Cleaner Head for a Vacuum Cleaner

The present invention relates to a cleaner head for a vacuum cleaner as well as to a vacuum cleaner comprising such a cleaner head.

A cleaner head of a vacuum cleaner usually comprises a housing defining a suction chamber. The housing is configured to be moved over a floor or other surface that needs to be cleaned while air is drawn into the suction chamber together with dust, hair, and other dirt that is thereby removed from the surface. An outlet of the housing is coupled to a motor via a wand or hose. The motor provides for the suction needed to generate the airflow through the suction chamber. In many modern vacuum cleaners, the cleaner head comprises one or more brush bars or other types of agitator elements that rotate while the housing moves over the surface to be cleaned. The agitator elements serve to detach dirt from the surface and to increase the chance that it is picked up, thereby improving the cleaning performance of the vacuum cleaner.

Typically, vacuum cleaner heads experience some degree of hair ingress during use, which means that hair can ingress into or between parts of the cleaner head. Hair can also become wound around the agitator elements which can damage the agitator elements and which can also reduce their ability to detach dirt and hair from the floor, especially if a thick layer of hair becomes wrapped around the agitator elements.

It is desirable for a vacuum cleaner to pick up as much dirt from the floor surface as possible with as few passes of the cleaner head over the floor surface as possible so as to reduce the labour involved in vacuuming a floor. It is therefore desirable for the vacuum cleaner head to be able to move freely in all directions and for it to be able to collect dirt from the floor regardless of the direction in which it is moved. In addition, it is desirable for the vacuum cleaner head to be able to collect dirt from the edges of a room or furniture so that no part of the floor is left uncleaned.

It is against this background that the present invention has been developed.

In a first aspect, the present invention provides a cleaner head for a vacuum cleaner, the cleaner head comprising: a housing defining a suction chamber comprising an outlet, wherein the housing comprises a first side and a second side; a first agitator element being mounted for rotation about a first axis; and a second agitator element being mounted for rotation about a second axis, wherein the first agitator element comprises a first end and a second end, and has a shape which tapers towards the first end in a direction along the first axis of rotation, and wherein the first agitator element is located at the first side of the housing, and the second agitator element is located at the second side of the housing.

The cleaner head of the present invention is advantageous as it allows for dirt to be detached from the floor surface to be cleaned by an agitator element before it is subject to the suction within the suction chamber no matter whether the cleaner head is moving with the first or second agitator element leading. In addition, the provision of a tapered agitator element helps to prevent hair and other long fibres from becoming wrapped around the agitator elements since hair and other long fibres tend to migrate along the length of the tapered agitator element towards the tapered end where they can be removed.

Optionally the second agitator element comprises a first end and a second end, and has a shape which tapers towards the first end in a direction along the second axis of rotation so that hair and long fibre collection and removal may be effected by both of the agitator elements.

The first and second agitator elements may optionally be configured to rotate in opposite senses to one another in use. This allows for the rotation direction to be optimised relative to the direction of travel of the cleaner head in use to maximise dirt removal an direction of dirt towards the suction chamber.

The cleaner head may comprise a third agitator element being mounted for rotation about a third axis, wherein: the first end of the first agitator element comprises a free end; the third agitator element comprises a first, free end and a second end, and has a shape which tapers towards its first end in a direction along the third axis of rotation; the first and third agitator elements are cantilevered from opposing sides of a first hub portion of the cleaner head at their respective second ends; and wherein the first and third agitator elements are located at the first side of the housing.

In this arrangement two shorter tapered agitator elements may be used to separate dirt from the same width of the floor as one long agitator element. Shorter tapered agitator elements are beneficial as the angle of taper can be steeper (within the available packaging space) which facilitates movement of hair and other long fibres along the length of the agitator element towards the tapered end. The arrangement of agitator elements having free ends helps to provide floor cleaning right up to the edges of walls and furniture so there is no strip of floor left unreached by the agitator elements. In addition, attachment of the agitator elements to opposing sides of a single hub facilitates rotation of both agitator elements by a common drive mechanism.

In one example, the cleaner head comprises a fourth agitator element being mounted for rotation about a fourth axis, wherein: the first end of the second agitator element comprises a free end; the fourth agitator element comprises a first, free end and a second end, and has a shape which tapers towards its first end in a direction along the fourth axis of rotation; the second and fourth agitator elements are cantilevered from opposing sides of a second hub portion of the cleaner head at their respective second ends; and wherein the second and fourth agitator elements are located at the second side of the housing. This arrangement provides the same advantages as mentioned above in relation to the first side of the cleaner head also on the second side of the cleaner head.

