CLEANER HEAD FOR A VACUUM CLEANER

Abstract

A cleaner head for a vacuum cleaner has an agitator rotatably mounted within a housing. The agitator has a main body having a wall, and bristles mounted adjacent the wall. Tips of the bristles are located at a first radial distance from a central longitudinal axis of the agitator. A tip of the wall is located at a second radial distance from the central longitudinal axis. The bristles have a first configuration in which the first radial distance is greater than the second radial distance, and a second configuration in which the first radial distance is less than or equal to the second radial distance. The bristles flex from the first configuration to the second configuration when the bristles move into contact with a surface to be cleaned, and flex from the second configuration to the first configuration when the bristles move out of contact with the surface.

Claims

1. A cleaner head for a vacuum cleaner, the cleaner head comprising an agitator rotatably mounted within a housing, wherein the agitator comprises a main body having a wall, and bristles mounted to the main body adjacent the wall, tips of the bristles are located at a first radial distance from a central longitudinal axis of the agitator, a tip of the wall is located at a second radial distance from the central longitudinal axis of the agitator, the bristles have a first configuration in which the first radial distance is greater than the second radial distance, and a second configuration in which the first radial distance is less than or equal to the second radial distance, and during rotation of the agitator within the housing in use the bristles flex from the first configuration to the second configuration when the bristles move into contact with a surface to be cleaned, and flex from the second configuration to the first configuration when the bristles move out of contact with the surface to be cleaned.

2. The cleaner head of claim 1, wherein the bristles are spaced from the tip of the wall in the first configuration, and the bristles move toward the tip of the wall when moving from the first configuration to the second configuration.

3. The cleaner head of claim 1, wherein the wall is located rearward of the bristles in a direction of rotation of the agitator within the cleaner head.

4. The cleaner head of claim 1, wherein the main body comprises a channel within which the bristles are mounted, and the wall defines, leads into, or defines and leads into a side wall of the channel.

5. The cleaner head of claim 1, wherein the bristles are provided longitudinally along the agitator, and the wall extends longitudinally along the agitator to the same longitudinal extent as the bristles.

6. The cleaner head of claim 1, wherein the wall is integrally formed with the agitator.

7. The cleaner head of claim 1, wherein the bristles and the wall extend helically about the agitator.

8. The cleaner head of claim 1, wherein the cleaner head comprises a debris collection channel, and the wall is configured to migrate debris toward the debris collection channel in use.

9. The cleaner head of claim 8, wherein the debris collection channel is formed on the agitator.

10. The cleaner head of claim 8, wherein the debris collection channel is located at an end of the agitator.

11. The cleaner head of claim 1, wherein the agitator comprises comprise a further wall located on an opposite side of the bristles to the wall, a tip of the further wall is located at a third radial distance from the central longitudinal axis, and the third radial distance is no greater than the second radial distance.

12. The cleaner head of claim 11, wherein the further wall is located forward of the bristles in a direction of rotation of the agitator.

13. A vacuum cleaner comprising the cleaner head of claim 1.

14. An agitator for a cleaner head of a vacuum cleaner, the agitator comprising a main body having a wall, and bristles mounted to the main body adjacent the wall, wherein tips of the bristles are located at a first radial distance from a central longitudinal axis of the agitator, a tip of the wall is located at a second radial distance from the central longitudinal axis of the agitator, the bristles have a first configuration in which the first radial distance is greater than the second radial distance, and a second configuration in which the first radial distance is less than or equal to the second radial distance.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0036] In order to better understand the present invention, and to show more clearly how the invention may be put into effect, the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the following drawings:

[0037] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an agitator according to the present invention;

[0038] FIG. 2 is a schematic sectional view of the agitator of FIG. 1 taken transversely to a longitudinal axis of the agitator, with bristle strips removed;

[0039] FIG. 3 is a schematic sectional view of the agitator of FIG. 1 taken transversely to a longitudinal axis of the agitator, with bristle strips inserted;

[0040] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a cleaner head according to the present invention comprising the agitator of FIG. 1, with an upper housing portion of the cleaner head removed;

[0041] FIG. 5 is a schematic sectional view of the agitator of FIG. 1 taken transversely to a longitudinal axis of the agitator, with the agitator in contact with a surface to be cleaned;

