Patent Publication Number: US-2022225850-A1

Title: Surface cleaning apparatus

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE 
     This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/351,707, filed on Jun. 18, 2021, now allowed, which itself is a continuation-in-part of co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/590,972 filed on Oct. 2, 2019, which is a divisional of co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/156,006 filed on Oct. 10, 2018 and issued as U.S. Pat. No. 10,478,030 on Nov. 19, 2019, which itself is a continuation of co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/088,876 filed on Apr. 1, 2016 and issued as U.S. Pat. No. 10,219,662 on Mar. 5, 2019, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/822,211, filed Aug. 10, 2015 and issued as U.S. Pat. No. 9,888,817 on Feb. 13, 2018, which claimed priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/093,189, filed Dec. 17, 2014, the entirety of each of which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD 
     This application relates to the field of surface cleaning apparatus, preferably a canister vacuum cleaner, and air treatment assemblies for the same. 
     INTRODUCTION 
     The following is not an admission that anything discussed below is part of the prior art or part of the common general knowledge of a person skilled in the art. 
     Various types of surface cleaning apparatus are known, including upright surface cleaning apparatus, canister surface cleaning apparatus, stick surface cleaning apparatus, central vacuum systems, and hand carriable surface cleaning apparatus such as hand vacuums. 
     Canister vacuum cleaners are known which have a canister body that houses a removable cyclone bin assembly. The cyclone bin assembly is typically removed to enable a user to empty the cyclone bin assembly. Several mechanisms are known for enable a cyclone bin assembly to be emptied. 
     Surface cleaning apparatus are also known which utilize one or more cyclones. A cyclone has a dirt collection region. The dirt collection region may be internal of the cyclone chamber (e.g., the dirt collection region may be a lower end of the cyclone chamber. Alternately, the dirt collection region may be a separate dirt collection chamber that is external to the cyclone chamber and in communication with the cyclone chamber via a dirt outlet. The dirt outlet may be a slot formed in the sidewall of a cyclone chamber or a gap provided between the end of the cyclone wall and an end of the cyclone chamber. 
     SUMMARY 
     In accordance with one aspect of this disclosure, there is provided an air treatment assembly, which may be a cyclone bin assembly, wherein a cyclone is nested internal of a dirt collection chamber. The air treatment assembly may be removably mounted, such as to a canister body of a canister vacuum cleaner. A handle having a handle portion is provided on a front face of the air treatment assembly. Accordingly, when the air treatment assembly is mounted on the canister body and the canister body is positioned with the lower end on a floor, the handle portion extends generally vertically. The handle may be positioned on any side, (front side, rear side, or the right or left opposed sides) that is opposed to an openable side of the air treatment assembly. Positioning the handle opposed to an emptying side of the air treatment apparatus enables the air treatment assembly to have an ergonomic handle that is useable to empty the cyclone bin assembly. The handle may provide a comfortable surface for the user to lift the surface cleaning apparatus and/or the air treatment assembly. The handle may also provide the user with greater control to aim the dirt being emptied from the dirt collection chamber. Accordingly, the user is less likely to spill dirt being emptied from the dirt collection chamber, thereby improving the cleaning process. Positioning the handle on the front side of the air treatment assembly provides facilitates a user manipulating the air treatment assembly. 
     In accordance with another aspect of this disclosure, there is provided a surface cleaning apparatus that has a body on which an air treatment assembly is removably mountable. The upper surface of the body houses a pre-motor filter, such as in a recess in the upper surface of the body. The air treatment assembly may therefore seal an upper side of a pre-motor filter housing. At least a portion and optionally, 50%, 60%, 70%, 80%, 90% or all of the pre-motor filter is recessed inwardly from the sides of the upper surface. For example, the surface cleaning apparatus may be a canister vacuum cleaner and the body may be a canister body with a recess having sidewalls extending upwardly from a platform. The pre-motor filter housing may therefore be located below the air treatment assembly and the bottom of the recess. The pre-motor filter housing houses a pre-motor filter that is recessed inwardly from the sidewall of the recess. An advantage of this aspect is that size of the surface cleaning apparatus may be reduced. Recessing the pre-motor filter inwardly from the sidewalls of the recess may allow other components of the surface cleaning apparatus to be positioned around the pre-motor filter housing, without impacting the air flow path, thereby reducing the profile of the surface cleaning apparatus. Additionally, the pre-motor filter may be more easily removable from the pre-motor filter housing. 
     In accordance with another aspect of this disclosure, a surface cleaning apparatus is provided that has a body on which an air treatment assembly is removably mountable. The upper surface of the body may house a pre-motor filter, such as in a recess in the upper surface of the body. The air treatment assembly may therefore seal an upper side of a pre-motor filter housing. An air inlet conduit that extends to an air treatment assembly air inlet may be located radially inwardly from the sides of the upper surface. For example, the surface cleaning apparatus may be a canister vacuum cleaner and the body may be a canister body with a recess having sidewalls extending upwardly from a platform. An air treatment assembly may be removably mountable to the canister body, the canister body having an inlet conduit with an outlet port wherein the outlet port is recessed inwardly from an outer surface of a sidewalls of a recess in the canister body. An advantage of this aspect is the air treatment assembly may be more easily mounted to the canister body while ensuring that the air flow passage is properly maintained. Additionally, the inlet conduit may be a single part that passes from exterior of the surface cleaning apparatus to interior of the surface cleaning apparatus without having one or more seals therein. Accordingly, leakage of the air flow passageway may be reduced. 
     In accordance with another aspect of this disclosure, a surface cleaning apparatus is provided that has a body on which an air treatment assembly is removably mountable. The upper surface of the body may house a pre-motor filter, such as in a recess in the upper surface of the body. The air treatment assembly may therefore seal an upper side of a pre-motor filter housing. The upper surface of the body may have a recess (e.g., with sidewalls, a rear wall and an upper wall) into which a portion of the air treatment assembly is seated when the air treatment assembly is mounted to the body. For example, the surface cleaning apparatus may be a canister vacuum cleaner and the body may be a canister body with a first recess having a wall with sidewalls that extend away from (e.g., forwardly from) the wall to define a volume that includes the first recess. When an air treatment assembly is mounted to the canister body and the canister body is positioned on the floor, the wall extends generally vertically and one of the sides of the air treatment assembly faces the wall is positioned within the wall recess. An advantage of this aspect is the recess may act as a guide for the user to mount the air treatment assembly to the canister body, thereby making it easier for the user to remount the air treatment assembly after its removal. Another advantage is that the walls of the recess may provide structural stability during the mounting of the air treatment assembly and the operation of the surface cleaning apparatus, thereby reducing the likelihood of the air treatment assembly being moved during use and reducing the likelihood of air leaks caused by improperly sealed airflow passages. 
     In accordance with another aspect of this disclosure, a surface cleaning apparatus is provided having an air treatment assembly with a first end and second opposed end and sides extending between the first and second ends and one of the sides is an openable side. An advantage of this aspect is that the openable side of the air treatment assembly may be used to facilitate emptying of the air treatment assembly. For example, the openable side may form a part of the dirt collection chamber and opening the openable side may allow a user to empty the dirt collected in the dirt collection chamber. Optionally, an air treatment chamber, such as a cyclone chamber, may be positioned internal of the dirt collection chamber. In such an embodiment, the air treatment chamber may be separately emptyable, such as by removing the air treatment chamber from the dirt collection chamber. 
     In accordance with another aspect of this disclosure, a surface cleaning apparatus is provided with an air treatment member that is removably mounted in an air treatment assembly. An advantage of this aspect is that the air treatment member and air treatment member assembly may be more easily cleaned. The user may empty the air treatment assembly, such as by opening a side of the air treatment assembly. When it is desired to empty the air treatment member, e.g., a cyclone chamber, to remove, e.g., hair and/or other debris that may have built up around the air treatment member over time, the air treatment member may be removed from the air treatment member assembly to more easily remove the built-up hair. 
     It will be appreciated that a surface cleaning apparatus and/or an air treatment assembly for a surface cleaning apparatus may incorporate any one of more of these aspects and that any such surface cleaning apparatus and/or air treatment assembly may use any one or more features of each such aspect. 
     These and other aspects and features of various embodiments will be described in greater detail below. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       For a better understanding of the described embodiments and to show more clearly how they may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of a surface cleaning apparatus in accordance with an embodiment; 
         FIG. 2  is a side view of the surface cleaning apparatus of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a side view of the opposite side of the surface cleaning apparatus to that shown in  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a top view of the surface cleaning apparatus of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a rear view of the surface cleaning apparatus of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a bottom view of the surface cleaning apparatus of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 7  is a front view of the surface cleaning apparatus of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 8  is a bottom perspective view of the surface cleaning apparatus of  FIG. 1 , 
         FIG. 9  is a top view of the surface cleaning apparatus of  FIG. 1  with an air treatment assembly removed; 
         FIG. 10  is a top view of the surface cleaning apparatus of  FIG. 1  with the air treatment assembly removed and wheel positions indicated in dashed lines; 
         FIG. 11  is a cross-sectional view of the surface cleaning apparatus of  FIG. 1  along the line  11 - 11  in  FIG. 5  with a pre-motor filter position indicated in dashed lines; 
         FIG. 12  is a top view of the surface cleaning apparatus of  FIG. 1  with the air treatment assembly removed and an inlet conduit position indicated in dashed lines; 
         FIG. 13  is a top rear perspective view of the surface cleaning apparatus of  FIG. 1  with the air treatment assembly removed; 
         FIGS. 14-16  are front perspective views of the surface cleaning apparatus of  FIG. 1  with the air treatment assembly in various stages of removal; 
         FIG. 17  is a bottom perspective view of the surface cleaning apparatus of  FIG. 1  with the air treatment assembly removed; 
         FIG. 18  is a side view of the air treatment assembly of the surface cleaning apparatus of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 19  is a side view of the opposite side of the air treatment assembly of the surface cleaning apparatus to that shown in  FIG. 18 ; 
         FIG. 20  is a front view of the air treatment assembly of the surface cleaning apparatus of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 21  is a side view of the air treatment assembly of the surface cleaning apparatus of  FIG. 1  with a rea door opened. 
         FIG. 22  is a rear view of the air treatment assembly of the surface cleaning apparatus of  FIG. 1  with the rear door opened; 
         FIG. 23  is a bottom perspective view of the air treatment assembly of the surface cleaning apparatus of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 24  is a top perspective view of an air treatment member when it has been removed from the air treatment assembly of  FIG. 18 ; 
         FIG. 25  is a bottom perspective view of an air treatment member of  FIG. 24 ; 
         FIG. 26  is a top perspective view of the air treatment member of the surface cleaning apparatus of  FIG. 1  with the vortex finder removed; 
         FIG. 27  is a cross-sectional side view of the air treatment assembly of the surface cleaning apparatus of  FIG. 1  along the line  27 - 27  in  FIG. 20  with the air treatment assembly locked; 
         FIG. 28  is a cross-sectional side view of the surface cleaning apparatus of  FIG. 1  along the line  28 - 28  in  FIG. 5  with the air treatment assembly lock in a locked position; 
         FIG. 29  is a cross-sectional side view of the air treatment assembly of the surface cleaning apparatus of  FIG. 1  along the line  27 - 27  in  FIG. 20  with the air treatment assembly lock in an unlocked position; 
         FIG. 30  is a cross-sectional side view of the surface cleaning apparatus of  FIG. 1  along the line  28 - 28  in  FIG. 5  with the air treatment assembly lock in an unlocked position; 
         FIG. 31  is a cross-sectional side view of the surface cleaning apparatus of  FIG. 1  along the line  28 - 28  in  FIG. 5  with the air treatment assembly lock in an unlocked position and the air treatment assembly unmounted; 
         FIG. 32  is a rear bottom perspective view of the air treatment assembly of the surface cleaning apparatus of  FIG. 1  with the rear door locked; 
         FIG. 33  is a rear bottom perspective view of the air treatment assembly of the surface cleaning apparatus of  FIG. 1  with the rear door unlocked; 
         FIG. 34  is a rear bottom perspective view of the air treatment assembly of the surface cleaning apparatus of  FIG. 1  with the rear door unlocked and open; 
         FIG. 35  is a rear bottom perspective view of the air treatment assembly of the surface cleaning apparatus of  FIG. 1  with the rear door unlocked and closed; 
         FIG. 36  is a cross-sectional side view of a door lock mechanism of the air treatment assembly of the surface cleaning apparatus of  FIG. 1  with the door locked; 
         FIG. 37  is a cross-sectional side view of the door lock mechanism of the air treatment assembly of the surface cleaning apparatus of  FIG. 1  with the door unlocked; 
         FIG. 38  is a front cross-sectional view of the surface cleaning apparatus of  FIG. 1  along the line  38 - 38  in  FIG. 4  with the air treatment assembly removed; 
         FIG. 39  is a side cross-sectional view of the surface cleaning apparatus of  FIG. 1  along the line  39 - 39  in  FIG. 7  with the air treatment assembly removed; 
         FIG. 40  is a bottom perspective view of the air treatment member removed from and aligned for insertion into the air treatment assembly of the surface cleaning apparatus of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 41  is a front perspective view of the surface cleaning apparatus of  FIG. 1  having a hose, a wand, and a surface cleaning head; 
         FIG. 42  is a bottom view of the surface cleaning head of  FIG. 41 ; 
         FIG. 43A  is a top view of a handle of the hose of  FIG. 41 ; 
         FIG. 43B  is a top view of the wand of  FIG. 41  with the handle removed; 
         FIG. 44  is a schematic view of a low voltage circuit of the surface cleaning apparatus of  FIG. 41 ; 
         FIG. 45  is a front perspective view a surface cleaning apparatus in accordance with another embodiment with a door closer; 
         FIG. 46  is a front perspective view of the surface cleaning apparatus of  FIG. 45  with the door opened; and, 
         FIG. 47  is a cross-sectional view of the surface cleaning apparatus of  FIG. 45 . 
     
