FIELD

This disclosure relates generally to surface cleaning apparatus. In a preferred embodiment, the surface cleaning apparatus comprises a portable surface cleaning apparatus, such as a hand vacuum cleaner.

INTRODUCTION

The following is not an admission that anything discussed below is part of the prior art or part of the common general knowledge of a person skilled in the art.

Various types of surface cleaning apparatus are known, including upright surface cleaning apparatus, canister surface cleaning apparatus, stick surface cleaning apparatus, central vacuum systems, and hand carriable surface cleaning apparatus such as hand vacuums. Further, various designs for cyclonic hand vacuum cleaners, including battery operated cyclonic hand vacuum cleaners are known in the art.

U.S. Pat. No. 9,204,769 discloses a hand vacuum cleaner wherein filter extends perpendicular to the cyclone axis of rotation and the handle is provided on the upper portion of the main body of the hand vacuum cleaner.

SUMMARY

This summary is intended to introduce the reader to the more detailed description that follows and not to limit or define any claimed or as yet unclaimed invention. One or more inventions may reside in any combination or sub-combination of the elements or process steps disclosed in any part of this document including its claims and figures.

According to a first aspect of this disclosure, which may be used by itself or in combination with one or more other aspects of this disclosure, a hand vacuum cleaner utilizes a cyclone and a generally annular filter wherein the cyclone axis of rotation and a central axis of the generally annular filter member are generally parallel but offset in a direction perpendicular to the axis. A generally annular filter has an axially extending outer surface that is an upstream side of the filter and an interior conduit wherein the inner side of the filter defining the interior conduit is a downstream side of the filter. Accordingly air travels generally inwardly from the outer periphery or surface of the filter to the interior conduit. Air then travels through the interior conduit to flow downstream from the filter.

An advantage of this design is that the outer side of the filter may provide a relatively large upstream surface area utilizing a relatively small filter. The filter may be provided in a filter housing wherein the outer surface of the filter is recessed inwardly from an inner surface of the filter housing so as to define an upstream header. The diameter of the filter housing may be greater than a diameter of the upstream cyclone. Accordingly, by offsetting the axis of the cyclone and the filter in the perpendicular direction, a header having a more uniform thickness or width (in the perpendicular direction) may be obtained thereby enabling the air entering the upstream header to be distribute more uniformly across the upstream side of the filter.

It will be appreciated that the filter need not be round. Any longitudinally extending filter having an interior hollow area to define a flow conduit may be used.

In accordance with this aspect of this disclosure, there is provided a hand vacuum cleaner having an upper end and a lower end, the hand vacuum cleaner comprising:(a) an air flow path extending from a dirty air inlet to a clean air outlet with an air treatment member, a pre-motor filter and a suction motor provided in the air flow path, the dirty air inlet is provided at a front end of the hand vacuum cleaner;\(b) the air treatment member has a front end, a rear end and a central longitudinal axis extending between the front and rear ends of the air treatment member;(c) the pre-motor filter is positioned rearward of the air treatment member, the pre-motor filter is annular in shape and has a front end, a rear end and a central longitudinal axis extending between the front and rear ends of the pre-motor filter and through a central cavity of the pre-motor filter; and,(d) the suction motor is positioned rearward of the pre-motor filter, the suction motor has a suction motor axis of rotation,wherein, when the hand vacuum cleaner is oriented with the upper end of the hand vacuum cleaner above the lower end of the hand vacuum cleaner, the central longitudinal axis of the air treatment member, the pre-motor filter axis and the suction motor axis of rotation are generally horizontal and the pre-motor filter axis is vertically spaced from the central longitudinal axis of the air treatment member and from the suction motor axis of rotation.

In any embodiment, the hand vacuum cleaner may further comprise a pre-motor filter chamber having an upper end and a lower end, the pre-motor filter is positioned in the pre-motor filter chamber spaced from upper and lower inner surfaces of the pre-motor filter chamber, wherein an upper end of the pre-motor filter is spaced from the upper inner surface of the pre-motor filter chamber a distance which is generally the same as a distance from a lower end of the pre-motor filter to the lower inner surface of the pre-motor filter chamber.

In any embodiment, the lower end of the pre-motor filter chamber may be generally coplanar with the lower end of the air treatment member.

In any embodiment, the upper end of the pre-motor filter chamber may be generally coplanar with the upper end of the air treatment member.