Optionally the cleaner head comprises a motor for rotating the first or second agitator element in use, wherein the motor is located at least partially within the first or the second agitator element. Location of at least part of the motor in the agitator elements is beneficial for efficient packaging so that the overall size of the cleaner head may be reduced.

The first or second agitator element may optionally be configured to rotate about the motor in use so that the motor remains stationary in use.

The cleaner head may comprise a transmission system configured to transmit drive from the motor to the first and second agitator elements in use so that only one motor need be used.

In one example, the cleaner head comprises a further motor, wherein the motor is located at least partially within the first agitator element and wherein the further motor is located at least partially within the second agitator element.

Optionally the housing comprises a cover element configured to cover an upper surface portion of one or more of the agitator elements to help protect the agitator elements from impacts during use and storage.

One or more of the agitator elements may optionally comprise a fabric covering, and/or bristles located on an outermost surface of the agitator element, to assist with the removal of dirt from the floor surface.

In a second aspect, the present invention provided a vacuum cleaner comprising a cleaner head as described above.

Features described above in connection with the first aspect of the invention are equally applicable to the second aspect of the invention.

show a vacuum cleaner headcomprising a housingand four agitator elements,,,. The housinghas cover element, a first side, a second side, a first edgeand a second edgewhich define a suction chambercomprising an outlet. The agitator elements,,,are rotatably mounted at either side,of the housingas will be described in greater detail below.

The terms “lowermost” and “uppermost” are used throughout the description which follows with reference to the orientation of the vacuum cleaner headin use. It will be understood that these terms are used for clarity and convenience and are not to be understood as limiting.

The vacuum cleaner headis removably attachable to a wand (not shown) of a vacuum cleaner via a wand connector. The wand connectoris in fluidic communication with the outletof the suction chambervia a flexible hose. Pivotable connectors,provide a multi axial connection between the wand connectorand the vacuum cleaner head.

The agitator elements comprise a first agitator element, a second agitator element, a third agitator elementand a fourth agitator element. Each of the agitator elements,,,have a shape which tapers from a second endof the respective agitator element towards a first endof the respective agitator element in a direction along an axis of rotation of the agitator element. As such, the agitator elements are frustoconical is shape with their smallest endsbeing located at the outermost edges,of the housing. Although not shown in the Figures, one or more of the agitator elements,,,may comprise a fabric covering and/or bristles located on an outermost surface of the agitator element.

The frustoconical shape of the agitator elements,,,is advantageous as any hair or other long fibres which become wrapped around the agitator elements tends to move along the agitator elements in a direction from the second, larger diameter, ends of the agitator elements,,,to the first, smaller diameter, ends of the agitator elements,,,. When the hair reaches the first ends of the agitator elements,,,it tends to fall off in the form of a hair ball. The vacuum cleaner headcan then be passed over the so formed hair ball to be picked up and removed to a bin by suction along with the rest of the dirt from the floor. Because the strands of hair are now in the form of a hair ball, the hair does not become entangled on the agitator elements,,,for a second time.

The firstand thirdagitator heads are cantilevered from opposing sides of a first hub portionof the vacuum cleaner headat their respective second ends. Similarly, the secondand fourthagitator heads are cantilevered from opposing sides of a second hub portionof the vacuum cleaner headat their respective second ends. The cantilevered arrangement of the agitator elements,,,is advantageous as there is no requirement for a hub or bearing at the outermost edges of the vacuum cleaner headthereby allowing the agitator elements,,,to extend to the edges of the vacuum cleaner headso that the floor surface to be cleaned can be cleaned effectively up to the edges of walls and furniture.

The first hub portionis located next to the first sideof the housingand the second hub portion is located next the second sideof the housing. The agitator elements,,,are supported by the hub portions,such that the lowermost surface of the agitator elements,,,in use are located adjacent to the floor surface to be cleaned. To achieve this, the axis of rotationof the first agitator elementis angled with respect to the axis of rotationof the third agitator element, and the axis of rotationof the second agitator elementis angled with respect to the axis of rotationof the fourth agitator elementsuch that the lowermost edges of the second endsof the agitator elements,,,are positioned next to one another.

