clause 3, wherein the cyclone chamber and the dirt collection chamber are each opened when the first openable portion is opened.

5. The handheld vacuum cleaner of clause 4, further comprising an actuator operatively connected to the movable portion and the movable portion operatively connected to the first openable portion, wherein when the actuator is moved to the open position, the movable portion is opened and opening the movable portion opens the first openable portion.

6. The handheld vacuum cleaner of clause 4, further comprising an actuator operatively connected to the first openable portion and the movable portion, wherein the first openable portion is opened and the movable portion is opened when the actuator is moved to the open position.

7. The hand-held vacuum cleaner of clause 1, wherein the movable portion comprises a portion of a dirt collection chamber sidewall, whereby the movable portion comprises a second openable portion, the dirt collection chamber being opened when the movable portion is moved to the open position.

8. The hand-held vacuum cleaner of clause 1, wherein the movable portion comprises a portion of a cyclone chamber sidewall and a portion of a dirt collection chamber sidewall, whereby the movable portion comprises a second openable portion, the cyclone chamber and the dirt collection chamber being opened when the movable portion is moved to the open position.

9. The hand-held vacuum cleaner of clause 7, wherein the dirty air inlet is disposed at an upper end of a front end of the hand-held vacuum cleaner, a portion of the dirt collection chamber is located at a lower end of the hand-held vacuum cleaner, the first end of the cyclone chamber is located at the front end of the cyclone chamber, the front end of the cyclone chamber is open when the first openable portion is open, and the lower end of the cyclone assembly is open when the movable portion is open, whereby the dirt collection chamber is open.

10. The handheld vacuum cleaner of clause 9, wherein the first position is above the second position and the second position is rearward of the first position when the upper end of the handheld vacuum cleaner is above the lower end of the handheld vacuum cleaner.

11. The hand-held vacuum cleaner of clause 7, wherein the cyclone chamber and the dirt collection chamber are simultaneously opened when the first openable portion is opened.

12. The hand-held vacuum cleaner of clause 7, wherein the cyclone chamber and the dirt collection chamber are simultaneously opened when the movable portion is opened.

13. The hand-held vacuum cleaner of clause 1, wherein the first position is spaced from the second position in a direction transverse to the cyclone axis of rotation.

14. The handheld vacuum cleaner of clause 13, wherein the first position is axially spaced from the second position.

15. The handheld vacuum cleaner of clause 7, wherein the first position is at a front end of the cyclone bin assembly and the second position is at a rear end of the cyclone bin assembly, the first openable portion being pivotally mounted to the handheld vacuum cleaner by a first pivot, the movable portion being pivotally mounted to the handheld vacuum cleaner by a second pivot.

16. The handheld vacuum cleaner of clause 1, wherein when the first openable portion is opened, the first openable portion moves in a first direction and the movable openable portion is opened.

17. The hand-held vacuum cleaner of clause 7, wherein the front openable portion opens upwardly, the movable portion is a lower portion of the cyclone bin assembly, and the movable portion opens downwardly.

18. The handheld vacuum cleaner of clause 1, further comprising an actuator operatively connected to the movable portion and the movable portion operatively connected to the first openable portion, wherein when the actuator is moved to the open position, the movable portion is opened and opening the movable portion opens the first openable portion.

19. The handheld vacuum cleaner of clause 1, further comprising an actuator operatively connected to the first openable portion and the movable portion, wherein the first openable portion is opened and the movable portion is opened when the actuator is moved to the open position.

20. A vacuum cleaner, comprising:

(a) An airflow path extending from the dirty air inlet to the clean air outlet;

(b) A motor and fan assembly disposed in the airflow path, and

Clause group 5

1. A hand-held vacuum cleaner, comprising:

(b) A motor and fan assembly disposed in the airflow path, and

2. The hand-held vacuum cleaner of clause 1, wherein the cyclone chamber sidewall has a lower portion comprising a portion of a lower surface of the hand-held vacuum cleaner.