In any embodiment, the air treatment member may comprise a cyclone chamber and a dirt collection chamber external thereto wherein the lower end of the pre-motor filter chamber may be generally coplanar with a lower end of the cyclone chamber and the upper end of the pre-motor filter chamber may be positioned above the cyclone chamber when the hand vacuum cleaner is oriented with the upper end of the hand vacuum cleaner above the lower end of the hand vacuum cleaner.

In any embodiment, the dirt collection chamber may be positioned above the cyclone chamber when the hand vacuum cleaner is oriented with the upper end of the hand vacuum cleaner above the lower end of the hand vacuum cleaner.

In any embodiment, when the hand vacuum cleaner is oriented with the upper end of the hand vacuum cleaner above the lower end of the hand vacuum cleaner, the pre-motor filter axis may be vertically spaced upwardly from the central longitudinal axis of the air treatment member and from the suction motor axis of rotation.

In any embodiment, the hand vacuum cleaner may further comprise a handle provided rearward of the suction motor.

In any embodiment, the handle may comprise a battery compartment.

In any embodiment, when the hand vacuum cleaner is oriented with the upper end of the hand vacuum cleaner above the lower end of the hand vacuum cleaner, the handle may be positioned between the upper and lower ends of the pre-motor filter chamber.

In any embodiment, when the hand vacuum cleaner is oriented with the upper end of the hand vacuum cleaner above the lower end of the hand vacuum cleaner, the handle may be positioned between upper and lower ends of a suction motor housing.

In accordance with this aspect, there is also provided a hand vacuum cleaner having an upper end and a lower end, the hand vacuum cleaner comprising:(a) an air flow path extending from a dirty air inlet to a clean air outlet with an air treatment member, a pre-motor filter and a suction motor provided in the air flow path, the dirty air inlet is provided at a front end of the hand vacuum cleaner;(b) the air treatment member comprises a cyclone chamber and a dirt collection chamber external thereto, the cyclone chamber has a front end, a rear end and a central longitudinal axis extending between the front and rear ends of the cyclone chamber, the cyclone chamber has a height extending between upper and lower ends of the cyclone chamber;(c) the pre-motor filter is positioned in a pre-motor filter housing rearward of the air treatment member, the pre-motor filter has a front end, a rear end and a central longitudinal axis extending between the front and rear ends of the pre-motor filter and through a central cavity of the pre-motor filter, the pre-motor filter chamber has a height extending between upper and lower ends of the pre-motor filter chamber which is greater than the height of the cyclone chamber, wherein the pre-motor filter is positioned in the pre-motor filter chamber spaced from upper and lower inner surfaces of the pre-motor filter chamber, wherein an upper end of the pre-motor filter is spaced from the upper inner surface of the pre-motor filter chamber a distance which is generally the same as a distance from a lower end of the pre-motor filter to the lower inner surface of the pre-motor filter chamber; and,(d) the suction motor is positioned rearward of the pre-motor filter, the suction motor has a suction motor axis of rotation,wherein, when the hand vacuum cleaner is oriented with the upper end of the hand vacuum cleaner above the lower end of the hand vacuum cleaner, the central longitudinal axis of the air treatment member and the pre-motor filter axis are generally horizontal.

In any embodiment, when the hand vacuum cleaner is oriented with the upper end of the hand vacuum cleaner above the lower end of the hand vacuum cleaner, the suction motor axis of rotation may be generally horizontal.

In any embodiment, when the hand vacuum cleaner is oriented with the upper end of the hand vacuum cleaner above the lower end of the hand vacuum cleaner, the pre-motor filter axis may be vertically spaced from the central longitudinal axis of the cyclone chamber and from the suction motor axis of rotation.

In any embodiment, when the hand vacuum cleaner is oriented with the upper end of the hand vacuum cleaner above the lower end of the hand vacuum cleaner, the pre-motor filter axis may be vertically spaced from the central longitudinal axis of the cyclone chamber.

In any embodiment, the lower end of the pre-motor filter chamber may be generally coplanar with the lower end of the air treatment member.

In any embodiment, the upper end of the pre-motor filter chamber may be generally coplanar with the upper end of the air treatment member.

In any embodiment, the lower end of the pre-motor filter chamber may be generally coplanar with a lower end of the cyclone chamber and the upper end of the pre-motor filter chamber may be positioned above the cyclone chamber when the hand vacuum cleaner is oriented with the upper end of the hand vacuum cleaner above the lower end of the hand vacuum cleaner.

