Inspired by the GE Roll-Easy?

Uzu is a cordless vacuum cleaner that makes it very easy to overcome one�s inhibitions against cleaning. Its characteristic appearance was inspired by the conception of a vacuum cleaner that can proudly be presented. One movement is enough to get it started: just lift the handle. The Uzu is not stored in a cabinet as customary, thus it is always ready to hand and invites you to use it.

Here is a product that can actually make vacuuming fun! Gone are the days when gadgets meant for boring jobs looked boring as well. Sleek, stylish gadgets rule the day. They are fit to be shown off, instead of being stashed right into the corner of the cupboard once its use was over.

And designer, Chiaki Murata�s The Metaphys Uzu Cyclone Rechargeable Vacuum is surely The product for today�s household. It sounds like the user�s dream-come-true. It�s a convenient size (W8.5xH23.6xD14 inches ) and light enough (10 lbs.) to be carried around easily.

Moreover, it has this unique facility of being rechargeable. As a result of this, the entire device doesn�t need to be dragged around, cords and all, when something spills somewhere. Simply unplugging the UZU from the wall would easily transform it. This considerably lessens the laborious steps which have so far been associated with vacuuming.
It is available at Compact Impact for $398. Take your pick from black, white and orange.

If you're anything like us, the act of vacuuming is a sad activity indeed -- if the noise doesn't get you, then it's the tiresome act of having to go through those dark corners of the home you'd rather just leave alone. Thank goodness then for Metaphys' Cyclone Cleaner, which adds a touch of panache and smart functionality to an otherwise dull product category. Brainchild of Osaka-based designer Chiaki Murata, Metaphys has been wowing us with pretty much everything it's produced -- from the HONO electrical candle lights, which mimics the behavior of a real candle, to the Factory series of indoor-gardening accessories -- and the Cyclone Cleaner does not disappoint. The image here doesn't do it justice, because the act of opening up the folded vacuum immediately transforms it into a regular-size appliance, with the base carefully balancing the extended nozzle. It's a smart response to the need for compactness in small Japanese homes while, at the same time, offering for a larger, easy-to-use size. Hitting stores in mid-June, it will be available in three colors (white, black and orange). Alongside all of Metaphys' stunning designs, it can be viewed at their new Tokyo showroom/office (03-3446-8648), located at the Tokyo Design Center (5-25-19 Higashi-Gotanda, Shinagawa-ku).

CLICK HERE TO GO TO aeoliandave's LINK


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Post# 70950 6/1/2009 at 15:03 (5,442 days old) by aeoliandave (Stratford Ontario Canada)
Checkrate/Likes Well, maybe not. It was designed for use in those small Japanese apartments where space is at a premium. Only available in Japan and SOLD OUT!

Post# 70951 , Reply# 1 6/1/2009 at 15:05 (5,442 days old) by aeoliandave (Stratford Ontario Canada)
Checkrate/Likes Of course I would want one of these for its sheer audaciousness..in Orange, natch. :-)

Post# 70953 , Reply# 2 6/1/2009 at 15:12 (5,442 days old) by aeoliandave (Stratford Ontario Canada)
Checkrate/Likes *Bagless Cyclonic and cordless* small capacity but cute as all get out!

Post# 70955 , Reply# 3 6/1/2009 at 15:14 (5,442 days old) by aeoliandave (Stratford Ontario Canada)
Checkrate/Likes The dustbin

Post# 70956 , Reply# 4 6/1/2009 at 15:17 (5,442 days old) by aeoliandave (Stratford Ontario Canada)
Checkrate/Likes Magnetic charge plug on 'socket'.

Post# 70957 , Reply# 5 6/1/2009 at 15:17 (5,442 days old) by aeoliandave (Stratford Ontario Canada)
Checkrate/Likes The nozzle

Post# 70958 , Reply# 6 6/1/2009 at 15:20 (5,442 days old) by aeoliandave (Stratford Ontario Canada)
Checkrate/Likes small as a small collapsing vacuum can be? Definitely Vacuum Sculpture. :-)

Post# 70960 , Reply# 7 6/1/2009 at 15:24 (5,442 days old) by aeoliandave (Stratford Ontario Canada)
Checkrate/Likes It reminded me of the Hoover Z-400 concept.

Post# 70961 , Reply# 8 6/1/2009 at 15:26 (5,442 days old) by aeoliandave (Stratford Ontario Canada)
Checkrate/Likes Useful in tight confining spaces.

Post# 70966 , Reply# 12 6/1/2009 at 15:40 (5,442 days old) by vintagehoover ()
Checkrate/Likes It's certainly a fun concept, but it looks like a slight triumph of form over function - that wand looks very ungainly. It reminds me strongly of the Electrolux Escargot concept from a few years back - so similar, in fact, I wonder if the company which makes this new machine have simply licenced the design and added that odd wand...I've seen a similar design badged as Toshiba, also.

Post# 70967 , Reply# 13 6/1/2009 at 15:41 (5,442 days old) by aeoliandave (Stratford Ontario Canada)
Checkrate/Likes Ah yes, Jack, but does the Dyson wand clip to the vacuum in an upright position making for a spacial footprint 8.5" X 14" x 23.5" high? How big does the wrap-a-round hose storage make that footprint. Maybe it does...but its not cordless to boot. Dave. Frankly, I'd rather have a Hoover Z-400 for it's otherworldly wackiness.