3. The hand-held vacuum cleaner of clause 2, wherein at least some of the lower portion of the cyclone chamber sidewall extends downwardly and rearwardly at an angle when the hand-held vacuum cleaner is positioned with the upper end of the hand-held vacuum cleaner above the lower surface of the hand-held vacuum cleaner.

4. The hand-held vacuum cleaner of clause 3, wherein the lower portion of the cyclone chamber sidewall extends at an acute angle from the front end of the cyclone chamber to the rear end of the cyclone chamber.

5. The hand-held vacuum cleaner of clause 3, wherein the lower portion of the cyclone chamber sidewall extends linearly from the front end of the cyclone chamber to the rear end of the cyclone chamber.

6. The hand-held vacuum cleaner of clause 2, wherein the lower portion of the cyclone chamber sidewall is stepped downward.

7. The hand-held vacuum cleaner of clause 6, wherein the lower portion of the cyclone chamber sidewall is stepped downward at an angle of 90 °.

8. The hand-held vacuum cleaner of clause 2, wherein a lower portion of the cyclone chamber sidewall is arcuate.

9. The hand-held vacuum cleaner of clause 1, wherein the cyclone bin assembly further comprises a dirt collection chamber located outside the cyclone chamber, and the dirt collection chamber is located only rearward of the cyclone chamber.

10. The hand-held vacuum cleaner of clause 9, wherein the dirt collection chamber is located below the cyclone chamber when the cyclone axis of rotation of the hand-held vacuum cleaner extends horizontally and the dirty air inlet is disposed in an upper portion of the hand-held vacuum cleaner.

11. The handheld vacuum cleaner of clause 2, wherein the cyclone bin assembly further comprises a dirt collection chamber located outside the cyclone chamber, wherein the dirt collection chamber is located below the cyclone chamber when the handheld vacuum cleaner is positioned with the upper end of the handheld vacuum cleaner above the lower surface of the handheld vacuum cleaner.

12. The hand-held vacuum cleaner of clause 1, wherein the cyclone bin assembly has an openable lower portion.

13. The handheld vacuum cleaner of clause 1, further comprising an inlet nozzle, wherein the inlet nozzle is disposed at an upper end of the cyclone chamber front end.

14. The hand-held vacuum cleaner of clause 13, wherein the front height is 1-1.5 times the inlet nozzle diameter.

15. The hand-held vacuum cleaner of clause 13, wherein the front height is 1-1.25 times the inlet nozzle diameter.

16. The hand-held vacuum cleaner of clause 13, wherein the front height is 1-1.1 times the inlet nozzle diameter.

Clause group 6

1. A hand-held vacuum cleaner, comprising:

(d) A handle;

2. The handheld vacuum cleaner of clause 1, wherein the first energy storage pack is removably mounted.

3. The handheld vacuum cleaner of clause 2, wherein the second energy storage pack is removably mounted.

4. The handheld vacuum cleaner of clause 1, wherein the first energy storage pack and the second energy storage pack are both used to simultaneously power a motor and fan assembly.

5. The handheld vacuum cleaner of clause 1, wherein the first position is located in the main body and the second position is located in the handle.

6. The handheld vacuum cleaner of clause 3, wherein the first energy storage pack is removably mounted.

7. The handheld vacuum cleaner of clause 3, wherein the second energy storage pack is removably mounted.

8. The handheld vacuum cleaner of clause 1, wherein the second position is spaced apart from the first position in a forward/rearward direction.

9. The hand-held vacuum cleaner of clause 1, wherein the motor and fan assembly has an axis of rotation and a plane transverse to the axis of rotation intersects the first energy storage pack and motor and fan assembly.

10. The handheld vacuum cleaner of clause 9, wherein the second position is located in a handle.

11. The hand-held vacuum cleaner of clause 10, wherein the handle is located rearward of the motor and fan assembly.

12. A hand-held vacuum cleaner, comprising:

(d) A handle;

(e) A detachable first energy storage pack, and

13. The handheld vacuum cleaner of clause 12, wherein the first energy storage pack and the second energy storage pack are both used to simultaneously power a motor and fan assembly.

