Abstract: An upright surface treating appliance includes a main body having a user operable handle, and a support assembly for allowing the appliance to be rolled along a surface using the handle. The support assembly includes a yoke pivotably connected to the main body, and a pair of domed-shaped wheels rotatably connected to the yoke. A surface treating head is connected to the yoke. The yoke is shaped so that a section of the yoke is located between the rims of the wheels. To afford a compact appearance to the appliance, the outer surfaces of the wheels and the section of the yoke together at least partially delimit a substantially spherical volume.

Abstract: A hairdryer comprises a handle, a body comprising a duct, a fluid flow path extending through the duct and from a fluid inlet through which a fluid flow enters the hairdryer to a fluid outlet for emitting the fluid flow from a front end of the body, a primary fluid flow path extending at least partially through the body from a primary fluid inlet through which a primary fluid flow enters the hairdryer to a primary fluid outlet; a fan unit for drawing the primary fluid flow through the primary fluid inlet, and wherein the fluid flow is drawn through the fluid flow path by fluid emitted from the primary fluid outlet, and an attachment for adjusting at least one parameter of fluid emitted from the hairdryer, the attachment being attachable to the hairdryer so that the attachment protrudes from the front end of the body.

Abstract: A hairdryer includes a handle; a body comprising a fluid outlet and a primary fluid outlet; a fan unit for generating fluid flow through the hairdryer, the hairdryer comprising a fluid flow path extending from a fluid inlet through which a fluid flow enters the hairdryer to the fluid outlet, and a primary fluid flow path extending from a primary fluid inlet to the primary fluid outlet; a heater for heating the primary fluid flow drawn through the primary fluid inlet; and a nozzle attachable to the body, the nozzle comprising a nozzle fluid inlet for receiving the primary fluid flow from the primary fluid outlet, and a nozzle fluid outlet for emitting the primary fluid flow, and wherein the nozzle is configured to inhibit the emission of the fluid flow from the fluid outlet.

Abstract: A fixture arranged in combination with a sink. The fixture is fitted next to the basin of the sink and incorporates a part which projects over the basin of the sink, this projecting part carrying a water nozzle which is connected to a water supply. The arrangement further incorporates a hand dryer of the type which uses an air-knife mechanically to wipe the water from a user's hand, this air knife being discharged through a discharge outlet on the fixture, which apertures are connected to an air supply.

Abstract: A support assembly for a surface treating appliance includes a central roller arranged to engage a surface and outer rollers at either end of the central roller. The rollers together define a rolling support surface, and the outer rollers rotate about an axis spaced from the rotational axis of the central roller. This arrangement of rollers provides a rolling support surface over a wide range of motions, and spacing the rotational axes of the rollers permits the rollers to be arranged relative to one another to define a region into which components of the appliance are mountable.

Abstract: A hand held appliance, such as a hairdryer, includes a body, a fluid flow path extending through the body in an axial direction from a first fluid inlet through which a first fluid flow enters the appliance to a first fluid outlet for emitting the first fluid flow from the appliance, a primary fluid flow path extending from a second fluid inlet through which a primary fluid flow enters the appliance to a second fluid outlet, a section of the primary fluid flow path extending through the body in the axial direction and surrounding the fluid flow path, and a heater located within the section of the primary fluid flow path for heating fluid passing through the primary fluid flow path, and wherein the heater has a length extending in the axial direction.

Abstract: A hand held appliance, such as a hairdryer, includes a body, a duct, a fluid flow path extending through the duct from a first fluid inlet of the appliance to a first fluid outlet of the appliance. A primary fluid flow path extends from a second fluid inlet through which a primary fluid flow enters the appliance to a second fluid outlet. A fan unit is located in the primary fluid flow path for drawing fluid through the second fluid inlet. A filter is located in the primary fluid flow path. Fluid is drawn through the fluid flow path by fluid emitted from the second fluid outlet. A heater is provided in the body and extends at least partially along and around the duct.

Abstract: A cyclonic separating apparatus includes a first cyclonic separating unit including at least one first cyclone and an annular dust collecting chamber, a second cyclonic separating unit located downstream of the first cyclonic separating unit and including at least one second cyclone and a dust collecting chamber, and a third cyclonic separating unit located downstream of the second cyclonic separating unit and including a plurality of third cyclones arranged in parallel and a dust collecting chamber. The number of third cyclones is higher than the number of second cyclones, and the dust collecting chambers of the second and third cyclonic separating units are located inside of the annular dust collecting chamber of the first cyclonic separating unit.

