Abstract: A floor tool for a vacuum cleaning appliance, comprising a main body connected to a conduit, the main body comprising, a supporting member adapted to support a cleaning element and a suction nozzle adjacent an edge of the supporting member, wherein the suction nozzle defines a suction chamber, and wherein the suction chamber includes a first fluid outlet and a second fluid outlet in communication with the conduit.

Abstract: A cleaner head for a vacuum cleaner houses a hollow brush bar mounted for rotation about an axis. This brush bar is driven by a motor housed inside the hollow brush bar, the motor forming part of a drive assembly supported at one end of the cleaner head. The brush bar is arranged for removal from the cleaner head by sliding the brush bar along the axis and out through an opening at the opposite end of the cleaner head and the brush bar is rotatably supported in clearance around the drive assembly by a first bearing, which bearing engages the brush bar in a corresponding axial-sliding fit to allow said sliding removal of the brush bar.

Abstract: A separating apparatus comprises a first cyclonic separating unit and a second cyclonic separating unit located fluidly downstream therefrom and including a plurality of second cyclones arranged fluidly in parallel about a first axis and grouped into at least a first and second set of second cyclones arranged about the first axis. Each cyclone in the first and second sets of second cyclones defines a longitudinal axis and includes a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet. The fluid inlets of the first set of second cyclones are spaced along the first axis from the fluid inlets of the second set of second cyclones, and each outlet of the cyclones in the first and second sets of second cyclones is in fluid communication with an outlet duct, wherein the outlet duct includes a first portion which extends between two of the cyclones of at least the first set of second cyclones.

Abstract: A vacuum cleaner comprising a cyclonic separating apparatus including a dirty air inlet, a main body connected to the cyclonic separating apparatus and a motor and fan unit for generating an airflow through the cyclonic separating apparatus from the dirty air inlet to a clean air outlet, wherein the cyclonic separating apparatus includes at least a first cyclonic cleaning stage and an elongate filter arranged fluidly downstream from the first cyclonic cleaning stage, the elongate filter being housed in a duct at least partially surrounded by the first cleaning stage, and wherein the filter comprises an inlet portion and a filter portion defining a generally tubular filter chamber, the inlet portion including one or more radially facing inlets to permit air to flow into the inlet portion in a radial direction from where the air flows from the inlet portion to the filter chamber in an axial direction.

Abstract: Humidifying apparatus includes a humidifier for emitting moist air into an external environment, and a fan assembly for generating an air current within the external environment for conveying the emitted moist air away from the humidifier. The fan assembly includes a device for creating an air flow and a nozzle comprising an interior passage for receiving the air flow and a mouth for emitting the air flow. The humidifier is located behind nozzle, the nozzle extending about and defining an opening through which both air from outside the nozzle and the moist air emitted from the humidifier are drawn by the air flow emitted from the mouth.

Abstract: A receptacle of a hand washing station includes a heat exchanger having an external surface for thermally contacting a relatively hot fluid and an internal surface for thermally contacting a relatively cold fluid. The external surface of the heat exchanger forms at least part of the external surface of the receptacle.

Abstract: A hand washing station has a fluid dispenser for dispensing a relatively hot fluid into a receptacle having a drain. The fluid dispenser is arranged to dispense fluid on to a heat exchanger located above the drain. A relatively cold fluid is conveyed adjacent or over an internal surface of the heat exchanger.

Abstract: The invention relates to a rechargeable battery pack. Particularly, but not exclusively, the invention relates to a rechargeable battery pack for a battery powered appliance such as a hand held vacuum cleaner. The rechargeable battery pack includes at least one power interface for transferring power from the battery pack to an appliance during use and a single charger input terminal to which an output terminal of a battery charger is connectable during use for charging the battery pack, wherein the single charger input terminal is connectable to the output terminal of a battery charger when the battery pack is connected to an appliance and when the battery pack is not connected to an appliance.

