A surface cleaning apparatus includes a cyclone having a plurality of tangential air inlets. Each tangential air inlet is formed of a sidewall and an end wall. The tangential air inlet has an inlet port which is positioned to face a wall of the cyclone chamber. The tangential air inlets have a flow straightener provided on a radial inner or outer side.

A surface cleaning apparatus comprising a first cyclonic cleaning stage having a first cyclone chamber and a first dirt collection chamber external to the first cyclone chamber. The first cyclone chamber has a cyclone first end, an opposed cyclone second end, a cyclone sidewall extending between the cyclone first end and the cyclone second end, a cyclone air inlet, a cyclone air outlet, a cyclone dirt outlet in communication with the first dirt collection chamber and a cyclone longitudinal axis extending from the cyclone first end to the cyclone second end. The dirt outlet comprises a plurality of apertures.

An exhaust system includes a pipe tube for discharging an exhaust air ejected from an exhaust port of an electric vacuum cleaner to a predetermined exterior location, the pipe tube including a tube main body made of a pliable and less-stretchable material, and a cord inserted into the tube main body, the cord being made of a pliable and highly-stretchable material. The cord, when not stretched, has a length close to an actual extension length which permits connection between the exhaust port of the indoor electric vacuum cleaner and the predetermined exterior location. The tube main body is equal in length to the cord when being stretched. In this state, the ventilation function of the tube main body has a maximum value.

A surface cleaning apparatus comprising an upstream air treatment stage and a downstream air treatment stage, which is positioned rearward of the upstream air treatment member. The upstream air treatment stage comprises an openable portion which is moveable between a closed position and an open position by a mount that is provided on the downstream air treatment stage

The subject matter of the invention is a filter element (13) for insertion into a vacuum cleaner, with an upper side (14), a lower side (15) which lies opposite the upper side (14), a filter body (19) which extends from the upper side (14) to the lower side (15) and which forms a wall (26) of a clean air space which is situated between the upper side and the lower side, and with a conveying opening (17) which is arranged on the upper side (14), opens into the clean air space, and through which an air flow which is driven by way of the vacuum cleaner can be conveyed. According to the invention, a deflecting surface (20) which extends in the direction of the lower side (15) is arranged in the clean air space below the conveying opening (17), which deflecting surface (20) is configured to deflect an air flow which is introduced through the conveying opening (17) in the direction of the wall (26) of the clean air space. The filter element (13) according to the invention can be relieved of filter cakes in a simple and effective way.

A hand vacuum cleaner has a first air treatment stage comprising a first stage air treatment chamber and a first stage longitudinal axis extending between the front and rear ends of the first air treatment stage and a second air treatment stage downstream from the first stage air treatment chamber, the second air treatment stage a second stage air treatment chamber and a second stage dirt collection chamber that is exterior to the second stage air treatment chamber. The second stage dirt collection chamber extends forward of the second stage air treatment chamber. A plane that is transverse to the first stage longitudinal axis extends through the first stage air treatment chamber and the second stage dirt collection chamber, and the first stage air treatment chamber and the second stage dirt collection chamber are concurrently openable.

A surface cleaning apparatus comprising a first cyclonic cleaning stage having a first cyclone chamber and a first dirt collection chamber external to the first cyclone chamber. The first cyclone chamber has a cyclone first end, an opposed cyclone second end, a cyclone sidewall extending between the cyclone first end and the cyclone second end, a cyclone air inlet, a cyclone air outlet, a cyclone dirt outlet in communication with the first dirt collection chamber and a cyclone longitudinal axis extending from the cyclone first end to the cyclone second end. The dirt outlet comprises a plurality of apertures.

A surface cleaning apparatus has a housing defining at least part of a cyclone chamber and a pre-motor filter chamber. In one embodiment, the housing is pivotally mounted to the main body of a hand vacuum cleaner. The housing is moveable between an in use position and an emptying position, in which the cyclone chamber and the pre-motor filter are concurrently openable.

A hand vacuum cleaner has an air treatment member positioned in an air flow path through the hand vacuum cleaner. The air treatment member comprises an air treatment chamber and a dirt collection chamber exterior to the air treatment chamber. The air treatment member comprises a stationary portion and an openable portion, the openable portion comprises a portion of a sidewall of the air treatment chamber and the openable portion is moveably mounted by a mount between a closed position in which the air treatment chamber and the dirt collection chamber are closed and an open position in which the air treatment chamber and the dirt collection chamber are open. When the inlet conduit extends generally horizontally, the dirt collection chamber underlies the air treatment chamber.

A hand vacuum cleaner has a cyclone chamber formed of at least two axially extending cyclone chamber sidewall portions wherein one of the portions is pivotally openable. Once opened, a moveable member is translatable to clean or enable cleaning of a screen.