Hand vacuum cleaner

Abstract

A hand vacuum cleaner has a cyclone having a longitudinally extending sidewall, which extends from a cyclone rear end to a cyclone front end. The front end of the sidewall defining an opening that is closeable by an openable door. The opening having a cross-sectional area comparable to a cross-sectional area of the door. The opening extends in a direction that is inclined relative to the longitudinal direction of the sidewall. The openable door has a rotatably mounted end and an opposed securable end that is securable to the cyclone by a lock. The opposed securable end is rotatable to an open position in which the opposed securable end is positioned forward of the opening.

1 . A hand vacuum cleaner having an upper side and a lower side, the hand vacuum cleaner comprising:
 (a) an air flow passage extending from a dirty air inlet to a clear air outlet;   (b) a main body comprising a front end, a rear end, a handle and a motor housing containing a suction motor positioned in the air flow passage, the suction motor having a suction motor axis extending in a longitudinal direction; and,   (c) an air treatment unit positioned in the air flow passage upstream from and forward of the suction motor and comprising an air treatment chamber having a longitudinally extending sidewall, which extends from an air treatment unit rear end to an air treatment unit front end, the front end of the sidewall defining an opening that is closeable by an openable door, the opening having a cross sectional area comparable to a cross sectional area of the door, and the opening extends in a direction that is inclined relative to the longitudinal direction of the sidewall,   wherein the openable door has a rotatably mounted end and an opposed securable end that is securable to the air treatment unit by a lock, and   wherein the opposed securable end is rotatable to an open position in which the opposed securable end is positioned forward of the opening.   
     
     
         2 . The hand vacuum cleaner of  claim 1  wherein the securable end is securable to the air treatment unit at the opening. 
     
     
         3 . The hand vacuum cleaner of  claim 2  wherein the securable end is securable to the sidewall at the opening. 
     
     
         4 . The hand vacuum cleaner of  claim 3  wherein when the door is closed, the hand vacuum cleaner is oriented such that the suction motor axis is horizontal and the upper side is above the lower side, the securable end of the door is located rearwardly of the rotatably mounted end of the door. 
     
     
         5 . The hand vacuum cleaner of  claim 1  wherein when the hand vacuum cleaner is oriented such that the suction motor axis is horizontal and the upper side is above the lower side, an upper portion of the opening is offset from a lower portion of the opening in the longitudinal direction. 
     
     
         6 . The hand vacuum cleaner of  claim 1  further comprising a handle and the lock is provided on a common side of the hand vacuum cleaner as the handle. 
     
     
         7 . The hand vacuum cleaner of  claim 1  wherein the securable end is securable to the sidewall at the opening. 
     
     
         8 . The hand vacuum cleaner of  claim 7  wherein when the door is closed, the hand vacuum cleaner is oriented such that the suction motor axis is horizontal and the upper side is above the lower side, the securable end of the door is located rearwardly of the rotatably mounted end of the door. 
     
     
         9 . A hand vacuum cleaner having an upper side and a lower side, the hand vacuum cleaner comprising:
 (a) an air flow passage extending from a dirty air inlet to a clear air outlet;   (b) a main body comprising a front end, a rear end, a handle and a motor housing containing a suction motor positioned in the air flow passage, the suction motor having a suction motor axis extending in a longitudinal direction;   (c) an air treatment unit positioned in the air flow passage upstream from and forward of the suction motor and comprising an air treatment chamber having a longitudinally extending sidewall, which extends from an air treatment unit rear end to an air treatment unit front end, the front end of the sidewall defining an opening that is closeable by an openable door, and the opening extends in a direction that is inclined relative to the longitudinal direction of the sidewall; and,   (d) a handle operable during use of the hand vacuum cleaner to direct the hand vacuum cleaner to clean a surface,   wherein the openable door has a rotatably mounted end and an opposed securable end that is securable to the air treatment unit by a lock, and   wherein the lock is provided on a common side of the hand vacuum cleaner as the handle, and   wherein the opposed securable end is rotatable to an open position in which the opposed securable end is positioned forward of the opening.   
     
     
         10 . The hand vacuum cleaner of  claim 9  wherein the securable end is securable to the air treatment unit at the opening. 
     
     
         11 . The hand vacuum cleaner of  claim 10  wherein the securable end is securable to the sidewall at the opening. 
     
     
         12 . The hand vacuum cleaner of  claim 11  wherein when the door is closed, the hand vacuum cleaner is oriented such that the suction motor axis is horizontal and the upper side is above the lower side, the securable end of the door is located rearwardly of the rotatably mounted end of the door. 
     
     
         13 . The hand vacuum cleaner of  claim 9  wherein when the hand vacuum cleaner is oriented such that the suction motor axis is horizontal and the upper side is above the lower side, an upper portion of the opening is offset from a lower portion of the opening in the longitudinal direction. 
     
     
         14 . The hand vacuum cleaner of  claim 10  wherein the opening has a cross-sectional area comparable to a cross-sectional area of the door. 
     
     
         15 . The hand vacuum cleaner of  claim 11  wherein the opening has a cross-sectional area comparable to a cross-sectional area of the door. 
     
     
         16 . The hand vacuum cleaner of  claim 12  wherein the opening has a cross-sectional area comparable to a cross-sectional area of the door. 
     
     
         17 . The hand vacuum cleaner of  claim 7  wherein when the door is closed, the hand vacuum cleaner is oriented such that the suction motor axis is horizontal and the upper side is above the lower side, the securable end of the door is located rearwardly of the rotatably mounted end of the door. 
     
     
         18 . The hand vacuum cleaner of  claim 17  wherein the opening has a cross-sectional area comparable to a cross-sectional area of the door.