Surface cleaning apparatus

Abstract

A hand vacuum cleaner has an airflow path from a dirty air inlet to a clean air outlet with a motor and fan assembly positioned in the air flow path. The motor and fan assembly have a motor axis of rotation. An air treatment chamber is positioned in the airflow path. The hand vacuum cleaner further has a handle and a finger guard positioned forward of the handle. In use, a first energy storage member is positioned at least partially in the finger guard.

1 . A hand vacuum cleaner comprising:
 (a) an airflow path from a dirty air inlet to a clean air outlet with a motor and fan assembly positioned in the air flow path, the motor and fan assembly having a motor axis of rotation;   (b) an air treatment chamber positioned in the airflow path;   (c) a handle; and,   (d) a finger guard positioned forward of the handle wherein, in use, a first energy storage member is positioned at least partially in the finger guard.   
     
     
         2 . The hand vacuum cleaner of  claim 1  wherein the handle comprises a pistol grip handle. 
     
     
         3 . The hand vacuum cleaner of  claim 1  wherein:
 (a) the handle has a first end, an opposed second end, a hand grip portion and a handle axis that extends through the first end, the opposed second end and the hand grip portion; 
 (b) the finger guard has a first end, an opposed second end, a guard portion and a finger guard axis that extends through the first end of the finger guard, the opposed second end of the finger guard and the guard portion; and, 
 wherein the first end of the handle and the first end of the finger guard are positioned on a main body of the hand vacuum cleaner and the handle and finger guard each extend away from the main body. 
 
     
     
         4 . The hand vacuum cleaner of  claim 3  wherein the motor and fan assembly is positioned at the first end of at least one of the finger guard and the handle. 
     
     
         5 . The hand vacuum cleaner of  claim 4  wherein, in use, a second energy storage member is also positioned at the first end of at least one of the finger guard and the handle. 
     
     
         6 . The hand vacuum cleaner of  claim 5  wherein, in use, the second energy storage member is positioned between the motor and fan assembly and the first end of at least one of the finger guard and the handle. 
     
     
         7 . The hand vacuum cleaner of  claim 4  wherein, in use, a second energy storage member is also positioned adjacent the suction motor. 
     
     
         8 . The hand vacuum cleaner of  claim 3  wherein, in use, a second energy storage member is positioned at the first end of at least one of the finger guard and the handle. 
     
     
         9 . The hand vacuum cleaner of  claim 1  wherein the handle and finger guard each extend away from a main body of the hand vacuum cleaner. 
     
     
         10 . The hand vacuum cleaner of  claim 1  wherein, in use, a second energy storage member is positioned at least partially in the handle. 
     
     
         11 . The hand vacuum cleaner of  claim 1  wherein a first energy storage member pack, which comprises the first energy storage member, is removably insertable into the finger guard. 
     
     
         12 . The hand vacuum cleaner of  claim 11  wherein, in use, a second energy storage member is positioned at least partially in the handle. 
     
     
         13 . The hand vacuum cleaner of  claim 12  wherein a second energy storage member pack, which comprises the second energy storage member, is removably insertable into the handle. 
     
     
         14 . The hand vacuum cleaner of  claim 12  wherein the first and second energy storage member packs comprise a one piece assembly whereby the first and second energy storage member packs are concurrently insertable in the hand vacuum cleaner. 
     
     
         15 . The hand vacuum cleaner of  claim 12  wherein the first and second energy storage member packs comprise a generally U-shaped assembly. 
     
     
         16 . The hand vacuum cleaner of  claim 1  wherein the finger guard with the first energy storage member is removably mounted to a remainder of the hand vacuum cleaner. 
     
     
         17 . The hand vacuum cleaner of  claim 1  wherein the motor and fan assembly is positioned at least partially in one of the finger guard and the handle. 
     
     
         18 . The hand vacuum cleaner of  claim 1  further comprising a main body which houses the motor and fan assembly, the air treatment chamber has a front end, a rear end and a centrally positioned longitudinal axis extending between the front and rear ends, the air treatment chamber is positioned axially forward of the suction motor and the handle extends away from the main body. 
     
     
         19 . The hand vacuum cleaner of  claim 18  wherein the finger guard has a first end, an opposed second end, a guard portion and a finger guard axis that extends through the first end of the finger guard, the opposed second end of the finger guard and the guard portion and the finger guard axis extends through the main body. 
     
     
         20 . The hand vacuum cleaner of  claim 18  wherein the finger guard has a first end, an opposed second end, a guard portion and a finger guard axis that extends through the first end of the finger guard, the opposed second end of the finger guard and the guard portion and the finger guard axis extends through the air treatment chamber.