System for cleaning appliance

Abstract

A system for a cleaning appliance comprises a first component (110, fig 3) and a second component (120, fig 2A). The first component comprises a first magnet (113, fig 3). The second component compris

Description

B ACKGROUND A cleaning appliance typically comprises a main unit and a cleaner head that can be connected and disconnected from each other (e.g. for changing cleaning head). Cleaning appliances may further comprise a wand interposed between the main unit and the cleaner head, the wand being connectable and disconnectable from both the main unit at a proximal end of the wand and the cleaner head at a distal end of the wand. The connectable and disconnectable nature of these components from each other is conventionally provided by mechanical latch and keeper arrangements between said components. SUMMARY In a first aspect there is provided a system for a cleaning appliance, the system comprising a first component and a second component, wherein: the first component comprises a first magnet; the second component comprises a second magnet; and wherein the first component and second component are rotatable relative to each other between a connection configuration in which the first magnet is magnetically attracted to the second magnet to connect the first component and the second component, and a disconnection configuration. Such a system allows the first component and second component to be connected and disconnected from each other by changing the rotational orientation of the first component relative to the second component, for example, by a user twisting the first component relative to the second component. In this way, it is possible for the first component to be connected and disconnected from the second component without the user having to reach to a connection point between the first component and the second component (e.g. down to the floor), for example, to actuate a release button proximate the connection point. This in turn makes the system easier and more convenient to use. Moreover, the magnets allow the mechanical latch and keeper typically included in the components of cleaning appliances to be omitted. Thus, the structure of the components can be made simpler, reducing the complexity of manufacturing these components and reducing the number of possible points of failure. The first and second components may be components on a fluid path (e.g. an airflow path) through the cleaning appliance, for example, the first and second components may be configured to have a fluid (e.g. air) flow through them during use of the cleaning appliance. In the connection configuration, the magnetic attraction between the first magnet and the second magnet may connect the first component and second component together. By way of example, the first component may comprise a first mating surface, and the second component may comprise a second mating surface, said first and second mating surfaces configured to abut each other when the first and second components are brought together in the connection configuration. In this way, a secure connection between the first and second components is provided in the connection configuration. The first component (e.g. a wand) may comprise a tubular shaft and the first magnet may be located at a distal end thereof. The first component may comprise a proximal end connectable to a third component of the system and a distal end opposite the proximal end along a first component longitudinal axis. The connection configuration and disconnection configuration may be different rotational orientations of the second component with respect to the first component about the first component longitudinal axis. The mating surfaces of the first component and the second component may be substantially perpendicular to the first component longitudinal axis when in abutment. The first magnet may be located between an inner tubular surface and an outer tubular surface of the tubular shaft. The first magnet may be disposed at a distal end of the first component. The tubular shaft may have an axial end wall at the distal end of the first component. The first magnet may be recessed into, or form, the axial end wall. In this way, the first magnet can be conveniently integrated into the first component without increasing the external dimensions of the first component. The connection configuration and disconnection configuration may correspond to different rotational orientations of the first component with respect to the second component, e.g. different rotational orientations about the fluid (e.g. airflow) path from the first component into the second component or vice versa. The first magnet and the second magnet may be configured such that, in the connection configuration: a north pole of the first magnet is aligned with a south pole of the second magnet; and / or a south pole of the first magnet is aligned with a north pole of the second magnet. In this way, attraction of the first magnet and the second magnet to each other is provided by magnetic attraction between opposed aligned north and south poles between the first component and the second component. By way of example, in the connection configuration, a north pole of the first magnet may be adjacent or in abutment with a south pole of the