U.S. patent application number 10/646233 was filed with the patent office on 2005-02-24 for vacuum cleaner brushroll.
This patent application is currently assigned to Oreck Holdings, LLC. Invention is credited to Cohen, Shane P., Paterson, Christopher M..
Application Number | 20050039282 10/646233 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34194480 |
Filed Date | 2005-02-24 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050039282 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Paterson, Christopher M. ;
et al. |
February 24, 2005 |
Vacuum cleaner brushroll
Abstract
A vacuum cleaner brushroll according to an embodiment of the
invention includes a brushroll body and at least one row of bristle
tufts disposed on the brushroll body. The at least one row of
bristle tufts includes 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.
Inventors: |
Paterson, Christopher M.;
(Biloxi, MS) ; Cohen, Shane P.; (Metairie,
LA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
DUFT SETTER OLLILA & BORNSEN LLC
2060 BROADWAY
SUITE 300
BOULDER
CO
80302
US
|
Assignee: |
Oreck Holdings, LLC
|
Family ID: |
34194480 |
Appl. No.: |
10/646233 |
Filed: |
August 22, 2003 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
15/179 ; 15/182;
15/383 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A46B 13/001 20130101;
A47L 9/0477 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
015/179 ;
015/182; 015/383 |
International
Class: |
A47L 005/30 |
Claims
1. A vacuum cleaner brushroll, comprising: a brushroll body; and at
least one row of bristle tufts disposed on the brushroll body, with
the at least one row of bristle tufts comprising 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.
2. The vacuum cleaner brushroll of claim 1, wherein the first tuft
is of a first diameter and the second tuft is of a second diameter
that is different from the first diameter.
3. The vacuum cleaner brushroll of claim 1, wherein the first tuft
is of a first stiffness and the second tuft is of a second
stiffness that is different from the first stiffness.
4. The vacuum cleaner brushroll of claim 1, wherein the first tuft
is of a first material and the second tuft is of a second material
that is different from the first material.
5. The vacuum cleaner brushroll of claim 1, wherein the first tuft
is of a first color and the second tuft is of a second color that
is different from the first color.
6. The vacuum cleaner brushroll of claim 1, wherein the first tuft
is of a first number of bristles and the second tuft is of a second
number of bristles that is different from the first number of
bristles.
7. The vacuum cleaner brushroll of claim 1, wherein the at least
one row of bristle tufts is substantially radially-outwardly
oriented from the brushroll body.
8. The vacuum cleaner brushroll of claim 1, wherein the at least
one row of bristle tufts is angled with respect to a radius
direction of the brushroll body.
9. A vacuum cleaner brushroll, comprising: a brushroll body; and at
least one row of substantially radially-outwardly oriented bristle
tufts disposed on the brushroll body, with a particular tuft of the
at least one row comprising 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.
10. The vacuum cleaner brushroll of claim 9, wherein the first
bristles are of a first diameter and the second bristles are of a
second diameter that is different from the first diameter.
11. The vacuum cleaner brushroll of claim 9, wherein the first
bristles are of a first stiffness and the second bristles are of a
second stiffness that is different from the first stiffness.
12. The vacuum cleaner brushroll of claim 9, wherein the first
bristles are of a first material and the second bristles are of a
second material that is different from the first material.
13. The vacuum cleaner brushroll of claim 9, wherein the first
bristles are of a first color and the second bristles are of a
second color that is different from the first color.
14. The vacuum cleaner brushroll of claim 9, wherein the first
bristles are formed of a first number of bristles and the second
bristles are formed of a second number of bristles that is
different from the first number of bristles.
15. A method of forming a vacuum cleaner brushroll, said method
comprising: providing a brushroll body; and providing at least one
row of bristle tufts disposed on the brushroll body, with the at
least one row of bristle tufts comprising 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.
16. The method of claim 15, wherein the first tuft is of a first
diameter and the second tuft is of a second diameter that is
different from the first diameter.
17. The method of claim 15, wherein the first tuft is of a first
stiffness and the second tuft is of a second stiffness that is
different from the first stiffness.
18. The method of claim 15, wherein the first tuft is of a first
material and the second tuft is of a second material that is
different from the first material.
19. The method of claim 15, wherein the first tuft is of a first
color and the second tuft is of a second color that is different
from the first color.
20. The method of claim 15, wherein the first tuft is of a first
number of bristles and the second tuft is of a second number of
bristles that is different from the first number of bristles.
21. The method of claim 15, wherein the at least one row of bristle
tufts is substantially radially-outwardly oriented from the
brushroll body.
22. The method of claim 15, wherein the at least one row of bristle
tufts is angled with respect to a radius direction of the brushroll
body.
23. A method of forming a vacuum cleaner brushroll, said method
comprising: providing a brushroll body; and providing at least one
row of substantially radially-outwardly oriented bristle tufts
disposed on the brushroll body, with a particular tuft of the at
least one row comprising 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.
24. The method of claim 23, wherein the first bristles are of a
first diameter and the second bristles are of a second diameter
that is different from the first diameter.
25. The method of claim 23, wherein the first bristles are of a
first stiffness and the second bristles are of a second stiffness
that is different from the first stiffness.
26. The method of claim 23, wherein the first bristles are of a
first material and the second bristles are of a second material
that is different from the first material.
27. The method of claim 23, wherein the first bristles are of a
first color and the second bristles are of a second color that is
different from the first color.
28. The method of claim 23, wherein the first tuft is of a first
number of bristles and the second tuft is of a second number of
bristles that is different from the first number of bristles.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to a vacuum cleaner, and more
particularly, to a vacuum cleaner brushroll.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 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.
