Abstract: A handheld vacuum cleaner including a housing having a front end, a back end, a first side, and a second side, a handle having a longitudinal axis that extends in a direction toward the front and back ends of the housing, a suction source, and a cyclonic separator. The cyclonic separator includes a cylindrical wall having a first end and a second end, a first end wall located at the first end of the cylindrical wall, a dirty air inlet, a clean air outlet, a debris outlet adjacent the second end of the cylindrical wall, and a longitudinal axis surrounded by the cylindrical wall and the longitudinal axis of the cyclonic separator extends in a direction toward the first and second sides of the housing. The housing includes an aperture that extends through the first side, and the first end wall of the cyclonic separator is removable through the aperture.

Abstract: A vacuum appliance capable of picking up both wet and dry material is described, wherein the vacuum appliance includes an impeller configured to induce liquid into the vacuum appliance, a motor configured to turn the impeller, a restrictor assembly to prevent the liquid from being ingested into the motor, and a bypass vent assembly configured to allow sufficient air to reach the motor in order to keep the motor cool while the restrictor is preventing the liquid from being ingested into the motor. The vacuum appliance also includes a drum configured to retain the liquid and an impeller intake between the impeller and the drum. The restrictor may comprise a float configured to rise with a level of the liquid in the drum and prevent the liquid from entering the impeller intake. The bypass vent assembly may be configured to allow airflow to bypass the restrictor and/or the drum.

Abstract: A heated wiper blade for motor vehicles includes an elongated flexible beam and a heating element extending along the beam. The heating element may be configured to provide increased heat at the central portion of the blade and at the opposite ends of the blade. The heating element is comprised of an electrical conductor material that varies the amperage drawn between hot and cold ambient temperature operation. The flexible beam may include curved end portions and a flat or reduced curvature central portion. The heating element is preferably covered and sealed off to prevent loss of heat energy.

Abstract: The invention relates to a wiper blade assembly for the windows of a motor vehicle, comprising a longitudinal support (10) intended to receive a pressure application vertebra (20) and a wiper blade (30) and a wiper accessory (40) carrying a device (42a, 42b) for distributing and projecting a washer liquid wherein the accessory is intended to be assembled with the longitudinal support (10). According to the invention, the longitudinal support (10) comprises means for fixing said accessory (40) on said support.

Abstract: A heated wiper blade for motor vehicles includes an elongated flexible beam and a heating element extending along the beam. The heating element may be configured to provide increased heat at the central portion of the blade and at the opposite ends of the blade. The heating element is comprised of an electrical conductor material that varies the amperage drawn between hot and cold ambient temperature operation. The flexible beam may include curved end portions and a flat or reduced curvature central portion. The heating element is preferably covered and sealed off to prevent loss of heat energy.

Abstract: The invention relates to an assembly (80) comprising an end fitting (11) that is able to be attached to a longitudinal end of a wiper (70), and also a device (12) for spraying a liquid, said end fitting (11) and said spraying device (12) being two separate pieces that are mechanically connected. According to the invention, said end fitting (11) comprises a cavity (18) which receives a means (41) for securing the spraying device (12) to the end fitting (11). The invention also relates to a wiper (70) comprising an assembly (80) according to the invention and to a method for mounting such an assembly (80).

Abstract: Embodiments provide a method of controlling a flow of pipeline fluid through a pipeline pig that includes a bypass channel and at least one relief channel extending therethrough.

Abstract: An autonomous coverage robot includes a chassis having forward and rearward portions and a drive system carried by the chassis. The forward portion of the chassis defines a substantially rectangular shape. The robot includes a cleaning assembly mounted on the forward portion of the chassis and a bin disposed adjacent the cleaning assembly and configured to receive debris agitated by the cleaning assembly. A bin cover is pivotally attached to a lower portion of the chassis and configured to rotate between a first, closed position providing closure of an opening defined by the bin and a second, open position providing access to the bin opening. The robot includes a body attached to the chassis and a handle disposed on an upper portion of the body. A bin cover release is actuatable from substantially near the handle.

Abstract: Various feed control devices for plumbing tools such as drain cleaning machines are disclosed. The feed control devices include a collection of angled rollers that contact a cable or snake of the drain cleaning machine. Another collection of a single or dual angled roller(s) are mounted or otherwise engaged with a handle, and can be selectively positioned and contacted with the cable. By changing the position of the handle, rotation of the cable is translated to axial movement thereby advancing or retracting the cable. Also described are drain cleaning devices utilizing the feed control devices.

Abstract: Handle for cleaning tool or similar which has an elbow at an intermediate point which defines a lower straight section and an upper section which externally forms a widened surface with a configuration and length adapted to the forearm of an individual which at the front end ends in a flexible clamp which secures the forearm of the user in an area close to the elbow while on the same exterior face and close to the angled area of the handle there is a handhold in such a manner that it can be applied both on the ground or on a low surface as well as on the ceiling or an elevated surface above the head of the user.

Abstract: A power-operated air propelling work apparatus includes: an air flow pipe including an air inlet opening, an air outlet opening and a pipe wall formed between the air inlet opening and the air outlet opening to define an air flow passageway inside the pipe wall; an electric air propelling fan disposed within the air flow passageway for sucking in air from the air inlet opening and blowing out air from the air outlet opening; an apparatus housing surrounding and supporting the air flow pipe and forming a housing space between the apparatus housing and the air flow pipe; and a control circuit unit disposed within the housing space for controlling an operation of the electric air propelling fan, wherein the pipe wall is formed with an air passage hole by which the air flow passageway and the housing space communicate with each other.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are a steering system for a suction cleaning device, a locomotion system for a pool cleaner, and a turbine for use in an automatic cleaner. The steering system includes a fluid driven turbine that rotates a cam gear that is interconnected with a cam wheel for directing a drive pinion. The drive pinion is positionable in a plurality of positions to drive a nose cone that steers the suction cleaning device. The locomotion system includes first and second A-frame arms that respectively engage first and second bearings about first and second eccentrics of a turbine. Rotation of the turbine causes the first and second A-frame arms to rotate back and forth driving associated walking pod assemblies. The turbine includes a turbine rotor and a plurality of vanes connected to the turbine rotor. The plurality of vanes including lateral edges having lateral open regions to facilitate debris-removing efficiency.

