U.S. patent application number 11/262158 was filed with the patent office on 2006-05-04 for rotary agitator for providing oscillating anp cleaning action.
Invention is credited to Kerry L. Dever.
Application Number | 20060090291 11/262158 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 36242710 |
Filed Date | 2006-05-04 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060090291 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Dever; Kerry L. |
May 4, 2006 |
Rotary agitator for providing oscillating anp cleaning action
Abstract
A rotary agitator for a cleaning apparatus includes a body
having an axis of rotation and a zero degree pitch plane
perpendicular to the axis of rotation. The rotary agitator also
includes an agitation element carried on the body. The agitation
element includes a first portion provided at a positive pitch angle
relative to the zero degree pitch plane and a second portion
provided at a negative pitch angle relative to the zero degree
pitch plane.
Inventors: |
Dever; Kerry L.; (Lexington,
KY) |
Correspondence
Address: |
KING & SCHICKLI, PLLC
247 NORTH BROADWAY
LEXINGTON
KY
40507
US
|
Family ID: |
36242710 |
Appl. No.: |
11/262158 |
Filed: |
October 28, 2005 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60623416 |
Oct 29, 2004 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
15/383 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47L 5/30 20130101; A47L
9/0477 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
015/383 |
International
Class: |
A47L 5/30 20060101
A47L005/30; A47L 9/04 20060101 A47L009/04 |
Claims
1. A rotary agitator, comprising: a body including an axis of
rotation and a zero degree pitch plane perpendicular to said axis
of rotation; and at least one agitation element having a first
portion provided at a positive pitch angle relative to said zero
degree pitch plane and a second portion provided at a negative
pitch angle relative to said zero degree pitch plane.
2. The rotary agitator of claim 1, wherein said at least one
agitation element is a series of bristle tufts.
3. The rotary agitator of claim 1, wherein said at least one
agitation element is a wiper.
4. The rotary agitator of claim 1, wherein said at least one
agitation element is a brush.
5. The rotary agitator of claim 1, wherein said at least one
agitation element is a beater bar.
6. The rotary agitator of claim 1, wherein said at least one
agitation element is selected from a group consisting essentially
of a series of bristle tufts, a wiper, a brush, a beater bar, a
molded rib and combinations thereof.
7. The rotary agitator of claims 1, wherein said at least one
agitation element is substantially continuous.
8. The rotary agitator of claims 1, wherein said at least one
agitation element is an oscillating ring.
9. A rotary agitator, comprising: a body including an axis of
rotation and a zero degree pitch plane perpendicular to said axis
of rotation; and at least one endless agitation element carried on
said body and straddling said zero degree pitch plane.
10. The rotary agitator of claim 9 wherein said at least one
endless agitation element includes (a) a first arc extending from
said zero degree pitch plane to a first point a first distance in a
first direction from said zero degree pitch plane and then back to
said zero degree pitch plane and (b) a second arc extending from
said zero degree pitch plane to a second point a second distance in
a second direction from said zero degree pitch plane and then back
to said zero degree pitch plane.
11. The rotary agitator of claim 10, wherein said first distance A
is between about 0.5 and 3.0 cm.
12. The rotary agitator of claim 11 wherein said second distance is
substantially equal to said first distance.
13. A method of removing dirt and debris from nap of a rug or
carpet, comprising: providing a rotary agitator with at least one
oscillating agitation element that functions to push the nap in a
side-to-side motion during rotation of said rotary agitator.
14. A floor cleaning apparatus, comprising: a housing; a suction
generator carried on said housing; a dirt collection vessel carried
on said housing; and a rotary agitator carried on said housing,
said rotary agitator having a body including an axis of rotation
and a zero degree pitch plane perpendicular to said axis of
rotation and at least one agitation element having a first portion
provided at a positive pitch angle relative to said zero degree
pitch plane and a second portion provided at a negative pitch angle
relative to said zero degree pitch plane.
15. A floor cleaning apparatus, comprising: a housing; a suction
generator carried on said housing; a dirt collection vessel carried
on said housing; and a rotary agitator carried on said housing,
said rotary agitator having a body including an axis of rotation
and a zero degree pitch plane perpendicular to said axis of
rotation and at least one endless agitation element carried on said
body and straddling said zero degree pitch plane.