In any embodiment, the dirt collection chamber may be positioned above the cyclone chamber when the hand vacuum cleaner is oriented with the upper end of the hand vacuum cleaner above the lower end of the hand vacuum cleaner.

In any embodiment, when the hand vacuum cleaner is oriented with the upper end of the hand vacuum cleaner above the lower end of the hand vacuum cleaner, the pre-motor filter axis may be vertically spaced upwardly from the central longitudinal axis of the air treatment member and from the suction motor axis of rotation.

According to a second aspect of this disclosure, which may be used by itself or in combination with one or more other aspects of this disclosure, a cyclone bin assembly, which may be used in a hand vacuum cleaner, has a dirt collection chamber external to the cyclone chamber wherein the dirt collection chamber is positioned above the cyclone chamber when the upper end of the hand vacuum cleaner is above the lower end of the hand vacuum cleaner and the cyclone axis of rotation extends generally horizontally.

In a hand vacuum cleaner, the hand vacuum cleaner may be oriented to have the front end extend downwardly when in use. The dirt collection chamber may be provided above the cyclone chamber and rearward of a dirty air inlet passage. This may enable the dirt collection chamber to be positioned within the outer dimensions of the hand vacuum cleaner (when the dirt collection chamber is excluded) without increasing the overall size of the hand vacuum cleaner. Alternately, or in addition, the inlet to the dirt collection chamber may be at a rearward end of the dirt collection chamber so that dirt will travel forwardly due to gravity when the hand vacuum cleaner is in use. This may enable the dirt collection chamber to fill to a “fill line” without the dirt collection chamber having to be emptied prematurely.

In accordance with this aspect, there is provided a hand vacuum cleaner having an upper end and a lower end, the hand vacuum cleaner comprising:(a) an air flow path extending from a dirty air inlet to a clean air outlet with a cyclone chamber, a pre-motor filter and a suction motor provided in the air flow path, the dirty air inlet is provided at a front end of the hand vacuum cleaner;(b) the cyclone chamber has a front end, a rear end and a central longitudinal axis extending between the front and rear ends of the cyclone chamber; and,(c) a dirt collection chamber external to the cyclone chamber, wherein the dirt collection chamber is positioned above the cyclone chamber when the hand vacuum cleaner is oriented with the upper end of the hand vacuum cleaner above the lower end of the hand vacuum cleaner.

In any embodiment, the dirt collection chamber may overlie at least a portion of the cyclone chamber when the hand vacuum cleaner is oriented with the upper end of the hand vacuum cleaner above the lower end of the hand vacuum cleaner.

In any embodiment, the hand vacuum cleaner may further comprise an inlet passage extending between the dirty air inlet and the cyclone chamber, wherein a rear end of the inlet passage is positioned proximate a front end of the dirt collection chamber.

In any embodiment, the inlet passage may have an inlet axis that intersects the dirt collection chamber. Optionally, the inlet axis may extend through the dirt collection chamber.

In any embodiment, the cyclone chamber may have an air inlet at the front end of the cyclone chamber and/or an air outlet at the rear end of the cyclone chamber. In any such case, the cyclone chamber may have a dirt outlet at the rear end of the cyclone chamber.

In any embodiment, the dirt collection chamber may extend forwardly from the dirt outlet.

In any embodiment, the cyclone chamber may have a dirt outlet at the rear end of the cyclone chamber.

In any embodiment, the dirt collection chamber may extend forwardly from the dirt outlet.

In any embodiment, the hand vacuum cleaner may further comprise an inlet passage extending between the dirty air inlet and the cyclone chamber, wherein the dirt collection chamber extends rearwardly from the inlet passage to a pre-motor filter chamber.

In any embodiment, when the hand vacuum cleaner is oriented with the upper end of the hand vacuum cleaner above the lower end of the hand vacuum cleaner, the dirt collection chamber may have a length between a front end of the dirt collection chamber and a rear end of the dirt collection chamber that is greater than the height of the dirt collection chamber.

In any embodiment, a pre-motor filter may be positioned rearward of the air treatment member, the pre-motor filter may be annular in shape and have a front end, a rear end and a central longitudinal axis extending between the front and rear ends of the pre-motor filter and through a central cavity of the pre-motor filter, wherein, when the hand vacuum cleaner is oriented with the upper end of the hand vacuum cleaner above the lower end of the hand vacuum cleaner, the central longitudinal axis of the cyclone chamber and the pre-motor filter axis may be generally horizontal.

