Vacuum cleaner

Abstract

A vacuum cleaner 2 has a housing 4 having primary air outlets 20 defined in a bottom surface of the housing 4 to direct air downwardly and rearwardly of the housing. A fan 26 draws dirty air into the inlet 38 , through a filter and most of the filtered air passes out of primary outlets 20 . As a result, the air is not vented on to the face and hands of the user, and at the same time avoids disturbing dirt on the surface to be cleaned. A small amount of the air passes between the clamshell halves 10, 12 that make up housing 4 , and out of the secondary outlets 28 in the side surfaces of the body portion 6 . This air is used to cool the motor, but the rate of air flow out of the secondary outlets is insufficient to cause irritation to the user.

1 . A vacuum cleaner comprising: 
 a housing having at least one inlet adjacent an end portion of said housing for intake of air and at least one first outlet in a bottom surface of said housing for exhaust of air;    suction means for causing air to flow from at least one said inlet to at least one said first outlet; and    first filter means for removing particles larger than a first predetermined size from air flowing from at least one said inlet to at least one said first outlet, wherein the and each said first outlet is adapted to direct air from the housing in a direction away from the or each said inlet.    
   
   
       2 . A vacuum cleaner according to  claim 1 , further comprising second filter means for removing particles larger than a second predetermined size, smaller than said first predetermined size, from air flowing through at least one said first outlet.  
   
   
       3 . A vacuum cleaner according to  claim 2 , wherein said second filter means is provided adjacent at least one said first outlet.  
   
   
       4 . A vacuum cleaner according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a plurality of slats arranged in at least one said first outlet for directing air passing through said first outlet away from the or each said inlet.  
   
   
       5 . A vacuum cleaner according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising at least one second outlet for enabling air flowing from said suction means to the or each said second outlet to cool a motor of the vacuum cleaner.  
   
   
       6 . A vacuum cleaner according to  claim 5 , wherein at least one said second outlet is provided in a side surface of said housing.  
   
   
       7 . A vacuum cleaner according to claims  5  or  6 , wherein said housing comprises a plurality of housing parts, and air flows to at least one said second outlet in use via at least one gap between two said housing parts.  
   
   
       8 . A vacuum cleaner substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.