14. The handheld vacuum cleaner of clause 12, wherein the first removable energy storage pack is located in the main body and the second removable energy storage pack is located in the handle.

15. The handheld vacuum cleaner of clause 12, wherein the detachable second energy storage pack is spaced apart from the detachable first energy storage pack in a forward/rearward direction.

16. The hand-held vacuum cleaner of clause 12, wherein the motor and fan assembly has an axis of rotation and a plane transverse to the axis of rotation intersects the first energy storage pack and motor and fan assembly.

17. The handheld vacuum cleaner of clause 16, wherein the detachable second energy storage pack is located in the handle.

18. The hand-held vacuum cleaner of clause 17, wherein the handle is located rearward of the motor and fan assembly.

Clause group 7

1.A hand-held vacuum cleaner having a front end, a longitudinally spaced rear end, an upper end extending between the front end and the rear end, and a lower end extending between the front end and the rear end, the hand-held vacuum cleaner comprising:

(a) An airflow path extending from the dirty air inlet to the clean air outlet;

(d) Handle, and

2. The hand-held vacuum cleaner of clause 1, wherein a plurality of prismatic or pouch-type batteries are arranged in a longitudinally extending array.

3. The hand-held vacuum cleaner of clause 2, wherein the row of prismatic or pocket batteries comprises a plurality of layers of prismatic or pocket batteries, whereby a radial line extending outwardly from a central longitudinal axis of the hand-held vacuum cleaner intersects the plurality of prismatic or pocket batteries, the row of prismatic or pocket batteries having first and second laterally opposing longitudinally extending sides, the electronic unit being positioned adjacent the first and second laterally opposing longitudinally extending sides.

4. The hand-held vacuum cleaner of clause 1, wherein the plurality of prismatic or pouch-type batteries are arranged in a longitudinally extending row, the longitudinally extending row being disposed along a portion of at least one of the upper or lower ends of the hand-held vacuum cleaner.

5. The hand-held vacuum cleaner of clause 1, wherein the plurality of prismatic or pouch cells are arranged in a single layer, whereby a radial line extending outward from the central longitudinal axis intersects only the single prismatic or pouch cell.

6. The hand-held vacuum cleaner of clause 1, wherein a plurality of prismatic or pouch batteries are disposed on at least one of the upper or lower ends of the air treatment bin assembly.

7. The hand-held vacuum cleaner of clause 1, wherein a plurality of prismatic or pouch-type batteries are disposed on at least one of the upper or lower ends of the main body.

8. The hand-held vacuum cleaner of clause 1, wherein a plurality of prismatic or pouch-type batteries are disposed on at least one of the upper or lower ends of the handle.

9. The hand-held vacuum cleaner of clause 1, wherein a plurality of prismatic or pouch batteries are disposed on at least one of the upper or lower end of the air treatment bin assembly and the upper or lower end of the main body, each having a height in a direction transverse to the central longitudinal axis of the hand-held vacuum cleaner, and the height of the handle in the transverse direction is less than the height of the air treatment bin assembly and the main body.

10. The hand-held vacuum cleaner of clause 9, wherein the handle has no prismatic or pouch-type battery disposed on an upper or lower surface thereof.

11. The hand-held vacuum cleaner of clause 10, wherein the handle is positioned between the air treatment cartridge assembly and the main body.

12. The hand-held vacuum cleaner of clause 1, wherein the main body is positioned rearward of the air treatment cartridge assembly, the handle is positioned rearward of the main body, and a filter is disposed in the handle.

13. The hand-held vacuum cleaner of clause 12, wherein the filter is located downstream of the motor and fan assembly.

14. The handheld vacuum cleaner of clause 1, wherein the energy storage member comprises a lithium polymer battery.

15. The handheld vacuum cleaner of clause 1, wherein the prismatic or pouch battery, or the housing of the prismatic or pouch battery, comprises a portion of the outer surface of the handheld vacuum cleaner.

