Suction motor housing for an upright surface cleaning apparatus

Abstract

An upright surface cleaning apparatus comprises a floor cleaning head having a dirty air inlet, and an air flow passage extending from the dirty air inlet to a clean air outlet. An upright section is moveably mounted to the surface cleaning head between a storage position and an in use position. The upright section comprises a filtration member and a suction motor provided in the air flow passage. The suction motor has an air inlet end, an opposed distal end, and an air inlet direction. The upright section further comprises a motor housing. The motor housing comprises a motor section in which the suction motor is provided. The motor section has a first end at the air inlet end of the suction motor and an opposed second end at the distal end of the suction motor. An openable post motor filter chamber is provided in the motor housing and has an inlet end and an outlet end. At least a portion of the filter chamber is provided in the motor section. The inlet end includes a finger guard and the filter chamber has a direction of airflow that is transverse to the air inlet direction of the suction motor. A post motor HEPA filter is removably mounted in the filter chamber.

Description

FIELD[0001]The disclosure relates to surface cleaning apparatuses, such as vacuum cleaners. Particularly, the disclosure relates to upright surface cleaning apparatuses.INTRODUCTION[0002]The following is not an admission that anything discussed below is prior art or part of the common general knowledge of persons skilled in the art.[0003]Various constructions for surface cleaning apparatus such as vacuum cleaners are known. Currently, many surface cleaning apparatus are constructed using at least one cyclonic cleaning stage. The air is drawn into the vacuum cleaner through a dirty air inlet and conveyed to a cyclone inlet. The rotation of the air in the cyclone results in some of the particulate matter in the airflow stream being disentrained from the airflow stream. This material is then collected in a dirt collection chamber, which may be at the bottom of the cyclone or in a dirt collection chamber exterior to the cyclone chamber (see for example WO2009 / 026709 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0005]According to one aspect, an upright surface cleaning apparatus is provided with a suction motor housing that includes a post motor filter chamber. The post motor filter chamber is positioned spaced from but facing the suction motor. The air accordingly will travel from the air treatment member or members to the suction motor inlet. The air will travel through the fan of the suction motor and then by or through the motor section to cool the motor. The air will then travel laterally, and possibly upwardly and laterally, to the post motor filter. This constructions permits a reduction in the size of the suction motor housing.

[0006]Traditionally, upright surface cleaning apparatus have had large, bulky frames or upper housings. The upper housing has a recess for removably receiving a cyclone. The housing has also incorporated air flow passages (e.g., from a dirty air inlet to a cyclone inlet and from a cyclone outlet to a suction motor inlet). This structure increases the weight of an upright vacuum cleaner and also reduces the portability of an upright vacuum cleaner for the elderly or the infirm. A reduction in the size of the suction motor housing reduces the weight and increases the portability of the surface cleaning apparatus.

[0007]In a preferred embodiment, the suction motor is mounted on the upright section of the vacuum cleaner (e.g., the portion that comprises the push handle) and is spaced from the floor cleaning head. Such a construction is advantageous as it permits the floor cleaning head to extend further under furniture (e.g., floor cleaning head may be passed under furniture until the bottom of the upright section contact the furniture). However, if the components of the vacuum cleaner (e.g., the motor and the cyclone housing) are too high on the handle, then the hand weight of the vacuum cleaner during operation will increase thereby decreasing the usability of the vacuum cleaner. Reducing the height of the suction motor housing permits the suction motor to be provided on the handle, thereby reducing the height of the floor cleaning head and increasing the ability of the floor cleaning head to clean under furniture. At the same time, the components on the vacuum cleaner may be mounted lower thereby reducing hand weight.

Problems solved by technology

Traditionally, upright surface cleaning apparatus have had large, bulky frames or upper housings.

This structure increases the weight of an upright vacuum cleaner and also reduces the portability of an upright vacuum cleaner for the elderly or the infirm.

However, if the components of the vacuum cleaner (e.g., the motor and the cyclone housing) are too high on the handle, then the hand weight of the vacuum cleaner during operation will increase thereby decreasing the usability of the vacuum cleaner.

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