GB2640714A

GB2640714A - A surface cleaning apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2640714A
Application number: GB2406169.9A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Alan Borrill Daniel
Original assignee: Techtronic Cordless GP
Current assignee: Techtronic Cordless GP
Priority date: 2024-05-02
Filing date: 2024-05-02
Publication date: 2025-11-05
Also published as: WO2025229036A1; GB202406169D0

Abstract

Surface cleaning apparatus comprises a housing 12 supporting a suction source (18, fig 2) comprising a motor which rotates a fan, a dirt separation device (20, fig 1) comprising a separator (24, fig 2) and a dirt collection chamber 26 connected to the housing and a filter assembly 34 comprising a filter 36 supported by a filter body 38, wherein the housing comprises a recess 40 on an outer surface thereof, said recess configured to receive the filter body therein and wherein the filter body is removably mounted in the recess. The housing is preferably configured to engage or lock the filter body when the filter body is mounted in the recess. The surface cleaning apparatus may be a handheld suction cleaner.

Description

A Surface Cleaning Apparatus

FIELD

The present teachings relate to a surface cleaning apparatus. BACKGROUND Different kinds of surface cleaning apparatus are known. Upright cleaners are known which have an upright part pivotally connected to a floor head and a user grasps a handle of the upright part to move the floor head back and forth over a floor surface to be cleaned. Cylinder cleaners are known for which the main operative components, i.e. suction source, dirt collection chamber, are supported by a housing having wheels. A rigid elongate member fluidly connects the operative components in the housing to a floor head and the user grasps a handle of the elongate member to move the floor head along the floor surface to be cleaned whilst the housing is moved by pulling the elongate member in the desired direction. Handheld cleaners are known which have a housing supporting the operative components of the cleaner and for which the housing can be easily carried by the user during cleaning; such cleaners may or may not include a battery. Stick vacuum cleaners are known which are formed by fluidly connecting a housing of a handheld unit to a floor head via a relatively rigid elongate member. For such cleaners, the user can steer the floor head by moving the handheld unit in the desired direction.

2-in-1 vacuum cleaners are known and are formed by connecting a housing of a handheld unit to a body incorporating an upright section having a handle that is grasped by a user to steer a floor head connected to the body.

The present teachings seek to provide an improved surface cleaning apparatus. SUMMARY According to a first aspect there is provided a surface cleaning apparatus comprising: a housing supporting a suction source comprising a motor which rotates a fan; a dirt separation device comprising a separator and a dirt collection chamber connected to the housing; a filter assembly comprising a filter supported by a filter body, wherein the housing comprises a recess on an outer surface thereof, said recess configured to receive the filter body therein, and wherein the filter body is removably mounted in the recess.

This arrangement provides an easily removable pre-motor filter that enables a user to remove the filter and clean it without having to disassemble the surface cleaning apparatus. Having an easy access filter will also remind the user that the filter should be cleaned and maintained regularly to allow for improved performance.

The dirt collection chamber may define an elongate axis X, and the filter assembly may be removeable from the recess along an axis that is non-parallel to the elongate axis X. This facilitates removal and insertion of the filter from and to the housing.

The filter assembly may be removeable from the recess along an axis that is substantially perpendicular to the elongate axis X. This facilitates removal and insertion of the filter from and to the housing.

The filter assembly may be removable from an upper surface, a side surface or a lower surface of the housing. This facilitates removal and insertion of the filter from and to the housing.

The housing may be configured to engage the filter body, when said filter body is in the recess, to retain the filter body within the recess. This helps to provide a seal between the filter body and housing.

The recess may define opposing recess sides that taper in a direction away from the outer surface of the housing such that the recess sides engage the filter body when said filter body is inserted into the recess. This helps to provide a seal between the filter body and housing.

The filter body may comprise a seal thereon to seal against the housing. The housing may comprise a seal thereon to seal against the filter body, when the filter body is mounted in the recess. This further improves the seal between the filter and the housing.

