Abstract: A bladeless fan assembly for creating an air current includes a nozzle mounted on a base. The nozzle comprises an interior passage and a mouth for receiving the air flow from the interior passage and through which the air flow is emitted from the fan assembly. The nozzle defines an opening through which air from outside the fan assembly is drawn by the air flow emitted from the mouth. The nozzle is detachable from the base, which is preferably sized to be accommodated within the opening of the nozzle for transportation.

Abstract: A cleaner head for a cleaning appliance includes a housing having an upper surface and an underneath surface in which at least on suction opening is formed. The underneath surface has opposing side edges each having a first part which lies adjacent the suction opening or openings and forms a sharply-defined edge with the upper surface and an upwardly curved second part which is located rearwardly of the suction opening or openings. This arrangement is advantageously used in vacuum cleaners or other cleaning appliances in which a ball-type support allows an increased level of steerability involving lateral movement of the cleaner head across the surface to be cleaned. The upwardly curved side edges of the underneath surface of the cleaner head reduce the amount of effort required to achieve the steering by presenting a smoothly curved surface to the carpet or other floor covering.

Abstract: A fan assembly for generating an air flow within a room includes an air inlet section having an air inlet, an impeller, and a motor for rotating the impeller about an impeller axis to draw an air flow through the air inlet, and an annular nozzle having an inner wall, an outer wall extending about the inner wall, an air inlet for receiving the air flow, an air outlet for emitting the air flow, and an interior passage located between the inner wall and the outer wall for conveying the air flow to the air outlet, the inner wall defining a bore through which air from outside the nozzle is drawn by the air flow emitted from the air outlet. A support assembly supports the air inlet section and the nozzle on a ceiling of the room.

Abstract: An arrangement including: a handheld suction unit in combination with an elongate suction wand to form a stick-vac cleaner, the arrangement further including a wall-mountable docking station for supporting the stick-vac cleaner on a wall in an upright, docked position when not in use. The arrangement provides for relatively stable storage of the stick-vac cleaner in the upright position, convenient for use.

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 bladeless fan assembly for creating an air current includes a nozzle mounted on a base. The nozzle comprises an interior passage and a mouth for receiving the air flow from the interior passage and through which the air flow is emitted from the fan assembly. The nozzle defines an opening through which air from outside the fan assembly is drawn by the air flow emitted from the mouth. The nozzle is detachable from the base, which is preferably sized to be accommodated within the opening of the nozzle for transportation.

Abstract: A tool for a vacuum cleaner that includes a nozzle and a bristle assembly. An elongate suction opening is provided in a base of the nozzle. The bristle assembly is mounted within the nozzle and includes a carrier to which a strip of bristles is attached. The carrier pivots or flexes relative to the nozzle and has a pair of wings located on opposite sides of the bristles.

Abstract: A tool for a vacuum cleaner that includes a nozzle and a duct for attachment to a wand, hose or the like of the vacuum cleaner. One or more suction openings are provided in a base of the nozzle. The front of the nozzle includes a chamfered section and a further section. A suction opening is then provided in the further section, and the chamfered section is closed. The internal angle formed between the chamfered section and the further section is greater than 90 degrees and less than 180 degrees.

Abstract: A tool for a vacuum cleaner comprising a duct for attachment to a wand, hose or the like of the vacuum cleaner, a nozzle and one of more dirt-sweeping elements. The dirt-sweeping elements are secured to a base of the nozzle and are arranged into at least two chevrons oriented in opposite directions towards the sides of the nozzle. At least two suction openings are then provided in the base of the nozzle, each suction opening being located within a chevron.

Abstract: A cleaning appliance of the canister type includes separating apparatus for separating dirt from a dirt-bearing fluid flow, a floor engaging rolling assembly, and a steering mechanism for steering the cleaning appliance as it is manoeuvred over a floor surface and for pivoting the separating apparatus relative to the rolling assembly.

Abstract: A cleaning appliance of the canister type includes separating apparatus for separating dirt from a dirt-bearing fluid flow, a floor engaging rolling assembly comprising a system for drawing the fluid flow through the separating apparatus, a chassis connected to the rolling assembly and including at least one floor engaging support member, and a duct for conveying the fluid flow to the separating apparatus. At least part of the duct is connected to the chassis for pivoting movement relative to the chassis. A biasing arrangement is provided for engaging the duct to urge the pivoting part of the duct towards a rest position relative to the chassis.

Abstract: An upright vacuum cleaner having a slide retractable handle which is used in a floor-cleaning mode to maneuver 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: 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 molding the nozzle body from plastic as a single part and then post-machining the air outlet aperture in the molded plastic nozzle body.

Abstract: A surface treating appliance includes first, second and third cyclonic separating units. The first cyclonic separating unit includes a perforated shroud having a lower wall and a side wall, and a first dust collector extending beneath the lower wall of the shroud. The second cyclonic separating unit includes a plurality of second cyclones arranged in parallel, and a second dust collector located beneath the dust outlets of the second cyclones and having an upper extremity lying 10 mm beneath the lowest of the dust outlets. The third cyclonic separating unit includes a plurality of third cyclones arranged in parallel, and a third dust collector located beneath the dust outlets of the third cyclones and having an upper extremity lying 10 mm beneath the lowest of the dust outlets. The volume of the second dust collector is greater than the volume of each of the first and third dust collectors.