Surface cleaning apparatus

Abstract

A surface cleaner has a pre-motor filter housing downstream from an air treatment chamber. In in operation to clean a surface, the pre-motor filter housing is configured to position a pre-motor filter media. A suction motor housing has a suction motor housing air inlet, wherein a plurality of ribs are provided at the suction motor housing air inlet, and, in operation, the ribs induce rotation of the air travelling to the suction motor.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A surface cleaner comprising:
 (a) an air flow path from a dirty air inlet to a clean air outlet with a suction motor provided in the air flow path, the suction motor having a motor axis of rotation that extends in an axial direction and, in operation, rotates in a rotational direction;   (b) a pre-motor filter housing downstream from an air treatment chamber wherein, in operation to clean a surface, a pre-motor filter media is positioned in the pre-motor filter housing;   (c) a suction motor housing having a suction motor housing air inlet, wherein a plurality of ribs are provided at the suction motor housing air inlet, and, in operation, the ribs induce rotation of the air travelling to the suction motor.   
     
     
         2 . The surface cleaner of  claim 1  wherein the ribs are curved and induce rotation of the air travelling to the suction motor in the rotational direction of the suction motor. 
     
     
         3 . The surface cleaner of  claim 2  wherein each rib has a height in the axial direction from a distal side of each rib to a proximal side of each rib and, in operation, the pre-motor filter media seats on the proximal sides of the ribs. 
     
     
         4 . The surface cleaner of  claim 3  wherein the ribs are spaced apart from each other whereby, in operation, air travels through passages between adjacent spaced apart ribs in a flow direction, the passage having an upstream side and a downstream side in the flow direction and the ribs have an upstream end and a downstream end in the flow direction, the upstream end is spaced inwardly from a sidewall of the pre-motor filter housing. 
     
     
         5 . The surface cleaner of  claim 3  wherein the proximal sides of the ribs lie in a plane. 
     
     
         6 . The surface cleaner of  claim 1  wherein the suction motor housing air inlet is provided in a downstream end wall of the pre-motor filter housing, the ribs extend away from the downstream end wall of the pre-motor filter housing, the downstream end wall of the pre-motor filter housing is inclined in the axial direction towards the suction motor housing air inlet. 
     
     
         7 . The surface cleaner of  claim 1  wherein each rib has a height in the axial direction from a distal side of each rib to a proximal side of each rib, in operation, the pre-motor filter media seats on the proximal sides of the ribs, and the height of at least some of the ribs in the axial direction vary whereby the upstream sides of the ribs lie in a plane. 
     
     
         8 . The surface cleaner of  claim 7  wherein the ribs are spaced apart from each other whereby, in operation, air travels through passages between adjacent spaced apart ribs in a flow direction, the passage having an upstream side and a downstream side in the flow direction and the ribs have an upstream end and a downstream end in the flow direction, the upstream end has a smaller height than the downstream end. 
     
     
         9 . The surface cleaner of  claim 1  wherein the air treatment chamber comprises a cyclone having a cyclone axis of rotation. 
     
     
         10 . The surface cleaner of  claim 9  wherein the cyclone axis of rotation extends through the suction motor housing air inlet. 
     
     
         11 . The surface cleaner of  claim 10  wherein the cyclone axis of rotation extends in the axial direction. 
     
     
         12 . A surface cleaner comprising an air flow path from a dirty air inlet to a clean air outlet and a suction motor housing which houses a suction motor that is provided in the air flow path, the suction motor having a motor axis of rotation that extends in an axial direction, the suction motor housing having a suction motor housing air inlet which, in operation, induces rotational flow in air which travels through the suction motor air inlet to the suction motor. 
     
     
         13 . The surface cleaner of  claim 12  further comprising a plurality of curved ribs associated with the suction motor housing air inlet wherein each rib has a height in the axial direction from a distal side of each rib to a proximal side of each rib and, in operation, the pre-motor filter media seats on the proximal sides of the ribs. 
     
     
         14 . The surface cleaner of  claim 13  wherein the ribs are spaced apart from each other whereby, in operation, air travels through passages between adjacent spaced apart ribs in a flow direction, the passage having an upstream side and a downstream side in the flow direction and the ribs have an upstream end and a downstream end in the flow direction, the upstream end is spaced inwardly from a sidewall of a pre-motor filter housing. 
     
     
         15 . The surface cleaner of  claim 12  wherein the ribs are spaced apart from each other whereby, in operation, air travels through passages between adjacent spaced apart ribs in a flow direction, the passage having an upstream side and a downstream side in the flow direction and the ribs have an upstream end and a downstream end in the flow direction, the upstream end has a smaller height in the axial direction than the downstream end. 
     
     
         16 . A surface cleaner comprising an air flow path from a dirty air inlet to a clean air outlet and a suction motor housing which houses a suction motor that is provided in the air flow path, the suction motor having a motor axis of rotation that extends in an axial direction, the suction motor housing having a suction motor housing air inlet wherein, in operation, rotational flow is induced in air which travels through the suction motor air inlet to the suction motor. 
     
     
         17 . The surface cleaner of  claim 16  further comprising a plurality of curved ribs associated with the suction motor housing air inlet wherein each rib has a height in the axial direction from a distal side of each rib to a proximal side of each rib and, in operation, the pre-motor filter media seats on the proximal sides of the ribs. 
     
     
         18 . The surface cleaner of  claim 17  wherein the ribs are spaced apart from each other whereby, in operation, air travels through passages between adjacent spaced apart ribs in a flow direction, the passage having an upstream side and a downstream side in the flow direction and the ribs have an upstream end and a downstream end in the flow direction, the upstream end is spaced inwardly from a sidewall of a pre-motor filter housing. 
     
     
         19 . The surface cleaner of  claim 17  wherein the ribs are spaced apart from each other whereby, in operation, air travels through passages between adjacent spaced apart ribs in a flow direction, the passage having an upstream side and a downstream side in the flow direction and the ribs have an upstream end and a downstream end in the flow direction, the upstream end has a smaller height in the axial direction than the downstream end. 
     
     
         20 . The surface cleaner of  claim 19  wherein the upstream sides of the ribs lie in a plane.