Surface cleaning apparatus and docking station usable therewith

1 . An apparatus comprising:

(a) a surface cleaning apparatus comprising:

(i) a surface cleaning apparatus air flow path extending from a surface cleaning apparatus dirty air inlet to a surface cleaning apparatus clean air outlet;

(ii) a suction motor positioned in the surface cleaning apparatus air flow path upstream of the surface cleaning apparatus clean air outlet; and,

(iii) a surface cleaning apparatus air treatment member positioned in the surface cleaning apparatus air flow path, the surface cleaning apparatus air treatment member comprising a first stage air treatment chamber, the first stage air treatment chamber having a first end, an axially spaced apart second end, a sidewall extending between the first end of the first stage air treatment chamber and the second end of the first stage air treatment chamber, an air inlet and an air outlet, the surface cleaning apparatus air treatment member comprises a stationary portion and a moveable portion, the stationary portion comprises a first portion of the sidewall, the moveable portion comprises a second portion of the sidewall, the first and second portions of the sidewall extend between the first and second ends of the first stage air treatment chamber, and the moveable portion is moveably mounted by a mount between a closed position in which the first stage air treatment chamber is closed and an open position in which the first stage air treatment chamber is open; and,

(b) a docking station comprising:

(i) a docking station air flow path extending from a docking station air inlet to a docking station air outlet;

(ii) a docking interface comprising wall portions, an interface volume positioned interior the wall portions and having an interface opening, and a docking interface perimeter extending around the wall portions and defining the interface opening, the interface volume accessible through the interface opening; and

(iii) a docking station air treatment member positioned in the docking station airflow path downstream of the interface volume,

wherein, when the air treatment member is docked with the docking station, a first portion of the docking interface perimeter contacts the stationary portion of the air treatment member proximate the moveable portion and a second portion of the docking interface perimeter contacts the surface cleaning apparatus at a location that is axially spaced from the second end of the first stage air treatment chamber whereby, when the surface cleaning apparatus is docked with the docking station, the interface opening is closed with the moveable portion of the air treatment member located inwards of the interface perimeter, whereby, when the moveable portion is moved to the open position, the moveable portion is moved within the volume and the interface volume defines the docking station air inlet.

2 . The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the moveable portion is rotatably mounted by a rotational mount whereby, when the moveable portion is moved to the open position, the moveable portion is rotated within the interface volume.

3 . The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the air outlet is provided at the second end of the first stage air treatment chamber and the rotational mount is located adjacent the second end.

4 . The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the moveable portion is translatably moveable whereby, when the moveable portion is moved to the open position, the moveable portion is translated within the interface volume.

5 . The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the air outlet is provided at the second end of the first stage air treatment chamber and a translatable mount is located adjacent the second end.

6 . The apparatus of claim 1 wherein, when the moveable portion is in the closed position, the moveable portion and the stationary portion abut along peripheral edges that generally extend at least partially in an axial direction.

7 . The apparatus of claim 6 wherein, when the hand vacuum cleaner air treatment member is docked with the docking station, the peripheral edges of the moveable and stationary portions are located interior to the interface volume.

8 . The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the perimeter comprises a first abutment surface that extends axially and the air treatment member has a second abutment surface that extends axially.

9 . The apparatus of claim 1 wherein, when the hand vacuum cleaner is docked with the docking station, the first portion of the docking interface perimeter contacts the first end of the first stage air treatment chamber.

10 . The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first stage air treatment chamber has a chamber length extending from the first end to the axially spaced apart second end and the interface opening has an opening length that is greater than the chamber length.

11 . The apparatus of claim 1 wherein, when the air treatment member is docked with the docking station, an end of the interface volume is axially spaced from the second end of the first stage air treatment chamber.

