U.S. patent application number 16/955144 was filed with the patent office on 2020-10-08 for suction nozzle and vacuum cleaner.
This patent application is currently assigned to Dyson Technology Limited. The applicant listed for this patent is Dyson Technology Limited. Invention is credited to James Robert CARSWELL, Owen David Leslie RENAULT, Vid STIGLIC.
Application Number | 20200315415 16/955144 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 1000004901411 |
Filed Date | 2020-10-08 |
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United States Patent
Application |
20200315415 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
CARSWELL; James Robert ; et
al. |
October 8, 2020 |
SUCTION NOZZLE AND VACUUM CLEANER
Abstract
A cleaner head comprises an agitator supported for rotation
about a rotation axis. The cleaner head has a spool which comprises
a narrowed waist positioned axially between two radially enlarged
portions. The axial end of the agitator terminates in a rim
positioned radially outward from and axially in line with the
narrowed waist, and is configured to allow hair wrapped around the
agitator to travel axially along it and slip off the rim onto the
narrowed waist.
Inventors: |
CARSWELL; James Robert;
(Bristol, GB) ; STIGLIC; Vid; (Gloucester, GB)
; RENAULT; Owen David Leslie; (Southampton, GB) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Dyson Technology Limited |
Wiltshire |
|
GB |
|
|
Assignee: |
Dyson Technology Limited
Wiltshire
GB
|
Family ID: |
1000004901411 |
Appl. No.: |
16/955144 |
Filed: |
August 31, 2018 |
PCT Filed: |
August 31, 2018 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/GB2018/052475 |
371 Date: |
June 18, 2020 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47L 9/0613 20130101;
A47L 9/0411 20130101; A47L 9/0455 20130101; A47L 9/0477
20130101 |
International
Class: |
A47L 9/04 20060101
A47L009/04; A47L 9/06 20060101 A47L009/06 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Dec 20, 2017 |
GB |
1721488.3 |
Claims
1. (canceled)
2. (canceled)
3. (canceled)
4. (canceled)
5. (canceled)
6. (canceled)
7. (canceled)
8. (canceled)
9. (canceled)
11. (canceled)
12. (canceled)
13. (canceled)
14. (canceled)
15. (canceled)
16. A cleaner head comprising: an agitator supported for rotation
about a rotation axis; and a spool that comprises a narrowed waist
positioned axially between two radially enlarged portions, wherein
an axial end of the agitator terminates in a rim positioned
radially outward from and axially in line with the narrowed waist
and is configured to allow hair wrapped around the agitator to
travel axially along the agitator and slip off the rim onto the
narrowed waist.
17. The cleaner head of claim 16, wherein the agitator and spool
are movable relative to one another along the rotation axis so as
to enable withdrawal of the spool from the agitator.
18. The cleaner head of claim 17, wherein the agitator is
positioned within a housing which has an aperture through which the
agitator can be removed from the housing, the aperture being
selectively closable by an end cap.
19. The cleaner head of claim 18, wherein the spool is provided on
the end cap.
20. The cleaner head of claim 16, wherein the spool is part of an
agitator support, the agitator support comprising a bearing
positioned to rotatably support the agitator.
21. The cleaner head of claim 20, wherein the bearing is positioned
inside the narrowed waist, and engages a stub which projects from
the agitator.
22. The cleaner head of claim 16, wherein diameters of the radially
enlarged portions are at least 50% larger than a diameter of the
narrowed waist.
23. The cleaner head of claim 16, wherein an axial length of the
narrowed waist is at least 60% of a diameter of the narrowed
waist.
24. The cleaner head of claim 16, wherein at least 50% of an axial
length of the narrowed waist is received within the agitator.
25. The cleaner head of claim 16, wherein the agitator is rotatable
in a first rotational direction, and comprises a generally helical
array of bristles which runs around the agitator towards the axial
end in a second rotational direction that is opposite the first
rotational direction.
26. The cleaner head of claim 16, wherein the radially enlarged
portions define opposing side walls which are planar or are tapered
away from one another.
27. The cleaner head of claim 16 further comprising a drive
assembly configured to rotate the agitator, the drive assembly
projecting into the agitator.
28. The cleaner head of claim 16, wherein: the cleaner head has a
second spool which comprises a narrowed waist positioned axially
between two radially enlarged portions; and an opposite axial end
of the agitator terminates in a rim positioned radially outward
from and axially in line with the narrowed waist of the second
spool.
