# US 9,516,982 B2 · Self-righting cleaning appliance > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,516,982 B2 - Document ID: US9516982B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/409,816 - Filed: 2013-06-20 - Published: 2015-07-09 - Granted: 2016-12-13 - Earliest claimed: 2012-06-20 - Assignees: Dyson Technology Limited - Applicants: Dyson Technology Limited - Inventors: Stephen Robert Dimbylow; Peter David Gammack; Patrick Joseph William Moloney; David Christopher James Newton; James White - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9516982B2 ## CPC - A47L 9/1691: {Mounting or coupling means for cyclonic chamber or dust receptacles} - A47L 5/36: Suction cleaners with hose between nozzle and casing; Suction cleaners for fixing on staircases; Suction cleaners for carrying on the back - A47L 5/362: {of the horizontal type, e.g. canister or sledge type} - A47L 9/009: {Carrying-vehicles; Arrangements of trollies or wheels; Means for avoiding mechanical obstacles} - A47L 9/1625: {for series flow} - A47L 9/1641: {for parallel flow} - A47L: DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING (brushes A46B; cleaning quantities of bottles or of other hollow articles of one kind B08B9/00; laundry D06F); SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL (cleaning in general B08) ## Abstract A self-righting cleaning appliance of the cylinder type comprises a separating apparatus for separating dirt from a dirt-bearing fluid flow, and a floor-engaging rolling assembly having a recess in which the separating apparatus is received. At least a portion of the separating apparatus is visible as a portion of the outer surface of the cleaning appliance when the separating apparatus is received in the recess, and the cleaning appliance is arranged so that it is urged to return to an upright position if it is tipped onto its side. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A self-righting cleaning appliance of the cylinder type comprising: a separating apparatus for separating dirt from a dirt-bearing fluid flow; and a floor-engaging rolling assembly configured to roll on a side surface when the cleaning appliance is tipped onto its side, the rolling assembly having a recess in which the separating apparatus is received, wherein at least a portion of the separating apparatus is visible as a portion of the outer surface of the cleaning appliance when the separating apparatus is received in the recess, and the cleaning appliance is arranged so that it is urged to return to an upright position if it is tipped onto its side. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The cleaning appliance of claim 1, wherein the rolling assembly comprises a main body and a plurality of floor-engaging wheels rotatably connected to the main body, the wheels being arranged one on each side of the main body. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The cleaning appliance of claim 2, wherein the rotational axes of the wheels are inclined upwardly with respect to a floor surface upon which the cleaning appliance is located. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The cleaning appliance of claim 2, wherein each wheel has a domed outer surface. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The cleaning appliance of claim 2, wherein the recess is formed in the main body of the rolling assembly. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The cleaning appliance of claim 1, wherein the separating apparatus comprises cyclonic separating apparatus. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The cleaning appliance of claim 6, wherein the cyclonic separating apparatus comprises a first cyclonic separation unit and a second cyclonic separation unit, the first cyclonic separation unit being arranged upstream of the second cyclonic separation unit. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The cleaning appliance of claim 7, wherein the first cyclonic separation unit comprises a single low efficiency cyclone. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The cleaning appliance of claim 7, wherein the second cyclonic separation unit comprises a plurality of cyclones arranged in parallel, the second cyclonic unit being more efficient than the first cyclonic separation unit. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The cleaning appliance of claim 1, wherein the rolling assembly is substantially spheroid or spherical in shape. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The cleaning appliance of claim 10, wherein the rolling assembly has one or more protrusions, recesses, cut outs or flat portions but remains substantially spheroid or spherical in shape. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The cleaning appliance of claim 1, wherein the separating apparatus is removably received within the recess. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The cleaning appliance of claim 1, wherein the separating apparatus is received within the recess by lowering the separating apparatus onto the rolling assembly from above. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The cleaning appliance of claim 1, wherein between 10% and 90% of the separating apparatus is visible as a portion of the outer surface of the cleaning appliance when the separating apparatus is received in the recess. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The cleaning appliance of claim 1, wherein between 20% and 70% of the separating apparatus is visible as a portion of the outer surface of the cleaning appliance when the separating apparatus is received in the recess. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The cleaning appliance of claim 1, wherein a side portion of the separating apparatus is received within the recess. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The cleaning appliance of claim 16, wherein the rolling assembly does not extend around any upper surfaces of the separating apparatus when the separating apparatus is received within the recess. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The cleaning appliance of claim 1, wherein a portion of the separating apparatus is transparent, and the at least a portion of the separating apparatus that is visible is the transparent portion of the separating apparatus. ### Claim 19 A self-righting cleaning appliance of the cylinder type comprising: a separating apparatus for separating dirt from a dirt-bearing fluid flow, the separating apparatus comprising an air inlet; and a floor engaging rolling assembly configured to roll on a side surface when the cleaning appliance is tipped onto its side, the rolling assembly having a recess in which the separating apparatus is received, wherein the air inlet is provided in a base of the separating apparatus when the separating apparatus is received in the recess, and the cleaning appliance is arranged so that it is urged to return to an upright position if it is tipped onto its side. ### Claim 20 A self-righting cleaning appliance of the cylinder type comprising: a separating apparatus for separating dirt from a dirt-bearing fluid flow, the separating apparatus comprising a first stage and a second stage of cyclonic separation, the second stage of cyclonic separation being located downstream from the first stage; and a floor engaging rolling assembly configured to roll on a side surface when the cleaning appliance is tipped onto its side, the rolling assembly having a recess in which the separating apparatus is received, wherein the separating apparatus is configured to be received in the recess of the rolling assembly, and the cleaning appliance is arranged so that it is urged to return to an upright position if it is tipped onto its side.