Vacuum cleaning devices include foldable wands to provide a storage configuration and/or facilitate use. A vacuum cleaning device includes a wand having a first end coupled to a vacuum unit and a second end coupled to a vacuum head or surface cleaning head. The wand defines an air passage allowing air to pass from the surface cleaning head to the vacuum unit and includes a flexible air passage along at least a portion of the wand. The wand also includes a plurality of segments pivotably connected together such that the wand is foldable about 180° in a forward direction until the vacuum unit is positioned proximate a top of the surface cleaning head, thereby providing a storage configuration.

A vacuum cleaning system including a robotic unit including a traction arrangement, and a docking interface for receiving a handheld vacuum cleaner, and a handheld vacuum cleaner configured to be docked with the docking interface. The handheld vacuum cleaner includes a vacuum motor for drawing air through a suction flow path defined by the robot unit when docked with the docking interface. The handheld vacuum cleaner includes a main body from which extends a battery pack. When the handheld vacuum cleaner is docked with the docking interface, it is configured such that the battery pack extends over the top of at least part of the robotic unit. Conveniently, the robotic unit and the handheld vacuum cleaner may share one or more common suction tools, which means that both machines can be optimised for the surfaces they are intended to clean.

A vacuum cleaning system including a robotic unit including a traction arrangement, a docking interface and an articulated arm defining an end effector. The end effector includes a suction tool. The robotic unit defines a suction flow path which extends from the suction tool to the docking interface. The system further includes a handheld vacuum cleaner configured to be docked with the docking interface, the handheld vacuum cleaner including a vacuum motor for drawing air through the suction flow path when docked with the docking interface.

A cleaning apparatus including a vacuum cleaner and a docking station is provided. The cleaning apparatus includes a vacuum cleaner including a dust collecting chamber in which foreign substances are collected, and a docking station configured to be connected to the dust collecting chamber to remove the foreign substances collected in the dust collecting chamber. The dust collecting chamber is configured to collect foreign substances through centrifugation, and configured to be docked to the docking station, and the docking station includes a suction device configured to suction the foreign substances and air in the dust collecting chamber docked to the docking station.

A dock for a handheld product comprising a docking unit and a base, the docking unit and the base being separable, wherein in a first configuration the docking unit is connected directly to the base unit, and in a second configuration the docking unit is connected to a body and the body is connected to the base.

A robotic cleaner may include a body, an optical receiver, the optical receiver being configured to detect an optical signal generated by an external device, and an optical pattern generator configured to emit light according to an optical pattern that extends at least partially around the body, wherein, when the optical pattern intersects an obstacle, at least a portion of the light incident on the obstacle is reflected towards the optical receiver, the optical receiver being configured to detect the reflected light.

A central vacuum cleaning system includes an inlet valve mounted at various locations in a structure or RV and connected to the inlet end of a vacuum conduit. A section of hose is slidably mounted within the conduit and extends from the inlet valve for cleaning an adjacent area. A pair of seals within the inlet valve retains a nozzle handle mounted on the end of the hose in a stored position when the hose is in a retracted position and provides an air seal between the handle and vacuum supply conduit. A locking mechanism mounted on one embodiment of the inlet valves automatically locks the hose in a selected extended position when manually pulled from the inlet valve. A mounting bracket enables the inlet valve to be mounted at various locations in the structure and a pair of seals enables the inlet valve to be open to the ambient atmosphere.

An autonomous vacuum cleaner that can reduce the footprint in a standby state is provided. An autonomous vacuum cleaner (1) includes a vacuum cleaner body (2) and a charging station (6). The charging station (6) has a hook (64) that latches a latched member (16) provided to a rear side of the vacuum cleaner body (2), and a lift driver (61) that raises and lowers the hook (64), and is configured to be capable of storing the vacuum cleaner body (2) in a standing state where the vacuum cleaner body (2) is hoisted and the rear side is oriented upward.

A cordless surface cleaning apparatus is disclosed that includes a compact storage configuration to allow the surface cleaning apparatus to have a small, compact footprint relative to an in-use configuration. The storage configuration therefore allows for storage in locations otherwise unsuitable for other surface cleaning apparatuses, e.g., upright vacuum cleaners, and so on. For instance, a surface cleaning apparatus configured in accordance with aspects disclosed herein may have a footprint with an overall width that allows the same to be hidden between an open door and an adjacent wall or other similarly narrow space such as a small closet. Moreover, the surface cleaning apparatus may include an aesthetically pleasing, minimalist design in addition to a small footprint, which allows the surface cleaning apparatus to be placed at a conspicuous location, such as against a wall, without becoming obtrusive or otherwise disruptive to the surrounding environment.

A cleaning apparatus including a vacuum cleaner and a docking station is provided. The cleaning apparatus includes a vacuum cleaner including a dust collecting chamber in which foreign substances are collected, and a docking station configured to be connected to the dust collecting chamber to remove the foreign substances collected in the dust collecting chamber. The dust collecting chamber is configured to collect foreign substances through centrifugation, and configured to be docked to the docking station, and the docking station includes a suction device configured to suction the foreign substances and air in the dust collecting chamber docked to the docking station.