Cleaning appliance

Abstract

A cleaning appliance includes a dirt separator for separating dirt from an airflow, the dirt separator including a bin for collecting dirt separated from the airflow, the bin including a bin lid having a closed configuration in which the dirt is retained in the bin, and an open configuration for the removal of dirt from the bin. The cleaning appliance further including an inlet, the inlet extending through an opening in the bin lid, and the inlet including an attachment interface. The cleaning appliance further includes an interlock mechanism to prevent the bin lid from being opened when an attachment is connected to the attachment interface.

1 . A cleaning appliance comprising:
 a dirt separator for separating dirt from an airflow, the dirt separator comprising a bin for collecting dirt separated from the airflow, the bin comprising a bin lid having a closed configuration in which the dirt is retained in the bin, and an open configuration for the removal of dirt from the bin;   an inlet that extends through an opening in the bin lid, the inlet comprising an attachment interface; and   an interlock configured to prevent the bin lid from being opened when an attachment is connected to the attachment interface.   
     
     
         2 . The cleaning appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the attachment interface comprises a formation for engaging with a catch provided on an attachment. 
     
     
         3 . The cleaning appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the interlock comprises a protrusion on the bin lid that extends radially inwards from the opening, the protrusion forming an abutment surface for abutting with a corresponding abutment surface on an attachment. 
     
     
         4 . The cleaning appliance of  claim 3 , wherein the protrusion extends into the attachment interface. 
     
     
         5 . The cleaning appliance of  claim 3 , wherein the cleaning appliance is configured so that, when an attachment is connected to the attachment interface, the abutment surface on the bin lid abuts with a catch on the attachment, the catch acting as the corresponding abutment surface on the attachment. 
     
     
         6 . The cleaning appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the interlock is configured to prevent the bin lid from being opened when an attachment is connected to the attachment interface and the attachment is one of a wand, an extension hose, and a cleaning tool. 
     
     
         7 . The cleaning appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the bin lid is hingedly attached to a side wall of the bin and is pivotable between the closed configuration and the open configuration. 
     
     
         8 . The cleaning appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the bin is movable relative to the air inlet, and the interlock prevents movement of the bin when an attachment is connected to the attachment interface. 
     
     
         9 . The cleaning appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the cleaning appliance is a handheld vacuum cleaner. 
     
     
         10 . The cleaning appliance of  claim 9 , further comprising a wand and a cleaner head connected to the attachment interface to form a stick vacuum cleaner.