The surface cleaning apparatus may comprise a locking arrangement to releasably secure the filter body to the housing. The locking arrangement may comprise a snap-fit configuration.

The locking arrangement may comprise a mounting formation moveable between a locked position in which the filter body is retained within the recess and an unlocked position in which the filter body is removable from the recess.

The mounting formation may comprise a hook on the filter body and/or the housing configured and arranged to releasably secure the filter body to the housing.

The surface cleaning apparatus may comprise a release member, e.g. a button or a latch, that is actuatable to move the locking member from the locked position to the unlocked position.

The locking arrangement may comprise a biasing member configured and arranged to bias the mounting formation into the locked position.

The surface cleaning apparatus may be configured such that the filter assembly is able to be removed from the recess when the dirt collection chamber is connected to the housing. This arrangement provides an easily removable pre-motor filter that enables a user to remove the filter and clean it without having to disassemble the surface cleaning apparatus.

The dirt collection chamber may be slideably connected to the housing to move between a first position in which the dirt collection chamber is connected to and supported by the housing and a second position in which the dirt collection chamber is detached from the housing. This facilitates emptying of the dirt collection chamber.

The surface cleaning apparatus may be configured such that the filter assembly is able to be removed from the recess when the dirt collection chamber is in the first position. This arrangement provides an easily removable pre-motor filter that enables a user to remove the filter and clean it without having to disassemble the surface cleaning apparatus.

The filter body and the housing may comprise at least one corresponding asymmetric formation for preventing incorrect fitting of the filter assembly to the housing. This arrangement helps to ensure correct fitting of the filter.

The filter body may be slideably and/or pivotally moveable relative to the housing to remove the filter assembly from the housing.

The dirt collection chamber may define an elongate axis X, and wherein the filter body is arranged between the dirt collection chamber and the suction source along said elongate axis X. The filter body may be interposed between the dirt collection chamber and the suction source.

The filter and filter body are substantially cylindrical.

The surface cleaning apparatus may comprise a user graspable handle for holding the surface cleaning apparatus. The handle may be arranged on an opposing side of the suction source to the dirt separation device.

The surface cleaning apparatus may be configured such that in normal use, the suction source is positioned forwardly of the handle. The surface cleaning apparatus may be configured such that in normal use, the handle is arranged at a rear of the surface cleaning apparatus.

The surface cleaning apparatus may be a handheld surface cleaning apparatus. 10 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Embodiments will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows an isometric view of a surface cleaning apparatus according to an embodiment; Figure 2 shows a cross-sectional view of the surface cleaning apparatus of Figure 1 with the wand removed; Figures 3 to 5 show isometric views of the surface cleaning apparatus of Figure 2 with a filter assembly in different configurations; Figures 6A and 6B show top and cross-sectional views of a filter assembly; and Figures 7A and 7B show top and cross-sectional views of a filter assembly.

DESCRIPTION

Referring firstly to Figures 1 and 2, a surface cleaning apparatus is shown and is indicated generally at 10. The apparatus 10 includes a main body or housing 12, a surface cleaning tool 14 (a floorhead, in this example), an elongate pole or wand 16 fluidly connecting the surface cleaning tool 14 to the housing 12.

The surface cleaning apparatus 10 illustrated in Figure 1, is shown in a first configuration that is commonly referred to as a stick vacuum cleaner. The housing 12, in this example, is operable as a handheld surface cleaning apparatus in a second configuration shown in Figures 2 to 5, commonly known as a hand vacuum, a hand carryable vacuum, or handheld cleaning apparatus, when the pole or wand 16 is not connected to the housing 12. In this second configuration, the housing 12 can be used with or without the surface cleaning tool 14 connected thereto.

The housing 12 supports a suction source 18. The suction source 18 includes a motor which rotates a fan to generate a suction airflow. The housing 12 includes a housing inlet 22 that is releasably connectable to the pole or wand 16 for fluidly connecting a dirty air inlet (not shown) of the surface cleaning tool 14 with the suction source 18.

