Vacuum Cleaners Discussions

A while back, I think Carmine and I may have discussed Rainbow vacuum clones. I know that the Ocean Blue came up but it was not the particular machine I was thinking of.   I wracked my brain and could not for the life of me get the name of the thing right.  Well, I've come across it and its called Roboclean. Even more remarkably the company is not dead but still alive in Europe. I'd bet Trilobite knows something about itt.  See the following link --

http://www.roboclean.org.uk/products.html

http://www.swmarket.ru/aura_roboclean.html

Now, someone please explain international law and patents to me please.  This company even has an equivalent to the mini air freshener that Rainbow makes.  Is it possible that Rainbow either owns, has a partnership with or  interest in this coompany.

Venson

I haven't personally come across the machine on the UK market.

Certainly, the Roboclean name conjures up visions of a self-propelled robotic cleaner, but this appears not to be the case.

The machine does look remarkably similar to the Rexair models.

I suspect that Rexair/Rainbow US has licenced the designs to foreign market franchises, on condition that the Rexair/Rainbow name is not used; probably to prevent a backlash on the US company, should a particular country have problems marketing, etc.

I have, earlier this year, seen a similar air cleaner design advertised on one of our home shopping channels. It used water, to which a scent could be added. The lid contained a fan which sucked in the dirty air and passed it into the water. The water swirled about, in the glass container.