Portable surface cleaning apparatus

Abstract

A portable surface cleaning apparatus comprises a platform that is configured to support the portable surface cleaning apparatus when the platform is placed on a floor, wherein a dirty air inlet positioned other than on the platform. A component of the portable surface cleaning apparatus may be removable or openable. The removable portion is preferably at an end opposed to the platform. The openable portion is also preferably located at an end opposed to the platform. The platform therefore provides a base on which a vacuum cleaner may be disassembled or serviced.

1 . A portable surface cleaning apparatus comprising:
 (a) a front end and a rear end;   (b) an air flow passage extending from a dirty air inlet to a clean air outlet;   (c) a air treatment unit positioned in the air flow passage;   (d) a suction motor positioned in the air flow passage;   (e) a platform that is configured to support the portable surface cleaning apparatus when the platform is placed on a floor, the dirty air inlet positioned other than on the platform.   
   
   
       2 . The portable surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the portable surface cleaning apparatus has a portion that is either openable or removable and the portion is positioned at a side opposed to the platform. 
   
   
       3 . The portable surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the platform is provided on the rear end. 
   
   
       4 . The portable surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the portion comprises a first cyclone unit positioned in the air flow passage, the first cyclone unit comprising at least one cyclone having a cyclone outlet and at least one dirt collection chamber 
   
   
       5 . The portable surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 4  wherein the first cyclone unit is removably mounted to the portable surface cleaning apparatus. 
   
   
       6 . The portable surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 5  wherein the first cyclone unit is removably mounted at the front end. 
   
   
       7 . The portable surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 4  wherein the first cyclone unit comprises the front end. 
   
   
       8 . The portable surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a post motor filter having a downstream end and the downstream end comprises the platform. 
   
   
       9 . The portable surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the platform comprises a planar surface. 
   
   
       10 . The portable surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the clean air outlet is provided adjacent the rear end. 
   
   
       11 . The portable surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the platform has a plurality of feet. 
   
   
       12 . The portable surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the platform comprises the sole support for the portable surface cleaning apparatus when the platform is placed on the floor. 
   
   
       13 . The portable surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 4  wherein the first cyclone unit and the suction motor are aligned. 
   
   
       14 . The portable surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 13  wherein the first cyclone unit is directly above the suction motor when the platform is placed on the floor. 
   
   
       15 . The portable surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 1  wherein a post motor filter is rotationally mounted to the portable surface cleaning apparatus. 
   
   
       16 . The portable surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 1  wherein a post motor filter is rotationally mounted to the portable surface cleaning apparatus by a bayonet mount. 
   
   
       17 . The portable surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 4  wherein the first cyclone unit and the suction motor are arranged linearly. 
   
   
       18 . The portable surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 17  wherein the first cyclone unit, the suction motor and a post motor filter are arranged linearly. 
   
   
       19 . The portable surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the suction motor is positioned in a suction motor housing and the first cyclone unit is removably mounted to the suction motor housing. 
   
   
       20 . The portable surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 19  wherein the suction motor housing has an upstream end and a downstream end, the first cyclone unit is removably mounted to the upstream end and a post motor filter is removably mounted to the downstream end. 
   
   
       21 . The portable surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the first cyclone unit has a single cyclone and a single dirt collection chamber. 
   
   
       22 . The portable surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a second cyclone unit downstream from the first cyclone unit. 
   
   
       23 . The portable surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 22  wherein the first cyclone unit, the second cyclone unit, the suction motor and a post motor filter are arranged linearly. 
   
   
       24 . The portable surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the portable surface cleaning apparatus comprises a hand vacuum cleaner.