Surface cleaning apparatus

Abstract

A surface cleaner has a front end having a dirty air inlet, a rear end positioned rearward of the front end in a longitudinal direction, first and second laterally opposed sides. The surface cleaner has a cyclone positioned in the air flow path. The cyclone having a cyclone first end, a cyclone second end, a cyclone axis of rotation extending through the cyclone from the first end of the cyclone to the second end of the cyclone and a cyclone sidewall extending between the cyclone first end and the cyclone second end. When the dirty air inlet faces forwardly and the cyclone axis of rotation extends generally horizontally, the cyclone axis of rotation extends generally transverse to the longitudinal direction. A portion of the cyclone sidewall is moveable between a closed position in which the upright surface cleaner is operable to clean a surface and an open position in which the cyclone is opened.

1 .- 18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . An upright surface cleaner comprising:
 (a) a surface cleaning head comprising a front end, a rear end positioned rearward of the front end in a longitudinal direction and first and second laterally opposed sides;   (b) an upright section that is movably connected to the surface cleaning head wherein the upright section is moveable between a storage position and an upright mode floor cleaning position in which the upright section is inclined rearwardly from the storage position;   (c) an air flow path from a dirty air inlet that is provided in the surface cleaning head to a clean air outlet, with a cyclone and a suction motor positioned in the air flow path; and   (d) the cyclone has a cyclone first end, a cyclone second end, a cyclone axis of rotation extending through the cyclone from the first end of the cyclone to the second end of the cyclone and a cyclone sidewall extending between the cyclone first end and the cyclone second end,   
       wherein, when the upright section is in the storage position, the cyclone axis of rotation extends generally transverse to the longitudinal direction and also generally horizontally and 
       wherein a portion of the cyclone sidewall is moveable between a closed position in which the upright surface cleaner is operable to clean a surface and an open position in which the cyclone is opened. 
     
     
         20 . The upright surface cleaner of  claim 19  wherein the first and second laterally opposed sides generally extend in the longitudinal direction and the first end of the cyclone is provided on the first lateral side and the second end of the cyclone is provided on the second lateral side. 
     
     
         21 . The upright surface cleaner of  claim 19  wherein the cyclone axis of rotation extends through the first and second lateral sides. 
     
     
         22 . The upright surface cleaner of  claim 19  wherein the cyclone further comprises a dirt outlet and, when the upright section is in the storage position, a dirt collection chamber is provided under the cyclone. 
     
     
         23 . The upright surface cleaner of  claim 22  wherein the dirt collection chamber is openable whereby the dirt collection chamber is emptyable. 
     
     
         24 . The upright surface cleaner of  claim 23  wherein the dirt collection chamber and the cyclone chamber are separately openable. 
     
     
         25 . The upright surface cleaner of  claim 24  wherein, in the orientation when the upright section is in the storage position, the dirt collection chamber has a lower openable end. 
     
     
         26 . The upright surface cleaner of  claim 23  wherein a straight line extends through the portion of the cyclone sidewall and an openable wall of the dirt collection chamber. 
     
     
         27 . The upright surface cleaner of  claim 26  wherein the portion of the cyclone sidewall and the openable wall of the dirt collection chamber extend in a common direction. 
     
     
         28 . A surface cleaner having a front end having a dirty air inlet, a rear end positioned rearward of the front end in a longitudinal direction, first and second laterally opposed sides, the surface cleaner comprising:
 (a) an air flow path from the dirty air inlet to a clean air outlet;   (b) a cyclone positioned in the air flow path, the cyclone having a cyclone first end, a cyclone second end, a cyclone axis of rotation extending through the cyclone from the first end of the cyclone to the second end of the cyclone and a cyclone sidewall extending between the cyclone first end and the cyclone second end,   (c) a suction motor positioned in the air flow path,   wherein, when the dirty air inlet faces forwardly and the cyclone axis of rotation extends generally horizontally, the cyclone axis of rotation extends generally transverse to the longitudinal direction and   
       wherein a portion of the cyclone sidewall is moveable between a closed position in which the upright surface cleaner is operable to clean a surface and an open position in which the cyclone is opened. 
     
     
         29 . The surface cleaner of  claim 28  wherein the first and second laterally opposed sides generally extend in the longitudinal direction and the first end of the cyclone is provided on the first lateral side and the second end of the cyclone is provided on the second lateral side. 
     
     
         30 . The surface cleaner of  claim 28  wherein the cyclone axis of rotation extends through the first and second lateral sides. 
     
     
         31 . The surface cleaner of  claim 28  wherein the cyclone further comprises a dirt outlet and, when the dirty air inlet faces forwardly and the cyclone axis of rotation extends generally horizontally, a dirt collection chamber is provided under the cyclone. 
     
     
         32 . The surface cleaner of  claim 31  wherein the dirt collection chamber is openable whereby the dirt collection chamber is emptyable. 
     
     
         33 . The surface cleaner of  claim 32  wherein the dirt collection chamber and the cyclone chamber are separately openable. 
     
     
         34 . The surface cleaner of  claim 33  wherein, in the orientation when the dirty air inlet faces forwardly and the cyclone axis of rotation extends generally horizontally, the dirt collection chamber has a lower openable end. 
     
     
         35 . The surface cleaner of  claim 28  wherein the cyclone further comprises a dirt outlet and the surface cleaner further comprises a dirt collection chamber in communication with the dirt outlet and a straight line extends through the portion of the cyclone sidewall and an openable wall of the dirt collection chamber. 
     
     
         36 . The surface cleaner of  claim 35  wherein the portion of the cyclone sidewall and the openable wall of the dirt collection chamber extend in a common direction.