Abstract: In one aspect, the present invention provides a filter cleaning mechanism comprising: a filter material (37) for filtering out dust and dirt particles from air passing therethrough; a frame (32, 34, 35, 38, 39) for supporting said filter material (37); devices (31, 296; 25a, 25b, 25c, 25d) for mechanically agitating said filter material to dislodge dust and dirt particles therefrom; wherein the devices for mechanically agitating said filter material comprises elements (31, 296; 25a, 25b, 25c, 25d) for deforming said frame within its elastic limit and elements (31, 296; 25a, 25b, 25c, 25d) for rapidly releasing said frame from said deformation to cause said frame to relax to an undeformed state.

Abstract: The present invention provides an upright vacuum cleaner (10) having an elongate body (12) and comprising a floorhead (14) on which the elongate body is mounted, the floorhead (14) having a first inlet (140) for dirty air, a wand having a second inlet for dirty air, a changeover valve (22) for selecting between a flow of dirty air from the first or second inlet, a dust collection chamber (18) also having a dirty air inlet (180), a duct (28) for conveying said flow of dirty air from the changeover valve (22) to the dust collection chamber inlet (180), and a source of suction power for drawing the dirty air from the first or second inlet through said changeover valve (22) and said duct (28) to the dust collection chamber inlet (180).

Abstract: In one aspect, the present invention provides a filter cleaning mechanism comprising: a filter material (37) for filtering out dust and dirt particles from air passing therethrough; a frame (32, 34, 35, 38, 39) for supporting said filter material (37); devices (31, 296; 25a, 25b, 25c, 25d) for mechanically agitating said filter material to dislodge dust and dirt particles therefrom; wherein the devices for mechanically agitating said filter material comprises elements (31, 296; 25a, 25b, 25c, 25d) for deforming said frame within its elastic limit and elements (31, 296; 25a, 25b, 25c, 25d) for rapidly releasing said frame from said deformation to cause said frame to relax to an undeformed state.

Abstract: In one aspect, the present invention provides a filter cleaning mechanism comprising: a filter material (37) for filtering out dust and dirt particles from air passing therethrough; a frame (32, 34, 35, 38, 39) for supporting said filter material (37); devices (31, 296; 25a, 25b, 25c, 25d) for mechanically agitating said filter material to dislodge dust and dirt particles therefrom; wherein the devices for mechanically agitating said filter material comprises elements (31, 296; 25a, 25b, 25c, 25d) for deforming said frame within its elastic limit and elements (31, 296; 25a, 25b, 25c, 25d) for rapidly releasing said frame from said deformation to cause said frame to relax to an undeformed state.

Abstract: The present invention provides an upright vacuum cleaner (10) having an elongate body (12) and comprising a floorhead (14) on which the elongate body is mounted, the floorhead (14) having a first inlet (140) for dirty air, a wand having a second inlet for dirty air, a changeover valve (22) for selecting between a flow of dirty air from the first or second inlet, a dust collection chamber (18) also having a dirty air inlet (180), a duct (28) for conveying said flow of dirty air from the changeover valve (22) to the dust collection chamber inlet (180), and a source of suction power for drawing the dirty air from the first or second inlet through said changeover valve (22) and said duct (28) to the dust collection chamber inlet (180).

Abstract: A filter apparatus and a vacuum cleaner incorporating the filter apparatus are disclosed. The filter apparatus has a first, fine filter assembly and a second, coarse filter assembly. The fine filter assembly includes a body defining a central aperture in which a pleated fine filter element is arranged. The periphery of aperture is surrounded by a resilient rubber sealing member. Apertures are arranged around the body portion radially outwards of the aperture and sealing member for mounting the fine filter assembly to pins on housing of the vacuum cleaner. The body is also provided with radially inwardly facing slots for engaging corresponding projections on a coarse filter assembly for removably mounting the coarse filter assembly to the fine filter assembly. The removable coarse filter assembly gives the user a choice between two stage filtration (i.e. using the fine and course filter assemblies) or single stage filtration (i.e. using the fine filter assembly only).

Abstract: In one aspect, the present invention provides a filter cleaning mechanism comprising: a filter material (37) for filtering out dust and dirt particles from air passing therethrough; a frame (32, 34, 35, 38, 39) for supporting said filter material (37); means (31, 296; 25a, 25b, 25c, 25d) for mechanically agitating said filter material to dislodge dust and dirt particles therefrom; wherein the means for mechanically agitating said filter material comprises means (31, 296; 25a, 25b, 25c, 25d) for deforming said frame within its elastic limit and means (31, 296; 25a, 25b, 25c, 25d) for rapidly releasing said frame from said deformation to cause said frame to relax to an undeformed state.

Abstract: There is provided a hand-holdable vacuum cleaner, comprising: an electric motor; an electrical on-off switch for operating said motor; a fan connected to an output shaft of said motor; an airflow pathway comprising an inlet for dirty air, an outlet for clean air, and a collection chamber located in fluid communication between said inlet and said outlet; means for separating out debris entrained with dirty air entering via said inlet and depositing the debris in said collection chamber; and means for adjusting an angle of said inlet relative to a main axis of said vacuum cleaner; wherein the vacuum cleaner further comprises a rigid, elongate nose having said inlet at one end thereof, said nose being pivotable relative to said main axis through an angle of at least 135 degrees.

