Abstract:
A vacuum cleaner includes a vacuum body defining an agitation chamber, an agitator, and an illumination system. The agitator is rotatably disposed at least partially within the agitation chamber and includes an agitator body defining an illumination chamber. The illumination system is at least partially disposed within the illumination chamber and includes at least one light source. Alternatively, a vacuum cleaner includes a vacuum body defining an agitation chamber, an agitator rotatably disposed at least partially within the agitation chamber, an illumination coupled to the vacuum body and including at least one light source, and a light guide configured to redirect light emitted in a first direction from the at least one light source to a second direction.
Abstract:
An example of a surface cleaning head may include a main body, a neck pivotally coupled to the main body, a stabilizer, and a linkage pivotally coupled to the main body and the stabilizer. The linkage may be configured to cause the stabilizer to transition between an extended position and a retracted position in response to a pivotal movement of the neck.
Abstract:
A multi-mode cleaning apparatus with suction may include a wand with a handle, a suction motor for providing suction, a bare floor unit configured to be movable by the wand and fluidly coupled to the suction motor, and a sweeper unit configured to be movable by the wand and fluidly coupled to the suction motor. The bare floor unit is configured for use in a suction only mode. The sweeper unit includes a rotatable brush roll and is configured for use in a brush roll only mode or a suction and brush roll mode.
Abstract:
A vacuum cleaner tool having a brush head, a rotatable duct, and a hinge. The rotatable duct is configured to receive a hose or wand and rotates about the hinge relative to the brush head, between a use position and storage position. In a storage position, the rotatable duct extends generally parallel, or in-line with the brush head and, in a use position, the rotatable duct extends generally perpendicular to the brush head. The vacuum cleaner tool may removably attach to the vacuum cleaner via a release on one end of the brush head interacting with a fixed catch on the vacuum cleaner.
Abstract:
A flexible hose for use with surface cleaning devices is disclosed that includes a support structure that allows a user to collapse and lock the same into a storage configuration, and then easily unlock the same using a relatively minor amount of force, e.g., a user-applied pulling force or mechanical force. Thus, in a general sense, a hose consistent with the present disclosure may include two relatively stable/steady-state configurations, namely a storage configuration and an in-use configuration. Thus, the hose allows a user to collapse and lock the hose when not in use, and to transition the hose to an in-use configuration to target various types of surfaces to clean including, for instance, floors, walls and ceilings which may be many feet (e.g., up to 5 feet or more) from the surface cleaning apparatus.
Abstract:
A surface cleaning head with a leading roller may be used to facilitate capturing of debris in the air flow into a suction conduit on the underside of the surface cleaning head. The leading roller is generally positioned adjacent to and in advance of the opening of the suction conduit. The surface cleaning head may have dual agitators—a leading roller and a rotating brush roll—with the leading roller being located in front of the brush roll. The leading roller may have a smaller diameter than the brush roll and may provide a softer cleaning element. The leading roller may also have a bottom portion exposed to the flow path to the suction conduit and at least a top half that is not exposed to that flow path. The leading roller may also float relative to the surface cleaning head and/or may be adjustable relative to the brush roll.
Abstract:
A surface cleaning head may be configured to receive a removable rotatable driven agitator, such as a brush roll, or a non-driven agitator. Either of these agitators may be located in an openable agitator chamber for purposes of removing debris and/or removing the agitator. The openable agitator chamber may be covered by an external cover that is movable between an open position and a closed position. The non-driven agitator may include an agitator body including a bottom portion supporting one or more cleaning pads. The non-driven agitator body may also define one or more air inlets, an air outlet and an air passageway extending therebetween to facilitate air passage through the surface cleaning head. Different removable agitators with different characteristics may be used interchangeably in the surface cleaning head.
Abstract:
A docking station for a vacuum cleaner may include a receptacle configured to engage at least a portion of the vacuum cleaner such that, in response to engaging the receptacle, a vacuum cleaner flow path extending within the vacuum cleaner is transitioned from a cleaning flow path to an evacuation flow path, a suction motor of the vacuum cleaner being configured to urge air along the vacuum cleaner flow path and a docking station dust cup configured to receive debris from a vacuum cleaner dust cup of the vacuum cleaner.
Abstract:
In general, the present disclosure is directed to a hand-held surface cleaning device that includes a relatively compact form-factor to allow users to store the same in a nearby location (e.g., in a drawer, in an associated charging dock, on a table top) for easy access to perform relatively small cleaning tasks that would otherwise require retrieving a full-size vacuum from storage. A hand-held surface cleaning device consistent with aspects of the present disclosure includes a body (or body portion) with a motor, power source and dust cup disposed therein. The body portion also functions as a handgrip to allow the hand-held surface cleaning device to be operated by one hand, for example.
Abstract:
A surface cleaning head includes a housing having a front side and back side, a brush roll rotatably mounted to the housing within a suction conduit and having at least a portion proximate the opening of the suction conduit, a leading roller mounted to the housing in front of the brush roll, and a drive mechanism operatively coupled to the brush roll and the leading roller for driving the brush roll and the leading roller at same time. The brush roll includes an agitator body and a first bristle/flap arrangement comprising a first deformable flap extending from the agitator body and a first bristle strip and/or row of tufts extending from the agitator body and disposed adjacent to the first deformable flap. The first deformable flap is disposed at an aggressive angle and the first bristle strip and/or row of tufts is arranged at a passive angle.