29. A vacuum cleaner comprising the cleaner head of claim 16.
Description
REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a national stage application under 35
USC 371 of International Application No. PCT/GB2018/052475, filed
Aug. 31, 2018, which claims the priority of United Kingdom
Application No. 1721488.3, filed Dec. 20, 2017, the entire contents
of each of which are incorporated herein by reference.
FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0002] The present invention relates to a cleaner head, for
instance of the type that may be used on a vacuum cleaner.
BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0003] The invention is concerned specifically with cleaner heads
which incorporate rotatable agitators, such as generally
cylindrical brush bars which are used in vacuum cleaners to agitate
a surface being cleaned so as to loosen dirt so as to improve
cleaning performance.
[0004] In such cleaner heads, during use hair or other elongate
debris such as string or wire can become wrapped around the
agitator. The wrapped hair can then migrate along the agitator and
clog a bearing that supports the agitator. Some cleaner heads
provide flanges at the ends of the agitator which extend radially
outwards to obstruct the movement of hair and reduce the risk of it
reaching a bearing. Others allow the agitator to be accessed or
removed relatively easily so that a user can untangle wrapped hair
from it. In either case, however, the user must intermittently stop
operation of the cleaner head in order to remove the hair, and
removing the tangled hair from the agitator can be relatively
difficult and time consuming. Furthermore, while the hair remains
wrapped round the agitator there is still a risk of the hair
obstructing the operation of the agitator. For example, the hair
can become trapped between the agitator and a casing, preventing
the agitator from rotating, or can accumulate and act as a spacer
that prevents the agitator from penetrating sufficiently deeply
into carpet fibres.
SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0005] It is one object of the present invention to mitigate or
obviate at least one of the above disadvantages, and/or to provide
an improved or alternative cleaner head or vacuum cleaner.
[0006] According to a first aspect of the present invention there
is provided a cleaner head comprising an agitator supported for
rotation about a rotation axis, wherein the cleaner head has a
spool which comprises a narrowed waist positioned axially between
two radially enlarged portions; and the axial end of the agitator
terminates in a rim positioned radially outward from and axially in
line with the narrowed waist, and is configured to allow hair
wrapped around the agitator to travel axially along it and slip off
the rim onto the narrowed waist.
[0007] The present invention can allow hair to slip off the
agitator, thereby reducing the risk of hair wrapped around the
agitator obstructing its function and avoiding the need for the
user to discontinue use and manually untangle the hair from the
agitator, while providing a safe location for storage of the hair
which falls off the agitator so that the hair is less likely to
clog a bearing. A cleaner head according to the present invention
may therefore be more reliable and/or able to be used continuously
for a longer period of time. Furthermore, it may be easier or
quicker for a user to remove hair from the spool than from the
agitator.
[0008] An axial end of an agitator may be considered to be
`configured to allow hair wrapped round the agitator to travel
axially along it and slip off the rim` if the axial end does not
contain features (such as a radial flange or a significant increase
in diameter) which prevent migration of hair to the rim. For
instance, the agitator may be generally cylindrical and the axial
end may have average diameter which remains constant or decreases
towards the rim.
[0009] The agitator and spool may be movable relative to one
another along the rotation axis so as to withdraw the spool from
the agitator. This may enable hair wrapped around the narrowed
waist of the spool to be removed more easily than if the user was
required to reach into the agitator so as to remove the hair from
the spool.
[0010] The agitator may be positioned within a housing which has an
aperture through which the agitator can be removed from the
housing, the aperture being selectively closable by an end cap.
[0011] The agitator being removable from the housing may make it
easier for the agitator to be cleaned (for instance to remove any
hair which has not migrated along it and fallen onto the narrowed
waist), or repaired/replaced. The aperture and end cap may provide
an advantageously simple or intuitive mechanism through which the
agitator can be removed.
[0012] As an alternative, the agitator may be removable from the
housing via a different mechanism (for instance the agitator may be
removable from the housing by passing it through a suction aperture
in the cleaner head), or the agitator may be permanently fixed
within the cleaner head.
[0013] The spool may be provided on the end cap. This may provide a
particularly simple mechanism by which the spool can be withdrawn
from the agitator. Furthermore, in some embodiments this enables
the spool to be withdrawn from the agitator (by removing the end
cap) so as to clear hair therefrom, without having to move the
agitator.