12 . An apparatus comprising:

(a) a hand vacuum cleaner comprising:

(i) a hand vacuum cleaner air flow path extending from a hand vacuum cleaner dirty air inlet to a hand vacuum cleaner clean air outlet;

(ii) a suction motor positioned in the hand vacuum cleaner air flow path upstream of the hand vacuum cleaner clean air outlet; and,

(iii) a hand vacuum cleaner air treatment member positioned in the hand vacuum cleaner air flow path, the hand vacuum cleaner air treatment member comprising an air treatment chamber, the air treatment chamber having a first end, an axially spaced apart second end, a sidewall extending between the first end of the air treatment chamber and the second end of the air treatment chamber, an air inlet and an air outlet, the hand vacuum cleaner air treatment member comprises a stationary portion and a moveable portion, the stationary portion comprises a first portion of the sidewall and the moveable portion comprises a second portion of the sidewall, the first end second portions of the sidewall extending between the first and second ends of the air treatment chamber, and the moveable portion is moveably mounted by a mount between a closed position in which the air treatment chamber is closed and an open position in which the air treatment chamber is open; and,

(b) a docking station comprising:

(i) a docking station air flow path extending from a docking station air inlet to a docking station air outlet; and,

(ii) a docking interface comprising wall portions and a docking interface perimeter extending around the wall portions, wherein an interface volume positioned interior the wall portions and has an interface opening; and

(iii) a docking station air treatment chamber positioned in the docking station airflow path downstream from the docking interface,

wherein, when the hand vacuum cleaner air treatment member is docked with the docking station, the docking interface perimeter comprises an axially extending first portion that contacts one lateral side of the hand vacuum cleaner and an axially extending second portion that contacts an opposed lateral side of the hand vacuum cleaner whereby a closed volume is formed interior of the wall portions whereby, when the moveable portion is moved to the open position, the moveable portion is moved within the volume to an open portion and the volume defines the docking station air inlet.

13 . The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the moveable portion is rotatably mounted by a rotational mount whereby, when the moveable portion is moved to the open position, the moveable portion is rotated within the volume.

14 . The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the air outlet is provided at the second end of the first stage air treatment chamber and the rotational mount is located adjacent the second end.

15 . The apparatus of claim 14 wherein, when the hand vacuum cleaner is docked with the docking station, an end of the interface volume is axially spaced from the first end of the hand vacuum cleaner air treatment chamber.

16 . The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the moveable portion is translatably moveable whereby, when the moveable portion is moved to the open position, the moveable portion is translated within the volume.

17 . The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the air outlet is provided at the second end of the first stage air treatment chamber and a translatable mount is located adjacent the second end.

18 . The apparatus of claim 12 wherein, when the moveable portion is in the closed position, the moveable portion and the stationary portion abut along peripheral edges that generally extend at least partially in an axial direction.

19 . The apparatus of claim 18 wherein, when the hand vacuum cleaner is docked with the docking station, the peripheral edges of the moveable and stationary portions are located interior to the volume interior of the wall portions.

20 . The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the first end of the hand vacuum cleaner air treatment chamber has a first end wall and the stationary portion comprises the first end wall.

21 . The apparatus of claim 20 wherein the second end of the hand vacuum cleaner air treatment chamber has a second end wall and a third portion of the docking interface perimeter contacts the surface cleaning apparatus at a location that is axially spaced from the second end wall.

22 . The apparatus of claim 12 wherein, when the hand vacuum cleaner is docked with the docking station, the docking interface perimeter contacts the hand vacuum cleaner at a location that is axially spaced from the second end of the air treatment chamber.

23 . The apparatus of claim 22 wherein the first end of the hand vacuum cleaner air treatment chamber has a first end wall and the stationary portion comprises the first end wall.

24 . The apparatus of claim 23 wherein the second end of the hand vacuum cleaner air treatment chamber has a second end wall and the docking interface perimeter contacts the hand vacuum cleaner at a location that is axially spaced from the second end wall.

25 . The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the hand vacuum cleaner air treatment chamber has a chamber length extending from the first end to the axially spaced apart second end and the docking interface perimeter defines an interface opening having an opening length that is greater than the chamber length.

26 . The apparatus of claim 12 wherein, when the hand vacuum cleaner is docked with the docking station, a first end of the volume interior of the wall portions is axially spaced from the second end of the hand vacuum cleaner air treatment chamber.

27 . The apparatus of claim 26 wherein, when the hand vacuum cleaner is docked with the docking station, a second end of the volume interior of the wall portions is axially spaced from the first end of the hand vacuum cleaner air treatment chamber.