Surface treating appliance

Abstract

The present invention relates to a surface treating appliance, such as a vacuum cleaner having a fluid flow path extending between at least one fluid inlet and at least one fluid outlet wherein at least a part of the fluid flow path is housed within a releasable portion of the surface treating appliance.

1 . A surface treating appliance comprising:
 a fluid flow path extending between a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet, a portion of the fluid flow path being housed within a releasable portion of the surface treating appliance;   a release device for releasing the releasable portion; and   an accidental release prevention device for preventing accidental release of the release device.   
   
   
       2 . The surface treating appliance according to  claim 1 , wherein the fluid flow path comprises an airflow path. 
   
   
       3 . The surface treating appliance of  claim 1  or  2 , wherein the release device comprises a catch. 
   
   
       4 . The surface treating appliance of  claim 1  or  2 , wherein the release device comprises a user-operated interface. 
   
   
       5 . The surface treating appliance of  claim 1  or  2 , wherein the accidental release prevention device is a projection located adjacent the release device. 
   
   
       6 . The surface treating appliance of  claim 4 , wherein the accidental release prevention device comprises a projection located adjacent the user operated interface. 
   
   
       7 . The surface treating appliance of  claim 6 , wherein the at least one projection projects an equal or greater distance from a remainder of the surface treating appliance than the user-operated interface. 
   
   
       8 . The surface treating appliance of  claim 6 , wherein the at least one projection projects an equal or greater distance from a remainder of the surface treating appliance than the user-operated interface in its activated position. 
   
   
       9 . The surface treating appliance of  claim 6 , wherein two projections are arranged such that the user-operated interface is located between the two projections. 
   
   
       10 . The surface treating appliance of  claim 9 , wherein the projections are spaced far enough apart to allow access to the user-operated interface by a user's fingers, but close enough together to prevent a user's foot from accidentally activating the user-operated interface. 
   
   
       11 . The surface treating appliance of  claim 1  or  2 , wherein the fluid flow path incorporates a bend, the bend being housed within the releasable portion. 
   
   
       12 . The surface treating appliance of  claim 1  or  2 , wherein the fluid flow path comprises a plurality of alternative fluid flow paths.