ES2943708T3 - Removable rotary shaker with a tab configured to be held by a user - Google Patents

Abstract

A removable rotary agitator (130, 730) for use in a surface cleaning head (100, 700, 2400, 2500, 2600, 2700, 2800, 2900), the removable rotary agitator comprising: the agitator or an agitator body ( 131, 531, 631, 731) having a driven end (132, 732) and a non-driven end (134, 754); at least one agitator element (136, 536) located in at least a part of the agitator body between the driven end and the non-driven end; a tab (796), or an end cap including a tab, the tab extends radially from at least one end of the shaker body and is configured to be grasped by a user to facilitate removal and insertion of the non-driven end into an agitator chamber (120, 720) in the surface cleaning head; and a splined driven member (780) located at the driven end of the agitator body, (Automatic translation with Google Translate, no legal value)

Description

DESCRIPTION

Removable rotary shaker with a tab configured to be held by a user

technical field

The present invention relates to vacuum cleaners and, more particularly, to a vacuum cleaner surface cleaning head including an openable agitator chamber and removable agitators for use therein.

background information

The following is not an admission that anything described below forms part of the state of the art or common general knowledge to one skilled in the art.

A surface cleaning appliance, more commonly known as a vacuum, can be used to clean a variety of surfaces using at least suction. Various types of vacuum cleaners are known including, without limitation, upright vacuums, canister vacuums, stick vacuums, and central vacuum systems. A surface cleaning apparatus typically includes a surface cleaning head with an inlet. Some vacuums include some or all of the operating components (eg, suction motor and air handling elements) in a separate location from the surface cleaning head to allow the surface cleaning head to be lighter or smaller. An upright vacuum cleaner, for example, can include an upright section that contains at least one air treatment element that is mounted to a surface cleaning head. A canister vacuum can include a canister body that contains at least one air treatment element and a suction motor that is connected to a surface cleaning head by a flexible hose and handle. Another type of vacuum cleaner includes the suction motor and air treatment elements (eg, one or more cyclones) arranged in the surface cleaning head.

A surface cleaning apparatus, such as any of the aforementioned vacuum cleaners, may also include one or more mechanical agitators, such as a rotating brush roll, in the surface cleaning head to facilitate cleaning of a surface. A problem with mechanical agitators, particularly rotating brush rolls, is the difficulty in removing debris (eg, hair) that becomes tangled. The surface cleaning head must often be turned upside down to determine if the agitator has a tangle or snag and to remove debris. Removing debris from the mechanical agitator located inside the surface cleaning head can also be difficult, especially through the limited opening at the bottom of the surface cleaning head. Failure to properly remove debris can result in decreased performance and even damage to the mechanical agitator and/or vacuum.

On some conventional vacuum cleaners, the agitator may also not be suitable for all surfaces and/or conditions. A rotating brush roll, for example, may be desirable to get agitation on carpet, but not on a hard wood floor. This can further limit the performance and versatility of the vacuum.

WO 2011/158596 A1 discloses a floor surface suction tool used in an electric vacuum cleaner comprising a box forming an outer casing, a rotary brush arranged to be freely rotatable in an inner part of the box, a drive arranged in the case for driving the rotating brush roll and a drive unit side mounting guide to which a driving force is transmitted from the drive unit and which is connected to the brush roll; wherein the brush roll and the drive unit side mounting guide are connected in a universal joint structure.

Summary

According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a removable rotary agitator for use in a surface cleaning head according to claim 1.

According to a second aspect of the invention, a surface cleaning head is provided according to claim 11 comprising the rotary agitator of the first aspect.

Optional and/or preferred features are set out in the dependent claims.

According to one embodiment, a surface cleaning head for a vacuum cleaner is disclosed. The surface cleaning head includes a cleaning head housing having a front end portion, a rear end portion, laterally disposed sides, a top, and a bottom. An agitator chamber is arranged at the front end part of the cleaning head housing. The agitator chamber has an upper opening through the top of the cleaning head housing and a lower opening through the bottom of the cleaning head housing. An outer cover is pivotally mounted to the cleaning head housing to cover the top opening of the shaker chamber. The outer cover is pivotable between a closed position and an open position, and the shaker chamber is covered when the outer cover is in the closed position and is accessible through the top opening when the outer cover is in the open position. A rotary powered stirrer is removably mounted within the stirrer chamber such that the stirrer is configured to contact a surface through the lower opening and is configured to be withdrawn through the upper opening. The rotary powered stirrer includes a driven end and a non-driven end. The outer cover attaches to the non-driven end of the shaker in the closed position to hold the shaker in the shaker chamber and the outer cover separates from the non-driven end of the shaker as it moves to the open position. The agitator is accessible and removable through the top opening when the outer cover is in the open position.

According to another embodiment, a surface cleaning head for a vacuum cleaner is disclosed. The surface cleaning head includes a cleaning head housing including a front end portion, a rear end portion, laterally disposed sides, a top, and a bottom. An agitator chamber is arranged at the front end part of the cleaning head housing. The agitator chamber has an upper opening through the top of the cleaning head housing and a lower opening through the bottom of the cleaning head housing. An outer cover is pivotally mounted to the cleaning head housing to cover the top opening of the shaker chamber and is movable between a closed position and an open position. The shaker chamber is covered when the outer cover is in the closed position and is accessible through the top opening when the outer cover is in the open position. A sealing element is arranged around the perimeter of at least one of an inner part of the outer cover and the cleaning head housing around the agitator chamber to seal an interface between the cleaning head housing and the outer cover around of the shaker chamber. A latching mechanism is configured to provide multiple attachment points around the perimeter between the outer cover and the cleaning head housing to hold the outer cover in the closed position. A rotary powered stirrer is mounted within the stirrer chamber such that the stirrer is configured to contact a surface through the bottom opening. The rotary powered stirrer includes a driven end and a non-driven end and is accessible through the top opening when the outer cover is in the open position.

According to one embodiment, a surface cleaning head for a vacuum cleaner is disclosed. The surface cleaning head includes a cleaning head housing having a front end portion, a rear end portion, laterally disposed sides, a top, and a bottom. An agitator chamber is arranged in the front end portion of the cleaning head housing and has an upper opening through the upper part of the cleaning head housing and a lower opening through the lower part of the housing. of cleaning head. The shaker chamber includes a non-driven side and a driven side. The surface cleaning head also includes an agitator drive mechanism including a drive element on the driven side of the agitator chamber and an agitator drive motor drive-coupled to the drive element. An outer cover is mounted to the cleaning head housing to cover the top opening of the shaker chamber and is movable between a closed position and an open position so that the shaker chamber is covered when the outer cover is in the open position. closed position and is accessible through the top opening when the outer cover is in the open position. A rotary powered stirrer is removably mounted within the shaker chamber such that the stirrer is configured to contact a surface through the bottom opening and is accessible and removable through the top opening when the outer cover is in place. the open position. The rotary driven stirrer includes a non-driven end mounted to the non-driven side of the shaker chamber so that the stirrer rotates freely on the non-driven end and a driven end that includes a driven element. The driven element is axially coupled and attached to the drive element of the drive mechanism such that the drive element transmits torque and rotation to the driven element and to the rotary driven agitator.

