U.S. patent application number 15/323466 was filed with the patent office on 2017-05-18 for floor tool.
The applicant listed for this patent is TECHTRONIC INDUSTRIES CO. LTD.. Invention is credited to Guy Lawrence Newsom, James David Reynolds, Richard David Waters.
Application Number | 20170135540 15/323466 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 51410730 |
Filed Date | 2017-05-18 |
United States Patent
Application |
20170135540 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Newsom; Guy Lawrence ; et
al. |
May 18, 2017 |
FLOOR TOOL
Abstract
A floor tool for an apparatus for cleaning a floor surface
includes a source of suction. The floor tool includes a housing
having an interior surface that defines a chamber for receiving at
least a portion of a cleaning member. The housing includes a
chamber inlet for receiving dirty air, and a chamber outlet for
communication with the suction source. The housing is formed of at
least two housing portions which provide said interior surface and
all of said housing portions are permanently connected or
permanently joined to each other.
Inventors: |
Newsom; Guy Lawrence; (West
Midlands, GB) ; Reynolds; James David; (West
Midlands, GB) ; Waters; Richard David; (West
Midlands, GB) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
TECHTRONIC INDUSTRIES CO. LTD. |
Tsuen Wan |
|
HK |
|
|
Family ID: |
51410730 |
Appl. No.: |
15/323466 |
Filed: |
June 19, 2015 |
PCT Filed: |
June 19, 2015 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/GB2015/051803 |
371 Date: |
January 3, 2017 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47L 9/04 20130101; A47L
9/0455 20130101; A47L 9/0606 20130101; A47L 9/0444 20130101; A47L
9/0477 20130101; A47L 9/0411 20130101; A47L 9/02 20130101 |
International
Class: |
A47L 9/04 20060101
A47L009/04 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jul 7, 2014 |
GB |
1412051.3 |
Claims
1-48. (canceled)
49. A floor tool for an apparatus for cleaning a floor surface,
said apparatus including a source of suction, the floor tool
including: a housing having an interior surface that defines a
chamber for receiving at least a portion of a cleaning member, the
housing including: a chamber inlet for receiving dirty air; and a
chamber outlet for communication with the suction source, wherein
the housing is formed of at least two housing portions which
provide said interior surface and all of said housing portions are
permanently connected or permanently joined to each other.
50. A floor tool according to claim 49, wherein one of the housing
portions includes a floor facing surface and the chamber inlet is
formed at least partially, and preferably completely, in said
housing portion.
51. A floor tool according to claim 49, wherein the housing has an
opening through which the cleaning member can pass into the
chamber.
52. A floor tool according to claim 51, wherein the opening is
formed in a laterally facing side wall of the housing.
53. A floor tool according to claim 51, including a cleaning member
positioned at least partially in the chamber.
54. A floor tool according to claim 53, wherein a portion of the
cleaning member extends outside of the chamber.
55. A floor tool according to claim 53, wherein the housing
includes a closing member that co-operates with the cleaning member
so as to substantially seal a remainder of the opening in a fluid
tight manner.
56. A floor tool according to claim 55, wherein the closing member
includes two closing member parts which engage each other.
57. A floor tool according to claim 56, wherein one or both closing
member parts include a recess to receive a portion of the cleaning
member.
58. A floor tool according to claim 49, including a removable cover
member which together with the housing forms a space for receiving
a drivable portion of the cleaning member.
59. A floor tool according to claim 53, including a driving device
for effecting rotation of the cleaning member, which device is
arranged to connect to the portion of the cleaning member which is
positioned outside of the chamber.
60. A floor tool according to claim 49, wherein all of said housing
portions are ultrasonically welded to each other or formed as a
unitary construction.
61. A floor tool according to claim 49, wherein all of said housing
portions are formed by moulding.
62. A floor tool according to claim 49, wherein the housing is
formed from acrylonitrile butadiene styrene.
63. A floor tool according to claim 49, wherein the cleaning member
is a rotatable brush bar.
64. A floor tool for an apparatus for cleaning a floor surface,
said apparatus including a source of suction, the floor tool
including: a housing including: a chamber inlet for receiving dirty
air; and a chamber outlet for communication with the suction
source, wherein the housing is a unitary component.