16. A hand-held vacuum cleaner having a front end, a longitudinally spaced rear end, a central longitudinal axis, an upper end extending between the front end and the rear end, and a lower end extending between the front end and the rear end, the hand-held vacuum cleaner comprising:

(a) An airflow path extending from the dirty air inlet to the clean air outlet;

(C) A motor and fan assembly disposed in the airflow path, and

17. The hand-held vacuum cleaner of clause 16, wherein the prismatic or bag-type battery is positioned radially outward from the air treatment compartment assembly and at least one of the motor and fan assembly.

18. The hand-held vacuum cleaner of clause 17, wherein the prismatic or bag-type battery is positioned radially outward from the air treatment compartment assembly and the motor and fan assembly.

19. The handheld vacuum cleaner of clause 16, wherein the prismatic or pouch battery, or the housing of the prismatic or pouch battery, comprises a portion of the outer surface of the handheld vacuum cleaner.

Clause group 8

1. A hand-held vacuum cleaner having a front end, a longitudinally spaced rear end, a central longitudinal axis, an upper end extending between the front end and the rear end, and a lower end extending between the front end and the rear end, the hand-held vacuum cleaner comprising:

(a) An airflow path extending from the dirty air inlet to the clean air outlet;

2. The hand-held vacuum cleaner of clause 1, wherein the rear end of the air treatment cartridge assembly has an air outlet of the air treatment cartridge assembly, the front end of the main body has an air inlet, and the handle extends between the rear end of the air treatment cartridge assembly and the front end of the main body.

3. The hand-held vacuum cleaner of clause 2, wherein the handle has an airflow path therein that fluidly connects the air outlet of the air treatment cartridge assembly and the air inlet of the main body.

4. The hand-held vacuum cleaner of clause 3, further comprising a pre-motor filter disposed in the airflow path in the handle.

5. The handheld vacuum cleaner of clause 3, wherein the air treatment bin assembly and the main body each have a height in a direction transverse to a central longitudinal axis of the handheld vacuum cleaner, and the handle has a height in the transverse direction that is less than the height of the air treatment bin assembly and the main body.

6. The handheld vacuum cleaner of clause 5, wherein the handheld vacuum cleaner further comprises a plurality of energy storage members, and the energy storage members or the housing of the energy storage members comprises a portion of an outer surface of the handheld vacuum cleaner.

7. The handheld vacuum cleaner of clause 6, wherein the energy storage member or the housing of the energy storage member comprises a portion of an outer surface of at least one of the air treatment cartridge assembly and the main body.

8. The handheld vacuum cleaner of clause 7, wherein the energy storage member or the housing of the energy storage member comprises a portion of the exterior surface of the main body and the air treatment cartridge assembly.

9. The handheld vacuum cleaner of clause 6, wherein the plurality of energy storage members comprises a plurality of prismatic or pouch-type batteries.

10. The hand-held vacuum cleaner of clause 1, wherein the handle has an upper longitudinally extending side, a lower longitudinally extending side, and first and second laterally opposed longitudinally extending sides, one of which is recessed radially inwardly as compared to the respective sides of the air treatment cartridge assembly and the main body.

11. The hand-held vacuum cleaner of clause 1, wherein the dirty air inlet is disposed at an upper end of the hand-held vacuum cleaner, and the lower surface of the handle is recessed radially inwardly as compared to the lower surface of the air treatment cartridge assembly and the lower surface of the main body.

12. The handheld vacuum cleaner of clause 1, wherein the handheld vacuum cleaner further comprises a plurality of energy storage members, and the energy storage members or the housing of the energy storage members comprise a portion of an outer surface of the handheld vacuum cleaner.

13. The handheld vacuum cleaner of clause 12, wherein the energy storage member or the housing of the energy storage member comprises a portion of an outer surface of at least one of the air treatment cartridge assembly and the main body.

14. The handheld vacuum cleaner of clause 13, wherein the energy storage member or the housing of the energy storage member comprises a portion of the exterior surface of the main body and the air treatment cartridge assembly.

