(19)

(11)

EP 1 266 061 A2

(12)

(88) Date of publication A3: 11.04.2002 (43) Date of publication: 18.12.2002 Bulletin 2002/51 (21) Application number: 01911879.3 (22) Date of filing: 14.03.2001

(51) International Patent Classification (IPC)7: D06F 37/20 (86) International application number: PCT/GB0101/083 (87) International publication number: WO 0107/1084 (27.09.2001 Gazette 2001/39)

(84) Designated Contracting States: AT BE CH CY DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LI LU MC NL PT SE TR Designated Extension States: AL LT LV MK RO SI (30) Priority: 18.03.2000 GB 0006506 (71) Applicant: Dyson Limited Malmesbury,Wiltshire SN16 0RP (GB)	(72) Inventor: HIRD, Malcolm, John Monmouthshire NP7 6PE (GB) (74) Representative: Cage, John David et al Dyson Research LimitedIntellectual Property DepartmentPO Box 2080 Malmesbury, Wiltshire SN16 0SW Malmesbury, Wiltshire SN16 0SW (GB)