    
    
     The drawings included herewith are for illustrating various examples of articles, methods, and apparatuses of the teaching of the present specification and are not intended to limit the scope of what is taught in any way. 
     DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS 
     Various apparatuses, methods and compositions are described below to provide an example of an embodiment of each claimed invention. No embodiment described below limits any claimed invention and any claimed invention may cover apparatuses and methods that differ from those described below. The claimed inventions are not limited to apparatuses, methods and compositions having all of the features of any one apparatus, method or composition described below or to features common to multiple or all of the apparatuses, methods or compositions described below. It is possible that an apparatus, method or composition described below is not an embodiment of any claimed invention. Any invention disclosed in an apparatus, method or composition described below that is not claimed in this document may be the subject matter of another protective instrument, for example, a continuing patent application, and the applicant(s), inventor(s) and/or owner(s) do not intend to abandon, disclaim, or dedicate to the public any such invention by its disclosure in this document. 
     The terms “an embodiment,” “embodiment,” “embodiments,” “the embodiment,” “the embodiments,” “one or more embodiments,” “some embodiments,” and “one embodiment” mean “one or more (but not all) embodiments of the present invention(s),” unless expressly specified otherwise. 
     The terms “including,” “comprising” and variations thereof mean “including but not limited to,” unless expressly specified otherwise. A listing of items does not imply that any or all of the items are mutually exclusive, unless expressly specified otherwise. The terms “a,” “an” and “the” mean “one or more,” unless expressly specified otherwise. 
     As used herein and in the claims, two or more parts are said to be “coupled”, “connected”, “attached”, or “fastened” where the parts are joined or operate together either directly or indirectly (i.e., through one or more intermediate parts), so long as a link occurs. As used herein and in the claims, two or more parts are said to be “directly coupled”, “directly connected”, “directly attached”, or “directly fastened” where the parts are connected in physical contact with each other. None of the terms “coupled”, “connected”, “attached”, and “fastened” distinguish the manner in which two or more parts are joined together. 
     Furthermore, it will be appreciated that for simplicity and clarity of illustration, where considered appropriate, reference numerals may be repeated among the figures to indicate corresponding or analogous elements. In addition, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the example embodiments described herein. However, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that the example embodiments described herein may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known methods, procedures, and components have not been described in detail so as not to obscure the example embodiments described herein. Also, the description is not to be considered as limiting the scope of the example embodiments described herein. 
     As used herein, the wording “and/or” is intended to represent an inclusive-or. That is, “X and/or Y” is intended to mean X or Y or both, for example. As a further example, “X, Y, and/or Z” is intended to mean X or Y or Z or any combination thereof. 
     As used herein and in the claims, two elements are said to be “parallel” where those elements are parallel and spaced apart, or where those elements are collinear. 
     General Description of a Surface Cleaning Apparatus 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1-40 , an exemplary embodiment of a surface cleaning apparatus is shown generally as  100 . The following is a general discussion of apparatus  100 , which provides a basis for understanding several of the features that are discussed herein. As discussed subsequently, each of the features may be used individually or in any particular combination or sub-combination in this or in other embodiments disclosed herein. Surface cleaning apparatus  100  may be any type of surface cleaning apparatus, including for example a hand vacuum cleaner, a stick vacuum cleaner, an upright vacuum cleaner, a canister vacuum cleaner (as shown), an extractor, or a wet/dry type vacuum cleaner. For example, any of the features of an air treatment assembly disclosed herein may be used in any such type of surface cleaning apparatus, any feature of a body on which the air treatment assembly is removably mounted may be used in any such type of surface cleaning apparatus, and any feature of the wiring or controls disclosed herein may be used in any such type of surface cleaning apparatus. 
       FIG. 1  exemplifies a canister surface cleaning apparatus  100  having a rollable, canister body  102  having a front end  103  and a rear end  105 . As exemplified, the canister body has a lower side  104  having floor travelling members  108  and an upper side  106  having a recess  110 , the upper side  106  being spaced from the lower side  104  in a vertical direction when the canister body  102  is placed on a floor. The recess  110  has sidewalls  112  extending upwardly from a platform  114 . The surface cleaning apparatus  100  includes an air treatment assembly  200  removably mountable to the canister body  102 . The air treatment assembly  200  seats on the recess  110  when the air treatment assembly  200  is mounted to the canister body  102 . The air treatment assembly  200  has an air treatment member  202 . The canister body  102  has a dirty air inlet  120 , a clean air outlet  122 , and an air flow path extending between the dirty air inlet  120  and the clean air outlet  122 . It will be appreciated that dirty air inlet  120  and clean air outlet  122  may be positioned in different locations of apparatus  100 . 
     A suction motor  124  is provided to generate vacuum suction through the air flow path, and is positioned within a motor housing  126 . The suction motor  124  may be a fan-motor assembly including an electric motor and impeller blade(s). In the illustrated embodiments, the suction motor  124  is positioned in the air flow path downstream of the air treatment assembly  200 . In this configuration, the suction motor  124  may be referred to as a “clean air motor”. Alternatively, the suction motor  124  may be positioned upstream of air treatment assembly  200 , and referred to as a “dirty air motor” and may be at any position in the canister body  102 . 
     The air treatment assembly  200  is configured to remove particles of dirt and other debris from the air flow and may be of any design known in the art. As exemplified, the air treatment assembly  200  is a cyclone assembly (also referred to as a “cyclone bin assembly”) having a single cyclonic cleaning stage with a single cyclone  202  and a dirt collection chamber  206  (also referred to as a “dirt collection region”, “dirt collection bin”, “dirt bin”, or “dirt chamber”). The cyclone  202  has a cyclone chamber  204 . The dirt collection chamber  206  may be external to the cyclone chamber  204  (i.e., dirt collection chamber  206  may have a discrete volume from that of cyclone chamber  204 ). The cyclone  202  and the dirt collection chamber  206  may be of any configuration suitable for separating dirt from an air stream and collecting the separated dirt respectively, and may be in communication with one or more dirt outlet(s)  212  of the cyclone chamber  204 . As exemplified, the cyclone  202  is nested in the dirt collection chamber  206 . 
     In alternate embodiments, air treatment assembly  200  may include a cyclone assembly having two or more cyclonic cleaning stages arranged in series with each other. Each cyclonic cleaning stage may include one or more cyclones arranged in parallel with each other and one or more dirt collection chambers, of any suitable configuration. The dirt collection chamber(s)  206  may be external to the cyclone chambers  204  of the cyclones  202 . Each cyclone  202  may have its own dirt collection chamber  206  or two or more cyclones  202  fluidically connected in parallel may have a single common dirt collection chamber  206 . However, in some embodiments, it will be appreciated that the air treatment assembly  200  may comprise a cyclone wherein a dirt collection region is provided internal of the cyclone chamber or the air treatment assembly  200  may use a non-cyclonic momentum separator, one or more filter media which may be downstream of a non-cyclonic momentum separator, a bag or any combination thereof. 
     Referring to  FIG. 9 , the surface cleaning apparatus  100  may include a pre-motor filter  140  provided in the air flow path downstream of the air treatment assembly  200  and upstream of the suction motor  124 . The pre-motor filter  140  may be made of any material and be of any design known in the art. For example, the pre-motor filter  140  may be formed from any suitable physical, porous filter media and may have one or more layers of such filter material. For example, pre-motor filter  140  may be one or more of a foam filter, felt filter, HEPA filter, or other physical filter media. In some embodiments, the pre-motor filter  140  may include an electrostatic filter, or the like. As exemplified, the pre-motor filter  140  may be located in a pre-motor filter housing  142  that is external to the air treatment assembly  200 . 
     As exemplified in  FIG. 41 , the dirty air inlet  120  may be connected (e.g., directly connected) to the downstream end of any suitable accessory tool such as a flexible hose  350 . Alternately, it may be directly connected to a rigid air flow conduit (e.g., an above floor cleaning wand), a crevice tool, a mini brush, and the like. As shown, dirty air inlet  120  may be positioned forward of the air treatment assembly  200  although this need not be the case. 
     As exemplified in  FIGS. 23-24 , the air treatment assembly comprises a cyclone  202 , an air treatment assembly air inlet  208 , the air inlet being a tangential cyclone air inlet, and an air treatment member air outlet  210 , the air outlet being a cyclone air outlet. Accordingly, in operation, after activating the suction motor  124 , dirty air enters apparatus  100  through dirty air inlet  120  and is directed along an air inlet conduit  130  to the cyclone air inlet  208 . As shown, cyclone air inlet  208  may direct the dirty air flow to enter cyclone chamber  204  in a tangential direction so as to promote cyclonic action. Dirt particles and other debris may be disentrained (i.e., separated) from the dirty air flow as the dirty air flow travels from cyclone air inlet  208  to cyclone air outlet  210 . The disentrained dirt particles and debris may be discharged from cyclone chamber  204  through a dirt outlet  212  into the dirt collection chamber  206  external to the cyclone chamber  204 , in which the dirt particles and debris may be collected and stored until the dirt collection chamber  206  is emptied. 
     Air exiting the cyclone chamber  204  may pass through an outlet passage  214  located upstream of cyclone air outlet  210 . Cyclone chamber outlet passage  214  may also act as a vortex finder to promote cyclonic flow within cyclone chamber  204 . In some embodiments, the cyclone outlet passage  214  may include an air permeable portion (which may be referred to as a screen or shroud, e.g., a fine mesh screen) in the air flow path to remove large dirt particles and debris, such as hair, remaining in the exiting air flow. The cyclone air outlet  210  may comprise a conduit portion  218  which is solid (air impermeable) and the axially inward screen or shroud  216 . 
     From the outlet passage  214 , the air flow may be directed into the pre-motor filter housing  142  at an upstream side  144  of the pre-motor filter  140 . The air flow may pass through the pre-motor filter  140 , and then exit through a downstream side of the pre-motor filter  140  and pass through a pre-motor filter air outlet into, e.g., the motor housing  126 . At the motor housing  126 , the clean air flow may be drawn into the suction motor  124  and then discharged from apparatus  100  through the clean air outlet  122 . Prior to exiting the clean air outlet  122 , the treated air may pass through a post-motor filter  192 , which may be one or more layers of filter media. 
     Power may be supplied to suction motor  124  and other electrical components of apparatus from an onboard energy storage member, which may include, for example, one or more batteries or other energy storage device. The energy storage device may be permanently connected to apparatus  100  and rechargeable in-situ, or removable from apparatus. Alternatively, or in addition to an energy storage member, power may be supplied to apparatus  100  by an electrical cord (not shown) connected to apparatus  100  that can be electrically connected to mains power by at a standard wall electrical outlet. 