Description
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional
Patent Application Ser. No. 60/623,416 filed on 29 Oct. 2004.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] The present invention relates generally to the floor care
equipment field and, more particularly, to a rotary agitator with
an agitator element providing oscillating nap cleaning action, a
floor care appliance equipped with such a rotary agitator and to a
method of cleaning a carpet or rug.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] A vacuum cleaner is an electrically powered, mechanical
appliance utilized for the dry removal of dust and loose dirt from
carpets, rugs, fabrics and other surfaces. Vacuum cleaners have
been widely utilized for years in domestic and industrial cleaning
applications.
[0004] In operation, a pressure drop is utilized to force air
entrained with loose dirt and dust into the nozzle of the vacuum
cleaner. The dust and dirt laden air is then drawn through a bag or
dirt cup which traps and retains the dirt. The air is then
exhausted by electric fan through an additional filter to remove
relatively fine particles. It is this fan that provides the air
pressure drop or vacuum that provides the cleaning action.
[0005] The present invention relates to a rotary agitator for a
floor cleaning apparatus such an upright vacuum cleaner, canister
vacuum cleaner, handheld vacuum cleaner, an extractor or the like.
The rotary agitator is equipped with one or more agitation elements
adapted to sweep the nap of an underlying rug or carpet in an
oscillating, side-to-side manner. This cleaning action functions to
more efficiently and effectively loosen and expose dirt and debris
embedded down in the nap of a rug or carpet to the suction
airstream so that it may be quickly drawn into the vacuum cleaner.
This results in better cleaning.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] In accordance with the purposes of the present invention as
described herein, a rotary agitator is particularly adapted to
provide high efficiency, deep cleaning of dirt and debris from the
nap of an underlying rug or carpet. The rotary agitator includes a
body that has an axis of rotation and a zero degree pitch plane
perpendicular to that axis of rotation. Further the rotary agitator
has at least one agitation element having a first portion provided
at a positive pitch angle relative to the zero degree pitch plane
and a second portion provided at a negative pitch angle relative to
the zero degree pitch plane.
[0007] The agitation element may comprise any number of different
structures including but not limited to a series of bristle tufts,
a wiper, a brush and a beater bar. The agitation element may be
substantially continuous or even comprise an oscillating ring.
[0008] Stated another way, the rotary agitator of the present
invention comprises a body including an axis of rotation and a zero
degree pitch plane perpendicular to that axis of rotation. In
addition, the rotary agitator includes at least one endless
agitation element carried on the body and straddling the zero
degree pitch plane. More specifically, the endless agitation
element includes (a) a first portion extending in a first arc from
the zero degree pitch plane to a first point a first distance in a
first direction from that pitch plane and then back to the pitch
plane and (b) a second portion extending in a second arc from the
pitch plane to a second point a second distance in a second
direction from the pitch plane and then back to the pitch plane.
That first distance A may be between about 0.5 and 3.0 cm. Further,
the second distance may be substantially equal to the first
distance.
[0009] In accordance with another aspect of the present invention a
method is provided for removing dirt and debris from the nap of a
rug or carpet. The method comprises providing a rotary agitator
with an oscillating agitation element that functions to push the
nap in a side-to-side motion during rotation of the rotary
agitator.
[0010] In accordance with yet another aspect of the present
invention a floor cleaning apparatus is provided. That floor
cleaning apparatus comprises a housing, a suction generator carried
on the housing, a dirt collection vessel carried on the housing and
the rotary agitator of the present invention.
[0011] In the following description there is shown and described
several possible embodiments of the invention, simply by way of
illustration of some of the modes best suited to carry out the
invention. As it will be realized, the invention is capable of
other different embodiments, and its several details are capable of
modification in various, obvious aspects all without departing from
the invention. Accordingly, the drawings and descriptions will be
regarded as illustrative in nature and not as restrictive.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] The accompanying drawings incorporated in and forming a part
of the specification, illustrate several aspects of the present
invention, and together with the description serve to explain
certain principles of the invention. In the drawings:
[0013] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the rotary agitator of the
present invention;
[0014] FIG. 2a is a schematical elevational view illustrating the
geometry of the agitation element carried on the agitator;
[0015] FIG. 2b is a detailed perspective, schematical view
illustrating the arcs formed by the agitation element;
[0016] FIGS. 3a and 3b are schematical side elevational views
illustrating how the rotary agitator functions to push or brush the
nap of an underlying carpet from side-to-side;
[0017] FIG. 4 illustrates a vacuum cleaner equipped with the
agitator of FIG. 1; and
[0018] FIGS. 5a-5f illustrate several additional embodiments of the
rotary agitator of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0019] Reference is now made to FIG. 1 illustrating the rotary
agitator 10 of the present invention. The rotary agitator 10
includes a body 12. In the illustrated embodiment the body 12 is
cylindrical in shape but other shapes could be provided. The body
12 may be molded from plastic, machined or cast from metal such as
aluminum or constructed from any other appropriate material. In the
illustrated embodiment the body 12 carries an axle or stub shafts
14 that extend from each end. As best illustrated in FIG. 2 the
body 12 also includes an axis of rotation 16 defined by the axle or
stub shafts 14 and a zero degree pitch plane 18 perpendicular to
the axis of rotation 16.