[0042] FIG. 6 is a front view of the agitator of FIG. 1 in combination with a debris removal mechanism;

[0043] FIG. 7 is an upper view of an alternative cleaner head comprising the agitator of FIG. 1, with an upper housing portion of the cleaner head removed;

[0044] FIG. 8 is an upper view of a further alternative cleaner head comprising a further alternative agitator according to the present invention, with an upper housing portion of the cleaner head removed;

[0045] FIG. 9 is a schematic view of an alternative agitator according to the present invention;

[0046] FIG. 10 is an upper view of a further alternative cleaner head comprising a further alternative agitator according to the present invention, with an upper housing portion of the cleaner head removed; and

[0047] FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a vacuum cleaner according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE

[0048] A first embodiment of an agitator according to the present invention, generally designated 10, is shown in FIGS. 1 to 6.

[0049] The agitator 10 takes the form of a brushbar, and these terms will be used interchangeably hereafter. The brushbar 10 comprises a main body 12, first 14 and second 16 projections (i.e., walls), a first bristle strip 18, first 20 and second 22 raised portions, and a second bristle strip 24.

[0050] The main body 12 is substantially cylindrical in form, and is substantially hollow. The main body 12 has a first channel 26 for receiving the first bristle strip 18, and a second channel 28 for receiving the second bristle strip 24. Both the first 26 and second 28 channels have a substantially inverted T-shaped cross-section, substantially corresponding to the form of the first 18 and second 24 bristle strips, as can be seen in FIGS. 2 and 3. The first 26 and second 28 channels extend helically along the outer surface of the main body 12, with each of the first 26 and second 28 channels extending through 360 about the outer surface of the main body 12.

[0051] The first 14 and second 16 projections are located either side of the first channel 26, and have a generally triangular transverse cross-sectional shape. In the present embodiment, the first 14 and second 16 projections constitute regions of the main body 12 having an increased radius relative to the main body 12, such that the first 14 and second 16 projections are integrally formed with the main body 12. The main body 12, and the first 14 and second 16 projections are formed of acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), and are relatively rigid in nature, such that the first 14 and second 16 projections do not suffer excessive deformation upon contact with a surface to be cleaned in use.

[0052] The first 14 and second 16 projections each define respective tips 30,32, and side walls 34,36 of the first channel 26 extend to the base of the respective first 14 and second 16 projections. The first 14 and second 16 projections define walls having an angle of around 50 relative to nylon bristles 40 of the brushbar 10. The main body 12 has a radius R of around 25 mm, whilst the radius B,C in the region of the first 14 and second 16 projections at the tips 30,32 is around 28 mm. The first 14 and second 16 projections are helical in form, and follow the shape of the first channel 26 along substantially the entire extent of the first channel 26.

[0053] The first bristle strip 18 comprises a bristle base 38 and a plurality of tufts of bristles 40 woven to the bristle base 38. The bristle base 38 is elongate and planar in form, with the plurality of tufts of bristles 40 upstanding therefrom. The bristles 40 are formed of nylon, and have sufficient strength to agitate debris located upon a surface to be cleaned in use, whilst still having sufficient flexibility to resiliently deform relative to the bristle base 38. In a presently preferred embodiment, the bristles 40 have a height of around 7 mm from the bristle base 38.

[0054] The first 20 and second 22 raised portions also constitute regions of the main body 12 having an increased radius relative to the main body 12, such that the first 20 and second 22 raised portions are integrally formed with the main body 12. The first 20 and second 22 raised portions define asymmetric peaks 42,44, in contrast to the generally symmetrical angular tips of the first 14 and second 16 projections, although it is also envisaged that the first 20 and second 22 raised portions may have substantially the same form as the first 14 and second 16 projections. The main body 12 has a radius R of around 25 mm, whilst the radius E in the region of the first 20 and second 22 raised portions at the peaks 42,44 is around 27 mm. The first 20 and second 22 raised portions are helical in form, and follow the shape of the second channel 28 along substantially the entire extent of the second channel 28.

