Configuration of a surface cleaning apparatus

Abstract

A portable vacuum cleaner has an air treatment chamber, a pre-motor filter positioned downstream from the air treatment chamber, a body including a suction motor, the suction motor is positioned in the air flow passage downstream from the pre-motor filter. A handle is provided on the body. The pre-motor filter has a first end, an axially spaced apart second end, a sidewall extends between the first end of the pre-motor filter and the axially spaced apart second end, wherein the sidewall comprises a filter material surrounding an open interior providing a filtered air flow path, the axially spaced apart second end is open whereby, after passing through the sidewall, air enters the filtered air flow path and passes through the open axially spaced apart second end. The longitudinal air treatment chamber axis and the motor axis extend in the same direction and each extend through the open interior.

1 . A portable vacuum cleaner comprising:
 (a) an air flow passage extending from a dirty air inlet of the to a clean air outlet, a suction motor positioned in the air flow path;   (b) an air treatment chamber positioned in the air flow passage upstream from the suction motor and comprising a first end, a second opposed end, a longitudinal axis extending between the first and second ends, an air treatment chamber air inlet and an air treatment chamber air outlet, the first end is openable and comprises an openable first end wall and the second end comprises the air treatment chamber air outlet;   (c) a pre-motor filter positioned in the air flow passage downstream from the air treatment chamber air outlet;   (d) a body including the suction motor, the suction motor is positioned in the air flow passage downstream from the pre-motor filter, the suction motor having a motor axis and a motor inlet end; and,   (e) a handle provided on the body,   wherein the pre-motor filter has a first end, an axially spaced apart second end, a sidewall extends between the first end of the pre-motor filter and the axially spaced apart second end, wherein the sidewall comprises a filter material surrounding an open interior providing a filtered air flow path, the axially spaced apart second end is open whereby, after passing through the sidewall, air enters the filtered air flow path and passes through the open axially spaced apart second end, and   wherein the longitudinal axis and the motor axis each extend through the open interior, and   wherein the longitudinal axis and the motor axis extend in the same direction, and   wherein the motor inlet end faces the axially spaced apart second end of the pre-motor filter, and   wherein, in operation to clean a floor, the suction motor is positioned above the pre-motor filter.   
     
     
         2 . The portable vacuum cleaner of  claim 1  wherein when the openable first end wall is opened, the first end of the air treatment chamber is opened and has an opening, the opening has a diameter in the direction transverse to the longitudinal axis, and the second end of the air treatment chamber has a diameter that is generally equal to the diameter of the opening. 
     
     
         3 . The portable vacuum cleaner of  claim 1  wherein the first end of the air treatment chamber has a radial center and the motor axis extends through the radial center. 
     
     
         4 . The portable vacuum cleaner of  claim 1  wherein the motor axis and the longitudinal axis are co-axial. 
     
     
         5 . The portable vacuum cleaner of  claim 1  wherein the handle is provided on a sidewall portion of the portable vacuum cleaner. 
     
     
         6 . The portable vacuum cleaner of  claim 1  wherein the body has a first end and an axially spaced apart second end, the clean air outlet is provided at the axially spaced apart second end, the axially spaced apart second end has an end face and the handle is provided on the end face. 
     
     
         7 . The portable vacuum cleaner of  claim 1  wherein the portable cleaning unit is removably mountable to a floor cleaning unit, which comprises a suction motor, and is operable both when mounted to the floor cleaning unit and when removed from the floor cleaning unit. 
     
     
         8 . The portable vacuum cleaner of  claim 7  wherein, when the portable cleaning unit is mounted to the floor cleaning unit, the portable vacuum cleaner and the floor cleaning unit form an upright vacuum cleaner and the handle is a driving handle of the upright vacuum cleaner. 
     
     
         9 . The portable vacuum cleaner of  claim 1  wherein the pre-motor filter is positioned in a filter housing and an annular space is located between the filter housing and the pre-motor filter. 
     
     
         10 . The portable vacuum cleaner of  claim 1  wherein the air treatment chamber comprises a cyclone. 
     
     
         11 . A portable vacuum cleaner comprising:
 (a) an air flow passage extending from a dirty air inlet of the to a clean air outlet, a suction motor positioned in the air flow path;   (b) an air treatment chamber positioned in the air flow passage upstream from the suction motor and comprising a first end, a second opposed end, a longitudinal axis extending between the first and second ends, an air treatment chamber air inlet and an air treatment chamber air outlet, the second end comprises the air treatment chamber air outlet;   (c) a pre-motor filter positioned in a filter housing downstream from the air treatment chamber air outlet;   (d) a body including the suction motor, the suction motor is positioned in the air flow passage downstream from the pre-motor filter, the suction motor having a motor axis and a motor inlet end; and,   (e) a handle provided on the body,   wherein the pre-motor filter has a first end, an axially spaced apart second end, a sidewall extends between the first end of the pre-motor filter and the axially spaced apart second end, wherein an annular space is located between the filter housing and the sidewall, the sidewall comprises a filter material surrounding an open interior providing a filtered air flow path, the axially spaced apart second end is open whereby, after passing through the sidewall, air enters the filtered air flow path and passes through the open axially spaced apart second end, and   wherein the longitudinal axis and the motor axis each extend through the open interior, and   wherein the longitudinal axis and the motor axis extend in the same direction, and   wherein the motor inlet end faces the axially spaced apart second end of the pre-motor filter, and   wherein, in operation to clean a floor, the suction motor is positioned above the pre-motor filter.   
     
     
         12 . The portable vacuum cleaner of  claim 11  wherein the motor axis and the longitudinal axis are co-axial. 
     
     
         13 . The portable vacuum cleaner of  claim 11  wherein the handle is provided on a sidewall portion of the portable vacuum cleaner. 
     
     
         14 . The portable vacuum cleaner of  claim 11  wherein the body has a first end and an axially spaced apart second end, the clean air outlet is provided at the axially spaced apart second end, the axially spaced apart second end has an end face and the handle is provided on the end face. 
     
     
         15 . The portable vacuum cleaner of  claim 11  wherein the portable cleaning unit is removably mountable to a floor cleaning unit, which comprises a suction motor, and is operable both when mounted to the floor cleaning unit and when removed from the floor cleaning unit. 
     
     
         16 . The portable vacuum cleaner of  claim 15  wherein, when the portable cleaning unit is mounted to the floor cleaning unit, the portable vacuum cleaner and the floor cleaning unit form an upright vacuum cleaner and the handle is a driving handle of the upright vacuum cleaner. 
     
     
         17 . The portable vacuum cleaner of  claim 11  wherein the air treatment chamber comprises a cyclone.