The housing 12 supports a dirt separation device 20. The dirt separation device 20 includes a separator 24 for separating dirt from dirt-laden air and a dirt collection chamber 26 for receiving the separated dirt. In some embodiments, the separator 24 may be a cyclonic separator, but it will be appreciated that any suitable separator may be used in alternative embodiments. The dirt collection chamber 26 is connected to, and supported by, the housing 12.

The pole 16 includes a passage for carrying dirt-laden air from the surface cleaning tool 14 to the dirt collection chamber 26. In this example the surface cleaning tool 14 includes a motor for driving a rotatable floor agitating member or brush (not shown), so the pole 16 includes a further passage through which electrical cables may extend to provide an electric connection between the housing 12 and the motor in the surface cleaning tool 14. In other embodiments, the agitator may be omitted and a different surface cleaning tool 14 may be used on the surface cleaning apparatus 10.

In some embodiments, the dirt collection chamber 26 may be substantially cylindrical. In alternative embodiments, it will be appreciated that any suitable shape of dirt collection chamber 26 may be used. The dirt collection chamber 26 defines an elongate axis X. The elongate axis X may, in some embodiments, be parallel to the elongate axis of the pole or wand 16. The dirt collection chamber 26 may be removable (i.e. disconnected or detached) from the housing 12, for example to facilitate emptying of the dirt collection chamber 26.

In some embodiments, the dirt collection chamber 26 may be supported by the housing 12 to enable movement of the dirt collection chamber 26 relative to the housing 12. The dirt collection chamber 26 may be moveable relative to the housing 12. Put another way, the dirt collection chamber 26 may be removable from the housing 12. The dirt collection chamber 26 may be moveable relative to the housing 12 between a first position in which the dirt collection chamber 26 is connected to and supported by the housing 12 and a second position in which the dirt collection chamber is detached from the housing 12. In some embodiments, the dirt collection chamber 26 is moveable, e.g. slideable, relative to the housing 12 along an axis that is substantially parallel to the axis X. The housing 12 may support the dirt collection chamber 26 whilst it is moving from the first position to the second position. The first position refers to a state in which the dirt collection chamber 26 is retained on the housing 12 whether that be a locked state in which the device 20 is inhibited from movement relative to the housing 16, where the dirt collection chamber 26 is connected to the housing 12 and permitted to move relative to the housing 12. The second position refers to a state where the dirt collection chamber 26 is no longer supported by the housing 12 and has been removed or detached from the housing 12. This configuration may help to facilitate emptying of the dirt collection chamber, but this slideable and/or removable configuration of the dirt collection chamber 26 may be omitted in alternative embodiments.

The dirt collection chamber 26 may be removed or released from the housing 12. The dirt collection chamber 26 may include an end wall or lid 30 provided at an end of the dirt collection chamber that is moveable between a closed position in which the collection chamber 26 is closed and an open position in which the collection chamber 26 is open, for example to empty the dirt collection chamber 26. The end wall or lid 30 may be pivotally movable between its closed and open states. The dirt collection chamber 26 may include a locking device 32, e.g. in the form of a user operable button or latch, for retaining the end wall or lid 30 in its closed state. A user may operate the locking device 32, e.g. by pressing the user operable button, to release the end wall or lid 32 and allow it to move to its open state.

The housing 12 may include a user graspable handle 28. The suction source 18 may be positioned forward of the user graspable handle 28. Put another way, the suction source 18 may be positioned forwardly of the handle 28. In some embodiments, there may be a space for receiving a user's hand which extends between the user graspable handle 28 and the suction source 18. The user graspable handle 28 may be arranged on an opposing side of the suction source 18 to the dirt separation device 20. Put another way, the suction source 18 may be arranged between the user graspable handle 28 and the dirt collection chamber 26 along an axis parallel to the elongate axis X of the dirt collection chamber 26. In some embodiments, the handle 28 may be arranged at a rear of the surface cleaning apparatus 10.