[0020] As also illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2a and 2b, at least one
agitation element 20 is carried on the body 12 of the rotary
agitator 10. The agitation element 20 may assume any appropriate
form including but not limited to a wiper, a brush, a beater bar
and a series of bristle tufts. Each element 20 may be molded as an
integral part of or affixed to the agitator body 12. In the
illustrated embodiment, each agitation element 20 is substantially
continuous so as to be effectively endless. Further, each agitation
element 20 straddles the zero degree pitch plane 18 so as to
effectively form an oscillating ring as the agitator 10 is rotated
(note particularly FIG. 2a) with respect to a fixed point on the
surface being cleaned.
[0021] More specifically, each agitation element 20 has a first
portion 22 provided at a positive pitch angle A.sub.1 relative to
the zero degree pitch plane 18 and a second portion 24 provided at
a negative pitch angle A.sub.2 relative to the pitch plane 18.
[0022] Described another way each endless agitation element 20
includes a first arc 26 extending from the pitch plane 18 to a
first point 28 a first distance in a first direction from the pitch
plane 18 and then back to the pitch plane (see FIG. 2b).
Additionally, the agitation element 20 includes a second arc 30
extending from the pitch plane 18 to a second point 32 a second
distance in a second direction from the pitch plane 18 and then
back to the pitch plane. The distance between the first point 28
and the pitch plane 18 may be between about 0.5 and 3.0 cm. The
second distance between the second point 32 and pitch plane 18 may
be substantially equal to that first distance.
[0023] As the rotary agitator 10 rotates about the axis of rotation
16, the agitation elements 20 first push, brush or comb the nap of
an underlying carpet being cleaned in a first direction toward the
ends of the agitator (note action arrows D.sub.1 in FIG. 3a).
Pushing, brushing or combing nap in this direction occurs as the
rotary agitator rotates through the first 180 degrees of its
rotation.
[0024] As the rotary agitator 10 rotates through its second 180
degrees of rotation, the nap of the underlying rug or carpet being
cleaned is pushed, brushed or combed in a second opposite direction
toward the middle of the agitator (note action arrows D.sub.2 in
FIG. 3b) by the agitation elements 20.
[0025] As the rotary agitator 10 continues to rotate, the nap is
brushed back and forth from side to side so as to insure that dirt
and debris on two sides of the nap is not only loosened but also
fully exposed to the suction airstream of the floor cleaning device
to which the rotary agitator is attached. This differs from
agitators of the prior art that incorporate agitation elements that
only brush the nap to one side thereby laying the nap over to that
one side and holding it there so as to trap dirt and debris
underneath the nap. By avoiding this problem, the present invention
insures more efficient and effective deep cleaning of the
underlying rug or carpet.
[0026] A vacuum cleaner 50 incorporating a rotary agitator 10 of
the present invention is illustrated in FIG. 4. The vacuum cleaner
50 includes a housing, generally designated by reference numeral
52, including a nozzle assembly 54 and a handle assembly 56. As is
known in the art, the handle assembly 56 is pivotally connected to
the nozzle assembly 54 to aid the operator in manipulating the
vacuum cleaner 50 back and forth across the floor. Wheels (not
shown) carried on the housing 52 allow the vacuum cleaner 50 to be
moved smoothly across the floor. As illustrated, the nozzle
assembly 54 is equipped with a nozzle inlet 58. The rotary agitator
10 is mounted for rotation on the nozzle assembly 54 across the
nozzle inlet 58 by means of an end cap and bearing assembly 59
provided on each end of the agitator 10 in a manner well known in
the art (see FIGS. 3a and 3b).