65. A floor tool for an apparatus for cleaning a floor surface,
said apparatus including a source of suction, the floor tool
including: a housing including: a chamber inlet for receiving dirty
air; a chamber outlet for communication with the suction source;
and a cleaning member including cleaning elements having respective
distal portions which extend through the chamber inlet so as to
engage a floor surface during use; at least one floor engaging
support element for supporting the floor tool and for spacing, at a
predetermined distance, the chamber inlet from the floor surface,
wherein the distal portion of each of a plurality of the cleaning
elements extends further away from the chamber inlet than the
pre-determined distance.
66. A floor tool according to claim 65, wherein the distal portion
of said cleaning elements extends at least twice as far away from
the chamber inlet than the pre-determined distance.
67. A floor tool according to claim 65, wherein the distal portion
of the cleaning elements extends a distance of between 0.7 to 1.3
mm from the chamber inlet.
68. A floor tool according to claim 65, wherein the at least one
support element spaces the chamber inlet a distance of between 0.3
to 0.7 mm from the floor surface, and more preferably the at least
one support element spaces the chamber inlet 0.5 mm or about 0.5 mm
from the floor surface.
69. An apparatus for cleaning a floor surface, the apparatus
comprising: a source of suction; and a floor tool for cleaning a
floor surface, the floor tool including: a housing having an
interior surface that defines a chamber for receiving at least a
portion of a cleaning member, the housing including: a chamber
inlet for receiving dirty air; and a chamber outlet for
communication with the suction source, wherein the housing is
formed of at least two housing portions which provide said interior
surface and all of said housing portions are permanently connected
or permanently joined to each other.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a U.S. National Phase of International
Patent Application No. PCT/GB2015/051803, filed Jun. 19, 2015,
which claims priority to GB 1412051.3, filed Jul. 7, 2014, the
entire contents of both of which are hereby incorporated by
referenced herein.
BACKGROUND
[0002] This invention relates to a floor tool for an apparatus for
cleaning a floor surface and/or such an apparatus including the
floor tool. In particular, this invention relates to an apparatus
which utilises a source of suction to draw dirt and/or debris from
a floor surface being cleaned for storage in a dirt chamber or bag
for emptying by a user. Such apparatus are typically known as
"vacuum cleaners".
[0003] The performance of vacuum cleaners is judged on a number of
parameters which includes how efficient a cleaner is in extracting
dirt/debris for a given suction power, i.e. energy efficiency, and
how much noise is generated during use. In order to maximise these
efficiencies it is advantageous to reduce suction losses in the
suction air flow path and to reduce turbulence in the suction air
flow path.
[0004] Known vacuum cleaners have a floor tool which has a chamber
having a chamber inlet through which dirt/debris entrained air
enters the tool and flows towards the dirt chamber. The chamber
inlet has a small cross-sectional area compared to the chamber. The
suction air flow rate through the inlet and chamber is the same and
so the limited inlet cross-sectional area means that the suction
air flow has a higher velocity near the inlet in comparison to
areas upstream of the inlet. This makes the chamber susceptible to
ambient air being drawn into the chamber through any such high
velocity areas which are not adequately sealed thereby causing
suction losses and/or turbulence in the chamber.
[0005] According to a first aspect of the invention we provide a
floor tool for an apparatus for cleaning a floor surface, said
apparatus including a source of suction, the floor tool including:
[0006] a housing having an interior surface that defines a chamber
for receiving at least a portion of a cleaning member, the housing
including: [0007] a chamber inlet for receiving dirty air; and
[0008] a chamber outlet for communication with the suction source,
[0009] wherein the housing is formed of at least two housing
portions which provide said interior surface and all of said
housing portions are permanently connected or permanently joined to
each other.
[0010] Further features of the first aspect of the invention are
set out in the dependent claims thereto which are appended
hereto.
[0011] According to a second aspect of the invention we provide a
floor tool for an apparatus for cleaning a floor surface, said
apparatus including a source of suction, the floor tool including:
[0012] a housing including: [0013] a chamber inlet for receiving
dirty air; and [0014] a chamber outlet for communication with the
suction source, [0015] wherein the housing is a unitary
component.
