Hand vacuum cleaner

Claim 1

A vacuum cleaner, comprising an elongated housing including a first housing portion and a second housing portion connected thereto; said first housing portion defining a first chamber having an inlet to admit contaminated air thereto, and an outlet to discharge cleaned air therefrom, and an intermediate plate positioned within said first housing portion and extending from one end of said first chamber to another end thereof, said second housing portion defining a second chamber; a dust filter located in said second chamber and operative for filtering the contaminated air admitted into said housing, said intermediate plate being formed with a first recess; a motor-blower unit located in said first recess and having a blower and motor operative for aspirating the contaminated air received through said inlet and directing the same toward said dust filter; a first passage means formed on said intermediate plate and forming therewith a first passage being connected to said inlet and constructed and arranged for guiding the contaminated air in a first direction from said inlet toward said dust filter; and a second passage means formed on said intermediate plate and forming therewith a second passage arranged in communication with said dust filter and constructed and arranged for guiding the filtered air in a second direction opposite to the first direction, from said dust filter toward said motor-blower unit which urges the filtered air from said dust filter toward said outlet and said first and second passage means are constructed and arranged such that said first and second passages are formed as separate air aspirating and air discharging passages.