second magnet and / or a south pole of the first magnet may be adjacent or in abutment with a north pole of the second magnet. The first magnet and the second magnet may be configured such that, in the disconnection configuration, the first magnet is not magnetically attracted to the second magnet; and / or the first magnet is magnetically repelled by the second magnet. That is, the disconnection configuration may allow the user to disconnect the first component from the second component, since they are no longer magnetically attracted towards each other, and / or the first component and second component may be urged apart in the disconnection configuration by the magnetic repulsion. By the first component being magnetically repelled from the second component in the disconnection configuration, detachment of the first component from the second component may be made easier, because the first and second components will be urged apart from each other, and hence less force needs to be applied by the user to separate these components. The first magnet and the second magnet may be configured such that, in the disconnection configuration: a north pole of the first magnet is aligned with a north pole of the second magnet; and / or a south pole of the first magnet is aligned with a south pole of the second magnet. Such a system allows for easy detachment of the first component from the second component when they are in the disconnection configuration, due to repulsion between aligned alike poles of the magnets in the components. By way of example, in the disconnection configuration, a north pole of the first magnet may be adjacent or in abutment with a north pole of the second magnet and / or a south pole of the first magnet may be adjacent or in abutment with a south pole of the second magnet. The first magnet may comprise a first plurality of magnetic domains and / or the second magnet may comprise a second plurality of magnetic domains. The first plurality of magnetic domains may be provided by a first programmable magnet and / or the second plurality of magnetic domains may be provided by a second programmable magnet. A programmable magnet may be defined as a magnet comprising a plurality of preprogrammed magnetic domains of varying strengths and / or orientations. Programmable magnets are magnetic structures that incorporate correlated patterns of magnetic domains with alternating polarity, and which can have their domain orientations and walls precisely programmed to provide magnetic attraction and repulsion that is highly sensitive to the spatial orientations between programmable magnets. Accordingly, the first and second programmable magnets allow for a connection between the first component and the second component to be made with precise rotational alignment therebetween solely using magnetic forces and without the requirement for any further structures within the first and / or second components to maintain such alignment and / or connection during use of the system. In other embodiments, the first plurality of magnetic domains may be provided by a plurality of first magnets; and / or the second plurality of magnetic domains may be provided by a plurality of second magnets. Each first magnet and / or each second magnet may comprise one or more magnetic domains. The first and second components including a plurality of magnets (and thus a plurality of magnetic domains) allows for more precise definition of the connection configuration and disconnection configuration and a greater variety of connection / disconnection behaviour. The first plurality of magnetic domains (e.g. the first programmable magnetic or the plurality of first magnets) may have rotational symmetry of order one an axis about which the components are rotated between the connection and disconnection configurations (e.g. a longitudinal axis of the first component and / or an axis of the fluid flow (e.g. airflow) path between said components). The second plurality of magnetic domains (e.g. the second programmable magnetic or the plurality of second magnets) may have rotational symmetry of order one about an axis about which the components are rotated between the connection and disconnection configurations (e.g. a longitudinal axis of the second component and / or an axis of the fluid flow (e.g. airflow) path between said components). That is, there may be a single rotational orientation of the first component with respect to the second component at which the one or more first magnets are magnetically attracted to the one or more second magnets. This arrangement ensures that the first component and second component are always connected to each other in the same orientation. This can facilitate alignment of additional connectors (e.g. electrical contacts) between the first component and the second component that are asymmetrically disposed relative to an axis about which the components are rotated between the connection and disconnection configurations (e.g. an axis of the fluid flow (e.g. airflow) path between said components). In other embodiments, the first plurality of magnetic domains (e.g. the first programmable magnetic or the plurality of first magnets) may have rotational symmetry of an order greater than one about an axis about which the components are rotated between the connection