According to another embodiment, a surface cleaning head for a vacuum cleaner is disclosed. The surface cleaning head includes a cleaning head housing having a front end portion, a rear end portion, laterally disposed sides, a top, and a bottom. An agitator chamber is arranged in the front end portion of the cleaning head housing and has an upper opening through the upper part of the cleaning head housing and a lower opening through the lower part of the housing. of cleaning head. An outer cover is mounted to the cleaning head housing to cover the top opening of the shaker chamber. The outer cover can be moved between a closed position and an open position so that the shaker chamber is covered when the outer cover is in the closed position and is accessible through the top opening when the outer cover is in the open position . At least first and second rotary powered stirrers are configured to be removably mounted within the shaker chamber and removable through the top opening when the outer cover is in the open position, so that the rotary powered stirrers are interchangeable. The first rotary powered stirrer has different stirring characteristics than the second rotary powered stirrer.

According to a further embodiment, a surface cleaning head for a vacuum cleaner is disclosed. The surface cleaning head includes a cleaning head housing having a front end portion, a rear end portion, laterally disposed sides, a top, and a bottom. An agitator chamber is arranged in the front end portion of the cleaning head housing and has an upper opening through the upper part of the cleaning head housing and a lower opening through the lower part of the housing. of cleaning head. The shaker chamber is configured to receive a rotary driven stirrer such that the stirrer contacts a surface through the bottom opening and is removable through the top opening. The shaker chamber includes a non-driven side to receive a non-driven end of the rotary driven stirrer and a driven side to receive a driven end of the rotary driven stirrer. The surface cleaning head also includes an agitator drive mechanism including a drive element on a driven side of the agitator chamber and an agitator drive motor drive-coupled to the drive element. The drive element is configured to axially engage and join the driven element on the rotary driven stirrer such that the drive element transmits torque and rotation to the driven element and rotary driven stirrer. An outer cover is mounted to the cleaning head housing to cover the top opening of the shaker chamber. The outer cover can be moved between a closed position and an open position so that the shaker chamber is covered when the outer cover is in the closed position and is accessible through the top opening when the outer cover is in the open position .

According to one embodiment, a removable rotary agitator assembly is provided for use in a surface cleaning head of a vacuum cleaner. The removable rotary stirrer assembly includes a stirrer body having a driven end and a non-driven end and at least one stirrer element disposed in at least a portion of the stirrer body between the driven end and the non-driven end. The removable rotary stirrer assembly further includes a driven element disposed at the driven end of the stirrer body. The driven element is configured to axially engage and join a drive element in a drive mechanism on the surface cleaning head. The removable rotary stirrer assembly further includes a shaft extending from the non-driven end of the stirrer body, a bushing rotatably mounted to the shaft, and an end plug mounted on the bushing and configured to be non-rotatably mounted in a chamber. surface cleaning head agitator.

According to another embodiment, a removable rotary stirrer assembly includes a stirrer body having a driven end and a non-driven end, at least one stirrer element disposed in at least a portion of the stirrer body between the driven end and the non-driven end. driven, and a splined driven element disposed at the driven end of the agitator body. The splined driven element is configured to axially engage and mate with a splined drive element in a drive mechanism on the surface cleaning head.

According to one embodiment, a surface cleaning head for a vacuum cleaner is disclosed. The surface cleaning head includes a cleaning head housing having a front end portion, a rear end portion, laterally disposed sides, a top, and a bottom. An agitator chamber is arranged at the front end part of the cleaning head housing. The agitator chamber has an upper opening through the top of the cleaning head housing and a lower opening through the bottom of the cleaning head housing and includes at least one driven side. The surface cleaning head also includes an agitator drive mechanism including a drive element on the driven side of the agitator chamber and an agitator drive motor drive-coupled to the drive element. The drive member is configured to be attached to and drive a rotary driven stirrer when housed in the shaker chamber. An outer cover is mounted to the cleaning head housing to cover the top opening of the shaker chamber. The outer cover can be moved between a closed position and an open position. The shaker chamber is covered when the outer cover is in the closed position and is accessible through the top opening when the outer cover is in the open position. The surface cleaning head further includes a non-powered agitator removably mounted within the agitator chamber without being attached to the drive element such that the non-powered agitator is configured to contact a surface through the lower opening. The non-powered agitator is accessible and removable through the top opening when the outer cover is in the open position.

According to another embodiment, a surface cleaning head for a vacuum cleaner is disclosed. The surface cleaning head includes a cleaning head housing having a front end portion, a rear end portion, laterally disposed sides, a top, and a bottom. An agitator chamber is arranged at the front end part of the cleaning head housing. The agitator chamber has an upper opening through the top of the cleaning head housing and a lower opening through the bottom of the cleaning head housing and includes at least one driven side. The surface cleaning head also includes an agitator drive mechanism including a drive element on the driven side of the agitator chamber and an agitator drive motor drive-coupled to the drive element. The at least one rotary powered stirrer is configured to be removably mounted within the shaker chamber and is configured to be attached to the drive member of the stirrer drive mechanism such that the drive member causes the rotary powered stirrer to rotate. At least one non-powered stirrer is configured to be removably mounted within the shaker chamber without being attached to the drive element and such that the non-powered stirrer is configured to contact a surface through the bottom opening.

A removable non-powered agitator not forming part of the present invention is disclosed for use in an agitator chamber of a surface cleaning head. The removable non-powered agitator includes a agitator body defining first and second elongated air inlets, an air outlet, and an air path between the at least one air inlet and the air outlet. The elongated air inlets are arranged along at least a part of the lower part of the agitator body, and the air outlet is arranged on the agitator body in a position to allow connection to a dirty air inlet into the agitator chamber of the surface cleaning head. The lower part of the stirrer body has a width corresponding to the width of a lower opening of the stirrer chamber. The first and second ends of the shaker body are configured to join the shaker chamber without joining a drive element in the shaker chamber. The removable non-powered shaker also includes at least one cleaning pad supported on a pad support member on at least one side of the shaker body bottom and a seal around the air outlet.

Brief description of the drawings

These and other features and advantages will be better understood by reading the following detailed description, in conjunction with the drawings, wherein:

The FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a surface cleaning head including an openable agitator chamber covered by an outer cover with a transparent region, according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

The FIG. 1A is a sectional view of the surface cleaning head shown in FIG. 1 taken along line 1A-1A.

The FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a vacuum cleaner with the surface cleaning head shown in FIG. 1 connected to a bar and a handle.

The FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the surface cleaning head shown in FIG. 1 with an outer cover removed to reveal a top opening into the shaker chamber.

The FIG. 3A is a bottom view of the surface cleaning head shown in FIG. 1 showing a lower opening in the shaker chamber.

FIGS. 4A and 4B are different perspective views of one embodiment of a brush roll agitator for use in the surface cleaning head shown in FIG. 1.

The FIG. 4C is a sectional view of the brush roll agitator shown in FIG. 4B taken along line 4C-4C.

FIGS. 5A and 5B are perspective and side views, respectively, of another embodiment of a brush roll agitator for use in the surface cleaning head shown in FIG. 1.

The FIG. 5C is a sectional view of the brush roll agitator shown in FIG. 5B taken along line 5C-5C.

The FIG. 5D is a side view of another embodiment of a rotary agitator for use in the surface cleaning head shown in FIG. 1.

The FIG. 6A is a perspective view of one embodiment of a non-powered agitator for use in a surface cleaning head, according to embodiments of the present disclosure.

The FIG. 6B is an end view of the non-powered stirrer shown in FIG. 6A.

The FIG. 6C is a top view of the non-powered stirrer shown in FIG. 6A.

The FIG. 6D is a bottom view of the non-powered stirrer shown in FIG. 6A.