[0014] As an alternative, the end cap may be provided at the
opposite axial end of the agitator. In such a case, the spool could
be withdrawn from the agitator by moving the agitator out of the
housing through the aperture (after having removed the end cap),
thereby moving the agitator from around the spool.
[0015] The spool may be part of an agitator support, the agitator
support comprising a bearing positioned to rotatably support the
agitator. This may improve the stability of rotation of the
agitator, and/or may increase the simplicity of the cleaner
head.
[0016] The bearing may be positioned inside the narrowed waist, and
engage a stub which projects from the agitator. This may reduce the
risk of hair wrapped around the narrowed waist eventually working
its way into the bearing. As an alternative, the agitator support
may comprise a stub which supports the bearing and the agitator may
have a tubular region which engages an outer surface of the
bearing.
[0017] The diameters of the radially enlarged portions may be at
least 50% larger than the diameter of the narrowed waist. For
instance, the diameters of the radially enlarged portions may be at
least 60% or at least 70% larger than the diameter of the narrowed
waist. This can allow the spool to retain a relatively large volume
of hair.
[0018] The axial length of the narrowed waist may be at least 60%,
preferably at least 70%, of its diameter. This can allow the spool
to retain a relatively large volume of hair.
[0019] At least 25% of the axial length of the narrowed waist may
be received within the agitator. For instance, at least 50% or at
least 75% of the axial length of the narrowed waist may be received
within the agitator. This may allow the narrowed waist to be
relatively long (and thus have a relatively large hair storage
capacity), without making the overall width of the cleaner head
excessively large.
[0020] The agitator may be rotatable in a first rotational
direction, and comprise a generally helical array of bristles which
runs around the agitator towards said axial end in the opposite
rotational direction. This can encourage hair to migrate towards
the axial end (whereupon it can drop onto the spool) as the
agitator rotates, thereby increasing the extent to which the above
advantages of the present invention are provided.
[0021] The radially enlarged portions may define opposing side
walls which are planar or are tapered away from one another. This
can improve the capability of the spool to retain hair wrapped
around the narrowed waist. In contrast, if the side walls were
tapered towards one another, hair may be able to gradually work its
way up the increasing diameter of a radially enlarged portions and
thereby escape from the spool.
[0022] The cleaner head may further comprise a drive assembly
configured to rotate the agitator, the drive assembly projecting
into the agitator. The drive assembly may project into said axial
end of the agitator (whereupon the spool may be provided on the
drive assembly), or may project into the opposite axial end of the
agitator.
[0023] Optionally the cleaner head has a second spool which
comprises a narrowed waist positioned axially between two radially
enlarged portions; and the opposite axial end of the agitator
terminates in a rim positioned radially outward from and axially in
line with the narrowed waist of the second spool.
[0024] This can allow hair to fall off the opposite axial end of
the agitator and be retained on the second spool in the same manner
as described above in relation to the axial end of the agitator and
the spool.
[0025] The opposite axial end of the agitator may be configured to
obstruct hair from travelling along it towards the rim.
Alternatively, the opposite axial end may be configured to allow
hair wrapped around the agitator to travel axially along it and
slip off the rim onto the narrowed waist of the second spool.
[0026] According to a second aspect of the present invention there
is provided a vacuum cleaner comprising a cleaner head according to
the first aspect of the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
[0027] An embodiment of the present invention will now be
described, by way of example only, with reference to the
accompanying drawings in which:
[0028] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a vacuum cleaner according
to an embodiment of the invention;
[0029] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a cleaner head of the vacuum
cleaner of FIG. 1, shown from above;
[0030] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a cleaner head FIG. 2, shown
from below;
[0031] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the cleaner head of FIGS. 2
and 3, with some components removed;
[0032] FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view of the cleaner head, taken
in a vertical plane which is parallel to a rotation axis of an
agitator of the cleaner head;
[0033] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the cleaner head, with an
end cap separated therefrom;
[0034] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the end cap of FIG. 6 and
part of the cleaner head; and
[0035] FIG. 8 is a cross sectional view of the cleaner head, taken
through a narrowed waist of a spool supported on the end cap in a
plane which is normal to the rotation axis of the agitator.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0036] Throughout the description and drawings, corresponding
reference numerals denote corresponding features.
