Vacuum cleaners can include an agitator for agitating debris on a surface to be cleaned so that the debris is more easily ingested into the vacuum cleaner. In some cases, the agitator comprises a brushroll that rotates within a base or floor nozzle. Such brushrolls can be rotatably driven by a motor, a turbine fan or a mechanical gear train, for example. Brushrolls typically have a generally cylindrical dowel with multiple bristle tufts extending radially from the dowel. In operation, debris on a surface to be cleaned is swept up by the brushroll; in some cases, elongated debris such as hair may become wrapped around the brushroll and must be removed by a user by manually pulling or cutting the hair off the brushroll.
According to one aspect of the present disclosure vacuum cleaner, comprising a base comprising an agitator chamber and a suction nozzle opening in fluid communication with the agitator chamber, an upright body pivotally mounted to the base and comprising a main support section supporting a cyclonic collection system comprising a cyclone separator, a suction source in fluid communication with the cyclonic collection system and a brushroll positioned within the agitator chamber for rotational movement about a central rotational axis, the brushroll comprising a brush dowel defining a length, the brush dowel configured to be mounted for rotation about the central rotational axis, which extends longitudinally through the brush dowel, a plurality of bristles mounted to the brush dowel along at least a portion of the length, and at least one rib extending radially from the brush dowel.
According to another aspect a brushroll for a vacuum cleaner, the brushroll comprising a brush dowel defining a length, the brush dowel configured to be mounted for rotation about a rotational axis, which extends longitudinally through the brush dowel, a plurality of bristles mounted to the brush dowel along at least a portion of the length, and at least one rib extending radially from the brush dowel.
In the drawings:
The present discourse relates to vacuum cleaners and in particular to vacuum cleaners or accessory tools for vacuum cleaners having a rotatable brushroll. In particular, the present disclosure relates to an improved brushroll design which reduces hair wrap. According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a brushroll includes a dowel, a plurality of bristles protruding from the dowel, and a shroud surface which is positioned relative to the bristles to minimize hair wrap.
According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a brushroll includes a dowel, a plurality of bristles protruding from the dowel, and a cutting channel which is positioned relative to the bristles to permit hair to be cut from the dowel.
According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a brushroll includes concave curved tufting surfaces to which bristle tufts are mounted or secured to minimize hair wrap.
According to yet another aspect of the present disclosure, a brushroll includes offset, swept bristle tufts that are tufted at an acute angle to reduce the drive torque required to rotate the brushroll.
The brushrolls can be used with various vacuum cleaners, including an upright-type vacuum cleaner, a canister-type vacuum cleaner, a stick vacuum cleaner, an autonomous or robotic vacuum cleaner, or a hand-held vacuum cleaner, or accessory tools therefore. Furthermore, the vacuum cleaner or accessory tool can additionally be configured to distribute a fluid and/or to extract a fluid, where the fluid may for example be liquid or steam. The term “surface cleaning apparatus” as used herein includes both vacuum cleaners and accessory tools for vacuum cleaners, unless expressly noted.
In some cases, the hair H may be pulled off the bristles 208 by the suction force of the vacuum cleaner. In other cases, as the bristles 208 holding the hair H continue along the rotational path determined by the dowel 202, the hair H can become wrapped around the dowel 202, as shown in
As the bristles 208 holding the hair H again come into contact with the surface to be cleaned, the hair H extends from an attachment point P, which is where at least one strand of hair H is attached to at least one bristle 208. When viewed from the side, the surface to be cleaned defines a surface line S, and the deflected bristles 208 define a bristle deflection line Y, which is the tangent line to the curve defined by the deflected bristles 208 at the attachment point P. A deflection angle A1 is defined by the included angle formed by the surface line S and a line Z, which is the line orthogonal to the bristle deflection line Y at the intersection of the bristle deflection line Y with the surface line S. The hair H defines a hair wrap line W, which is the line defined by the hair H from the attachment point P where it extends from or leaves the bristles 208. In some cases, the portion of the hair H extending immediately from the bristles 208 may extend substantially linearly before curving around the dowel 202, and so that hair wrap line W can follow that linear portion of the hair H. A hair wrap angle A2 is defined by the included angle formed by the surface line S and the hair wrap line W. It is noted that the hair H can be caught in various locations by the bristles 208, but that, regardless of where the hair is attached to the bristles, the wrapped hair H will have at least some portion that extends from the bristles 208 in the direction opposite to brushroll rotation R.
