Hand-held surface cleaning device

Abstract

In general, the present disclosure is directed to a hand-held surface cleaning device that includes a relatively compact form-factor to allow users to store the same in a nearby location (e.g., in a drawer, in an associated charging dock, on a table top) for easy access to perform relatively small cleaning tasks that would otherwise require retrieving a full-size vacuum from storage. A hand-held surface cleaning device consistent with aspects of the present disclosure includes a body (or body portion) with a motor, power source and dust cup disposed therein. The body portion also functions as a handgrip to allow the hand-held surface cleaning device to be operated by one hand, for example.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A vacuum configured for surface cleaning, the vacuum comprising:
 a cylindrical-shaped housing extending from a first end to a second end along a longitudinal axis, the first end of the housing comprising an elongate handle defining a cavity positioning one or more batteries, the second end of the housing configured to couple to a removable cleaning head, the second end comprising a dirty air inlet;   a motor operably drawing air into the dirty air inlet, the motor disposed within the housing along the longitudinal axis of the housing;   the housing further comprising a debris separator, the debris separator comprising:
 a dust collection chamber including a linearly movable surface, the dust collection chamber configured to transition between an open orientation to empty debris and a closed orientation to inhibit debris from falling out of the dust collection chamber; 
 a removable filter carriage positioning a filter and configured to provide removal of the removable filter carriage relative to the longitudinal axis of the housing when the dust collection chamber is in the open orientation; and 
 a screen disposed between the filter and the dust collection chamber; 
   a mechanical actuator activatable to allow the dust collection chamber to transition to the open orientation; and   a scraper configured to dislodge debris from the screen as the dust collection chamber is transitioned to the open orientation;   the dirty air inlet, the debris separator, the motor, and the elongate handle positioned coaxially along the longitudinal axis and arranged in order between the dirty air inlet at the second end and the elongate handle at the first end of the housing.   
     
     
         2 . The vacuum of  claim 1 , wherein the housing comprises a consistent diameter from the first end to the second end. 
     
     
         3 . The vacuum of  claim 1 , wherein the elongate handle axially extends along a single axis. 
     
     
         4 . The vacuum of  claim 1 , wherein the screen is positioned by and forms part of the removable filter carriage, wherein removal of the filter carriage coincides with removal of the screen. 
     
     
         5 . The vacuum of  claim 1 , wherein the elongate handle is positioned above the motor, the motor is positioned above the debris separator, and the debris separator is positioned above the dirty air inlet when the longitudinal axis of the housing is oriented perpendicular to a floor surface. 
     
     
         6 . The vacuum of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more batteries are positioned coaxially with the dirty air inlet, the debris separator, the motor, and the elongate handle along the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         7 . The vacuum of  claim 6 , wherein the dirty air inlet, the debris separator, the motor, the one or more batteries, and the elongate handle are arranged in order between the dirty air inlet at the second end and the elongate handle at the first end of the housing. 
     
     
         8 . The vacuum of  claim 1 , wherein a free end of the elongate handle terminates at the first end of the housing. 
     
     
         9 . The vacuum of  claim 1 , wherein the motor is arranged adjacent the debris separator and the elongate handle along the longitudinal axis of the housing. 
     
     
         10 . The vacuum of  claim 1 , wherein the debris separator is arranged proximate the dirty air inlet. 
     
     
         11 . The vacuum of  claim 1 , wherein the scraper moves along the screen in a first direction as the dust collection chamber is transitioned to the open orientation. 
     
     
         12 . The vacuum of  claim 11 , wherein the scraper moves along the screen in a second direction opposite the first direction as the dust collection chamber is transitioned to the closed orientation. 
     
     
         13 . A vacuum comprising:
 a body extending from a first end to a second end along a longitudinal axis, the body comprising a handle portion defining a cavity to house one or more batteries for powering the vacuum, the second end of the body configured to couple to one or more cleaning attachments and comprising a dirty air inlet;   a motor operably drawing air into the dirty air inlet, the motor disposed within the body proximate the handle portion;   the body further comprising a debris separator, the debris separator comprising:
 a dust cup to receive and store debris, the dust cup movable to transition between an open orientation to empty debris and a closed orientation to inhibit debris from falling out of the dust cup; 
 a removable filter carriage positioning a filter and configured to provide removal of the removable filter carriage when the dust cup is in the open orientation; and 
 a screen disposed between the filter and the dust cup; 
   a release button engageable to allow the dust cup to transition to the open orientation; and   a scraper configured to remove debris from the screen as the dust cup is transitioned to the open orientation;   the dirty air inlet, the debris separator, the motor, and the handle portion positioned coaxially within the body and arranged in order between the dirty air inlet at the second end and the handle portion at the first end of the body.   
     
     
         14 . The vacuum of  claim 13 , wherein the screen is positioned by and part of the removable filter carriage such that the screen is removed from the vacuum when the removable filter carriage is removed from the vacuum. 
     
