Cleaning appliance

Abstract

A cleaning appliance vacuum cleaner includes a main body having a rear portion and a roller structure such as side wheels arranged to allow the main body to travel across a floor surface. In normal use, the rear portion is spaced from the floor surface. The rear portion carries a wheel arranged so that, if the main body is tilted so that the rear portion is brought towards the floor, the wheel contacts the floor surface. Thus, the cleaner may be used in a tipped-back position without causing damage to the floor surface as the cleaner is dragged along by the user by a hose attached to the main body. The size and position of the wheel is determined so that, when the cleaner is tipped back, the center of gravity of the main body acts to return the main body to an upright position.

1 . A cleaning appliance, comprising: 
 a main body having front and rear portions and a predetermined center of gravity,    a hose being releasably attached to the front portion of the main body, and    a roller structure arranged to allow the main body to travel across a floor surface,    the rear portion being spaced from the floor surface in normal use and having a wheel arranged so that, in use, if a user pulls on the hose so as to tilt the main body and bring the rear portion towards the floor surface, the wheel of the rear portion contacts the floor surface, the size and arrangement of the wheel relative to the main body being such that, when the user ceases to pull on the hose, the center of gravity of the main body acts to return the main body to its normal position with the rear portion spaced from the floor surface.    
   
   
       2 . An appliance as claimed in  claim 1 , in which the wheel comprises a castor.  
   
   
       3 . An appliance as claimed in  claim 1  or  2 , in which the wheel has an axle that is fixed with respect to the main body.  
   
   
       4 . An appliance as claimed in  claim 1  or  2 , in which the roller structure comprises at least one wheel or roller.  
   
   
       5 . An appliance as claimed in  claim 1  or  2 , in which the roller structure is arranged to contact the floor surface when the main body is tilted.  
   
   
       6 . An appliance as claimed in  claim 1  or  2 , further comprising a guide located on the main body for guiding the hose along a hose storage path, which path includes the rear portion of the appliance, and the wheel being arranged so that, when the hose is stored along the storage path and the main body is tilted so that the wheel contacts the floor surface, the hose is spaced from the floor surface.  
   
   
       7 - 8 . (canceled)  
   
   
       9 . A vacuum cleaner as claimed in  claim 10  further comprising a cyclonic separating apparatus.  
   
   
       10 . A cylinder type vacuum cleaner, comprising: 
 a main body having front and rear portions and a predetermined center of gravity,    a hose releasably attached to the front portion of the main body, and    a roller structure arranged to allow the main body to travel across a floor surface,    the rear portion being spaced from the floor surface in normal use and having a wheel arranged so that, in use, if a user pulls on the hose so as to tilt the main body and bring the rear portion towards the floor surface, the wheel of the rear portion contacts the floor surface, the size and arrangement of the wheel relative to the main body being such that, when the user ceases to pull on the hose, the center of gravity of the main body acts to return the main body to its normal position with the rear portion spaced from the floor surface.    
   
   
       11 . An appliance as claimed in  claim 3 , in which the roller structure comprises at least one wheel or roller.  
   
   
       12 . An appliance as claimed in  claim 3 , in which the roller structure is arranged to contact the floor surface when the main body is tilted.  
   
   
       13 . An appliance as claimed in  claim 3 , further comprising a guide located on the main body for guiding the hose along a hose storage path, which path includes the rear portion of the appliance, and the wheel being arranged so that, when the hose is stored along the storage path and the main body is tilted so that the wheel contacts the floor surface, the hose is spaced from the floor surface  
   
   
       14 . A vacuum cleaner as claimed in  claim 9  or  10 , further comprising a guide located on the main body for guiding the hose along a hose storage path, which path includes the rear portion of the appliance, and the wheel being arranged so that, when the hose is stored along the storage path and the main body is tilted so that the wheel contacts the floor surface, the hose is spaced from the floor surface.