It has been found that for brushroll designs where the hair wrap angle A2 is greater than the deflection angle A1 (in other words, where A2>A1), the hair is pulled toward the root of the bristles 208 and becomes tightly wrapped around the dowel 202. In this case, the hair cannot be pulled off the brushroll 200 by the suction force of the vacuum cleaner, and the user must manually remove the hair.
Examples of the present disclosure include brushroll designs in which the hair wrap angle A2 is less than or equal to the deflection angle A1 (in other words, where A2≤A1). Such brushrolls prevent or greatly reduce the amount of hair wrap during operation.
For purposes of description related to the figures, the terms “upper,” “lower,” “right,” “left,” “rear,” “front,” “vertical,” “horizontal,” and derivatives thereof shall relate to the disclosure as oriented in
As illustrated, the vacuum cleaner 10 comprises an upright body 12 pivotally mounted to a lower base 14. The upright body 12 generally comprises a main support section 16 supporting a collection system 18 for separating and collecting contaminants from a working airstream for later disposal. In one conventional arrangement illustrated herein, the collection system 18 can include a cyclone separator 20 for separating contaminants from a working airstream and a removable dirt cup 22 for receiving and collecting the separated contaminants from the cyclone separator 20. The cyclone separator 20 can have a single cyclonic separation stage, or multiple stages. In another conventional arrangement, the collection system 18 can include an integrally formed cyclone separator and dirt cup, with the dirt cup being provided with a bottom-opening dirt door for contaminant disposal. It is understood that other types of collection systems 18 can be used, such as centrifugal separators or bulk separators. In yet another conventional arrangement, the collection system 18 can include a filter bag. The vacuum cleaner 10 can also be provided with one or more additional filters upstream or downstream of the collection system 18.
The upright body 12 is pivotally mounted to the base 14 for movement between an upright storage position, shown in
The upright body 12 also has an elongated handle 26 extending upwardly from the main support section 16 that is provided with a hand grip 28 at one end that can be used for maneuvering the vacuum cleaner 10 over a surface to be cleaned. A motor cavity 30 is formed at a lower end of the support section 16 and contains a conventional suction source, such as a motor/fan assembly 36, positioned therein in fluid communication with the collection system 18. The vacuum cleaner 10 can also be provided with one or more additional filters upstream or downstream of motor/fan assembly.
In
The brushroll 60 is positioned within the agitator chamber 38 for rotational movement about a central rotational axis X. A single brushroll 60 is illustrated; however, it is within the scope of the disclosure for dual rotating brushrolls to be used. Moreover, it is within the scope of the disclosure for the brushroll 60 to be mounted within the agitator chamber 38 in a fixed or floating vertical position relative to the chamber 38 and lower housing 34.
The brushroll 60 can be operably coupled to and driven by the motor/fan assembly 36 in the motor cavity 30. The motor/fan assembly 36 can comprise a motor shaft 46 which is oriented substantially parallel to the surface to be cleaned and protrudes from the motor cavity 30 into a rear portion of the base 14. A drive belt 48 operably connects the motor shaft 46 to the brushroll 60 for transmitting rotational motion of the motor shaft 46 to the brushroll 60. Alternatively, a separate, dedicated agitator drive motor (not shown) can be provided within the base 14 to drive the brushroll 60.
The base 14 can further include an optional suction nozzle height adjustment mechanism for adjusting the height of the suction nozzle opening 42 with respect to the surface to be cleaned. A rotatable knob 54 for actuating the adjustment mechanism can be provided on the exterior of the base 14. In another variation, the suction nozzle height adjustment mechanism can be eliminated.
In operation, the vacuum cleaner 10 draws in debris-laden air through the base 14 and into the collection system 18 where the debris, which can include, but is not limited to, dirt, dust, hair, and other debris, is substantially separated from the working air flow, which is generated by the motor/fan assembly 36. The spinning motor shaft 46 of the motor/fan assembly 36 rotates the brushroll 60 via the drive belt 48 that is operably connected therebetween. Alternatively, a separate, dedicated agitator drive motor can rotate the brushroll 60. As the brushroll 60 rotates, the bristles sweep across the surface to be cleaned to release and propel debris into the working air flow generated by the motor/fan assembly 36, which carries the debris into the collection system 18. The working air flow then passes through the motor cavity 30 and past the motor/fan assembly 36 prior to being exhausted from the vacuum cleaner 10. The collection system 18 can be periodically emptied of debris.
