Hand vacuum cleaner

Abstract

A hand vacuum cleaner having a non-cyclonic chamber, which has an openable portion which is moveable between a closed position and an open position, and, in the closed position, the non-cyclonic chamber has a volume. A rigid porous member is provided in the non-cyclonic chamber. The rigid porous member is moveably mounted between a first position and a second position. In the first position, the openable portion is closed and the rigid porous member is in an in use position. In the second position, a rearward end of the rigid porous member is located exterior to the volume. A lower wall of the rigid porous member is planar.

1 . A hand vacuum cleaner having an upper end and a lower end, the hand vacuum cleaner comprising:
 (a) an air flow path extending from a dirty air inlet to a clean air outlet with a non-cyclonic chamber, a pre-motor filter and a suction motor provided in the air flow path, the dirty air inlet is provided at a front end of the hand vacuum cleaner;   (b) the non-cyclonic chamber having an air inlet downstream from the dirty air inlet, an air outlet and an openable portion which is moveable between a closed position and an open position, and, in the closed position, the non-cyclonic chamber has a volume;   (c) a rigid porous member provided in the non-cyclonic chamber, the rigid porous member is moveably mounted between a first position and a second position, in the first position, the openable portion is closed and the rigid porous member is in an in use position and, in the second position, a rearward end of the rigid porous member is located exterior to the volume, wherein a lower wall of the rigid porous member is planar;   (d) the pre-motor filter is positioned downstream of the rigid porous member; and,   (e) the suction motor is positioned rearward of the pre-motor filter, the suction motor has a suction motor axis of rotation.   
     
     
         2 . The hand vacuum cleaner of  claim 1  wherein the rigid porous member is molded. 
     
     
         3 . The hand vacuum cleaner of  claim 2  wherein the rigid porous member is slideably removable from the non-cyclonic chamber. 
     
     
         4 . The hand vacuum cleaner of  claim 1  wherein the non-cyclonic chamber has a front wall, a rear wall and sidewalls extending between the front and rear walls and, when the openable portion of the non-cyclonic chamber is in the closed position and the rigid porous member is in the first position, the sidewalls, the front wall and the rear wall of the non-cyclonic agent surround the porous rigid member and a dirt collection region is located under the lower wall of the rigid porous member. 
     
     
         5 . The hand vacuum cleaner of  claim 4  wherein the openable portion of the non-cyclonic chamber moves in a first direction from the closed to the open position and the rigid porous member moves in a second direction from the first to the second position and the first direction is different to the second direction. 
     
     
         6 . The hand vacuum cleaner of  claim 4  wherein the air inlet of the non-cyclonic chamber is provided in the front wall of the non-cyclonic chamber. 
     
     
         7 . The hand vacuum cleaner of  claim 1  further comprising a handle provided rearward of the suction motor. 
     
     
         8 . The hand vacuum cleaner of  claim 7  wherein the handle comprises a battery compartment. 
     
     
         9 . The hand vacuum cleaner of  claim 7  wherein the handle extends linearly rearwardly. 
     
     
         10 . The hand vacuum cleaner of  claim 1  further comprising an inlet passage extending between the dirty air inlet and the non-cyclonic chamber wherein, when the hand vacuum cleaner is oriented with the upper end of the hand vacuum cleaner above the lower end of the hand vacuum cleaner, the inlet passage is positioned at the upper end of the hand vacuum cleaner. 
     
     
         11 . The hand vacuum cleaner of  claim 1  further comprising an inlet passage extending between the dirty air inlet and the non-cyclonic chamber and a handle provided rearward of the suction motor, wherein the inlet passage has an inlet axis that intersects the non-cyclonic chamber, the rigid porous member, a suction motor housing and the handle. 
     
     
         12 . The hand vacuum cleaner of  claim 1  wherein the suction motor axis of rotation extends in a forward/rearward direction, a front end of the rigid porous member has a height in a plane transverse to the suction motor axis of rotation and a rear end of the rigid porous member has a height in a plane transverse to the suction motor axis of rotation which is the same as the height of the front end. 
     
     
         13 . The hand vacuum cleaner of  claim 1  wherein the suction motor axis of rotation extends in a forward/rearward direction, a front end of the rigid porous member has a height in a plane transverse to the suction motor axis of rotation and a rear end of the rigid porous member has a height in a plane transverse to the suction motor axis of rotation which is the generally the same as the height of the front end. 
     
     
         14 . A hand vacuum cleaner having an upper end and a lower end, the hand vacuum cleaner comprising:
 (a) an air flow path extending from a dirty air inlet to a clean air outlet with a air treatment chamber, a pre-motor filter and a suction motor provided in the air flow path, the dirty air inlet is provided at a front end of the hand vacuum cleaner;   (b) the air treatment chamber having an air inlet downstream from the dirty air inlet, an air outlet and an openable portion which is moveable between a closed position and an open position, and, in the closed position, the air treatment chamber has a volume;   (c) a rigid porous member provided in the air treatment chamber, the rigid porous member is moveably mounted between a first position and a second position, in the first position, the openable portion is closed and the rigid porous member is in an in use position and, in the second position, a rearward end of the rigid porous member is located exterior to the volume, wherein a lower wall of the rigid porous member is planar;   (d) the pre-motor filter is positioned downstream of the rigid porous member; and,   (e) the suction motor is positioned rearward of the pre-motor filter, the suction motor has a suction motor axis of rotation.   
     
     
         15 . The hand vacuum cleaner of  claim 14  wherein the rigid porous member is molded. 
     
     
         16 . The hand vacuum cleaner of  claim 15  wherein the rigid porous member is slideably removable from the air treatment chamber. 
     
     
         17 . The hand vacuum cleaner of  claim 15  wherein the air treatment chamber has a front wall, a rear wall and sidewalls extending between the front and rear walls and, when the openable portion of the air treatment chamber is in the closed position and the rigid porous member is in the first position, the sidewalls, the front wall and the rear wall of the air treatment agent surround the porous rigid member and a dirt collection region is located under the lower wall of the rigid porous member. 
     
     
         18 . The hand vacuum cleaner of  claim 15  wherein the openable portion of the air treatment chamber moves in a first direction from the closed to the open position and the rigid porous member moves in a second direction from the first to the second position and the first direction is different to the second direction. 
     
     
         19 . The hand vacuum cleaner of  claim 14  further comprising an inlet passage extending between the dirty air inlet and the air treatment chamber and a handle provided rearward of the suction motor, wherein the inlet passage has an inlet axis that intersects the air treatment chamber, the rigid porous member, a suction motor housing and the handle. 
     
     
         20 . The hand vacuum cleaner of  claim 14  wherein the suction motor axis of rotation extends in a forward/rearward direction, a front end of the rigid porous member has a height in a plane transverse to the suction motor axis of rotation and a rear end of the rigid porous member has a height in a plane transverse to the suction motor axis of rotation which is the generally the same as the height of the front end.