Vacuum cleaner

• US 5,937,477 A
• Filed: 09/30/1997
• Issued: 08/17/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 01/27/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Dyson Technology Limited (Beeswax Holdings UK Limited)
• Original Assignee: Notetry Limited
• Inventors: Dyson, James
• Primary Examiner(s): Redding, David A.
• Application Number:
  US08/875,430
• Time in Patent Office: 686 Days
• Field of Search: 15/327.1, 15/327.2, 15/327.5, 15/327.7, 15/338, 15/339
• US Class Current: 15/327.2
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 5/367 Suction cleaners for fixing on staircases
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/00 Details or accessories of suction cleaners, e.g. mechanical means for controlling the suction or for effecting pulsating action; Storing devices specially adapted to suction cleaners or parts thereof; Carrying-vehicles specially adapted for suction cleaners

Abstract

The invention provides a vacuum cleaner (10) having a housing (12) containing an apparatus (22) for separating dirt and dust from an airflow. The vacuum cleaner is configured so as to allow the cleaner to be positioned on a flight of stairs. The forward end (32) of the housing is shaped so as to facilitate the sliding of the vacuum cleaner over the flight of stairs in an upward direction.

Claims

1. A vacuum cleaner comprising a housing containing an apparatus for separating dirt and dust from an airflow, a base of the housing incorporating an upwardly extending recess for accommodating a stair nosing, and contact portions arranged on either side of the recess for contacting two adjacent stair treads of a flight of stairs and supporting the vacuum cleaner thereon, the forward end of the housing having an upwardly inclined nose with a smooth, inclined lower surface wherein when the vacuum cleaner is supported on the two adjacent stair treads, the smooth lower surface extends towards an upper stair nosing immediately above the stair nosing accommodated by the recess and is inclined to the vertical so that the smooth, lower surface facilitates sliding of the vacuum cleaner in an upward direction over the flight of stairs.

2. A vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 1, wherein the smooth, inclined lower surface is substantially planar.

3. A vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 2, wherein the upwardly extending recess has a rearward inclined surface which is substantially parallel to the smooth, planar lower surface of the upwardly inclined nose.

4. A vacuum cleaner as claimed in any one of claims 1, 2 or 3, wherein the apparatus for separating dirt and dust from the airflow is cyclonic.