Cyclonic surface cleaning apparatus

Abstract

A vacuum cleaner having a cyclone, a pre-motor filter, a suction motor, an openable lid and a handle. Each of the pre-motor filter and a suction motor are laterally spaced from the cyclone in a direction transverse to the cyclone axis of rotation. The cyclone axis of rotation intersects the openable lid. A plane, which is parallel to the cyclone axis of rotation and which is laterally spaced from the cyclone axis of rotation extends through the suction motor, the pre-motor filter and the handle.

1 .- 18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . A vacuum cleaner comprising:
 (a) an air flow path extending from a dirty air inlet to a clean air outlet;   (b) a cyclone that is positioned downstream of the dirty air inlet, the cyclone comprising a cyclone air inlet, a cyclone air outlet and a cyclone axis of rotation;   (c) a pre-motor filter that is positioned in the air flow path downstream of the cyclone, the pre-motor filter is laterally spaced from the cyclone in a forward/rearward direction that is transverse to the cyclone axis of rotation;   (d) a suction motor that is positioned in the air flow path downstream of the pre-motor filter, the suction motor is laterally spaced from the cyclone in a direction transverse to the cyclone axis of rotation;   (e) an end portion moveable between a closed position, in which the end position overlies the cyclone and the pre-motor filter and the cyclone axis of rotation extends through the end portion, and an open position in which the pre-motor filter is accessible; and,   (f) a handle, which is mounted to the vacuum cleaner at a first location and a second location that is rearward of the first location, wherein a first plane, which is parallel to the cyclone axis of rotation and which is also laterally spaced from the cyclone axis of rotation in the forward/rearward direction, extends through the suction motor, the pre-motor filter and the handle.   
     
     
         20 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 19  wherein a second plane, which is transverse to the cyclone axis of rotation, extends through the cyclone and the pre-motor filter. 
     
     
         21 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 20  wherein a third plane, which is transverse to the cyclone axis of rotation extends through the cyclone and the suction motor and wherein the third plane is axially spaced from the second plane in a direction of the cyclone axis of rotation. 
     
     
         22 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 19  wherein the cyclone air inlet and the cyclone air outlet are at a common end of the cyclone. 
     
     
         23 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 22  wherein the cyclone air inlet and the cyclone air outlet are located adjacent the end portion. 
     
     
         24 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 23  wherein a second plane, which is transverse to the cyclone axis of rotation, extends through the cyclone and the pre-motor filter. 
     
     
         25 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 24  wherein a third plane, which is transverse to the cyclone axis of rotation, extends through the cyclone and the suction motor and wherein the third plane is axially spaced from the second plane in a direction of the cyclone axis of rotation. 
     
     
         26 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 25  wherein the dirty air inlet is located adjacent the end portion 
     
     
         27 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 19  wherein the dirty air inlet is located adjacent the end portion. 
     
     
         28 . A vacuum cleaner comprising:
 (a) an air flow path extending from a dirty air inlet to a clean air outlet;   (b) a first housing comprising a cyclone, the cyclone is positioned downstream of the dirty air inlet and comprises a cyclone air inlet, a cyclone air outlet and a cyclone axis of rotation;   (c) a second housing that is laterally spaced from the first housing in a forward/rearward direction that is transverse to the cyclone axis of rotation, the second housing comprising a pre-motor filter, which is positioned in the air flow path downstream of the cyclone, and a suction motor, which is positioned in the air flow path downstream of the pre-motor filter;   (d) an end portion moveable between a closed position, in which the first and second housing are closed, and an open position in which the first and second housing are open; and,   (e) a handle, which is mounted to the vacuum cleaner at a first location and a second location that is rearward of the first location, wherein a first plane, which is parallel to the cyclone axis of rotation and which is also laterally spaced from the cyclone axis of rotation in the forward/rearward direction, extends through the suction motor the pre-motor filter and the handle.   
     
     
         29 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 28  wherein a second plane, which is transverse to the cyclone axis of rotation, extends through the cyclone and the pre-motor filter. 
     
     
         30 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 29  wherein a third plane, which is transverse to the cyclone axis of rotation, extends through the cyclone and the suction motor and wherein the third plane is axially spaced from the second plane in a direction of the cyclone axis of rotation. 
     
     
         31 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 28  wherein the cyclone air inlet and the cyclone air outlet are at a common end of the cyclone. 
     
     
         32 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 31  wherein the cyclone air inlet and the cyclone air outlet are located adjacent the end portion. 
     
     
         33 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 32  wherein a second plane, which is transverse to the cyclone axis of rotation extends, through the cyclone and the pre-motor filter. 
     
     
         34 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 33  wherein a third plane, which is transverse to the cyclone axis of rotation, extends through the cyclone and the suction motor and wherein the third plane is axially spaced from the second plane in a direction of the cyclone axis of rotation. 
     
     
         35 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 34  wherein the dirty air inlet is located adjacent the end portion. 
     
     
         36 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 28  wherein the dirty air inlet is located adjacent the end portion. 
     
     
         37 . A vacuum cleaner comprising:
 (a) an air flow path extending from a dirty air inlet to a clean air outlet;   (b) a first housing comprising a chamber that is positioned downstream of the dirty air inlet, the chamber comprising a chamber air inlet and a chamber air outlet, wherein, in operation, air travels through the chamber in a flow direction;   (c) a second housing that is laterally spaced from the first housing in a forward/rearward direction that is transverse to the flow direction, the second housing comprising a pre-motor filter, which is positioned in the air flow path downstream of the chamber, and a suction motor, which is positioned in the air flow path downstream of the pre-motor filter;   (d) an end portion moveable between a closed position, in which the first and second housing are closed, and an open position in which the first and second housing are open; and,   (e) a handle, which is mounted to the vacuum cleaner at a first location and a second location that is rearward of the first location, wherein a first plane, which is parallel to the flow direction and which is also laterally spaced from the flow direction in the forward/rearward direction, extends through the suction motor the pre-motor filter and the handle.   
     
     
         38 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 37  wherein a second plane, which is transverse to the flow direction, extends through the chamber and the pre-motor filter and, wherein a third plane, which is transverse to the flow direction, extends through the chamber and the suction motor and wherein the third plane is axially spaced from the second plane in a direction of the flow direction.