The brush dowel 62 further includes one or more bristle supports 70 which project into the dowel 62. Bristles 72 protrude from the bristle supports 70, and can be provided in a series of discrete tufts or in a continuous strip. The bristles 72 can be arranged in various patterns on the dowel 62, including straight, angled, helical, or combinations thereof.
The brushroll 60 is designed to prevent or greatly reduce the amount of hair wrap during operation by providing a shroud surface 74 for wrapping hair. The shroud surface 74 is provided adjacent to the bristles 72 in order to establish a more shallow hair wrap angle, as described in further detail below.
In the illustrated example, two bristle supports 70 and two corresponding rows of bristle tufts 76 are provided on the dowel 62, each tuft 76 containing a plurality of bristles 72, and extend in a generally helical pattern around the circumference of the dowel 62. The outer surface of the brush dowel 62 includes opposing curved sections, shown herein as convex curved surfaces 86, defining the shroud surface 74 and opposing flat sections defining mounting surfaces 78 of the bristle supports 70 from which the tufts 76 project.
In one non-limiting example, to produce the brushroll 60 shown in
As noted above, the brushroll 60 is designed to prevent or greatly reduce the amount of hair wrap during operation by providing the shroud surface 74 for wrapping hair. In the illustrated example, the brush dowel 62 defines a major diameter D1, which is the diameter defined by the smallest circle that can enclose the shroud surface 74 of the dowel 62. The bristle tufts 76 define a trim diameter D2, which is slightly larger than the major diameter D1. The flat mounting surfaces 78 are recessed below the major diameter D1, and therefore below the shroud surface 74, which allows the bristles 72 on the flat mounting surfaces 78 to deflect when contacting the surface to be cleaned, while keeping any hair at or near the tip of the bristles 72. For example, the bristle supports 70 define a minor diameter D3 of the brush dowel 62. The minor diameter D3 can be defined at the tufting locations of the bristle tufts 76 in the bristle supports 70. The minor diameter D3 can be less than the major diameter D1 and the trim diameter D2. In the illustrated example, the minor diameter D3 is the diameter defined by the smallest circle that can touch both mounting surfaces 78 of the bristle supports 70, at the tufting locations of the bristle tufts 76. Other configurations for a brushroll having bristle supports 70 and shroud surface 74 may have major and minor diameters D1, D3 defined in other manners, as long as the shroud surface 74 defines D1 and the bristle supports 70 define D3.
The outer surface of the brush dowel 62 shown in
In one example, the hair wrap angle A2 of the brushroll 60 can be approximately half of the bristle deflection angle A1. Keeping the minor diameter D3 less than the major diameter D1 essentially pulls the bristle tips in closer to the shroud surface 74, such that the trim diameter D2 remains slightly larger than the major diameter D1, and hair wrap can be prevented. If the hair wrap angle A2 becomes too shallow, essentially by the major diameter D1 of the shroud surface 74 becoming larger relative to the trim diameter D2, the shroud surface 74 may prevent the bristle tufts 76 from engaging the surface to be cleaned.
The brush dowel 92 further includes a cylindrical core 100 and one or more bristle supports 102 projecting from the core 100. Bristles 104 protrude from the bristle supports 102, and can be provided in a series of discrete tufts or in a continuous strip. The bristles 104 can be arranged in various patterns on the dowel 92, including straight, angled, helical, or combinations thereof.