15. The handheld vacuum cleaner of clause 12, wherein the plurality of energy storage members comprises a plurality of prismatic or pouch-type batteries.

Clause group 9

1. A surface cleaning apparatus comprising:

(a) An airflow path extending from the dirty air inlet to the clean air outlet;

(C) A motor and fan assembly disposed in the airflow path.

2. The surface cleaning apparatus of clause 1, wherein the axially extending porous member has a plurality of axially extending pockets.

3. The surface cleaning apparatus of clause 1, wherein the air treatment chamber comprises a cyclone chamber and the axially extending porous member comprises a vortex finder.

4. The surface cleaning apparatus of clause 1, wherein the axially extending porous member is conical.

5. The surface cleaning apparatus of clause 1 wherein the axially extending porous member is frustoconical.

6. The surface cleaning apparatus of clause 1, wherein the axially extending pocket has first and second axially extending sides, and the axially extending sides abut.

7. The surface cleaning apparatus of clause 1, wherein the axially extending pocket has first and second axially extending sides that taper radially inward toward each other.

8. The surface cleaning apparatus of clause 7 wherein the axially extending pocket is generally V-shaped in a plane transverse to the central longitudinal axis.

9. The surface cleaning apparatus of clause 1, wherein the axially extending dimples have first and second axially extending sides, the axially extending sides having radially outer sides, and the radially outer sides being spaced apart by 0.25mm-2mm.

10. The surface cleaning apparatus of clause 1, wherein the axially extending porous member is devoid of axially extending support ribs.

11. The surface cleaning apparatus of clause 1 wherein the axially extending porous member extends uninterrupted 360 ° about the central longitudinal axis.

Clause set 10

1. A surface cleaning apparatus comprising:

(a) An airflow path extending from the dirty air inlet to the clean air outlet;

(D) A motor and fan assembly disposed in the airflow path.

2. The surface cleaning apparatus of clause 1 wherein the first opposing wall and the side wall comprise continuous uninterrupted surfaces.

3. The surface cleaning apparatus of clause 2 wherein the first opposing wall tangentially joins the side wall.

4. The surface cleaning apparatus of clause 1 wherein the dirt chamber is located radially outward of the sidewall.

5. The surface cleaning apparatus of clause 1 wherein the axially extending slots in the sidewall extend axially along at least 50% of the axial length of the cyclone chamber.

6. The surface cleaning apparatus of clause 1, further comprising a screen extending across the axially extending slot.

7. A surface cleaning apparatus comprising:

(a) An airflow path extending from the dirty air inlet to the clean air outlet;

(D) A motor and fan assembly disposed in the airflow path,

8. The surface cleaning apparatus of clause 7 wherein the curved wall comprises an extension of a side wall.

9. The surface cleaning apparatus of clause 7 wherein the curved wall and the side wall comprise continuous uninterrupted surfaces.

10. The surface cleaning apparatus of clause 8 wherein the curved wall tangentially joins the side walls.

11. The surface cleaning apparatus of clause 7 wherein the dirt chamber is located radially outward of the sidewall.

12. The hand-held vacuum cleaner of clause 7, wherein the cyclone air inlet is located at a first end and the dirt outlet is located at a second end.

13. The surface cleaning apparatus of clause 7 wherein the opening in the sidewall extends axially along at least 50% of the axial length of the cyclone chamber.

14. The surface cleaning apparatus of clause 13 wherein the opening in the sidewall extends axially along at least 75% of the axial length of the cyclone chamber.

15. The surface cleaning apparatus of clause 7 wherein the opening in the sidewall extends axially along at least 90% of the axial length of the cyclone chamber.

16. The surface cleaning apparatus of clause 7, wherein one of the first end and the second end is openable, whereby the cyclone chamber and the dirt collection chamber are openable simultaneously.

17. The surface cleaning apparatus of clause 7, wherein the dirt outlet further comprises a screen extending across the opening.

