Abstract: A cleaner head for a cleaning appliance, the cleaner head comprising: a housing defining a suction chamber; and a sole plate defining a downwardly-directed opening through which dirt can enter the suction chamber. The cleaner head further comprises a hollow deformable seal extending from a rear portion of the housing, the hollow deformable seal having a width at least equal to a width of the opening in the sole plate, and having a lower sealing surface that extends in a downward and rearward direction from a rear edge of the housing such that, in use, the hollow deformable seal is biased against and conforms to a surface being cleaned in order to maintain a seal between the cleaner head and the surface being cleaned.

Abstract: A vacuum cleaning system including a robotic unit including a main body, a traction arrangement defining a ground plane, and an articulated arm. The articulated arm includes an upper arm section and a lower arm section, wherein the upper arm section is attached to the main body at a shoulder joint, and wherein the lower arm section is attached to the upper arm section at an elbow joint, and wherein an end effector is defined at a distal end of the lower arm section. The articulated arm is configured such that the end effector is movable angularly about a first axis with respect to the elbow joint and is movable linearly along a second axis with respect to the elbow joint. The vacuum cleaning system equipped with a robotic arm that is able to bend and flex due to the pivotable upper and lower arm portions, but also extend and rotate through the lower arm or ‘forearm’ portion, providing improved dexterity for the machine.

Abstract: A haircare appliance has a housing having an air inlet and an air outlet, an airflow generator for generating an airflow from the air inlet to the air outlet, and a heater for heating the airflow. The haircare appliance has an airflow temperature module for obtaining a value indicative of a temperature of the airflow at the air outlet, a distance sensor for sensing a distance to hair within a flow path from the air outlet and a temperature sensor for sensing a temperature of the hair. The haircare appliance has a moisture estimation module configured to estimate, based on received output values from the airflow temperature module, the distance sensor and the temperature sensor, a moisture content of the hair.

Abstract: A haircare appliance has a heat source configured to emit heat, a location determination module configured to determine a location of target hair, and a guide mechanism for use in guiding emitted heat from the heat source to the location of the target hair in response to an output of the location determination module.

Abstract: A fan assembly includes a fan body, a motor-driven impeller contained within the fan body and arranged to generate an air flow, a nozzle including a nozzle body having an air inlet arranged to receive the air flow from the fan body, and one or more air outlets arranged to emit the airflow from the fan assembly. The fan assembly further includes a nozzle retaining mechanism for releasably retaining the nozzle on the fan body, and a rotation mechanism for rotating the nozzle body relative to the fan body. The nozzle rotation mechanism includes a rotation motor arranged to drive a drive member and a driven member that is arranged to be driven by the drive member to rotate around a rotation axis.

Abstract: An electrolyte and a method of making an electrolyte of the formula: Mg[Al(R)4]2, where R represents a compound selected from a deprotonated alcohol or thiol; an amine; or a mixture thereof. The method includes the steps of: combining a Mg(AlH4)2 precursor with an alcohol, thiol or amine of the general formula R—H to create a reaction liquor containing Mg[Al(R)4]2; and washing the reaction liquor in an organic solvent.

Abstract: A haircare apparatus has a plurality of capacitive sensors, each capacitive sensor configured to provide a capacitance reading indicative of hair proximal to the haircare apparatus. The haircare apparatus has a moisture estimation module configured to estimate, based on capacitance readings of the plurality of capacitive sensors, a moisture level of the hair proximal to the haircare apparatus.

Abstract: A haircare appliance is described that includes a blower for generating an airflow, a plurality of outlets through which the airflow is discharged in one of a clockwise direction and a counterclockwise direction, and an indicator. The indicator has a first visual state when the airflow is discharged in a clockwise direction and a second visual state when the airflow is discharged in a counterclockwise direction.

Abstract: A diffuser for attachment to an airflow outlet end of a hair dryer has an air inlet, a grille having a central portion and a plurality of air outlets for emitting a first part of the airflow; and a plurality of projections upstanding from the grille for contacting hair and emitting a second part of the airflow. The projections include a set of inner projections arranged about the central portion of the grille, and a set of outer projections arranged about the inner projections. The air outlets of a first subset of inner projections are arranged to emit air away from the central portion of the grille and the air outlets of a second subset of inner projections are arranged to emit air towards the central portion of the grille. The air outlets of the outer projections are arranged to emit air towards the central portion of the grille.

Abstract: A nozzle for a fan assembly includes an air inlet, a first air outlet and a second air outlet that are oriented in convergent directions, and a valve for controlling the first and second air outlets. The valve includes one or more valve members that are moveable to simultaneously adjust the size of the first air outlet and inversely adjust the size of the second air outlet. The nozzle further includes a third air outlet and a fourth air outlet, the third air outlet being opposite the fourth air outlet, the third and fourth air outlets being oriented in convergent directions.