[0027] The housing 52 houses a suction generator 62 (i.e. a fan and
motor assembly) and a dirt collector 64 having an internal dirt
collection chamber. In one possible embodiment, the dirt collector
64 comprises a filter bag. In another possible embodiment the dirt
collector 64 comprises a dirt cup. That dirt cup may be
substantially cylindrical in shape and include a tangentially
directed air inlet and an axially directed air outlet. Such a
structural arrangement produces cyclonic airflow which helps
separate dirt and debris from the airstream and increase cleaning
efficiency.
[0028] The handle assembly 56 also includes a control stalk 68 and
an actuator switch 66 for turning the vacuum cleaner 50 on and off
and thereby driving the rotary agitator 10 and the suction
generator 62.
[0029] In operation, the rotary agitator 10 efficiently brushes
dirt and debris from the nap of an underlying carpet. By brushing
the nap from side-to-side, dirt and debris on both sides of the nap
is exposed to the vacuum airstream so that it may be more
efficiently drawn into the vacuum cleaner (note agitation elements
20 aligned with suction inlets 67 in the nozzle assembly 54 as
illustrated in FIG. 3a). This represents a significant improvement
over prior art agitators that tend to brush nap to one side laying
that nap over dirt and debris on that side and effectively
shielding that dirt and debris from the vacuum airstream. Loosened
dirt and debris is drawn into the dirt collector 64 through the
suction inlets 67 by means of the suction generator 62. Dirt and
debris is trapped in the dirt collector 64 and the now clean air is
directed over the motor of the suction generator 62 before being
exhausted into the environment through the exhaust vent 70.
[0030] The foregoing description of a preferred embodiment of the
invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and
description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the
invention to the precise form disclosed. Obvious modifications or
variations are possible in light of the above teachings. For
example, while the illustrated embodiment in FIG. 4 is an upright
vacuum cleaner 50, the present invention also relates to and
includes canister and handheld vacuum cleaners as well as
extractors. Further, while the illustrated embodiment is a "clean
air" system with a suction generator 62 downstream from the dirt
collector 64, the present invention also includes "dirty air"
systems where the suction generator is located upstream of the dirt
collector. Further, while the illustrated vacuum cleaner 50
includes one rotary agitator 10, it could include two or more
rotary agitators if desired.
[0031] It should also be appreciated that the agitator 10 may also
take the form of other embodiments as illustrated in FIGS. 5a-5e.
In FIG. 5a, the agitator 10 includes a series of separate and
parallel cleaning rings 80 for agitation elements. In FIG. 5b, the
agitation element is a single, coiled element 82 that extends
around and along the length of the agitator 10. All portions of the
element 82 angle in the same direction with respect to plane 18 but
the amount of the included angle varies to produce an oscillation
as the agitator 10 rotates. In FIG. 5c, the agitator 10 includes
agitation elements comprising a series of separate and alternating
cleaning rings 84.
[0032] In FIG. 5d, the agitator 10 includes two sets of separate
cleaning rings 86, 88. The first set of rings 86 are on a first
side of the centerline CL of the agitator 10 and are angled in a
first direction. The second set of rings 88 are on a second side of
the centerline CL and are angled in a second direction. The number
of rings in each set match and the angles of inclination are
equivalent so that all forces are balanced and the nozzle is steady
as the agitator 10 rotates. In FIG. 5e two separate coils 90, 92
are provided with one on each side of the centerline CL of the
agitator 10. The coils 90, 92 are mirror images of each other. In
FIG. 5f, an agitator 10 is illustrated incorporating multiple
oscillating elements 94 having varying angles with respect to the
pitch plane 18 mirrored about the center line CL.
[0033] The embodiments were chosen and described to provide the
best illustration of the principles of the invention and its
practical application to thereby enable one of ordinary skill in
the art to utilize the invention in various embodiments and with
various modifications as are suited to the particular use
contemplated. All such modifications and variations are within the
scope of the invention as determined by the appended claims when
interpreted in accordance with the breadth to which they are
fairly, legally and equitably entitled. The drawings and preferred
embodiments do not and are not intended to limit the ordinary
meaning of the claims and their fair and broad interpretation in
any way.
* * * * *