     Air Treatment Assembly Having an Openable Side 
     In accordance with this aspect, which may be used by itself or in combination with one or more other aspects, the surface cleaning apparatus  100  has an air treatment assembly  200  having a first (upper) end  220  and second opposed (lower) end  222  and sides extending between the first and second ends and part or all of one more of the sides is an openable side  224 . 
     An advantage of this aspect is that the openable side  224  of the air treatment assembly  200  may be used to facilitate emptying of the air treatment assembly  200 . For example, the openable side  224  may form a part of the dirt collection chamber  206  and opening the openable side  224  may allow a user to empty the dirt collected in the dirt collection chamber  206 . Additionally, opening the side  224  to facilitate emptying of the dirt collection chamber  206  does not require the removal of components of the air treatment assembly  200  to empty the dirt collection chamber  206 , thereby simplifying the emptying process. 
     A further advantage is that only one seal may be required. For example, if the air treatment assembly comprises a cyclone chamber nested in a dirt collection chamber and the lower wall, which is a lower wall of the cyclone and dirt chambers, was openable, then the lower wall would have to seal the bottom of the cyclone chamber and the bottom of the dirt collection chamber. However, if the side wall were openable, then only the dirt collection chamber would have to be sealed. 
     In accordance with this aspect, the air treatment assembly has an air treatment member  202  (e.g., cyclone) and a dirt collection chamber  206  exterior to the air treatment member  202 . Accordingly, the air treatment member  202  may be referred to as a cyclone  202  and the air treatment assembly  200  may be referred to as a cyclone assembly  200 . The air treatment member  202  has an air treatment member axis  203 . The air treatment member axis  203  may also be referred to as the cyclone axis of rotation when the air treatment member is a cyclone. The air treatment assembly  200  has a first end  220 , an opposed second end  222 , and sides extending between the first and second ends wherein the air treatment member axis  203  intersects the first end  220  and the opposed second end  222 . When the air treatment member assembly  200  is mounted on the canister body  102  and the canister body  102  is positioned with the lower end  104  on the floor, the air treatment member axis  203  may extend generally vertically. For example, as shown in  FIG. 22 , the air treatment member axis  203  extends axially through the first end  220  and the second end  222  of the air treatment assembly. 
     The air treatment assembly and the air treatment member have an air inlet and an air outlet. The air inlet and the air outlet of the air treatment assembly may be the air inlet and the air outlet of the air treatment member, e.g., if the air treatment assembly has a single air treatment member. The air treatment assembly and the air treatment member air inlet(s) and air outlet(s) may be located at any location of the air treatment assembly and the air treatment member. For example, they may each be at the lower end of the air treatment member as exemplified. In alternate embodiments, they may be provided at any location known in the air. 
     As exemplified, the air treatment assembly  200  has an air inlet  208  in fluid communication with the cyclone chamber  204 , an air outlet  210  in fluid communication with the suction motor  124  and a dirt outlet  212  providing a passage from the cyclone chamber  204  to the dirt collection chamber  206 . As exemplified, the air inlet  208  has an inlet port  209  located axially from the first end  220  of the air treatment assembly  200  and exterior to the air treatment assembly  200 . As exemplified in  FIG. 23 , the air inlet  208  and the air outlet  210  of the air treatment assembly  200  are each located at the first (lower) end  220  of the air treatment assembly  200 . It will be appreciated that the air inlet  208  and air outlet  210  of the air treatment assembly  200  may be positioned anywhere in the air treatment assembly  200 . In some embodiments, as exemplified in  FIG. 23 , the air outlet  210  may be positioned such that a projection of the air outlet intersects the first end  220 . Similarly, the dirt outlet  212  may be of any configuration and provided at any location as is known in the art. 
     Referring to  FIG. 21 , as exemplified, one of the sides  224  of the air treatment assembly is openable. The openable side  224  of the air treatment assembly  200  may also be referred to as a door  224 . It will be appreciated that the openable side  224  of the air treatment assembly  200  may be any side. For example, as exemplified in  FIGS. 18-23 , the sides of the air treatment assembly  200  include a front side  226 , a rear side  228 , a first side  230 , and a second side  232 . When the surface cleaning apparatus  100  faces forwards, the first side  230  and the second side  232  may also be referred to as the left and right sides respectively. As exemplified in  FIGS. 21-22 , the rear side  228  of the air treatment assembly  200  is openable such that the dirt collection chamber  206  is opened when the rear side  228  of the air treatment assembly  200  is opened. It will be appreciated that the door may comprise all or only a part of the side that is openable. 
     The rear side  228  of the air treatment assembly  200  is movable between a closed position, as exemplified in  FIGS. 18 and 19 , and an open position, as exemplified in  FIGS. 21 and 22 . As shown, the openable side  224  is moveably mounted to the air treatment assembly by a mount  234 . Any moveably mounted, such as a pivot mount, may be used. As exemplified, the mount  234  is provided at the second end  222  of the air treatment assembly  200 , however, it may be provided at any other location, such as at the first end  220 . Providing the mount  234  at the second end  222  may improve the ability to empty the dirt collection chamber  206  since, when opened, the door  224  does not block the dirt from exiting the dirt collection chamber  206  as the dirt slides out from the dirt collection chamber  206 . 
     The first side  230 , second side  232 , front side  226 , and rear side  228  of the air treatment assembly  200  may extend in any direction between the first end  220  and the second end  222 . For example, as exemplified in  FIGS. 18-23 , the sides of the air treatment assembly  200  extend in a direction generally parallel to the air treatment member axis  203 . In some embodiments, the front side  226  and the rear side  228  may extend in a direction generally parallel to the air treatment member axis  203  while the first side  230  and the second side  232  may extend in a direction at an angle to the air treatment member axis  203 . 
     Accordingly, for example, the openable side need to extend at a 90° angle to the first and/or second ends  220 ,  222 . For example, as exemplified in  FIGS. 45 to 48 , the openable side of the air treatment assembly  200  may be an angled side. For example, as shown in  FIG. 45 , the door  224  is located on an angled side of the surface cleaning apparatus  100  and is in the closed position. As exemplified in  FIG. 46 , the angled side is opened. 
     The dirt outlet  212  may be positioned anywhere in the air treatment assembly  200 . As exemplified, the dirt outlet  212  faces the openable side, the rear side  228  of the air treatment assembly  200  as exemplified. For example, as shown in  FIG. 27 , the air treatment member  202  has a sidewall  236  and the dirt outlet  212  is positioned between the sidewall  236  and the second end  222  of the air treatment assembly  200 . In some embodiments, the dirt outlet  212  may be positioned between the sidewall  236  and the first end  220  of the air treatment assembly  200 . The dirt outlet  212  may be any shape or size. For example, as shown, the dirt outlet  212  is a slot provided in the sidewall of the cyclone chamber. In some embodiments, the dirt outlet  212  may be a plurality of slots, an open end of the cyclone chamber that is spaced from an end wall or any other design known in the art. 
     It will be appreciated that the openable side  224  of the air treatment assembly  200  may be any shape and/or size. For example, the openable side  224  may form a wall  224  of the dirt collection chamber  206 , as exemplified in  FIG. 27 . The door  224  may be generally planar. For example, when the air treatment assembly  200  is mounted on the canister body  102  and the door  224  is in the closed position, the door  224  may extend generally vertically. As exemplified in  FIG. 18 , the door  224  may extend in a plane  225  that is generally parallel to the air treatment member axis  203 . In some embodiments, the door  224  may extend in a plane that is at an angle to the air treatment member axis  203 . 
     The air treatment assembly  200  may include a door lock  240  for maintaining the door  224  of the air treatment assembly  200  in the closed position and a door actuator  242  for unlocking the door lock  240 . Accordingly, the door may remain closed when the air treatment assembly is removed for emptying. The door lock  240  may be any locking mechanism known in the art and may use male and female engagement members wherein one of the members, e.g., the female member, is moveable by an actuator. 
     As exemplified in  FIGS. 32 to 37 , the door actuator  242  includes a first portion  244  and a second portion  246  perpendicular to the first portion  244 . The first portion  244  includes a door actuator  242  and a first angled surface  245  distal to the door actuator  242 . The second portion  246  has a corresponding second angled surface  247  that is slideably positioned proximate to the first angled surface  245 . The second portion  246  has second portion engagement members  250  which engage with corresponding male door engagement members  252  provided on the door. The door lock  240  is provided by the door engagement members  252  engaging with the second portion engagement members  250 . As exemplified in  FIGS. 36-37 , the first portion  244  may include a biasing member  254  positioned between the door actuator  242  and the first angled surface  245 . The air treatment assembly  200  includes a biasing member stop  256  that operates with the biasing member  254  to bias the door actuator  242  to the unpushed or locked position. 
     When the door  224  is in the closed position, the door engagement members  252  are engaged with the second portion engagement members  250 . As exemplified, when in the locked position, the second portion engagement members seat on rear surface  252   a  of the angled cam surface  252   b  of the door engagement members  252  (See  FIG. 34 ). To move the door  224  to the open position, the door actuator  242  is pushed, thereby sliding the first angled surface  245  of the first portion  244  against the second angled surface  247  of the second portion  246  and compressing the biasing member  254  against the biasing member stop  256 . As the first angled surface  245  pushes against the second angled surface  247 , the second angled surface  247  is displaced in a direction perpendicular to the first portion  244 , parallel to the second portion  246  (to the left as exemplified in  FIG. 34 ). The second portion engagement members  250  are then disengaged (slid sideways) from the door engagement members  252 , which unlocks the door  224 , thereby allowing the door  224  to move to the open position. 
     Once the door  224  is opened, the user may stop pushing the door actuator  242 , thereby causing the biasing member  254  to move the door actuator  242  and first portion  244  back to the unpushed position. It will be appreciated that the second portion  246  may be biased to the locked position by a second biasing member (not shown) or may be linked to the first portion so as to be pulled back by the first portion to the locked position due to the biasing force of biasing member  254 . Accordingly, the second portion engagement members  250  are moved back (to the right as exemplified in  FIG. 34 ) to the locked position such that when the user closes the door  224 , the second portion engagement members  250  engage the door engagement members  252  to lock the door  224  in the closed position. In operation, the angled cam surface  252   b  of the door engagement members  252  may push the second portion engagement members  250  sideways (to the left in  FIG. 34 ) to allow the angled cam portion  252   b  to move inwardly past the second portion engagement members  250  and the second portion engagement members  250  may then return (to the right in  FIG. 34 ) to the locked position. 
