Air treatment apparatus

Abstract

A surface cleaning apparatus or a docking station for a surface cleaning apparatus comprises a housing body has air flow path extending from an air inlet of the housing body to an air outlet of the housing body and, a non-cyclonic momentum separator positioned in the housing body wherein a portion of the momentum separator is spaced from the housing body wherein a chamber is provided exterior to the momentum separator and within the housing body. An air flow conduit extends from the air inlet of the housing body to an air inlet of the momentum separator, and the air flow conduit extends through the chamber. A portion of the momentum separator that is spaced from the housing body comprises at least two sides of the momentum separator, and the at least two sides of the momentum separator are porous and comprise an air outlet of the momentum separator.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A surface cleaning apparatus or a docking station for a surface cleaning apparatus comprising:
 (a) a housing body have an air flow path extending from an air inlet of the housing body to an air outlet of the housing body; and,   (b) a non-cyclonic momentum separator positioned in the housing body wherein at least a portion of the momentum separator is spaced from the housing body wherein a chamber is provided exterior to the momentum separator and within the housing body,   wherein, when the docking station is positioned on a floor for docking with a surface cleaning apparatus or the surface cleaning apparatus is in operation to clean a floor, the momentum separator has a lower end, an upper end and a sidewall extending between the upper and lower ends,   wherein an air flow conduit extends from the air inlet of the housing body to an air inlet of the momentum separator, and the air flow conduit extends through the chamber, and   wherein the at least a portion of the momentum separator that is spaced from the housing body comprises at least two sides of the momentum separator, and the at least two sides of the momentum separator are porous and comprise an air outlet of the momentum separator.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the at least two sides of the momentum separator that are porous comprise screens. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein at least three sides of the momentum separator are porous. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3  wherein the at least two sides of the momentum separator that are porous comprise screens. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the at least two sides comprise the upper side and the sidewall of the momentum separator. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the sidewall of the momentum separator comprises first and second opposed sidewalls and first and second laterally extending sidewalls wherein each of the first and second laterally extending sidewalls extends between the first and second opposed sidewalls and wherein the at least two sides comprise the upper side and at least one of the first laterally extending sidewall, the second laterally extending sidewall, the first opposed sidewall and the second opposed sidewall. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6  wherein the at least two sides comprise the upper side and at least two of the first laterally extending sidewall, the second laterally extending sidewall, the first opposed sidewall and the second opposed sidewall. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 6  wherein the at least two sides comprise the upper side and at least three of the first laterally extending sidewall, the second laterally extending sidewall, the first opposed sidewall and the second opposed sidewall. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the sidewall of the momentum separator comprises first and second opposed sidewalls and first and second laterally extending sidewalls wherein each of the first and second laterally extending sidewalls extends between the first and second opposed sidewalls and wherein the at least two sides comprise the lower side and at least one of the first laterally extending sidewall, the second laterally extending sidewall, the first opposed sidewall and the second opposed sidewall. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9  wherein the at least two sides comprise the lower side and at least two of the first laterally extending sidewall, the second laterally extending sidewall, the first opposed sidewall and the second opposed sidewall. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 9  wherein the at least two sides comprise the lower side and at least three of the first laterally extending sidewall, the second laterally extending sidewall, the first opposed sidewall and the second opposed sidewall. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the momentum separator is suspended in the housing body. 
     
     
         13 . A surface cleaning apparatus or a docking station for a surface cleaning apparatus comprising:
 (a) a housing body have an air flow path extending from an air inlet of the housing body to an air outlet of the housing body; and,   (b) a non-cyclonic momentum separator that is suspended in the housing body, the momentum separator having an outer wall wherein at least a portion of the outer wall is porous and comprises an air outlet of the momentum separator, wherein a chamber is provided exterior to the momentum separator and within the housing body.   
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 13  wherein, when the docking station is positioned on a floor for docking with a surface cleaning apparatus or the surface cleaning apparatus is in operation to clean a floor, the momentum separator has a lower end, an upper end and a sidewall extending between the upper and lower ends, and at least a portion of each of the lower end, the upper end and the sidewall are porous. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 13  wherein, when the docking station is positioned on a floor for docking with a surface cleaning apparatus or the surface cleaning apparatus is in operation to clean a floor, the momentum separator has a lower end, an upper end and a sidewall extending between the upper and lower ends, and at least a portion of each of the lower end, the upper end and the sidewall comprise a screen. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 13  wherein an air flow conduit extends from the air inlet of the housing body to an air inlet of the momentum separator, and the air flow conduit extends through the chamber. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 13  wherein the chamber is openable. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 16  wherein the apparatus is a surface cleaning apparatus. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 13  wherein the housing body has an outer wall surrounding the chamber and all of the outer wall that is porous is spaced from the outer wall of the housing body. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 13  wherein the outer wall of the momentum separator comprises a plurality of wall that comprise screens, the housing body has an outer wall surrounding the chamber and each wall that comprises a screen is spaced from an outer wall of the housing body.