The brushroll 90 is designed to accommodate a secondary device for cutting wrapped hair by providing at least one standing rib 106 adjacent to the bristles 104 which defines a channel 108 into which scissors or another cutting implement can be inserted to cut hair that is wrapped around the dowel 92. As shown in
In the illustrated example, two rows of bristle supports 102 and two corresponding rows of bristle tufts 110, each tuft 110 containing a plurality of bristles 104, are provided on the dowel 92. The rows extend in a generally helical pattern around the circumference of the dowel 92. Further, two opposing sets of standing ribs 106 project radially from the dowel 92, though only one set of visible in
Circumferential gaps 112 can extend around the dowel 92 to separate adjacent bristle supports 102 and ribs 106, and further allow the rotating brushroll 90 to clear ribs on the lower housing 34 that prevent carpet from getting drawn into the suction nozzle opening 42 (
In one non-limiting example, to produce the brushroll 90 shown in
During operation, the brushroll 90 rotates in direction R and debris including, but not limited to, dirt, dust, and hair on the surface to be cleaned is swept up by the brushroll 90. In some cases, hair can wrap around the dowel 92 rather than being pulled off the brushroll 90 by suction force of the vacuum cleaner. In this case, scissors or another cutting implement can be inserted into the channel 108 defined by the ribs 106 to cut that hair that is wrapped around the dowel 92.
In a further example, the height of the standing ribs 106 can be increased so that the outer perimeter defined by the top of the standing ribs 106 forms a shroud surface to minimize the hair wrap angle A2, as described for the first example.
It should be understood that the brushroll 60 of
The brushroll 120 includes a brush dowel 122 configured to be mounted for rotation about a central rotational axis X extending longitudinally through the dowel 122. The brush dowel 122 is mounted on an elongated shaft 124 that extends through the center of the dowel 122 and defines the central rotational axis X around which the brushroll 120 rotates. The brushroll 120 illustrated is configured to be rotationally driven in the direction indicated by arrow R. A bearing 126 is mounted on each end of the shaft 124. In operation, the dowel 122 rotates about the shaft 124 on the bearings 126. A belt engagement surface 128 extends around the circumference of the dowel 122 near one end, and can communicate with a belt, such as belt 48 (
The brush dowel 122 further includes one or more bristle supports 130 which project into the dowel 122. Bristles 132 protrude from the bristle supports 130, and can be provided in a series of discrete tufts or in a continuous strip. The bristles 132 can be arranged in various patterns on the dowel 122, including straight, angled, helical, or combinations thereof.
The brushroll 120 is designed to prevent or greatly reduce the amount of hair wrap during operation by providing a shroud surface 134 for wrapping hair. The shroud surface 134 is provided adjacent to the bristles 132 in order to establish a more shallow hair wrap angle, the benefits of which are discussed above with respect to the first example of the brushroll 60.
In the illustrated example, two bristle supports 130 and two corresponding rows of bristle tufts 136 are provided on the dowel 122, each tuft 136 containing a plurality of bristles 132, and extend in a generally helical pattern around the circumference of the dowel 122. The overall outer surface of the brush dowel 122 includes opposing convex curved surfaces 138 which together define the shroud surface 134 and opposing concave curved surfaces 140 defining mounting surfaces of the bristle supports 130 from which the tufts 136 project.
In one non-limiting example, to produce the brushroll 120 shown in
The concave curved surfaces 140 intersect the convex shroud surfaces 138 at outside corners 148 where the two converging surfaces 138, 140 meet. Further, the brush dowel 122 shown in
As noted above, the brushroll 120 is designed to prevent or greatly reduce the amount of hair wrap during operation by providing the shroud surface 134 for wrapping hair. For example, the concave curved surfaces 140 are recessed below the major diameter D1, and therefore below the shroud surface 134, which allows the bristles 132 on the concave curved surfaces 140 to deflect when contacting the surface to be cleaned, while keeping any hair at or near the tip of the bristles 132.
In the illustrated example, the brushroll 120 further includes bristle supports 130 that are defined by concave curved surfaces 140, rather than flat surfaces 78 as for the first example of the brushroll 60 (
The illustrated example of the brushroll 120 further has the bristle tufts 136 positioned equidistant from the raised edges 148, and projecting radially from the dowel 122 at a midpoint of the concave curved surfaces 140.
It should be understood that the brushroll 120 of
The brushroll 150 includes a brush dowel 152 configured to be mounted for rotation about a central rotational axis X extending longitudinally through the dowel 152. The brush dowel 152 is mounted on an elongated shaft 154 that extends through the center of the dowel 152 and defines the central rotational axis X around which the brushroll 150 rotates. The brushroll 150 illustrated is configured to be rotationally driven in the direction indicated by arrow R. A bearing 156 is mounted on each end of the shaft 154. In operation, the dowel 152 rotates about the shaft 154 on the bearings 156. A belt engagement surface (not shown) can extend around the circumference of the dowel 152 and can communicate with a belt, such as belt 48 (
The brush dowel 152 further includes one or more bristle supports 160 which project into the dowel 152. Bristles 162 protrude from the bristle supports 160, and can be provided in a series of discrete tufts or in a continuous strip. The bristles 162 can be arranged in various patterns on the dowel 152, including straight, angled, helical, or combinations thereof.
