Compact surface cleaning apparatus

1. A portable surface cleaning apparatus comprising:

a) an air flow path extending from a dirty air inlet to a clean air outlet and including a suction motor positioned in a suction motor housing;

b) a main body comprising the suction motor provided in the air flow path and comprising a front and a back; and,

c) a cyclone bin assembly provided in the air flow path, comprising an openable lid and removably mounted to the main body, the cyclone bin assembly comprising a handle mounted to the openable lid, the handle comprising a grip portion that extends in a forward direction of travel, wherein the handle is the only handle operable to manipulate main body during cleaning when the cyclone bin assembly is mounted to the main body, and the only handle to carry the cyclone bin assembly when the cyclone bin assembly is removed from the main body and wherein the handle has a forward portion secured to the openable lid of the cyclone bin assembly and a rearward portion overlying the suction motor housing.

2. The portable surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the rearward portion is secured to the openable lid of the cyclone bin assembly.

3. The portable surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the cyclone bin assembly is removably mounted to an upper surface of the main body.

4. The portable surface cleaning apparatus of claim 3 wherein the main body comprises a platform on which the cyclone bin assembly is removably mounted.

5. The portable surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the handle is mounted on the openable wall of the cyclone bin assembly, wherein opening the openable wall allows dirt and debris to be emptied from a dirt collection chamber of the cyclone bin assembly.

6. A hand operable surface cleaning apparatus comprising:

a) an air flow path extending from a dirty air inlet to a clean air outlet and including a suction motor;

b) a main body comprising the suction motor provided in the air flow path and comprising a front and a back;

c) a cyclone bin assembly provided in the air flow path and removably mounted to the main body, the cyclone bin assembly comprising a cyclone chamber defining a cyclone axis about which air circulates within the cyclone chamber and a lid that is openable to empty the cyclone chamber wherein, when the surface cleaning apparatus is resting on a horizontal surface, the lid provides an upper end wall of the cyclone chamber and the cyclone axis is generally vertical; and,

d) a handle provided on and movable with the openable lid of the cyclone bin assembly, wherein the handle is the only handle operable to manipulate the main body when the cyclone bin assembly is mounted to the main body, and the only handle to carry the cyclone bin assembly when the cyclone bin assembly is removed from the main body, wherein a portion of the handle is positioned above the suction motor when the cyclone bin assembly is mounted to the main body.

7. The hand operable surface cleaning apparatus of claim 6 wherein the cyclone chamber comprises an air inlet and an air outlet, wherein when the surface cleaning apparatus is resting on a horizontal surface the air inlet and air outlet are spaced from the lid.

8. The hand operable surface cleaning apparatus of claim 6 wherein the handle has a grip portion that overlies the cyclone chamber and extends in a forward direction of travel.

9. The hand operable surface cleaning apparatus of claim 8 wherein the handle extends from a position proximate the front of the main body to a position proximate the back of the main body.

10. The hand operable surface cleaning apparatus of claim 6 wherein the cyclone axis intersects the handle when the lid is closed.

11. The hand operable surface cleaning apparatus of claim 6 wherein the main body comprises a substantially horizontal platform on which the cyclone bin assembly is removably mounted, and wherein when the cyclone bin assembly is mounted to the main body, the cyclone axis is generally orthogonal to the substantially horizontal platform.

12. The hand operable surface cleaning apparatus of claim 6 wherein the cyclone bin assembly is removable in an upward direction from the main body.

13. The hand operable surface cleaning apparatus of claim 6 wherein the cyclone bin assembly is positioned forward of the suction motor when the cyclone bin assembly is mounted to the main body.

14. The hand operable surface cleaning apparatus of claim 6 wherein the cyclone bin assembly is removable as a sealed unit other than opening for air entry and air exit from the cyclone bin assembly.

15. The hand operable surface cleaning apparatus of claim 6 wherein the suction motor is positioned rearward of the cyclone bin assembly.

16. The hand operable surface cleaning apparatus of claim 6 wherein the cyclone bin assembly has a longitudinal cyclone axis, the suction motor has a suction motor axis, and wherein the longitudinal cyclone axis and the suction motor axis are parallel to and offset from each other.

17. A hand operable surface cleaning apparatus comprising:

a) an air flow path extending from a dirty air inlet to a clean air outlet and including a suction motor;

b) a main body comprising the suction motor provided in the air flow path and comprising a front and a back;

c) a cyclone bin assembly provided in the air flow path and removably mounted to the main body, the cyclone bin assembly comprising a cyclone chamber defining a cyclone axis about which air circulates within the cyclone chamber and a lid that is openable to empty the cyclone chamber wherein, when the surface cleaning apparatus is resting on a horizontal surface, the lid provides an upper end wall of the cyclone chamber and the cyclone axis is generally vertical; and,

d) a handle provided on and movable with the openable lid of the cyclone bin assembly, wherein the handle is operable to manipulate the main body when the cyclone bin assembly is mounted to the main body, and to carry the cyclone bin assembly when the cyclone bin assembly is removed from the main body

e) a flexible suction hose connectable to the dirty air inlet

wherein the body comprises a hose wrap portion and when the surface cleaning apparatus is resting on a horizontal surface the hose wrap is below the cyclone bin assembly.

18. A hand operable surface cleaning apparatus comprising:

a) an air flow path extending from a dirty air inlet to a clean air outlet and including a suction motor;

b) a main body comprising the suction motor provided in the air flow path and comprising a front and a back;

c) a cyclone bin assembly provided in the air flow path and removably mounted to the main body, the cyclone bin assembly comprising a cyclone chamber defining a cyclone axis about which air circulates within the cyclone chamber and a lid that is openable to empty the cyclone chamber wherein, when the surface cleaning apparatus is resting on a horizontal surface, the lid provides an upper end wall of the cyclone chamber and the cyclone axis is generally vertical; and,

d) a handle provided on and movable with the openable lid of the cyclone bin assembly, wherein the handle is the only handle operable to manipulate the main body when the cyclone bin assembly is mounted to the main body, and the only handle to carry the cyclone bin assembly when the cyclone bin assembly is removed from the main body

wherein a portion of the handle is positioned above a suction motor housing when the cyclone bin assembly is mounted to the main body.

19. A hand operable surface cleaning apparatus comprising:

a) an air flow path extending from a dirty air inlet to a clean air outlet and including a suction motor positioned in a suction motor housing;

b) a main body comprising the suction motor provided in the air flow path and comprising a front and a back; and,

c) a cyclone bin assembly provided in the air flow path and removably mounted to the main body, the cyclone bin assembly comprising a cyclone chamber and a dirt collection chamber, a handle provided on an openable end wall of the cyclone chamber and the dirt collection chamber, wherein the handle is operable to manipulate the main body during cleaning when the cyclone bin assembly is mounted to the main body and to carry the cyclone bin assembly when the cyclone bin assembly is removed from the main body

wherein the handle is the only handle operable to manipulate main body during cleaning when the cyclone bin assembly is mounted to the main body, and the only handle to carry the cyclone bin assembly when the cyclone bin assembly is removed from the main body and a portion of the handle is positioned above a suction motor housing when the cyclone bin assembly is mounted to the main body.