Configuration of a surface cleaning apparatus

Abstract

A hand vacuum cleaner has a cyclone assembly, which comprises a cyclone chamber and a dirt collection chamber. The cyclone chamber has a front end and an axially spaced apart rear end. A dirt collection chamber has a front end and an axially spaced apart rear end. The front end of the cyclone chamber is axially spaced from the front end of the dirt collection chamber. The cyclone assembly has a front openable door which opens the dirt collection chamber.

1 . A hand vacuum cleaner comprising:
 (a) an airflow path from a dirty air inlet positioned at a front end of the hand vacuum cleaner to a clean air outlet positioned rearward of the dirty air inlet;   (b) an air treatment assembly positioned in the airflow path, the air treatment assembly has a front openable door, the air treatment assembly comprises a first stage air treatment chamber and a dirt collection chamber, the first stage air treatment chamber has an air treatment chamber air inlet, an air treatment chamber air outlet, a front end, a rear end and a longitudinal axis that is located radially outwardly of the air treatment chamber air outlet and extends between the front and rear ends of the air treatment chamber, the dirt collection chamber has a front end and an axially spaced apart rear end, wherein a first plane that is transverse to the longitudinal axis is located at the front end of the first stage air treatment chamber, a second plane that is transverse to the longitudinal axis is located at the front end of the dirt collection chamber, the first and second planes are axially spaced apart and opening the front openable door opens the front end of the dirt collection chamber;   (c) a main body housing a motor and fan assembly that is positioned in the air flow path, the motor and fan assembly having a motor axis of rotation; and,   (d) a handle.   
     
     
         2 . The hand vacuum cleaner of  claim 1  wherein the first plane that is located at the front end of the first stage air treatment chamber is spaced axially inwardly from the second plane that is located at the front end of the dirt collection chamber. 
     
     
         3 . The hand vacuum cleaner of  claim 1  wherein an axially extending member extends between the front end of the first stage air treatment chamber and the front end of the dirt collection chamber. 
     
     
         4 . The hand vacuum cleaner of  claim 1  wherein the front end of the air treatment chamber is accessible when the front openable door is opened. 
     
     
         5 . The hand vacuum cleaner of  claim 1  wherein the front end of the air treatment chamber is concurrently openable with the front end of the dirt collection chamber. 
     
     
         6 . The hand vacuum cleaner of  claim 1  further comprising a second stage air treatment chamber downstream from the first stage air treatment chamber. 
     
     
         7 . The hand vacuum cleaner of  claim 6  wherein the first stage air treatment chamber comprises a first stage cyclone chamber and the second stage air treatment chamber comprises a second stage cyclone chamber. 
     
     
         8 . The hand vacuum cleaner of  claim 1  wherein a portion of the dirt collection chamber is located radially outwardly of the first stage air treatment chamber. 
     
     
         9 . The hand vacuum cleaner of  claim 1  wherein a dirt outlet connects the dirt collection chamber in communication with the first stage air treatment chamber. 
     
     
         10 . The hand vacuum cleaner of  claim 1  wherein the air treatment chamber has a rearwardly extending sidewall and the rearwardly extending sidewall is moveable with respect to the main body. 
     
     
         11 . A hand vacuum cleaner comprising:
 (a) an airflow path from a dirty air inlet positioned at a front end of the hand vacuum cleaner to a clean air outlet positioned rearward of the dirty air inlet;   (b) an air treatment assembly positioned in the airflow path, the air treatment assembly comprising a first stage air treatment chamber and a dirt collection chamber, the first stage air treatment chamber has an air treatment chamber air inlet, an air treatment chamber air outlet, a first end, a second end and a longitudinal axis extending between the first and second ends of the first stage air treatment chamber, the dirt collection chamber has a first end and a second end and the longitudinal axis extends between the first and second ends of the dirt collection chamber, wherein the first end of the first stage air treatment chamber is spaced axially from the first end of the dirt collection chamber and the first end of the dirt collection chamber is openable;   (c) a main body housing a motor and fan assembly that is positioned in the air flow path, the motor and fan assembly having a motor axis of rotation; and,   (d) a handle,   wherein the longitudinal axis extends between the front end of the hand vacuum cleaner and a rear end of the hand vacuum cleaner.   
     
     
         12 . The hand vacuum cleaner of  claim 11  wherein the first end of the first stage air treatment chamber is spaced axially inwardly from the first end of the dirt collection chamber. 
     
     
         13 . The hand vacuum cleaner of  claim 11  wherein an axially extending member extends between the first end of the first stage air treatment chamber and the first end of the dirt collection chamber. 
     
     
         14 . The hand vacuum cleaner of  claim 11  wherein the first end of the air treatment chamber is openable. 
     
     
         15 . The hand vacuum cleaner of  claim 11  wherein the first end of the air treatment chamber is concurrently openable with the first end of the dirt collection chamber. 
     
     
         16 . The hand vacuum cleaner of  claim 11  further comprising a second stage air treatment chamber downstream from the first stage air treatment chamber. 
     
     
         17 . The hand vacuum cleaner of  claim 16  wherein the first stage air treatment chamber comprises a cyclone chamber and the second stage air treatment chamber comprises a second stage cyclone chamber. 
     
     
         18 . The hand vacuum cleaner of  claim 11  wherein a portion of the dirt collection chamber is located radially outwardly of the first stage air treatment chamber. 
     
     
         19 . The hand vacuum cleaner of  claim 11  wherein a dirt outlet connects the dirt collection chamber in communication with the first stage air treatment chamber. 
     
     
         20 . The hand vacuum cleaner of  claim 11  wherein the air treatment chamber has a rearwardly extending sidewall and the rearwardly extending sidewall is moveable with respect to the main body.