ATBECHDEDKESFRGBGRITLILUNLSEMCPTIESILTLVFIROMKCYALTR............................JDIM350 (Ver 2.1 Jan 2001) 1620000/01252853EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATIONA320041222EP02252500.020020406EnEnEn010939720010417GB20041222200452200210302002447 7A 47L 9/14 A 7A 47L 9/00 BdeStaubsaugerenVacuum cleanerfrAspirateur1HOOVER LIMITED01531430HE/P500446EPDragonparc, AbercanaidMerthyr Tydfil, Mid Glamorgan CF48 1PQGBFumagalli, SilvanoVia Grigna 220052 MonzaITEvans, Huw David Duncan00076832Urquhart-Dykes & Lord LLP Three Trinity Court, 21-27 Newport RoadCardiff CF24 OAAGBATBECHCYDEDKESFIFRGBGRIEITLILUMCNLPTSETRALLTLVMKROSI20041222200452

A vacuum cleaner comprises a dust bag (10) mounted in a compartment (12) which is closed by a removable closure (18) which forms a part of the housing of the cleaner. The dust bag (10) comprises a cardboard collar (15) around its opening having a tab (17) which projects into a passageway (19) formed on the under surface of the closure (18). The passageway is inclined relative to the vertical and thus the tab (17) becomes trapped as the closure is removed from the cleaner, thereby lifting the bag (10) out of the cleaner without the need for the user to touch the dirty bag.

As the bag (10) is removed, a shutter closes the inlet to the bag (10) to prevent the egress of dust.