[0055] The second bristle strip 24 comprises a bristle base 50 and a plurality of tufts of bristles 52 woven to the bristle base 50. The bristle base 50 is elongate and planar in form, with the plurality of tufts of bristles 52 upstanding therefrom. The bristles 52 are formed of carbon fibre, and hence are relatively softer than the nylon bristles 40. In a presently preferred embodiment, the bristles 52 have a height of around 12 mm from the bristle base 50. The use of carbon fibre bristles 52 is unlikely to have a negative impact with regard to debris wrapping around the brushbar 10 in use, as the soft nature of the bristles 52 means that debris is typically not entangled by the bristles 52, and hence cannot wrap around the brushbar 10.

[0056] The first 18 and second 24 bristle strips are slidably inserted within the respective first 26 and second channels 28, such that the bristles 40,52 are upstanding from their respective channels 26,28. In an undeformed position, for example a position in which the bristles 40,52 do not contact a surface to be cleaned and are not subjected to external forces, tips of the nylon bristles 40 define a radius A of around 29 mm from a central longitudinal axis of the brushbar 10, whilst tips of the carbon fibre bristles 52 define a radius F of around 33 mm from the central longitudinal axis of the brushbar 10. Furthermore, the nylon bristles 40 are spaced from the tips 30,32 of the first 14 and second 16 projections by a distance D of around 3 mm in a generally circumferential direction.

[0057] Thus it can be seen that the tips of the nylon bristles 40 define a greater radius than the tips 30,32 of the first 14 and second 16 projections in a first configuration, i.e., in an undeformed position, such that the tips of the nylon bristles 40 extend past the tips 30,32 of the first 14 and second 16 projections. This can be seen most clearly in FIG. 3, where the radius of the tips of the nylon bristles 40 is denoted by distance A, the radius of the tip 30 of the first projection 14 is denoted by distance B, and the radius of the tip 32 of the second projection 16 is denoted by distance C. The spacing of the nylon bristles 40 from the tips 30,32 of the first 14 and second 16 projections in a substantially circumferential direction is denoted by distance D in FIG. 3.

[0058] During use, the brushbar 10 is rotatably mounted within a housing 102 of a cleaner head 100 of a vacuum cleaner, as seen in FIG. 4. The cleaner head 100 has a dirty air inlet and a dirty air outlet, such that dirty air is able to flow through the cleaner head 100 in use. The brushbar 10 rotates within the cleaner head 100, for example as a result of being driven by a motor housed within the main body 12, such that the nylon bristles 40 contact a surface to be cleaned 300. As the nylon bristles 40 contact the surface to be cleaned 300, the nylon bristles 40 are able to deform as a result of their flexibility and the spacing between the bristles 40 and the tips 30,32 of the first 14 and second 16 projections. When the nylon bristles 40 reach a second configuration, i.e., a position of maximum deformation, the tips of the bristles are located at or below the tips 30,32 of the first 14 and second 16 projections. Such a configuration is shown in FIG. 5 where the tips of the bristles 40 are sub-flush relative to the tips 30,32 of the first 14 and second 16 projections.

[0059] Thus it can be seen that the tips of the nylon bristles 40 define a smaller radius than the tips 30,32 of the first 14 and second 16 projections in a second configuration, i.e., in a deformed position, such that the tips of the nylon bristles 40 are at, or sub-flush relative to, the tips 30,32 of the first 14 and second 16 projections. This second configuration has been found to have particularly advantageous effects in preventing wrapping of debris, for example hair or thread or the like, around the brushbar 10.

[0060] In particular, entanglement of debris with bristles can lead to debris wrapping around the brushbar 10 in use, and bristles are typically more densely packed, and hence more prone to entangle debris, at the base thereof. As the nylon bristles 40 have a second configuration in which the tips of the nylon bristles 40 are at, or sub-flush relative to, the tips 30,32 of the first 14 and second 16 projections, a lower proportion, for example none, of the length of the nylon bristles 40 may be exposed past the tips 30,32 in the second configuration, and hence debris may be prevented from migrating toward the bristle base 38 of the nylon bristles 40. Furthermore, debris which would typically become entangled in the nylon bristles 40, for example at the bristle base 38 of the bristles 40, may be contacted by the projections 14,16 and prevented from reaching the bristle base 38 of the bristles 40, or moved out of contact with the bristles 40, for example outwardly to the level of the tips 30,32 of the projections 14,16 or to a less densely packed region of bristles 40, and may thereby prevent such entanglement from occurring. Engagement between the tips 30,32 of the projections 14,16 and the surface to be cleaned 300 may move debris outwardly through the bristles 40 to a region where the bristle density is insufficient to trap debris. Hence debris may not necessarily reach the level of the tips 30,32 of the projections 14,16, but may still be prevented from becoming entangled in the bristles 40 in use.