Clause group 11

1. A surface cleaning apparatus comprising:

(a) An airflow path extending from the dirty air inlet to the clean air outlet;

(D) A motor and fan assembly disposed in the airflow path,

Wherein a portion of the cyclone chamber air outlet comprises a porous section,

2. The surface cleaning apparatus of clause 1, wherein the dirt outlet comprises an opening in a sidewall.

3. The surface cleaning apparatus of clause 1 wherein the cyclone chamber air outlet comprises a screen and the porous section is less porous than the screen.

4. The surface cleaning apparatus of clause 1 wherein the porous section is disposed in a conical wall of the cyclone chamber air outlet.

5. The surface cleaning apparatus of clause 4 wherein the cyclone chamber air outlet is conical or frustoconical.

6. The surface cleaning apparatus of clause 1 wherein the gas impermeable member is arcuate.

7. The surface cleaning apparatus of clause 6 wherein the gas impermeable member is positioned radially between the cyclone axis of rotation and the porous section.

8. The surface cleaning apparatus of clause 1 wherein the gas impermeable member is positioned radially between the cyclone axis of rotation and the porous section.

9. The surface cleaning apparatus of clause 1 wherein an opposing section of the cyclone chamber air outlet radially opposite and facing the porous section is also porous.

10. The surface cleaning apparatus of clause 9 wherein the porous section has a lesser degree of porosity than the opposing section.

11. The surface cleaning apparatus of clause 1 wherein the cyclone chamber air inlet is disposed at the first end.

12. A surface cleaning apparatus comprising:

(a) An airflow path extending from the dirty air inlet to the clean air outlet;

(c) Dirt collecting chamber, and

(D) A motor and fan assembly disposed in the airflow path,

13. The surface cleaning apparatus of clause 12 wherein the cyclone chamber air outlet comprises a screen and the porous section is less porous than the screen.

14. The surface cleaning apparatus of clause 12 wherein the porous section is disposed in a conical wall of the cyclone chamber air outlet.

15. The surface cleaning apparatus of clause 12 wherein the gas impermeable member is arcuate.

16. The surface cleaning apparatus of clause 15 wherein the gas impermeable member is positioned radially between the cyclone axis of rotation and the porous section.

17. The surface cleaning apparatus of clause 12 wherein the gas impermeable member is positioned radially between the cyclone axis of rotation and the porous section.

18. The surface cleaning apparatus of clause 12 wherein the plane also intersects an opposing section of the cyclone chamber air outlet radially opposite the porous section, and the opposing section is also porous.

19. The surface cleaning apparatus of clause 18 wherein the porous section has a lesser degree of porosity than the opposing section.

Claims

1. A handheld vacuum cleaner comprising:

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

(b) a cyclone chamber having a cyclone rotation axis, a first end, an axially spaced second end, a cyclone chamber sidewall extending between the first end and the second end, a cyclone air inlet, a cyclone air outlet, and an openable portion, wherein the cyclone rotation axis intersects the first end and the second end, and wherein the openable portion is rotatably mounted about an opening axis parallel to the cyclone rotation axis; and

(c) A motor and fan assembly disposed in the airflow path.

2. The handheld vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, further comprising a dirt collection chamber located outside the cyclone chamber and a dirt outlet connecting the cyclone chamber and the dirt collection chamber, wherein the dirt collection chamber is opened simultaneously with the cyclone chamber.

3. A handheld vacuum cleaner according to claim 2, wherein the dirt collection chamber has a dirt collection chamber side wall separated from the cyclone chamber side wall, whereby at least a portion of the dirt collection chamber is located between the cyclone chamber side wall and the dirt collection chamber side wall, and the openable portion includes at least a portion of the dirt collection chamber side wall and a portion of the cyclone chamber side wall.

4. A handheld vacuum cleaner according to claim 3, wherein the dirt outlet comprises an opening in the portion of the cyclone chamber sidewall, the dirt outlet having a perimeter, and the portion of the cyclone chamber sidewall comprises only a portion of the perimeter of the dirt outlet.