The brushroll 150 is designed to prevent or greatly reduce the amount of hair wrap during operation by providing a shroud surface 164 for wrapping hair. The shroud surface 164 is provided adjacent to the bristles 162 in order to establish a shallower hair wrap angle, the benefits of which are discussed above with respect to the first example of the brushroll 60.
In the illustrated example, two bristle supports 160 and two corresponding rows of bristle tufts 166 are provided on the dowel 152, each tuft 166 containing a plurality of bristles 162, and extend in a generally helical pattern around the circumference of the dowel 152. The overall outer surface of the brush dowel 152 includes opposing convex curved surfaces 168 which together define the shroud surface 164 and opposing concave curved surfaces 170 defining mounting surfaces of the bristle supports 160 from which the tufts 166 project.
In one non-limiting example, to produce the brushroll 150 shown in
As noted above, the brushroll 150 is designed to prevent or greatly reduce the amount of hair wrap during operation by providing the shroud surface 164 for wrapping hair. For example, the concave curved surfaces 170 are recessed below the major diameter D1, and therefore below the shroud surface 164, which allows the bristles 162 on the concave curved surfaces 170 to deflect when contacting the surface to be cleaned, while keeping any hair at or near the tip of the bristles 162.
In the illustrated example, the brushroll 150 further includes bristle supports 160 that are defined by concave curved surfaces 170 which intersect the convex shroud surfaces 168 at outside corners 178 where the two converging surfaces 168, 170 meet. The outside corners 178 are shown herein as raised edges 178, the benefits of which are discussed above with respect to the third example of the brushroll 120. Still further in the illustrated example, the brushroll 150 includes bristle tufts 166 that are tufted at an acute angle relative to the concave tufting surfaces 170, i.e. the tufting surfaces to which the bristle tufts 166 are mounted or secured, rather than radially 78 as for the third example of the brushroll 120 (
Further, the bristle tufts 166 are offset on the concave tufting surface 170, i.e. tufted closer to one edge 178 than the other, or offset from the centerline axis 182, rather than being at the center of the concave tufting surface as for the third example of the brushroll 120 (
It should be understood that the brushroll 150 of
While the brushrolls 60, 90, 120, 150 are described herein as being rotatably driven by a motor, it is understood that the brushroll 60, 90, 120, 150 can be driven by other means, such as, but not limited to, a turbine fan or a mechanical gear train.
The vacuum cleaner 10 and various brushrolls 60, 90, 120, 150 disclosed herein provide an improved brushroll design which addresses the problem of hair wrap Examples of the present disclosure include brushroll designs in which the hair wrap angle A2 is less than or equal to the deflection angle A1 (in other words, where A2≤A1). Such brushrolls release hair that is not pulled off the brushroll by the suction force of the vacuum cleaner back on to the surface to be cleaned, rather than tightly wrapping the hair on the brushroll. These brushrolls provide the opportunity to prevent or greatly reduce the amount of hair wrap during operation. Other examples of the present disclosure include brushroll designs in which hair can easily be cut off the brushroll.
While the invention has been specifically described in connection with certain specific embodiments thereof, it is to be understood that this is by way of illustration and not of limitation. Reasonable variation and modification are possible with the scope of the foregoing disclosure and drawings without departing from the spirit of the invention which, is defined in the appended claims. Hence, specific dimensions and other physical characteristics relating to the embodiments disclosed herein are not to be considered as limiting, unless the claims expressly state otherwise.
This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/866,978, filed Jan. 10, 2018, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,602,895, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/966,139, filed Dec. 11, 2015, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,883,779, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/090,959, filed Dec. 12, 2014, all of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.
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20200214519 A1 | Jul 2020 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 15866978 | Jan 2018 | US |
Child | 16812728 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 14966139 | Dec 2015 | US |
Child | 15866978 | US |