and disconnection configurations. The second plurality of magnetic domains (e.g. the second programmable magnetic or the plurality of second magnets) may have a rotational symmetry of an order greater than one about an axis about which the components are rotated between the connection and disconnection configurations. That is, there may be a plurality of rotational orientations of the first component with respect to the second component at which the one or more first magnets are magnetically attracted to the one or more second magnets. The arrangement of magnetic domains of the first component and the arrangement of magnetic domains of the second component may be such that a plurality of disconnection configurations are provided. The first magnet(s) may form at least part of (e.g. the whole of) a tubular structure; and / or the second magnet(s) may form at least part of (e.g. the whole of) a tubular structure. The first component may comprise a fluid path (e.g. an airflow path). The second component may comprise a fluid path (e.g. an airflow path). In this way, the one or more first magnets may be disposed around (e.g. circumscribe) the fluid path of the first component and / or the one or more second magnets may be disposed around (e.g. circumscribe) the fluid path of the second component. The first component and / or the second component may be configured such that the fluid path of the first component is fluidly connected to the fluid path of the second component upon connection of the first component and the second component in the connection configuration. The first component may be a wand and the second component may be a cleaner head. In this way, the components positioned furthest from the user when holding the main unit can be conveniently connected and disconnected without the user having to reach to a connection point between the wand and the cleaner head, which may be located proximate to a floor surface being cleaned. In other embodiments, the first component may be a wand and the second component may be a main unit. This allows for simple, quick and reliable connection and disconnection of the main unit to the wand. In yet further embodiments, the first component may be a cleaner head and the second component may be a main unit. This allows for simple, quick and reliable connection and disconnection of the main unit directly to the cleaner head (i.e. absent the wand). In some embodiments, the first component may be a wand comprising the first magnet at a distal end of the wand, the second component may be a cleaner head, and the system may further comprises a third component which is a main unit. In these embodiments, the wand further comprises a third magnet at its proximal end and the third component (main unit) comprises a fourth magnet. The main unit may be rotatable relative to the wand between a connection configuration in which the fourth magnet is magnetically attracted to the third magnet to connect the main unit and the wand and a disconnection configuration. In this way, all three components of the system may be interconnectable and disconnectable from each other in a simple, reliable and quick manner without the user having to reach for specific locations on each of these components. The third magnet may be as described for the second magnet. The fourth magnet may be as described for the first magnet. Where the system comprises a wand as the first component, a cleaner head as the second component, and a main unit as the third component, the main unit may be rotatable relative to the cleaner head between a connection configuration in which the fourth magnet is magnetically attracted to the second magnet to connect the main unit and the cleaner head and a disconnection configuration. In this way, the cleaner head can be connected to both the wand and also directly to the main unit, providing the system with a greater number of different configurations that can make using the cleaning appliance more convenient (e.g. the cleaning apparatus may be easier for the user to manoeuvre when the cleaner head is connected directly to the main unit). In a second aspect, there is provided a cleaning appliance comprising the system according to the first aspect. Any of the optional features set out above in relation to the first aspect, except where expressly avoided or clearly impermissible, are equally applicable to the second aspect. In a third aspect, there is provided a first component for use in the system according to the first aspect, wherein the first component comprises a first magnet. The first component may comprise an air inlet / outlet defining a flow path axis passing perpendicularly through the centre thereof. The first component may comprise an arrangement of one or more magnetic domains in a plane perpendicular to the flow path axis of the first component, said arrangement having a boundary between a first magnetic pole, and a second magnetic pole of opposite polarity or a non-magnetised region, said boundary having a radial component from the flow path axis. Any of the optional features set out above in relation to the first component in the first aspect, except where expressly avoided or clearly impermissible, are equally applicable to the third aspect. In a fourth aspect, there is provided a second component for use in the system according to the first aspect, wherein the second component comprises a second magnet. The second component may comprise an air inlet / outlet defining a flow path axis passing perpendicularly through the centre thereof. The second component may comprise an arrangement of one or more magnetic domains in a plane perpendicular to the flow path axis, said arrangement having a boundary between a first magnetic pole, and a second magnetic pole of opposite polarity or a non-magnetised region, said boundary having a radial component from the flow path axis. Any of the optional features set out above in relation to the second component in the first aspect, except where expressly avoided or clearly impermissible, are equally applicable to the fourth aspect. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 illustrates a cleaning appliance comprising a wand, a cleaner head, and a main unit; Figures 2A and 2B illustrate the cleaner head of Figure 1; Figure 3 illustrates the wand of Figure 1; Figures 4A and 4B illustrate a first arrangement of first and second magnets; Figures 5A and 5B illustrate a second arrangement of first and second magnets; Figures 6A and 6B illustrate a third arrangement of first and second magnets; and Figures 7A and 7B illustrate a fourth arrangement of first and second magnets. DETAILED DESCRIPTION At its most general there is provided a system for a cleaning appliance, the system comprising a first component and a second component, wherein: the first component comprises a first magnet; the second component comprises a second magnet; and wherein the first component and second component are rotatable relative to each other between a connection configuration in which the first magnet is magnetically attracted to the second magnet to connect the first component and the second component, and a disconnection configuration. Figure 1 illustrates a cleaning appliance 100 comprising a wand 110, a cleaner head 120, and a main unit 130. The wand 110 provides the first component of the system, and the cleaner head 120 provides the second component of the system. The main unit 130 houses a power supply in the form of a battery, an airflow generator, and a control module, and further comprises a handle for the user to grip and direct the cleaning appliance 100. The wand 110 is releasably connected to the main unit 130 at a proximal end of the wand 110 and is releasably connected to the cleaner head 120 at a distal end of the wand 110. The cleaner head 120 can either be connected to the wand 110 (as illustrated in Figure 1) or to the main unit 130 directly (i.e. absent the wand), depending on a user’s preference. In use, the cleaner head 120 is placed in close proximity to debris to be collected by the cleaning appliance 100 (e.g. on a surface to be cleaned). An airflow path provided by the airflow generator passes, in flow sequence, through the cleaner head 120, along the wand 110 from the distal end to the proximal end thereof, and into the main unit 130. Figures 2A and 2B illustrate the cleaner head 120 of Figure 1 in greater detail. In figures 2A and 2B, the wand 110 is disconnected from the cleaner head 120. Referring to Figure 2A, the cleaner head 120 comprises a main body 121 through which air and debris is drawn into the cleaner head 120, and a connection portion 122 configured to connect to the distal end of the wand 110 or the main unit 130. The flow of air and debris passes out of the cleaner head 120 into the wand 110 or main unit 130 via the connection portion 122. Figure 2B illustrates the connection portion 122 in greater detail. The connection portion 122 comprises an air outlet 124 at the centre thereof, around a portion of which extends a second magnet 123 such as to form part of a tubular structure that circumscribes the air outlet 124. The connection portion 122 further comprises electrical contacts 125 that complete the tubular structure circumscribing the air outlet 124, and which allows power from the battery in the main unit 130 to be provided to the cleaner head 120 (either directly, when the cleaner head 120 is connected directly to the main unit 130, or via the wand 110, as is discussed in relation to Figure 3 below). Figure 3 illustrates the wand 110. The wand 110 has a proximal end 111 for connection to the main unit 130, and a distal end 112 for connection to the cleaner head 120 (specifically, the connection portion 122 of the cleaner head 120). The wand 110 comprises a tubular shaft extending between its proximal end 111 and distal end 112, the tubular shaft defining a longitudinal axis 115 of the wand 110. Air flows into the wand 110 from the cleaner head 120 at an air inlet 117 at the distal end 112 of the wand 110, flows along the tubular shaft substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis 115, and reaches the air outlet 116 at the proximal end 111 of the wand 110, where it then flows into main unit 130. At the distal end 112 of the wand 110, the wand 110 comprises the first magnet 113 that forms part of a tubular structure that circumscribes the air inlet 117. As illustrated in Figure 3, the first magnet 113 is located between an inner tubular surface and an outer tubular surface of the wand’s tubular shaft and forms part of the axial end wall of the tubular shaft. The distal end 