The surface cleaning apparatus 10 includes a filter assembly 34. The filter assembly 34 is provided to clean the relatively clean air outputted by the dirt separation device 20. The filter assembly 34 is often called a pre-motor filter, and is arranged to clean air upstream of the suction source 18 prior to the air reaching the suction source 18.

Referring now to Figures 3 to 5, the filter assembly 34 includes a filter 36 supported by a filter body or housing 38. The filter 36 may be a substantially cylindrical filter, although it will be appreciated that any suitable shaped filter 36 may be used in alternative embodiments.

The filter body 38 may be arranged between the dirt collection chamber 26 and the suction source 18 along the elongate axis X of the dirt collection chamber 26. In some embodiments, the filter body 38 may be interposed between the dirt collection chamber 26 and the suction source 18. The filter body 38 may be provided with a sealing member thereon that is configured and arranged to seal against the housing 12 when the filter body 38 is mounted to the housing 12. Alternatively or additionally, the housing 12 may be provided with a sealing member that is configured to seal against the filter body 38 when the filter body 38 is mounted to the housing 12.

The filter 36 may be configured to have different properties at different parts or regions thereof. In some embodiments, the filter 36 may be provided with a porous open cell foam layer arranged on a side of the filter proximate to the dirt collection chamber 26. Put another way, the filter 36 may be provided with a porous open cell foam layer on an upstream side or face thereof. The filter 36 may be provided with fine particulate filter arranged on a side of the filter 36 proximate to the suction source 18. Put another way, the filter 36 may be provided with a fine particular filter on a downstream side of face thereof.

In some embodiments, the filter body 38 and the housing 12 may be provided with at least one corresponding asymmetric formation for preventing incorrect fitting of the filter body 38 to the housing 12. In the illustrated embodiment, the filter body 38 is provided with an asymmetric protrusion 46 that is received within a corresponding recess 48 within the housing 12. In alternative embodiments, however, it will be appreciated that any suitable asymmetric formations may be used to ensure correct fitting of the filter assembly 34 to the housing 12. In the illustrated embodiment, the protrusion 46 is configured to extend along an axis that is substantially parallel to the elongate axis X of the dirt collection chamber 26, and extends further in one direction than the other to provide the asymmetric formation. It will be understood that in alternative embodiments any suitable asymmetric formation may be used to ensure correct fitting of the filter body 38. This configuration of the filter body 38 and the housing 12 helps to ensure that the filter body 38 is arranged in the housing 12 in the correct orientation. In some embodiments, the filter 36 and the filter body 38 may be provided with corresponding asymmetric formations to ensure correct fitting of the filter 36 to the filter body 38. This may be provided in the form of an asymmetric projection and a corresponding recess provided on the filter 36 and the filter body 38. This configuration of the filter 36 and the filter body 38 helps to ensure that the filter 36 is arranged in the filter body 38 in the correct orientation, but this may be omitted in alternative embodiments.

The housing 12 is provided with a recess 40 on an outer surface 39 thereof that is configured to receive the filter assembly 34 therein. The filter assembly 34 may be removably mounted in the recess 40. In the illustrated embodiment, the filter assembly 34 is removable from an upper surface of the housing. In alternative embodiments, however, the filter assembly 34 may be removable from a side surface or a lower surface of the housing 12. It will be appreciated that the filter body 38 may be slideably and/or pivotally moveable relative to the housing 12 to remove the filter assembly 34 from the housing 12. The filter body 38 is provided with an upper or outer surface 39 that is configured to be substantially flush with an outer surface of the housing 12, when the filter body 38 is fully inserted into the recess 40.

In some embodiments, the filter assembly 34 may be removeable from the recess 40 along an axis that is non-parallel to the elongate axis X of the dirt collection chamber 26. For example, the filter assembly 34 may be removeable from the recess 40 along an axis that is substantially perpendicular to the elongate axis X of the dirt collection chamber 26. Providing a filter assembly 34 that is able to be removed from the housing 12 in this way facilitates removal and insertion of the filter from and to the housing 12 and removes the need to remove any other parts of the apparatus 10 to access the filter 36.