     At least a portion  207  of the dirt collection chamber  206  may be positioned between the air treatment member  202  and the openable door  224 . For example, the portion  207  of the dirt collection chamber  206  between the air treatment member  202  and the openable door  224  of the air treatment assembly  200  may be at least 40%, 50%, 60%, 70%, 80% or 90% of the dirt collection chamber  206 . Positioning the majority of the dirt collection chamber  206  between the air treatment member  202  and the openable door  224  may improve the emptying process of the surface cleaning apparatus  100 . For example, positioning all or the largest portion of the dirt collection chamber  206  between the air treatment member  202  and the openable door  224  may make it easier to empty dirt from the dirt collection chamber  206 . 
     Removable Air Treatment Member 
     In accordance with this aspect, which may be used by itself or in combination with one or more other aspects, the air treatment member  202  is removably mounted in the air treatment assembly  200 . An advantage of this aspect is that the air treatment member  202  and air treatment member assembly  200  may be more easily cleaned. For example, hair may build up around the air treatment member  202  over time. The user may remove the air treatment member  202  from the air treatment member assembly  200  to more easily remove the built-up hair. Similarly, once the air treatment member  202  has been removed, the user may more easily clean the air treatment assembly  200 . 
     As exemplified in  FIGS. 24-26 and 40 , the cyclone  202  has been removed from the cyclone assembly  200 . The air treatment member  202  may be axially removable through one of the first end  220  and the second end  222  of the air treatment assembly  200 . As exemplified in  FIG. 40 , the air treatment member  202  is removably mounted through the first end  220  of the air treatment assembly  200 . 
     In some embodiments, the air treatment member  202  may be removable in a direction relative to an opening  227  of the dirt collection chamber  206  formed when the door  224  is opened. For example, as exemplified in  FIGS. 21 and 22 , when the door  224  is opened, the opening  227  is formed in the dirt collection chamber  206  that faces in a first direction (horizontally as exemplified in  FIG. 21 ). The air treatment member  202  may be removable in a direction that is generally transverse to the first direction. For example, as shown, the air treatment member  202  may be axially removable (downwardly as exemplified in  FIG. 21 ). In other words, as shown in  FIG. 21 , the dirt collection opening extends in a plane  229  and the air treatment member  202  is removable in a direction generally transverse to the plane  229 . 
     The air treatment assembly  200  may include an air treatment member lock  260  for securing the air treatment member  202  within the air treatment assembly  200 . As exemplified in  FIG. 25 , the air treatment member lock  260  has an air treatment member release actuator  262 . The air treatment release actuator  262  may be used to unlock the air treatment member lock  260  such that the air treatment member  202  may be removed from the air treatment assembly  200 . 
     The air treatment member release actuator  262  may be positioned anywhere in the air treatment assembly  200 . For example, as shown in  FIG. 25 , the air treatment member release actuator  262  is located at the first end  220  of the air treatment assembly  200  and includes a first air treatment member release actuator  262  and a second air treatment member release actuator  262 . As exemplified, the first air treatment release actuator  262  and the second air treatment release actuator  262  are located below the first end  220  of the air treatment assembly  200 . 
     As exemplified, the air treatment member release actuators  262  are slide locks having a slidable portion  264  and an air treatment member release engagement member  266 . The air treatment member release engagement member  266  engages with a corresponding air treatment assembly engagement member  268  such that when the air treatment member release engagement member  266  is engaged with the air treatment assembly engagement member  268 , the air treatment member  202  is secured within the air treatment assembly  200 , as exemplified in  FIG. 40 . The air treatment member release actuators  262  may be biased to the locked position by a biasing member (not shown). 
     To release the air treatment member  202  from the air treatment assembly  200 , a user may pinch the first air treatment member release actuator  262  and the second air treatment member release actuator  262  together, thereby sliding the slide locks  264  inwardly and disengaging the air treatment member release engagement members  266  from the air treatment assembly engagement members  268 . Once the air treatment member release actuators  262  are disengaged, the air treatment member  202  may be axially removed through the first end  220  of the air treatment assembly  200 . To reinsert the cyclone  202  in the dirt collection chamber, the air treatment member release actuators  262  may be pushed inwardly until the cyclone  202  is in the inserted position. The air treatment member release actuators  262  may then be released and the biasing member may move the air treatment member release actuators  262  to the locked position. 
     In some embodiments, the air treatment member release actuator  262  may be located axially from the first end  220  of the air treatment assembly  200 . 
     Air Treatment Assembly Handle 
     In accordance with this aspect, which may be used by itself or in combination with one or more other aspects, the air treatment assembly  200  has a handle  270  having a handle portion  272  that extends generally vertically and is spaced apart from one of the sides of the air treatment assembly  200 . Optionally, the handle portion  272  faces a side that is opposed to the openable side. 
     An advantage of this aspect is that the handle  270  may be the sole handle and may be used by the user to carry the surface cleaning apparatus  100  and/or just the air treatment assembly  200 . The handle  270  may also provide the user with greater control to aim the dirt being emptied from the dirt collection chamber  206 , particularly if the handle portion  272  faces a side that is opposed to the openable side. Accordingly, the user is less likely to spill dirt being emptied from the dirt collection chamber  206 , thereby improving the cleaning process. 
     In accordance with this aspect, the air treatment assembly  200  has a handle  270  having a handle portion  272  facing and spaced apart from one of the air treatment assembly sides. As exemplified in  FIG. 18 , the handle portion  272  faces the front side  226  of the air treatment assembly  200 . When the air treatment assembly  200  is mounted on the canister body  102  and the canister body  102  is positioned with the lower end  104  on a floor, as shown in  FIGS. 1 to 3 , the handle portion  272  extends generally vertically. As exemplified in  FIG. 21 , the rear side  228  of the air treatment assembly  200  is openable and is opposed to the front side  226 , which faces the generally vertically extending handle portion  272 . The handle portion  272  has a handle axis  273 . As exemplified, the handle axis  273  may be generally parallel to the air treatment member axis  203 . In some embodiments, the handle axis  273  may extend at an angle to the air treatment member axis  203 . 
     The generally vertically extending handle portion  272  may include a pistol grip portion  274  or may consist essentially of the pistol grip portion  274 . For example, as shown in  FIG. 18 , the handle  270  has an upper arm portion  276  extending outwardly from the second end  222  of the air treatment assembly  200  and which extends to the second end  222  of the air treatment assembly and a lower arm portion  278  extending outwardly from the front sidewall of the air treatment assembly  200 . As exemplified, the pistol grip portion  274  of the handle portion  272  is located between the upper arm portion  276  and the lower arm portion  278 . It will be appreciated that one or both of the upper arm portion  276  and the lower arm portion  278  may be mounted to a common sidewall or, alternately, each may be mounted to an end  220 ,  222 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 16 and 17 , as exemplified, the canister body  102  has a wall  160 . As shown, the wall  160  faces the front  103  of the surface cleaning apparatus  100 . When the air treatment assembly  200  is mounted to the canister body  102 , the rear side  228  of the air treatment assembly  200  may be positioned facing the front facing wall  160  of the canister body  102 , with the generally vertically extending handle portion  272  positioned facing the front side  226  of the air treatment assembly  200 . 
     As discussed in more detail subsequently, the wall  160  may be provided at a rear end of wall recess  162  and wall recess  162  may be used to assist the user with positioning the air treatment assembly  200  in the canister body  102 . For example, to remount the air treatment assembly  200  on the canister body  102  after the air treatment assembly  200  has been removed, the user may slide the rear side  228  of the air treatment assembly  200  into the wall recess  162  until the rear side  228  contacts the wall  160 . Accordingly, the wall  160  may be used to provide an indication to the user that the air treatment assembly  200  is in the proper position to be remounted. 
     As exemplified in  FIG. 16 , the canister body  102  may not have a handle. Accordingly, the handle  270  of the air treatment assembly  200  may be used as the handle for the surface cleaning apparatus  100 . When the air treatment assembly  200  is mounted to the canister body  102 , the air treatment assembly  200  and the canister body  102  may be referred to as a canister assembly  190 . In some embodiments, the handle  270  of the air treatment assembly  200  may be the only handle of the canister assembly  190 . 
     Pre-Motor Filter 
     In accordance with this aspect, which may be used by itself or in combination with one or more other aspects, the air treatment assembly is removably mounted to the canister body and the platform on which the air treatment assembly is received when mounted to the canister body is provided with the pre-motor filter and the outer perimeter of the pre-motor filter is recessed inwardly from the outer perimeter of the platform and/or the air treatment assembly. For example, as exemplified, the recess  110  of the canister body  102  has sidewalls  112  extending upwardly from the platform  114  and the platform  114  has a pre-motor filter housing  142 . When the pre-motor filter  140  is positioned in the pre-motor filter housing  142 , at least a portion of a perimeter  150  of the pre-motor filter  140  is recessed inwardly from the sidewalls  112  of the recess  110 . 
     An advantage of this aspect is that the size of the surface cleaning apparatus  100  may be reduced. Recessing the pre-motor filter  140  inwardly from the sidewalls  112  of the recess  110  may allow other components of the surface cleaning apparatus  100  to be positioned exterior to the pre-motor filter  140 , without impacting the air flow path, thereby reducing the footprint of the surface cleaning apparatus  100 . Another advantage of recessing the perimeter  150  of the pre-motor filter  140  inwardly from the sidewalls  112  of the recess  110  is that the pre-motor filter  140  may more easily be positioned below the air treatment assembly  200 , thereby providing a lower profile. Additionally, the pre-motor filter  140  may be located within the surface cleaning apparatus  100  in a way that makes it easy for the user to remove the pre-motor filter  140  for cleaning or disposal, without having to deform the pre-motor filter  140  during removal. 
     In accordance with this aspect, the platform  114  of the surface cleaning apparatus  100  has a pre-motor filter housing  142  for removably receiving a pre-motor filter  140  therein. As exemplified, the pre-motor filter housing  142  comprises a portion of the platform and a lower end of the air treatment assembly (which seals the upper end of the volume in which the pre-motor filter is positioned when the pre-motor filter is provided in the pre-motor filter housing  142 ). 
     The pre-motor filter  140  has a perimeter  150 . As exemplified in  FIGS. 10 and 11 , the perimeter  150  is recessed inwardly from the sidewalls  112  of the recess  110  of the surface cleaning apparatus  100  such that when the pre-motor filter  140  is positioned within the pre-motor filter housing  142 , a portion  115  of the platform  114  is visible between the perimeter  150  of the pre-motor filter  140  and the sidewalls  112  of the recess  110 , as exemplified in  FIGS. 10 and 11 . 
