Hoover Won against Dyson?

suctionselector · Aug 11, 2014

It would appear that Mr Dyson may not have been the true victor in court regards to the Hoover Vortex. We all know Dyson's side of the story, proclaiming the fact that the vortex infringed Dyson's patents etc etc.

But would you like to here Hoover's side of the story, proclaiming their winning, as apparently the judge decided that the Vortex didn't infringe Dyson.

The below was published on the Hoover website, in January 2001, after the news of Dyson's apparent win in October 2000, so the case must have gone on after Dyson went public with their statements.

Release no: 502
Release date: January 2001

HOOVER WIN AGAINST DYSON

In the latest judgement in the High Court battle between Dyson and Hoover, Dyson has failed in its attempt to get the High Court to stop Hoover using the 'Vortex' trademark and brand name on any of its vacuum cleaners, and especially on its latest technology product 'Vortex Power'. The judge said this was a "disproportionate remedy" and "unjust" and "certainly not necessary".

Speaking today, following the judgement given by Deputy Judge Michael Fysh QC, Alberto Bertali, Managing Director of Hoover, said "We are delighted with this ruling. Again, we confirm our commitment to the retailers and customers that we will continue to produce great bagless cleaners that give choice and value for money".

"In relation to our latest generation of bagless cleaners, Vortex Power and Whirlwind, the judge has indicated that Dyson Appliances Ltd agree that neither product infringes any patents. So it is business as usual."

"We have lodged an Appeal against the ruling that our previous Triple Vortex System infringed a Dyson patent as we are convinced there never was any infringement. Hoover was specifically using a patent recently granted to a specialist technology company, BHR at Cranfield."

Additionally referring to the springboard injunction, Mr Bertali dismissed any impact this might have on the company. "We stopped producing machines using the technology which the subject of this injunction in September 2000. We have moved on to even better products, and this injunction has absolutely no effect on any of these. In this respect it is hardly a victory for Dyson".

"The important point to remember is that Dyson tried to stop Hoover using the 'Vortex' name and logo on our vacuum cleaners and tried to stop further product being developed. Hoover won, Dyson lost. We are confident that there will be a similar outcome at the Appeal hearing of the main patent infringement action.

And then, this extra information below was released in December 2001.

Release Date: 19 December 2001

HOOVER STATEMENT

Hoover acknowledges that the House of Lords has refused it Leave of Appeal against the judgement on the technology used in its Triple Vortex cleaner.

However in acknowledging disappointment, Vice Chairman Alberto Bertali
explained that, from a commercial point of view, the issue had now had become academic, because of continuous product development. He also reiterated that previous judgements had not impacted on any aspect of the Hoover vacuum cleaner business.

Hoover bagless cleaners now utilise quite different and improved technologies which achieve significantly better performance than the Triple Vortex system. Since the judgement at first instance last October, Hoover has successfully introduced Whirlwind, Vortex Power and Hurricane bagless cyclonic cleaners and will continue to bring new products to the market place.

I am fully aware about the upper part being about the naming of the machine, but why would that matter of such to Dyson. I hope you all found this information interesting, and it just shows that Hoover may not be as guilty as Dyson would like us to believe.

Thanks for reading.

Jacob

vintagerepairer · Aug 11, 2014

There are two cleaners in discussion here though. It was the original triple-Vortex which Dyson won the case over. This extract -whilst very interesting- does not relate to the Hoover cleaner that was central to the whole situation.

suctionselector · Aug 11, 2014

Hoover.

So the one in question is the 'Vortex Power' machine which came with the later style filtration which wasn't as good as the Triple Vortex? So, the Vortex Power didn't infringe the patents then?

DesertTortoise · Aug 11, 2014

Mostly marketing spin from Hoover. Dyson won but Hoover claims it doesn't matter because they use different technology. Or more like Hoover had to punt and come up with something different on the fly because they realized Dyson was going to prevent them from using a copy of his technology.

Either way considering the quailty of the equipment it's kind of like two prostitutes fighting over a john, lol.

marks_here · Aug 11, 2014

Is that from past experience DT?

dysonman1 · Aug 11, 2014

The Hoover Triple Vortex definitely infringed Dyson patents. Because Hoover was not allowed to sell that machine, they kept the name "Vortex" and added a clogging, pleated filter into the middle of the dirt bucket. Making it a single cyclone machine. Hoover would not make multi-cyclonic cleaners for almost ten years after the Dyson 'win'.

suctionselector · Aug 11, 2014

Either way considering the quailty of the equipment

The Hoover Vortex was way better than the Dyson's at the time in performance - DC01/DC03 - and was overall a better cleaner in my opinion, but it became overshadowed by the the popular DC04 which came out not long after the Triple Vortex.