The filter assembly 34 is able to be removed from the recess 40 regardless of whether the dirt collection chamber 26 is connected to the housing 12. Put another way, the filter assembly 34 is able to be removed from the recess 40 when dirt collection chamber 26 is in both the first and second positions, and when moving between the first and second positions. This arrangement provides an easily removable pre-motor filter that enables a user to remove the filter and clean it without having to disassemble the surface cleaning apparatus.

The housing 12 may engage the filter body 38 when it is partially or fully inserted into the recess 40 to retain the filter body 38, and so the filter 36, within the recess 40. In some embodiments, at least part of the recess 40 may taper in a direction away from the outer surface of the housing 12 such that the filter body 38 is engaged by said tapered region when it is inserted into the recess. Put another way, the recess 40 may define opposing recess sides that taper in a direction away from the outer surface of the housing 12 such that the recess sides engage the filter body 38 when said filter body 38 is inserted into the recess 40. In other embodiments, this tapered configuration may be omitted.

In some embodiments, a locking arrangement (shown in Figure 2) may be provided to releasably mount or secure the filter body 38 to the housing 12. In the illustrated embodiment, the filter body 38 and the housing 12 are provided with corresponding mounting formations 42, 44 (shown in Figure 2) that engage, when the filter body 38 is fully inserted into the recess, to retain the filter body 38 in the recess 40. The mounting formations 42, 44 may be configured to provide a snap-fit mounting arrangement. In the illustrated embodiment, the mounting formations are provided in the form of a shoulder or ledge 42 on the housing 12 that engages a resilient member 44 to retain the filter body 38 in the recess 40.

The outer surface 39 of the filter body 38 may be configured and/or arranged to include or define one or more grip features to facilitate removal of the filter body 38 from the housing 12. In the illustrated embodiment, opposing edges 50 of the outer surface 39 of the filter body 38 are configured to be spaced apart from the housing 12 when the filter body 38 is fully inserted into the recess 40 to define a grip feature. Put another way, the outer surface 39 of the filter body 38 is configured to define a slot 52 between the filter body 38 and the housing, when the filter body 38 is fully inserted into the recess 40. It will be understood that the slot 52 may be provided on one or both sides of the filter body 38. In other embodiments, a grip feature may be provided on the outer surface 39 of the filter body 38, for example as a slot or groove or any other gripping arrangement.

Referring now to Figures 6A and 6B, a filter assembly 134 is shown mounted within a housing 112. Like parts with the embodiment of Figures 1 to 5 shall be labelled with the prefix "1". It shall be appreciated that the teachings of Figures 1 to 5 are applicable to the embodiment of Figures 6A and 6B, and only differences are discussed.

As discussed above, the filter 136 is provided with a porous open cell foam layer arranged on a side of the filter proximate to the dirt collection chamber 26. The filter 136 is also provided with fine particulate filter arranged on a side of the filter 136 proximate to the suction source 18. In some embodiments, the filter body 38 and the housing 12 may be provided with at least one corresponding asymmetric formation for preventing incorrect fitting of the filter assembly 34 to the housing 12. In the illustrated embodiment, the filter body 138 is substantially circular in cross-section. The filter body 138 is provided with an asymmetric protrusion 146 that is received within a corresponding recess 48 within the housing 12. The protrusions 146 is arranged away from the central axis of the filter body 138 to prevent incorrect fitting of the filter body 138 to the housing 112. It will be appreciated that the asymmetric formation illustrated in Figures 6A and 6B may be incorporated into the surface cleaning apparatus illustrated in Figures 1 to 5.

