Abstract: A vacuum cleaning system including a robotic unit including a traction arrangement that defines a ground plane, and a docking interface for receiving a handheld vacuum cleaner. The docking interface defines a suction port, an electrical port, and a predefined interface geometry. The docking interface is reconfigurable from a first configuration for engaging with a first handheld vacuum cleaner, and a second configuration for engaging with a second handheld vacuum cleaner which is different to the first handheld vacuum cleaner. Conveniently, the system includes a robotic unit or module that is dockable or engageable with multiple handheld vacuum cleaners, thus allowing some flexibility with the type of machine that they are able to use with the robotic unit. This provides a cost effective solution for the user, because if the user upgrades their handheld vacuum cleaner that new handheld vacuum cleaner can still be used with the robotic unit.

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 an end effector is defined at a distal end of the lower arm section. The upper arm section includes a pair of generally parallel arm members which are connected between the shoulder joint and the elbow joint and which are configured to define a yoke at the elbow joint at which the lower arm section is connected. 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 and has flexibility in how the robotic arm is driven and how suction is routed through the machine.

Abstract: A vacuum cleaning system including a robotic unit including a traction arrangement, a docking interface and an articulated arm defining an end effector. The end effector includes a suction tool. The robotic unit defines a suction flow path which extends from the suction tool to the docking interface. The system further includes a handheld vacuum cleaner configured to be docked with the docking interface, the handheld vacuum cleaner including a vacuum motor for drawing air through the suction flow path when docked with the docking interface.

Abstract: A vacuum cleaning system including a robotic unit including a traction arrangement, a docking interface and an articulated arm defining an end effector. The end effector includes a suction tool. The robotic unit defines a suction flow path which extends from the suction tool to the docking interface. The system further includes a handheld vacuum cleaner configured to be docked with the docking interface, the handheld vacuum cleaner including a vacuum motor for drawing air through the suction flow path when docked with the docking interface.

Abstract: A vacuum cleaning system including a robotic unit including a traction arrangement, and a docking interface for receiving a handheld vacuum cleaner, and a handheld vacuum cleaner configured to be docked with the docking interface. The handheld vacuum cleaner includes a vacuum motor for drawing air through a suction flow path defined by the robot unit when docked with the docking interface. The handheld vacuum cleaner includes a main body from which extends a battery pack. When the handheld vacuum cleaner is docked with the docking interface, it is configured such that the battery pack extends over the top of at least part of the robotic unit. Conveniently, the robotic unit and the handheld vacuum cleaner may share one or more common suction tools, which means that both machines can be optimised for the surfaces they are intended to clean.

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 nozzle assembly for a tap, or faucet, including a first nozzle and a second nozzle arranged side by side. The second nozzle has a flared discharge end which flares outwardly in front of the discharge end of the first nozzle so that the two discharge ends overlap. The nozzle assembly may be incorporated as a self-contained nozzle unit for fitting to a faucet. The nozzle assembly is particularly suitable for faucets designed to dispense water and foam soap separately over the basin of a sink.

Abstract: An appliance has a casing and a dispenser. The dispenser includes a dispensing member for dispensing a fluid and is movable between a first position in which at least a part of the dispensing member is located within the casing and a second position in which the dispensing member projects from the casing. The dispensing member is slideable between the first and second positions along a linear path. By providing such an arrangement, the dispenser is able to move along the shortest path between the first and second positions, reducing the space necessary in the appliance to allow the dispenser to move and allowing the drive mechanisms to be correspondingly smaller.

Abstract: An appliance has a casing and a dispenser. The dispenser includes a dispensing member for dispensing a fluid and is movable between a first position in which at least a part of the dispensing member is located within the casing and a second position in which the dispensing member projects from the casing. The dispensing member is slideable between the first and second positions along a linear path. By providing such an arrangement, the dispenser is able to move along the shortest path between the first and second positions, reducing the space necessary in the appliance to allow the dispenser to move and allowing the drive mechanisms to be correspondingly smaller.