     It will be appreciated that any amount of the perimeter  150  of the pre-motor filter  140  may be recessed inwardly from the sidewalls  112  of the recess  110 . For example, the amount of the perimeter  150  of the pre-motor filter  140  that is recessed inwardly from the sidewalls  112  of the recess  110  may be, including, but not limited to, at least 50%, at least 75%, at least 95%, and 100% As exemplified in  FIGS. 10 and 11 , 100% of the perimeter  150  of the pre-motor filter  140  is recessed inwardly from the sidewalls  112  of the recess  110 . 
     It will be appreciated that the pre-motor filter  140  may be any shape. The shape of the pre-motor filter  140  and/or the pre-motor filter housing  142  may be shaped to complement other components of the surface cleaning apparatus  100 . For example, a forward portion  152  of the pre-motor filter  140  may be narrower in a plane transverse to the forward direction than a rearward end  154  of the pre-motor filter  140 . As exemplified in  FIGS. 10 and 11 , the pre-motor filter  140  is generally T-shaped. Similarly, the pre-motor filter housing  142  is correspondingly generally T-shaped. The T-shaped pre-motor filter housing  142  and pre-motor filter  140  may allow for a generally lower profile for the body  102  of the surface cleaning apparatus  100  by providing space for other components of the surface cleaning apparatus  100  to be positioned adjacent the pre-motor filter  140 . 
     It will be appreciated that an inlet to post pre-motor air flow path, which may extend to the suction motor, may be located below the pre-motor filter and may be in a lower surface of the pre-motor filter housing. Therefore, the pre-motor filter and a downstream header therefor occupy a portion of the height of the canister body (the vertical height when the canister body is placed on a floor). The wheel housings are positioned exterior to the downstream header of the pre-motor filter. By recessing the forward side portions of the pre-motor filter housing inwardly, the wheel housings may be provided closer to the front/rear centre line of the canister body thereby enabling the canister body to be narrower. For example, as exemplified in  FIGS. 6, 38, and 39 , the floor travelling members  108  of the canister body  102  include a first front wheel  170  and a second front wheel  170  and the perimeter  150  of the pre-motor filter  140  is recessed inwardly from a vertical projection  172  of the wheels  170 . By recessing the perimeter  150  of the pre-motor filter  140  inwardly of the vertical projections  172  of the first and second wheels  170  and shaping the pre-motor filter housing  142  in a T-shape, the wheels  170  may be positioned closer to the pre-motor filter housing  142  without impacting the vertical profile of the canister body  102 . 
     Alternately, or in addition, the front end of the pre-motor filter housing may be recessed rearwardly to enable the inlet conduit to extend inwardly into the recess. For example, as exemplified in  FIGS. 12-13 , the canister body  102  has an inlet conduit  130  with an inlet port  132  and an outlet port  134 . The inlet port  209  of the air treatment assembly  200  may be positioned in the recess  110  of the canister body  102  when the air treatment assembly  200  is mounted to the canister body  102 . As exemplified in  FIGS. 12 and 13 , when the pre-motor filter  140  is positioned in the pre-motor filter housing, the forward side  152  of the pre-motor filter  140  may be positioned rearward of the inlet conduit  130 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1-8 , the air treatment assembly  200  is removably mounted to the canister body recess  110 . As shown, the air treatment assembly  200  seats in the recess  110  when the air treatment assembly  200  is mounted to the canister body  102 . The air treatment assembly  200  has an air treatment assembly seat  280  that rests on the sidewalls  112  of the recess  110  when the air treatment assembly  200  is mounted to the canister body  102 . Accordingly, the air treatment assembly  200  forms a part of an exterior surface  109  of the surface cleaning apparatus  100  when mounted to the canister body  102 . 
     As exemplified in  FIG. 30 , the first end  220  of the air treatment assembly  200  may be used to seal the upstream side  144  of the pre-motor filter  140 . In other words, the air treatment assembly  200  has a seal receiving portion  282  for coupling with a pre-motor filter seal  284  such that when the air treatment assembly  200  is positioned within the recess  110 , the seal  284  is positioned between the pre-motor filter housing  142  and the air treatment assembly  200 . The seal  284  may be coupled to the air treatment assembly  200  and/or may be positioned around the perimeter  150  of the pre-motor filter  140 . As exemplified in  FIG. 9 , the seal  284  is positioned around the perimeter  150  of the pre-motor filter  140 . Accordingly, when the air treatment assembly  200  is mounted to the canister body  102 , the seal receiving portion  282  seats on the seal  284 , thereby sealing the air treatment assembly  200  and the pre-motor filter housing  142 . As shown, when the upstream side  144  of the pre-motor filter housing  142  is sealed, the air outlet  210  of the of the air treatment assembly  200  faces the pre-motor filter  140 . It will be appreciated that the seal  284  may be a gasket or the like and, optionally, a seal  284  may not be provided. 
     The dirt collected by the air treatment assembly  200  is collected in the dirt collection chamber  206 . A portion  286  of the dirt collection chamber  206  may be exterior to the perimeter  150  of the pre-motor filter  140 . For example, referring to  FIG. 23 , the seal receiving portion  282  of the air treatment assembly  200  is interior of an exterior surface  288  of the dirt collection chamber  206 . Accordingly, when the air treatment assembly  200  is mounted to the canister body  102 , the dirt collection chamber  206  extends beyond the perimeter  150  of the pre-motor filter  140 . It will be appreciated that 40%, 50%, 60%, 70%, 80%, 90% or all of the dirt collection chamber  206  may extend beyond the perimeter  150  of the pre-motor filter  140 . 
     Recessed Outlet Port 
     In accordance with this aspect, which may be used by itself or in combination with one or more other aspects, the outlet port  134  of the inlet conduit  130  of the canister body  102  is recessed inwardly from an outer surface  182  of the sidewalls  112  of the recess  110 . An advantage of this aspect is the air treatment assembly  200  may be more easily mounted to the canister body  102  while ensuring that the air flow passage is properly maintained. Additionally, the inlet conduit  130  may be a single part that passes from exterior of the surface cleaning apparatus  100  to interior of the surface cleaning apparatus  100  without having one or more seals therein. Accordingly, leakage of the air flow passageway may be reduced. 
     The sidewalls  112  of the recess  110  have an inner surface  180 , an outer surface  182 , an upper end  184 , and a lower end  186 . As exemplified in  FIG. 13 , the outlet port  134  of the inlet conduit  130  of the canister body  102  is recessed inwardly (rearwardly) from the outer surface  182  of the sidewalls  112  of the recess  110 . As shown, the outlet port  134  is positioned below the upper end  184  of the sidewalls  112  of the recess  110 . In some embodiments, as exemplified in  FIGS. 12 and 13 , the inlet conduit  130  may extend through the sidewalls  112  of the recess  110 . It will be appreciated that 50%, 60%, 70%, 80%, 90% or all of the outlet port  134  is positioned below the upper end  184  of the sidewalls  112 . 
     As exemplified in  FIG. 29 , the air treatment chamber  204  is nested within the dirt collection chamber  206  and the outer wall  205  of the air treatment member  202  may be positioned inward of the outer surface  288  of the dirt collection chamber  206 . As exemplified in  FIG. 23 , the inlet port  209  of the air treatment assembly  200  is positioned inwardly of the outer surface  288  of the dirt collection chamber  206 . For example, the inlet port  209  extends rearward of a front wall  290  of the dirt collection chamber  206  when the air treatment assembly  200  is mounted to the canister body  102 . Accordingly, as exemplified in  FIGS. 27 and 28 , the air flow passage  136  is provided at the first end  220  of the air treatment assembly  200 . Accordingly, when the air treatment assembly  200  is mounted to the canister body  102 , both the first end  220  of the air treatment assembly  200  and the air flow passage  136  are positioned within the recess  110 . 
     As exemplified in  FIG. 28 , the inlet conduit  130  of the canister body  102  extends to the air inlet  208  of the air treatment assembly  200  located proximate the first end  220  of the air treatment assembly  200 . Accordingly, the air inlet  208  and the inlet conduit  130  define an air flow passage  136  that extends under the dirt collection chamber  206 . Therefore, as exemplified, the outlet port extends to the inlet of the tangential air inlet of the cyclone chamber. 
     In some embodiments, the airflow passage connecting the air outlet  210  of the air treatment assembly  200  to the pre-motor filter  140  may include an inlet port  156  that is positioned in the recess  110 . 
     Mounting of the Air Treatment Assembly 
     In accordance with this aspect, which may be used by itself or in combination with one or more other aspects, the body has a recess into which a portion of the sides of the air treatment assembly, e.g., a rear portion of the sides of the air treatment assembly, is received when the air treatment assembly is mounted to the body. An advantage of this aspect is the wall  160  and the wall recess  162  may act as a guide for the user to mount the air treatment assembly  200 , thereby making it easier for the user to remount the air treatment assembly  200  after its removal. Another advantage is that the wall recess  162  may provide structural stability to the mounting of the air treatment assembly  200 , thereby reducing the likelihood of the air treatment assembly  200  being moved during use and reducing the likelihood of air leaks caused by improperly sealed airflow passages. 
     As exemplified in  FIG. 28 , the canister body  102  has a wall  160  with sidewalls  164  extending away from the wall  160  to define a volume that includes a wall recess  162 . The wall  160  may extend generally vertically and the sidewalls  164  may extend generally forwardly. As exemplified in  FIG. 16 , the sidewalls  164  comprise an upper portion and left and right side portions that extend forwardly. The sidewalls  164  therefore define a generally U-shaped perimeter that seats over a rear portion of each of the upper end, the left side and the right side of the air treatment assembly  200  when the air treatment assembly is mounted to the canister body. It will be appreciated that, optionally, the sidewalls  164  need not be a continuous U-shaped member and may be provided on only two sides (e.g., the left and right side) of the air treatment assembly  200 . 
     The wall recess  162  is sized to receive a portion of the air treatment assembly, such as the portion opposed to the handle. Accordingly, if the handle is provided on the front of the air treatment assembly, the rear portion of the air treatment assembly may be seated in the wall recess  162  when the air treatment assembly is mounted to the canister body. The wall recess  162  may be slightly larger than the portion of the air treatment assembly that is received therein to enable the air treatment assembly to be slidingly received therein without damaging the air treatment assembly but still able to provide support for the portion of the air treatment assembly when the surface cleaning apparatus is in use. 
     Accordingly, when the air treatment assembly  200  is mounted to the canister body  102  and the canister body  102  is positioned with the floor travelling members  108  on the floor, the wall  160  of the canister body  102  extends generally vertically and the rear portion of the left and right sidewalls of the air treatment assembly  200  is positioned within the wall recess  162 . As exemplified in  FIG. 28 , the openable rear side  228  of the air treatment assembly  200  may be positionable within the wall recess  162 . 
     As exemplified in  FIG. 16 , the wall recess  162  of the canister body  102  may have an absence of an air flow passage therethrough. Accordingly, the wall recess  162  need not be sealed to the air treatment assembly  200 . 
