Abstract: A cyclonic vacuum cleaner which suppresses the flow of dust-laden airflow to the outside of a dust collection container, even if fine or comparatively light dust particles ascend together with a vortex flow. Fine dust particles mixed in the vortex flow are captured by a filter 23 of a first vent hole 21 provided at a lower end of a base 19 of a vortex flow generating member 18. If the filter 23 is clogged with such particles to some extent, yet the airflow inside a dust collection container 15 is allowed to pass through a second vent hole 22 formed on the side surface of the base 19 of the vortex flow generating member 18 into an intake hole 12. As a result, a constant amount of airflow is insured. Further, owing to a skirt portion 25 provided around the first vent hole 21, the travel of the dust particles toward the second vent hole 22 can be prevented even though the dust particles captured by the filter 23 are carried on the vortex flow toward the second vent hole 22.

Abstract: The toothbrush of the present invention comprises an elongated handle having a head attached to one end. The head has a bristle-bearing face having longitudinal perimeter portions adjacent longitudinal edges and at least two perimetric, elastomeric massaging elements alternately arranged with groups of bristle tufts along each of the longitudinal perimeter portions. The brush can comprise further massaging elements which are not located along the longitudinal perimeter portions though the use of such additional elements is preferably minimised. The perimetric massaging elements have rotational symmetry through an angle of 120° or less, preferably being circular. The cross-sectional area proportion of elastomeric massaging elements to bristles on the brush head is less than 25%. Alternately there are four or fewer elastomeric massaging elements which are not perimetric massaging elements.

Abstract: A steam jet apparatus for a vacuum cleaner, which can be removably mounted to a handle of a vacuum cleaner body to supply a jet of steam to a cleaning surface, and which employs the power supply and switch for the vacuum's attachment accessories. The steam jet apparatus includes a housing comprising a reservoir with an open upper side for holding water, and a steam jetting nozzle formed to be interconnected with the reservoir. A steam generating device is disposed in the reservoir, and when in operation, generates steam from the water in the reservoir. The apparatus has a cover assembly comprising an inner cover connected to the housing to cover an upper side of the reservoir and the nozzle for supporting the steam generating device. The cover assembly includes a cover connected in electrical and fluid communication with the inner cover.

Abstract: An autonomous floor-cleaning robot comprises a self-adjusting cleaning head subsystem that includes a dual-stage brush assembly having counter-rotating, asymmetric brushes and an adjacent, but independent, vacuum assembly such that the cleaning capability and efficiency of the self-adjustable cleaning head subsystem is optimized while concomitantly minimizing the power requirements thereof. The autonomous floor-cleaning robot further includes a side brush assembly for directing particulates outside the envelope of the robot into the self-adjusting cleaning head subsystem.

Abstract: An upright extraction cleaning machine comprises a base module, an upright handle pivotally mounted to the base module, a cleaning solution dispensing system for depositing a cleaning solution on a surface to be cleaned, and a fluid recovery system for recovering expended cleaning solution from the surface to be cleaned. The cleaning solution dispensing system includes at least one tank for holding solution to be dispensed and the recovery system includes a tank for holding recovered solution. Each of the tanks comprises a flexible bladder that is collapsible when empty and will expand as it is filled by the respective fluid. In one embodiment, the upright extraction cleaning machine further comprises additional tanks for holding detergent and carpet treatment to be dispensed. In a further embodiment, the additional tanks for detergent and carpet treatment each comprise a flexible bladder.

Abstract: A vacuum cleaner having a main body and a handle, the main body being formed with a nozzle which delivers a stream of dirt-laden air through a dirt duct through a motor-fan inlet, the handle being supported on the motor-fan assembly and housing a filter bag which communicates with the motor-fan assembly for receiving the dirt-laden air, the motor-fan assembly having a motor housing, a motor with commutated brushes which give off carbon dust particles, a motor cooling fan for drawing a cooling airstream and a working fan for drawing the dirt-laden air, the vacuum comprising: an opening formed in the motor housing for receiving the cooling airstream; a cooling outlet formed in the motor housing through which the cooling airstream exists; means for directing the existing cooling airstream into the dirt-laden air; a collar extending axially outwardly from the motor housing, the collar allowing pivotal rotation of the motor housing relative to the main body.