112 further comprises electrical contacts 114 that complete the tubular structure circumscribing the air inlet 117, and which allows power from the battery in the main unit 130 to be provided to the cleaner head 120 when the wand 110 is connected to both the cleaner head 120 and main unit 130. The presence of a second magnet 123 in the cleaner head 120 and a first magnet 113 in the wand 110 facilitates connection of the cleaner head 120 to the wand 110 by magnetic attraction between these magnets 113, 123. Specifically, the arrangement of the magnets 113, 123 is such that, when the wand 110 is rotationally aligned (about the wand longitudinal axis 115) with the cleaner head 120 at a connection configuration and the second magnet 123 is in close proximity to the first magnet 113, the second magnet 123 is magnetically attracted to the first magnet 113 to connect the cleaner head 120 to the wand 110. The axial end wall of the first magnet 113 at the distal end 112 of the wand 110 provides a wand mating surface that, in the connection configuration, abuts with a mating surface of the cleaner head 120 provided by an upper surface of the second magnet 123 that lies substantially parallel to the air outlet 124 (i.e. substantially perpendicular to an axis defined by the airflow direction through the air outlet 124 during use). In this connection configuration, the electrical contacts 114 at the distal end 112 of the wand are also rotationally aligned with the electrical contacts in the cleaner head 120, thereby facilitating electrical connection between the wand 110 and cleaner head 120. Each component may comprise a single magnet, or a plurality of magnets in order to provide the desired connection behaviour between the wand 110 and cleaner head 120, each said magnet comprising one or more magnetic domains. Where a north pole of a magnetic domain of one magnet is aligned with a south pole of a magnetic domain in another magnet, magnetic attraction therebetween results. Correspondingly, the alignment of like poles between magnets (i.e. north - north or south - south) results in magnetic repulsion therebetween. In particular, programmable magnets, which comprise a plurality of pre-programmed magnetic domains of varying strengths and / or orientations can be used in this system. Programmable magnets incorporate correlated patterns of magnetic domains with alternating polarity, and which can have their domain orientations and walls precisely programmed to provide magnetic attraction and repulsion that is highly sensitive to the spatial orientations between programmable magnets. In this way, they can be used to provide precise rotational orientations at which attraction or repulsion between the first magnet 113 and second magnet 123 occur. As can be appreciated from Figure 2B, there is one rotational orientation of the wand 110 and the cleaner head 120 about the wand longitudinal axis 115 at which the first magnet 113 and second magnet 123 are aligned, and the electrical contacts 114, 125 are also aligned, which thus corresponds to the connection configuration. If the wand 110 is rotated relative to the cleaner head 120 (about the wand longitudinal axis 115), the magnets 113, 123 are no longer fully aligned, and the magnetic attraction between the cleaner head 120 and the wand 110 is reduced (or a magnetic repulsion therebetween may arise, depending on the particular configuration of the magnetic domains in the wand 110 and cleaner head 120). This configuration in which the magnetic attraction between the components is reduced, or there is magnetic repulsion therebetween, is a disconnection configuration, which allows these components to be disconnected from one another. In this way, a user is able to connect or disconnect the wand 110 from the cleaner head 120 by simply rotating the wand 110 relative to the cleaner head 120 to either a connection configuration, or a disconnection configuration, respectively. Examples of arrangements of magnets / magnetic domains in the wand 110 and cleaner head 120 are discussed in further detail with reference to Figures 4A - 7B below. Figure 4A illustrates a first arrangement of magnetic domains within a first magnet 113, in particular showing the arrangement of north poles 1 and south poles 2 on the axial end face of the first magnet 113 that forms the mating surface. Figure 4A shows the arrangement of magnetic domains when looking along the wand longitudinal axis 115 in a direction from the proximal end 111 to the distal end 112 of the wand 110. Figure 4B illustrates a corresponding first arrangement of magnetic domains within a second magnet 123, again showing the arrangement of north poles 1 and south poles 2 on the mating surface of the second magnet 123. Similarly to Figure 4A, Figure 4B shows the arrangement of magnetic domains when looking along the wand longitudinal axis 115 in a direction from the proximal end 111 to the distal end 112 of the wand 110 and when the cleaner head 120 is connected to the wand 110. That is, overlaying the arrangement of Figure 4A onto the arrangement of Figure 4B provides the alignment of magnetic domains that would result from connecting the wand 110 to the cleaner head 120. It can be appreciated that, with the rotational orientations illustrated in Figures 4A and 4B, magnetic attraction