Abstract: The invention relates to a wall-mountable hand dryer of the type which uses an air-knife to wipe the water from a user's hand. In accordance with the invention, the hand dryer is configured to have a maximum depth, front-to-back, of less than 150 mm when it is surface-mounted on—not recessed within—the wall. The air-knife is discharged downwardly through one or more discharge apertures on the dryer. These discharge apertures are configured so that the air-knife is discharged in front of the wall or a rear part of the dryer, and is discharged forwards towards the user at a downward angle. The downward angle of the air-knife is such that the air-knife projects to a distance of at least 75 mm in front of the wall or, as the case may be, in front of the rear part of the dryer.

Abstract: An attachment for a vacuum cleaning appliance, the attachment including a head divided into a first rotatable member and a second rotatable member, each rotatable member comprising means for sweeping dirt from a surface, a conduit connectable to a vacuum cleaning appliance for conveying an air flow from the head towards the appliance, a drive mechanism for rotating the head about a first axis while simultaneously rotating the first rotatable member about a second axis and the second rotatable member about a third axis, each of the second axis and the third axis being angled to the first axis, and means for dislodging dirt from the sweeping means with rotation of the head about the first axis so that dislodged dirt may become entrained within the air flow.

Abstract: An upright surface treating appliance includes a main body having a user operable handle, and a support assembly for allowing the appliance to be rolled along a surface using the handle. The support assembly includes a yoke and a pair of wheels rotatably connected to the yoke, the yoke being shaped so that a section of the yoke lies between the rims of the wheels. A surface treating head is connected to the yoke. The main body is pivotably connected to the yoke for movement about a pivot axis passing between the wheels, and so that a part of the main body is located between the rims of the wheels. As the main body is pivoted about said axis from an upright position to a reclined position, the spacing between said section of the yoke and said part of the main body increases, and so a shield is provided for covering the gap so formed between said section of the yoke and said part of the main body to prevent dirt and dust from passing into the support assembly through the gap.

Abstract: A tool for a surface treating appliance includes a main body connected to a conduit. The main body includes a first suction channel and a second suction channel in fluid communication with the first suction channel and located between the first suction channel and an outlet from the main body. In use, a relatively low vacuum is generated in the first suction channel which draws a first dirt-bearing fluid flow into the main body, and a relatively high vacuum is generated in the second suction channel, which draws a second dirt-bearing fluid flow into the main body and receives the first dirt-bearing fluid flow from the first suction channel. To maintain the pressure differences between the suction channels, the main body includes flexible surface engaging members located about the suction channels, and between the first suction channel and the second suction channel.

Abstract: A hand dryer having a left-hand nozzle section which, in normal use, is used to dry a user's left hand and a right-hand nozzle section which, in normal use, is used separately to dry the user's right hand, the left-hand nozzle section being arranged to emit drying air along a first direction—outwardly to the left of the dryer—and the right-hand nozzle section being arranged to emit drying air in a second direction—outwardly to the right of the dryer—said first and second directions having a downward and/or forward component.

Abstract: A wall-mountable hand dryer for drying one side of a user's hands at a time, the dryer having two nozzle sections—one for each hand—which nozzle sections are positioned towards the front of the dryer so that they are spaced away from the wall in use, the nozzle sections each extending to span the width of a user's open hand and being arranged for directing drying air down onto the front or back of said hand as it is inserted lengthwise underneath the nozzle sections from the front of the dryer, wherein the dryer comprises a downwardly pitched guide part positioned behind each nozzle section for guiding the pitch of the user's hands underneath the nozzle sections.

Abstract: A wall-mountable hand dryer arranged for drying one side of a user's hands at a time. The dryer has two nozzle sections—one for each hand—which nozzle sections are positioned towards the front of the dryer so that they are spaced away from the wall in use. The nozzle sections each extend to span the width of a user's open hand and are arranged for directing drying air down onto the front or back of said hand as it is inserted lengthwise underneath the nozzle sections from the front of the dryer. The left-hand nozzle section is banked to the right and the right-hand nozzle section is banked to the left such that the user may bank his hands accordingly in use—this makes the drying action comfortable for the user.

Abstract: A grooming device includes a head and a handle. A first end of the handle is connected to the head, and a second end of the handle is connectable to a vacuum cleaning appliance. The head includes a bristle carrier having a plurality of bristles, and a bristle cover having a plurality of apertures. The device includes an actuator manually operable by a user to effect relative movement between the bristle carrier and the bristle cover from a stowed configuration in which the bristles are retracted relative to the bristle cover to a deployed configuration in which the bristles protrude from the bristle cover through the apertures. The handle includes a conduit for conveying an air flow from the head to the second end of the handle. Resilient members are provided for returning the head to the stowed configuration automatically when the actuator is released by the user.

Abstract: Agitating apparatus for a surface treating appliance includes a rotatable body having a plurality of grooves formed therein, an agitating member located within each groove so that at least one side edge of the agitating member protrudes outwardly from the body, and a connecting member located within each groove for connecting the agitating member to the body.