Hand vacuum cleaner

Abstract

A hand vacuum cleaner is provided with a first cyclonic cleaning stage, a pre-motor filter and a fluid flow motor. The first cyclonic stage has a bottom end, an upper end spaced longitudinally from the bottom end along a first stage axis, an air inlet and an air outlet, the first cyclonic cleaning stage comprising a first cyclone chamber and a first dirt collection region, the first dirt collection region having an end wall at the bottom end that is openable to empty the first dirt collection region. The pre-motor filter is positioned downstream from the first cyclonic cleaning stage and spaced from the openable end wall of the first dirt collection region in a direction of the first stage axis. The fluid flow motor is downstream from the pre-motor filter. The pre-motor filter is removable in the direction of the central longitudinal axis through an opening in an upper end of the hand vacuum cleaner

1 . A hand vacuum cleaner comprising:
 a) a first cyclonic cleaning stage having a bottom end, an upper end spaced longitudinally from the bottom end along a first stage axis, an air inlet and an air outlet, the first cyclonic cleaning stage comprising a first cyclone chamber and a first dirt collection region, the first dirt collection region having an end wall at the bottom end that is openable to empty the first dirt collection region;   b) a pre-motor filter positioned downstream from the first cyclonic cleaning stage and spaced from the openable end wall of the first dirt collection region in a direction of the first stage axis; and,   c) a fluid flow motor that is downstream from the pre-motor filter,   
       wherein the pre-motor filter is removable in the direction of the central longitudinal axis through an opening in an upper end of the hand vacuum cleaner. 
     
     
         2 . The hand vacuum cleaner of  claim 1  wherein the pre-motor filter comprises a foam membrane. 
     
     
         3 . The hand vacuum cleaner of  claim 1  further comprising a second cyclonic cleaning stage located downstream from the first cyclonic cleaning stage and comprising a plurality of second cyclone chambers in parallel with each other and a second stage axis, wherein the second cleaning stage in spaced from the first dirt collection region in the direction of the first stage axis and at least partially laterally overlies the first dirt collection region. 
     
     
         4 . The hand vacuum cleaner of  claim 3  further comprising a chamber downstream from the second cyclonic cleaning stage, the chamber housing the pre-motor filter, the chamber having an openable upper cover. 
     
     
         5 . The hand vacuum cleaner of  claim 3  wherein the pre-motor filter comprises a foam membrane. 
     
     
         6 . The hand vacuum cleaner of  claim 3  wherein the plurality of second cyclone chambers extend around a central opening that extends in the direction of the first stage axis. 
     
     
         7 . The hand vacuum cleaner of  claim 3  wherein the central opening has a longitudinally extending axis and the pre-motor filter is positioned around the longitudinally extending axis. 
     
     
         8 . The hand vacuum cleaner of  claim 1  further comprising a chamber downstream from the first cyclonic cleaning stage, the chamber housing the pre-motor filter, the chamber having an openable upper cover. 
     
     
         9 . The hand vacuum cleaner of  claim 8 , wherein the pre-motor filter comprises at least one physical porous filter media 
     
     
         10 . The hand vacuum cleaner of  claim 7 , wherein the upper cover forms part of an exposed, outer surface of the hand vacuum cleaner. 
     
     
         11 . The hand vacuum cleaner of  claim 8 , wherein the fluid flow motor defines a motor axis that is generally orthogonal to the first stage axis. 
     
     
         12 . The hand vacuum cleaner of  claim 1 , wherein the first cyclone chamber comprises a dirt outlet in communication with the first dirt collection region and the first dirt collection region is external the first cyclone chamber. 
     
     
         13 . The hand vacuum cleaner of  claim 1  further comprising a handle that is positioned rearward of the pre-motor filter. 
     
     
         14 . The hand vacuum cleaner of  claim 13 , wherein a portion of the handle is affixed to a housing of the fluid flow motor. 
     
     
         15 . The hand vacuum cleaner of  claim 3  wherein the first stage axis and the second stage axis are parallel. 
     
     
         16 . The hand vacuum cleaner of  claim 15 , wherein the fluid flow motor defines a motor axis that is at an angle to the first stage axis and the second stage axis. 
     
     
         17 . The hand vacuum cleaner of  claim 15 , wherein the fluid flow motor is positioned rearward of the first and second cyclonic cleaning stages. 
     
     
         18 . The hand vacuum cleaner of  claim 17 , wherein a portion of the handle is affixed to a housing of the fluid flow motor. 
     
     
         19 . The hand vacuum cleaner of  claim 1  further comprising a dirty air inlet having an inlet axis, a handle, wherein a portion of the handle is affixed to a housing of the fluid flow motor and wherein the inlet axis intersects the handle. 
     
     
         20 . The hand vacuum cleaner of  claim 19 , wherein an upper end of the handle is positioned below the opening in the upper end of the hand vacuum cleaner.