In any embodiment, the suction motor may be positioned rearward of the pre-motor filter, the suction motor may have a suction motor axis of rotation, wherein, when the hand vacuum cleaner is oriented with the upper end of the hand vacuum cleaner above the lower end of the hand vacuum cleaner, the suction motor axis of rotation is generally horizontal.

In any embodiment, a pre-motor filter may be positioned rearward of the air treatment member and the suction motor may be positioned rearward of the pre-motor filter, the suction motor has a suction motor axis of rotation, wherein, when the hand vacuum cleaner is oriented with the upper end of the hand vacuum cleaner above the lower end of the hand vacuum cleaner, the central longitudinal axis of the cyclone chamber and the suction motor axis of rotation maybe generally horizontal.

In any embodiment, when the hand vacuum cleaner is oriented with the upper end of the hand vacuum cleaner above the lower end of the hand vacuum cleaner, the central longitudinal axis of the cyclone chamber may be generally horizontal.

In any embodiment, the hand vacuum cleaner may further comprise a handle provided rearward of the suction motor and which extends generally rearwardly.

In any embodiment, when the hand vacuum cleaner is oriented with the upper end of the hand vacuum cleaner above the lower end of the hand vacuum cleaner, the handle may be positioned between the upper and lower ends of a pre-motor filter chamber.

In any embodiment, when the hand vacuum cleaner is oriented with the upper end of the hand vacuum cleaner above the lower end of the hand vacuum cleaner, the handle may be positioned between upper and lower ends of a suction motor housing.

In accordance with this aspect, there is also provided a hand vacuum cleaner having an upper end and a lower end, the hand vacuum cleaner comprising:(a) an air flow path extending from a dirty air inlet to a clean air outlet with an air treatment member, a pre-motor filter and a suction motor provided in the air flow path, the dirty air inlet is provided at a front end of the hand vacuum cleaner;(b) the air treatment member has a front end, a rear end and a central longitudinal axis extending between the front and rear ends of the air treatment member; and,(c) a dirt collection chamber external to the air treatment member, wherein the dirt collection chamber is positioned above the air treatment member when the hand vacuum cleaner is oriented with the upper end of the hand vacuum cleaner above the lower end of the hand vacuum cleaner.

In any embodiment, the dirt collection chamber may overly at least a portion of the air treatment member when the hand vacuum cleaner is oriented with the upper end of the hand vacuum cleaner above the lower end of the hand vacuum cleaner.

In any embodiment, the hand vacuum cleaner may further comprise an inlet passage extending between the dirty air inlet and the air treatment member, wherein a rear end of the inlet passage is positioned proximate a front end of the dirt collection chamber.

In any embodiment, the inlet passage may have an inlet axis that intersects the dirt collection chamber.

In any embodiment, the inlet axis may extend through the dirt collection chamber.

According to a third aspect of this disclosure, which may be used by itself or in combination with one or more other aspects of this disclosure, a hand vacuum cleaner is provided which has a linear arrangement of two or more of the operating components, preferably three or more of the operating components, and the handle. An advantage of this design is that the hand vacuum cleaner may have a compact ergonomic design.

In accordance with this aspect, there is provided a hand vacuum cleaner having an upper end and a lower end, the hand vacuum cleaner comprising:(a) an air flow path extending from a dirty air inlet to a clean air outlet with an air treatment member, a pre-motor filter and a suction motor provided in the air flow path, the dirty air inlet is provided at a front end of the hand vacuum cleaner;(b) the air treatment member has a front end, a rear end and a central longitudinal axis extending between the front and rear ends of the air treatment member;(c) the pre-motor filter is positioned rearward of the air treatment member, the pre-motor filter is annular in shape and has a front end, a rear end and a central longitudinal axis extending between the front and rear ends of the pre-motor filter and through a central cavity of the pre-motor filter;(d) the suction motor is positioned rearward of the pre-motor filter, the suction motor has a suction motor axis of rotation; and,(e) a handle provided rearward of the suction motor, the handle having a hand grip portion that extends axially,wherein the central longitudinal axis of the air treatment member, the central longitudinal axis of the pre-motor filter, the suction motor axis of rotation and the hand grip portion are generally parallel.

