Abstract: A hand vacuum cleaner having an upstream physical filtration chamber, an air treatment member downstream of and rearward of the upstream physical filtration chamber, a pre-motor filter downstream of and rearward of the air treatment member and a suction motor downstream of and rearward of the pre-motor filter, wherein the dirty air inlet is provided at a front end of the hand vacuum cleaner.

Abstract: A holder for securing a cleaning apparatus in an upright position and comprised of a base plate, an upright arm, and a hinge for securing the upright arm to a top surface of the base plate. A top end of the upright arm is for engagement with a bracket on the cleaning apparatus. The base plate preferable also has a resilient pad on an under surface to assist in maintaining the base plate stationary.

Abstract: A surface-treating appliance includes a main body, a surface-treating head and a support assembly. The support assembly is moveable out of a supporting position in which it supports the main body by a user performing a plurality of steps—for example, by depressing a pedal, then tilting the main body by pulling the handle. This arrangement reduces the likelihood of accidental release of the support assembly from its supporting position. For example, if the user depresses the pedal alone, or only pulls on the handle, the support assembly remains in its supporting position.

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 pair of dome-shaped wheels rotatably connected to a yoke, and a stand pivotable relative to the main body. The appliance also includes a surface treating head having at least one support member. A stand retaining mechanism is provided for releasably retaining the stand in a supporting position relative to the main body in which the wheels are raised above the surface and the main body is supported by the stand and the support member of the surface treating head. The stand is moveable relative to the main body from the supporting position to a retracted position in which the main body is supported by at least the wheels to allow the appliance to be maneuvered over the surface during treatment thereof.

Abstract: A surface treating appliance, such as a vacuum cleaner, includes a device generating a flow of fluid in the form of a motor and fan, housed in a main body. A hose and wand assembly, a surface treating head and a rotary change over valve are also provided. The valve is selectively rotatable so as to allow fluid flow from either the surface-treating head or the hose. A support assembly is moveable between a supporting position, in which it supports the main body, and a retracted position. The change over valve and support assembly are arranged so that motion of the support assembly between the supporting and retracted positions induces rotary motion of the change over valve.

Abstract: An upright surface treating appliance includes a main body and a cleaner head connected to a yoke. The main body is rotatable relative to the yoke about a first axis for movement between an upright position and a reclined position. A stand is moveable relative to both the main body and the yoke, between a supporting position for supporting the main body in its upright position, and a retracted position. The stand is biased towards its retracted position by a spring. An actuator is rotatable about a second axis spaced from the first axis and has a set of teeth which meshes with a profiled surface to drive movement of the stand towards its supporting position against the biasing force of the torsion spring. A drive member drives rotation of the actuator about the second axis as the main body is moved from a reclined position to an upright position.

Abstract: A wand assembly for a cleaning appliance includes a handle portion having a channel formed therethrough; a tubular wand received within the channel and moveable between a first position and a second position; a locking mechanism having a lock position and an unlock position and preventing the wand from moving from the first position when in the lock position; and a release mechanism mounted to the wand and which can be actuated to move the locking mechanism from the lock position to the unlock position. The release mechanism is actuated by relative movement of the release mechanism with respect to the wand.

Abstract: A surface treating appliance, such as a vacuum cleaner, includes a device generating a flow of fluid in the form of a motor and fan, housed in a main body. A hose and wand assembly, a surface treating head and a rotary change over valve are also provided. The valve is selectively rotatable so as to allow fluid flow from either the surface-treating head or the hose. A support assembly is moveable between a supporting position, in which it supports the main body, and a retracted position. The change over valve and support assembly are arranged so that motion of the support assembly between the supporting and retracted positions induces rotary motion of the change over valve.

Abstract: A vacuum cleaner having a base with an inlet facing a surface, a handle connected to the base, an air passage connecting the base inlet to the handle, and a removable handheld unit. The handheld has an inlet nozzle, a dirt separator, a vacuum fan to generate a working airflow into the inlet nozzle and through the dirt separator, and a housing joining the handheld, the dirt separator and the vacuum fan. The vacuum has a docking latch with a first latch position in which the latch holds the handheld in an operating position on the handle, and a second position in which the latch permits removal of the handheld from the operating position. The vacuum also has a safety catch with a catch member on the handle and a second member on the handheld. The catch members resiliently hold the handheld unit on the handle in a partially-removed position.

Abstract: A surface-treating appliance in the form of a vacuum cleaner has a main body, a surface-treating head and a support assembly. The support assembly is moveable between a supporting position, in which it supports the main body, and a stored position, in which it lies substantially against the main body. The provision of a support assembly that lies substantially against the main body of the appliance when not needed improves the maneuverability and range of motion achievable by the appliance in use. The support assembly may be brought out of its supporting position by a user-depressible pedal, which makes the appliance user-friendly.

Abstract: A surface-treating appliance in the form of a vacuum cleaner has a main body, a surface-treating head and a support assembly. The support assembly is moveable between a supporting position, in which it supports the main body, and a stored position, in which it lies substantially against the main body. The provision of a support assembly that lies substantially against the main body of the appliance when not needed improves the maneuverability and range of motion achievable by the appliance in use. The support assembly may be brought out of its supporting position by a user-depressible pedal, which makes the appliance user-friendly.

Abstract: A device for cutting a workpiece by means of a rotatingly driven tool bit has a suction hood surrounding the tool bit in annular manner with a through-opening for the tool bit to pass through. The suction hood forms a suction duct open to the tool bit which is limited by an outer wall. At least a part of the outer wall is curved in a perpendicular plane in the form of a parabola, and the focal point of the parabola lies beneath the workpiece engagement surface formed by the suction hood. Because of this parabola shape, chips thrown by the tool bit against the outer wall are reflected essentially parallel to the workpiece engagement surface and thus do not escape up through the through-opening.

Abstract: A vacuum cleaner of relatively compact and lightweight construction provides a generally planar lower surface having a reinforced keyhole integrally associated therewith for hanging the vacuum cleaner preferably on a planar support surface, such as a wall, during periods of non-use of the vacuum cleaner.

Abstract: An upper mounting portion of a support stand is connected to a carpet cleaning wand between two handles. A lower support leg of the stand is pivotally movable between an in-use position and a stowed position. In its in-use position the lower support leg is in affect an endwise extension of the mount and together with the inlet end of the wand forms a three point support, supporting the wand in an elevated attitude closely approximating the wands in-use attitude. A single spring serves to bias the support leg in both its in-use position and its stowed position.

Abstract: A kit for converting an upright vacuum cleaner for use as an above-the-floor cleaner. The kit includes a housing which is removably fitted over the front of the cleaner chassis and includes an air chamber communicating the cleaner nozzle opening with one extremity of a hose. The kit includes a plurality of tabs and bosses on the housing for storing the hose and a plurality of accessory nozzles which are selectively exchangeable on the other extremity of the hose.