A Cleaner Head for a Surface Cleaning Appliance

The present invention relates to a cleaner head for a cleaning appliance. In particular, but not exclusively, the invention relates to a cleaner head for a multi-floor, or wet/dry, vacuum cleaner.

According to a first aspect of the invention we provide a cleaner head for a surface cleaning apparatus, including:

The housing may include a front side, a rear side, a first side which extends between the front and rear sides, and a second side generally opposite the first side which extends between the front and rear sides.

The wiper device may extend between the first and second sides.

The cover may be releasably connectable to the housing.

The cover may be removable from the housing.

The cover may be pivotably movable, preferably downwardly, relative to the housing.

The cleaner head may include first and second agitators rotatable about first and second respective axes.

The first and second agitators, in use, may be at least partially surrounded by the chamber.

The wiper device may extend towards the first and second agitators.

The first and second agitators may have first and second respective ends.

The first ends of the first and second agitators may be positioned closer to each other than the second ends of the first and second agitators.

The wiper device may extend in a direction beyond the first ends of the first and second agitators.

The wiper device may extend laterally beyond a lateral position of the first end of the first and/or second agitator.

The housing may include an intermediate portion including first and second sides.

The first and second agitators may be separated by the intermediate portion.

The wiper device may extend in a direction towards and/or beyond the first and second sides of the intermediate portion.

The first and/or second agitator may be a brush bar.

The first and/or second agitator may include microfibre and/or bristles.

The wiper device may deflect dirt and liquid on a surface to be cleaned towards the first agitator.

The wiper device may deflect dirt and liquid on a surface to be cleaned towards the second agitator.

The wiper device may be positioned generally centrally between lateral positions of the first and second sides.

The wiper device may be positioned forwardly of the chamber.

The wiper device may include first and second wiper portions.

The first wiper portion may be configured differently to the second wiper portion.

The first wiper portion may deflect dirt and liquid on a surface to be cleaned towards the first side of the housing.

The second wiper portion may deflect dirt and liquid on a surface to be cleaned towards the second side of the housing.

The first wiper portion may be inclined at an angle to the second wiper portion.

The first wiper portion may extend laterally at an angle between the first and second sides of the housing.

The second wiper portion may extend laterally at an angle between the first and second sides of the housing.

The first and/or second wiper portions may be substantially linear in plan view.

The wiper device may further include a connection portion positioned between the first and second wiper portions.

The connection portion may form a point positioned forwardly of the first and second wiper portions.

The first and second wiper portions may substantially form a V-shape.

The wiper device may extend generally vertically downwardly towards a surface to be cleaned.

The wiper device may be elastically deformable.

The wiper device may be formed of or include rubber.

The wiper device may be a squeegee.

The front cover may include a recess.

The wiper device may be mounted in the recess.

The wiper device may be over-moulded into the recess.

According to a second aspect of the invention we include a cleaning appliance including a cleaner head according to the first aspect of the invention.

The cleaning appliance may include a source of suction for drawing air through the dirty air outlet.

Referring tothere is shown a surface cleaning applianceaccording to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The surface cleaning applianceis, in particular a wet/dry vacuum cleaner, or multi-floor, cleaner. The surface cleaning applianceincludes a main bodyand a cleaner head. The surface cleaning appliancemay rest on the cleaner headin use and/or when in a stored position. The main bodymay be connected to the cleaner head. In particular the main bodymay be pivotably connected to the cleaner head. The connection between the main bodyand the cleaner headmay permit the main body to pivot in a fore-aft direction in which the cleaner is moved during use and to respective left and right sides of the cleaner headwhich are generally perpendicular, or perpendicular, to the fore-aft direction in which the cleaner is moved during use. In particular the pivotal connection may permit the main bodyto sit within a periphery of the cleaner head, i.e. within front, rear and first and second sides of the cleaner head(described in more detail below), so that a centre of gravity of the surface cleaning applianceis positioned within a footprint of the cleaner head. This permits the surface cleaning appliance to be stored in an upright position. To permit this pivotal connection an outlet pipe(shown in) is provided between the cleaner headand the main body. The outlet pipeis relatively flexible and ensures that the pivotal connection between the main bodyand cleanercan function. The outlet pipeis fluidly connected to a dirty air outlet of the cleaner head and to a dirt collection container, or recovery tank,. This is described in more detail below.

It should be appreciated that in other embodiments the main bodymay be fixed in position with respect to the cleaner head. In further envisaged embodiments the surface cleaning appliancemay be a cylinder style cleaner. In such embodiments the surface cleaning appliance may include a wand, a first end of which is connected to the outlet pipeand a second end of which is connected to the cleaner head.

The surface cleaning appliance includes a handlefor a user to grasp. The handlemay be positioned above the main body. In particular the handlemay be positioned at a top of the surface cleaning appliance.

The main bodyhouses a source of suction, e.g. a motor, fan, impeller, for creating a vacuum (not shown). In some embodiments the motor may be a brushless motor. The source of suction may be positioned at a top of the main body. In particular, the source of suction may be positioned adjacent the handle.

A cleaning fluid supply tankfor holding a cleaning fluid is supported on the main body. In use, the cleaning fluid supply tankreceives fluid for cleaning a surface to be cleaned. For example, the cleaning fluid supply tank may receive a pre-mixed cleaning solution for cleaning a surface. In other embodiments the cleaning fluid supply tankmay receive water to which a concentrated cleaning solution is added, either in the cleaning fluid supply tank or subsequently from a further cleaning fluid supply tank (not shown) of the cleaning appliance. The cleaning fluid supply tankis releasably connectable to the main body, although it could be fixed in the main body. In particular, the cleaning fluid supply tankis received, at least partially, within a recess on an exterior surface of the main body. A fluid inlet (not shown) is provided in the recess to which the cleaning fluid supply tankis fluidly connectable. The cleaning fluid supply tankis positioned on a rear of the main bodywith respect to a fore-aft direction in which the cleaner is moved during use. The cleaning fluid supply tankis also positioned close to, or adjacent, the source of suction.

The fluid inlet is fluidly connected to a cleaning fluid dispensing deviceon the cleaner head. In the present disclosure the cleaning fluid dispensing device may be at least one spray nozzle, or spray nozzle device,, or first and second spray nozzles,(shown inand). The at least one spray nozzle, or first and second spray nozzles,, sprays cleaning fluid onto an agitator, or first and second agitators, of the cleaner head. The at least one spray nozzle, or the or each first and second spray nozzle,, may alternatively, or additionally, spray cleaning fluid onto a surface to be cleaned. The cleaning fluid dispensing device is fluidly connected to the fluid inlet via fluid channels which extend from and through the main bodyto the cleaner head. This permits fluid from the cleaning fluid supply tankto be conveyed to the cleaning fluid dispensing device.

The main bodyalso supports the dirt collection container, or recovery tank,(as shown in) which is fluidly connected to the source of suction. The dirt collection containeris also fluidly connected to the dirty air outlet of the cleaner head by the outlet pipe. The dirt collection container may include an air/liquid separator to separate any dirty cleaning fluid, and dirt entrained therein, which has been suctioned from the surface to be cleaned from the air. The dirt collection containeris releasably connectable to the main bodyof the cleaning appliance, although it could be fixed in the body. The dirt collection container is also provided in a lower half of the main body, closer to the cleaner headthan the handle. The dirt collection containeris provided on a front of the main body with respect to a fore-aft direction in which the cleaner is moved during use. The dirt collection containermay support a bag or other receptacle for holding collected dirt, with the bag or other receptacle being removable for discarding the collected dirt.