     
         15 . The vacuum of  claim 13 , wherein the handle portion extends along a single axis and terminates at the first end of the body. 
     
     
         16 . The vacuum of  claim 13 , wherein the motor is disposed proximate the handle portion. 
     
     
         17 . The vacuum of  claim 13 , wherein the debris separator and the motor are positioned coaxially within the body along an axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the body. 
     
     
         18 . The vacuum of  claim 13 , wherein the scraper moves along the screen in a first direction as the dust cup is transitioned to the open orientation, and the scraper moves along the screen in a second direction opposite the first direction as the dust cup is transitioned to the closed orientation. 
     
     
         19 . A vacuum comprising:
 an elongate body extending from a first end to a second end along a longitudinal axis, the elongate body comprising a handle portion defining a cavity to house one or more batteries for powering the vacuum, the handle portion terminating at the first end of the elongate body, the handle portion being straight, the elongate body further comprising a wand terminating at the second end of the elongate body, the wand configured to couple to a cleaning head and comprising a dirty air inlet;   a motor operably drawing air into the dirty air inlet, the motor disposed within the elongate body proximate the handle portion;   the elongate body further comprising a debris separator, the debris separator comprising:
 a dust cup to receive and store debris, the dust cup rotatable to transition between an open orientation to empty debris and a closed orientation to inhibit debris from falling out of the dust cup; 
 a removable filter carriage positioning a pleated filter and configured to provide removal of the removable filter carriage when the dust cup is in the open orientation; and 
 a screen disposed between the pleated filter and the dust cup; and 
   a release button engageable to allow the dust cup to transition to the open orientation;   the handle portion positioned above the motor, the motor positioned above the debris separator, and the debris separator positioned above the dirty air inlet when the longitudinal axis of the elongate body is oriented perpendicular to a floor surface and the cleaning head is resting on the floor surface.   
     
     
         20 . The vacuum of  claim 19 , further comprising one or more batteries at least partially positioned in the handle portion. 
     
     
         21 . The vacuum of  claim 19 , wherein the handle portion is at an angle relative to a longitudinal axis of the vacuum. 
     
     
         22 . The vacuum of  claim 19 , wherein the vacuum is cordless. 
     
     
         23 . A vacuum configured to clean a surface, the vacuum comprising:
 a cylindrical housing extending from a first end to a second end along a longitudinal axis, the cylindrical housing comprising a consistent diameter from the first end to the second end, wherein the first end terminates as a handle and the second end comprises a dirty air inlet, and wherein the handle positions a battery;   a suction motor disposed within the cylindrical housing and operable to move air along an airflow path within the cylindrical housing;   a debris separator disposed within the cylindrical housing along the airflow path, the debris separator comprising:
 a cylindrical shaped dust collection chamber to receive and store debris, the dust collection chamber including a linearly movable surface, the dust collection chamber movable to transition the dust collection chamber from an open orientation to empty debris to a closed orientation to inhibit debris from exiting the dust collection chamber; 
 a removable air treatment assembly which is removable when the dust collection chamber is in the open orientation, the air treatment assembly comprising a screen and a filter; and 
 a mechanical actuator actionable to cause the dust collection chamber to transition toward the open orientation; 
   a scraper configured to dislodge debris from the screen; and   a power actuator positioned on the cylindrical housing actionable to cause the battery provide power to the suction motor.   
     
     
         24 . The vacuum of  claim 23 , wherein the screen is positioned by and forms part of the removable air treatment assembly such that the screen is removed from the vacuum when the removable air treatment assembly is removed from the vacuum. 
     
     
         25 . The vacuum of  claim 23 , wherein the suction motor is disposed between the debris separator and the handle along the longitudinal axis of the cylindrical housing. 
     
     
         26 . The vacuum of  claim 23 , wherein the second end of the cylindrical housing is configured to couple to a removable cleaning head, and wherein the debris separator is arranged proximate the dirty air inlet and the removable cleaning head. 
     
     
         27 . The vacuum of  claim 23 , wherein the surface of the dust collection chamber is extendable relative to the filter to transition to the open orientation, and the surface of the dust collection chamber is retractable relative to the filter to transition to the closed orientation. 
     
     
         28 . The vacuum of  claim 23 , wherein the scraper moves along the screen in a first direction as the dust collection chamber is transitioned to the open orientation, and the scraper moves along the screen in a second direction opposite the first direction as the dust collection chamber is transitioned to the closed orientation. 
     
     
         29 . The vacuum of  claim 23 , wherein the dirty air inlet, the debris separator, the suction motor, and the handle are positioned coaxially. 
     
     
         30 . The vacuum of  claim 29 , wherein the handle is positioned above the suction motor, the suction motor is positioned above the debris separator, and the debris separator is positioned above the dirty air inlet when the longitudinal axis is oriented perpendicular to a floor surface.