Battery powered vacuum cleaner

1. A vacuum cleaner comprising:

an airflow passage that extends from a suction inlet to an air outlet;

a dirt separator;

a suction source operable to generate a suction airflow that travels through the suction inlet, through the dirt separator, and through the air outlet; and

a battery that supplies power to the suction source to generate the suction airflow;

wherein a portion of the airflow passage is defined by the battery,

wherein the portion of the airflow passage that is defined by the battery is located between the suction inlet and the dirt separator, such that air flows through the air flow passage defined by the battery prior to flowing through the dirt separator, and

wherein the dirt separator includes a cyclonic separator,

wherein the battery includes a duct that extends through the battery and the duct at least partially defines the portion of the airflow passage that is defined by the battery,

further comprising a base and a handle, the base including the suction inlet and the handle pivotally coupled to the base, wherein the duct of the battery and a portion of the base cooperate to define a portion of the airflow passage.

2. The vacuum cleaner of claim 1 wherein the battery is coupled to the base such that the handle is pivotal relative to the base and the battery.

3. The vacuum cleaner of claim 2 , further comprising a clamp that removably couples the battery to the base.

4. The vacuum cleaner of claim 1 , wherein the base includes a recess that receives the battery.

5. The vacuum cleaner of claim 1 , wherein the duct includes an inlet and an outlet, and wherein the battery includes a first seal adjacent the inlet that seals between the battery and the base and a second seal adjacent the outlet that seals between the battery and the base.

6. The vacuum cleaner of claim 1 , wherein the battery includes a seal that inhibits airflow into the airflow passage.

7. The vacuum cleaner of claim 1 , further comprising a clamp that secures the battery.

8. A vacuum cleaner comprising:

a base including a suction inlet;

a handle pivotally coupled to the base;

an air outlet;

a dirt separator;

a suction source operable to generate a suction airflow that travels through the suction inlet, through the dirt separator, and through the air outlet;

a battery that supplies power to the suction source, the battery coupled to the base; and

an airflow passage that extends from the suction inlet to the air outlet,

wherein a portion of the airflow passage positioned fluidly between the suction inlet and the dirt separator is defined by the battery, and

wherein the dirt separator includes a cyclonic separator.

9. The vacuum cleaner of claim 8 , further comprising a clamp that removably couples the battery to the base.

10. The vacuum cleaner of claim 8 , wherein the base includes a recess that receives the battery.

11. The vacuum cleaner of claim 8 , wherein the battery includes a duct that extends through the battery and the duct at least partially defines the portion of the airflow passage that is defined by the battery.

12. The vacuum cleaner of claim 11 , wherein the duct of the battery and a portion of the base cooperate to define a portion of the airflow passage.

13. The vacuum cleaner of claim 11 , wherein the duct includes an inlet and an outlet, and wherein the battery includes a first seal adjacent the inlet that seals between the battery and the base and a second seal adjacent the outlet that seals between the battery and the base.

14. A vacuum cleaner comprising:

a base at least partially defining an airflow passage that extends from a suction inlet to an air outlet;

a dirt separator;

a suction source operable to generate a suction airflow that travels through the suction inlet, through the dirt separator, and through the air outlet; and

a battery that supplies power to the suction source to generate the suction airflow, the battery including a duct having an inlet and an outlet, the duct extending through the battery and the duct at least partially defining the portion of the airflow passage that is defined by the battery, and the battery including a first seal adjacent the inlet that seals between the battery and the base and a second seal adjacent the outlet that seals between the battery and the base;

wherein a portion of the airflow passage is defined by the battery,

wherein the portion of the airflow passage that is defined by the battery is located between the suction inlet and the dirt separator, such that air flows through the air flow passage defined by the battery prior to flowing through the dirt separator.

15. A vacuum cleaner comprising:

an airflow passage that extends from a suction inlet to an air outlet;

a dirt separator;

a suction source operable to generate a suction airflow that travels through the suction inlet, through the dirt separator, and through the air outlet; and

a battery that supplies power to the suction source to generate the suction airflow;

wherein a portion of the airflow passage is defined by the battery,

wherein the portion of the airflow passage that is defined by the battery is located between the suction inlet and the dirt separator, such that air flows through the air flow passage defined by the battery prior to flowing through the dirt separator where the dirt separator is the first device along the airflow passage configured to separate debris from the suction airflow.

16. The vacuum cleaner of claim 15 , wherein the battery includes a duct that extends through the battery and the duct at least partially defines the portion of the airflow passage that is defined by the battery, further comprising a base and a handle, the base including the suction inlet and the handle pivotally coupled to the base, wherein the duct of the battery and a portion of the base cooperate to define a portion of the airflow passage.

17. The vacuum cleaner of claim 16 , wherein the battery is coupled to the base such that the handle is pivotal relative to the base and the battery.

18. The vacuum cleaner of claim 17 , wherein the base includes a recess that receives the battery.

19. The vacuum cleaner of claim 15 , wherein the battery includes a duct that extends through the battery and the duct at least partially defines the portion of the airflow passage that is defined by the battery, wherein the duct of the battery and a portion of the base cooperate to define a portion of the airflow passage.

20. The vacuum cleaner of claim 15 , further comprising a clamp that removably couples the battery to the base.