Post# 70968 , Reply# 14 6/1/2009 at 15:43 (5,442 days old) by aeoliandave (Stratford Ontario Canada)
Checkrate/Likes Oh Oh Oh! Now I want an Escargot! I don't think that ever made it over to North America. Dave

Post# 70970 , Reply# 15 6/1/2009 at 15:51 (5,442 days old) by vintagehoover ()
Checkrate/Likes Hi Dave - yes, the Escargot is very cool, and came in a range of 'designer-y' styles. Like the Metaphys Uzu Cyclone, it's rechargable, but the tools come on a separate caddy. You can wear it over your shoulder on a strap.

Post# 70962 , Reply# 9 6/1/2009 at 15:28 (5,442 days old) by aeoliandave (Stratford Ontario Canada)
Checkrate/Likes Carry around handle

Post# 70964 , Reply# 10 6/1/2009 at 15:32 (5,442 days old) by vintagehoover ()
Checkrate/Likes *Small as a small collapsing vacuum can be?* Not quite ;) CLICK HERE TO GO TO vintagehoover's LINK

Post# 70965 , Reply# 11 6/1/2009 at 15:34 (5,442 days old) by aeoliandave (Stratford Ontario Canada)
Checkrate/Likes *Metaphys Uzu Cyclone Rechargeable Vacuum: Redefining vacumin* Uzu is a cordless vacuum cleaner that makes it very easy to overcome one�s inhibitions against cleaning. Its characteristic appearance was inspired by the conception of a vacuum cleaner that can proudly be presented. One movement is enough to get it started: just lift the handle. The Uzu is not stored in a cabinet as customary, thus it is always ready to hand and invites you to use it. Here is a product that can actually make vacuuming fun! Gone are the days when gadgets meant for boring jobs looked boring as well. Sleek, stylish gadgets rule the day. They are fit to be shown off, instead of being stashed right into the corner of the cupboard once its use was over. And designer, Chiaki Murata�s The Metaphys Uzu Cyclone Rechargeable Vacuum is surely The product for today�s household. It sounds like the user�s dream-come-true. It�s a convenient size (W8.5xH23.6xD14 inches ) and light enough (10 lbs.) to be carried around easily. Moreover, it has this unique facility of being rechargeable. As a result of this, the entire device doesn�t need to be dragged around, cords and all, when something spills somewhere. Simply unplugging the UZU from the wall would easily transform it. This considerably lessens the laborious steps which have so far been associated with vacuuming. It is available at Compact Impact for $398. Take your pick from black, white and orange. If you're anything like us, the act of vacuuming is a sad activity indeed -- if the noise doesn't get you, then it's the tiresome act of having to go through those dark corners of the home you'd rather just leave alone. Thank goodness then for Metaphys' Cyclone Cleaner, which adds a touch of panache and smart functionality to an otherwise dull product category. Brainchild of Osaka-based designer Chiaki Murata, Metaphys has been wowing us with pretty much everything it's produced -- from the HONO electrical candle lights, which mimics the behavior of a real candle, to the Factory series of indoor-gardening accessories -- and the Cyclone Cleaner does not disappoint. The image here doesn't do it justice, because the act of opening up the folded vacuum immediately transforms it into a regular-size appliance, with the base carefully balancing the extended nozzle. It's a smart response to the need for compactness in small Japanese homes while, at the same time, offering for a larger, easy-to-use size. Hitting stores in mid-June, it will be available in three colors (white, black and orange). Alongside all of Metaphys' stunning designs, it can be viewed at their new Tokyo showroom/office (03-3446-8648), located at the Tokyo Design Center (5-25-19 Higashi-Gotanda, Shinagawa-ku). CLICK HERE TO GO TO aeoliandave's LINK

Post# 70971 , Reply# 16 6/1/2009 at 15:53 (5,442 days old) by vintagehoover ()
Checkrate/Likes Toshiba version:

Post# 70972 , Reply# 17 6/1/2009 at 15:55 (5,442 days old) by vintagehoover ()
Checkrate/Likes In green, with shoulder strap:

Post# 70973 , Reply# 18 6/1/2009 at 15:56 (5,442 days old) by vintagehoover ()
Checkrate/Likes In red. Notice they say 'Electrolux by Toshiba'...I wonder who actually designed it??

Post# 70975 , Reply# 19 6/1/2009 at 16:04 (5,442 days old) by aeoliandave (Stratford Ontario Canada)
Checkrate/Likes *Why, it could accesorize eveningwear for a night out on the* The very thing for messy restaurants and Fast Food joints. Jack, I adore it and want one in every color and every version! Yhey ever come up on Ebay? I'll have to set up a search parameter... Now I must be off for the Grand Opening Night of MACBETH and the Heavily Bejeweled Gala Reception afterwards...my date gets to watch it while I work it. Dave

Post# 70976 , Reply# 20 6/1/2009 at 16:09 (5,442 days old) by vintagehoover ()
Checkrate/Likes With regards to the Dyson DC26, I'm not sure what the footprint size is. The point about the Dyson is that the size of the machine itself is comparable to an A4 sheet of paper, and can be easily stored in a cupboard. The Metaphys Uzu Cyclone, whilst perhaps having a smaller footprint, would need to be free-standing. Both machines may look ridiculous in our Western sensibility, but to appreciate them, you have to take them in the context of what else is available on the Japanese market. As part of my ongoing research, I recently bought some Hitachi and Sharp promo brochures from Japan, and it's amazing how miniscule their machines really are!