Surface cleaning apparatus

Abstract

A surface cleaning apparatus has an air flow path extending from a dirty fluid inlet to a clean air outlet with an air treatment chamber and a suction motor positioned in the air flow path. A plurality of ribs are provided on an interior surface of the air treatment chamber. The surface cleaner is operable in a bag mode of operation in which a bag is positioned in the air treatment chamber and a vacuum airflow path provides vacuum to assist in retaining the bag in position, and the surface cleaner is operable in a bagless mode of operation

1 . A portable surface cleaner having a front end, a rear end and side walls extending between the front and rear ends, each of the front and rear ends has an end wall, wherein a longitudinal axis extends in a longitudinal direction centrally through the portable surface cleaner and intersects the end walls, the surface cleaner comprising an air flow path extending from a dirty fluid inlet to a clean air outlet with an air treatment chamber and a suction motor positioned in the air flow path,
 wherein a plurality of ribs are provided on an interior surface of the air treatment chamber, and 
 wherein the surface cleaner is operable in a bag mode of operation in which a bag is positioned in the air treatment chamber and a vacuum airflow path provides vacuum to assist in retaining the bag in position, and the surface cleaner is operable in a bagless mode of operation. 
 
     
     
         2 . The portable surface cleaner of  claim 1  wherein the vacuum airflow path comprises a channel that is provided between adjacent ribs. 
     
     
         3 . The portable surface cleaner of  claim 2  wherein the air treatment chamber has an upper end and an opposed lower end, an air treatment chamber axis that extends transverse to the longitudinal axis and intersects the upper and lower ends of the air treatment chamber, and the ribs extend in a common direction with the air treatment chamber axis. 
     
     
         4 . The portable surface cleaner of  claim 3  further comprising a carry handle on an upper end of the surface cleaner and the channel has a channel air outlet that is provided at an upper end of the channel. 
     
     
         5 . The portable surface cleaner of  claim 4  wherein the suction motor is provided at a downstream end of the vacuum air flow path. 
     
     
         6 . The portable surface cleaner of  claim 5  wherein the ribs extend inwardly from an inner surface of the air treatment chamber and an inward end of the ribs comprise an air inlet of the vacuum airflow path. 
     
     
         7 . The portable surface cleaner of  claim 3  wherein the ribs also extend along the lower end of the air treatment chamber. 
     
     
         8 . The portable surface cleaner of  claim 1  further comprising a detection sensor wherein a flow of air through the vacuum airflow path is adjusted based on the detection sensor determining whether a bag is in the air treatment chamber. 
     
     
         9 . A portable surface cleaner comprising:
 an air flow path from a dirty air inlet to a clean air outlet with a motor and fan assembly positioned in the air flow path; and,   an air treatment member comprising an air treatment chamber having an air treatment chamber air inlet and an air treatment chamber air outlet, the air treatment chamber comprising, in use, a bottom wall and a sidewall, wherein a portion of the at least one of the bottom wall and the sidewall has a ribbed inner surface.   
     
     
         10 . The portable surface cleaner of  claim 9  wherein the ribbed inner surface is provided on at least the bottom wall of the air treatment chamber. 
     
     
         11 . The portable surface cleaner of  claim 10  wherein the ribbed inner surface is also provided on a portion of the sidewall of the air treatment chamber. 
     
     
         12 . The portable surface cleaner of  claim 9  wherein the ribbed inner surface is provided on a portion of the sidewall of the air treatment chamber. 
     
     
         13 . The portable surface cleaner of  claim 9  wherein the portable surface cleaner further comprises a main body housing in which the motor and fan assembly is provided, the motor and fan assembly is laterally positioned from the air treatment chamber. 
     
     
         14 . The portable surface cleaner of  claim 13  wherein the air treatment chamber has an outer side provided at an outer side of the portable surface cleaner, an opposed inner side, and a line, which extends laterally, extends sequentially through the outer side, the portion of the sidewall which has the ribbed inner surface and the motor and fan assembly. 
     
     
         15 . The portable surface cleaner of  claim 14  wherein the air treatment chamber is removable from the portable surface cleaner. 
     
     
         16 . The portable surface cleaner of  claim 9  wherein the air treatment chamber is removable from the portable surface cleaner. 
     
     
         17 . The portable surface cleaner of  claim 1  wherein the portable surface cleaner is elongate in shape, has an upper end having a carry handle, a length in the longitudinal direction, a height between the lower end and the upper end, a width in a direction transverse to the length and the height and the length is a long dimension of the portable surface cleaner. 
     
     
         18 . The portable surface cleaner of  claim 17  wherein the air treatment chamber is removable from the portable surface cleaner. 
     
     
         19 . The portable surface cleaner of  claim 18  wherein the carry handle is provided on an openable lid and the air treatment chamber is removable when the lid is opened. 
     
     
         20 . The portable surface cleaner of  claim 18  wherein the air treatment chamber has an upper wall having the air treatment chamber air outlet, a collection container comprising the bottom wall and the sidewall, the upper wall is moveable to an open position in which the collection container is opened and the collection container is removable when the upper wall is in the open position.