Configuration of a motor housing for a surface cleaning apparatus

Abstract

A surface cleaning apparatus comprises a suction motor and fan housing wherein at least a portion of the suction motor and fan housing forms part of an outer casing of the surface cleaning apparatus and a portion of the housing is recessed inwardly.

1 . A surface cleaning apparatus comprising:
 (a) an air flow passage extending from a dirty air inlet to a clean air outlet;   (b) at least one air treatment member positioned in the air flow passage;   (c) a suction motor and fan positioned in the air flow passage; and,   (d) a suction motor and fan housing wherein at least a portion of the suction motor and fan housing forms part of an outer casing of the apparatus and a portion of the housing is recessed inwardly.   
     
     
         2 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the motor housing comprises a fan portion in which the fan is positioned and a motor portion in which the motor is positioned, the fan portion having a larger cross sectional area then the motor portion. 
     
     
         3 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the motor portion is recessed inwardly from the fan portion. 
     
     
         4 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the motor portion is downstream from the fan portion. 
     
     
         5 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the suction motor and fan housing has an upstream end and a downstream end and a longitudinally extending sidewall between the upstream end and the downstream end, and the sidewall proximates the profile of the suction motor and fan. 
     
     
         6 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 5  wherein at least a portion of the sidewall forms part of the outer casing. 
     
     
         7 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 5  wherein at least a majority of the sidewall forms part of the outer casing. 
     
     
         8 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the suction motor and fan comprises a fan housing and a suction motor, the fan portion has an inner surface that is spaced from the fan housing by a first distance and the motor portion has an inner surface that is spaced from the suction motor by a second distance and the second distance is about the same as the first distance. 
     
     
         9 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the suction motor and fan comprises a fan housing and a suction motor, the fan portion has an inner surface that is spaced from the fan housing by a first distance and the motor portion has an inner surface that is spaced from the suction motor by a second distance and each of the first distance and the second distance is up to 1 inch. 
     
     
         10 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a post motor filter positioned in a post motor filter housing and the post motor filter housing has a cross sectional area that proximates that of the motor portion. 
     
     
         11 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 10  wherein the post motor filter housing is provided adjacent the motor portion. 
     
     
         12 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 2  wherein an air treatment portion of the surface cleaning apparatus that houses the at least one air treatment member has an outer surface and the air treatment portion has a cross sectional area that is less than twice that of the fan portion. 
     
     
         13 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the at least one air treatment member comprises a cyclone unit. 
     
     
         14 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 13  wherein the cyclone unit has an outer surface that forms a portion of the outer surface of the surface cleaning apparatus. 
     
     
         15 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the surface cleaning apparatus comprises a hand vacuum cleaner. 
     
     
         16 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the apparatus has a generally linear air flow from the at least one air treatment member to the suction motor and fan housing.