     The wall recess  162  may be used to assist in mounting the air treatment assembly to the canister body. As shown in  FIGS. 14 to 17 , the air treatment assembly  200  may be toed into the wall recess  162  to secure the air treatment assembly  200  to the canister body  102 . In other words, the air treatment assembly  200  may be tilted to lower the wall engagement members  292  below the upper portion of the sidewall  164  of the wall recess  162 , as exemplified in  FIG. 15 . The air treatment assembly  200  may then be slid rearward, as exemplified in  FIG. 14 , and lowered into the recess  110  of the canister body  102 . The front side of the air treatment assembly  200  may then be lowered to the inserted position shown in  FIG. 1 , thereby mounting the air treatment assembly  200  to the canister body  102  to form the canister surface cleaning apparatus assembly  190 . 
     Optionally, the air treatment assembly  200  may have one or more engagement members that engage with one or more mating engagement members provided in the wall recess  162  such that the wall recess  162  of the canister body  102  acts to secure the air treatment assembly  200  in place when the air treatment assembly  200  is mounted to the canister body  102 . For example, as exemplified in  FIG. 17 , an upper portion of the sidewall  164  of the wall recess  162  has slots  166  for receiving wall engagement members  292  positioned on the second end  222  of the air treatment assembly  200 . As the air treatment assembly  200  is toed into the wall recess  162 , the wall engagement members  292  may engage with the slots  166  in the sidewall  164  of the wall recess  162  to secure the air treatment assembly  200  in the recess  110  and the wall recess  162 . 
     Optionally, as exemplified in  FIGS. 27-31 , an air treatment assembly lock  300  may be used to secure the air treatment assembly  200  to the canister body  102 . It will be appreciated that the air treatment assembly lock  300  may be positioned in any location on the air treatment assembly  200  or canister body  102  and may be of any design known in the art. 
     As exemplified, the lock  300  is positioned at the front side  103  of the canister surface cleaning apparatus assembly  190 . Optionally, the air treatment assembly lock  300  is positioned on the handle  270  of the air treatment assembly  200 . This may enable a user to operate the lock with one hand while holding the handle. 
     To operate the air treatment assembly lock  300 , an air treatment assembly lock actuator  302  may be used. As exemplified in  FIG. 18 , the air treatment assembly lock actuator  302  is positioned on the handle  270  of the air treatment assembly  200 . It will be appreciated that the lock actuator  302  may be any mechanism capable of releasing the air treatment assembly  200  from the canister body  102 . For example, as exemplified in  FIGS. 18 and 27-31 , the air treatment assembly lock actuator  302  is slideably connected to a mount engagement member  306 . As exemplified in  FIG. 27 , the lock actuator  302  has a planar portion  303  with a slot  304 . The slot  304  receives a pin  305  located on the mount engagement member  306 . As exemplified, the slot  304  extends at an angle relative to the lock actuator  302 . Accordingly, when the lock actuator  302  is moved upwards by the user, the planar portion  303  moves upwards, causing the pin  305  to move along the slot  304 . As the pin  305  moves along the slot  304 , the mount engagement member  306 , which is hook-shaped, rotates in a rearward direction until the pin  305  reaches the end of the slot  304 , as exemplified in  FIG. 29 . 
     The mount engagement member  306  is engageable with a corresponding canister mount engagement member  308 . For example, as exemplified in  FIGS. 27-31 , the canister mount engagement member  308  is hook-shaped. 
     Accordingly, the lock actuator  302  may be slid upwardly from the closed position, as exemplified in  FIG. 28 , to the open position, as exemplified in  FIGS. 30 and 31 . When in the closed or locked position, the hook-shaped portion of the mount engagement member  306  seats under the hook-shaped canister mount engagement member  308  to secure the air treatment assembly  200  to the canister body  102 . When in the open position, the mount engagement member  306  is disengaged from the canister mount engagement member  308  such that the air treatment assembly  200  is unlocked from the canister body  102  and may be unmounted by the user. 
     Accordingly, during operation, the user may unlock the air treatment assembly lock  300  by sliding the lock actuator  302  downwardly, thereby causing the mount engagement member  306  to disengage from the canister mount engagement member  308 . The user may then lift the handle  270  of the air treatment assembly  200 , as exemplified in  FIG. 31 . Once the front side  226  of the air treatment assembly  200  is lifted by the handle  270 , the wall engagement members  292  disengage from the slots  166  in the wall recess  162 . The user may then lift the air treatment assembly  200  from the canister body  102 . 
     It will be appreciated that the recess  110  and the wall recess  162  may be generally perpendicular to each other or may extend at an angle relative to each other. For example, as shown in  FIG. 16 , an opening  168  of the wall recess  162  extends in a first plane  163 , an opening  116  of the recess  110  extends in a second plane  117 , and the second plane  117  is generally transverse to the first plane  163 . As shown, the platform  114  of the canister body  102  extends in the second plane  117 . In other words, the platform  114  of the canister body  102  may extend generally parallel to the opening  116  of the recess  110 . 
     Motor Control Actuator 
     In accordance with this aspect, which may be used by itself or in combination with one or more other aspects, the surface cleaning apparatus  100  has one or more low voltage actuators  320  for controlling one or more motors of the surface cleaning apparatus  100 . An advantage of this design is that the low voltage actuators  320  may be used to enable or disable a motor in the surface cleaning apparatus  100  using low voltage wires, i.e., without the use of higher voltage wires. This design may reduce the likelihood of electrical shock and may simplify construction. Another advantage is that low voltage wires may be lighter and smaller than corresponding high voltage wires, so the weight of the wiring in the surface cleaning apparatus  100  may be reduced. Still another advantage is that the user may control the operation of the surface cleaning apparatus  100  from a single location. 
     In accordance with this aspect, as exemplified in  FIGS. 41-44 , the surface cleaning apparatus  100  includes a surface cleaning head  340 , a hose  350 , and a wand  360 . The hose  350  is couplable to the dirty air inlet  120  of the canister body  102 , thereby providing an airflow passage to the canister body  102 . The wand  360  may be coupled or couplable to the surface cleaning head  340  and the hose  350 , as exemplified in  FIG. 41 . As shown, the surface cleaning head  340  includes a brush  342  that is driven by a brush motor  344  (not shown). 
     Referring to  FIGS. 43A and 44 , as exemplified, the hose  350  has a handle  352  with a first actuator  320  and a second actuator  322 . The first actuator  320  is electrically connected to the suction motor  124  through the hose  350  and the optional second actuator  322  is electrically connected to the brush motor  344  in the surface cleaning head  340  by way of the wand  360 . In other words, the controls for the suction motor  124  and the brush motor  344  are remotely located from the motors themselves. Each of the first actuator  320  and the second actuator  322  are electrically connected to their respective motor by a low voltage circuit. As exemplified in  FIG. 44 , a first low voltage wire  324  connects the first actuator  320  to the suction motor  124  and a second low voltage wire  326  connects the second actuator  322  to the brush motor  344 . It will be appreciated that the first and second low voltage wires  324 ,  326  may be signal wires that are used to send a signal to open/close a circuit to actuate and de-actuate a motor. 
     For example, when the first actuator  320  is actuated, a control signal is sent through the first low voltage wire  324  to the suction motor  124 , thereby enabling the suction motor  124 . When the first actuator  320  is actuated a second time, a control signal is sent to the suction motor  124 , thereby disabling the suction motor  124 . Similarly, when the second actuator  322  is actuated, a control signal is sent through the second low voltage wire  326  to the brush motor  344 , thereby enabling the brush motor  344 . When the second actuator  322  is actuated a second time, a control signal is sent to the brush motor  344 , thereby disabling the brush motor  344 . 
     Accordingly, a low voltage control signal may be used to control a higher voltage suction motor  124  and/or brush motor  344 . While a suction motor  124  and a brush motor  344  are exemplified herein, it will be appreciated that the low voltage control signals may be used to actuate any electrically powered component of the surface cleaning apparatus  100 . 
     It will be appreciated that the first actuator  320  and the second actuator  322  may be any type of actuator capable of enabling and disabling one or more motors in the surface cleaning apparatus  100 . As exemplified, the first actuator  320  and the second actuator  322  are microswitches. In some embodiments, the handle  352  may have a touch screen control and the first actuator  320  and the second actuator  322  may be touch controlled. 
     Power Conduit 
     In accordance with this aspect, which may be used by itself or in combination with one or more other aspects, the wand  360  and the hose  350  coupled to the wand  360  of the surface cleaning apparatus  100  each has an internal power conduit. The power conduit may be used to run the low voltage control wires from the handle  352  to the suction motor  124  and the brush motor  344 . An advantage of this design is that the wiring of the surface cleaning apparatus  100  may be hidden, thereby protecting the wiring from damage or from getting snagged on other objects during use. 
     In accordance with this aspect, the handle  352  of the hose  350  of the surface cleaning apparatus  100  has a hose electrical connector (not shown) that electrically couples to a wand electrical connector  362  in the wand  360 . As exemplified in  FIG. 44 , the handle  352  of the hose  350  is electrically connected to the power supply  370  of the surface cleaning apparatus  100  by a power supply wire  372 , which passes through a hose power conduit  356  to the handle  352 . The handle  352  of the hose  350  is also electrically connected to the suction motor  124  by way of the first low voltage wire  324 . The first low voltage wire  324  passes through the hose power conduit  356  to the suction motor  124 . The wand electrical connector  362  is electrically connected to the second low voltage wire  326  and passes through a wand power conduit  364 . Accordingly, power is supplied to the handle  352  through the hose power conduit  356 , the first actuator  320  controls the operation of the suction motor  124  through the first low voltage wire  324  that passes through the hose power conduit  356 , and the second actuator  322  controls the operation of the brush motor  344  through the second low voltage wire  326  that passes through the wand power conduit  364 . 
     While the above description describes features of example embodiments, it will be appreciated that some features and/or functions of the described embodiments are susceptible to modification without departing from the spirit and principles of operation of the described embodiments. For example, the various characteristics which are described by means of the represented embodiments or examples may be selectively combined with each other. Accordingly, what has been described above is intended to be illustrative of the claimed concept and non-limiting. It will be understood by persons skilled in the art that other variants and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the claims appended hereto. The scope of the claims should not be limited by the preferred embodiments and examples, but should be given the broadest interpretation consistent with the description as a whole. 
     Clauses 
     Clause Set A 
     1. A canister surface cleaning apparatus comprising:
         (a) a canister body having an upper side and a lower side, the lower side of the canister body having floor travelling members, the upper side is spaced from the lower side in a vertical direction; and,   (b) an air treatment assembly removably mountable to the canister body, the air treatment assembly comprises a front side, a rear side and right and left laterally opposed sides, wherein a handle having a handle portion is provided facing and spaced from one of the sides and, when the air treatment assembly is mounted on the canister body and the canister body is positioned with the lower end on a floor, the handle portion extends generally vertically.
 
