Patent Application
20050039282
The present invention relates to a vacuum cleaner, and more particularly, to a vacuum cleaner brushroll.
A vacuum cleaner picks up dirt and debris by generating a vacuum and therefore an airflow that picks up the dirt and debris. The vacuum cleaner filters the dirt out of the airflow and retains the dirt in a collection chamber. Consequently, the efficiency and usefulness of a vacuum cleaner is determined by how well it picks up dirt and debris. Furthermore, the efficiency and usefulness is determined by how well it picks up dirt and debris from a variety of underlying surfaces.
Advances in vacuum cleaners have resulted in the inclusion of a brushroll that includes bristles. The bristles are formed in tufts and rows of tufts during manufacture. The brushroll is powered in some manner, and rotates so that the bristles pick up the dirt from an underlying surface. As a result, the powered brushroll improves the cleaning ability of the vacuum cleaner by dislodging the dirt and propelling the dirt into the airflow. The brushroll is especially advantageous on uneven or rough surfaces, such as carpet, for example, wherein the bristles help to pull dirt out of the carpet fibers.
While this type of tuft is effective for cleaning a particular surface, a problem with a uniform effective length tuft is that it is not equally effective for other surfaces. For example, while a dense and short tuft works well for aggressively cleaning carpet, a short, dense tuft may be too rough and aggressive for cleaning wood floors or surfaces that can be marred or dulled. On a hard surface, aggressive tufts can over-propel dirt up and off of the surface, while an aggressive tuft may be necessary to pull dirt out of deep carpet and propel it into the vacuum cleaner airflow. In addition, in deep carpet, the wheels of the vacuum cleaner sink in, and a short tuft can reach the underlying surface, while the same tuft will likely not reach a hard surface.
A vacuum cleaner brushroll according to an embodiment of the invention comprises a brushroll body and at least one row of bristle tufts disposed on the brushroll body. The at least one row of bristle tufts comprises a first tuft of a first effective length from the brushroll body and at least a second tuft of a second effective length that is different from the first effective length.
A vacuum cleaner brushroll according to an embodiment of the invention comprises a brushroll body and at least one row of substantially radially-outwardly oriented bristle tufts disposed on the brushroll body. A particular tuft of the at least one row comprises first bristles of a first effective length from the brushroll body and at least second bristles of a second effective length that is different from the first effective length.
A method of forming a vacuum cleaner brushroll according to an embodiment of the invention comprises providing a brushroll body and providing at least one row of bristle tufts disposed on the brushroll body. The at least one row of bristle tufts comprises a first tuft of a first effective length from the brushroll body and at least a second tuft of a second effective length that is different from the first effective length.
A method of forming a vacuum cleaner brushroll according to an embodiment of the invention comprises providing a brushroll body and providing at least one row of substantially radially-outwardly oriented bristle tufts disposed on the brushroll body. A particular tuft of the at least one row comprises first bristles of a first effective length from the brushroll body and at least second bristles of a second effective length that is different from the first effective length.
The same reference number represents the same element on all drawings. It should be noted that the drawings are not to scale.
In one embodiment, the row is substantially linear, as shown. Alternatively, a row can be substantially helically disposed on the brushroll body 101 (see row 106 of
In the embodiment shown, the first tufts 103 are of a first effective length L1 and the second tufts 104 are of a second effective length L2 that is different than the first effective length. For example, in one embodiment the first effective length L1 can be about 0.4 inch and the second effective length L2 can be about 0.275 inch. However, it should be understood that other lengths can be employed. Consequently, the first tufts 103 will contact the underlying surface in applications where the surface is relatively hard and flat, or where the vacuum cleaner height is at a high setting. It should be understood that tufts of more than two effective lengths can be used.
The first tufts 103 will typically always be in contact with the underlying surface. A typical application is in vacuuming a hardwood floor or other relatively flat, hard surface. In this manner, the first tufts 103 will pick up dirt and debris, but without excessive contact with the underlying surface in order to minimize contact and prevent damage or wear.
In contrast, the second tufts 104 will contact the underlying surface only at high spots of an irregular underlying surface, when the vacuum cleaner height is at a low setting, or when the vacuum cleaner is used on and sinks down into a soft underlying surface, such as carpet. It should be noted that the vacuum cleaner height setting can determine whether the second tufts 104 contact the underlying surface. The second tufts 104 will typically be brought into contact with the underlying surface when a more aggressive bristle action is desired, such as in carpet cleaning or for picking up heavy dirt or large debris. Alternatively, the second tufts 104 can be chosen to be less aggressive than the first tufts 103, if desired.
The first tufts 103 and second tufts 104 can be additionally varied in other respects. The first tufts 103 can be of a first diameter and the second tufts 104 can be of a second diameter that is different from the first diameter. It is known that the bristle diameter affects the bristle stiffness. Therefore, by varying the diameter, the relative stiffness of the first tuft 103 and second tuft 104 can be controlled. Any variation in diameter will therefore contribute the stiffness and aggressiveness of the tuft, and can be selected to make the first tufts 103 more or less aggressive than the second tufts 104, for example. In one example, both the first tufts 103 and second tufts 104 are about 0.010 inch in diameter.
In one embodiment, the bristles of both the first tufts 103 and second tufts 104 are formed of nylon. Alternatively, the first tufts 103 can be formed of a first material and the second tufts 104 can be formed of a second material that is different from the first material. The material used for the bristles can likewise affect the stiffness of the tufts, and can be selected to affect the relative stiffness of the first tufts 103 and second tufts 104. It should be understood that the bristles of any embodiment of the invention can use either man-made or natural materials.
In another variation, the first tufts 103 can be formed of a first color and the second tufts 104 can be formed of a second color that is different from the first color. The color can include a bristle of any color or a clear bristle. The colors of the first tufts 103 and second tufts 104 can be selected to be different in order to visually differentiate the first tufts 103 from the second tufts 104. For example, in one embodiment the first tufts 103 can be green and the second tufts 104 can be clear.
In yet another variation, the first tufts 103 can be formed of a first number of bristles and the second tufts 104 can be formed of a second number of bristles that is different from the first number of bristles. The number of bristles used to form the first tufts 103 and second tufts 104 can be selected in order to vary the stiffness of the first tufts 103 from the second tufts 104. For example, in one embodiment the first tufts 103 can include more bristles, and can as a result be stiffer than, the second tufts 104.
In one embodiment, the first tufts 103 are angled at a first angle and the second tufts 104 are angled at a second angle that is different from the first angle. The first and second angles can be in opposite directions, as shown, or can be angled in the same direction. Alternatively, in another embodiment the first and second angles are of the same magnitude and direction.
In another embodiment, the first tufts 103 and second tufts 104 of
As before, the tufts 105 can be arranged in a row. The brushroll 600 includes one or more rows, and the rows can be arranged substantially linearly or substantially helically. As before, the tufts 105 can be substantially radially-outwardly oriented from the brush body 101, or can be angled with respect to a radius direction of the brushroll body 101.
The vacuum cleaner brushroll according to any embodiment of the invention provides several benefits. The brushroll simultaneously provides both gentle and aggressive brushroll bristles and/or tufts. The brushroll provides shorter and/or aggressive tufts for improved dirt pickup on rough or fibrous surfaces. The brushroll provides longer and/or less aggressive tufts for improved dirt pickup on hard, smooth surfaces, but without marring or dulling the surface. In addition, the vacuum cleaner brushroll provides varying bristle lengths to accommodate changing distances to the underlying surface.
