Handheld surface cleaning apparatus

Abstract

A hand vacuum cleaner has an air flow path extending from a dirty air inlet to a clean air outlet. A cyclone has a cyclone axis of rotation that extends between the front and rear ends of the cyclone and the suction motor suction has a motor axis of rotation is parallel to the cyclone axis of rotation. A pistol grip handle located at the rear end of the hand vacuum cleaner, wherein a finger grip area is positioned forward of the pistol grip and rearward of the suction motor. An inlet conduit, which is provided with an electrical connector, is provided at the upper end of the hand vacuum cleaner and a battery pack is located at a lower end of the pistol grip handle.

1 . A hand vacuum cleaner having an upper end, a lower end, a front end having a dirty air inlet and a rear end, the hand vacuum cleaner comprising:
 (a) an air flow path extending from the dirty air inlet to a clean air outlet, the air flow path comprising an inlet conduit that is positioned at the upper end of the hand vacuum cleaner, wherein the inlet conduit is provided with an electrical connector;   (b) a cyclone assembly positioned in the air flow path, the cyclone assembly comprising a cyclone having a front end and a rear end and a cyclone axis of rotation that extends between the front and rear ends of the cyclone, wherein the inlet conduit extends from the dirty air inlet to the cyclone;   (c) a suction motor positioned in the air flow path rearward of the cyclone, the suction motor has an axis of rotation and the suction motor axis of rotation is substantially parallel to the cyclone axis of rotation;   (d) a pistol grip handle located at the rear end of the hand vacuum cleaner, wherein a finger grip area is positioned forward of the pistol grip and rearward of the suction motor; and,   (e) an energy storage unit is located at the lower end of the pistol grip handle.   
     
     
         2 . The hand vacuum cleaner of  claim 1  further comprising a plurality of second stage cyclones downstream from the cyclone. 
     
     
         3 . The hand vacuum cleaner of  claim 2  wherein the plurality of second stage cyclones are located between the cyclone and the suction motor. 
     
     
         4 . The hand vacuum cleaner of  claim 3  further comprising a pre-motor filter located between the second stage cyclones and the suction motor. 
     
     
         5 . The hand vacuum cleaner of  claim 1  further comprising a pre-motor filter located between the cyclone and the suction motor. 
     
     
         6 . The hand vacuum cleaner of  claim 1  wherein an axis that is transverse to the cyclone axis of rotation extends through the finger grip area and the energy storage unit. 
     
     
         7 . The hand vacuum cleaner of  claim 6  wherein a portion of the energy storage unit underlies the suction motor. 
     
     
         8 . The hand vacuum cleaner of  claim 1  wherein a portion of the energy storage unit underlies the suction motor. 
     
     
         9 . The hand vacuum cleaner of  claim 1  wherein the cyclone assembly and a pre-motor filter comprise a removable air treatment unit. 
     
     
         10 . The hand vacuum cleaner of  claim 9  wherein the pre-motor filter is located between the cyclone and the suction motor. 
     
     
         11 . The hand vacuum cleaner of  claim 1  wherein the cyclone assembly has a front openable door. 
     
     
         12 . The hand vacuum cleaner of  claim 1  wherein the cyclone assembly is removably mounted. 
     
     
         13 . The hand vacuum cleaner of  claim 1  wherein the inlet conduit has a conduit axis and the conduit axis intersects the pistol grip handle. 
     
     
         14 . The hand vacuum cleaner of  claim 13  wherein, when the hand vacuum cleaner is oriented with the cyclone axis of rotation extending horizontally and the dirty air inlet above the cyclone, the suction motor is positioned below the conduit axis. 
     
     
         15 . The hand vacuum cleaner of  claim 14  further comprising a pre-motor filter located between the cyclone and the suction motor. 
     
     
         16 . The hand vacuum cleaner of  claim 15  wherein, when the hand vacuum cleaner is oriented with the cyclone axis of rotation extending horizontally and the dirty air inlet above the cyclone, the pre-motor filter is positioned below the conduit axis. 
     
     
         17 . The hand vacuum cleaner of  claim 16  wherein the cyclone assembly and the pre-motor filter comprise a removable air treatment unit. 
     
     
         18 . The hand vacuum cleaner of  claim 1  further comprising a pre-motor filter located between the cyclone and the suction motor, the inlet conduit has a conduit axis and, when the hand vacuum cleaner is oriented with the cyclone axis of rotation extending horizontally and the dirty air inlet above the cyclone, the pre-motor filter is positioned below the conduit axis. 
     
     
         19 . A hand vacuum cleaner having an upper end, a lower end, a front end having a dirty air inlet and a rear end, the hand vacuum cleaner comprising:
 (a) an air flow path extending from the dirty air inlet to a clean air outlet, the air flow path comprising an inlet conduit that is positioned at the upper end of the hand vacuum cleaner, wherein the inlet conduit has a conduit axis;   (b) a cyclone assembly positioned in the air flow path, the cyclone assembly comprising a cyclone having a front end and a rear end and a cyclone axis of rotation that extends between the front and rear ends of the cyclone, wherein the inlet conduit extends from the dirty air inlet to the cyclone;   (c) a suction motor positioned in the air flow path rearward of the cyclone, the suction motor has an axis of rotation and the suction motor axis of rotation is substantially parallel to the cyclone axis of rotation;   (d) a pre-motor filter located between the cyclone and the suction motor; and,   (e) a pistol grip handle located at the rear end of the hand vacuum cleaner, wherein a finger grip area is positioned forward of the pistol grip and rearward of the suction motor,   
       wherein, when the hand vacuum cleaner is oriented with the cyclone axis of rotation extending horizontally and the dirty air inlet above the cyclone, the pre-motor filter is positioned below the conduit axis. 
     
     
         20 . The hand vacuum cleaner of  claim 19  wherein the cyclone assembly and the pre-motor filter comprise a removable air treatment unit.