FIGS. 7A and 7B are different side perspective views of a surface cleaning head with an outer cover in an open position and with an agitator removed from the agitator chamber, according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

The FIG. 8 is a top view of the agitator chamber and outer cover of the surface cleaning head shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B.

The FIG. 9 is a side view of the surface cleaning head shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B.

The FIG. 10 is a top view of the surface cleaning head shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B including a rotary stirrer and drive mechanism, according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

The FIG. 11 is a top view of the surface cleaning head including a non-powered agitator housed in the agitator chamber.

The FIG. 12 is a bottom view of the surface cleaning head including the non-powered agitator shown in FIG. eleven.

The FIG. 13 is a top perspective view of one embodiment of a drive mechanism for use in the surface cleaning head shown in FIG. 10.

The FIG. 14 is an exploded view of the drive mechanism shown in FIG. 13.

The FIG. 15 is a perspective detail view of a splined drive element and a splined driven element of the drive mechanism shown in FIG. 13.

The FIG. 16 is a sectional view of a splined coupling between the splined drive element and the splined driven element taken along line 16-16 in FIG. 13.

The FIG. 17 is a side sectional view of the splined driven element taken along line 17 in FIG. fifteen.

The FIG. 18 is an exploded view of a non-driven end of one embodiment of a rotary agitator for use in the surface cleaning head shown in FIG. 10.

FIGS. 19 and 20 are different side perspective views of one embodiment of an end plug for use in the rotary agitator shown in FIG. 18.

The FIG. 21 is a top perspective view of a non-driven side of the agitator chamber in the surface cleaning head of FIG. 10 without the rotary agitator.

The FIG. 22 is a top perspective view of the non-driven side of the agitator chamber in the surface cleaning head of FIG. 10 with the non-driven end of the rotary agitator housed therein.

The FIG. 23 is a sectional view of the agitator end plug seated in the agitator chamber in the surface cleaning head of FIG. 10 with the cap closed.

The FIG. 24 is a perspective view of a stick vacuum including a cleaning head with an openable agitator chamber, in accordance with another embodiment of the present disclosure.

The FIG. 25 is a perspective view of an upright vacuum cleaner including a cleaning head with an openable agitator chamber, in accordance with yet another embodiment of the present disclosure.

The FIG. 26 is a side view of a surface cleaning head including a rearwardly pivotable outer cover, in accordance with another embodiment of the present disclosure.

The FIG. 27 is a side view of a surface cleaning head including a multi-piece outer cover, in accordance with a further embodiment of the present disclosure.

The FIG. 28 is a top view of a surface cleaning head including an outer cover that slides rearwardly or forwardly to open the agitator chamber, in accordance with another embodiment of the present disclosure.

The FIG. 29 is a top view of a surface cleaning head including an outer cover that slides to the side to open the agitator chamber, in accordance with another embodiment of the present disclosure.

The drawings included herein serve to illustrate various examples of articles, methods, and apparatus described herein and are not intended to limit the scope of what is described in any way.

Detailed description

A surface cleaning head, according to embodiments herein, may be configured to accommodate a removable rotary powered agitator, such as a brush roll, or a non-powered agitator. Any of these stirrers can be arranged in a stirrer chamber which can be opened in order to remove debris and/or remove the stirrer. The openable shaker chamber may be covered by an outer cover that is movable between an open position and a closed position. A sealing element may be arranged between the outer cover and a surface cleaning head housing and around the perimeter of the agitator chamber. A surface cleaning head, according to other embodiments of the present disclosure, includes a removable rotary agitator, such as a brush roll, that is driven by a drive mechanism that is axially attached to the driven end. The removable stirrer can be fixed in the stirrer chamber by the outer cover. The surface cleaning head may also include one or more transparent regions (eg, a window in the outer shell) to allow visual inspection of the agitator during use.

The non-powered shaker may include a shaker body that includes a bottom that supports one or more cleaning pads. The non-powered agitator body may also define one or more air inlets, an air outlet, and an air passage extending therebetween to facilitate the passage of air through the surface cleaning head. Different removable agitators with different characteristics can be used interchangeably in the surface cleaning head.

In the illustrated embodiments, the openable agitator chamber, outer cover, removable rotary agitator, and other features described herein are used in an "all in the head" type vacuum cleaner in which the functional components or Operational devices for transporting and treating fluids (eg, air) are substantially all contained within the surface cleaning head. The openable agitator chamber, outer cover, removable rotating agitator and other features described herein can also be implemented, within the scope of this description, in a surface cleaning head for any type of cleaning apparatus. surface cleaning or vacuuming, including, without limitation, upright vacuums, canister vacuums, stick vacuums, robotic vacuums and central vacuum systems.

As used herein, a "surface cleaning head" refers to a device configured to contact a surface to clean the surface through the use of suction airflow, agitation, or a combination thereof. A surface cleaning head can be pivotally or directionally coupled by a swivel connection to a bar for controlling the surface cleaning head and can include motorized attachments as well as fixed surface cleaning heads. A surface cleaning head can also work without a bar or handle. As used herein, "agitator" refers to any element, member, or structure capable of agitating a surface to facilitate the movement of debris in a suction airflow in a surface cleaning head. As used here, "transparent" means capable of letting enough light through so that objects on the other side can be seen.

Referring to FIGS. 1-3A, one embodiment of a surface cleaning head 100 is shown and described in greater detail. As shown in greater detail in FIG. 2, a bar 102 is directionally coupled via a swivel connection to surface cleaning head 100 and includes a handle 104 at one end to allow the user to control surface cleaning head 100 during use. Rod 102 may be telescopic in configuration to provide length adjustment. Handle 104 may include controls 106 (eg, a switch and/or speed control) to control the operation of surface cleaning head 100. In other embodiments, surface cleaning head 100 may be provided without a bar or handle (eg, on a robotic vacuum surface cleaning head or a surface cleaning head with a motorized attachment).

The surface cleaning head 100 includes a cleaning head housing 110, an agitator chamber 120 disposed in the housing 110, and a rotary agitator 130 disposed in the agitator chamber 120. The rotary agitator 130 rotates about an axis of rotation. 2 (FIGS. 1A and 3) which may be generally orthogonal to the direction of travel 4 of the surface cleaning head 100. In the illustrated embodiment, the agitator chamber 120 can be opened to gain access to the agitator 130. Gaining access to the stirrer 130 within shaker chamber 120 may allow a user to inspect and/or clean stirrer 130 without having to remove the stirrer and without having to touch a dirty stirrer. The rotary shaker 130 may also be removed from the shaker chamber 120 for inspection, cleaning, and/or replacement. In other embodiments, the openable shaker chamber 120 may include a fixed, non-removable stirrer, a non-rotating or non-powered stirrer, or any type of cleaning element.

Cleaning head housing 110 may generally include one or more parts that enclose or comprise components of surface cleaning head 100. In the illustrated embodiment, surface cleaning head 100 is used in an all-in-one type vacuum cleaner. head". As such, the cleaning head housing 110 encloses or comprises an air transport and treatment system 140 (shown schematically in FIGS. 1 and 3). The air transport and treatment system 140 includes, for example, a suction motor 142, a cyclone including a cyclone chamber 144 and a dirt collection chamber 146 external to the cyclone chamber 144, and one or plus filters 148. An airflow path 141 extends from a dirty air inlet 143 arranged in the shaker chamber 120 to a clean air outlet 145. The suction motor 142 causes air to enter the air inlet dirt 143, pass through the cyclone chamber 144, and exit through the clean air outlet 145. As the dirt passes through the cyclone chamber 144, the dirt is collected in the dirt collection chamber 146 Smaller particles may also collect on the filter(s) 148. The air handling and conveying system 140 may be similar to those used in existing or known "all in head" type vacuum cleaners, for example, such as described in US Patent No. 7,329,294.