[0037] FIG. 1 shows a vacuum cleaner 2 according to an embodiment
of the invention. The vacuum cleaner 2 of this embodiment is an
upright vacuum cleaner. It has a rolling assembly 4 which carries a
cleaner head 6, and an `upright` body 8. The upright body 8 can be
reclined relative to the head assembly 4, and includes a handle 10
for manoeuvring the vacuum cleaner 2 across the floor. In use, a
user grasps the handle 10 and reclines the upright body 8 until the
handle 10 is disposed at a convenient height. The user can then
roll the vacuum cleaner 2 across the floor using the handle 10 in
order to pass the cleaner head 6 over the floor and pick up dust
and other debris therefrom. The dust and debris is drawn into the
cleaner head by a suction generator in the form of a motor-driven
fan (not visible) housed on board the vacuum cleaner 2, and is
ducted in conventional manner under the fan-generated suction
pressure to a cyclonic separating apparatus 12 where dirt is
separated from the air. The relatively clean air is then exhausted
back to the atmosphere.
[0038] The cleaner head 6 is shown in isolation in FIGS. 2 and 3.
It has a housing 14 that defines an agitator chamber 16 within
which an agitator 18 is received. The agitator 18 is generally
cylindrical, and in this embodiment is hollow. It has a brush
region 19 which has a pair of helical grooves 20 configured to
support corresponding helical arrays of agitating bristles (not
shown). The agitator chamber 16 rotatably supports the agitator 18
so that the agitator can rotate about a rotation axis 22 under
action of an drive assembly (not visible). In this case, the
rotation axis 22 is also the longitudinal axis of the agitator
18.
[0039] FIG. 4 shows the cleaner head 6 with the agitator 18 and
part of the housing 14 removed, and FIG. 5 shows a cross section
through the (complete) cleaner head 6. The rotational support and
driving of the agitator will now be described with reference to
these figures in combination with FIGS. 1-3.
[0040] The agitator 18 is supported for rotation by an agitator
support 24 which projects into an axial end 26 of the agitator 18,
and by a drive assembly 28 which projects into the opposite axial
end 30 of the agitator 18. In this case, the drive assembly 28 runs
along substantially the entire length of the agitator 18.
[0041] The drive assembly 28 has a spool portion 32, a support
portion 34, a twin-walled support sleeve 36 which houses an
electric motor 38 and gearbox 40, and a drive dog 42 which
drivingly engages an end cap region 44 of the agitator 18. In use,
the motor 38 is energised so as to rotate an output shaft 46, and
the gearbox gears down this rotation so that the drive dog 42 (and
thus the agitator 18) rotates more slowly but under greater torque.
The support portion 34 comprises a bearing 48 which rotatably
supports the agitator 18 via a ribbed support ring 50 that
accommodates slight misalignment between the agitator 18 and drive
assembly 28 and reduces the transmittal of vibration
therebetween.
[0042] The agitator support 24 comprises a spool 52 which is
aligned with the rotation axis 22. The spool 52 has a narrowed
waist 54 positioned axially between two radially enlarged portions
56a, 56b which in this embodiment take the form of substantially
annular flanges. The axial end 26 of the agitator 18 terminates in
a rim 58 which is radially outward of the waist 54 and axially in
line therewith.
[0043] The agitator 18 is rotatable by the drive assembly 28 in a
first direction, anticlockwise when viewed along the axis 22 from
the axial end 26 (in other words the agitator 18 rotates
`forwards`). The grooves 20 support the helical arrays of bristles
(not visible) such that they run around the agitator 18 towards the
axial end 26 in the opposite direction. In other words, they run
clockwise around the agitator 18 towards the axial end 26 when
viewed generally from that end, in a manner akin to a `left hand`
screw thread.
[0044] The direction about which the bristles (not shown) supported
in the grooves 20 run around the agitator 18, in combination with
the direction of rotation of the agitator 18, means that when the
agitator is rotated the bristles tend to cam large debris towards
the axial end 26 (as well as propelling it generally tangentially).
It also encourages hair wrapped around the agitator 18 to migrate
towards the axial end 26. In some cleaner heads, the equivalent
axial end of the agitator is provided with a radially-extending
flange positioned to prevent hair which has migrated in this way
from dropping off the end of the agitator and interfering with a
bearing which supports the agitator. In the present invention,
however, the axial end 26 is configured to allow hair wrapped
around the agitator 18 to travel axially along the axial end 26
before and slipping off the rim 58 and onto the narrowed waist 54
of the spool 52.