[0061] In addition to preventing debris from wrapping around the brushbar 10, the first 14 and second 16 projections may also act to move debris along the brushbar 10 in use. For example, the helical nature of the first 14 and second 16 projections may result in staged engagement between the projections 14,16, debris, and the surface to be cleaned 300, and this may act to move debris along the brushbar 10.

[0062] To this end, the brushbar 10 also comprises a debris collection channel 54 formed at an end of the brushbar 10. In use, the interaction between the brushbar 10 and the surface to be cleaned 300 moves debris along the length of the brushbar 10, such that debris is collected within the debris collection channel 54. A debris removal mechanism 56 may be located at the debris collection channel 54 for automatic removal of debris, or the brushbar 10 may be removable from the cleaner head 200 such that a user can manually remove debris from the debris collection channel 54. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 6, it will be recognised that the debris removal mechanism 56 defines the debris collection channel 54, in that the debris removal mechanism 56 comprises a pair of scissors which can be selectively opened and closed to define the debris collection channel 54.

[0063] An alternative form of a cleaner head 400 according to the present invention is shown schematically in FIG. 7. The cleaner head 400 is substantially the same as the cleaner head 100, and comprises the same brushbar 10, but differs in that the brushbar 10 is cantilevered within the cleaner head 400. In this regard, only one end of the brushbar 10 is mounted to a housing 402 of the cleaner head 400, such that there is a free end 404 of the brushbar 10 within the housing 402. In such an embodiment, the brushbar 10 may act to migrate debris along the brushbar 10 toward the free end 404, such that debris is able to fall off the free end 404 and become re-entrained within the air flow through the cleaner head 400.

[0064] An alternative cleaner head 500 according to the present invention is shown in FIG. 8. The cleaner head 500 is substantially the same as the cleaner head 100, and differs only in the form of the brushbar 502. The brushbar 502 has substantially the same structure as the brushbar 10 previously described, but also has a further debris collection channel 504 located centrally along the brushbar 502. This may be beneficial as debris may have to travel a reduced distance along the brushbar 502, and hence there is a reduced risk of debris wrapping around the brushbar 502 as it travels along the brushbar 502 in use. The further debris collection channel 504 is a region of the brushbar 502 that has a reduced diameter relative to the remainder of the brushbar 502, and the further debris collection channel 504 extends about substantially the entire circumference of the brushbar 502. A debris removal slot 506 extends transversely across the further debris collection channel 504, and enables insertion of a debris removal member, for example a blade or a pair of scissors, to remove debris from the further debris collection channel 504.

[0065] A further alternative brushbar 600 according to the present invention is shown in FIG. 9. The brushbar 600 is substantially the same as the brushbar 10, and differs in that the brushbar 600 is tapered along its length, such that the brushbar 600 guides debris towards the debris collection channel 54 in use. This may be beneficial as the brushbar 600 may further guide debris toward the debris collection channel 54 in use. The taper angle of the brushbar 600 may be greater than 5, or indeed greater than 10, and at least sufficient to guide debris along the brushbar 10 and toward the debris collection channel 54 in use. A cleaner head is also envisaged wherein the brushbar 600 is cantilevered within the cleaner head, such that the cleaner head resembles the cleaner head 400 discussed previously. The brushbar 600 appears conical in form. An offset drive may be used to ensure that a portion of the brushbar 600 always lies parallel to a surface to be cleaned in use.

[0066] A further alternative cleaner head 800 according to the present invention is shown in FIG. 10. The cleaner head 800 comprises a brushbar 900 having first 902 and second 904 brushbar portions, each of which is cantilevered within the housing 906 of the cleaner head 800, such that a gap 908 is formed between the first 902 and second 904 brushbar portions. Each of the first 902 and second 904 brushbar portions has substantially the same form as the brushbar 10 according to the first aspect of the present invention, only reduced in size, such that the first 902 and second 904 brushbar portions migrate debris toward the gap 908 in use, thereby allowing debris to be re-entrained in air flow through the cleaner head 800.

[0067] A vacuum cleaner 200 comprising a cleaner head 100 according to the present invention is shown schematically in FIG. 11.