Hand vacuum cleaner

Abstract

A hand vacuum cleaner comprises an airflow passage extending from a nozzle having a dirty air inlet to a clean air outlet. A first cyclone unit is positioned in the airflow passage. The first cyclone unit comprises at least one cyclone having a cyclone inlet and at least one dirt collection chamber. A suction motor is positioned in the airflow passage. The dirt collection chamber and the nozzle are removable from the surface cleaning apparatus.

1 . A hand vacuum cleaner comprising:
 a) an air flow passage extending from a nozzle having a dirty air inlet to a clean air outlet;   b) a first cyclone unit positioned in the air flow passage, the first cyclone unit comprising at least one cyclone having a cyclone inlet and at least one dirt collection chamber;   c) a suction motor positioned in the air flow passage; and,   d) the dirt collection chamber and the nozzle are removable from the surface cleaning apparatus.   
   
   
       2 . The hand vacuum cleaner of  claim 1  wherein the dirt collection chamber and the nozzle are removable as a unit. 
   
   
       3 . The hand vacuum cleaner of  claim 1  wherein the dirt collection chamber and the nozzle comprise a one-piece assembly. 
   
   
       4 . The hand vacuum cleaner of  claim 3  wherein the dirt collection chamber and the nozzle are integrally formed. 
   
   
       5 . The hand vacuum cleaner of  claim 1  wherein the dirt collection chamber is removable from the hand vacuum cleaner with the first cyclone unit. 
   
   
       6 . The hand vacuum cleaner of  claim 1  wherein the nozzle is connected in airflow communication with the cyclone at a lower portion of the hand vacuum cleaner. 
   
   
       7 . The hand vacuum cleaner of  claim 1  wherein the nozzle is positioned at a bottom of the hand vacuum. 
   
   
       8 . The hand vacuum cleaner of  claim 1  wherein the nozzle is positioned beneath at least a portion of the cyclone unit. 
   
   
       9 . The hand vacuum cleaner of  claim 1  further comprising a plurality of wheels, the nozzle has a nozzle axis that extends generally horizontally when the wheels are in contact with a surface to be cleaned. 
   
   
       10 . The hand vacuum cleaner of  claim 1  wherein the nozzle comprises an enclosed airflow passage. 
   
   
       11 . The hand vacuum cleaner of  claim 1  wherein the nozzle comprises an open sided airflow chamber. 
   
   
       12 . The hand vacuum cleaner of  claim 11  wherein the open sided airflow chamber has an open lower end. 
   
   
       13 . The hand vacuum cleaner of  claim 11  wherein the open sided airflow chamber has an upper nozzle wall that comprises at least a portion of the lower wall of the cyclone unit. 
   
   
       14 . The hand vacuum cleaner of  claim 14  wherein the cyclone inlet is in communication with an enclosed passage extending from an opening in the upper nozzle wall. 
   
   
       15 . The hand vacuum cleaner of  claim 11  wherein the open sided airflow chamber further comprises a depending wall extending downwardly from the upper nozzle wall. 
   
   
       16 . The hand vacuum cleaner of  claim 15  wherein the depending wall is generally U-shaped. 
   
   
       17 . The hand vacuum cleaner of  claim 11  wherein the hand vacuum cleaner has a front and the open sided airflow chamber extends to the front of the hand vacuum cleaner and the dirty air inlet is at the front of the hand vacuum cleaner. 
   
   
       18 . The hand vacuum cleaner of  claim 1  wherein the cyclone inlet faces a surface to be cleaned. 
   
   
       19 . The hand vacuum cleaner of  claim 11  wherein the, open sided airflow chamber comprises:
 a) an upper wall;   b) a depending wall extending downwardly from the upper wall, the depending wall having a lower end that is positioned above the lower end of the wheels; and,   c) the upper wall and the depending wall defining an air flow chamber having an open lower end and the opening is provided in a rear half of the upper wall of the air flow chamber forwardly of a rear portion of the depending wall and inwardly of side portions of the depending wall.