The positioning of the agitator elements,,,on either side of the housingis advantageous as it facilitates use of the vacuum cleaner headin either a forwards or backwards direction. This together with the pivoted connectors,allows the vacuum cleaner headto be easily moved in all directions whilst cleaning a floor. In a preferred embodiment, the agitator elements,located on the first sideof the housingrotate in a first direction, for example anti-clockwise, and the agitator elements,located on the second sideof the housingrotate in a second opposite direction, for example clockwise. However, the direction of rotation of the agitator elements,,,is not to be considered as limiting and will depend on the particular design and configuration of the vacuum cleaner head.

As discussed above, the housingcomprises cover elementwhich defines an uppermost surfaceof the suction chamber. The outletof is located in the uppermost surfaceof the cover element. The cover element has a first agitator element cover portionand a second agitator element cover portion. In this example embodiment the first and second agitator element cover portions,are integral with the uppermost surface. However, in other embodiments the agitator element cover portions,may be formed separately from the uppermost surfacebefore being assembled together with the uppermost surfaceto form the cover element.

The first agitator element cover portionis configured to cover the uppermost surfaces of the first and third agitator elementsand, and the second agitator element cover portionis configured to cover the uppermost surfaces of the second and fourth agitator elementsand. The cover portions,server to protect the agitator elements,,,from impacts during use and storage.

The agitator element cover portions,have a shape which generally conforms to the shape of the uppermost surfaces of the agitator elements,,,, and the agitator element cover portions,are positioned so that only a gap exists between the uppermost surfaces of the agitator elements,,,and the agitator element cover portions,so that the cover portions,do not impede rotation of the agitator elements,,,in use. The agitator element cover portions,are not essential and one or both of the agitator element cover portions,may be dispensed with or replace by a cover of a different trpe.

Referring to, the vacuum cleaner headhas a first electric motorfor rotating the firstand thirdagitator elements in use, and a second electric motorfor rotating the secondand fourthagitator elements in use. The first motoris located within the first hub portionand protrudes into the interior of each of the firstand thirdagitator elements. Similarly, the second motoris located within the second hub portionand protrudes into the interior of each of the secondand fourthagitator elements.

In an alternative embodiment, the vacuum cleaner headmay have only one electric motor for rotating the agitator elements,,,. For example a single motor may be located within the firstand thirdagitator elements and connected to drive the secondand fourthagitator elements by gearing which passes through the suction chamberor over the uppermost surfaceof the cover element. It will be appreciated that this arrangement could be reversed such that a single motor is located within the secondand fourthagitator elements and connected to drive the firstand thirdagitator elements by gearing. In a further alternative embodiment, one or more electric motors may be located within a housing above or below the cover elementof the housingand connected to the agitator elements,,,via suitable gearing.

It will be apparent to the skilled person that there are many different configurations of vacuum cleaner head possible. For example, in one example embodiment the vacuum cleaner headmay have only one frustoconical agitator element located on each side of the housing. In this case, hair collected by the agitator elements travels in one direction only on each side of the vacuum cleaner head so that the hair balls fall off the agitator elements at one edge,on each side,of the cleaner head. In this example embodiment the frustoconical agitator elements may be orientated in the same or opposite senses to one another such that the smallest diameter ends of the agitator elements are located at the same edge of the housingor at opposing edges of the housing. Preferably the agitator elements in this embodiment extend across the entire width of the vacuum cleaner headto maximise the width of floor which may be cleaned in one pass of the cleaner head.

In a further example, the vacuum cleaner headmay have one or more cylindrical agitator elements located at one side of the housing, and one or more frustoconical agitator heads located on the other side of the housing. In this case it is preferrable that the vacuum cleaner headis provided with indicia to indicate to a user the direction in which the vacuum cleaner headshould first be moved in order to pick up hair with the frustoconical element(s) to avoid hair becoming wrapped around the cylindrical element(s).

For embodiments having more than one frustoconical agitator element located on at least one side of the housing, the agitator elements may be arranged with their largest diameter ends facing one another (as described above with reference to), with their smallest diameter ends facing one another, or with the largest diameter end of one agitator element facing the smallest end of a neighbouring agitator element. In cases where the smallest ends of the agitator elements are not located at an edge,of the vacuum cleaner head, a hair ball removal device such a comb may be employed to remove the hair balls from the smallest ends of the agitator elements so that they may be released into the suction chamberfor removal to the bin.

In the embodiment described above with reference tothe agitator elements,,,are cantilevered from the hub portions,. The skilled person will appreciate that this is not essential to the operation of the vacuum cleaner headand that any of the agitator element configurations described above may be mounted in any suitable manner including being mounted from both ends.