The cleaning head housing 110 includes a front end portion 112, a rear end portion 114, laterally disposed sides 113, 115, a top 116, and a bottom 118. In the illustrated embodiment, the bar 102 is engaged directionally to the rear end portion 114, and the shaker chamber 120 is arranged in the front end portion 112 and extends between an upper opening 117 at the top 116 and a lower opening 119 at the bottom 118. The rotary shaker 130 is disposed in shaker chamber 120 and is configured to contact a surface to be cleaned through lower opening 119. The opening The upper opening 117 and the lower opening 119 allow access to the rotary shaker 130 from the top or bottom or from the top and bottom simultaneously, which can help facilitate inspection or maintenance of the shaker. For example, a user can clean shaker 130 through top opening 117 while allowing debris separated from shaker 130 to fall out of the chamber through bottom opening 119. Rotating shaker 130 can also be removed from the chamber. of stirrer 120, for example, through the upper opening 117, as will be described in more detail below.

In the illustrated embodiment, the top opening 117 of shaker chamber 120 has a width greater than the width of shaker 130 to help gain access to the entire shaker 130 and/or to allow removal of rotary shaker 130. In other embodiments, the width of the upper opening 117 of the shaker chamber 120 may be less. Bottom 118 includes one or more bottom guards or bars 111a, 111b that extend through bottom opening 119 (FIG. 3A).

In the illustrated embodiment, an outer cover 122 is mounted to the top 116 of the cleaning head housing 110 to cover the top opening 117 of the agitator chamber 120 (FIG. 1). The shaker chamber 120 can thus be opened while the surface cleaning head 100 is resting on the floor, thereby eliminating the need to pick up or reposition the surface cleaning head to access the shaker chamber 120. The outer cover 122 can be moved between a closed position (eg, FIG. 1) and an open position (eg, FIG.

3). In the closed position, outer cover 122 forms the top of shaker chamber 120. Thus, shaker chamber 120 and shaker 130 are easily accessible (eg, without having to remove other walls). or covers) simply by moving the outer cover 122 to the open position. In the illustrated embodiment, outer cover 122 extends substantially the full width of surface cleaning head 100 but may also be shorter in other embodiments.

In the illustrated embodiment, surface cleaning head 100 includes one or more transparent regions 124 that allow visual inspection of shaker chamber 120. Transparent region 124 may be made of a polycarbonate material. In this embodiment, the transparent region 124 is in the form of a window provided in the outer cover 122. Additionally or alternatively, one or more transparent regions may be provided at other locations on the cleaning head housing 110 that allow visual inspection of the agitator. 130 in the shaker chamber 120, for example, on the sides 113, 115. The transparent region 124 together with the movable outer cover 122 thus facilitate the determination of residues in the shaker chamber 120 and/or the shaker 130 and, in this way, the removal of these residues.

The outer cover 122 can be locked in the closed position using any suitable mechanism. In the illustrated embodiment, outer cover 122 includes one or more latch releases 126a, 126b for releasing the respective latch mechanisms (not shown) that hold outer cover 122 attached to cleaning head housing 110, as will be described with more detail below. In the illustrated embodiment, latch releases 126a, 126b are disposed near respective sides 113, 115. Additionally or alternatively, one or more releasable latches may be used at other locations on the outer cover 122 and/or on the housing of the cleaning head 110. Outer cover 122 may be pivotally or movably attached to cleaning head housing 110, as will be described in more detail below, or may be completely removed from cleaning head housing 110 (FIG. . 3).

Surface cleaning head 100 may also include one or more lights, such as LEDs 129, on outer casing 122. In this embodiment, wiring (not shown) extends from casing 110 to outer casing 122 and passes through inside the cover 122 to the LEDs 129. The lights can also be mounted in other locations on the cleaning head housing 110.

In the illustrated embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1A, rotary stirrer 130 is attached to a stirrer drive 150 at a driven end 132 and rotates freely at a non-driven end 134 of rotary stirrer 130. Stirrer drive 150 thus drives driven end 132 to make that the rotary agitator 130 rotates about the axis of rotation 2 during use. Drive mechanism 150 may be axially attached to driven end 132 of rotator 130 without attaching rotator 130 to a belt and in a manner that allows for easy removal and insertion of rotator 130, as will be described in more detail below.

As shown in FIG. 2, a shaker cart 160 can be mounted to bar 102 to hold one or more replacement stirrers, such as a rotary powered stirrer or a non-powered stirrer. Agitator cart 160 can be removably or fixedly mounted to bar 102. In other embodiments, agitator cart 160 can be mounted in other locations on surface cleaning head 100 or bar 102. The illustrated embodiment of shaker cart 160 includes a container 162 sized and configured to accommodate at least one stirrer and a cover 164 pivotally coupled to container 162 at a hinge 165. In other embodiments, shaker cart 160 may include a container without a cover or it may include other structures configured to house and contain an agitator.

The illustrated embodiment of shaker cart 160 further includes one or more mounting arms 166 that extend from container 162. The mounting arms are attached to bar 102 to mount cart 160 to bar 102. Mounting arms 166 may be shaped similar to the contours of bar 102 and may be sized such that arms 166 flex and apply pressure against bar 102 to hold shaker cart 160 in position and prevent cart 160 from falling. will slide In other embodiments, shaker cart 160 may include other structures to be attached and mounted to bar 102 and/or surface cleaning head 100.

In this embodiment, as shown in greater detail in FIGS. 4A-4C, rotary agitator 130 is a rotatable brush roll including brush agitator elements 136. Brush agitator elements 136 may include brush bristles, such as nylon bristles, extending substantially radially from an agitator body 131. In this embodiment, the brush agitator elements 136 are arranged in one or more helical patterns 135a, 135b around the agitator body 131. The helical patterns 135a, 135b include, for example, opposing helical patterns 135a , 135b which meet at a location 137 on the stirrer body 131, forming a V-shaped pattern. The location 137 where the helical patterns of the stirrer elements 136 meet (i.e., the tip of the V) may correspond to the location of the dirty air inlet 143 into the shaker chamber 120 when the stirrer is inserted into the chamber. As shown in FIG. 4C, the stirrer elements 136 may be inclined with respect to radial lines extending radially from an axis of rotation of the stirrer 130. In the illustrated embodiment, the stirrer elements 136 are inclined toward a direction of rotation.

This embodiment of rotary agitator 130 also includes one or more cut slots 138 extending substantially axially along at least a portion of agitator body 131. The cut slot(s) 138 are recessed below a surface of the rotary agitator 130. stirrer body 131 and are deep enough to accommodate a cutting tool (eg, scissors or utility knife). Thus, the cutting tool can be inserted under hair, string, or other types of debris that may wrap around the rotary shaker 130 during use. In this way, the cutting tool can be moved along the cutting slot 138 to cut hair or other debris wrapped around the agitator 130. The rotary agitator 130 can be rotated manually to allow access to the cutting slot 138 through through the upper opening 117 or through the lower opening 119 of the chamber 120. If the rotary agitator 130 is removable, the agitator 130 can be removed to cut and remove hair and other tangled debris. This embodiment of rotary shaker 130 further includes spaces 139a, 139b to accommodate lower guards or bars 111a, 111b, so that rotary shaker 130 extends partially through lower opening 119 (see FIG. 1A).