between the first magnet 113 and second magnet 123 results on bringing the magnets 113, 123 into proximity, due to alignment of north poles 1 in the first magnet 113 with south poles 2 in the second magnet 123 and vice versa. The rotational orientation of the magnets 113, 123 in Figures 4A and 4B thus corresponds to a connection configuration of the wand 110 and cleaner head 120. If one of the magnets 113, 123 is rotated by 90 degrees about the wand longitudinal axis 115 relative to the other, the north poles 1 of the first magnet 113 become adjacent to the north poles 1 of the second magnet 123 and the south poles 2 of the first magnet 113 become adjacent to the south poles 2 of the second magnet 123, resulting in magnetic repulsion between the first magnet 113 and second magnet 123. This rotational orientation thus corresponds to a disconnection configuration of the wand 110 and cleaner head 120. The magnetic domains of the first magnet 113 and second magnet 123 in Figures 4A and 4B have rotational symmetry of order 2 about the wand longitudinal axis 115, and accordingly the wand 110 and cleaner head 120 are provided with two connection configurations (that illustrated in Figure 4A and a configuration in which one magnet 113, 123 is rotated 180 degrees relative to the other from the orientation in Figure 4A) and two disconnection configurations (a configuration in which the first magnet 113, is rotated 90 degrees clockwise relative to the second magnet 123 from the orientation in Figure 4A and another configuration in which the first magnet 113 is rotated 270 degrees clockwise relative to the second magnet 123 from the orientation in Figure 4A). The magnets 113, 123 in Figures 4A and 4B each form a tubular structure, with an airflow path through the centre thereof. Similarly to Figures 4A and 4B, Figures 5A and 5B illustrate a second arrangement of the first magnet 113 and second magnet 123. Alike features of the first arrangement and second arrangement are not repeated, and reference may be made back to the description of Figures 4A and 4B in relation to these features. The second arrangement of magnetic domains within the first magnet 113 and second magnet 123 in Figures 5A and 5B differs from the first arrangement in that each magnet 113, 123 in the second arrangement comprises eight magnetic domains, providing four north poles 1 and four south poles 2 on each mating surface. In addition to the increased number of magnetic domains, the second arrangement also has a greater order of rotational symmetry compared to the first arrangement, with rotational symmetry of order 4. Consequently, the wand 110 and cleaner head 120 are provided with four connection configurations and four disconnection configurations at different rotational orientations of the wand 110 relative to the cleaner head 120 about the wand longitudinal axis 115. Similarly to Figures 4A and 4B, Figures 6A and 6B illustrate a third arrangement of the first magnet 113 and second magnet 123. Alike features of the first arrangement and third arrangement are not repeated, and reference may be made back to the description of Figures 4A and 4B in relation to these features. The third arrangement of magnetic domains within the first magnet 113 and second magnet 123 in Figures 6A and 6B differs from the first arrangement in that, although each magnet 113, 123 in the third arrangement comprises four magnetic domains, providing two north poles 1 and two south poles 2 on each mating surface, the third arrangement has a lower order of rotational symmetry: the magnets 113, 123 in the third arrangement have rotational symmetry of order one, rather than order two in the first arrangement. Consequently, the wand 110 and cleaner head 120 are provided with a single connection configuration at a specific rotational orientation of the wand 110 relative to the cleaner head 120 about the wand longitudinal axis 115, and rotation of the wand 110 relative to the cleaner head 120 away from this connection configuration results in repulsion between alike poles of the wand 113 and second magnet 123 and disconnection of the wand 110 and cleaner head 120. Similarly to Figures 4A and 4B, Figures 7A and 7B illustrate a fourth arrangement of the first magnet 113 and second magnet 123, respectively. Alike features of the first arrangement and fourth arrangement are not repeated, and reference may be made back to the description of Figures 4A and 4B in relation to these features. The fourth arrangement of magnetic domains within the first magnet 113 and second magnet 123 in Figures 7A and 7B are similar to that of Figures 6A and 6B in that there is only rotational symmetry of order one, and, consequently, a single connection configuration at a specific rotational orientation of the wand 110 relative to the cleaner head 120 about the wand longitudinal axis 115 is provided. The fourth arrangement differs from the third arrangement in that the pattern of the domain boundaries is more complex. Such a pattern may be easily provided by use of programmable magnets. This pattern can provide a connection configuration at a very precise rotational orientation of the wand 110 and cleaner head 120 and provide a strong connection that is resistant to relative rotation of the components during use of the cleaning appliance.