[0016] Further features of the second aspect of the invention are
set out in the dependent claims thereto which are appended
hereto.
[0017] According to a third aspect of the invention we provide a
floor tool for an apparatus for cleaning a floor surface, said
apparatus including a source of suction, the floor tool including:
[0018] a housing including: [0019] a floor facing surface having an
inlet for receiving dirty air; and [0020] at least one passage
which extends away from the inlet in a direction transverse to the
normal direction of movement of the apparatus; [0021] wherein a
portion of the passage has a cross-section which is substantially
trapezoidal in that the portion has relatively short sides A, B and
a relatively long side C; and [0022] wherein side A and/or side B
forms an angle of between 110.degree. to 122.degree. with respect
to side C.
[0023] Further features of the third aspect of the invention are
set out in the dependent claims thereto which are appended
hereto.
[0024] According to a fourth aspect of the invention we provide a
floor tool for an apparatus for cleaning a floor surface, said
apparatus including a source of suction, wherein a floor facing
surface of the floor tool defines an inlet for receiving dirty air,
which surface is positioned in a first plane, and wherein a planar
portion of the floor facing surface which is positioned forwardly
(in normal use) of the inlet subtends an angle of 5 to 10.degree.
with respect to the first plane.
[0025] Further features of the fourth aspect of the invention are
set out in the dependent claims thereto which are appended
hereto.
[0026] According to a fifth aspect of the invention we provide a
floor tool for an apparatus for cleaning a floor surface, said
apparatus including a source of suction; [0027] wherein a floor
facing surface of the floor tool includes forward and rearward
portions which define respective portions of the periphery of an
inlet for receiving dirty air; and [0028] wherein the forward
portion and/or rearward portion is wedge-shaped and tapers in
thickness in a direction towards the inlet.
[0029] Further features of the fifth aspect of the invention are
set out in the dependent claims thereto which are appended
hereto.
[0030] According to a sixth aspect of the invention we provide a
floor tool for an apparatus for cleaning a floor surface, said
apparatus including a source of suction, the floor tool including:
[0031] a housing including: [0032] a chamber inlet for receiving
dirty air; [0033] a chamber outlet for communication with the
suction source; and [0034] a cleaning member including cleaning
elements having respective distal portions which extend through the
chamber inlet so as to engage a floor surface during use; [0035] at
least one floor engaging support element for supporting the floor
tool and for spacing, at a predetermined distance, the chamber
inlet from the floor surface, [0036] wherein the distal portion of
each of a plurality of the cleaning elements extends further away
from the chamber inlet than the pre-determined distance.
[0037] Further features of the sixth aspect of the invention are
set out in the dependent claims thereto which are appended
hereto.
[0038] According to a seventh aspect of the invention we provide a
surface cleaning apparatus according to the first aspect of the
invention including one or more or all of the features of any one
of the second to sixth aspects of the invention, and/or including
one or more or all of the features set out in the dependent claims
relating to any one of the second to sixth aspects of the
invention.
[0039] According to an eighth aspect of the invention we provide a
surface cleaning apparatus according to the second aspect of the
invention including one or more or all of the features of any one
of the first or third to sixth aspects of the invention, and/or
including one or more or all of the features set out in the
dependent claims relating to any one of the first or third to sixth
aspects of the invention.
[0040] According to a ninth aspect of the invention we provide a
surface cleaning apparatus according to the third aspect of the
invention including one or more or all of the features of any one
of the first, second or fifth to sixth aspects of the invention,
and/or including one or more or all of the features set out in the
dependent claims relating to any one of the first, second or fifth
to sixth aspects of the invention.
[0041] According to a tenth aspect of the invention we provide a
surface cleaning apparatus according to the fourth aspect of the
invention including one or more or all of the features of any one
of the first to third or fifth and sixth aspects of the invention,
and/or including one or more or all of the features set out in the
dependent claims relating to any one of first to third or fifth to
sixth aspects of the invention.
[0042] According to an eleventh aspect of the invention we provide
a surface cleaning apparatus according to the fifth aspect of the
invention including one or more or all of the features of any one
of first to fourth or sixth aspects of the invention, and/or
including one or more or all of the features set out in the
dependent claims relating to any one of the first to fourth or
sixth aspects of the invention.
