Abstract: A vacuum cleaner housing member having a rigid frame, a grate and a flexible cover. The rigid frame has an outer perimeter and an opening therethrough. The grate is mounted in the opening and has an inner surface, an outer surface, one or more air passages extending from the inner surface to the outer surface, and an outer perimeter wall defining the peripheral edge of the grate. The flexible cover extends over at least one of the one or more air passages and is positioned over at least a portion of the outer surface, extends around at least a portion of the outer perimeter wall, and is positioned over at least a portion of the inner surface. A vacuum cleaner including the housing members similar to the foregoing member is also provided.

Abstract: The invention relates to a suction unit and a vacuum cleaner. The suction unit comprises a drive system for driving the suction unit on a surface to be treated; a chassis supporting the drive system; a nozzle for removing particles from a surface to be treated, which nozzle is configured to move with relation to the chassis in a direction away from the surface to be treated, the nozzle having an interior space defining an opening that faces the surface to be treated; and an outlet communicating with the interior space, the outlet being arranged for communication with a fan unit during operating conditions. The suction unit further comprises coupling means for coupling the nozzle to the chassis, wherein the coupling means is arranged to exert a force that is directed away from the surface to be treated when the underpressure in the interior space increases. In this manner the problem of the suction unit getting stuck on the floor can be overcome or at least reduced.

Abstract: In order to improve the degree of separation on the one hand and to obtain a vacuum cleaner of extremely simple construction on the other in the case of a vacuum cleaner having a housing, a suction unit arranged therein and a suction pipe which enters the housing and is connected to the suction side of the suction unit via a dirt collecting container and a separating device, it is proposed that the closed dirt collecting container should be adapted to be inserted into the housing and, when in the inserted position, be connected to the suction pipe in sealed manner via an intake opening and be connected to the suction side of the suction unit in sealed manner via an extraction opening, that the dirt collecting container should be partially filled with a fluid into which there enters a feed pipe that extends from the intake opening into the fluid, and that deflector surfaces should be arranged above the fluid-filling, said surfaces forming a multiply-deflected flow path between the upper surface of the fluid an

Abstract: A nozzle for a vacuum cleaner which is provided with a suction conduit for attachment to the vacuum cleaner housing. The nozzle has two working members alternately in contact with the work surface. Either of these working members can be alternately placed into operative position by means of a servo mechanism in the form of an actuating member that is movable between two positions.