5. The handheld vacuum cleaner of claim 1, wherein the openable portion comprises a portion of an exterior surface of the handheld vacuum cleaner.

6. The handheld vacuum cleaner of claim 1, wherein the dirty air inlet is disposed at an upper end of the handheld vacuum cleaner and the lower end of the handheld vacuum cleaner includes at least a portion of the openable portion.

7. A handheld vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the dirty air inlet is arranged at a front end of the handheld vacuum cleaner, the first end is a front end of the cyclone chamber, the second end is a rear end of the cyclone chamber, the cyclone air inlet is arranged at the front end of the cyclone chamber, and the cyclone air outlet is arranged at the rear end.

8. The handheld vacuum cleaner of claim 1, wherein the handheld vacuum cleaner has a front end with a dirty air inlet, a rear end, and first and second laterally opposing sides extending in a forward/rearward direction, and the opening axis is located on one of the laterally opposing sides.

9. The handheld vacuum cleaner of claim 1 , wherein the handheld vacuum cleaner has a front end with a dirty air inlet, a rear end, first and second laterally opposite sides extending in a forward/rearward direction, and a center plane extending in the forward/rearward direction and located between the laterally opposite sides, and the opening axis extends in the center plane.

10. The handheld vacuum cleaner of claim 1, further comprising an energy storage member, and the energy storage member is located radially outward of the cyclone chamber.

11. The handheld vacuum cleaner of claim 10, further comprising a dirt collection chamber located outside of the cyclone chamber, wherein the dirty air inlet is disposed at a front end of the handheld vacuum cleaner, and wherein the energy storage member is located in front of the dirt collection chamber.

12. The handheld vacuum cleaner of claim 10, further comprising a dirt collection chamber located outside the cyclone chamber, wherein the handheld vacuum cleaner has a front end with a dirty air inlet, a rear end, and first and second lateral opposite sides extending in a forward/rearward direction, and wherein the energy storage member is laterally located next to the dirt collection chamber.

13. A vacuum cleaner comprising:

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

(b) an air handling chamber having a first end, an axially spaced second end, an air handling chamber sidewall extending between the first end and the second end, an air handling chamber air inlet, an air handling chamber air outlet disposed at the second end of the air handling chamber, an air handling chamber axis intersecting the first end of the air handling chamber and the second end of the air handling chamber and defining an axial direction, and an openable portion rotatably mounted about an opening axis parallel to the air handling chamber axis; and

(c) A motor and fan assembly disposed in the airflow path.

14. The handheld vacuum cleaner of claim 13, further comprising a dirt collection chamber located outside the air handling chamber and a dirt outlet connecting the air handling chamber with the dirt collection chamber, wherein the dirt collection chamber is opened simultaneously with the air handling chamber.

15. A vacuum cleaner according to claim 14, wherein the dirt collection chamber has a dirt collection chamber side wall spaced apart from the air handling chamber side wall, whereby at least a portion of the dirt collection chamber is located between the air handling chamber side wall and the dirt collection chamber side wall, and the openable portion includes at least a portion of the dirt collection chamber side wall and a portion of the air handling chamber side wall.

16. The vacuum cleaner of claim 15, wherein the dirt outlet comprises an opening in the portion of the air handling chamber side wall, the dirt outlet having a perimeter, and the portion of the air handling chamber side wall comprises only a portion of the perimeter of the dirt outlet.

17. The vacuum cleaner of claim 13, wherein the openable portion comprises a portion of an exterior surface of the vacuum cleaner.

18. The vacuum cleaner of claim 13, wherein the vacuum cleaner has first and second laterally opposing sides extending in an axial direction, and the opening axis is located on one of the laterally opposing sides.

19. The vacuum cleaner of claim 13, further comprising an energy storage member, and wherein the energy storage member is located radially outward of the air handling chamber.

20. The vacuum cleaner of claim 19, further comprising a dirt collection chamber located outside the air handling chamber, wherein the energy storage member is positioned axially from the dirt collection chamber whereby a projection of the energy storage member intersects the dirt collection chamber.