[0043] According to a twelfth aspect of the invention we provide a
surface cleaning apparatus according to the sixth aspect of the
invention including one or more or all of the features of any one
of the first to fifth aspects of the invention, and/or including
one or more or all of the features set out in the dependent claims
relating to any one of the first to fifth aspects of the
invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0044] Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way
of example only, with reference to the following figures, of
which:
[0045] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an apparatus for cleaning a
floor surface in accordance with the present invention;
[0046] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a floor tool of the
apparatus of FIG. 1;
[0047] FIG. 3a is a rear perspective view of a floor tool of the
apparatus of FIG. 1,
[0048] FIG. 3b is an underside view of a floor tool of the
apparatus of FIG. 1;
[0049] FIG. 4 is a first side view of a floor tool of the apparatus
of FIG. 1;
[0050] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional side view of a component part of
a floor tool of the apparatus of FIG. 1;
[0051] FIG. 6 is a second side view (opposite to FIG. 4) of a floor
tool of the apparatus of FIG. 1;
[0052] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of another component part of a
floor tool of the apparatus of FIG. 1;
[0053] FIG. 8 is a perspective of a floor tool of the apparatus of
FIG. 1 with certain component parts removed and other certain
component parts shown in exploded view;
[0054] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a floor tool of the
apparatus of FIG. 1 with certain component parts removed;
[0055] FIG. 10 is a magnified side view of a portion of the floor
tool of FIG. 2;
[0056] FIG. 11 is a magnified side view of another portion of the
floor tool of FIG. 2;
[0057] FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional side view of a component part
of a floor tool of the apparatus of FIG. 1 with a cleaning member
removed thereform; and
[0058] FIGS. 13 (a)-(c) are magnified side views of component parts
for use with the floor tool of FIG. 2.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0059] With reference to the figures, these show an embodiment of
an apparatus 10 embodying various aspects of the invention. The
apparatus 10 includes an upright part 12 including a user graspable
handle 13 and a floor tool 14. The apparatus 10 includes a source
of suction (not shown) which is in fluid communication with the
floor tool 14 to provide suction thereto. The floor tool 14 is
supported on wheels 15 provided on a rear part thereof and can be
pushed and pulled over a floor surface S to clean the surface as
required by the user grasping the handle 13 of the upright part 12.
The floor tool 14 includes a housing 16 having an interior surface
18 which defines a chamber 20 for receiving a cleaning member 22.
The housing 16 further includes a chamber inlet 24 for receiving
dirty air and a chamber outlet 26 that communicates with the
suction source.
[0060] The upright part 12 is pivotably connected to the floor tool
14 remote from a leading edge of the floor tool 14. The upright
part 12 contains operative components of the apparatus 10 such as
the suction source in the form of a suction motor and fan to
provide suction to the floor tool 14, and a dirt chamber (not
shown) for receiving any dirt entrained in the suction air flow
drawn through the floor tool 14. These operative component parts
could be located elsewhere, however, in other embodiments. The
upright part 12 includes a dirt separator in the form of a cyclonic
separator for separating dirt entrained in the suction air flow
from the floor tool 14. These components are not shown in the
figures but are well known in the art and so will not be discussed
in any further detail. Although this embodiment includes a cyclonic
separator, other embodiments of the invention may not have such a
separator, but instead rely on a bag for separation/collection of
dirt from the air flow.
[0061] The floor tool 14 has a main body 17 which provides the
pivotal connection to the upright part 12. The housing 16 is a
separate part from the main body 17 and is supported by the main
body 17. The housing 16 is positioned forwardly of the pivotal
connection to the upright part 12, and forms the leading edge of
the floor tool 14. The housing 16 provides part of the suction air
flow path from the chamber inlet 24, whilst the main body 17
contains no part of the suction air flow path. In other
embodiments, the main body 17 may contain part of the suction air
flow path. The housing 16 is generally elongate with a curved upper
surface thereof (see FIG. 5). The housing 16 extends in a direction
transverse to the normal direction of movement of the apparatus 10
with the chamber outlet 26 being positioned at one of the
transversely remote ends thereof, to the side of the main body 17.
