Surface cleaning apparatus

Abstract

A surface cleaning apparatus comprising a cyclone, a pre-motor filter and a suction motor positioned in an air flow path. The pre-motor filter has an open interior passage having a passage axis. The cyclone axis of rotation, the passage axis and the motor axis of rotation are parallel.

1 .- 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A hand vacuum cleaner comprising:
 (a) an air flow path extending from a dirty air inlet to a clean air outlet;   (b) a cyclone positioned in the air flow path, the cyclone comprising a cyclone chamber air inlet, a cyclone chamber air outlet at a cyclone chamber rear end, a centrally positioned cyclone axis of rotation, a cyclone chamber front end axially spaced from the cyclone chamber rear end and a cyclone chamber sidewall extending between the cyclone chamber front end and the cyclone chamber rear end;   (c) a pre-motor filter positioned in the air flow path downstream from the cyclone chamber, the pre-motor filter having an open interior passage having a passage axis; and,   (d) a main body housing a suction motor that is positioned in the air flow path downstream of the pre-motor filter, the suction motor has a motor axis of rotation,   wherein the cyclone axis of rotation, the passage axis and the motor axis of rotation are parallel and,   wherein a handle is provided on a lower end of the main body.   
     
     
         22 . The hand vacuum cleaner of  claim 21  wherein a rear end of the pre-motor filter is located rearward of the cyclone. 
     
     
         23 . The hand vacuum cleaner of  claim 21  wherein the cyclone air inlet is located at the front end of the cyclone. 
     
     
         24 . The hand vacuum cleaner of  claim 21  wherein the handle is a pistol grip handle. 
     
     
         25 . The hand vacuum cleaner of  claim 21  further comprising a dirt collection chamber exterior to the cyclone chamber and in communication with the cyclone chamber by a plurality of dirt outlets provided in the cyclone chamber sidewall. 
     
     
         26 . The hand vacuum cleaner of  claim 21  wherein the cyclone axis of rotation and the motor axis of rotation extend through the open interior passage. 
     
     
         27 . A hand vacuum cleaner comprising:
 (a) an air flow path extending from a dirty air inlet to a clean air outlet;   (b) a cyclone positioned in the air flow path, the cyclone comprising a cyclone chamber air inlet, a cyclone chamber air outlet at a cyclone chamber rear end, a centrally positioned cyclone axis of rotation, a cyclone chamber front end axially spaced from the cyclone chamber rear end and a cyclone chamber sidewall extending between the cyclone chamber front end and the cyclone chamber rear end;   (c) a pre-motor filter positioned in the air flow path downstream from the cyclone chamber, the pre-motor filter having an open interior passage having a passage axis; and,   (d) a suction motor positioned in the air flow path downstream of the pre-motor filter, the suction motor has a motor axis of rotation,   wherein the cyclone axis of rotation and the motor axis of rotation extend through the open interior passage.   
     
     
         28 . The hand vacuum cleaner of  claim 27  wherein a rear end of the pre-motor filter is located rearward of the cyclone. 
     
     
         29 . The hand vacuum cleaner of  claim 27  wherein the cyclone air inlet is located at the front end of the cyclone. 
     
     
         30 . The hand vacuum cleaner of  claim 27  wherein the handle is a pistol grip handle. 
     
     
         31 . The hand vacuum cleaner of  claim 27  further comprising a dirt collection chamber exterior to the cyclone chamber and in communication with the cyclone chamber by a plurality of dirt outlets provided in the cyclone chamber sidewall. 
     
     
         32 . A hand vacuum cleaner comprising:
 (a) an air flow path extending from a dirty air inlet to a clean air outlet;   (b) an air treatment chamber positioned in the air flow path, the air treatment chamber comprising an air treatment chamber air inlet, an air treatment chamber air outlet at an air treatment chamber rear end, an air treatment chamber front end axially spaced from the air treatment chamber rear end, a centrally positioned axis extending between the air treatment chamber front end and the air treatment chamber rear end, and an air treatment chamber sidewall extending between the air treatment chamber front end and the air treatment chamber rear end;   (c) a pre-motor filter positioned in the air flow path downstream from the air treatment chamber, the pre-motor filter having an open interior passage having a passage axis; and,   (d) a suction motor positioned in the air flow path downstream of the pre-motor filter, the suction motor has a motor axis of rotation,   wherein the centrally positioned axis and the motor axis of rotation extend through the open interior passage.   
     
     
         33 . The hand vacuum cleaner of  claim 32  wherein a rear end of the pre-motor filter is located rearward of the air treatment chamber. 
     
     
         34 . The hand vacuum cleaner of  claim 32  wherein the air treatment chamber air inlet is located at the front end of the air treatment chamber. 
     
     
         35 . The hand vacuum cleaner of  claim 32  wherein the handle is a pistol grip handle. 
     
     
         36 . The hand vacuum cleaner of  claim 32  further comprising a dirt collection chamber exterior to the air treatment chamber and in communication with the air treatment chamber by a plurality of dirt outlets provided in the air treatment chamber sidewall. 
     
     
         37 . The hand vacuum cleaner of  claim 32  wherein the centrally positioned axis, the passage axis and the motor axis of rotation are parallel.