In some embodiments, the housing 112 may engage the filter body 138 when it is partially or fully inserted into the recess 40 to retain the filter body 138, and so the filter 136, within the recess 140. In some embodiments a locking arrangement may be provided to releasably secure the filter body 138 to the housing 140. In the illustrated embodiment, the filter body 138 and the housing 112 are provided with corresponding mounting formations 142, 144 that engage, when the filter body 138 is fully inserted into the recess, to retain the filter body 138 in the recess 140. The mounting formations 142, 144 may be configured to provide a snap-fit mounting arrangement. In the illustrated embodiment, the mounting formations are provided in the form of opposing hooks on the housing 112 and filter body 138. The outer surface 139 of the filter body 138 may be deformable inwardly to release the mounting formations 142, 144 to enable the filter assembly 134 to be removed from the recess 140. It will be appreciated that the locking arrangement illustrated in Figures 6A and 6B may be incorporated into the surface cleaning apparatus illustrated in Figures 1 to 5.

The outer surface 139 of the filter body 138 is provided with a slot or recess 152 thereon. The slot 152 defines a grip feature to facilitate removal of the filter body 138 from the housing 112. In the illustrated embodiment, only a single slot 152 is provided, and the filter assembly 134 is removed by pivoting about the mounting formations 142, 144 on the opposing side of the filter body 138 to the slot 152. In alternative embodiments, the filter body 138 may be provided with a slot 152 on both sides thereof. In further alternative embodiments, it will be understood that the outer surface 139 of the filter body 138 may not have a slot thereon, but instead a slot may be defined between the filter body 138 and the housing 112, for example as has been described with reference to Figures 1 to 5.

Referring now to Figures 7A and 7B, a filter assembly 234 is shown mounted within a housing 212. Like parts with the embodiment of Figures 1 to 5 shall be labelled with the prefix "2". It shall be appreciated that the teachings of Figures 1 to 5 are applicable to the embodiment of Figures 7A and 7B, and only differences are discussed.

In some embodiments, the housing 212 may engage the filter body 238 when it is partially or fully inserted into the recess 240 to retain the filter body 238, and so the filter 236, within the recess 240.

The outer surface 239 of the filter body 238 is provided with a slot or recess 252 thereon. The slot 252 defines a grip feature to facilitate removal of the filter body 238 from the housing 212. In the illustrated embodiment, two slots 252 are provided. In alternative embodiments, the filter body 238 may be provided with only one slot 252.

In some embodiments a locking arrangement may be provided to releasably secure the filter body 238 to the housing 212. In the illustrated embodiment, the filter body 238 and the housing 212 are provided with corresponding mounting formations 242, 244 that engage, when the filter body 238 is fully inserted into the recess, to retain the filter body 238 in the recess 240. Put another way, the locking arrangement is provided in the form of corresponding mounting formations 242, 244 on the filter body 238 and the housing 212. In the example shown, two pairs of mounting formations 242, 244 are shown, but it will be appreciated that only one pair of corresponding formations may be provided in alternative embodiments.

The locking arrangement is moveable between a locked position in which the filter body 238 is retained within the recess 240 and an unlocked position in which the filter body 238 is removable from the recess. The locking arrangement includes a biasing member configured and arranged to bias the mounting formation 242 into the locked position. The locking arrangement includes a release member 254, e.g. a button or a latch, that is actuatable to move the locking member 242 from the locked position to the unlocked position. It will be appreciated that the locking arrangement illustrated in Figures 6A and 6B may be incorporated into the surface cleaning apparatus illustrated in Figures 1 to 5.

Whilst the embodiments have been described with reference to a stick vacuum cleaner, it will be appreciated that in alternative embodiments the arrangement of a filter assembled mounted to a recess in a housing may be applied to other types of surface cleaning apparatus. In alternative embodiments, the surface cleaning apparatus may be a cylinder cleaner or an upright cleaner, in which the housing may be generally upright with respect to the floor surface during normal use.

Although the teachings have been described above with reference to one or more preferred embodiments, it will be appreciated that various changes or modifications may be made without departing from the scope as defined in the appended claims.