The outlet 26 extends in a rearward direction towards the upright
part 12 and has a connector formed thereon for connection to a hose
of the apparatus 10 so as to provide fluid communication between
the chamber 20 and the source of suction.
[0062] An aspect of the present invention is that the housing 16 is
formed of first and second housing portions 28, 30 which provide
the interior surface 18 that defines the chamber 20 and all of the
housing portions 28, 30 are permanently connected or permanently
joined to each other.
[0063] The first housing portion 28 includes a floor facing surface
32 and the chamber inlet 24 is formed therein. The second housing
portion 30 has a downwardly facing perimeter which is connected to
an upwardly facing perimeter of the first housing portion 28.
Laterally facing side walls of the housing portions 28, 30 each
have a recess 29, 31 which together form an opening 34 at a
nearside position of the housing 16 and through which the cleaning
member 22 passes into the chamber 20. The opening 34 is thus formed
in a laterally facing side wall 36 of the housing 16. The housing
16 is generally cylindrical in shape with the cleaning member 22
being positioned along an elongate axis thereof. The cleaning
member 22 is a brush bar which is rotatably supported at one end of
the interior part of the housing 16 and at the other end has a
drivable portion 38. When the cleaning member 22 is in position,
the drivable portion 38 of the cleaning member 22 extends outside
of the chamber 20 (see FIG. 9). The floor tool 14 includes a
driving device 40, in the form of a motor positioned in the main
body 17, for effecting rotation of the cleaning member 22. The
device 40 is connected to the drivable portion 38 which is
positioned outside of the chamber 20 by a belt in a manner which is
known in the art and so is not described in further detail here.
Other types of driving connection could be utilised.
[0064] The housing 16 further includes a closing member 42 in the
form of a plate-like member which is removably connectable to the
side wall 36 and co-operates with the cleaning member 22 so as to
substantially seal the remainder of the opening 34 in a fluid tight
manner. In other words, the closing member 42 separates the chamber
20 from the drivable portion 38 of the cleaning member 22 to
prevent ambient air flow into the chamber 20 via the opening
34.
[0065] The closing member 42 includes two closing member parts 44,
46 which engage each other at respective ends thereof. The
respective ends include a recess 45, 47 through which at least a
portion of the cleaning member 22 is received. The floor tool 14
includes a removable cover member 48 which, together with the
housing 16, forms a space 50 for receiving the drivable portion 38
of the cleaning member 22. Positioned between the closing member 42
and the cover member 48 is a substantially disc shaped support
member 52. The support member 52 has a central aperture through
which a spindle of the cleaning member 22 extends and is rotatably
supported thereby.
[0066] The housing portions 28, 30 each have a respective threaded
projection 51a, 51b which is long enough to extend through a
respective aperture 53a, 53b, 53a', 53b' of the closing member 42
and the support member 52. The cover member 48 has apertures 49a,
49b that align with the threaded projections 51a, 51b and through
which a user can pass through screws or the like to screw them
within the threaded projections 51a, 51b so as to fix the cover
member 48, support member 52 and the closing member 42 to the
housing 16.
[0067] The housing portions 28, 30 are ultrasonically welded to
each other about their respective perimeters such that the chamber
20 is substantially sealed in a fluid tight manner at this
connection. Each of the portions 28, 30 are formed by moulding of
Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS). In embodiments, other
materials such as polypropylene, polycarbonate and/or die-cast
aluminium may be used.
[0068] The permanent connection between the housing portions 28, 30
which define the chamber 20 is advantageous. Chamber 20 forms a
highly negatively pressurised part of the suction air flow path and
the suction pressure is maintained by sealing the main connection
portions of the housing 16 susceptible to suction losses due to
inflow of ambient air during operation. In other embodiments,
rather than the housing being made of two parts, the housing may be
formed of a unitary construction, i.e. as a one-piece component.
