Abstract: The invention relates to a vacuum cleaner comprising a housing (1) accommodating a suction unit (7). The vacuum cleaner comprises a suction nozzle (9) which can be coupled to the housing via a suction tube (13) and a suction hose (15). The vacuum cleaner further comprises a handle (17), which is present near a coupling (69) between the suction hose and the suction tube, and a holder (25) for accessories (27, 29), which is detachably coupled to the handle and fits over the handle near a first end (37) and near a second end (39). According to the invention, the holder (25) comprises a bridge portion (41) interconnecting the first end (37) and the second end (39) of the holder, and the holder is detachably coupled to the handle (17) exclusively by means of a coupling member (51) which is present on a portion (53) of the bridge portion which is situated at a distance from the first end and the second end.

Abstract: A coffee-making apparatus for making normal coffee has a steam boiler (7) for generating steam for making cappuccino. The coffee-making apparatus has only one water reservoir (1) for making the coffee and for filling the steam boiler. The boiler has a venting valve (12) for automatically venting the boiler when the boiler is filled with cold water from the water reservoir. The influx of cold water into the boiler causes a sensor (12) to cool down, thereby opening a vent opening. With this apparatus it is possible to make coffee and steam for a second time, directly after making a cup of coffee and steam for the first time.

Abstract: In an apparatus for determining the contents of a battery or accumulator (10), the inductive coupling provided by the battery or accumulator (10) between an excitation coil (20) and a sense coil (30) is measured. To improve the selectivity of the apparatus magnets (41, 42) are provided that generate a quasi-static magnetic field during a measurement. The quasi-static magnetic field saturates the iron in an ornamental jacket of the battery or accumulator (10) so that the inductive coupling between excitation coil (20) and sense coil (30) is almost completely determined by the interior of the battery or accumulator (10). The inductive coupling at different frequencies, with and without the quasi-static magnetic field, yields a reliable identification. The excitation coil (20) can be energised by a current source (21, 22, 23) generating an alternating current with constant amplitude.

Abstract: The display screen 32 of a cathode ray tube is provided with a filtering layer consisting of silicon dioxide, an oxide of Ge, Zr, Al or Ti and a black dye. The filtering layer obtained may be mirror bright, is resistant to light and to customary cleaning liquids.

Abstract: In a hair-cutting system (1) including a hair-cutting apparatus (2) and including a comb device (3) at least the comb teeth (10) of the comb device (3) are connected to holding means (14) of the hair-cutting apparatus (2) with the aid of connecting means (13), and connecting means (13) are constructed to enable the angular position of the comb teeth (10) with respect of the hair-cutting apparatus (2) to be changed continually, and the connecting means (13) are further constructed and arranged in such a manner that when the comb teeth (10)are moved over a skin area of a person a continual contact with the skin area is guaranteed for the essential part of the contact zones (Z) of said comb teeth (10) by a continual adaptation of their angular position.

Abstract: A facial sauna comprises a first vapor delivery systems and a second vapor delivery system, each designed for delivering water vapor in the form of a vapor jet. The first vapor delivery system delivers a thicker vapor jet through a first vapor delivery nozzle. The second vapor delivery delivers a thinner vapor jet through a second vapor delivery nozzle. While in operation, the first vapor delivery nozzle of the first vapor delivery system is at a smaller distance from a vapor outlet of the facial sauna than is the second vapor delivery nozzle of the second vapor delivery system.

Abstract: The invention relates to a vacuum cleaner comprising a housing (1) accommodating a suction unit (7). The vacuum cleaner further comprises a dust container (11) in which a dust filter (21) can be placed. The dust container is detachably coupled to the housing and comprises a handle (33) and an opening (31) via which the dust filter can be placed. According to the invention, the handle is provided on a side wall (39) of the dust container, while the opening is provided at an upper side (35) of the dust container, the upper side of the dust container being directed towards an upper side (37) of the housing in an operational position of the vacuum cleaner. In this manner, it is prevented that the dust filter can fall out of the dust container or that dust can fall out of the dust filter when the dust container is detached from the housing. In a preferred embodiment, the handle of the dust container also is a unique handle for the housing, so that the construction of the housing is simplified.

Abstract: A chemical composition is provided for the manufacture of devices for storing and/or displaying information, comprising a network having a molecule which is formed from a metallic element Fe(II) which is bonded to a 1-2-4 triazole ligand (H-Trz), which molecule further comprises one or more than one anions A selected from BF4−, ClO4−, CO32−, Br−, Cl−, in accordance with the formulation: FeII(H-Trz)3A2, characterized in that this composition is used in the pure state in either one of the two crystalline phases (&agr;,&bgr;) at least one of which, referred to as the second phase (&bgr;), can be thermally induced on the basis of the other phase, referred to as the first phase (&agr;), at a temperature which is equal to or higher than a first reference temperature (To), which phases each show thermally inducible spin transitions between a low-spin state at a low first temperature (T&agr;1, T&bgr;1) and a high-spin state at a high second temperature (T&agr;2, T&bgr;2), the spin tran

Abstract: An electrostatic air cleaner includes a corona charging section and a precipitation section. The charging section includes a first and a second array of substantially parallel earth wires, each array being disposed in a respective plane substantially perpendicular to the direction of air flow, and a third array of substantially parallel corona wires sandwiched between the first and second arrays. With this design, the spacing between earth wires and the spacing between corona wires can be selected independently to obtain the most favorable corona discharge conditions. The arrangement also enables easy cleaning of the earth wires.

Abstract: Doped semiconductor nanoparticles of a size (<100 Å) which exhibit quantum effects. The nanoparticles are grown and doped within a polymer matrix.