Brushing – scrubbing – and general cleaning – Machines – With air blast or suction
Reexamination Certificate
2000-01-13
2001-09-04
Till, Terrence R. (Department: 1744)
Brushing, scrubbing, and general cleaning
Machines
With air blast or suction
C015S392000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06282748
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to the vacuum cleaner arts, and more particularly to a chamber that houses a powered agitator roll or brushroll for a vacuum cleaner, and will be described with particular reference thereto.
It is known to use a powered (e.g. belt driven) agitator roll or brushroll in a vacuum cleaner nozzle base. Most agitator rolls or brushrolls are formed from a cylindrical dowel having one or more rows of bristles that, in conjunction with a beater bar structure associated with the vacuum cleaner nozzle base, aid in the pickup of dirt from the surface being cleaned. Such powered brushrolls are mounted for rotation in brushroll chambers associated with different types of vacuum cleaners such as upright vacuum cleaners, hand-held vacuum cleaners, canister-type vacuum cleaners having powered floor nozzles, etc.
With reference to
FIGS. 1 and 2
, a conventional floor nozzle A of an upright-type vacuum cleaner includes a nozzle base section
10
. A cylindrical wall
12
extends laterally along the front of the nozzle base section
10
and defines a downwardly opening brushroll chamber or cavity
14
having a constant, arcuate, cross-section along the width W of the nozzle base section. The brushroll chamber
14
is adapted to receive and rotatably support an agitator or brushroll (not shown) in a known manner. A lower cover plate (not shown) cooperates with the brushroll chamber to define a floor nozzle inlet
15
.
A slot
16
and a rearwardly extending duct
18
each communicate with and extend rearwardly from opposing ends of the brushroll chamber
14
. A power transmission device, such as a continuous drive belt (not shown), is positioned within the slot
16
and transfers rotational power from an output shaft of a drive motor (not shown) to the brushroll (not shown) in a conventional manner. The duct
18
provides a pathway for suction air that is drawn by a source of suction power (e.g. a fan/motor assembly) through the brushroll chamber
14
from the nozzle inlet
15
.
A disadvantage associated with the brushroll chamber
14
is that suction air is not drawn evenly into the brushroll chamber along the width of the nozzle inlet
15
. That is, the velocity of suction air drawn from the nozzle inlet at locations remote from the suction duct
18
(such as near the slot
16
) can be less than the velocity of suction air drawn from the locations that are proximate the suction duct
18
, thus reducing the performance of the vacuum cleaner floor nozzle along the edges thereof.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,513,418 discloses a brushroll chamber having an inner, cylindrical brushroll cavity and two laterally extending suction ducts positioned, respectively, forward and rearward of the inner brushroll cavity, which suction ducts taper downward in directions laterally away from a discharge duct. It is desirable to provide upright vacuum cleaners with a profile that is compact, streamlined, and easy to maneuver. However, a vacuum cleaner nozzle base that incorporates such a brushroll chamber with an inner brushroll cavity and forward and rearward suction ducts that are separate from the brushroll cavity, tends to be bulky and less maneuverable due the size and weight of the brushroll chamber. It also requires a complex nozzle body with many walls, thereby adding to the cost of manufacture of the product.
Accordingly, it has been deemed desirable to develop a new and improved brushroll chamber for vacuum cleaner devices that overcomes the foregoing difficulties and others while providing better and more advantageous overall results.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to a new and improved brushroll chamber for a vacuum cleaner that provides overall improved suction performance by increasing the velocity of a suction airflow that occurs at points along a nozzle inlet that are located progressively farther from a rearwardly extending suction duct.
In accordance with the first aspect of this invention, a nozzle base for a vacuum cleaner includes a downwardly opening chamber extending across a width of the nozzle base. The chamber is adapted to rotatably support an associated agitator. The chamber includes an upper wall that tapers downward in a widthwise direction relative to the nozzle base. The upper wall extends to a height below an uppermost extent of the agitator. The upper wall includes a recess adapted to conform generally to the agitator.
In accordance with another aspect of this invention, a nozzle base for a vacuum cleaner includes an upright front wall, an upright rear wall spaced from the front wall and having a suction air aperture, first and second upright side walls extending transversely between mutual end edges of the front and rear walls, respectively, and an upper wall joined to the front wall, rear wall, first side wall, and second side wall to define a downwardly opening chamber adapted to rotatably support an associated agitator therein. The upper wall has an intermediate section above the suction air aperture, a first wall section tapering downward from the intermediate section in a direction toward the first upright sidewall, and a second wall section tapering downward from the intermediate section in a direction toward the second upright sidewall. The second wall section terminates at a height below an uppermost extent of the agitator, and the second wall section including a recess adapted to conform generally to the agitator.
In accordance with yet another aspect of the invention, a nozzle base for a vacuum cleaner includes a downwardly opening chamber extending across a width of the nozzle base. The chamber includes an upper wall and a first side wall. The upper wall includes a first upper wall section that tapers from a discharge aperture toward the first side wall. The first upper wall section includes a recessed portion adapted to accommodate a rotation of an associated agitator.
One advantage of the present invention is the provision of a new and improved brushroll chamber for a vacuum cleaner that is compact, lightweight, and easily maneuverable.
Another advantage of the invention is found in the provision of a brushroll chamber having improved suction performance along the full width of an associated nozzle inlet.
Still another advantage of the present invention resides in the provision of a unitary brushroll chamber having a cross-section that varies in a lateral direction away from a rear discharge duct to increase the velocity of air flow at points remote from the discharge duct.
Yet another advantage of the present invention is the provision of a brushroll chamber that incorporates a tapered upper wall portion with a recess for accommodating a rotating brushroll.
Still a further advantage of the present invention is the provision of a brushroll chamber that incorporates a tapered rear wall portion for controlling the velocity of air flow at points remote from a discharge duct.
Still other benefits and advantages of the invention will become apparent to those of average skill in the art upon a reading and understanding of the following detailed description.
REFERENCES:
patent: Re. 31095 (1982-12-01), Tschudy
patent: 5513418 (1996-05-01), Weber
patent: 6006402 (1999-12-01), Maurer
patent: 6158084 (2000-12-01), Weber et al.
Cipolla Mark E.
McKee Robert N.
Thur Charles J.
Wright Michael F.
Fay Sharpe Fagan Minnich & McKee LLP
Royal Appliance Mfg. Co.
Till Terrence R.
LandOfFree
Brushroll chamber for vacuum cleaner does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Brushroll chamber for vacuum cleaner, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Brushroll chamber for vacuum cleaner will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2494982