Abstract: A vacuum cleaner suction device includes an upper casing member and a lower casing member that oppose each other. A rotary brush chamber in the suction device has a suction port formed therein. A turbine chamber that is separated from the rotary brush chamber but interconnected thereto through a passage formed in the partition that separates the rotary brush from the turbine chamber. The rotary brush is supported in the rotary brush chamber as is the turbine for driving the rotary brush. The turbine is rotated by an air current drawn into the vacuum cleaner. A service hole is formed on the turbine chamber of the seduction device body for partially exposing the turbine. The service hole is provided on a removable service hole cover with a locking portion for removably supporting the service hole cover. Contaminants that clog the passage to the tubing can be easily removed by opening the service hole by removing the service hole cover.

Abstract: Steam cleaning appliance comprising a carter housing a steam-generating device, and supply means for the steam thus generated, said means comprising: a supply mouth of the steam-generating device communicating with a supply nozzle, which can be coupled with steam supply tools, said mouth and said nozzle being connected by means of a first and a second pipe. The first pipe being provided with first shut off means for the steam flow arranged directly downstream from said mouth, and further equipped with control means which can be operated manually, and the second pipe being provided with second shut off means for the steam flow arranged directly upstream from said nozzle. Opening means are provided for said second shut off means, which can be operated by coupling said nozzle with a given steam supply tool, said tool being provided with steam supply control means.

Abstract: A reed cleaning apparatus is provided with rotary brushes (16) supported on a carriage (3) that travels along the upper bar (2) of a reed for rotation about an axis parallel to guide groove (17) formed in the reed. Flexible shafts (15) are used to transmit rotative force to the rotary brushes (16) to form the reed cleaning apparatus in compact construction, to dispose the rotary brushes close to the reed, to form the rotary brushes in a small diameter, and to enable cleaning the reed with warp yarns extended through the reed by depressing the warp yarns. The rotary brushes are disposed at the opposite longitudinal ends, respectively, of the carriage (3) to enable the reed cleaning apparatus to clean the entire length of the reed.

Abstract: A particle separation member (40) is provided for use with a cyclone separator (30). The particle separation member (40) divides the separator (30) into a cyclone chamber (46) and a particle receiving chamber (50). The cyclone chamber (46) and the particle receiving chamber (50) communicating via a plurality of apertures (52) in the particle separation member (40).

Abstract: The invention is a safety fingertip toothbrush for use by persons not desiring a full length toothbrush for space conservation reasons, but still desiring their regular oral hygiene practice using a toothbrush. The safety fingertip toothbrush is also a practical solution to safety hazards presented in penal institutions, where conventional toothbrushes with hard handles can pose a risk of being converted to lethal assault weapons. The safety fingertip toothbrush has no handle, but it includes a plurality of bristles embedded in a brush head, the brush head having a depression in one end to accept the fingertip of a finger and an elastic band connected to a thumb ring within which the thumb is placed, allowing for the user to brush their teeth and other mouth tissue using the fingers as the brush handle.

Abstract: An upright vacuum cleaner with a small cyclone separator is mounted on and in fluid communication with an elongated rigid tube that forms part of a working air conduit and also forms part of an upright handle that is pivotally mounted to a base module with a suction nozzle upstream from a conventional bag filter in a dirty air or clean air dust collection vacuum cleaner.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a locking structure for an exhaust filter cover of a vacuum cleaner. According to the present invention, there is provided a locking device for an exhaust filter cover of a vacuum cleaner, comprising locking protrusions formed to protrude radially inward from an inner end of the exhaust filter cover which includes a plurality of exhaust holes and supports a filter therein; and locking grooves within which the locking protrusions are locked and which are formed on an outer peripheral surface of an exhaust flange formed to protrude laterally from the circumference of a circular exhaust portion that is formed on a side surface of a motor housing fixed within a casing of a main body of the vacuum cleaner, whereby the exhaust filter cover is fixed to the main body of the vacuum cleaner.

