U.S. patent application number 11/289878 was filed with the patent office on 2006-06-08 for rotary agitator providing low noise operation.
Invention is credited to Kerry L. Dever.
Application Number | 20060117521 11/289878 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 36565983 |
Filed Date | 2006-06-08 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060117521 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Dever; Kerry L. |
June 8, 2006 |
Rotary agitator providing low noise operation
Abstract
A rotary agitator includes a body having an axis of rotation.
The body also includes a projecting cleaning element extending
along the body at an angle relative to the axis of rotation of
greater than 45 degrees. The projecting cleaning element may take
the form of, for example, a beater bar, a flexible wiper, a brush
and a series of bristle tufts.
Inventors: |
Dever; Kerry L.; (Lexington,
KY) |
Correspondence
Address: |
KING & SCHICKLI, PLLC
247 NORTH BROADWAY
LEXINGTON
KY
40507
US
|
Family ID: |
36565983 |
Appl. No.: |
11/289878 |
Filed: |
November 30, 2005 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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60633005 |
Dec 3, 2004 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
15/366 ; 15/182;
15/383 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47L 9/0477
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
015/366 ;
015/383; 015/182 |
International
Class: |
A47L 9/04 20060101
A47L009/04 |
Claims
1. A rotary agitator, comprising: a body having an axis of
rotation, said body including a projecting cleaning element
extending along said body at an angle relative to said axis of
rotation of greater than 45 degrees.
2. The rotary agitator of claim 1 wherein said projecting cleaning
element is a beater bar.
3. The rotary agitator of claim 1, wherein said projecting cleaning
element is a flexible wiper.
4. The rotary agitator of claim 1, wherein said projecting cleaning
element is a brush.
5. The rotary agitator of claim 1, wherein said projecting cleaning
element is a series of bristle tufts.
6. A rotary agitator, comprising: a body having an axis of
rotation, said body including a projecting cleaning element
extending along said body at an angle relative to said axis of
rotation of between about 55 degrees and about 80 degrees.
7. The rotary agitator of claim 6 wherein said projecting cleaning
element is a beater bar.
8. The rotary agitator of claim 6, wherein said projecting cleaning
element is a flexible wiper.
9. The rotary agitator of claim 6, wherein said projecting cleaning
element is a brush.
10. The rotary agitator of claim 6, wherein said projecting
cleaning element is a series of bristle tufts.
11. A rotary agitator, comprising: a body having an axis of
rotation, said body including a projecting cleaning element
extending along said body at an angle relative to said axis of
rotation of between about 60 degrees to about 70 degrees.
12. The rotary agitator of claim 11 wherein said projecting
cleaning element is a beater bar.
13. The rotary agitator of claim 11, wherein said projecting
cleaning element is a flexible wiper.
14. The rotary agitator of claim 11, wherein said projecting
cleaning element is a brush.
15. The rotary agitator of claim 11, wherein said projecting
cleaning element is a series of bristle tufts.
16. A rotary agitator, comprising: a body having an axis of
rotation, said body including a projecting cleaning element
extending along said body at an angle relative to said centerline
of about 65 degrees.
17. The rotary agitator of claim 16 wherein said projecting
cleaning element is a beater bar.
18. The rotary agitator of claim 16, wherein said projecting
cleaning element is a flexible wiper.
19. The rotary agitator of claim 16, wherein said projecting
cleaning element is a brush.
20. The rotary agitator of claim 16, wherein said projecting
cleaning element is a series of bristle tufts.
21. A method of producing a low noise rotary agitator, comprising:
producing said agitator with a body having an axis of rotation and
a projecting cleaning element having an angle relative to said axis
of rotation of greater than 45 degrees.
22. A rug or carpet cleaning appliance, 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 including a body having an axis of
rotation, said body also including a projecting cleaning element
extending along said body at an angle relative to said axis of
rotation of greater than 45 degrees.