2. The canister surface cleaning apparatus of clause 1 wherein another of the sides that is opposed to the one of the sides comprises an openable door.
 
3. The canister surface cleaning apparatus of clause 2 wherein the air treatment assembly comprises a cyclone and a dirt collection chamber external to the cyclone and at least a portion of the dirt collection chamber is positioned between the cyclone and the openable door.
 
4. The canister surface cleaning apparatus of clause 3 wherein the cyclone has a cyclone axis of rotation that extends generally vertically when the air treatment assembly is mounted on the canister body and the canister body is positioned with the lower end on the floor.
 
5. The canister surface cleaning apparatus of clause 1 wherein the generally vertically extending handle portion comprises a pistol grip handle portion.
 
6. The canister surface cleaning apparatus of clause 1 wherein the handle has an upper arm portion extending outwardly from an upper end of the air treatment assembly and a lower arm portion extending outwardly from a lower end of the air treatment assembly and the generally vertically extending handle portion comprises a pistol grip handle portion that is located between the upper and lower arm portions.
 
7. The canister surface cleaning apparatus of clause 1 wherein the air treatment assembly comprises a cyclone having a cyclone axis of rotation that extends generally vertically when the air treatment assembly is mounted on the canister body and the air treatment assembly has a door that ends generally vertically when the air treatment assembly is mounted on the canister body and the door is in a closed position.
 
8. The canister surface cleaning apparatus of clause 1 wherein the rear side of the air treatment assembly is positioned facing a front facing wall of the canister body when the air treatment assembly is mounted to the canister body and the generally vertically extending handle portion is positioned facing the front side of the air treatment assembly.
 
9. The canister surface cleaning apparatus of clause 1 wherein the canister body has an absence of a handle.
 
10. The canister surface cleaning apparatus of clause 1 wherein, when the air treatment assembly is mounted to the canister body, the air treatment member and the canister body comprise a canister assembly and the handle is the only handle of the canister assembly.
 
Vac with pistol grip handle on a side of the air treatment assembly opposed to a door on a wall that faces the main body
 
11. A surface cleaning apparatus comprising:
   (a) a main body having a wall; and,   (b) an air treatment assembly removably mountable to the main body, the air treatment assembly comprises a front side, a rear side, right and left laterally opposed sides and a handle,   wherein, when the air treatment assembly is mounted to the main body, the air treatment member and the main body comprise a surface cleaning apparatus assembly and the surface cleaning apparatus assembly has a dirty air inlet provided on a front end thereof,   wherein the wall faces forwards and, when the air treatment assembly is mounted to the main body, one of the sides faces the wall and the one of the sides comprises an openable door, and   wherein, when the air treatment assembly is mounted to the main body, the handle has a handle portion that is provided facing and spaced from a side that is opposed to the one of the sides.
 
12. The surface cleaning apparatus of clause 11 wherein the air treatment assembly comprises a cyclone and a dirt collection chamber external to the cyclone and at least a portion of the dirt collection chamber is positioned between the cyclone and the openable door.
 
13. The surface cleaning apparatus of clause 12 wherein the cyclone has a cyclone axis of rotation and the handle portion has a handle axis that is generally parallel to the cyclone axis of rotation.
 
14. The surface cleaning apparatus of clause 11 wherein the handle portion comprises a pistol grip handle portion.
 
15. The surface cleaning apparatus of clause 11 wherein the air treatment assembly has a first end and a second end, the sides extend between the first and second ends, the air treatment assembly comprises a cyclone, the cyclone has a cyclone axis of rotation and the handle portion has a handle axis that is generally parallel to the cyclone axis of rotation.
 
16. The surface cleaning apparatus of clause 11 wherein the air treatment assembly has a first end and a second end, the sides extend between the first and second ends, the air treatment assembly comprises an air treatment chamber, the air treatment chamber has an air outlet, and a projection of the air outlet intersects the first end.
 
17. The surface cleaning apparatus of clause 11 wherein the main body has an absence of a handle.
 
18. The surface cleaning apparatus of clause 11 wherein the handle is the only handle of the surface cleaning apparatus assembly.
 
19. A surface cleaning apparatus comprising:
   (a) a main body having a wall; and,   (b) a cyclone assembly removably mountable to the main body, the cyclone assembly comprises a cyclone having a cyclone axis of rotation, a first side and a second opposed side, each of the first and second sides extend in a direction generally parallel to the cyclone axis of rotation, a handle having a handle portion that is spaced from and faces the first side, the handle portion has a handle axis that is generally parallel to the cyclone axis of rotation and the second side comprises an openable door.
 
20. The surface cleaning apparatus of clause 19 wherein the main body has a wall and, when the cyclone assembly is mounted to the main body, the air treatment member and the main body comprise a surface cleaning apparatus assembly, the surface cleaning apparatus assembly has a dirty air inlet provided on a front end thereof, the wall faces forwardly and the openable door faces the wall.
 
21. The surface cleaning apparatus of clause 20 wherein the cyclone assembly further comprises a dirt collection chamber external to the cyclone and at least a portion of the dirt collection chamber is positioned between the cyclone and the openable door.
 
22. The surface cleaning apparatus of clause 19 wherein the handle portion comprises a pistol grip handle portion.
 
23. The surface cleaning apparatus of clause 19 wherein the cyclone assembly has a first end and a second end, the first and second sides extend between the first and second ends, the cyclone has an air outlet, and a projection of the air outlet intersects the first end.
 
24. The surface cleaning apparatus of clause 19 wherein the main body has an absence of a handle.
 
25. The surface cleaning apparatus of clause 19 wherein the handle is the only handle of the surface cleaning apparatus assembly.
       

     Clause Set B 
     1. A canister surface cleaning apparatus comprising:
         (a) a canister body having a lower side having floor travelling members and an upper side having a recess, the recess has sidewalls extending upwardly from a platform and an inlet conduit having an outlet port that is recessed inwardly from an outer surface of the sidewalls of the recess; and,   (b) an air treatment assembly removably mountable to the canister body, the air treatment assembly seating on the recess when the air treatment assembly is mounted to the canister body.
 
2. The canister surface cleaning apparatus of clause 1 wherein the outlet port is positioned below an upper end of the sidewalls of the recess.
 
3. The canister surface cleaning apparatus of clause 2 wherein the inlet conduit extends through the sidewalls of the recess.
 
4. The canister surface cleaning apparatus of clause 1 wherein the inlet conduit extends through the sidewalls of the recess.
 
5. The canister surface cleaning apparatus of clause 1 wherein the air treatment assembly has an air inlet having an inlet port and, when the air treatment assembly is mounted to the canister body, the inlet port is positioned in the recess.
 
6. The canister surface cleaning apparatus of clause 1 wherein the canister body has a front side having the inlet conduit, the platform has a pre-motor filter housing and, when a pre-motor filter is positioned in the pre-motor filter housing, a forward side of the pre-motor filter is positioned rearward of the inlet conduit.
 
7. The canister surface cleaning apparatus of clause 6 wherein when a pre-motor filter is positioned in the pre-motor filter housing, at least 50% of a perimeter of the pre-motor filter is recessed inwardly from the sidewalls of the recess whereby, when a pre-motor filter is positioned in the pre-motor filter housing, a portion of the platform is visible between the perimeter of the pre-motor filter and the sidewalls of the recess.
 
8. The canister surface cleaning apparatus of clause 7 wherein the air treatment assembly has an air inlet having an inlet port and, when the air treatment assembly is mounted to the canister body, the inlet port is positioned in the recess.
 
9. The canister surface cleaning apparatus of clause 8 wherein the inlet port is positioned inwardly of an outer wall of the air treatment assembly.
 
10. The canister surface cleaning apparatus of clause 8 wherein the air treatment assembly further comprises a dirt collection chamber and an air treatment chamber that is nested in the dirt collection chamber and the inlet port is positioned inwardly of an outer wall of the dirt collection chamber.
 
11. The canister surface cleaning apparatus of clause 1 wherein the air treatment assembly comprises a dirt collection chamber and an air treatment chamber that is nested in the dirt collection chamber, the inlet conduit is provided on a front side of the canister body, and, when the air treatment assembly is mounted to the canister body, the dirt collection chamber has a front wall and the air treatment chamber has a front wall, and the inlet conduit extends rearward of the front wall of the dirt collection chamber.
 
12. The canister surface cleaning apparatus of clause 11 wherein the air treatment assembly has an air inlet and, when the air treatment assembly is mounted to the canister body, the air inlet and the inlet conduit define an air flow passage that extends under the dirt collection chamber.
 
13. A surface cleaning apparatus comprising:
   (a) a main body having an inlet conduit having an outlet port; and,   (b) an air treatment assembly removably mountable to the main body, the air treatment assembly comprises a dirt collection chamber and an air treatment chamber that is nested in the dirt collection chamber, the air treatment assembly having an air inlet, the dirt collection chamber having an outer wall and the air treatment member having an outer wall that is positioned inward of the outer wall of the dirt collection chamber,
 
wherein when the air treatment assembly is mounted to the main body, the air inlet and the inlet conduit define an air flow passage that extends under the dirt collection chamber.
 
14. The surface cleaning apparatus of clause 13 wherein the air treatment assembly has first and second opposed ends, the air treatment member comprises a cyclone having a cyclone axis of rotation that extends through the first and second opposed ends and the air flow passage is provided at one of the first and second ends.
 
15. The surface cleaning apparatus of clause 14 wherein the air flow passage extends along the one of the first and second ends.
 
16. The surface cleaning apparatus of clause 13 wherein when the air treatment assembly is mounted to the main body, an end of the air treatment assembly is positioned in a recess of the main body and the outlet port is positioned within the recess.
 
17. The surface cleaning apparatus of clause 13 wherein when the air treatment assembly is mounted to the main body, an end of the air treatment assembly is positioned in a recess of the main body and the air flow passage is positioned within the recess.
 
18. The surface cleaning apparatus of clause 16 wherein an end of the air treatment member is mountable to the main body and the air treatment assembly has an air outlet that is provided in the end of the main body.
 
19. The surface cleaning apparatus of clause 18 wherein a pre-motor filter housing is provided in the recess and when the air treatment assembly is mounted to the main body and a pre-motor filter is provided in the pre-motor filter housing, the air treatment assembly seals an upper end of the pre-motor filter housing and the air outlet faces the pre-motor filter.
       

     Clause Set C 
     1. A canister surface cleaning apparatus comprising:
         (a) a canister body comprising a lower side having floor travelling members and a first recess, the first recess comprising a wall and sidewalls that extend away from the wall to define a volume that comprises the first recess; and,   (b) an air treatment assembly removably mountable to the canister body, the air treatment assembly comprises a front side, a rear side and right and left laterally opposed sides,   wherein, when the air treatment assembly is mounted to the canister body, the air treatment assembly and the canister body comprise a canister surface cleaning apparatus assembly and the canister surface cleaning apparatus assembly has a dirty air inlet provided on a front end thereof,   wherein, when the air treatment assembly is mounted to the canister body and the canister body is positioned with the floor travelling members on a floor, the wall extends generally vertically and one of the sides of the air treatment assembly faces the wall and is positioned in the recess.
 