Claims

Claims 1. A surface cleaning apparatus comprising: a housing supporting a suction source comprising a motor which rotates a fan; a dirt separation device comprising a separator and a dirt collection chamber connected to the housing; a filter assembly comprising a filter supported by a filter body, wherein the housing comprises a recess on an outer surface thereof, said recess configured to receive the filter body therein, and wherein the filter body is removably mounted in the recess.
2. The surface cleaning apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the dirt collection chamber defines an elongate axis X, and wherein the filter assembly is removeable from the recess along an axis that is non-parallel to the elongate axis X.
3. The surface cleaning apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the filter assembly is removeable from the recess along an axis that is substantially perpendicular to the elongate axis X.
4. The surface cleaning apparatus according to claim 2 or claim 3, wherein the filter assembly is removable from an upper surface, a side surface or a lower surface of the housing.
5. The surface cleaning apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the housing is configured to engage the filter body, when said filter body is in the recess, to retain the filter body within the recess.
6. The surface cleaning apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the recess defines opposing recess sides that taper in a direction away from the outer surface of the housing such that the recess sides engage the filter body when said filter body is inserted into the recess.
7. The surface cleaning apparatus according to claim 5 or claim 6, wherein the filter body comprises a seal thereon to seal against the housing or wherein the housing comprises a seal thereon to seal against the filter body, when the filter body is mounted in the recess.
8. The surface cleaning apparatus according to any one of claims 5 to 7, comprising a locking arrangement to releasably secure the filter body to the housing.
9. The surface cleaning apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the locking arrangement comprises a snap-fit configuration.
10.The surface cleaning apparatus according to claim 8 or claim 9, wherein the locking arrangement comprises a mounting formation moveable between a locked position in which the filter body is retained within the recess and an unlocked position in which the filter body is removable from the recess.
11.The surface cleaning apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the mounting formation comprises a hook on the filter body and/or the housing configured and arranged to releasably secure the filter body to the housing.
12.The surface cleaning apparatus according to claim 10 or claim 11, comprising a release member, e.g. a button or a latch, that is actuatable to move the locking member from the locked position to the unlocked position.
13.The surface cleaning apparatus according to any one of claims 8 to 12, wherein the locking arrangement comprises a biasing member configured and arranged to bias the mounting formation into the locked position.
14.The surface cleaning apparatus according to any preceding claim, configured such that the filter assembly is able to be removed from the recess when the dirt collection chamber is connected to the housing.
15.The surface cleaning apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the dirt collection chamber is slideably connected to the housing to move between a first position in which the dirt collection chamber is connected to and supported by the housing and a second position in which the dirt collection chamber is detached from the housing.
16.The surface cleaning apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the surface cleaning apparatus is configured such that the filter assembly is able to be removed from the recess when the dirt collection chamber is in the first position.
17.The surface cleaning apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the filter body and the housing comprise at least one corresponding asymmetric formation for preventing incorrect fitting of the filter assembly to the housing.
18.The surface cleaning apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the filter body is slideably and/or pivotally moveable relative to the housing to remove the filter assembly from the housing.
19.The surface cleaning apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the dirt collection chamber defines an elongate axis X, and wherein the filter body is arranged between the dirt collection chamber and the suction source along said elongate axis X.
20.The surface cleaning apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the filter body is interposed between the dirt collection chamber and the suction source.
21.The surface cleaning apparatus according to any preceding claim, comprising a user graspable handle for holding the surface cleaning apparatus.
22.The surface cleaning apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the handle is arranged on an opposing side of the suction source to the dirt separation device.
23.The surface cleaning apparatus according to claim 21 or claim 22, wherein the surface cleaning apparatus is configured such that in normal use, the suction source is positioned forwardly of the handle.
24. The surface cleaning apparatus according to any one of claims 21 to 23, wherein the surface cleaning apparatus is configured such that in normal use, the handle is arranged at a rear of the surface cleaning apparatus.
25.The surface cleaning apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the surface cleaning apparatus is a handheld surface cleaning apparatus.