Floating agitator housing for a vacuum cleaner head

Details Floating agitator housing for a vacuum cleaner head Floating agitator housing for a vacuum cleaner head

1999-06-01

2001-07-17

Warden, Sr., Robert J. (Department: 1744)

Cleaning and liquid contact with solids

Processes

Including use of vacuum, suction, or inert atmosphere

C015S319000, C015S359000, C015S368000, C015S372000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06261379

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to vacuum cleaner heads having an agitator such as a rotatably mounted brush. Such vacuum cleaner heads may be used with upright vacuum cleaners, canister vacuum cleaners, central vacuum cleaners and the like.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Typically, vacuum cleaners use a vacuum cleaner head having a dirty air inlet which is in flow communication with a source of suction (e.g. a motor driven fan unit). When the vacuum cleaner is turned on, the suction source creates a low pressure area which draws air into the dirty air inlet. Dirt particles and the like are entrained in the air flow and transported by the air flow to a dirt separation mechanism provided with the vacuum cleaner. In order to assist the entrainment of dirt particles and the like in the air stream entering the dirty air inlet, an agitator (e.g. a rotatably mounted brush) is provided. The rotation of the brush agitates the surface (e.g. carpet) over which the vacuum cleaner head travels. This agitation disturbs the dirt which is in the carpet so that it may more easily be entrained in the air entering the dirty air inlet.
It has also been known in the vacuum cleaning art to include a height adjustment mechanism so that the position of the rotatably mounted brush with respect to the dirty air inlet may be adjusted to position the brush for optimal contact between the brush and the surface being cleaned. In such devices, the brush is mounted within the casing above the dirty air inlet and as the position of the brush is adjusted, the distance from the periphery of the brush to the inner portion of the casing housing the brush varies.
One disadvantage of this approach is that the air gap between the brush and the inner portion of the casing housing the brush varies. Accordingly, even if the portion of the casing housing the brush were aerodynamically designed so as to assist in the travel of the dirty air past the brush, the benefit of the aerodynamic shape would be reduced as the height of the brush is adjusted.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the instant invention, a housing is provided for mounting the brush. The housing itself moves with respect to the dirty air inlet so as to enable the vacuum cleaner head to maintain an optimal spacing between the perimeter of the brush and the interior of the housing. Accordingly, if the housing is aerodynamically shaped so as to provide an aerodynamic air flow path around the brush through the housing, the aerodynamic air flow path is maintained as the height of the brush is adjusted with respect to the dirty air inlet. By providing an aerodynamically shaped housing, the efficiency of the vacuum cleaner head may be increased thereby increasing the efficiency of the vacuum cleaner and/or decreasing the size of the motor which is required for the vacuum cleaner.
In accordance with the instant invention there is therefore provided a vacuum cleaner head for cleaning a surface comprising (a) a casing having a lower surface and an air flow path, the air flow path including a dirty air inlet provided in the lower surface; (b) a housing mounted above the dirty air inlet and movably mounted with respect to the dirty air inlet; and, (c) a brush rotatably mounted within the housing.
The housing may have an air inlet in air flow communication with the dirty air inlet and the brush may be mounted at a fixed position in the housing with respect to the air inlet.
In another embodiment, the housing is mounted within the casing for movement of the housing towards and away from the dirty air inlet.
In another embodiment, the housing is mounted to float freely within the casing.
In another embodiment, the casing further comprises a vertically extending track and the housing is moveable mounted on the track. The track may be configured for free movement of the housing on the track. Alternately, or in addition, the vacuum cleaner head may further comprise a power source and a drive member drivingly connecting the power source to the brush for rotatably driving the brush and the track is configured with respect to the power source to maintain a generally constant tension in the drive member.
In another embodiment, the housing is aerodynamically shaped whereby, as the housing moves with respect to the dirty air inlet, the aerodynamic flow of air through the housing is maintained.
In another embodiment, the housing has an air inlet defined by spaced apart opposed sides in air flow communication with the dirty air inlet and an inner wall extending from one of the opposed sides to the other of the opposed sides, the inner wall having a downstream portion, the downstream portion having an air outlet, at least a portion of the downstream portion extending outwardly away from the brush.
In another embodiment, the vacuum cleaner head further comprises a manually adjustable control (eg. a foot operated pedal) drivingly connected to the housing whereby a person can manually raise the housing, and therefore the brush, with respect to the surface on which the vacuum cleaner head is positioned.
In another embodiment, the vacuum cleaner head further comprises a pressure sensor to automatically raise or lower the housing in response to the air pressure in the air flow path downstream of the dirty air inlet and preferably downstream of the air outlet from the housing.
In accordance with the instant invention, there is also provided a vacuum cleaner head for cleaning a surface comprising (a) a casing having a dirty air inlet; (b) enclosing means mounted above the dirty air inlet for receiving an agitation means and defining an air flow path around the agitation means; and, (c) height adjustment means for movement of the enclosing means with respect to the dirty air inlet.
In one embodiment, the agitation means is mounted at a fixed position in the enclosing means.
In another embodiment, the height adjustment means comprises mounting means for free movement of the enclosing means towards and away from the dirty air inlet.
In another embodiment, the enclosing means has an air inlet, an air outlet and is aerodynamically shaped to provide an aerodynamic flow of air around the agitation means from the air inlet to the air outlet whereby, as the enclosing means moves with respect to the dirty air inlet, the aerodynamic flow of air through the enclosing means is maintained.
In another embodiment, the vacuum cleaner head further comprises lift off means for raising the enclosing means, and therefore the brush, with respect to the surface on which the vacuum cleaner head is positioned. The lift off means may be manually actuatable by a person. The lift off means may comprise sensing means to raise or lower the enclosing means in response to the air pressure in the air flow path downstream of the dirty air inlet.
In another embodiment, the enclosing means has an air outlet and the sensing means is reactive to the air pressure in the air flow path downstream of the air outlet.
In accordance with the instant invention, there is also provided a method of cleaning a surface using a vacuum cleaner head having a dirty air inlet, a housing movably mounted within the vacuum cleaner head and a brush mounted within the housing, the method comprising introducing dirty air into the dirty air inlet, introducing dirty air into the housing and, adjusting the position of the housing with respect to the dirty air inlet.
In another embodiment, the method further comprises automatically adjusting the position of the housing with respect to the dirty air inlet in response to the amount of air flowing through the dirty air inlet.


REFERENCES:
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patent: 2997729 (1961-08-01), Kasper
patent: 3827103 (1974-08-01), Nordeen et al.
patent: 3871051 (1975-03-01), Collier
patent: 3879786 (1975-04-01), Larkin
patent: 4171554 (1979-10-01), Tschudy
patent: 4221019 (1980-09-01), Jäger et al.
patent: 4891858 (1990-01-01), Wachter
patent: 4977640 (1990-12-01), Hirano et al.
patent: 5347678 (1994-09-01), Williams et al.
patent: 5394588 (1995-03-01), Kweon et al.

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