2. The canister surface cleaning apparatus of clause 1 wherein, when the air treatment assembly is mounted to the canister body and the canister body is positioned with the floor travelling members on a floor, the wall faces forwards and the one of the sides of the air treatment assembly is the rear side.
 
3. The canister surface cleaning apparatus of clause 2 wherein the air treatment assembly has a handle comprising a pistol grip portion and the pistol grip portion is spaced from and faces the front side of the air treatment assembly.
 
4. The canister surface cleaning apparatus of clause 2 wherein the rear side comprises an openable door.
 
5. The canister surface cleaning apparatus of clause 2 wherein the wall has an absence of an air flow passage therethrough.
 
6. The canister surface cleaning apparatus of clause 2 further comprising a lock releasable securing the air treatment assembly to the cannister body and the lock is provided at a front side of the canister surface cleaning apparatus assembly.
 
7. The canister surface cleaning apparatus of clause 6 wherein the air treatment assembly has a handle, the lock comprises a lock actuator and the lock actuator is provided on the handle.
 
8. The canister surface cleaning apparatus of clause 1 wherein the canister body further comprises a second recess and a portion of the air treatment assembly is received in the second recess when the air treatment assembly is mounted to the canister body.
 
9. The canister surface cleaning apparatus of clause 8 wherein an opening of the first recess extends in a first plane, an opening of the second recess extends in a second plane and the second plane is generally transverse to the first plane.
 
10. The canister surface cleaning apparatus of clause 9 wherein the second recess has at least one of an outlet port of an inlet conduit that is positioned upstream of an air inlet of the air treatment assembly and an inlet port of an air flow passage that is downstream of an air outlet of the air treatment assembly.
 
11. A surface cleaning apparatus comprising:
   (a) a main body comprising a first recess and a platform, the first recess comprises a wall and sidewalls that extend away from the wall to define a volume that comprises the first recess;   (b) an air treatment assembly removably mountable to the main body, the air treatment assembly comprises a front side, a rear side and right and left laterally opposed sides; and,   (c) a pre-motor filter removably mountable in the platform,   wherein an opening of the first recess extends in a first plane, the platform extends in a second plane and the second plane is generally transverse to the first plane.
 
12. The surface cleaning apparatus of clause 11 wherein, when the air treatment assembly is mounted to the main body, the air treatment assembly and the main body comprise a surface cleaning apparatus assembly which has a dirty air inlet provided on a front end thereof, the wall faces forwards and the air treatment assembly comprises part of an exterior surface of the surface cleaning apparatus.
 
13. The surface cleaning apparatus of clause 11 wherein the wall has an absence of an air flow passage therethrough.
 
14. The surface cleaning apparatus of clause 12 further comprising a lock releasable securing the air treatment assembly to the main body, wherein the lock is provided at a front side of the surface cleaning apparatus assembly, the air treatment assembly has a handle, the lock comprises a lock actuator and the lock actuator is provided on the handle.
 
15. The surface cleaning apparatus of clause 11 wherein the main body further comprises a second recess, the platform is provided in the second recess and a portion of the air treatment assembly is received in the second recess when the air treatment assembly is mounted to the main body.
 
16. The surface cleaning apparatus of clause 15 wherein the second recess has at least one of an outlet port of an inlet conduit that is positioned upstream of an air inlet of the air treatment assembly and an inlet port of an air flow passage that is downstream of an air outlet of the air treatment assembly.
 
17. A surface cleaning apparatus comprising:
   (a) a main body comprising a first recess, the first recess comprises a wall and sidewalls that extend away from the wall to define a volume that comprises the first recess; and,   (b) an air treatment assembly removably mountable to the main body, the air treatment assembly comprises a front side, a rear side and right and left laterally opposed sides,
 
wherein, when the air treatment assembly is mounted to the main body, one of the sides facing the wall is positioned in the recess and the one of the sides comprises an openable door.
 
18. The surface cleaning apparatus of clause 17 wherein the wall has an absence of an air flow passage therethrough.
 
19. The surface cleaning apparatus of clause 17 wherein the main body further comprises a platform, the first recess has an opening that extends in a first plane and the platform extends in a second plane that is generally transverse to the first plane.
 
20. The surface cleaning apparatus of clause 19 wherein the main body further comprises a second recess, the platform is provided in the second recess and a portion of the air treatment assembly is received in the second recess when the air treatment assembly is mounted to the main body.
 
21. The surface cleaning apparatus of clause 20 wherein the second recess has at least one of an outlet port of an inlet conduit that is positioned upstream of an air inlet of the air treatment assembly and an inlet port of an air flow passage that is downstream of an air outlet of the air treatment assembly.
       

     Clause Set D 
     1. A surface cleaning apparatus comprises a cyclone assembly, the cyclone assembly comprises a cyclone and a dirt collection chamber exterior to the cyclone, the cyclone having a cyclone axis of rotation, the cyclone assembly having first and second opposed ends and sides extending between the first and second ends, wherein the cyclone axis of rotation extends axially through the first and second ends and one of the sides is openable.
 
2. The surface cleaning apparatus of clause 1 wherein the one of the sides comprises a wall of the dirt collection chamber.
 
3. The surface cleaning apparatus of clause 2 wherein the cyclone has a dirt outlet, and the dirt outlet faces the one of the sides.
 
4. The surface cleaning apparatus of clause 3 wherein the cyclone has a sidewall, and the dirt outlet is provided between the sidewall and an end wall of the cyclone.
 
5. The surface cleaning apparatus of clause 1 wherein the first end has a cyclone assembly air outlet, the cyclone assembly has a door that is moveably mounted by a mount between a closed position and an open position in which the one of the sides is open, and the mount is provided at the second end.
 
6. The surface cleaning apparatus of clause 5 wherein the door is generally planar
 
7. The surface cleaning apparatus of clause 5 wherein the door extends in a plane that is generally parallel to the cyclone axis of rotation.
 
8. The surface cleaning apparatus of clause 1 wherein the cyclone assembly further comprises a handle, the handle having a hand grip portion that faces and is spaced from a side of the cyclone assembly that is opposed to the one of the sides that is openable.
 
9. The surface cleaning apparatus of clause 8 wherein the handle portion has a handle axis that is generally parallel to the cyclone axis of rotation.
 
10. The surface cleaning apparatus of clause 9 wherein the handle portion comprises a pistol grip handle.
 
11. The surface cleaning apparatus of clause 1 wherein the cyclone is removable from the cyclone assembly.
 
12. The surface cleaning apparatus of clause 11 wherein the cyclone is axially removable.
 
13. The surface cleaning apparatus of clause 11 wherein the cyclone is removable mountable in one of the first and second ends of the cyclone assembly.
 
14. The surface cleaning apparatus of clause 11 wherein the cyclone is removably mountable in the first end of the cyclone assembly, the cyclone has a cyclone air inlet having an inlet port and the inlet port is located axially from the first end of the cyclone assembly and exterior to the cyclone assembly.
 
15. The surface cleaning apparatus of clause 14 further comprising a cyclone lock, the cyclone lock comprises a cyclone release actuator and the cyclone release actuator is located at the first end of the cyclone assembly.
 
16. The surface cleaning apparatus of clause 15 wherein the cyclone release actuator is located axially from the first end of the cyclone assembly.
 
     Clause Set E 
     1. A surface cleaning apparatus comprises an air treatment assembly, the air treatment assembly comprises an air treatment member and a dirt collection chamber exterior to the air treatment member, the air treatment assembly having first and second opposed ends and a sidewall that extends between the first and second ends, wherein the sidewall has an openable door whereby the dirt collection chamber is opened when the door is opened, and the air treatment member is removably mounted in the first end of the air treatment assembly.
 
2. The surface cleaning apparatus of clause 1 wherein, when the door is opened, the dirt collection chamber has an opening that faces a first direction, and the air treatment member is removable in a direction that is generally transverse to the first direction.
 
3. The surface cleaning apparatus of clause 2 wherein, when the door is opened, the dirt collection chamber has an opening that generally extends in a plane, and the air treatment member is removable in a direction that is generally parallel to the plane.
 
4. The surface cleaning apparatus of clause 3 wherein the air treatment member is removably mountable in the first end of the air treatment assembly, the air treatment member has an air treatment member air inlet having an inlet port and the inlet port is located axially from the first end of the air treatment member assembly and exterior to the air treatment member assembly.
 
5. The surface cleaning apparatus of clause 1 wherein the air treatment member is removably mountable in the first end of the air treatment assembly, the air treatment member has an air treatment member air inlet having an inlet port and the inlet port is located axially from the first end of the air treatment member assembly and exterior to the air treatment member assembly.
 
6. The surface cleaning apparatus of clause 1 further comprising an air treatment member lock, the air treatment member lock comprises an air treatment member release actuator and the air treatment member release actuator is located at the first end of the air treatment member assembly.
 
7. The surface cleaning apparatus of clause 6 wherein the air treatment member release actuator is located axially from the first end of the air treatment member assembly.
 
8. The surface cleaning apparatus of clause 1 wherein the air treatment member has a dirt outlet, and the dirt outlet faces the openable door.
 
9. The surface cleaning apparatus of clause 8 wherein the air treatment member has a sidewall, and the dirt outlet is provided between the sidewall and an end wall of the air treatment member.
 
10. The surface cleaning apparatus of clause 1 wherein the first end has an air treatment assembly air outlet, the door is moveably mounted by a mount between a closed position and an open position in which the dirt collection chamber is opened, and the mount is provided at the second end.
 
11. The surface cleaning apparatus of clause 10 wherein the door is generally planar
 
12. The surface cleaning apparatus of clause 5 wherein an air treatment member axis extends between the first and second ends of the air treatment assembly and the door extends in a plane that is generally parallel to the air treatment member axis.
 
13. The surface cleaning apparatus of clause 1 wherein the air treatment assembly further comprises a handle, the handle having a hand grip portion that faces and is spaced from a side of the air treatment assembly that is opposed to the door.
 
14. The surface cleaning apparatus of clause 13 wherein an air treatment member axis extends between the first and second ends of the air treatment assembly and the handle portion has a handle axis that is generally parallel to the air treatment member axis.
 
15. The surface cleaning apparatus of clause 13 wherein the handle portion comprises a pistol grip handle.
 
16. The surface cleaning apparatus of clause 1 wherein the air treatment member is removably mountable in the first end of the air treatment assembly, the air treatment member has an air treatment member air inlet and an air treatment member air outlet, and the air treatment member air inlet and the air treatment member air outlet are each located at the first end of the air treatment assembly.
 
17. The surface cleaning apparatus of clause 1 wherein the air treatment member comprises a cyclone having a cyclone axis of rotation and the cyclone axis of rotation extends axially between the first and second ends of the air treatment assembly.
 
18. The surface cleaning apparatus of clause 17 wherein the cyclone is axially removable from the air treatment assembly.
 
19. The surface cleaning apparatus of clause 18 wherein the cyclone is removable mountable in the first end of the air treatment assembly, the cyclone has a cyclone air inlet and a cyclone air outlet, and the cyclone air inlet and the cyclone air outlet are each located at the first end of the air treatment assembly.