Abstract: A hand washing station has a receptacle with a raised or domed portion, a fluid dispenser for dispensing a relatively hot fluid, a drain for draining fluid from the receptacle, and a cooling jacket for conveying a relatively cold fluid beneath the raised portion of the receptacle. The raised portion of the receptacle forms part of a heat exchanger for transferring heat from the relatively hot fluid within the receptacle to the relatively cold fluid within the cooling jacket.

Abstract: A magnet that includes a composite body and at least one reinforcing element. The reinforcing element is embedded within the body and increases the radial strength of the body. As a result, the magnet is able to rotate at higher speeds without fracturing. Additionally, methods of manufacturing the magnet are described.

Abstract: A nozzle for a fan assembly has an air inlet, an annular air outlet, and an interior passage for conveying air from the air inlet to the air outlet. The interior passage is located between an annular inner wall, and an outer wall extending about the inner wall. The inner wall at least partially defines a bore through which air from outside the nozzle is drawn by air emitted from the air outlet. The inner wall is eccentric with respect to the outer wall so that the cross-sectional area of the interior passage varies about the bore. The variation in the cross-sectional area of the interior passage can control the direction in which air is emitted from around the air outlet to reduce turbulence in the air flow generated by the fan assembly.

Abstract: A method of controlling a brushless motor that includes storing a lookup table of control values, periodically obtaining a speed-adjusted control value, and exciting a phase winding of the motor. The speed-adjusted control value is then used to define the phase and/or length of excitation. Obtaining the speed-adjusted control value includes measuring the speed of the motor, increasing or decreasing a speed-adjust variable in the event that the measured speed is greater or less than a threshold, selecting a control value from the lookup table using the measured speed, and adjusting the selected control value using the speed-adjust variable to obtain the speed-adjusted control value. Additionally, a control system that implements the method, and a motor assembly that incorporates the brushless motor and the control system.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a nozzle part for a hand dryer. The nozzle part has a nozzle body and an air outlet aperture in the nozzle body, and the method includes moulding the nozzle body from plastic as a single part and then post-machining the air outlet aperture in the moulded plastic nozzle body.

Abstract: A method of starting a brushless motor that includes a rotor, a stator having at least one phase winding, and a rotor-position sensor. The method involves exciting the winding and sensing a signal output by the sensor. If an edge of the signal is sensed during a first period, the winding is commutated in response to the edge. Otherwise, the method involves commutating the winding at the end of the first period, sensing the signal, and commutating the winding in response to a second of two edges of the signal sensed during a second period. Additionally, a control system that implements the method, and a motor assembly that incorporates the brushless motor and the control system.

Abstract: An upright vacuum cleaner comprising a wand fluidly connected to a separating apparatus on the cleaner via a hose and which is used, as required, to clean above the level of the floor. The wand is at least partly retractable inside the hose for storage, and a hose catch is provided at the end of the hose, this hose catch being biased towards a locking position in which the hose catch locks the wand in an extended position. According to the invention, the hose is a stretch hose arranged, in its coil-bound state, to act as a reaction member against which a user may readily force the biased hose catch out of said locking position using the extended wand.

Abstract: An upright vacuum cleaner having a slide retractable handle which is used in a floor-cleaning mode to manoeuvre the cleaner across the floor, and a telescopic suction wand which is fluidly connected to separating apparatus on the cleaner via a hose and which is used, as required, to clean above the level of the floor. An upper telescopic section of the wand is releasably connected with a sliding handle assembly incorporating the handle, and a lower telescopic section of the wand is releasably connected to some other part of the cleaner so that sliding extension and retraction of the handle assembly relative to that other part of the cleaner effects telescopic extension and retraction of the wand sections.

Abstract: An upright vacuum cleaner comprising a telescopic suction wand fluidly connected to a separating apparatus on the cleaner via a hose and which is used, as required, to clean above the level of the floor. The wand comprises a lower wand section, an upper wand section telescopically mounted to the lower wand section and a moveable locking member which, when the wand is released for use, is biased towards a locking position for locking out the wand sections in telescopic extension. The locking member is releasable from this locking position via a reaction member provided on the cleaner, against which reaction member a user may readily force the biased locking member out of the locking position using the locked-out wand.