[0003] 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.
[0004] FIG. 1 shows a prior art brushroll having bristle tufts of a
uniform effective length L from the brushroll body. This type of
prior art brushroll is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,307,479 to
Mertes et al., and in U.S. Pat. No. 6,574,823 to Stegens. Here, the
tips of the bristles are a uniform distance from the brushroll body
and therefore have a uniform effective tuft length.
[0005] 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.
[0006] FIG. 2 shows another prior art brushroll having two rows of
bristles, with one row being longer than the other. This type of
prior art brushroll is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,452,490 to
Brundula et al. In use, when the brushroll of Brundula is rotating,
the lagging tuft will immediately follow the preceding tuft in
contact with the underlying surface. A disadvantage of this prior
art approach is that twice as many rows are needed to create a
brushroll having two effective tuft lengths. This may be difficult
and expensive when manufacturing a small brushroll. Another
disadvantage is that when the longer tuft contacts the underlying
surface, it will likely flex backwardly and obscure the shorter,
following tuft.
[0007] FIG. 3 shows yet another prior art brushroll having a
non-radially oriented tuft, with the bristles of the tuft being of
different lengths. This type of prior art brushroll is disclosed in
U.S. Pat. No. 6,530,106 to Brundula et al. This tuft orientation
achieves a tuft having bristles of various effective lengths.
However, disadvantageously, because the bristles are not
radially-oriented, the stiffness of the bristles is reduced. By
being angled with respect to a radius of the brushroll, the
bristles will flex more readily than a radially-oriented bristles.
In addition, the tips of the bristles will make less contact with
the underlying surface, with the result being that a bristle will
be pulled somewhat lengthwise over the underlying surface. The
result is a less aggressive tuft.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] 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.
[0009] 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.
[0010] 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.
[0011] 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.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] The same reference number represents the same element on all
drawings. It should be noted that the drawings are not to
scale.
[0013] FIG. 1 shows a prior art brushroll having bristle tufts of a
uniform effective length L from the brushroll body;
[0014] FIG. 2 shows another prior art brushroll having two rows of
bristles, with one row being longer than the other;
[0015] FIG. 3 shows yet another prior art brushroll having a
non-radially oriented tuft, with the bristles of the tuft being of
different lengths;
[0016] FIG. 4 shows a brushroll according to an embodiment of the
invention;
[0017] FIG. 5 is an end view of a brushroll according to another
embodiment of the invention;
[0018] FIG. 6A is a front view of a brushroll according to another
embodiment of the invention;
[0019] FIG. 6B is an end view of the brushroll of FIG. 6A, wherein
it can be seen that the bristles of the tuft are substantially
radially oriented; and
[0020] FIG. 7 shows a brushroll according to another embodiment of
the invention wherein the rows of tufts are arranged on the
brushroll body in a substantially helical manner.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0021] FIG. 4 shows a brushroll 100 according to an embodiment of
the invention. The brushroll 100 includes a brushroll body 101,
first tufts 103, and second tufts 104. The first tufts 103 and
second tufts 104 are formed in a row on the brushroll body 101.
Only one row is shown for the purpose of clarity, but it should be
understood that multiple rows can be formed on the brushroll body
101.
[0022] 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 FIG. 7, for example).
[0023] In the embodiment shown, the first tufts 103 are of a first
effective length L.sub.1 and the second tufts 104 are of a second
effective length L.sub.2 that is different than the first effective
length. For example, in one embodiment the first effective length
L.sub.1 can be about 0.4 inch and the second effective length
L.sub.2 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.
[0024] 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.
[0025] 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.
[0026] 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.
[0027] 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.
[0028] 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.
[0029] 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.
[0030] FIG. 5 is an end view of a brushroll 500 according to
another embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment, the first
tufts 103 are longer than the second tufts 104 and have a longer
effective length. In addition, the first tufts 103 and the second
tufts 104 are angled with respect to a radius direction of the
brushroll body 101. It should be understood that either the first
tufts 103, the second tufts 104, or both can be angled.
[0031] 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.
[0032] In another embodiment, the first tufts 103 and second tufts
104 of FIG. 5 can be in first and second rows. The rows can include
straight rows (shown), helical rows, etc., of straight (radially
outwardly oriented) and/or angled tufts. It should be understood
that the first tufts 103 and second tufts 104 of FIG. 4 can be
angled as shown in this figure, and can comprise one row or two
rows.
[0033] FIG. 6A is a front view of a brushroll 600 according to
another embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment, each tuft
105 includes bristles of the first effective length L.sub.1 and
bristles of the second effective length L.sub.2. An individual tuft
105 therefore can perform substantially the same as the first tufts
103 and second tufts 104 of the previous embodiment, and can
accommodate both smooth and uneven surfaces. Consequently, the tuft
105 can include both gentle and aggressive bristle components. It
should be understood that bristles of more than two effective
lengths can be used. It should also be understood that the bristles
of various lengths can be used in any ratio.
[0034] 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.
[0035] FIG. 6B is an end view of the brushroll 600 of FIG. 6A,
wherein it can be seen that the bristles of the tuft 105 are
substantially radially-outwardly oriented. By positioning the
bristles in a substantially radially-outward orientation, the
stiffness of the individual bristles is not compromised or
lessened.
[0036] FIG. 7 shows a brushroll 700 according to another embodiment
of the invention wherein a row or rows of tufts 106 are arranged on
the brushroll body 101 in a substantially helical manner. The tufts
of the row 106 can comprise the first tufts 103 and second tufts
104 of FIGS. 4 or 5, or can comprise the tufts 105 of FIG. 6.
[0037] 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.
* * * * *