Abstract: A manual floor sweeper includes a housing and a brush roller mounted within the housing and rotatable in a sweeping direction. A first drive member is fixed to the brush roller. A second drive member is mounted rotatably with the housing and engagable with the first drive member. A drive carriage is movable between a first position for engaging the first drive wheel when the sweeper is moved in a first direction so as to rotate the brush roller in the sweeping direction and a second position when the sweeper is moved in a second direction for engaging the second drive member so as to move the brush roller in the sweeping direction.

Abstract: A manual floor sweeper includes a housing and a brush roller mounted within the housing and rotatable in a sweeping direction. A first drive member is fixed to the brush roller. A second drive member is mounted rotatably with the housing and engagable with the first drive member. A drive carriage is movable between a first position for engaging the first drive wheel when the sweeper is moved in a first direction so as to rotate the brush roller in the sweeping direction and a second position when the sweeper is moved in a second direction for engaging the second drive member so as to move the brush roller in the sweeping direction.

Abstract: A portable domestic steam cleaning appliance comprises a generally accurate housing having a forward facing barrel portion and a handle portion. A water reservoir is releasably attached to the handle portion. A tube extends into the water reservoir to supply water via a pump to a flash boiler. Steam exits an outlet in use. Power to an embedded heating element is controlled by a thermostat to prevent excessive heating of the boiler. The components are incorporated in the housing that is readily carried in one hand to enable sweeping of attachments that fit to the outlet over surfaces for cleaning and sterilising those surfaces as required. There is no need to carry around or have closely available a significant quantity of water at high temperature or pressurised steam, to provide an adequate supply of steam, being a significant disadvantage over otherwise similar prior art appliances.

Abstract: A vacuum cleaner head, for attachment directly to a vacuum cleaner body having a central longitudinal axis, has exposed bristles with remote ends on a plane off-set by about 70.degree. to the central axis. The bristles extend along opposing sides of a lower surface of the head in strips at either side of a channel through which dust and debris gathered up by the bristles passes into the vacuum body. The off-set plane means that when the body is held directly or by a handle, a natural comfortable sweeping action, with the handle axis at about 20.degree. to the vertical, keeps both strips of bristle in contact with the swept surface.

Abstract: A combined vacuum cleaner and broom device includes an elongate hollow handle connected at its lower end to separable housing parts. The housing part contains an electric motor and fan and the housing part contains a dust collecting compartment. Lines of bristles extend across a lower end of the housing part and form between them a dust passage. The dust passage is partly closed off by elongate porous resilient pads. Rechargeable batteries are stored with the handle and an electric switch with a slidable operating disc turns the motor ON and OFF. The lines of bristles are relatively off-set with respect to the height of the device to provide a normal sweeping orientation during use, that is with the handle at say 25.degree. to the vertical. The device is normally used simultaneously as a broom and the vacuum cleaner.

Abstract: A vacuum cleaner includes an electric motor which drives a suction fan to draw air and debris into the cleaner via an inlet. The air and debris pass along a passageway and creates a suction at a bleed way to draw air through the motor and out of a compartment. Air enters the compartment through vents (not shown) in a side of an outer housing. The arrangement enhances the cooling of the motor and uses air uncontaminated with debris.