This could be achieved by, for example, 3-D printing or other
manufacture methods known in the art. The connection may take other
forms such as a permanent screw-threaded connection. In certain
embodiments the housing may be formed of more than two parts and/or
only a portion of the connection between the parts is permanently
made. In other embodiments, the floor tool may not have a cleaning
member and instead, the housing may only have a chamber with a
chamber inlet for receiving dirty air and a chamber outlet for
communication with the suction source, with the housing being
formed as a unitary component. Advantageously, there is no separate
sole plate for connection to the flow facing surface 32 of the
housing 16. Instead, in this embodiment, surface 32 includes the
chamber inlet 24 as an integral part thereof. Known floor tools
have a housing to which a sole plate is attached to a floor facing
surface thereof and which provides the inlet for dirt/debris
entrained air. The connection therebetween is therefore susceptible
to ambient air entering therethrough and the present invention has
no such problem because it has no separate sole plate.
[0069] In use, the user will operate the apparatus 10 in a known
manner, i.e. the cleaning member 22 rotates to engage with carpet
piles of the floor surface S so as to loosen dirt present therein.
The dirt is then entrained in the suction air flow. The dirt
entrained air enters the chamber 20 through the chamber inlet 24
and the dirt is separated and collected in the dirt chamber, with
the clean air being exhausted to atmosphere. Should the cleaning
member 22 need to be replaced or repaired, a user removes the cover
member 48 by unscrewing the screws passing therethrough to provide
access to the space 50 in which the drivable portion 38 of the
cleaning member 22 is positioned. The user removes the support
member 52 and pulls the closing member parts 44, 46 in an upward
and downward direction respectively away from the cleaning member
22. The cleaning member 22 is then free to move within the chamber
20 and can be pulled in a sideways direction out through the
opening 34.
[0070] With reference to FIG. 10, a further aspect of the invention
will now be described. Laterally facing sidewall 36 and the
opposing laterally facing sidewall 37 each have a respective
passage 54, 55 which extends away from the inlet 24 in a direction
transverse to the normal direction of movement of the apparatus 10.
Each passage 54, 55 is identical and so for the purpose of this
description, only passage 54 will be described. A portion of the
passage 54 has a cross-section which is substantially trapezoidal
in that the portion has sides A, B which are relatively short, and
a side C which is relatively long. The portion of passage 54 is in
the form of a recess which is open in a direction towards the floor
surface. The recess is substantially closed by the floor surface S
during use and thus the fourth side of the trapezoid is the floor
surface S. The portion of passage 54 thus has an open side D
opposite side C, and which is longer than side C, whilst sides A
and B are relatively short in comparison to D. Side A forms an
angle .alpha. with respect to side C and side B forms an angle
.beta. with respect to side C. It has been found that performance
of the apparatus 10 is unexpectedly improved if .alpha. and/or
.beta. is between 110.degree. to 122.degree., and more preferably
116.degree.. Similarly, it has been found that performance is
improved if C extends a distance of between 18 and 24 mm, and more
preferably, extends a distance of 21 mm. Improvements in
performance have also been found if D is between 20 and 26 mm, and
more preferably, D is 23 mm or about 23 mm.
[0071] In other embodiments, the portion of passage 54 may not be
formed as a recess but rather as a trapezoidal aperture formed in
side walls of the housing and configured to have the shape
described above.
[0072] With reference to FIG. 11, a further aspect of the invention
will now be described. Floor facing surface 32 of the floor tool 14
which defines the inlet 24 is positioned in a first plane 56 and a
planar portion 58 of the floor facing surface 32 which is
positioned forwardly (in normal use) of the inlet 24 subtends an
angle .gamma. of 5 to 10.degree. with respect to the first plane
56. It has been found that performance is unexpectedly improved if
.gamma. is in this range. More preferably, it has been found that
an angle of 7.degree. is highly advantageous. The floor facing
surface 32 also includes a substantially flat portion 60 which
extends between the planar portion 58 and the inlet 24. The flat
portion 60 is positioned in a second plane 62 which is
substantially parallel with the first plane 56.