In any embodiment, when the hand vacuum cleaner is oriented with the upper end of the hand vacuum cleaner above the lower end of the hand vacuum cleaner, the central longitudinal axis of the air treatment member, the central longitudinal axis of the pre-motor filter, the suction motor axis of rotation and the hand grip portion may be generally horizontal.

In any embodiment, the hand grip portion may house at least one battery wherein the battery extends axially and the central longitudinal axis of the air treatment member and the battery are generally parallel.

In any embodiment, the hand vacuum cleaner may further comprise an inlet passage which has an inlet axis that is generally parallel to the central longitudinal axis of the air treatment member.

In any embodiment, when the hand vacuum cleaner is oriented with the upper end of the hand vacuum cleaner above the lower end of the hand vacuum cleaner, the inlet axis may be vertically spaced from the central longitudinal axis of the air treatment member.

In any embodiment, when the hand vacuum cleaner is oriented with the upper end of the hand vacuum cleaner above the lower end of the hand vacuum cleaner, the inlet axis may overlie the central longitudinal axis of the air treatment member.

In any embodiment, the inlet axis may be generally co-axial with the central longitudinal axis of the air treatment member.

In any embodiment, the hand vacuum cleaner may further comprise a battery compartment that houses at least one battery wherein the battery extends axially and the central longitudinal axis of the air treatment member and the battery are generally parallel.

In any embodiment, the air treatment member may comprise a cyclone chamber and a dirt collection chamber external thereto and the dirt collection chamber is positioned forward of the cyclone chamber.

In any embodiment, the air treatment member may comprise a cyclone chamber and a dirt collection chamber external thereto and the central longitudinal axis of the air treatment member is a central longitudinal axis of the cyclone chamber and, when the hand vacuum cleaner is oriented with the upper end of the hand vacuum cleaner above the lower end of the hand vacuum cleaner, the dirt collection chamber may be positioned above the central longitudinal axis of the cyclone chamber.

In accordance with this aspect, there is also provided a hand vacuum cleaner having an upper end and a lower end, the hand vacuum cleaner comprising:(a) an air flow path extending from a dirty air inlet to a clean air outlet with an air treatment member and a suction motor provided in the air flow path, the dirty air inlet is provided at a front end of the hand vacuum cleaner;(b) the air treatment member has a front end, a rear end and a central longitudinal axis extending between the front and rear ends of the air treatment member;(c) the suction motor is positioned rearward of the air treatment member, the suction motor has a suction motor axis of rotation; and,(d) a handle provided rearward of the suction motor, the handle housing at least one battery wherein the battery extends axially,wherein the central longitudinal axis of the air treatment member, the suction motor axis of rotation and the battery are generally parallel.

In any embodiment, when the hand vacuum cleaner is oriented with the upper end of the hand vacuum cleaner above the lower end of the hand vacuum cleaner, the central longitudinal axis of the air treatment member, the suction motor axis of rotation and the battery may be generally horizontal.

In any embodiment, the pre-motor filter may be annular in shape and may have a front end, a rear end and a central longitudinal axis extending between the front and rear ends of the pre-motor filter and through a central cavity of the pre-motor filter and the central longitudinal axis of the air treatment member and the central longitudinal axis of the pre-motor filter may be generally parallel.

In any embodiment, the hand vacuum cleaner may further comprise a pre-motor filter positioned in the air flow path rearward of the air treatment member.

In any embodiment, the handle may have a hand grip portion and the hand grip portion comprises the battery compartment.

In accordance with this aspect, there is also provided a hand vacuum cleaner having an upper end and a lower end, the hand vacuum cleaner comprising:(a) an air flow path extending from a dirty air inlet to a clean air outlet with an air treatment member and a suction motor provided in the air flow path, the dirty air inlet is provided at a front end of the hand vacuum cleaner;(b) the air treatment member has a front end, a rear end and a central longitudinal axis extending between the front and rear ends of the air treatment member;(c) the suction motor is positioned rearward of the air treatment member, the suction motor has a suction motor axis of rotation; and,(d) a handle provided rearward of the suction motor, the handle comprising a battery compartment hosing at least one battery wherein the battery extends axially,wherein the central longitudinal axis of the air treatment member and the battery are generally parallel and the central longitudinal axis of the air treatment member intersects the battery compartment.

In any embodiment, when the hand vacuum cleaner is oriented with the upper end of the hand vacuum cleaner above the lower end of the hand vacuum cleaner, the central longitudinal axis of the air treatment member may be generally horizontal.

