Handheld vacuum cleaner

Abstract

A handheld vacuum cleaner (10) includes a fluid flow path extending from a dirty air inlet (14) to a clean air outlet (18), a main body (22), and a motor assembly (114) positioned in the main body (22) and along the fluid flow path. The motor defines a motor rotational axis. The handheld vacuum cleaner (10) also includes a cyclonic chamber (30) positioned in the fluid flow path. The cyclonic chamber (30) defines a separator axis. The separator axis and the motor rotational axis form an obtuse angle extending between the cyclonic chamber (30) and the motor assembly (114). The handheld vacuum cleaner (10) further includes a pre-motor filter in the fluid flow path downstream from the cyclonic chamber (30) and upstream from the motor assembly (114), a plenum (386) in the fluid flow path immediately upstream from the motor assembly (114), and a sensor (402) positioned on the plenum. The sensor (402) is operable to measure a characteristic of the fluid flow path.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A handheld vacuum cleaner comprising:
 a fluid flow path extending from a dirty air inlet to a clean air outlet;   a main body including a handle;   a motor assembly positioned in the main body and along the fluid flow path, the motor defining a motor rotational axis;   a cyclonic chamber positioned in the fluid flow path, the cyclonic chamber including a cyclone dirty fluid inlet and a cyclone clean fluid outlet, the cyclonic chamber defining a separator axis, wherein the separator axis and the motor rotational axis form an obtuse angle extending between the cyclonic chamber and the motor assembly;   a pre-motor filter in the fluid flow path downstream from the cyclonic chamber and upstream from the motor assembly;   a plenum in the fluid flow path immediately upstream from the motor assembly; and   a sensor positioned on the plenum, the sensor operable to measure a characteristic of the fluid flow path.   
     
     
         2 . The handheld vacuum cleaner of  claim 1 , wherein the plenum includes a wall portion facing a downstream surface of the pre-motor filter, and wherein the sensor is positioned on the wall portion. 
     
     
         3 . The handheld vacuum cleaner of  claim 1 , wherein a cavity is formed between the plenum and the main body, and wherein the sensor is positioned in the cavity. 
     
     
         4 . The handheld vacuum cleaner of  claim 1 , wherein the fluid flow path includes a volumetric flow rate of at least 20 cubic feet per minute measured at the dirty air inlet. 
     
     
         5 . The handheld vacuum cleaner of  claim 1 , wherein the motor rotational axis and the separator axis intersect at or below the pre-motor filter. 
     
     
         6 . The handheld vacuum cleaner of  claim 1 , wherein the obtuse angle extending between the cyclonic chamber and the motor assembly is within a range of 90 degrees to 165 degrees. 
     
     
         7 . The handheld vacuum cleaner of  claim 1 , wherein the obtuse angle extending between the cyclonic chamber and the motor assembly is within a range of 135 degrees to 150 degrees. 
     
     
         8 . The handheld vacuum cleaner of  claim 1 , wherein the obtuse angle extending between the cyclonic chamber and the motor assembly is 150 degrees. 
     
     
         9 . The handheld vacuum cleaner of  claim 1 , further comprising a screen positioned between the pre-motor filter and the plenum. 
     
     
         10 . The handheld vacuum cleaner of  claim 9 , further comprising at least one rib positioned between the screen and the pre-motor filter. 
     
     
         11 . The handheld vacuum cleaner of  claim 9 , wherein the motor assembly includes an open motor inlet and the screen is positioned upstream and spaced from the motor inlet. 
     
     
         12 . A method of controlling a vacuum cleaner having a fluid flow path extending from a dirty air inlet to a clean air outlet, the method comprising:
 monitoring a user activated switch;   activating a motor of the vacuum providing airflow along the fluid flow path while the user activated switch is activated;   determining when the user activated switch is activated twice within a predetermined period of time; and   continuously activating the motor without further activation of the user activated switch upon determining the user activated switch has been activated twice within the predetermined period of time.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising deactivating the motor upon the next activation of the user activated switch. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the predetermined period of time is 2 seconds. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the predetermined period of time is 1 second.