A surface cleaning apparatus includes a housing that supports a suction source, a dirt separation device that has an elongate axis, and a user graspable handle having an elongate axis. A passage member transports dirt-laden air to the dirt separation device. The passage member has an elongate axis. The elongate axis of the passage member and the elongate axis of the user graspable handle lie in a plane. The elongate axis of the dirt collection chamber intersects the plane. During operation, while the housing is supported on a floor surface, the elongate axis of the dirt separation device is parallel with the floor surface.

A surface cleaning apparatus includes a housing that supports a suction source, a dirt separation device that has an elongate axis, and a user graspable handle having an elongate axis. A passage member transports dirt-laden air to the dirt separation device. The passage member has an elongate axis. The elongate axis of the passage member and the elongate axis of the user graspable handle lie in a plane. The elongate axis of the dirt collection chamber intersects the plane. During operation, while the housing is supported on a floor surface, the elongate axis of the dirt separation device is parallel with the floor surface.

A surface cleaning apparatus comprises an air treatment chamber with a moveable member positioned therein. An end wall of the air treatment chamber is openable in response to a moveable member being longitudinally translated through at least the portion of the air treatment chamber. The driving assembly includes a handle and a drive rod that is rotatably mounted about a longitudinally extending axis of the drive rod between a stored position in which the moveable member is in a stored position and an operable position in which the moveable member is translatable through at least a portion of the chamber. In the stored position, the handle is longitudinally spaced from the first and second ends of the air treatment chamber and, when the driving assembly is in the operable position, the driving assembly is operable to longitudinally translate the moveable member through at least a portion of the chamber.

A surface cleaning apparatus comprises an air treatment chamber with a moveable member positioned therein. An end wall of the air treatment chamber is openable in response to a moveable member being longitudinally translated through at least the portion of the air treatment chamber. The driving assembly includes a handle and a drive rod that is rotatably mounted about a longitudinally extending axis of the drive rod between a stored position in which the moveable member is in a stored position and an operable position in which the moveable member is translatable through at least a portion of the chamber. In the stored position, the handle is longitudinally spaced from the first and second ends of the air treatment chamber and, when the driving assembly is in the operable position, the driving assembly is operable to longitudinally translate the moveable member through at least a portion of the chamber.

A surface cleaning apparatus includes a housing having an elongate axis (H) and supports a suction source, and a dirt separation device having an elongate axis (A). The dirt separation device includes a separator for separating dirt from dirt-laden air, and a dirt collection chamber for receiving separated dirt. The dirt separation device or a part of the dirt separation device is releasably connected to the housing. A passage member that transports dirt-laden air to the dirt separation device has an elongate axis (B). The dirt separation device is pivotally moveable relative to the housing to effect release of the dirt separation device.

A surface cleaning apparatus includes a housing having an elongate axis (H) and supports a suction source, and a dirt separation device having an elongate axis (A). The dirt separation device includes a separator for separating dirt from dirt-laden air, and a dirt collection chamber for receiving separated dirt. The dirt separation device or a part of the dirt separation device is releasably connected to the housing. A passage member that transports dirt-laden air to the dirt separation device has an elongate axis (B). The dirt separation device is pivotally moveable relative to the housing to effect release of the dirt separation device.

A dirt separation device for a surface cleaning apparatus including: a separator for separating dirt from dirt-laden air; an inlet through which dirt-laden air is drawn into the separator; an outlet through which cleaner air exits the separator; a dirt collection chamber for receiving separated dirt; a cover member movable between a first position in which the cover member inhibits access to the dirt collection chamber and a second position in which the cover member permits access to the dirt collection chamber; an actuator device coupled to the cover member for effecting movement of the cover member from the first position to the second position, wherein the actuator device is rotationally movable, or an engagement part operably connected to the actuator device is rotationally movable, to effect movement of the closing member from the first position to the second position.

A dirt separation device for a surface cleaning apparatus including: a separator for separating dirt from dirt-laden air; an inlet through which dirt-laden air is drawn into the separator; an outlet through which cleaner air exits the separator; a dirt collection chamber for receiving separated dirt; a cover member movable between a first position in which the cover member inhibits access to the dirt collection chamber and a second position in which the cover member permits access to the dirt collection chamber; an actuator device coupled to the cover member for effecting movement of the cover member from the first position to the second position, wherein the actuator device is rotationally movable, or an engagement part operably connected to the actuator device is rotationally movable, to effect movement of the closing member from the first position to the second position.

Monolithic dust separation devices are disclosed to enable separating and collecting dust particles. The devices include a vacuum port and a cyclone chamber that are connected by a tube between the vacuum port and an upper end of the cyclone chamber. On the cyclone chamber there is an input port for connecting to a flexible hose for ingesting the dust particles. The devices also include a dust receptacle having a top upper surface and a port cover on a port formed in the upper surface for emptying the receptacle of collected dust particles and a lower portion of the dust receptacle that is integrally formed into the upper surface of the dust receptacle. The top upper surface slants downward from the cyclone chamber to the port cover.

A suction apparatus includes a housing, at least one cyclone chamber, a collection container configured to as to be releasably connectable to the housing, and having a filter element. The suction apparatus further includes at least one positioning device within the cyclone chamber and configured for positioning at least one collection element within the cyclone chamber.