Abstract: A handle assembly for a power tool is disclosed, in which the power tool has a housing, a motor provided in the housing, an output shaft adapted to be caused by the motor to execute reciprocating motion, and a blade assembly (5) extending from the housing along a first axis (A-A). The handle assembly (2) comprises a front handle (6), a rear handle (7) integral with the front handle (6) and a mounting portion adapted to be mounted to the housing of the tool, wherein the rear handle (7) is displaced from the plane (A-A) of the blade assembly (5) in use. As a result of this, the knuckles of the hand of the user that is gripping rear handle (7) are raised away from the surface of the object being cut. This provides the advantage that the user's knuckles avoid any grazing or cutting resulting from contact with the object, or with the ground when carrying out low cutting.

Abstract: A handle assembly for a power tool is disclosed, in which the power tool has a housing, a motor provided in the housing, and an output shaft adapted to be caused by said motor to actuate a working member extending from the housing along a first axis (A-A). The handle assembly (102) comprises a front handle (106), a rear handle (107) integral with the front handle, and a mounting portion adapted to be mounted to the housing of the tool, wherein the front handle (106) forms an obtuse angle with the axis (A-A) of the working member in use. This last feature makes the power tool more comfortable for a user to operate, provided that the centre of mass of the power tool lies in the region between the front handle (106) and the rear handle (107). This will usually be the case, since the heaviest parts of the tool are generally the working member and the motor housing thereof.

Abstract: In one aspect, the present invention provides a filter cleaning mechanism comprising: a filter material (37) for filtering out dust and dirt particles from air passing therethrough; a frame (32, 34, 35, 38, 39) for supporting said filter material (37); devices (31, 296; 25a, 25b, 25c, 25d) for mechanically agitating said filter material to dislodge dust and dirt particles therefrom; wherein the devices for mechanically agitating said filter material comprises elements (31, 296; 25a, 25b, 25c, 25d) for deforming said frame within its elastic limit and elements (31, 296; 25a, 25b, 25c, 25d) for rapidly releasing said frame from said deformation to cause said frame to relax to an undeformed state.

Abstract: A vegetation trimmer (10) having a motor (20) with a motor output shaft (30), a cutting head (22) for cutting vegetation, and a gear mechanism (26, 34, 36, 38) for transmitting power from said motor output shaft (30) to the cutting head (22). The motor output shaft (30) has a gear mechanism with a pinion wheel and a fan (28) mounted thereon. The gear mechanism (26, 34, 36, 38) further comprises an internal gear wheel (26) engaging with the pinion wheel (34) and connected to the cutting head (22), whereby the cutting head (22) rotates in the same direction (B) as the fan does (D) during operation of the motor (20).

Abstract: A utility vacuum that may be configured to employ a disposable bag or removable and reusable container for the collection of dirt and debris that are drawn into the utility vacuum. The utility vacuum may employ one or more movable legs that are movable between an extended position, which provides relatively stable operation of the utility vacuum, and a retracted position, which reduces the footprint of the utility vacuum so that it is easier to store.

Abstract: In a first aspect, the present invention provides an air inlet cover (1) comprising a grille (2) having a plurality of radial elements (3) radiating from a center of said grille (2), each said radial element (3) comprising a vane (4) having a leading edge (5) for positioning further from a fan and a trailing edge (6) for positioning closer to a fan, the leading edge (5) of each said vane being offset from the respective trailing edge (6) thereof by substantially the same angular amount (?) for each said vane (4), whereby the vanes are pitched more steeply closer to the center of said grille (2) than remote from the center of said grille, and a circumferential element (7) comprising a bell-shaped mouth enclosing said vanes (4) and having a plurality of apertures (8) formed in a surface thereof, each respective one of said apertures (8) having a first edge (9) parallel to the pitch of a first respective vane closer to the center of said grille and a second edge (10) parallel to the pitch of a second, adjacent r

Abstract: A hedgetrimmer having a housing, a motor located within the housing for driving a reciprocating blade for cutting vegetation. A front handle located at a front end of the housing and a rear handle located at a rear end of the housing. The rear handle having a trigger to actuate the motor, the rear handle being rotatable around a longitudinal axis of the housing. The rear handle is lockable at one of several positions so that a user can grip the two handles in the most comfortable position for the desired cutting operation.

Abstract: A vacuum cleaner 2 having a housing 4 having an inlet 12 and an outlet 54 is disclosed. Actuation of a motor 46 causes a fan to displace air out of outlet 54, and the resulting suction upstream of the fan draws dirty air through inlet 12 and inwardly through walls of filter element 22. In order to clean the filter element 22, the user lifts lid 24 by means of gripping portion 32, and then removes filter element 22 and dirt collection chamber 16. Because the central portion of the dirt collection chamber 16 is raised, dirt trapped on the outer surface of filter element 22 has a tendency to fall into trough regions 40, 42 and avoids falling into outlet 38. If the motor 46 should accidentally be actuated when the filter element 22 is removed, the opening provided by opened lid 24 is nearer to outlet 38 than inlet 12, as a result of which relatively clean air from the atmosphere passes into recess 36 in preference to dirty air from the inlet 12, thus minimizing the risk of the motor 46 being damaged by dirt.