[0045] In this embodiment the axial end 26 is configured to allow
hair to travel axially along it and drop off the rim in that it the
agitator comprises a cylindrical portion 60 of reduced diameter
which intersects the brush region 19 and leads to the rim 58. Hair
migrating to the axial end 26 can therefore slip onto the portion
60 and then fall off the rim 58. In other embodiments, however, the
axial end may be differently configured while still allowing hair
to travel axially along it. For example, the agitator may have a
brush region which terminates directly at a rim. In the present
invention the axial end may be configured in any suitable way which
does not include any feature which prevents hair from travelling
along and then falling off the axial end (such as the flange
described above, or a portion of increased cross sectional
area).
[0046] The spool 52 is configured to retain hair which has fallen
onto it from the axial end 26 of the agitator 18. The hair wraps
around the narrowed waist 54, and the enlarged portions 56a, 56b
retain it thereon (since once the hair has wrapped around the
narrowed waist 54, the diameter of the loop formed by the hair is
too small to fit over the enlarged portions 56a, 56b). In this
embodiment the radially enlarged portions 56a, 56b define opposing
planar side walls 62a, 62b, which are particularly effective at
retaining hair on the narrowed waist 54.
[0047] In this embodiment the diameter of the narrowed waist is
around 25 mm whereas the diameter of the smaller of the two
radially enlarged portions 56b is around 50 mm. Accordingly, the
diameters of the radially enlarged portions 56a, 56b are at least
90% larger (nearer 100% if not more) than the diameter of the
narrowed waist 54. This allows an advantageously large amount of
hair to wrap around the narrowed waist 54 before any individual
loop of hair has a diameter large enough for it to slip over one of
the radially enlarged portions 56a, 56b.
[0048] Furthermore, in this embodiment the axial length of the
narrowed waist 54 is around 20 mm, i.e. around 80% of its diameter.
This relatively long narrowed waist 54 again increases the amount
of hair which can be held by the spool 52. As shown in FIG. 5,
around 90% of the axial length of the narrowed waist 54 is received
inside the agitator 18. This provides a more compact arrangement
than if more of the axial length of the narrowed waist 54 was
positioned outside of the agitator 18.
[0049] As well as the spool 52, the agitator support 24 comprises a
bearing 64. In this case the bearing 64 is supported by the spool
52, inside the narrowed waist 54. The bearing 64 engages a stub 66
which projects axially from the axial end 26 of the agitator 18,
thereby rotatably supporting the agitator 18. The bearing 64 is
secured within the narrowed waist 54 by a circlip 67, but engages
the stub 66 by friction alone. This allows the agitator 18 and the
spool 52 to be moved relative to one another along the axis 22 so
as to withdraw the spool from the agitator, as described in more
detail below.
[0050] Referring now to FIGS. 6 and 7 in combination with FIGS.
1-5, the spool 52 is provided on an end cap 68 of the agitator
support 24 which can be released from the housing 14 so as to open
an aperture 70 therein, or attached to the housing so as to close
the aperture 70. The agitator 18 can be removed from within the
agitator chamber 16 and around the drive assembly 28 by sliding it
axially through the aperture 70.
[0051] In this case the agitator 18 engages the support ring 50 on
the bearing 48 of the drive assembly 28 through friction, and as
noted above the stub 66 of the agitator 18 engages the bearing 64
on the spool 52 through friction. When the end cap 68 is removed
from the housing 14, the two bearings 48, 64 move apart.
Accordingly, if the frictional engagement between the bearing 64
and stub 66 is greater than that between the agitator 18 and the
support ring 50, then as the end cap 68 is removed from the housing
14, the agitator 18 will come with it. The agitator 18 and end cap
68 can then be separated from one another manually. Alternatively,
if the frictional engagement between the bearing 64 and stub 66 is
less than that between the agitator 18 and the support ring 50 then
as the end cap 68 is removed from the housing 14, the end cap 68
and agitator 18 separate from one another. The agitator 18 can then
be removed from the cleaner head 6 by sliding it through the
aperture 70 manually. In either case, the spool 52 can be withdrawn
from the agitator 18 so that the user can easily access the
narrowed waist 54 and remove hair therefrom.
