# US 10,441,121 B2 · Portable surface cleaning apparatus > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,441,121 B2 - Document ID: US10441121B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/498,037 - Filed: 2017-04-26 - Published: 2017-08-10 - Granted: 2019-10-15 - Earliest claimed: 2014-07-18 - Assignees: Omachron Intellectual Property Inc. - Applicants: Omachron Intellectual Property Inc. - Inventors: Wayne Ernest Conrad; Jason Boyd Thorne; Sam Liu; Amy Kwok - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10441121B2 ## CPC - A47L 5/24: Hand-supported suction cleaners - A47L 5/225: {Convertible suction cleaners, i.e. convertible between different types thereof, e.g. from upright suction cleaners to sledge-type suction cleaners} - A47L 5/28: Suction cleaners with handles and nozzles fixed on the casings, e.g. wheeled suction cleaners with steering handle (A47L5/24 takes precedence) - A47L 9/0027: {specially adapted for holding the suction cleaning tools} - A47L 9/0477: {Rolls} - A47L 9/12: Dry filters - A47L 9/1608: {Cyclonic chamber constructions} - A47L 9/1666: {with filtering means} - A47L 9/1683: {Dust collecting chambers; Dust collecting receptacles} - A47L 9/1691: {Mounting or coupling means for cyclonic chamber or dust receptacles} - A47L 9/246: {with electrical connectors} - A47L 9/2857: {User input or output elements for control, e.g. buttons, switches or displays} - A47L 9/30: Arrangement of illuminating devices - A47L 9/322: {for hand-supported suction cleaners} - A47L: DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING (brushes A46B; cleaning quantities of bottles or of other hollow articles of one kind B08B9/00; laundry D06F); SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL (cleaning in general B08) ## Abstract A hand carryable surface cleaning apparatus comprises a body housing a suction motor and comprising a handle. The handle has a handgrip portion that extends upwardly in an upward direction when the surface cleaning apparatus is disposed on a horizontal surface, wherein the handle and a rear surface of the body define a finger gap in which a user may place the user's fingers while gripping the handle. The suction motor is positioned adjacent the rear surface of the body. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A hand carryable surface cleaning apparatus comprising: (a) a body housing a suction motor and comprising a handle; (b) the handle having a handgrip portion that extends upwardly in an upward direction when the surface cleaning apparatus is disposed on a horizontal surface, wherein the handle and a rear surface of the body define a finger gap in which a user may place the user's fingers while gripping the handle; (c) the suction motor having an axis of rotation that is oriented upwardly when the surface cleaning apparatus is disposed on a horizontal surface, the suction motor is positioned adjacent the rear surface of the body; (d) an air treatment member mounted to the body and having a central longitudinal axis; and, (e) an air flow path extending from a dirty air inlet to a clean air outlet and including the suction motor and the air treatment member wherein the dirty air inlet has an inlet axis which intersects the handgrip portion. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The hand carryable surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the finger gap has a length in the upward direction and the suction motor has a length between an inlet end and an opposed end of the suction motor and the length of the suction motor is proximate the length of the finger gap. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The hand carryable surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the handgrip portion extends upwardly and forwardly from a rearmost portion of the handgrip to a forward most portion of the handgrip and the suction motor axis of rotation extends upwardly and forwardly from a rearmost portion of the suction motor to a forward most portion of the suction motor. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The hand carryable surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the hand grip portion has an axis, the suction motor has an axis, and the hand grip portion axis and the suction motor axis are generally parallel. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The hand carryable surface cleaning apparatus of claim 4 wherein the suction motor axis of rotation extends at an angle of from about 5 degrees to about 45 degrees to the vertical axis. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The hand carryable surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the suction motor has a suction motor air inlet at an upper end thereof. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The hand carryable surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the handle is mounted to upper and lower portions of the body and the handle is provided at a rear end of the body. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The hand carryable surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the dirty air inlet has an inlet axis which intersects the suction motor. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The hand carryable surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the hand carryable surface cleaning apparatus is a hand vacuum cleaner. ### Claim 10 A hand carryable surface cleaning apparatus comprising: (a) a body having a suction motor housing which houses a suction motor and comprising a handle; (b) the handle having a handgrip portion that extends upwardly from a rearmost portion of the handgrip to a forward most portion of the handgrip when the surface cleaning apparatus is disposed on a horizontal surface, wherein the handle and a rear surface of the suction motor housing define a finger gap in which a user may place the user's fingers while gripping the handle; (c) the suction motor having an axis of rotation; (d) an air treatment member mounted to the body and having a central longitudinal axis and an openable door; and, (e) an air flow path extending from a dirty air inlet to a clean air outlet and including the suction motor and the air treatment member, wherein the dirty air inlet comprises an inlet conduit that has an inlet axis which intersects the handgrip portion, the inlet conduit is provided at an upper end of the hand carryable surface cleaning apparatus. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The hand carryable surface cleaning apparatus of claim 10 wherein the finger gap has a length in the upward direction and the suction motor has a length between an inlet end and an opposed end of the suction motor and the length of the suction motor is proximate the length of the finger gap. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The hand carryable surface cleaning apparatus of claim 10 wherein the handgrip portion extends upwardly and forwardly from a rearmost portion of the handgrip to a forward most portion of the handgrip and the suction motor axis of rotation extends upwardly and forwardly from a rearmost portion of the suction motor to a forward most portion of the suction motor. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The hand carryable surface cleaning apparatus of claim 10 wherein the hand grip portion has an axis, the suction motor has an axis, and the hand grip portion axis and the suction motor axis are generally parallel. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The hand carryable surface cleaning apparatus of claim 10 wherein the suction motor axis of rotation extends at an angle of from about 5 degrees to about 45 degrees to the vertical axis. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The hand carryable surface cleaning apparatus of claim 10 wherein the suction motor has a suction motor air inlet at an upper end thereof. ### Claim 16 (depends on 10) The hand carryable surface cleaning apparatus of claim 10 wherein the handle is mounted to upper and lower portions of the body and the handle is provided at a rear end of the body. ### Claim 17 (depends on 10) The hand carryable surface cleaning apparatus of claim 10 wherein the dirty air inlet has an inlet axis which intersects the suction motor. ### Claim 18 (depends on 10) The hand carryable surface cleaning apparatus of claim 10 wherein the hand carryable surface cleaning apparatus is a hand vacuum cleaner. ### Claim 19 (depends on 10) The hand carryable surface cleaning apparatus of claim 10 wherein the inlet conduit remains in position when the door is opened.