Surface cleaning apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016287041-A1
Application number	US-201615181537-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jun 14, 2016
Priority date	Dec 15, 2006
Publication date	Oct 6, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A hand carriable surface cleaning apparatus can include a first cyclonic cleaning stage having an upper end, a bottom end spaced longitudinally below the upper end and a side wall extending therebetween. A second cyclonic cleaning stage may be positioned in the fluid flow path downstream from the first cyclonic cleaning stage and may be positioned above and overlie the upper end of the first cyclonic cleaning stage. The second cyclonic cleaning stage may be longitudinally translatable relative to the sidewall.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A hand carriable surface cleaning apparatus comprising;
a) a fluid flow path extending between a dirty air inlet and a clean air outlet; b) a first cyclonic cleaning stage positioned in the fluid flow path downstream from the dirty air inlet, the first cyclonic cleaning stage comprising an upper end, a bottom end spaced longitudinally below the upper end and a side wall extending therebetween, the first cyclonic cleaning stage having a dirt collection region with a bottom door that is openable to empty the dirt collection region; c) a second cyclonic cleaning stage positioned in the fluid flow path downstream from the first cyclonic cleaning stage, the second cyclonic cleaning stage having an upper end which is positioned above the upper end of the first cyclonic cleaning stage, the second cyclonic cleaning stage is longitudinally moveable relative to the sidewall of the first cyclonic cleaning stage; d) a suction motor positioned in the fluid flow path downstream from the second cyclonic cleaning stage; e) a handle.

2 . The hand carriable surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the second cyclonic cleaning stage is moveable between a first position in which the second cyclonic cleaning stage seats on the upper end of the first cyclonic cleaning stage, and a second position in which the second cyclonic stage is longitudinally spaced from the upper end of the first cyclonic cleaning stage and the fluid flow path is interrupted.

3 . The hand carriable surface cleaning apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the hand carriable vacuum is inoperable to clean a surface when the second cyclonic cleaning stage is in the second position.

4 . The hand carriable surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the second cyclonic cleaning stage comprises a plurality of second cyclones connected fluidly in parallel with each other.

5 . The hand carriable surface cleaning apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the second cyclones are positioned around a central longitudinal axis that extends through the first cyclonic cleaning stage and the openable bottom door.

6 . The hand carriable surface cleaning apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the plurality of second cyclones includes a first set of second cyclones arranged in an inner ring and a second set of second cyclones arranged in an outer ring laterally surrounding the inner ring.

7 . The hand carriable surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first cyclonic cleaning stage has a first stage air inlet, each cyclone of the second cyclonic cleaning stage has a second stage air inlet downstream from the first stage air inlet and the hand carriable surface cleaning apparatus further comprises a screen positioned in the fluid flow path between the first stage air inlet and the second stage air inlet, wherein the screen is longitudinally moveable relative to the sidewall.

8 . The hand carriable surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a housing containing the suction motor and the clean air outlet, wherein the bottom door is openable while the sidewall of the first cyclonic cleaning stage is connected to the housing.

9 . The hand carriable surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the second cyclonic cleaning stage further comprises a second stage handle.

10 . The hand carriable surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the upper end of the second cyclonic cleaning stage overlies the entire upper end of the first cyclonic cleaning stage.

11 . The hand carriable surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the second cyclonic cleaning stage is moveable relative to the sidewall while the bottom door is open.

12 . The hand carriable surface cleaning apparatus of claim 4 , further comprising a pre-motor filter chamber positioned in the fluid flow path between the second cyclonic cleaning stage and the suction motor, and wherein each second cyclone has a respective air outlet that is in fluid communication with the pre-motor filter chamber.

13 . The hand carriable surface cleaning apparatus of claim 4 , wherein each second cyclone comprises a respective cyclone axis about which air circulates within the second cyclone, wherein the cyclone axes are generally longitudinal.

14 . The hand carriable surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the dirty air inlet comprises a conduit extending forwardly from the first cyclonic cleaning stage, and wherein the second cyclonic cleaning stage is longitudinally moveable relative to the conduit.

15 . The hand carriable surface cleaning apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the dirty air inlet is located at a front end of the hand carriable surface cleaning apparatus and the upper end of the second cyclonic cleaning stage is located above the dirty air inlet.

16 . The hand carriable surface cleaning apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the inlet conduit defines an axis that intersects the first cyclonic cleaning stage.

17 . The hand carriable surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising an openable lid that is moveable between a closed position, in which the lid overlies the second cyclonic cleaning stage, and an open position in which the second cyclonic cleaning stage is accessible.

18 . The hand carriable surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the second cyclonic cleaning stage is removable from the first cyclonic cleaning stage.

19 . The hand carriable surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first cyclonic cleaning stage comprises a first cyclone chamber and a first dirt collection chamber that comprises the dirt collection region and is external the first cyclone chamber.

20 . A hand carriable surface cleaning apparatus comprising:
a) a dirty air inlet; b) a first cyclonic cleaning stage positioned d downstream from the dirty air inlet, the first cyclonic cleaning stage comprising an upper end, a bottom end spaced longitudinally below the upper end and a sidewall extending therebetween, the first cyclonic cleaning stage having a dirt collection region with a bottom door that is openable to empty the dirt collection region; c) a second cyclonic cleaning stage positioned downstream from the first cyclonic cleaning stage and moveably seated on the upper end of the first cyclonic cleaning stage and moveable relative to the sidewall between a use position in which the second cyclonic cleaning stage is proximate the sidewall and a fluid flow path from the dirty air inlet to a second cyclonic cleaning stage air outlet is sealed, and an emptying position in which the second cyclonic cleaning stage is longitudinally spaced from the sidewall and the fluid flow path is unsealed; d) a suction motor positioned in the fluid flow path downstream from the second cyclonic cleaning stage; e) a handle.

Assignees

• Omachron Intellectual Property Inc

Inventors

• Conrad Wayne Ernest

Classifications

• A47L5/36

  Suction cleaners with hose between nozzle and casing; Suction cleaners for fixing on staircases; Suction cleaners for carrying on the back · CPC title

• A47L9/009

  Carrying-vehicles; Arrangements of trollies or wheels; Means for avoiding mechanical obstacles · CPC title

• A47L5/225 Primary

  Convertible suction cleaners, i.e. convertible between different types thereof, e.g. from upright suction cleaners to sledge-type suction cleaners · CPC title

• A47L5/24 Primary

  Hand-supported suction cleaners · CPC title

• A47L9/1683

  Dust collecting chambers; Dust collecting receptacles · CPC title