[0052] In this embodiment, the end cap 68 is attachable to the
housing 14 through an annular array of recesses 72 provided on the
end cap 68 which are engageable with a complementary annular array
of lugs 74 provided on the housing 14. To attach the end cap 68 to
the housing 14, the end cap 68 is presented to the housing 14 at an
angular position about the axis 22 which locates the recesses 72
and lugs 74 out of alignment with one another in the
circumferential direction. This is shown in FIG. 6. The end cap 68
can then be pushed into the housing 14 along the axis 22. This
moves the recesses 72 and lugs 74 into alignment in the axial
direction (and pushes the bearing 64 onto the stub 66 if the
agitator 18 is in the agitator chamber 16), but they remain out of
alignment in the circumferential direction. The end cap 68 is then
rotated about the axis 22 so as to move the recesses 72
circumferentially into alignment with the lugs 74. This positions
the lugs 74 within the recesses 72, thereby preventing the end cap
68 from being pushed away from the housing 14. To detach the end
cap 68 again, the above steps are reversed--the end cap 68 is
rotated in the opposite direction so as to bring the apertures 72
and lugs 74 out of circumferential alignment, then the end cap and
housing 14 can be pulled apart.
[0053] Referring now to FIG. 8 in combination with FIGS. 1-7, the
end cap also has a pivotable latch 76 which is spring-loaded by a
coil spring 78. The latch 76 has a push-button 80, and a ratchet
tooth 82 that engages with a ratchet tooth 84 provided on the
housing 14. As the end cap 68 is rotated about the axis 22 to
position the recesses 72 around the lugs 74 as described above, the
ratchet teeth 82, 84 contact one another and tooth 84 cams tooth 82
generally radially outwards. This pivots the latch 76 to allow
tooth 82 to pass over tooth 84, and compresses the spring 78. When
the end cap 68 has reached its final position and the lugs 74 are
received in the recesses 72, the latch 76 can pivot back under the
influence of the spring 78. If the end cap 68 is then urged to
rotate in the opposite direction (which would disengage the
recesses 72 and lugs 74), the teeth 82, 84 abut and prevent this
movement. When the user wishes to rotate the end cap 68 so as to
detach it from the housing, they press the push-button 80. This
pivots the latch and lifts tooth 82 out of engagement with tooth 84
so that the end cap 64 can be rotated.
[0054] Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5 in particular, it is noteworthy
that like the spool 52, the spool portion 32 of the drive assembly
28 has a narrowed waist 86 positioned between two radially enlarged
portions 88a, 88b. The spool portion 32 therefore forms a second
spool, and is configured to retain a length of hair wrapped around
its narrowed waist 86. Also like the spool 52, the spool portion 32
is aligned with the axis 22. The opposite axial end 30 of the
agitator 18 terminates in a rim 90, and the spool portion 32
projects into the opposite end 30 such that the rim 90 is axially
in line with the narrowed waist 86. Hair wrapped around the
agitator 18 can therefore fall off the rim 90 and onto the spool
portion 32, wrapping around the narrowed waist 86. In this
particular embodiment however, the opposite axial end 30 is not
configured to allow hair wrapped around it to travel axially along
it. Instead, the opposite axial end 30 has a shallow flange 92
which is arranged to block movement of hair towards the rim 90.
Accordingly, if hair falls off the rim 90 it is retained on the
spool portion 32, but hair is not encouraged to fall off the rim
90. The majority of the hair is therefore collected on the spool
52, from which it can be removed easily due to the spool 52 being
provided on the removable end cap, while any hair which nonetheless
falls off the opposite axial end is prevented from interfering with
the bearing 48.
[0055] It will be appreciated that numerous modifications to the
above described embodiments may be made without departing from the
scope of invention as defined in the appended claims. For instance,
although in the above embodiment the spool has a substantially
cylindrical narrowed waist positioned between two flanges, giving
it the general shape of a sewing bobbin, in one alternative the
spool may have the general shape of a juggling diablo, the narrowed
waist itself being hourglass-shaped and the radially enlarged
portions extending outwards but tapering towards one another.
[0056] For the avoidance of doubt, the optional and/or preferred
features described above may be utilised in any suitable
combinations, and in particular in the combinations set out in the
appended claims. Features described in relation to one aspect of
the invention, may also be applied to another aspect of the
invention, where appropriate.
* * * * *