Abstract: A dust cover sealing apparatus of a vacuum cleaner comprises a first fence protruding from an edge of a dust collecting chamber and having a predetermine height, and a second fence protruding from an inner surface of the dust cover to contact an end of the first fence when the dust cover is mounted on a cleaner body, and a plurality of guide ribs protruding from an inner surface of the dust cover adjacent to a side of the second fence, for guiding the second fence so that ends of the first and second fences contact each other when the dust, cover is mounted on the cleaner body. Accordingly, the sealing efficiency of the dust collecting chamber is maintained, and the manufacturing cost is reduced.

Abstract: A vacuum cleaner nozzle having a housing at which a pivoting terminal connecting piece is attached for connecting a guide suction pipe. A spoiler-shaped surface on at least one side of the nozzle housing, which protrudes over the contour of the nozzle housing and tapers to a point at its free end, eliminates the need to separately lift a loose rug to be able to clean at least the border region covered by the rug.

Abstract: An improved garment finishing machine includes an exterior housing with an entrance and an exit. An interior garment processing chamber processes garments moving downstream from the entrance to the exit. A blower draws air through the processing chamber. An air intake is located between the blower and the processing chamber. The improvement is a continuous lint filtration system. The filtration system includes a filtration medium adapted for capturing lint entrained in air drawn through the garment processing chamber and into the intake. A roller assembly is provided for mechanically advancing the filtration medium across the intake, such that a lint-covered portion of the filtration medium is automatically replaced at the intake with a clean portion of the filtration medium.

Abstract: A grill assembly for a cyclone-type dust collecting apparatus reduces the amount of contaminants passing through a grill, and also allows easy removal of contaminants from the grill, includes a grill body having a plurality of blades formed along an outer circumference of the grill body spaced at predetermined intervals from one another to define passages interconnected with the air outlet; and a fine contaminant blocking member mounted within the grill body, a first body portion, and a second body portion on which the plurality of blades are arranged, the second body portion being removably connected to the first body portion, so that reverse passage of contaminants through the passage of the grill body is inhibited accordingly, the amount of contaminants entering into the cleaner body can be reduced.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a cleaning and/or treatment device for cleaning and/or treating surfaces such as floors, pavements and carpets. The invention particularly relates to a cleaning and/or treatment device using cleaning/treatment solution, wherein the solution is recirculated and thereby used more than one time. The cleaning device comprises a filter unit for cleaning dirt from a dirty solution tank and means for recirculating said cleaned solution to a clean solution tank, wherein said filter unit comprise at least one cross-flow filter, said cross-flow filter preferably being a membrane filter. The invention also relates to a process of cleaning and/or treating surfaces using such a device.

Abstract: An upright vacuum cleaner. (A) includes an upright housing section (B) and a nozzle section (C). A cyclonic airflow dirt and dust separating chamber (54) is defined in said upright housing section. A suction source (E) pulls air and entrained dirt, dust, and other contaminants through a main suction opening (26) formed in the underside (24) of the nozzle and into the cyclonic airflow chamber (54). The cyclonic airflow chamber causes the suction airstream to travel in a cyclonic path such that the entrained contaminants are separated therefrom and deposited into a dirt container (52) that defines the chamber (54). A main filter element (K) filters residual contaminants from the suction airstream between the chamber and the suction source. The main filter element is preferably made from high-density polyethylene porous filter media.

Abstract: This invention discloses an erasing device that can be held in the same manner as a writing instrument. The eraser is stored in a tube assembly and a rolling mechanism is used to slide the eraser out of the tube assembly for use. The rolling mechanism prevents the eraser from accidentally sliding back into the device during use and gives the user total control over the length of eraser that is extended from the device.