Surface cleaning apparatus

Abstract

A hand vacuum cleaner has an airflow path from an air inlet to a clean air outlet with an air treatment member and a fan and motor assembly in the air flow path. The hand vacuum cleaner has a cyclone chamber with a plate positioned at the front end of the cyclone chamber. A dirt collection chamber is external to and connected in flow communication with a cyclone chamber by a gap located between the plate and the sidewall of the cyclone chamber. The gap is located only at an upper portion of the plate and/or is larger at the upper portion of the plate.

1 - 21 . canceled 
     
     
         22 . A surface cleaner comprising:
 (a) an air flow path extending from a dirty air inlet to a clean air outlet;   (b) a cyclone provided in the air flow path, the cyclone comprising a cyclone chamber, a cyclone air inlet, a cyclone air outlet, a dirt outlet, a cyclone axis of rotation, the cyclone chamber having front and rear axially opposed ends;   (c) a dirt collection chamber external to the cyclone chamber, the dirt collection comprising an end wall that faces a plate that is positioned between the cyclone chamber and the dirt collection chamber, the plate having a cyclone chamber face facing the cyclone chamber, an opposed dirt collection chamber face facing the dirt collection chamber, a perimeter and a radial length from the center of the plate to the perimeter of the plate;   (d) a suction motor positioned in the air flow path; and,   (e) a first support member extending between the end wall of the dirt collection chamber and the plate, the first support member extending from a radial inner position to a radial outer position, wherein the radial outer position is recessed inwardly from the perimeter, and   wherein the end wall of the dirt collection chamber is moveable concurrently with the plate between a closed position and an open position, wherein, when the plate is in the open position, the cyclone chamber is opened.   
     
     
         23 . The surface cleaner of  claim 22  wherein the plate is positioned at the front end of the cyclone chamber. 
     
     
         24 . The surface cleaner of  claim 23  wherein, when the cyclone axis of rotation is oriented horizontally and the plate is in the closed position, the plate extends generally vertically. 
     
     
         25 . The surface cleaner of  claim 24  wherein the plate is planar. 
     
     
         26 . The surface cleaner of  claim 25  wherein the dirt collection chamber further comprises a sidewall extending between the end wall and the plate, the dirt outlet comprises a gap between the perimeter of the plate and the sidewall and an axial projection of the gap intersects a projection of the first support member. 
     
     
         27 . The surface cleaner of  claim 26  wherein the end wall comprises a section that extends at an angle to the cyclone axis of rotation. 
     
     
         28 . The surface cleaner of  claim 26  further comprising a second support member, each support member having a length in a radial direction, the first support member has a first length and the second support member has a second length that is longer than the first length of the first support member. 
     
     
         29 . The surface cleaner of  claim 28  wherein the second support member extends radially to the perimeter. 
     
     
         30 . The surface cleaner of  claim 26  wherein the first support member extends to the end wall and to the plate. 
     
     
         31 . The surface cleaner of  claim 22  wherein the plate is planar. 
     
     
         32 . The surface cleaner of  claim 31  wherein the dirt collection chamber further comprises a sidewall extending between the end wall and the plate, the dirt outlet comprises a gap between the perimeter of the plate and the sidewall and an axial projection of the gap intersects a projection of the first support member. 
     
     
         33 . The surface cleaner of  claim 32  wherein the end wall comprises a section that extends at an angle to the cyclone axis of rotation. 
     
     
         34 . The surface cleaner of  claim 32  further comprising a second support member, each support member having a length in a radial direction, the first support member has a first length and the second support member has a second length that is longer than the first length of the first support member. 
     
     
         35 . The surface cleaner of  claim 34  wherein the second support member extends radially to the perimeter. 
     
     
         36 . The surface cleaner of  claim 32  wherein the first support member extends to the end wall and to the plate. 
     
     
         37 . A surface cleaner comprising:
 (a) an air flow path extending from a dirty air inlet to a clean air outlet;   (b) a cyclone provided in the air flow path, the cyclone comprising a cyclone chamber, a cyclone air inlet, a cyclone air outlet, a dirt outlet, a central longitudinally extending axis, the cyclone chamber having front and rear axially opposed ends;   (c) a dirt collection chamber external to the cyclone chamber, the dirt collection comprising an end wall that faces a plate that is positioned between the cyclone chamber and the dirt collection chamber, the plate having a cyclone chamber face facing the cyclone chamber, an opposed dirt collection chamber face facing the dirt collection chamber, a perimeter and a radial length from the center of the plate to the perimeter of the plate;   (d) a suction motor positioned in the air flow path; and,   (e) a first support member extending between the end wall of the dirt collection chamber and the plate, the first support member extending outwardly along a portion of the radial length of the plate, wherein the radial outer position is recessed inwardly from the perimeter, and   wherein the support members are recessed inwardly from the perimeter and extend to the end wall and to the plate, the end wall of the dirt collection chamber is openable and the plate is moveable with the end wall, and   wherein the plate is positioned at the front end of the cyclone chamber and is moveable between a closed position and an open position in which the front end of the cyclone chamber is open.   
     
     
         38 . The surface cleaner of  claim 37  wherein the first support member extends to the end wall and to the plate. 
     
     
         39 . The surface cleaner of  claim 38  wherein the dirt collection chamber further comprises a sidewall extending between the end wall and the plate, the dirt outlet comprises a gap between the perimeter of the plate and the sidewall and an axial projection of the gap intersects a projection of the first support member. 
     
     
         40 . The surface cleaner of  claim 39  further comprising a second support member, each support member having a length in a radial direction, the first support member has a first length and the second support member has a second length that is longer than the first length of the first support member. 
     
     
         41 . The surface cleaner of  claim 40  wherein the second support member extends radially to the perimeter.