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Adrian, This may sound simply like common sense, but if a vacuum cleaner - 'cleans with a vacuum', regardless of methodology, then surely it inherently fits within the ascribed description. If it also appears in a manner similar to our conception of what a vacuum cleaner 'is', then we might classify it as being of the same product type. A technology such as externally suspended ventilation of the floor covering with a titanium carbon composite 'woven textile beater' - now that really would be new. In fact such a system might replace the need for a HEPA filter, the use of 1000 watts of electricity and provide an upper body workout.... It seems we can apply 'new' to anything previously unseen, unaware of, (or more often forgotten) in the design world. Glenn Johnson Industrial Design Manager Industrial Design Studio, B/E Aerospace Inc. 1455 Fairchild Rd. Winston-Salem NC 27105-4588 USA Tel. (1) 336 744 3143 Fax. (1) 336 744 6934 http://www.beaerospace.com/