The agitator body 131 can be solid, hollow or partially solid/hollow. The shaker body 131 may also include wheel weights to balance the rotary shaker 130 as it is driven. An example of wheel weights (not shown) may include screws threaded into the body 131. It may not be necessary to balance a hollow agitator body.

A rotary agitator or brush roll may also include other types of agitator patterns and/or agitator elements including, without limitation, fabric material (eg, cloth, felt, or polyester), a rubber material, and bristles. of different thicknesses and/or materials. Rotary shakers with different shaker patterns and/or shaker elements can be used for different surfaces, functions and/or applications. A rotary agitator with stiffer bristles can be used, for example, for carpets and/or deep cleaning. A rotary agitator with softer bristles or cloth can be used, for example, for hardwood floors and/or quick delicate cleaning. Therefore, it is possible to easily interchange different brush rolls having different agitation characteristics in a surface cleaning head with an openable agitator chamber, according to the embodiments described herein, to increase functionality and improve the performance of the vacuum cleaner.

As shown in FIGS. 5A-5C, another embodiment of a rotary agitator 530 includes agitator elements 536 arranged in helical patterns 535 that extend from one end to the other end of agitator body 531. In this embodiment, agitator elements 536 include bristles that extend in a substantially continuous row with two interruptions or gaps 539a, 539b to accommodate bottom guards or bars 111a, 111b so that rotary shaker 530 extends partially through bottom opening 119 when arranged in shaker chamber 120 which is shown in FIG. 1A.

In this embodiment, the stirrer elements 536 can also be different, for example, bristles of a different material, thickness, and/or height compared to the stirrer elements 136 in the stirrer 130. In one example, the stirrer 130 shown in FIGS. 4A-4C may include stiffer nylon bristles for carpet surfaces or deep cleaning applications and the 530 agitator shown in FIGS. 5A-5C may include softer nylon bristles for hard surfaces or delicate applications. The stiffer nylon bristles of the carpet brush roll agitator 130 can be thicker (eg, a diameter of 0.23 ± 0.02 mm) and shorter (eg, a height from the brush roll agitator body 131 of 8.0 ± 0.6 mm). The softer nylon bristles of the 530 Brush Roll Agitator for Hard Surfaces can be finer (eg, 0.04 ± 0.02 mm diameter) and longer (eg, a height from the 531 brush roll agitator body 13 ± 0.2 mm). When the brush roll agitator 530 has longer bristles, the diameter of the brush roll agitator body 531 can be smaller so that the overall outside diameter can fit into the agitator chamber. In the exemplary embodiment, the brush roll agitator 130 with the thickest and shortest bristles has a total outer diameter of approximately 54 ± 0.3 mm and the brush roll agitator 530 with the thinnest and longest bristles. it has a total outer diameter of approximately 55 ± 0.4 mm.

According to another embodiment, a rotary stirrer 530', shown in FIG. 5D, may include fabric material 536' wrapped around at least a portion of a stirrer body 531'. The fabric material 536' may include, for example, a felt material. This embodiment of the rotary agitator may also be suitable for hard surfaces and/or delicate applications. The rotary agitator includes a combination of agitator elements including a soft agitator element (eg, a tissue material or soft bristles/brush) and a relatively rigid agitator element (eg, a rubber sheet or stiff bristles/brush).

In further embodiments, a surface cleaning head 100 with an openable agitator chamber 120 may be configured to accommodate non-rotating, non-powered agitators, in addition to rotary powered agitators. A non-powered stirrer is configured to be attached to each side of shaker chamber 120 without being attached to drive mechanism 150 on the driven side of the chamber, as will be described in more detail below. The non-powered agitator is also configured to attach to dirty air inlet 143 to allow airflow through the non-powered agitator into the air handling and conveying system 140. A non-powered agitator may be suitable for flat surfaces and such as hardwood floors or other surfaces or conditions where a rotary agitator may not be desirable.

An example not forming part of the present invention of a non-powered stirrer 630 is shown in greater detail in FIGS. 6A-6D. Non-powered agitator 630 includes a agitator body 631 that includes a bottom with a pad support member 633 that supports one or more cleaning pads 635a-635c. The agitator body 631 may be a single molded part or it may be assembled from two or more molded parts that are joined together, such as by means of screws or other joining methods. As shown, cleaning pad(s) 635a-635c generally extend the length of non-powered shaker 630 with gaps or gaps 639a, 639b to accommodate bottom guards or bars through the bottom opening of the shaker chamber at the surface cleaning head. Although the illustrated example shows three cleaning pads 635a-635c, other numbers of cleaning pads may be used.

Cleaning pads 635a-635c may include textile or fabric pads, such as felt pads or other sheets or pads having a suitable pile or nap for cleaning a surface. Cleaning pads 635a-635c may also include brush pads having bristles extending therefrom. Similar to the brush rolls described above, different non-powered agitators may have different types of cleaning pads for different cleaning applications, such as stiff bristle brush pads and soft bristle brush pads. In one example, a soft bristle brush pad may have finer nylon bristles (eg, 0.04 ± 0.02 mm diameter).

Cleaning pad(s) 635a-635c may also be removably attached to bottom support element 633, for example, using hook and loop fasteners such as VELCRO® or other attachment methods. Other attachment mechanisms, such as clips, may be used. Therefore, different cleaning pads with different textures can be attached to the non-powered agitator 630 for use in different applications. It is also possible to attach removable cleaning sheets or pads to other locations on the shaker body 631, for example, the sheets or pads can be wrapped around the pad support element 633 and attached to the top of the shaker body 631. It is also possible to use combinations of different types of cleaning pads at the same time or at different times to obtain different cleaning characteristics. Cleaning pads can also be reusable or disposable. Non-powered agitator 630 may include permanent abrasive or cleaning material adhered thereto for cleaning or scrubbing in addition to or instead of removable cleaning sheets or pads.

Unpowered agitator 630, agitator body 631 also defines one or more air inlets 636a, 636b, an air outlet 638, and an air path between such that the inlet(s) 636a, 636b are in fluid communication. with outlet 638. Air inlets 636a, 636b are elongated and extend along at least a portion of pad support member 633 adjacent to cleaning pad(s) 635a-635c. Although the illustrated example shows cleaning pad(s) 635a-635c on one side of air inlets 636a, 636b, cleaning pads 635a-635c may be arranged on both sides of air inlets 636a, 636b. Air is directed from the air inlets 636a, 636b along the air path (as indicated by the arrows) to the air outlet 638. When the non-powered shaker 630 is arranged in the shaker chamber 120 (FIG. 3), the air outlet 638 is arranged in fluid communication with the dirty air inlet 143 and the air inlets 636a, 636b are arranged in the bottom opening of the agitator chamber 120 so that the conveying and treatment system air inlet 140 causes air to be drawn through air inlets 636a, 636b and air outlet 638. The non-powered agitator 630 thus facilitates airflow through the surface cleaning head, while at the same time obtaining a non-rotating cleaning pad.

The air outlet 638 may include a seal 639 around its perimeter to provide a seal between the air outlet 638 and the dirty air inlet. Seal 639 may be made of an elastomeric or other suitable sealing material and may have any known configuration, such as a lip seal or face seal, capable of sealing against a flat face. Alternatively, the air outlet 638 can be configured to join a seal around the dirty air inlet into the shaker chamber.