Claims

1. A system for a cleaning appliance, the system comprising a first component and a second component, wherein:the first component comprises a first magnet;the second component comprises a second magnet; andwherein the first component and second component are rotatable relative to each other between a connection configuration in which the first magnet is magnetically attracted to the second magnet to connect the first component and the second component, and a disconnection configuration.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein first magnet and the second magnet are configured such that, in the connection configuration:a north pole of the first magnet is aligned with a south pole of the second magnet; and / ora south pole of the first magnet is aligned with a north pole of the second magnet.

3. The system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the first magnet and the second magnet are configured such that, in the disconnection configuration:the first magnet is not magnetically attracted to the second magnet; and / or the first magnet is magnetically repelled by the second magnet.

4. The system according to claim 3, wherein the first magnet and the second magnet are configured such that, in the disconnection configuration:a north pole of the first magnet is aligned with a north pole of the second magnet; and / ora south pole of the first magnet is aligned with a south pole of the second magnet.

5. The system according to any preceding claim, wherein:the first magnet comprises a first plurality of magnetic domains; and / orthe second magnet comprises a second plurality of magnetic domains.

6. The system according to claim 5, wherein the first plurality of magnetic domains is provided by a first programmable magnet and / or the second plurality of magnetic domains are provided by a second programmable magnet.

7. The system according to any of claims 1 to 4, wherein:the first component comprises a plurality of first magnets providing a first plurality of magnetic domains; and / orthe second component comprises a plurality of second magnets providing a second plurality of magnetic domains.

8. The system according to any of claims 5 to 7, wherein the first plurality of magnetic domains has rotational symmetry of order one about an axis about which the components are rotated between the connection and disconnection configurations.

9. The system according to any of claims 5 to 8, wherein the second plurality of magnetic domains has rotational symmetry of order one about an axis about which the components are rotated between the connection and disconnection configurations.

10. The system according to any of claims 5 to 7, wherein the first plurality of magnetic domains has rotational symmetry of an order greater than one about an axis about which the components are rotated between the connection and disconnection configurations.

11. The system according to any of claims 5 to 7 or 10, wherein the second plurality of magnetic domains has rotational symmetry of an order greater than one about an axis about which the components are rotated between the connection and disconnection configurations.

12. The system according to any preceding claim, wherein: the first magnet(s) forms a tubular structure; and / or the second magnet(s) forms a tubular structure.

13. The system according to any preceding claim, wherein:the first component is a wand and the second component is a cleaner head;the first component is a wand and the second component is a main unit; and / or the first component is a cleaner head and the second component is a main unit.

14. The system according to any preceding claim, wherein:the first component is a wand comprising the first magnet at a distal end of the wand;the second component is a cleaner head; andthe system further comprises a third component which is a main unit;the wand further comprises a third magnet at a proximal end of the wand and the main unit comprises a fourth magnet; andthe main unit is rotatable relative to the wand between a connection configuration in which the fourth magnet is magnetically attracted to the third magnet to connect the main unit and the wand and a disconnection configuration.

15. The system according to claim 14, wherein the main unit is rotatable relative to the cleaner head between a connection configuration in which the fourth magnet is magnetically attracted to the second magnet to connect the main unit and the cleaner head and a disconnection configuration.

16. The system according to any preceding claim, wherein:the first component is a wand;the wand comprises a tubular shaft andthe first magnet is located at a distal end thereof.

17. A cleaning appliance comprising the system of any of claims 1 to 16.

18. A first component for use in the system according to any of claims 1 to 16, wherein the first component comprises a first magnet.

19. A second component for use in the system according to any of claims 1 to 16, wherein the second component comprises a second magnet.

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