Dirt collection chamber for a cyclonic surface cleaning apparatus

Abstract

A surface cleaning apparatus comprises a dirt chamber. The dirt chamber comprises a first portion and a second portion. The first portion of the dirt chamber is transparent and the second portion has an increased opacity compared to the first portion to simulate a dirt fill line.

1 . A surface cleaning apparatus comprising:
 (a) an air flow passage extending from a dirty air inlet to a clean air outlet;   (b) a suction motor positioned in the air flow passage; and,   (c) a cyclone unit positioned in the air flow passage, the cyclone unit comprising at least one cyclone and at least one dirt collection chamber;   (d) at least a portion of the dirt collection chamber is exterior to the cyclone and has an outer wall;   (e) at least a first portion of the outer wall is transparent and forms part of an outer casing of the surface cleaning unit;   (f) the outer casing having a second portion that abuts the first portion at a juncture, the second portion having increased opacity compared to the first portion, wherein the juncture is positioned proximate a dirt fill line of the dirt collection chamber.   
     
     
         2 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the dirt collection chamber surrounds at least a portion of the cyclone. 
     
     
         3 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 2  wherein the cyclone has an outer cyclone housing that is positioned inwards of the transparent outer wall and that has increased opacity compared to the first portion. 
     
     
         4 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the cyclone unit comprises a single cyclone. 
     
     
         5 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the cyclone has a dirt outlet and the second portion comprises an outlet end wall of the cyclone unit proximate the dirt outlet. 
     
     
         6 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 5  wherein the outlet end wall comprises an openable door. 
     
     
         7 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 5  wherein the dirt collection chamber and the outlet end wall are separately molded. 
     
     
         8 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 5  further comprising a plate facing the dirt outlet. 
     
     
         9 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 8  wherein the plate is mounted to the outlet end wall. 
     
     
         10 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 8 - 9  wherein a chamber is provided between the plate and the end wall and the chamber comprises part of the dirt collection chamber. 
     
     
         11 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the surface cleaning apparatus comprises a portable vacuum cleaner. 
     
     
         12 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 11  wherein the portable vacuum cleaner is removably mountable to an upright vacuum cleaner. 
     
     
         13 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 12  wherein the suction motor is in airflow communication with a cleaning head of the upright vacuum cleaner when mounted to the upright vacuum cleaner. 
     
     
         14 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the surface cleaning apparatus comprises a hand vacuum cleaner.