Description
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional
Patent Application Ser. No. 60/633,005 filed on 3 Dec. 2004.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] The present invention relates generally to the floor care
equipment field and, more particularly, to a rotary agitator with a
cleaning element projecting at a certain angle for low noise
operation, a floor care appliance equipped with such a rotary
agitator and to a method of producing a low noise rotary
agitator.
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] In order to loosen dirt and debris from the nap of an
underlying carpet, it has also long been known to equip vacuum
cleaners with rotary agitators. Such rotary agitators include
projecting cleaning elements such as beater bars, wipers, brushes
and bristle tufts to provide a brushing and sweeping action to the
carpet nap during agitator rotation. These cleaning elements have
been provided at a relatively small angle to the rotational axis of
the rotary agitator of generally about 20 degrees. Generally this
has been done in an effort to reduce manufacturing costs. For
example, by providing tufted bristles at a small angle of 20
degrees or less, fewer bristle tufts are required to provide a
"continuous" cleaning element across the entire length of the
rotary agitator.
[0006] The present invention relates to a rotary agitator
incorporating cleaning structures that project at a certain angle
to the rotational axis of the rotary agitator so as to provide good
cleaning action in combination with gentle carpet cleaning and low
noise operation.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] In accordance with the purposes of the present invention as
described herein, a rotary agitator is provided which functions to
simultaneously provide good cleaning efficiency, gentle cleaning
action and low noise operation. The rotary agitator includes a body
having an axis of rotation. The body includes a projecting cleaning
element extending along the body at an angle relative to the axis
of rotation of greater than 45 degrees, typically between about 55
degrees and about 80 degrees, more typically between about 60 to
about 70 degrees and most typically about 65 degrees. The
projecting cleaning element may take a number of forms including
but not limited to a beater bar, a flexible wiper, a brush and a
series of bristle tufts.
[0008] In accordance with another aspect of the present invention a
method is provided for producing a low noise rotary agitator. The
method comprises producing the agitator with a body having an axis
of rotation and a projecting cleaning element extending along the
body at an angle relative to the axis of rotation of greater than
45 degrees and typically between about 55 to about 80 degrees, more
typically between about 60 to 70 degrees and most typically about
65 degrees.
[0009] In accordance with still another aspect of the present
invention a rug or carpet cleaning appliance is provided. That
appliance comprises a a housing and a suction generator, a dirt
collection vessel and a rotary agitator all carried on that
housing. The rotary agitator includes a body having an axis of
rotation. The body includes a projecting cleaning element extending
along the body at an angle relative to the axis of rotation of
greater than 45 degrees.
[0010] 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
[0011] 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:
[0012] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one possible embodiment of a
rotary agitator of the present invention;
[0013] FIG. 2 is a schematical side elevational view illustrating
the angle of the cleaning element provided on the rotary agitator
of the present invention;
[0014] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an upright vacuum cleaner
incorporating the rotary agitator of the present invention; and
[0015] FIG. 4 is a detailed perspective view of one possible
embodiment of the dirt collector or dirt collection vessel in the
apparatus illustrated in FIG. 3.
[0016] Reference will now be made in detail to the illustrated
embodiments of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0017] 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. It should be appreciated, however, that other
shapes may be utilized. The body 12 may be made from plastic such
as nylon or ABS, metal such as aluminum or other appropriate
material such as wood. As best illustrated in FIG. 2 the body 12
has an axis of rotation 14. The body 12 also includes a projecting
cleaning element 16 that extends along the body at a lead angle
.crclbar. relative to the axis of rotation of greater than 45
degrees, typically from 55 to 80 degrees, more typically from 60 to
70 degrees and most typically about 65 degrees. The projecting
cleaning element 16 may comprise any number of structures suitable
for beating or brushing dirt and debris from the nap of an
underlying rug or carpet. Such structures include but are not
limited to a beater bar, a flexible wiper and a brush (see FIG. 1)
and a series of bristle tufts (see FIG. 2).