The illustrated example of the non-powered shaker 630 also includes one or more projections 637 on the bottom of the shaker body 631. The projections 637 are configured to be received in associated slots in the shaker chamber, as will be described in more detail below. . These projections 637 are generally spaced along the bottom of the body 631 on the other side of the air inlets 636a, 636b. Non-powered stirrer 630 may also include at least one wing 631a extending from at least one end of stirrer body 631 (FIG. 6A). Wing 631 a is configured to be arranged below a drive element in the shaker chamber, as will be described in more detail below.

Referring to FIGS. 7-9, an embodiment of a surface cleaning head 700 with a pivotable outer shroud 722 is described in more detail. In this embodiment, the surface cleaning head 700 includes a cleaning head housing 710 that includes an air chamber. agitator 720 and pivotable outer cover 722 engaged with a hinge 723 to a front portion 712 of cleaning head housing 710. Pivotable outer cover 722 pivots on hinge 723 between a closed position (not shown) and an open position ( shown). If the pivotable outer cover 722 includes lights, the wiring (not shown) for the lights may pass through the hinge 723. In this embodiment, the pivotable outer cover 722 pivots forward relative to the housing 710 to open the viewing chamber. stirrer 720 (FIG. 9). In the open position, shaker chamber 720 is accessible and the stirrer can be removed from shaker chamber 720 as shown. This embodiment of surface cleaning head 700 can also be used with a non-removable rotary shaker, so the rotating outer cover 722 is simply opened to remove debris that has accumulated on the rotary shaker. The pivotable outer cover 722 may also include a transparent window 724 that extends through a central region of (FIG. 8) for viewing the shaker chamber 720 when the cover is in the closed position.

A sealing element 725 can also be arranged between the pivotable outer cover 722 and the cleaning head housing 710 and around the perimeter of the shaker chamber 720. Therefore, a removable shaker (not shown) can be mounted on the agitator chamber 720 within the sealing element 725. In the illustrated embodiment, the pivotable outer cover 722 includes the sealing element 725 that extends around an interior perimeter of the cover 722. In the closed position, the sealing element 725 seals against the cleaning head housing 710 around the perimeter of the shaker chamber 720. The sealing element 725 is capable of forming a substantially airtight seal at the interface between the cover 722 and the cleaning head housing 710 with substantially equal pressure around the perimeter of chamber 720 to prevent air and/or debris from passing through.

Sealing element 725 may be made of an elastomeric or other suitable sealing material and may have any known configuration capable of sealing against a flat face or rib. A lip seal or face seal can be used, for example, on the 722 pivotable outer cover, to facilitate alignment and sealing when the cover is pivoted to the closed position. In other embodiments, the sealing element 725 may be arranged in the cleaning head housing 710.

Surface cleaning head 700 may also include a latching mechanism to lock pivotable outer cover 720 in the closed position. The latching mechanism may use multiple attachment points around the perimeter between the outer cover 720 and the cleaning head housing 710, such that the sealing element 725 engages with substantially equal pressure around the perimeter of the chamber 720.

In the illustrated embodiment, the pivotable outer cover 722 includes latching mechanisms 770a, 770b on a side opposite hinge 723. Latching mechanisms 770a, 770b may include slide actuators 772a, 772b with hooks 774a, 774b that interlock releasable to slots 776a, 776b in the cleaning head housing 710. Each of the latching mechanisms 770a, 770b includes two hooks 774a, 774b to form four separate attachment points between the cover 720 and the housing 710.

The sliders 772a, 772b translate in a transverse direction between an engaged position and an unengaged position. Slide actuators 772a, 772b can be biased into the engaged position, for example, by springs (not shown). Sliders 772a, 772b are operatively coupled to latch releases 726a, 726b to move sliders 772a, 772b against spring deflection, thereby releasing hooks 774a, 774b from slots 776a, 776b (as indicated by arrows in Fig. 8). In other embodiments, the latch mechanisms 770a, 770b may be provided on the cleaning head housing 110 and the slots 776a, 776b may be provided on the outer cover 722. Although two latch mechanisms and four hooks are shown, it is also possible to use other quantities of latching mechanisms and hooks.

Referring to FIG. 10, this embodiment of surface cleaning head 700 can accommodate a removable rotary shaker 730 that is driven by a drive mechanism 750. In this embodiment, the drive mechanism 750 is axially attached to a driven end 732 of the rotary shaker 730 at a driven side of a shaker chamber 720 and a non-driven end 734 of the rotary shaker 730 are mounted to rotate freely on a non-driven side of the shaker chamber 720. Both the driven end 732 and the non-driven end 734 of the rotary shaker The removable cover 730 is mounted in the shaker chamber 720 so that it is possible to remove the shaker 730 when the outer cover 722 is in an open position.

In this embodiment, the outer cover 722 is configured to secure the removable rotator 730 in the shaker chamber 720. The outer cover 722 includes, for example, an attachment structure 728 that attaches to the non-driven end 734 of the removable rotator. 730. In other embodiments, an agitator link 739 may be movably mounted to the surface cleaning head housing 710 to move attached to the non-driven end 734 of the removable rotary agitator 730. The agitator link 739 is shown schematically, but may be in the form of a clip, slide, or latch and may slide and/or pivot to engage or disengage relative to the stirrer 130.

Although this embodiment shows a pivotable outer cover 722 similar to that shown and described above, the removable rotary shaker 730 in this embodiment can also be used with other types of openable outer covers.

Surface cleaning head 700 may also include an off switch that removes power to drive mechanism 750 when pivotable outer cover 722 is in the open position. An off switch actuator 721 is provided at a point along the perimeter of shaker chamber 720 to activate the off switch when the pivotable outer cover 722 is opened. In the example embodiment, the off switch actuator 721 drifts to an open position which opens the kill switch. When pivotable outer cover 722 is in the closed position, cover 722 engages kill switch actuator 721 to close the kill switch, allowing drive mechanism 750 to receive power. When the pivotable outer cover 722 moves to the open position, the actuator 721 moves to the offset open position to open the off switch, stopping power supply to the drive mechanism 750. In one embodiment, the off switch actuator 721 may be in a recess to prevent actuation by a user and may be actuated by a protrusion (eg, a small rod) extending from cover 722. Actuator 721 may also be in other locations and may operate in other ways.

According to this embodiment of the surface cleaning head 700, the agitator chamber 720 is also configured to accommodate non-powered agitators, for example, as described above. As shown in FIGS.

11 and 12, the non-powered stirrer 630 described above can be disposed within the shaker chamber 720 without being attached to the drive mechanism 750. In this embodiment, the wing 631a at the end 632 of the stirrer body 631 slides under a actuating element 770 of the actuating mechanism 750 and allows obtaining a sufficient space for the actuating element 770 to rotate without contacting the agitator 630. The lower part of the agitator body 631 has a width corresponding to the width of a lower opening of the shaker chamber 720 (see FIG. 11).

When non-powered agitator 630 is arranged within agitator chamber 720, air outlet 638 joins a dirty air inlet 743 on surface cleaning head 700 (see FIGS. 7A, 8 and 11) and projections 637 on the bottom of shaker body 631 accommodate slots 713 along one side of shaker chamber 720 (see FIGS. 8 and 12). Due to the resiliency of the seal 639 around the air outlet 638, the projections 637 can fit snugly into the slots 713 so that the non-powered stirrer 630 snaps into position within the stirrer chamber 720. The force applied by the elastic seal 639 thus holds the non-driven stirrer 630 in its position. Properly seated within shaker chamber 720, slots 713 accommodate friction-fit projections 637, spaces 639a, 639b in the bottom of shaker body 631 accommodate lower guards or bars 711a, 711b that are extend through the bottom opening of shaker chamber 720 and cleaning pad(s) 635a-635c extend through the bottom opening of shaker chamber 720 (see FIG. 12).

