Vacuum Cleaners Discussions

Dyson sues rival Vax over vacuum cleaner design
Dyson has launched legal action against rival manufacturer Vax, claiming the design of its Mach Zen vacuum cleaner is an infringement of the registered design of its first "bagless" Dyson cylinder vacuum, launched 15 years ago.

The company's founder and inventor James Dyson – who revolutionised the domestic appliance market with the product – said the Chinese-owned rival had "flagrantly copied" Dyson's iconic design and pledged to set a precedent on behalf of all designers.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2010/jan/27/dyson-sues-vax

By the way, I meant to mention that the DC02 Dyson in the Which? article is very similar to the long gone Fantom canister vac. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MXDKH8zZmvI

How'd that happen?  Anyway . . .

If imitation is the greatest form of flattery then what does theft of the actual product represent?  A perverse assessment of value?  Beauty, value and all that being in the eye of the beholder -- maybe the following article will make ol' JD feel a little better.  The world wants Dyson so badly there are those prepared to steal them.  Bet ya Dirt Devil wishes it could say the same.  This, as far as I know, this __ vacuum cleaner theft -- is an American phenomenom. Is there much report of Dyson theft in Europe?

http://www.hometownlife.com/article/20100729/NEWS24/7290502

Venson

Venson wrote:
Ah but didn't Dyson go to Amway who at that time owned Fantom? Their original bagless vacs were carbon copies of Dyson. There's a whole big bust up section in Dyson's book somewhere about it.

As you were saying about that dusting tool, Venson, here's the Vax one:





Now, as you can see if you slide down the brush over the crevice, it then becomes the dusting brush function. Then the thing can be reversed so that it can pick up hair etc with the lint pickers. I can't stand it when it has to be used in this way as it reminds me of using an upturned cup on a floor. It isn't practical and it doesn't glide very well either.

vacmanuk wrote:

Vacmanuk, Venson:

You're referring to dyson's G Force sold briefly door-to-door in 1983 in the UK.  Displayed in the Design Museum.  From 1982-4, James Dyson tried to interest European firms in buyiong the design.  Notta.  Dyson was hell bent on making their bagged vacuums obsolete and killing the market in paper bags.  Nobody in Europe wanted anything to do with dyson for those reasons.  Dyson sold the rights in America in 1984.  After a year the buyer pulled out probably for the same reasons as the Europeans.  Dyson took the G force to Japan where it was acclaimed.  Progress was halted while dyson sued his former American licensee for patent infringement over a machine brought out after the breakup of their business relationship.  After this was settled, royalties from the US enabled dyson to set up a factory in Malmesbury in 1992.  Dyson began making refined designs under the dyson name there.  Led to the dual cyclone in 1993 in upright and canister form.

Carmine D.

CarmineD wrote:

Thanks Carmine,

My history on these is not great.  What I recall is the heavy-duty TV advertising done here in the States for teh Fantom upright and the appearance of the Fantom canister. Can't verify chicken or egg in this case but I do remember the top-side hose attachment, etc., on the depicted European version being all too similar to the Fantom can that was sold here in America.

Venson