Abstract: A method of controlling a brushless permanent-magnet motor having a phase winding and a rotor includes monitoring a value indicative of back EMF induced in the phase winding during oscillation of the rotor about a parking position, and using amplitude peaks of the value indicative of back EMF to calculate a time window in which to apply a drive voltage to the phase winding. The method includes setting a timer corresponding to the time window at a subsequent determined amplitude peak and applying a drive voltage to the phase winding during the time window.

Abstract: A haircare appliance has a heater housing, a heater assembly disposed in the heater housing, a circuitry housing remote from the heater housing, and an electronic component disposed in the circuitry housing. The haircare appliance has an electrical cable extending from the circuitry housing to the heater housing, a wire disposed within the electrical cable, the wire connecting the electronic component to the heater assembly, and an attachment member attaching the electrical cable to the circuitry housing. The attachment member has a main body having a bore within which the electrical cable is held. The attachment member has first and second arms extending from the main body, the first arm engaged with a first side of the circuitry housing, and the second arm engaged with a second side of the circuitry housing. The second side of the circuitry housing is opposite to the first side of the circuitry housing.

Abstract: A cleaner head for a vacuum cleaner includes a single agitator rotatably mounted within a housing, the agitator being arranged transversely within the housing such that it is perpendicular to the direction of travel of the cleaner head during use, the agitator being conical in shape, such that a first end has a larger diameter than a second end.

Abstract: A method of determining an obstacle-free path between a start point and a target point. The method includes the steps of providing a plurality of waypoints wherein the waypoints are linearly distributed between the start point and the target point; determining a sequence for the waypoints where the first waypoint is positioned at the start point and the last waypoint is positioned at the target point; and processing each of the plurality of waypoints in the sequence iteratively from the second waypoint to the last waypoint. The step of processing for each of the plurality of waypoints comprises identifying an obstacle closest to a waypoint of interest and calculating a first distance between the waypoint of interest and the identified closest obstacle, and subsequently changing the location of the waypoint of interest if the first distance is less than a clearance threshold.

Abstract: A heater assembly for a haircare appliance includes an air duct defining an air flow path extending from an upstream end to a downstream end; a first heater element positioned in the flow path, the first heater element having a first electrical path defined between cut-outs in a first sheet, the air flow path extending through said cut-outs; and a second heater element positioned in the flow path downstream of the first heater element, the second heater element having a second electrical path defined between cut-outs in a second sheet, the air flow path extending through said cut-outs. The first electrical path has a first width and the second electrical path has a corresponding second width which is different to the first width.

Abstract: A compound of the general formula: Li ( 4 3 - 2 ? x 3 - y 3 - z 3 ) ? Ni x ? Co y ? Al z ? Mn ( 2 3 - K 3 - 2 ? y 3 - 2 ? z 3 ) ? O 2 wherein x is equal to or greater than 0 and equal to or less than 0.4; y is equal to or greater than 0.1 and equal to or less than 0.4; and z is equal to or greater than 0.02 and equal to or less than 0.3. The compound is also formulated into a positive electrode for use in an electrochemical cell.

Abstract: A heater assembly for a haircare appliance includes an air duct defining an air flow path extending from an upstream end to a downstream end; a first heater element positioned in the flow path, the first heater element having a first electrical path defined between cut-outs in a first sheet, the air flow path extending through said cut-outs; and a second heater element positioned in the flow path downstream of the first heater element, the second heater element having a second electrical path defined between cut-outs in a second sheet, the air flow path extending through said cut-outs. The heater assembly includes electrical circuitry for connection to a power source. The first and second electrical paths are provided in respective first and second circuit branches which are connected in electrical parallel within said circuitry.

Abstract: A method of controlling a brushless permanent-magnet motor having a phase winding and a rotor, includes applying voltages of first and second opposing polarities to the phase winding when the rotor is oscillating about a parking position, measuring a plurality of first times, each first time including a time taken for current flowing through the phase winding in response to an applied voltage of the first polarity to exceed a threshold and measuring a plurality of second times, each second time including a time taken for current flowing through the phase winding in response to an applied voltage of the second polarity to exceed the threshold. The method includes determining which of an average magnitude of the plurality of first times and an average magnitude of the plurality of second times has the smaller average magnitude, and determining an amplitude peak of the plurality of times having the smaller average magnitude.

Abstract: A salt of the formula: Mg[Al(R)4]2, where R represents a halogen-free compound selected from a deprotonated alcohol or thiol; or an amine; or a mixture thereof.