In any embodiment, the handle may have a hand grip portion and the hand grip portion may comprise the battery compartment.

In any embodiment, the hand vacuum cleaner may further comprise a pre-motor filter positioned between the air treatment member and the suction motor, the pre-motor filter may have a front end facing a rear end of the air treatment member, a rear end facing a suction motor inlet and a central longitudinal axis extending between the front and rear ends of the pre-motor filter, and the central longitudinal axis of the pre-motor filter and the suction motor axis of rotation may be generally parallel.

According to a fourth aspect of this disclosure, which may be used by itself or in combination with one or more other aspects of this disclosure, a hand vacuum cleaner is provided with a first stage separation member which utilizes a porous member such as a screen to remove larger particulate matter and/or elongate matter (e.g., hair). The first stage separation member may be a chamber which does not have cyclonic flow therein (a non-cyclonic chamber). Instead, a screen, which may be a metal screen, a plastic shroud (e.g., a molded plastic member having a plurality of holes therein) or the like, is used as a physical filtration member to remove larger particulate matter and/or elongate matter. One or more additional air treatment stages may be provided downstream such as one or more cyclonic stages, each of which may use a single cyclone or a plurality of cyclones in parallel) and/or one or more pre-motor filters and/or one or more post-motor filters.

An advantage of this design is that cyclonic stage that is configured to remove larger particulate matter and/or elongate matter is not required. Therefore, the first or only cyclonic stage downstream of the non-cyclonic chamber may be configured to remove finer particular matter. Therefore, the cyclonic stage may be smaller, thereby reducing the size of the hand vacuum cleaner. Also, a cyclonic stage that may become clogged with hair may not be used.

In accordance with this aspect, there is provided a hand vacuum cleaner having an upper end and a lower end, the hand vacuum cleaner comprising:(a) an air flow path extending from a dirty air inlet to a clean air outlet with a non-cyclonic chamber, an air treatment member, a pre-motor filter and a suction motor provided in the air flow path, the dirty air inlet is provided at a front end of the hand vacuum cleaner;(b) the non-cyclonic chamber having an air inlet downstream from the dirty air inlet and an air outlet, the air outlet comprising a screen;(c) the air treatment member is positioned rearward of the non-cyclonic chamber, the air treatment member has a front end, a rear end and a central longitudinal axis extending between the front and rear ends of the air treatment member;the pre-motor filter is positioned rearward of the air treatment member; and,(d) the suction motor is positioned rearward of the pre-motor filter, the suction motor has a suction motor axis of rotation.

In any embodiment, the non-cyclonic chamber may have a front end, a rear end and a sidewall extending between the front and rear ends, and at least a portion of the rear end and at least a portion of the sidewall may be porous.

In any embodiment, the front end of the non-cyclonic chamber may be open.

In any embodiment, the non-cyclonic chamber may have a front end, a rear end and a sidewall extending between the front and rear ends, and at least a portion of the rear end and at least a portion of the sidewall may be made of a screen material. Optionally, the front end of the non-cyclonic chamber may be open.

In any embodiment, the non-cyclonic chamber may be in the form of a longitudinally extending basket.

In any embodiment, the air treatment member may comprise a treatment chamber and a dirt collection chamber external thereto and the hand vacuum cleaner may further comprise an openable door wherein, when the door is open, both the non-cyclonic chamber and the dirt collection chamber are opened.

In any embodiment, the treatment chamber may comprise a cyclone chamber.

In any embodiment, at least a first portion of the dirt collection chamber may be positioned below the treatment chamber when the hand vacuum cleaner is oriented with the upper end of the hand vacuum cleaner above the lower end of the hand vacuum cleaner.

In any embodiment, a second portion of the dirt collection chamber may be positioned below the non-cyclonic chamber when the hand vacuum cleaner is oriented with the upper end of the hand vacuum cleaner above the lower end of the hand vacuum cleaner.

In any embodiment, at least a first portion of the dirt collection chamber may be positioned below the non-cyclonic chamber when the hand vacuum cleaner is oriented with the upper end of the hand vacuum cleaner above the lower end of the hand vacuum cleaner.

In any embodiment, the hand vacuum cleaner may further comprise a handle provided rearward of the suction motor.

In any embodiment, the handle may comprise a battery compartment.