Abstract: A mask-cleaning apparatus includes a frame, a wet cleaning mechanism supported on the frame, and a dry cleaning mechanism supported on the frame and located after the wet cleaning mechanism in a direction of feeding a clean-room wiper. The wet cleaning mechanism wipes a mask before the dry cleaning mechanism wipes the mask. Each of the wet and dry cleaning mechanisms includes a wiping module that includes a vertical plate, a feeder reel, a retriever reel, direction-changing rollers and a pushing roller. The wiping module of the wet cleaning mechanism includes a sprayer mechanism adapted for spraying cleaning liquid onto a portion of the clean-room wiper on the pushing roller.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for optimizing a vacuum cleaning system comprising a substantially hoseless and tubeless vacuum cleaning device and a filter bag, where the substantially hoseless and tubeless vacuum cleaning device comprises a motor-fan unit having a characteristic motor-fan curve, a filter bag receptacle, a connection port for the filter bag and a cleaning head, and where the filter bag comprises filter material made of nonwoven material, comprising the step of: adapting the characteristic motor-fan curve and the size, the shape and the material of the filter bag and the size and the shape of the filter bag receptacle and the inner diameter of the connection port for the filter bag and the cleaning head to each other such that the vacuum cleaning system achieves an efficiency of at least 30%, preferably of at least 34%, particularly preferably of at least 38% when vacuuming according to the Standard on a Standard carpet type Wilton with an empty filter bag, where vacuuming according to the

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for optimizing a vacuum cleaning system comprising a cylinder vacuum cleaning device and a filter bag, wherein the cylinder vacuum cleaning device comprises a motor-fan unit having a characteristic motor-fan curve, a filter bag receptacle, a hose, a tube, a connection port for the filter bag, and a cleaning head, and wherein the filter bag comprises filter material made of nonwoven material comprising the step of: adapting the motor-fan characteristic curve and the size, the shape and the material of the filter bag and the size and the shape of the filter bag receptacle and the length and the inner diameter of the tube and the length and the inner diameter of the hose and the inner diameter of the connection port for the filter bag and the cleaning head to each other such that the vacuum cleaning system achieves an efficiency of at least 24%, preferably of at least 28%, particularly preferably of at least 32%, when vacuuming according to the Standard on a Standard carpet type

Abstract: The invention relates to a wiper blade assembly for the windows of a motor vehicle, comprising a longitudinal support (10) intended to receive a pressure application vertebra (20) and a wiper blade (30) and a wiper accessory (40) carrying a device (42a, 42b) for distributing and projecting a washer liquid wherein the accessory is intended to be assembled with the longitudinal support (10). According to the invention, the longitudinal support (10) comprises means for fixing said accessory (40) on said support.

Abstract: An oral care implement comprising a head and a handle is provided. The head comprises first and second faces. The first face includes a plurality of cleaning elements extending therefrom. The second face is located on an opposite side of the head to the first face. The head has a length in a direction along a longitudinal axis of the handle, and a width perpendicular to the length. The head has a proximal section adjacent to the handle and a distal section remote from the handle. The proximal section has a first maximum width and the distal section has a second maximum width, wherein the second maximum width is less than the first maximum width. The second face comprises a tissue cleanser, the tissue cleanser extending over a distal-most edge of the head and forming a ridge located on the distal-most edge of the head.

Abstract: The power toothbrush includes a brushhead arm (36) and a brush element (38) at a distal end thereof. A V-spring assembly (14) converts the movement of a power drive assembly in a back-and-forth movement. A mounting member (55) at the rear end of the V-spring assembly provides a base for a magnet (56). The back end of the V-spring assembly is displaced in accordance with pressure applied to the brush member. A Hall effect sensor (58) is mounted within the changing magnetic field produced by the magnet as the rear end of the V-spring assembly is displaced due to pressure on the brushhead. A processor (65) is responsive to the output from the Hall sensor and provides an indication when the pressure exceeds a threshold value.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a motor vehicle glazed surface wiper device including an actuator arm (1; 10; 60) adapted to be connected to a windshield wiper (2), a liquid feed pipe (3) carried by the actuator arm (1) and at least one sprayer (4; 4?; 4?; 40; 50) having at least one spray orifice (45) and a connector (5) adapted to be inserted into the liquid feed pipe (3), characterized in that said sprayer (4; 4?; 4?; 40; 50) is fastened to the actuator arm (1; 10; 60). The present invention also concerns a mechanical connector for motor vehicle windshield wipers and a wiper device.

Abstract: A wheel and lug nut cleaning device providing a single tool for cleaning behind and between spokes of a wheel rim, the lug nuts, and rim cavities around the lug nuts by including a static spine having an exterior end, an angled front portion proximal thereto, an interior end, and a rear portion. A shape-retaining non-abrasive core encircles most of the spine. A sheath, removably encompassing and conforming to the core, has a tapered forward end, a rearward end, a central opening in the rearward end, and semi-obround microfiber flanges extended from the core. A lug nut and rim cavity-cleaning body, removably disposed on the interior end, has a substantially disc-shaped central base with an attachment end engageable to the central opening and flexible cleaning flanges radially disposed thereon and a cover removably disposed thereon, including a central ring and extensions radially disposed therefrom to cover the cleaning flanges.