Pet Owners Get on The Ball to Clean Homes

CHICAGO, Sept. 15 /PRNewswire/ -- Dyson's new DC15 Animal vacuum with The Ball(TM) technology simplifies life for pet owners -- making it easier to remove dirt, allergens and pet hair from carpets, floors and upholstery by completely changing the way you vacuum.

The DC15 Animal transforms vacuuming by removing the rear wheels found on traditional vacuums and replacing them with a single ball which facilitates smooth, effortless maneuvering around any object in your home. The vacuum's motor is placed inside the ball, keeping the center of gravity close to the ground. The DC15 Animal removes pet hair and dander while putting an end to the tedious push-pull motions, unwieldy handling and inefficiency of other vacuums. The Ball(TM) technology gives you the ability to navigate around furniture and low-lying obstacles with the twist of your wrist. The fluidity achieved with The Ball(TM) means that you don't use your entire body to steer, resulting in a much less strenuous vacuuming experience.

"DC15 is the result of three years of development and it holds 182 patents," said James Dyson. "The DC15 Animal combines Dyson's patented Ball(TM) and Root8Cyclone technology, making it the first vacuum that is easy to maneuver. And like all Dyson vacuum cleaners, it doesn't lose suction."

There's a fundamental problem with other vacuum cleaners; they start losing suction after just a few rooms. Dyson's unique patented system is different. It separates dirt from the air at incredibly high speeds, so a Dyson never loses suction no matter how much you vacuum.

One third of Dyson's worldwide employees are engineers and scientists working in the Dyson Research, Design and Development Center in Malmesbury, England and are dedicated to developing new and better technology. Dyson's rigorous testing means DC15 has been put through its paces before reaching homes. For example, one of the many tests to ensure robust engineering includes Dyson vacuum cleaners being dropped with the force of up to 150 times their own weight. Dyson has 24/7 testing on new products, both human and mechanical, within a range of different scenarios design to test them to the point of destruction.

DC15 Animal comes with tools specifically designed to clean up after your pet. The mini turbine head picks up embedded pet hair on upholstery and stairs, and a low reach floor tool attaches to the telescoping wand to clean hard to reach places. Also included is a carpet care kit -- with Zorb powder to absorb dirt from your carpets and Dyzolv spray to remove spills, marks and pet stains.

DC15 Animal Ball(TM) Availability

Dyson's DC15 Animal Ball(TM) vacuum in lavender and steel colors will be available nationwide beginning September 2005, at a suggested retail price of $699.99. Call Dyson's Helpline (1-866-MY-DYSON) or visit the website (http://www.dyson.com/) for a complete listing of retailers.

About Dyson

Dyson is committed to making products that work better. Unlike other vacuums that clog and lose suction, Dyson doesn't lose suction. Dyson has received numerous awards for technological innovation including: the Industrial Design Prize of America; House Beautiful's "Giants of Design"; Chicago Athenaeum Good Design Prize; the European Design Prize; the Super Good of the Year (Japan); the L'Etoile de l'Observeur du Design (France). Dyson products have been displayed at museums around the world including New York's MoMA. Dyson was also cited as one of Time magazine's "Best Inventions of 2003." James Dyson is an active member of the Design Council in the U.K. and a member of the board of the MAK Museum of Applied Arts in Vienna.