Devices for collecting patient excretions utilize existing suction sources and facilitate the cleaning of bedding and/or a patient. Patient excretion collection devices comprise a collection reservoir and a collection wand which are attached to an existing source of suction.

A filter system for a vacuum cleaner is disclosed. The system comprises a housing reconfigurable relative to a bin between an operative configuration in which the housing is disposed upon the bin so that dirt separated from dirt-laden air can collect in the bin, and an idle configuration in which the housing is removed from the bin. The housing comprises an inlet for receiving dirt-laden air into the housing, an outlet via which cleaned air can exit the housing. The system further comprises first filtering means and second filtering means disposed within the housing, the first filtering means being positioned upstream of the second filtering means. The first and second filtering means comprises a filter medium configured to separate dirt from the dirt-laden air passing from the inlet to the outlet through the filter medium. The system further comprises filter cleaning means for removing dirt from the filter medium of the first filtering means when the housing is configured at least in the operative configuration.

An apparatus is provided for attaching floor tools to a wheeled vehicle. The apparatus includes a mounting frame configured to secure to a frame of the wheeled vehicle and a floating frame rotatably attached to the mounting frame. The apparatus also includes pickup tubes attached to the floating frame. The pickup tubes are configured to attach to the floor tools. The floating frame is configured to move relative to the mounting frame based on undulations in a floor surface over which the floor tools travel. In other embodiments, a method is provided for assembling the apparatus. In still other embodiments, a method is provided for using the above apparatus with the wheeled vehicle. In still other embodiments, a wheeled vehicle is provided that includes the above apparatus and the one or more floor tools attached to the wheeled vehicle with the apparatus.

Embodiments of the present invention described herein relate to vacuum cleaners. The vacuum cleaners described herein can include a motor, a lid, a collection receptacle, and at least one support member to permit access to the interior of the vacuum cleaner. Also described herein are vacuum cleaners having a motor, a lid, a collection receptacle, and an accessory holder that can be pivotally mounted to the collection receptacle to permit access to the contents thereof.

A series of vacuum cleaner is produced using common components and one or more interchangeable components, including a cyclone casing and/or a motor casing.

A vacuum cleaner includes a cyclone separator, a collection chamber below the cyclone separator, a pre-motor filter downstream from the cyclone separator, and an openable cover above the pre-motor filter. The cover provides access to an upstream surface of the pre-motor filter when open, and forms an outer surface of the vacuum cleaner that is angled forwardly at an incline.

A vacuum cleaner (1) comprising a container (2), a suction unit (60), an air channeling unit (25), operative between the container (2) and the suction unit (60), wherein the air channeling unit (25) comprises: a collector (26) having a suction mouth (27) at an intake side of the air channeling unit (25), a deflector (28) positioned at the intake side and radially extending at least over a central portion of the suction mouth (27), the collector (26) and the deflector (28) delimiting a suction channel (29) connecting the suction mouth (27) to an inlet port (22) of the suction unit (60).

An energy storage module for use with an electric device in the shape of an electric hand-held machine tool or a vacuum cleaner, with the energy storage module having a wireless communication interface for wireless communication with an external communication apparatus arranged remote from the energy storage module and a module housing in which an electric storage device with at least one electrically rechargeable storage cell is arranged and on which a device interface is provided for detachable connection of the energy storage module to the electric device, with the device interface having electric device supply contacts for the electric energy supply of the electric device. The device interface of the energy storage module has a data interface separate from the device supply contacts, for data communication with the electric device.

An extractor is provided. The extractor comprises: a base movable along a surface; a handle configured to be gripped by a user to move the base; a nozzle in fluid communication with a suction motor configured to generate a suction airflow through the nozzle; an encoder operable to generate an encoder signal as a first signal based on user-initiated movement of the base along the surface in a forward direction and as a second signal based on movement in a rearward direction; and a controller operatively connected to the encoder and the suction motor, the controller being configured to change a power to the suction motor to a forward power level based on the first signal during operation of the extractor and to a rearward power level based on the second signal during operation of the extractor, wherein the forward power level is less than the rearward power level.

An upright surface cleaning apparatus has a portable cleaning unit that is removably mounted to the support member. The upright surface cleaning apparatus is operable in a floor cleaning mode, in which the portable cleaning unit is mounted to the support member, and in an above floor cleaning mode, in which the portable cleaning unit, an above floor cleaning wand and a hose are concurrently removed from the support member.