As shown in greater detail in FIGS. 13 and 14, drive mechanism 750 includes a motor 752, spin transfer mechanism 754, and splined drive element 770. In this embodiment, spin transfer mechanism 754 includes a belt 755 frictionally attached to a wheel. Drive mechanism 753 coupled to the output of motor 752 and frictionally attached to a driven wheel 755 coupled to splined drive element 770. Drive mechanism 750 may be capable of rotating agitator 730 at low speeds of 700 ± 100 RPM and at high speeds of 3500 ± 500 RPM. In other embodiments, other spin transfer mechanisms may be used including, without limitation, a gear train or direct drive coupling between the motor and the splined drive element. In other embodiments, a motor may be internally disposed within the rotary shaker. In additional embodiments, the drive mechanism may include other mechanisms capable of imparting rotation to the rotary agitator, including, without limitation, an air-powered turbine.

As shown in greater detail in FIG. 15, the driven end 732 of the removable rotary stirrer 730 includes a splined drive element 780 configured to axially engage splined drive element 770. The splined drive element 770 and splined driven element 780 thus form a splined coupling or junction that transmits spin and torque without using a leash. The splined drive element 770 and the splined driven element 780 have splined teeth 772, 782 oriented radially with respect to an axis of rotation of the agitator. The splined teeth 772, 782 have corresponding shapes and spacings 778, 788 between the splined teeth 772, 782 such that the splined teeth 772, 782 mate when the elements 770, 780 are joined axially, as shown in FIG. 16.

The illustrated embodiment shows the splined drive element 770 with external slots and the splined driven element 780 with internal slots. In other embodiments, the splined drive element 770 may include the internal slots and the splined driven element 780 may include the external slots.

In the illustrated embodiment, the splined teeth 772, 782 on splined drive element 770 and splined driven element 780 are generally wedge-shaped with a radially outer portion 771, 781 that is wider than a radially inner portion 773, 783 (see FIG. 16). The splined teeth 772, 782 also have tapered sidewalls 774, 775, 784, 785 that taper outwardly from the radial faces 776, 786 of the splined teeth 772, 782. As shown in FIG. 17, the splined teeth 782 on the splined driven element 780 also have a tapered or chamfered radial face 786 which tapers inwardly (i.e., towards the non-driven end of the agitator) and forms an acute angle with respect to a radial line 708. in a range of about 30° to 60°. The splined teeth 772 on the splined drive element 770 may have a tapered or chamfered axial face 777 that tapers inwardly toward the axis of rotation.

The shape and configuration of the splined teeth 772, 782 in the illustrated embodiment allow for self-alignment and facilitate the joining of the splined driven element 780 with the splined drive element 770. The splined drive element 770 and the splined driven element 780 can be joined together in a number of different angular positions and therefore do not require precise angular alignment for joining. The shape and configuration of the splined teeth 772, 782 in the illustrated embodiment can also reduce or eliminate kickback when the splined drive element 770 drives the splined driven element 780.

One or both of the splined drive element 780 and the splined drive element 770 may also be made of an elastomeric material, such as a thermoplastic rubber having a higher durometer (eg, 90 or greater). The elastomeric material may facilitate the joining of the splined teeth 772, 782 and may allow vibration reduction or isolation to be obtained when the splined drive element 770 drives the splined driven element 780. Therefore, the drive mechanism 750 can rotate the 730 agitator at higher RPM with less vibration.

In the illustrated embodiment, spline drive element 770 and spline driven element 780 each have six (6) spline teeth 772, 782 arranged in a star pattern about an axis of rotation. The six fluted teeth are capable of withstanding the desired drive forces and torques, while also facilitating alignment and avoiding kickbacks; however, other numbers of fluted teeth may be possible. Other shapes and configurations of splined teeth on splined drive element 770 and splined driven element 780 may also be possible. In addition, other couplings or mechanisms may also be used to axially engage rotary shafts to transmit torque and rotation, including, without limitation limitation, a dog clutch, a slip clutch, a Hirth joint and a Curvic coupling.

As shown in greater detail in FIG. 18, the non-driven end 734 of this embodiment of the removable rotary agitator 730 includes an end plug 790 attached to a bushing 792 that is rotatably mounted on a shaft 791. The shaft 791 is attached within the agitator body 731 and is extends from it. End plug 790 is configured to be supported within shaker chamber 720 and to secure bushing 792 such that shaft 791 rotates within bushing 792 and rotary shaker 730 rotates about its axis of rotation. In this embodiment, end plug 790 is removably attached to bushing 792 with a friction fit, but end plug 790 can also be attached to bushing 792. In other embodiments, bushing 792 can be configured to mount directly into of the 720 shaker chamber without an end plug. Various other configurations may also be used to rotatably support the non-driven end 734 of the rotary shaker 730 within the shaker chamber 720.

As shown in greater detail in FIGS. 19 and 20, end plug 790 includes a tab 796 that is shaped to be easily grasped to remove non-driven end 734 of shaker 730 from shaker chamber 720. End plug 790 also includes one or more stabilizer structures 793, 795, 797 which attach to corresponding structures within the shaker chamber to prevent end plug 790 from rotating so that bushing 792 remains stationary, allowing shaft 791 to rotate freely within bushing 792 when the shaker swivel is actuated at actuated end 732. This embodiment of end plug 790 also includes an elastomeric pad 799 that mates to attachment structure 728 on outer cover 722 when the cover is closed to secure agitator 730 in the mixing chamber. agitator 720. End plug 790 further includes an elastomeric ring 798 for frictionally attaching to bushing 792. Elastomeric pad 799 and elastomeric ring 798 can advantageously prevent or isolate vibrations as agitator 730 rotates in agitator chamber 720 and both they can be molded together from the same rubber material. End plug 790 may further include a washer 794 (eg, a felt washer) that contacts an end surface 736 of agitator body 731 to keep dirt out of bearing 792.

Referring to FIGS. 21-23, the attachment of end plug 790 to shaker chamber 720 is described in greater detail. On the non-powered side, chamber 720 includes mounting guides 727a, 727b that define a recessed region 729 that houses a portion of end of the end plug 790. The end portion of the end plug 790 can thus be slid between the mounting guides 727a, 727b, as shown in FIG. 22. As shown in FIG. 23, the stabilizer frames 793, 795, 797 are attached to corresponding frames on the guide rails. Mounting 727a, 727b and attachment structure 728 within cover 722 attaches to elastomeric pad 799. Therefore, end plug 790 and bushing 792 remain stationary when stirrer 730 rotates. Additionally or alternatively, cover 722 can be attached to other parts of end plug 790 (eg, tab 796) to hold end plug 790 in chamber 720. In this embodiment, stabilizer structures 793, 795, 797 have a particular configuration designed or profiled to fit mounting guides 727a, 727b (see FIG. 23) in a particular orientation so that end plug 790 is correctly positioned for attachment to cover 722.

To mount rotary shaker 730 within shaker chamber 720, driven end 732 is angled into chamber 720 to mate splined drive element 770 to splined driven element 780 (see FIG.

16). End plug 790 can thus be used to lower non-driven end 734 of stirrer 730 into chamber 720 until end plug 790 fits between mounting guides 727a, 727b (see FIG. 22). When shaker 730 is properly seated within chamber 720, outer cover 722 can thus be closed to cover chamber 720 and secure rotary shaker 730 within chamber 720. To remove rotary shaker 730, the user may grasp the tab 796 to slide end plug 790 out from a position between mounting guides 727a, 727b and thereby lift non-powered end 734 out of chamber 720. The user can thus continue to lift shaker 730 until splined drive element 770 and splined driven element 780 separate. The user can then clean the stirrer 730 and/or insert another type of stirrer.