[0073] With reference to FIG. 11, a further aspect of the invention
will now be described. The cleaning member 22 is arranged to have
cleaning elements 68 which each extend radially away from an
elongate axis of the cleaning member 22. The cleaning elements 68
are elongate and made from a standard material such as nylon or the
like. The cleaning elements 68 are positioned in a helical pattern
on the surface of the cleaning member 22. Each cleaning element 68
may be made of a plurality elements which are closely packed
together. All that is required is that one or more cleaning
elements extend radially away from the elongate axis of the
cleaning member and are positioned thereon. In other embodiments
the cleaning elements could be arranged in other patterns on the
cleaning member. The cleaning elements 68 have respective distal
portions 70 which extend through the inlet 24 so as to engage the
floor surface S during use. The floor tool 14 further includes a
pair of floor engaging support elements 72, 74 positioned to the
rear of the housing 16 and forwardly of the rear wheels 15. Support
elements 72, 74 support the floor tool and are in the form of
rollers, and arranged to space, at a pre-determined distance X, the
chamber inlet 24 from the floor surface S. In other embodiments,
the support elements 72, 74 may not be rollers and could be wheels,
or a projection (rotatable or non-rotatable) which extends away
from the underside of the floor tool 14 to space the chamber inlet
24 a pre-determined distance X away from the floor surface S. It
will be seen that a portion of the cleaning elements 68 extends
further away from the chamber inlet 24 than the distance X. In use,
this arrangement ensures that the cleaning elements 68 extend a
further distance into the carpet piles of the floor surface S than
the support elements 72, 74. Thus, the cleaning elements 68 can
agitate and loosen dirt/debris which may be lodged deep within the
carpet piles and not otherwise accessible for cleaning. It has been
found to be advantageous for the cleaning elements 68 to extend at
least twice as far away from the chamber inlet 24 than the
pre-determined distance X and more advantageously for the cleaning
elements 68 to extend a distance Y of between 0.7 to 1.3 mm away
from the chamber inlet 24, and more preferably a distance of 1 mm.
It has been further found to be advantageous for the support
elements 72, 74 to extend a distance X of between 0.3 to 0.7 mm and
more advantageously a distance of 0.5 mm.
[0074] With reference to FIG. 12, a further aspect of the invention
will now be described. The floor facing surface of the floor tool
14 includes forward and rear portions 64, 66 which define
respective portions of a periphery of the inlet 24. In particular,
they define sides of the inlet 24 which extend in a transverse
direction to the normal direction of travel of the apparatus 10 in
use. The forward portion 64 and rearward portion 66 are
substantially wedge-shaped and taper in thickness as they each
extend towards the inlet 24. It has been found that having such
wedge-shaped portions is advantageous with respect to performance
in comparison to portions which are curved or include a curved
portion.
[0075] With reference to FIG. 13(a)-(c), various configurations of
the forward and rear portions 64, 66 may be utilised. FIG. 13(a)
shows an embodiment for which the forward portion 64 has an
upwardly facing surface 80 and a downwardly facing surface 82. The
upwardly facing surface 80 tapers towards the floor surface S as it
extends in a direction towards the downwardly facing surface
82.
[0076] FIG. 13(b) shows an embodiment for which the downwardly
facing surface 82' tapers away from the floor surface S as it
extends towards the upwardly facing surface 80'.
[0077] FIG. 13(c) shows an embodiment for which the upwardly and
downwardly facing surfaces 80'', 82'' taper towards each other as
they extend towards the inlet 24.
[0078] It will be appreciated that the forward and rearward
portions 64, 66 need not be identical and may each take any of the
configurations described above and any combination thereof.
[0079] It will be appreciated that the features described in
relation to embodiments having one or more aspects of the invention
are not necessarily features required in relation to the other of
the one or more aspects of the invention as will be understood by
those skilled in the art. It will also be appreciated that the
invention need not be limited to a floor tool that forms part of an
upright floor cleaning apparatus. For example, the invention could
be embodied on a floor tool which connects to a wand of a cylinder
cleaner or the like. The apparatus may also be a wet cleaning
apparatus. Furthermore, the cleaning member described with
reference to one or more of the embodiments need not be driven by a
motor and could be, for example, driven by a wind-turbine.
[0080] When used in this specification and claims, the terms
"comprises" and "comprising" and variations thereof mean that the
specified features, steps or integers are included. The terms are
not to be interpreted to exclude the presence of other features,
steps or components.
[0081] The features disclosed in the foregoing description, or the
following claims, or the accompanying drawings, expressed in their
specific forms or in terms of a means for performing the disclosed
function, or a method or process for attaining the disclosed
result, as appropriate, may, separately, or in any combination of
such features, be utilised for realising the invention in diverse
forms thereof.
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