Abstract: This disclosure concerns primarily the filter dirt-collecting bag for a vacuum cleaner having a motor and motor-driven fan in a housing. The outlet from the fan projects outwardly and usually upwardly from the housing and is removably connected to the bottom of the flexible bag for collecting the dust, which bag substantially and preferably completely covers the housing like a pillow to muffle the mechanical noise from the motor and fan. Inside the bag is a tube, which may be non-porous and flexible, connected at its lower end directly to the fan outlet at the bottom of the bag and at its upper end to the top of the bag. Adjacent the upper end of this tube is connected an outwardly and downwardly extending tubular extension, spout or nozzle, for muffling the air noise from the fan and directing the dirt toward the bottom of the bag.

Abstract: A manually-operated floor polishing machine comprising a polishing pad or brush rotatable at a speed above 660 rpm, pressing against the floor with a force of less than about 25 lbs., and positioned so that one segment of the pad presses harder against the floor than the other, such as by mounting the pad's driving plate or disc so that its plane of rotation is at an angle less than about 10.degree. to the plane of the floor. The rotating polishing pad is mounted under the driving plate which plate is driven by an electric motor. The driving plate and motor are mounted on a frame, which frame is supported by a pair of parallel wheels located so that most of the weight of the machine is supported by these wheels. This whole assembly is guided by a rearwardly extending handle attached to this frame.