Methods and apparatus for cleaning a surface with a cleaning device having a body with a handle, a connector, and one or more cleaning heads that are removably attached to the cleaning device. Each cleaning head include a lower surface arranged to contact a surface to be cleaned and a dirt collection chamber permanently attached to the cleaning head. The cleaning head may include a support structure to support the dirt collection chamber and a cleaning sheet. The cleaning head also may include a suction nozzle. At least a portion of the dirt collection chamber may be made of a filter material.

A vacuum cleaner includes a power head, a dirt collector, and an attachment plate. The power head includes an inlet, an outlet, and a suction source. The suction source is operable to draw air in through the inlet. The dirt collector includes a first wall that at least partially defines an internal volume. The first wall includes an opening that communicates between the internal volume and an external environment. The attachment plate removably couples the power head to the dirt collector. The attachment plate is coupled to the first wall of the dirt collector adjacent the opening and between the suction source and the dirt collector. The attachment plate includes an inlet opening and an outlet opening. The inlet opening and the outlet opening communicate between the internal volume and the external environment. The dirt collector is configured to be discarded.

The invention relates to a retaining plate (2) for a vacuum cleaner filter bag, comprising a base plate in which a passage opening (3) is formed, and a sealing flap (5) for sealing the passage opening (3), wherein the sealing flap (5) is sealed via an elastic element (7; 10) in the sealed position, and wherein a cover element (9) is provided which is connected to the base plate, the sealing flap (5) and/or the elastic element (7) and partially or completely covers the elastic element (7).

The invention relates to a retaining plate (2) for a vacuum cleaner filter bag, comprising a base plate in which a passage opening (3) is formed, and a sealing flap (5) for sealing the passage opening (3), wherein the sealing flap (5) is biased in the sealed position via an elastic element (7), wherein the elastic element (7) is arranged in front of the sealing flap (5) when viewed in the sealing direction; and wherein the elastic member (7) comprises an elastomer, or the elastic member (7) comprises a coil spring (9), wherein the coil spring (9) is at least partially enclosed by a sheath (10).

A suction device, having a suction unit for generating a suction flow and having a suction-device housing, in which a dirt-collecting chamber is arranged, which has a suction inlet and is flow-connected to the suction unit via at least one filter and a suction-extraction channel arrangement, wherein at least one external-air inlet, which can be closed by an external-air valve, is arranged on the suction-extraction channel arrangement between the filter and the suction unit, wherein the external-air valve has an external-air-valve body for closing the external-air inlet, which external-air-valve body can be moved, by movement of an actuating element along an actuation path. A transmission is arranged between the actuating element and the external-air-valve body, which transmission enables movement of the actuating element.

An autonomous vacuum implements a semi-waterproof waste bag capable of collecting dry waste from vacuum debris and liquid waste from mopping. The autonomous vacuum leverages a dual-roller cleaning head, one for dry cleaning and another for wet cleaning. The autonomous vacuum utilizes vacuum force to ingest both dry waste and liquid waste from the cleaning head into the semi-waterproof waste bag. The semi-waterproof waste bag includes a non-permeable portion formed of a waterproof material and a permeable portion formed of an air-permeable material. The semi-waterproof waste bag may further include a water-absorbent material, e.g., water-absorbing spherical beads.

A muffler for an autonomous vacuum includes one or more chambers and one or more noise-absorbing elements for noise reduction of air exhausted into an external environment of the autonomous vacuum. The muffler is coupled to a vacuum stack inclusive of a vacuum motor. The muffler includes a main body, a foam layer, and a sealing plate. The main body includes an inlet for air exhausted by the vacuum motor and forms the one or more chambers fluidically connected to the inlet. The foam layer is disposed within one of the chambers of the main body. The foam layer absorbs sound waves incident on the foam layer. The sealing plate is affixed to the main body and includes an outlet to exhaust air from the chambers to an external environment of the autonomous vacuum.

An autonomous vacuum leverages a dual-roller cleaning head, one for dry cleaning and another for wet cleaning. The autonomous vacuum utilizes vacuum force to ingest both dry waste and liquid waste from the cleaning head into the waste bag. The autonomous vacuum further comprises a cleaning head coupled to the vacuum motor, the cleaning head forming a mop roller cavity including a first end and a second end opposite the first end, wherein a mop opening exposes the mop roller cavity to an external environment. The cleaning head comprises a mop motor positioned at the first end of the mop roller cavity and including a driver clutch. The cleaning head further comprises mop roller core having a first end, a second end opposite to the first end, and an outer surface covered with a fabric material, the mop roller comprising a spring clutch positioned at the first end of the mop roller and removably couplable to the driver clutch of the mop motor.

The present disclosure relates to a cleaner station and a cleaner system, and a method for controlling the cleaner system. According to an embodiment, by driving the suction motor of the cleaner after the drive of the dust collecting motor of the cleaner station is finished, it is possible to suck back, into the dust bin, foreign substances such as strands of hair etc. which stuck and remain in an open end of the dust bin even after collecting the dust in the dust bin so that the foreign substances can be removed.

A handheld vacuum assembly for the capture and collection of small insects that includes a vacuum body defining a suction chamber, a motor operably configured to generate a vacuum downstream in the suction chamber, a funnel member defining a suction channel located downstream of the suction chamber and a suction channel area therein, a valve disposed within the suction channel that is configured to open and close to inhibit or prevent insects from leaving the funnel member, and a filter assembly disposed upstream of the suction channel, downstream of the motor, having a porous membrane member, having a filter cap selectively removably coupled to the porous membrane member and having a plurality of selectively removable strips disposed thereon and each having an adhesive surface oriented in a direction facing the distal tip of the funnel member.