Surface cleaning apparatus

Abstract

A hand vacuum cleaner comprises an air flow passage extending from a dirty air inlet to a clean air outlet. A suction motor is positioned in the air flow path. At least one air treatment member, which is optionally a cyclone chamber, is positioned in the air flow path. The suction motor is positioned exterior to the air treatment member and the end of the suction motor opposed to the air inlet end of the suction motor is located proximate the end of the air treatment member distal to the air inlet end of the air treatment member.

1 ) A hand vac comprising:
 a) a main body;   b) an air flow passage extending from a dirty air inlet to a clean air outlet;   c) a suction motor positioned in the air flow passage, the suction motor having an inlet end and an opposed end axially spaced from the inlet end;   d) at least one cyclone chamber positioned in the air flow passage and having a cyclone air inlet, a cyclone air outlet and an associated dirt collection chamber having a distal end spaced from the cyclone air inlet, wherein the suction motor is positioned exterior to the dirt collection chamber and the opposed end of the suction motor is located proximate the distal end of the dirt collection chamber;   e) a pre-motor foam filter positioned downstream of the cyclone chamber and upstream of the suction motor, the pre-motor foam filter having an upstream side and a downstream side, wherein the pre-motor foam filter overlies at least a portion of the suction motor and the cyclone chamber; and,   f) a handle for carrying the hand vac.   
     
     
         2 ) The hand vac of  claim 1  wherein the suction motor is located adjacent a sidewall of the main body. 
     
     
         3 ) The hand vac of  claim 1  wherein the distal end of the dirt collection chamber is located at an end wall of the hand vac and the opposed end of the suction motor is located proximate the end wall. 
     
     
         4 ) The hand vac of  claim 1  wherein the cyclone chamber and the suction motor are positioned side by side and have generally parallel longitudinal axes. 
     
     
         5 ) The hand vac of  claim 1  wherein the pre-motor foam filter overlies at least half of the suction motor and the cyclone chamber. 
     
     
         6 ) The hand vac of  claim 1  wherein the dirt collection chamber is exterior to the cyclone chamber and the pre-motor foam filter overlies at least half of the suction motor, the cyclone chamber and the dirt collection chamber. 
     
     
         7 ) The hand vac of  claim 1  wherein the pre-motor foam filter has a portion that is centered over the suction motor and a portion that overlies at least half of the cyclone chamber. 
     
     
         8 ) The hand vac of  claim 1  wherein the upstream side of the pre-motor foam filter faces the cyclone air outlet and an inlet duct of the suction motor extends through the pre-motor foam filter to the downstream side of the pre-motor foam filter. 
     
     
         9 ) The hand vac of  claim 1  wherein the cyclone air outlet extends through the pre-motor foam filter to the upstream side of the pre-motor foam filter and the inlet end of the suction motor faces the downstream side of the pre-motor foam filter. 
     
     
         10 ) The hand vac of  claim 1  further comprising an openable door positioned at a side of the hand vac having the cyclone air outlet and the inlet end of the suction motor wherein the upstream side of the pre-motor foam filter is visible when the door is opened. 
     
     
         11 ) The hand vac of  claim 10  wherein the pre-motor foam filter is mounted to at least one of the cyclone chamber and the suction motor and the pre-motor foam filter remains in position when the door is opened. 
     
     
         12 ) The hand vac of  claim 10  wherein the pre-motor foam filter is spaced from the door and a chamber is provided between the pre-motor foam filter and the door. 
     
     
         13 ) A hand vac comprising:
 a) a main body;   b) an air flow passage extending from a dirty air inlet to a clean air outlet;   c) a suction motor positioned in the air flow passage, the suction motor having an inlet end and an opposed end axially spaced from the inlet end;   d) at least one air treatment member positioned in the air flow passage, the air treatment member having an air inlet, a distal end spaced from the air inlet, and a air outlet, wherein the suction motor is positioned exterior to the air treatment member and the opposed end of the suction motor is located proximate the distal end of the air treatment member;   e) a pre-motor foam filter positioned downstream of the air treatment member and upstream of the suction motor, the pre-motor foam filter having an upstream side and a downstream side, wherein the pre-motor foam filter overlies at least a portion of the air treatment member; and,   f) a handle for carrying the hand vac.   
     
     
         14 ) The hand vac of  claim 13  wherein the suction motor is located adjacent a sidewall of the main body. 
     
     
         15 ) The hand vac of  claim 13  wherein the distal end of the air treatment member is located at an end wall of the hand vac and the opposed end of the suction motor is located proximate the end wall. 
     
     
         16 ) The hand vac of  claim 13  wherein the air treatment member and the suction motor are positioned side by side 
     
     
         17 ) The hand vac of  claim 16  wherein the air treatment member and the suction motor have generally parallel longitudinal axes. 
     
     
         18 ) The hand vac of  claim 13  wherein the suction motor has a longitudinal axis and a projection of the axis does not interest the air treatment member. 
     
     
         19 ) The hand vac of  claim 13  wherein the air treatment member comprises a cyclone chamber. 
     
     
         20 ) The hand vac of  claim 13  wherein the pre-motor foam filter overlies at least half of the suction motor and the air treatment member.