Abstract: There is provided a hand-holdable vacuum cleaner, comprising: an electric motor; an electrical on-off switch for operating said motor; a fan connected to an output shaft of said motor; an airflow pathway comprising an inlet for dirty air, an outlet for clean air, and a collection chamber located in fluid communication between said inlet and said outlet; means for separating out debris entrained with dirty air entering via said inlet and depositing the debris in said collection chamber; and means for adjusting an angle of said inlet relative to a main axis of said vacuum cleaner; wherein the vacuum cleaner further comprises a rigid, elongate nose having said inlet at one end thereof, said nose being pivotable relative to said main axis through an angle of at least 135 degrees.

Abstract: A filter apparatus and a vacuum cleaner incorporating the filter apparatus are disclosed. The filter apparatus comprises a first, fine filter assembly and a second, coarse filter assembly. The fine filter assembly comprises a body defining a central aperture in which a pleated fine filter element is arranged. The periphery of aperture is surrounded by a resilient rubber sealing member. Apertures are arranged around body portion radially outwards of aperture and sealing member for mounting the fine filter assembly to pins on housing of the vacuum cleaner. The body is also provided with radially inwardly facing slots for engaging corresponding projections on coarse filter assembly for removably mounting the coarse filter assembly to the fine filter assembly. The removable coarse filter assembly gives the user a choice between two stage filtration (i.e. using the fine and course filter assemblies) or single stage filtration (i.e. using the fine filter assembly only).

Abstract: A vacuum cleaner 2 has a housing 4 having primary air outlets 20 defined in a bottom surface of the housing 4 to direct air downwardly and rearwardly of the housing. A fan 26 draws dirty air into the inlet 38, through a filter and most of the filtered air passes out of primary outlets 20. As a result, the air is not vented on to the face and hands of the user, and at the same time avoids disturbing dirt on the surface to be cleaned. A small amount of the air passes between the clamshell halves 10, 12 that make up housing 4, and out of the secondary outlets 28 in the side surfaces of the body portion 6. This air is used to cool the motor, but the rate of air flow out of the secondary outlets is insufficient to cause irritation to the user.

Abstract: A dual filter arrangement for a vacuum cleaner for filtering particles of dust and debris from an airflow passing through the vacuum cleaner. The dual filter comprises a coarse pre-filter having an array of pores formed therein of substantially uniform diameter and a fine primary filter which is located rearwardly of the pre-filter in the direction of flow of the airflow. The dual filter is releasably latched to a main housing portion of the vacuum cleaner housing. A nose cone is removably secured to the housing and circumscribes the dual filter assembly. The dual filter enables even more efficient filtering of contaminants from dust and dirt entrained air ingested by the vacuum cleaner. Attachment of the dual filter to the main housing portion provides the additional advantage of increasing the capacity of the nose cone and eliminating the need for the user to handle the dual filter assembly when emptying contaminants collected within the nose cone.

Abstract: There is provided a hand-holdable vacuum cleaner, comprising: an electric motor; an electrical on-off switch for operating said motor; a fan connected to an output shaft of said motor; an airflow pathway comprising an inlet for dirty air, an outlet for clean air, and a collection chamber located in fluid communication between said inlet and said outlet; means for separating out debris entrained with dirty air entering via said inlet and depositing the debris in said collection chamber; and means for adjusting an angle of said inlet relative to a main axis of said vacuum cleaner; wherein the vacuum cleaner further comprises a rigid, elongate nose having said inlet at one end thereof, said nose being pivotable relative to said main axis through an angle of at least 135 degrees.

Abstract: A dual filter arrangement for a vacuum cleaner for filtering particles of dust and debris from an airflow passing through the vacuum cleaner. The dual filter comprises a coarse pre-filter having an array of pores formed therein of substantially uniform diameter and a fine primary filter which is located rearwardly of the pre-filter in the direction of flow of the airflow. The dual filter is releasably latched to a main housing portion of the vacuum cleaner housing. A nose cone is removably secured to the housing and circumscribes the dual filter assembly. The dual filter enables even more efficient filtering of contaminants from dust and dirt entrained air ingested by the vacuum cleaner. Attachment of the dual filter to the main housing portion provides the additional advantage of increasing the capacity of the nose cone and eliminating the need for the user to handle the dual filter assembly when emptying contaminants collected within the nose cone.

Abstract: There is provided a hand-holdable vacuum cleaner, comprising: an electric motor, an electrical on-off switch for operating said motor; a fan connected to an output shaft of said motor; an airflow pathway comprising an inlet for dirty air, an outlet for clean air, and a collection chamber located in fluid communication between said inlet and said outlet; means for separating out debris entrained with dirty air entering via said inlet and depositing the debris in said collection chamber; and means for adjusting an angle of said inlet relative to a main axis of said vacuum cleaner; wherein the vacuum cleaner further comprises a rigid, elongate nose having said inlet at one end thereof, said nose being pivotable relative to said main axis through an angle of at least 135 degrees.