Surface cleaning apparatus

Abstract

A combination of a hand vacuum cleaner and a floor standing unit. The hand vacuum cleaner is positionable in a docked configuration, in which the hand vacuum cleaner is docked with the floor standing unit and in which the floor standing unit is positioned on a floor. In the docked configuration with an openable door of an air treatment assembly of the hand vacuum cleaner opened, dirt collected in the dirt collection region of the air treatment assembly is transferrable to a dirt collection chamber of the floor standing unit. Further, in the docked configuration, a horizontal plane, which is generally transverse to the main body axis of the hand vacuum cleaner, extends through a rear wall of the dock and the air treatment chamber.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus comprising:
 (a) a hand vacuum cleaner having an upper end, a lower end, a front end and a rear end, the hand vacuum cleaner comprising:
 (i) an air flow path extending from a dirty air inlet to a clean air outlet, the dirty air inlet is provided at the front end of the hand vacuum cleaner; 
 (ii) a main body comprising a front end, a rear end and a main body axis that extends between the front and rear ends of the main body, the main body housing a suction motor and fan assembly; and, 
 (iii) an air treatment assembly positioned in the air flow path, the air treatment assembly comprising an air treatment chamber and a dirt collection region, the air treatment assembly having an openable door that is moveable from a closed vacuuming position to an open dirt emptying position; and, 
 (iv) a handle; and, 
   (b) a floor standing unit having a dirt collection chamber, an upper end of floor standing unit has an upwardly extending rear wall and a dirt inlet port,   wherein the hand vacuum cleaner is positionable in a docked configuration, in which the hand vacuum cleaner is docked with the floor standing unit and in which the floor standing unit is positioned on a floor and, in the docked configuration with the openable door opened, dirt collected in the dirt collection region is transferrable to the dirt collection chamber of the floor standing unit, and   wherein, in the docked configuration, a horizontal plane, which is generally transverse to the main body axis, extends through the rear wall and the air treatment chamber.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein, in the docked configuration, a portion of an upper end of the air treatment chamber is visible. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2  wherein, in the docked configuration, the upper end surrounds a portion of the lower end of the air treatment chamber, the first portion of the air treatment chamber having the openable door. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein, in the docked configuration, the upper end surrounds a first portion of the air treatment chamber and a second portion of the air treatment chamber is visible, the first portion of the air treatment chamber having the openable door. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4  wherein the hand vacuum cleaner has a lock securing the openable door in the closed vacuuming position and in the docked configuration an upper end of the floor standing unit has an engaging portion that is drivingly connected to the lock. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5  wherein the engaging portion extends outwardly from the rear wall. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the hand vacuum cleaner has a lock securing the openable door in the closed vacuuming position and in the docked configuration an upper end of the floor standing unit has an engaging portion that is drivingly connected to the lock. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7  wherein the engaging portion extends outwardly from the rear wall. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein, in the docked configuration, the dirty air inlet is connected to a wand. 
     
     
         10 . An apparatus comprising:
 (a) a hand vacuum cleaner having an upper end, a lower end, a front end and a rear end, the hand vacuum cleaner comprising:
 (i) an air flow path extending from a dirty air inlet to a clean air outlet, the dirty air inlet is provided at the front end of the hand vacuum cleaner; 
 (ii) a main body comprising a front end, a rear end and a main body axis that extends between the front and rear ends of the main body, the main body housing a suction motor and fan assembly; and, 
 (iii) an air treatment assembly positioned in the air flow path, the air treatment assembly comprising an air treatment chamber and a dirt collection region, the air treatment assembly having an openable door that is moveable from a closed vacuuming position to an open dirt emptying position; and, 
 (iv) a handle; and, 
   (b) a floor standing unit having a dirt collection chamber, an upper end of floor standing unit has an upwardly extending rear wall and a dirt inlet port,   wherein the hand vacuum cleaner is positionable in a docked configuration, in which the hand vacuum cleaner is docked with the floor standing unit and in which the floor standing unit is positioned on a floor and, in the docked configuration with the openable door opened, dirt collected in the dirt collection region is transferrable to the dirt collection chamber of the floor standing unit, and   wherein, in the docked configuration, the upper end surrounds a first portion of the air treatment chamber and a second portion of the air treatment chamber is visible, the first portion of the air treatment chamber having the openable door.   
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10  wherein, in the docked configuration, the dirty air inlet faces downwardly. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11  wherein that hand vacuum cleaner has a lock securing the openable door in the closed vacuuming position and in the docked configuration an upper end of the floor standing unit has an engaging portion that is drivingly connected to the lock. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 12  wherein the engaging portion extends outwardly from the rear wall. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 12  wherein, in the docked configuration, the dirty air inlet is connected to a wand. 
     
     
         15 . An apparatus comprising:
 (a) a hand vacuum cleaner having an upper end, a lower end, a front end and a rear end, the hand vacuum cleaner comprising:
 (i) an air flow path extending from a dirty air inlet to a clean air outlet, the dirty air inlet is provided at the front end of the hand vacuum cleaner; 
 (ii) a main body comprising a front end, a rear end and a main body axis that extends between the front and rear ends of the main body, the main body housing a suction motor and fan assembly; and, 
 (iii) an air treatment assembly positioned in the air flow path, the air treatment assembly comprising an air treatment chamber and a dirt collection region, the air treatment assembly having an openable door that is moveable from a closed vacuuming position to an open dirt emptying position; and, 
 (iv) a handle; and, 
   (b) a floor standing unit having a dirt collection chamber, an upper end of floor standing unit has an upwardly extending rear wall and a dirt inlet port,   wherein the hand vacuum cleaner is positionable in a docked configuration, in which the hand vacuum cleaner is docked with the floor standing unit and in which the floor standing unit is positioned on a floor and, in the docked configuration with the openable door opened, dirt collected in the dirt collection region is transferrable to the dirt collection chamber of the floor standing unit, and   wherein that hand vacuum cleaner has a lock securing the openable door in the closed vacuuming position and in the docked configuration an upper end of the floor standing unit has an engaging portion that is drivingly connected to the lock.   
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 15  wherein the engaging portion extends outwardly from the rear wall. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 16  wherein, in the docked configuration, the dirty air inlet is connected to a wand. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 17  wherein, in the docked configuration, the dirty air inlet faces downwardly. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 15  wherein, in the docked configuration, the dirty air inlet is connected to a wand. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 19  wherein, in the docked configuration, the dirty air inlet faces downwardly.