The Vortex had a good brushroll - Activator - as well as good suction, the Dyson hadn't got as good as a brushroll and the suck wasn't as strong, and I would probably go to say that the Hoover Triple Vortex is one of the best bagless vacuums, alongside the bagless Panasonic Icon which also had a good Belt Drive brushroll, and those two vacuums outperformed the Dyson's at the time, but they were ignored due to the sudden urge for this new Dyson.

DesertTortoise · Aug 11, 2014

Marks_here, I could tell you some stories about liberty in Olongapo

You haven't lived until you've done the backstroke down the gutters of Mabini St. in Manila. Ah Mah-nee-lah.

marks_here · Aug 11, 2014

Doesn't sound like a place I want to visit

DesertTortoise · Aug 11, 2014

After a couple of months underway on a combat ship you would. Even the O-Club at NAS Cubi Point was off the hinge.

turbo500 · Aug 12, 2014

The Vortex Power was actually multi-cyclonic, although not anywhere near as efficient as the Tripple Vortex OR the Dyson cyclone.

The pleated filter nasty clogging machines were lower spec machines, branded "cyclone" and "hurricane".

I agree Jacob, the original Vortex was a great vacuum with far greater pick up than the DC01/03, however the cyclone wasn't all that efficient and did leak quite a bit. They were known for getting fine dust build up on the fan and within the cylcone which caused a lot of overheating.

DesertTortoise, I'd love to hear what experience you have of the DC01, DC03 and the Vortex cleaners since none of them were ever sold in the US.

suctionselector · Aug 12, 2014

Vortex.

So the Triple Vortex was the first - V2000 & V2001 - and the ones that caused all the court action against Dyson.

Then it was the Vortex Power - V1500? - which Dyson lost the court case with Hoover over the naming rights?

Then it became all the pleated filter models - Cylclone/Hurricane, and where they the ones that sold in different colour such as blue and yellow?

I have a Vortex, not the usual V2000 but the V2001 with S Class filtration. I got it a few months ago, and used it irregularly for a couple of weeks prior to cleaning it up. I don't plan to use this machine apart from special occasions as as far as I can tell, the red model is slightly rarer than the rest, and the motor has not let too much dirt into it as it isn't as loud as others i've seen. Its in good condition as well, and I plan to look for another one to use that's maybe in slightly worse condition, so I don't have to use the red one.

The picture of mine is when I went to help my 92 year old nan move living room furnishings around as she was having a new carpet installed, and the Vortex came in handy that day for dusting and vacuuming. I think I got a two bin fulls of dirt just from that day! She doesn't vacuum much anyway as she can't manage the stairs with a vacuum well. The picture is prior to the clean up, but as you can see, it looks in quite good condition. I'll get a few proper photo's soon.

Thanks

Jacob

suctionselector++8-12-2014-04-34-55.jpg.png

turbo500 · Aug 12, 2014

where they the ones that sold in different colour

That's right, Jacob.

sebo_fan · Aug 12, 2014

Actually, the proper name was Cyclean and they were usually bright yellow in colour. Hoover eventually did red ones as well (Im sure there was a mild blue one too) but that was at the tail end of production. The Cyclean models were a massive seller in TJHughes before that franchise closed its doors.

sebo_fan · Aug 12, 2014

Cyclone was also a name Hoover put on briefly though.

More about the uprights can be found at Archive thread http://www.vacuumland.org/cgi-bin/TD/TD-VIEWTHREAD.cgi?14980

DesertTortoise · Aug 12, 2014

Turbo500 my experience with a US model Hoover is such that you won't see me recommending any of their uprights to anyone. Kludge. They leak air everywhere, don't clean very well and are fragile. The whole Dyson thing has always struck me as more marketing hype than sober, detailed engineering. Anyway I much prefer canister vacs to uprights.

Lack of suction was never a problem in the Philippines however.......

sebo_fan · Aug 12, 2014

Actual experience vs what you hear counts for a lot.

One should bear that in mind when passing judgement on a particular brand or its model. If you have never owned a Dyson, why bother offering a response opinion about it?

turbo500 · Aug 12, 2014

Further to what sebo_fan said, Hoover US and Hoover Europe are 2 seperate companies and have been since 1995. The Vortex was, aside from by name, not related to any US Hoover cleaners.

DesertTortoise · Aug 12, 2014

So, lets see, I have to actually fork out my hard earned and buy something to have an opinion regarding it? Shopping, looking at the product, giving it a try at a store isn't sufficient in your august opinion Sebo_Fan? I guess if you look at something and decide you don't like it, since you didn't actually buy it your opinion is not valid? Is that it Sebo_fan? Hot air coming from more than just the motor exhaust up there in Scotland.

Hoover Won against Dyson?

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