[0018] By providing the projecting cleaning element 16 at the
indicated lead angle .crclbar., each portion of the cleaning
element engaging the nap of the underlying rug or carpet moves
through a relatively small approach angle A (see FIG. 2). Of
course, the greater the lead angle .crclbar., the smaller the
approach angle A. The smaller the approach angle A the more
gradually the projecting cleaning element 16 brushes nap to the
side and loosens embedded dirt so that dirt and debris at the base
of the nap is more easily drawn into the suction airflow of the
floor cleaning appliance to which the rotary agitator 10 is
connected. The more gradual brushing action reduces both wear on
the carpet and the noise generated by the agitator 10 during vacuum
cleaner operation.
[0019] Stated another way, a number of benefits are provided by the
agitator 10 of the present invention. The noise of the cleaning
operation is reduced when compared to rotary agitators of the prior
art which typically include projecting cleaning elements at an
angle to the axis of rotation of between 20 and 30 degrees. As a
further benefit or advantage, the present invention still provides
the efficient and effective cleaning action of such a rotary
agitator but does so while producing significantly less noise and
less carpet wear.
[0020] Reference is now made to FIG. 3 illustrating an upright
vacuum cleaner 20 incorporating the rotary agitator 10 of the
present invention. It should be noted that this is just one
possible floor care appliance of the present invention and that
other possible embodiments include but are not limited to canister
vacuum cleaners, handheld vacuum cleaners and extractors.
[0021] The vacuum cleaner 20 includes a housing, generally
designated by reference numeral 22, including a nozzle assembly 24
and a handle assembly 26. As is known in the art, the handle
assembly 26 is pivotally connected to the nozzle assembly 24 to aid
the operator in manipulating the vacuum cleaner 20 back and forth
across the floor. Wheels (not shown) carried on the housing 22
allow the vacuum cleaner 20 to be moved smoothly across the floor.
As illustrated, the nozzle assembly 24 is equipped with a nozzle
inlet 28. The rotary agitator 10 is mounted for rotation on the
nozzle assembly 24 across the nozzle inlet 28 by means of an end
cap and bearing assembly 40 provided at each end of the agitator 10
in a manner well known in the art (note, only one such end cap and
bearing assembly 40 is illustrated in FIG. 2).
[0022] The handle assembly 26 houses a suction generator 32 (i.e. a
fan and motor assembly) and a dirt collector 34 having an internal
dirt collection chamber. In the illustrated embodiment, the dirt
collector 34 take the form of a cylindrical dirt cup with a
tangentially directed inlet 46, an axially directed outlet 48 and
an internal filter 50 positioned over the outlet (see FIG. 4). Such
an arrangement generates a cyclonic airstream in the dirt cup 34
that functions to remove dirt and debris from the airstream for
more efficient cleaning in a manner well known in the art. Of
course, dirt cups of other shapes and design could be utilized as
could a standard, disposable filter bag.
[0023] The handle assembly 26 also includes a control stalk 38 and
an actuator switch 36 for turning the vacuum cleaner 20 on and off
and thereby driving the rotary agitator 10 and the suction
generator 32. The vacuum cleaner 20 may be powered by electricity
from an electrical wall outlet through a power cord (not shown) or
by means of an onboard battery.
[0024] In operation, the rotary agitator 10 quietly and efficiently
brushes dirt and debris from the nap of an underlying carpet. That
loosened dirt and debris is then drawn into the dirt collector 34
by means of the suction generator 32. Dirt and debris is trapped in
the dirt collector 34 and the now clean air is directed over the
motor of the suction generator 32 before being exhausted into the
environment through the exhaust vent 42.
[0025] 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 is an upright vacuum
cleaner 20, 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 32 downstream from the dirt collector 34,
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 20 includes one
rotary agitator 10, it could include two or more rotary agitators
if desired.
[0026] 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.
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