# US 11,896,186 B1 · 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 11,896,186 B1 - Document ID: US11896186B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 18/378,537 - Filed: 2023-10-10 - Published: 2024-02-01 - Granted: 2024-02-13 - Earliest claimed: 2016-04-11 - Assignees: Omachron Intellectual Property Inc. - Applicants: Omachron Intellectual Property Inc. - Inventors: Wayne Ernest Conrad - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11896186B1 ## 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 5/26: with driven dust-loosening tools - 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 9/106: {Dust removal} - A47L 9/122: {flat} - A47L 9/165: {Construction of inlets} - 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 9/22: Mountings for motor fan assemblies - A47L 9/246: {with electrical connectors} - A47L 9/2868: {Arrangements for power supply of vacuum cleaners or the accessories thereof} - 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 vacuum cleaner comprises a body which houses a suction motor. A handle is provided on a sidewall of the body and extends outwardly therefrom. The handle axis intersects the suction motor. An air treatment member comprises a chamber, which has an openable door and which forms a front face of the hand vacuum cleaner. The air treatment member having an inner hollow member that occupies all of the central portion of the chamber between the front end of the chamber and a rear end of the chamber. The air treatment member has an openable door lock comprising a door release actuator wherein the door is moveable to an open position in which the chamber is opened when the door release actuator is actuated. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A hand vacuum cleaner having a front end having a dirty air inlet, a rear end, a clean air outlet, an upper end and a bottom, the hand vacuum cleaner comprising: (a) a body comprising an upper end, a lower end, a front end, a rear end and a driving handle, the body housing a suction motor and fan assembly, the suction motor and fan assembly having a suction motor axis of rotation wherein the driving handle has a hand grip portion having a first end and a second end, the handle is provided on a sidewall of the body and extends outwardly therefrom, a hand grip portion axis extends through the hand grip portion from the first end of the hand grip portion to the second end of the hand grip portion and the hand grip portion axis intersects the suction motor and fan assembly; and, (b) an air treatment member comprising a chamber having a central portion, the chamber having an openable door provided at a front end thereof and forming a front face of the hand vacuum cleaner, the air treatment member having an inner hollow member that occupies all of the central portion of the chamber between the front end of the chamber and a rear end of the chamber; and, (c) an openable door lock comprising a door release actuator wherein the door is moveable to an open position in which the chamber is opened when the door release actuator is actuated. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The hand vacuum cleaner of claim 1 wherein an enclosed finger receiving area is provided forward of the hand grip portion. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The hand vacuum cleaner of claim 1 wherein the dirty air inlet comprises an inlet passage that extends longitudinally between an inlet end and an outlet end and has a longitudinal passage axis, the chamber has a central longitudinal axis extending between the front end of the chamber and a rear end of the chamber and the longitudinal passage axis and the central longitudinal axis extend in a common direction. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The hand vacuum cleaner of claim 1 wherein the chamber has a central longitudinal axis extending between the front end of the chamber and a rear end of the chamber and the suction motor axis of rotation and the central longitudinal axis extend in a common direction. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The hand vacuum cleaner of claim 1 wherein the openable door lock comprises an axially extending member having a front end and a rear end and, when the door is in a closed portion, the front end secures the openable door in the closed position. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The hand vacuum cleaner of claim 5 wherein the door release actuator is drivingly connected to the axially extending member. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The hand vacuum cleaner of claim 6 wherein the door release actuator is rotationally mounted and, in use, the door release actuator is rotated to drive the axially extending member whereby the door is unlocked. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The hand vacuum cleaner of claim 1 wherein the openable door lock comprises an axially extending member having a front end having a lock engaging member and a rear end and, when the door is in a closed portion, the lock engaging member secures the openable door in the closed position. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The hand vacuum cleaner of claim 8 wherein the door release actuator is drivingly connected to the axially extending member. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The hand vacuum cleaner of claim 9 wherein the door release actuator is rotationally mounted and, in use, the door release actuator is rotated to drive the axially extending member whereby the door is unlocked. ### Claim 11 A hand vacuum cleaner having a front end having a dirty air inlet, a rear end, a clean air outlet, an upper end and a bottom, the hand vacuum cleaner comprising: (a) a body comprising an upper end, a lower end, a front end, a rear end and a driving handle, the body housing a suction motor and fan assembly, the suction motor and fan assembly having a suction motor axis of rotation wherein the driving handle has a hand grip portion having a first end and a second end, the handle is provided on a sidewall of the body and extends outwardly therefrom, a hand grip portion axis extends through the hand grip portion from the first end of the hand grip portion to the second end of the hand grip portion and the hand grip portion axis intersects the suction motor and fan assembly; and, (b) a cyclone unit comprising a cyclone having a cyclone axis of rotation and a sidewall, the cyclone unit having an openable door forming a front face of the hand vacuum cleaner, the cyclone unit having an inner hollow member that extends rearwardly through the cyclone from the front door; and (c) an openable door lock comprising a door release actuator wherein the door is moveable to an open position when the actuator is actuated. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The hand vacuum cleaner of claim 11 wherein the cyclone axis of rotation extends between a front end of the cyclone and a rear end of the cyclone and the suction motor axis of rotation and the central cyclone axis of rotation extend in a common direction. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The hand vacuum cleaner of claim 11 wherein the openable door lock comprises an axially extending member having a front end and a rear end and, when the door is in a closed portion, the front end secures the openable door in the closed position. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The hand vacuum cleaner of claim 13 wherein the door release actuator is drivingly connected to the axially extending member. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The hand vacuum cleaner of claim 14 wherein the door release actuator is rotationally mounted and, in use, the door release actuator is rotated to drive the axially extending member whereby the door is unlocked. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The hand vacuum cleaner of claim 11 wherein the openable door lock comprises an axially extending member having a front end having a lock engaging member and a rear end and, when the door is in a closed portion, the lock engaging member secures the openable door in the closed position. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The hand vacuum cleaner of claim 16 wherein the door release actuator is drivingly connected to the axially extending member. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The hand vacuum cleaner of claim 17 wherein the door release actuator is rotationally mounted and, in use, the door release actuator is rotated to drive the axially extending member whereby the door is unlocked. ### Claim 19 (depends on 11) The hand vacuum cleaner of claim 11 wherein the cyclone unit further comprises a dirt collection region that is exterior to the cyclone and the openable door opens the cyclone and the dirt collection region.