Handheld vacuum cleaner

Abstract

A handheld vacuum cleaner includes a fluid flow path extending from a dirty air inlet to a clean air outlet, a main body, and a motor assembly positioned in the main body and along the fluid flow path. The motor defines a motor rotational axis. The handheld vacuum cleaner also includes a cyclonic chamber positioned in the fluid flow path. The cyclonic chamber defines a separator axis. The separator axis and the motor rotational axis form an obtuse angle extending between the cyclonic chamber and the motor assembly. The handheld vacuum cleaner further includes 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 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 . The handheld vacuum cleaner of  claim 1 , wherein a controller monitors the sensor and provides an alert that depends on information provided by the sensor. 
     
     
         13 . The handheld vacuum cleaner of  claim 12 , wherein the controller provides the alert to a display. 
     
     
         14 . The handheld vacuum cleaner of  claim 13 , wherein the display is a screen. 
     
     
         15 . The handheld vacuum cleaner of  claim 12 , wherein the controller provides the alert to a personal device through a transmitter. 
     
     
         16 . The handheld vacuum cleaner of  claim 15 , wherein the personal device is a cell phone. 
     
     
         17 . The handheld vacuum cleaner of  claim 15 , wherein the personal device is a personal computer. 
     
     
         18 . The handheld vacuum cleaner of  claim 1 , wherein sensor measures a pressure within the plenum. 
     
     
         19 . The handheld vacuum cleaner of  claim 1 , wherein the sensor measures a pressure downstream of the pre-motor filter. 
     
     
         20 . The handheld vacuum cleaner of  claim 19 , wherein the handheld vacuum cleaner includes an information transmission system configured to transmit information to a user about a potential clog in the fluid flow path depending upon the pressure measured by the sensor.