Referring to FIG. 24, a surface cleaning head 2400 of a stick vacuum may include an openable agitator chamber covered by an outer cover 2422 and containing a removable agitator. The outer cover 2422 and the openable chamber and removable agitator provided on the surface cleaning head 2400 may be implemented according to any of the embodiments described herein.

Referring to FIG. 25, a surface cleaning head 2500 of an upright vacuum may include an openable agitator chamber covered by an outer cover 2522 and containing a removable agitator. The outer cover 2522 and the openable chamber and removable agitator provided on the surface cleaning head 2500 may be implemented according to any of the embodiments described herein.

A mobile outer cover can also have other configurations, for example, as shown in FIGS.

26-29. The FIG. 26 shows another embodiment of a surface cleaning head 2600 with a pivotable outer cover 2622 that pivots rearward relative to the cleaning head housing 2610 toward the open position. The FIG. 27 shows another embodiment of a surface cleaning head 2700 with a multi-part pivotable outer shroud including a forward-pivoting shroud portion 2722a and a rearwardly pivotable shroud portion 2722b relative to the cleaning head housing. 2710. FIG. 28 shows yet another embodiment of a surface cleaning head 2800 with a slideable outer cover 2822 that slides or rolls in a longitudinal direction with respect to the cleaning head housing 2810, for example, similar to a garage door. . The FIG. 29 shows another embodiment of a surface cleaning head 2900 with a slideable outer cover 2922 that slides laterally relative to the cleaning head housing 2910.

In any of these embodiments, the outer cover can be latched, for example, using a latch mechanism as described above or any other latch mechanism. In any of these embodiments, the outer cover can be sealed, for example, using a sealing element as described above or any other sealing element. In each of these embodiments, the outer cover is movable between the open and closed positions while remaining attached to the surface cleaning head housing. In other embodiments, the outer cover can be completely removed from the surface cleaning head housing. Other variations and locations for the outer cover are also within the scope of the present description.

Accordingly, a surface cleaning head, according to embodiments of the present disclosure, includes an openable agitator chamber to facilitate inspection, cleaning, maintenance, and/or replacement of an agitator in the surface cleaning head. The removable stirrer may include a rotary powered stirrer that is attached to a drive mechanism in the shaker chamber or a non-rotary, non-driven stirrer that is housed within the stirrer without being attached to the drive mechanism.

While the principles of the invention have been described herein, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that this description is made by way of example only and not as a limitation on the scope of the invention. Other embodiments are contemplated within the scope of the present invention in addition to the illustrative embodiments shown and described herein. Those skilled in the art will understand that a surface cleaning apparatus may incorporate any one or more of the features contained herein and that the features may be used in any particular combination or sub-combination. Modifications and substitutions by those skilled in the art are considered to be within the scope of the present invention, which is not limited except by the following claims.

Claims (15)

1. Removable rotary agitator (130, 730) for use in a surface cleaning head (100, 700, 2400, 2500, 2600, 2700, 2800, 2900), the removable rotary agitator comprising: the stirrer, or a stirrer body (131, 531, 631, 731) having a driven end (132, 732) and a non-driven end (134, 734); at least one stirrer element (136, 536) arranged in at least a part of the stirrer body between the driven end and the non-driven end, wherein: the at least one stirrer element includes a combination of soft stirrer elements and relatively rigid stirrer elements; the relatively rigid stirrer elements include bristles arranged in a helical pattern around the stirrer body; and soft shaker elements include fabric; a tab (796), or an end plug including a tab, the tab extending radially from at least one end of the shaker body and configured to be grasped by a user to facilitate removal and insertion of the non-driven end into a shaker chamber (120, 720) in surface cleaning head; and a splined driven element (780) disposed at the driven end of the agitator body, the splined driven element configured to axially engage and mate with a splined drive element (770) on a drive mechanism (750) in the cleaning head of surfaces. The rotary agitator according to claim 1, wherein the splined drive element (780) includes internal splined teeth (782). A rotary agitator according to either of claims 1 or 2, wherein the splined drive element (780) includes wedge-shaped splined teeth (782). A rotary shaker according to any one of claims 1-3, wherein the tab (796) includes an axially extending grip portion at one end of the tab to allow the user to grip the tab, wherein the grip portion it defines an outwardly facing outer surface when the removable rotary agitator is arranged in the agitator chamber. The rotator according to claim 4, wherein the tab holding portion (796) has a length less than the outer diameter of the removable rotator. A rotary stirrer according to any of claims 1-5, wherein the ribbed driven element (780) is made of a thermoplastic material. A rotary agitator according to any of claims 1-6, further comprising: a shaft (791) extending from the non-driven end of the agitator body; a bushing (792) rotatably mounted on the shaft; and an end plug (790) mounted in the socket and configured to mount non-rotatingly in a shaker chamber of the surface cleaning head. The rotary shaker according to claim 7, wherein the end plug (790) includes the tab (796). The rotary shaker according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the end plug (790) includes stabilizing structures (793, 795, 797) configured to mate with corresponding structures in the shaker chamber. A rotary stirrer according to any of claims 7-9, wherein the end plug (790) covers at least a part of the non-driven end (134, 734) of the stirrer body (131,531,631,731). 11. Surface cleaning head comprising: a cleaning head housing (110, 710); a shaker chamber (120, 720) disposed in the front end portion (112) of the cleaning head housing, the shaker chamber having an upper opening (117) and a lower opening (119), and wherein the shaker chamber includes a non-driven side and a driven side; a shaker drive mechanism (150, 750) including a drive element on the driven side of the shaker chamber and a stirrer drive motor (752) drive coupled to the drive element; an outer cover (122, 722, 2422, 2522, 2622, 2722, 2822, 2922) mounted on the cleaning head housing to cover the top opening of the shaker chamber, where the outer cover can be completely removed from the cleaning head housing; and a rotary stirrer (130, 730), according to any of claims 1-10, rotatably mounted within the shaker chamber (120, 720) such that the stirrer is configured to contact a surface through the opening bottom (119), wherein the agitator is accessible and removable through the top opening (177) when the outer cover is removed, wherein the rotary driven agitator includes a non-driven end (134, 754) mounted on the non actuated part of the shaker chamber such that the shaker rotates freely at the non-driven end and a driven end (132, 732) including a driven element, wherein the driven element is axially coupled and attached to the drive element of the mechanism drive so that the drive element transmits torque and rotation to the driven element and to the rotary driven agitator. A surface cleaning head according to claim 11, according to any of claims 7-10, wherein the agitator chamber (120, 720), on the non-driven side, includes mounting guides (727a, 727b) defining a recessed region (729) slidably receiving a portion of the end plug (790). The surface cleaning head of claim 12, according to claim 4, wherein the outer surface of the tab (796) is disposed near a top of the recessed region (729). 14. Surface cleaning head according to any of claims 11-13, further comprising a sealing element (725) arranged between the outer cover (122, 722, 2422, 2522, 2622, 2722, 2822, 2922) and the cleaning head housing (110, 710). A surface cleaning head according to any of claims 11-14, wherein the outer cover (122, 722, 2422, 2522, 2622, 2722, 2822, 2922) includes a transparent region (724) to allow visual inspection of the shaker in the shaker chamber (120, 720).