In any embodiment, when the hand vacuum cleaner is oriented with the upper end of the hand vacuum cleaner above the lower end of the hand vacuum cleaner, the handle may be positioned between the upper and lower ends of the air treatment chamber.

In any embodiment, when the hand vacuum cleaner is oriented with the upper end of the hand vacuum cleaner above the lower end of the hand vacuum cleaner, the handle may be positioned between upper and lower ends of a suction motor housing.

In any embodiment, the hand vacuum cleaner may further comprise an inlet passage extending between the dirty air inlet and the non-cyclonic chamber, wherein a rear end of the inlet passage is positioned proximate a front end of the non-cyclonic chamber.

In any embodiment, the inlet passage may have an inlet axis that intersects the non-cyclonic chamber.

In any embodiment, the hand vacuum cleaner may further comprise an inlet passage extending between the dirty air inlet and the non-cyclonic chamber wherein, when the hand vacuum cleaner is oriented with the upper end of the hand vacuum cleaner above the lower end of the hand vacuum cleaner, the inlet passage is positioned above the non-cyclonic chamber.

According to a fifth aspect of this disclosure, which may be used by itself or in combination with one or more other aspects of this disclosure, a vacuum cleaner is provided with a handle wherein the outer surface of the handle is provided with recesses so as to define axially extending recesses that provide a grip for a user. An axially extending handle may house a plurality of axially extending batteries and the hand recesses may be defined by spacing between adjacent batteries. For example, if the handle houses three axially extending batteries, the batteries may be arranged in a triangular shape. The handle may conform to the triangular shape of the batteries whereby recesses may be provided in the outer surface of the handle, which recesses extend in the same direction as the batteries. Therefore, in transverse election, the handle may have a lobed design.

In accordance with this aspect, there is provided a hand vacuum cleaner having an upper end and a lower end, the hand vacuum cleaner comprising:(a) an air flow path extending from a dirty air inlet to a clean air outlet with an air treatment member and a suction motor provided in the air flow path; and,(b) a handle having a front end, a rear end, a sidewall extending between the front end and the rear end and a longitudinal axis extending between the front end and the rear end, the handle defining a battery compartment configured to house at least one battery having a battery axis, wherein at least a portion of the sidewall has a plurality of recesses extending in a direction of the battery axis.

In any embodiment, the handle may further comprise a plurality of lobes extending in the direction of the battery axis and each recess is provided between two lobes.

In any embodiment, each lobe may define a portion of a compartment for a battery.

In any embodiment, each lobe may conform to an outer surface of a battery housed in the handle.

In any embodiment, the dirty air inlet may be provided at a front end of the hand vacuum cleaner, the suction motor may be positioned rearward of the air treatment member and the handle may be positioned rearward of the suction motor.

In any embodiment, the air treatment member may have a front end, a rear end and a central longitudinal axis extending between the front and rear ends of the air treatment member and the suction motor has a suction motor axis of rotation and the central longitudinal axis and the suction motor axis may extend through the handle.

In any embodiment, the central longitudinal axis and the suction motor axis may be generally parallel to the battery axis.

In any embodiment, the central longitudinal axis may extend through the suction motor.

In any embodiment, the air treatment member may have a front end, a rear end and a central longitudinal axis extending between the front and rear ends of the air treatment member and the suction motor has a suction motor axis of rotation and the central longitudinal axis may extend through the handle.

In any embodiment, the central longitudinal axis may be generally parallel to the battery axis.

In any embodiment, the air treatment member may have a front end, a rear end and a central longitudinal axis extending between the front and rear ends of the air treatment member and the suction motor has a suction motor axis of rotation and the suction motor axis may extend through the handle.

In any embodiment, the suction motor axis may be generally parallel to the battery axis.

In any embodiment, the suction motor axis may extend through the air treatment member.

In any embodiment, at least a portion of the sidewall may have a trefoil shape having three rounded lobes separated by three rounded cusps

In any embodiment, the trefoil shape of the sidewall may extend from the front end of the handle to the rear end of the handle.

In any embodiment, when the hand vacuum cleaner is oriented with the upper end of the hand vacuum cleaner above the lower end of the hand vacuum cleaner, the handle may be positioned between the upper and lower ends of the air treatment chamber.

In any embodiment, when the hand vacuum cleaner is oriented with the upper end of the hand vacuum cleaner above the lower end of the hand vacuum cleaner, the handle may be positioned between upper and lower ends of a suction motor housing.

