Stabilizer wheel for a surface cleaning apparatus

Abstract

A surface cleaning apparatus comprises an air flow path extending from a dirty air inlet to a clean air outlet, an air treatment member and a suction motor. The surface cleaning apparatus comprises a main body comprising a front end, a rear end, and a pair of spaced apart main wheels having an axis of rotation. The surface cleaning apparatus also comprises at least one of a front stabilizer wheel provided forward of the axis of rotation and a rear stabilizer wheel provided rearward of the axis of rotation.

1 . A surface cleaning apparatus comprising:
 (a) an air flow path extending from a dirty air inlet to a clean air outlet and comprising an air treatment member and a suction motor;   (b) a main body comprising a front end, a rear end, and a pair of spaced apart main wheels having an axis of rotation; and,   (c) at least one of a front stabilizer wheel provided forward of the axis of rotation and a rear stabilizer wheel provided rearward of the axis of rotation.   
     
     
         2 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising both the front stabilizer wheel and the rear stabilizer wheel. 
     
     
         3 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 2  wherein the stabilizer wheels are positioned such that only one of the stabilizer wheels can contact the floor at a time. 
     
     
         4 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the main body further comprises first and second opposed sidewalls and the main wheels are provided on the sidewalls. 
     
     
         5 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 4  wherein at least one of the first and second opposed sidewalls has a compartment that houses an operating component of the surface cleaning apparatus or a portion of the air flow path. 
     
     
         6 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 5  wherein the portion of the airflow path comprises at least part of an air flow passage between a cyclone chamber and the suction motor. 
     
     
         7 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 5  wherein the operating component comprises at least one of a filter, batteries, a power cord reel and control electronics. 
     
     
         8 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 7  wherein at least one of the main wheels is moveable to an open position to reveal the compartment. 
     
     
         9 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a cyclone bin assembly including a cyclone chamber and each of main wheels has a diameter larger than a diameter of the cyclone chamber. 
     
     
         10 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 4  the main wheels are substantially the same size as the sidewalls. 
     
     
         11 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 9  wherein the main wheels have a cross sectional area larger then a transverse cross sectional area of the cyclone bin assembly. 
     
     
         12 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 9  wherein the sidewalls overlie at least 75% of end walls of the cyclone bin assembly. 
     
     
         13 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 9  wherein the sidewalls overlie essentially all of end walls of the cyclone bin assembly. 
     
     
         14 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 9  further comprising a cavity having an open upper end positioned between the first and second opposed side walls and the cyclone bin assembly is removably mounted in the cavity. 
     
     
         15 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 14  wherein the cyclone bin assembly seats on a platform in the cavity and the platform comprises a portion of a housing for the suction motor. 
     
     
         16 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 14  wherein the cavity is generally U shaped. 
     
     
         17 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 16  wherein the cavity has an open front end and an open rear end. 
     
     
         18 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the stabilizer wheel is positioned laterally approximately midway between the main wheels. 
     
     
         19 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a filter housing and the stabilizer wheel is provided on the filter housing. 
     
     
         20 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a post motor filter positioned laterally between the main wheels, the surface cleaning apparatus comprises a rear stabilizer wheel and the rear stabilizer wheel is provided on the post motor filter housing.