Vacuum cleaner

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11903550-B2
Application number	US-202017086767-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 2, 2020
Priority date	Nov 5, 2010
Publication date	Feb 20, 2024
Grant date	Feb 20, 2024

Abstract

A vacuum cleaner includes a foot assembly having a suction inlet thereon, a suction source in fluid communication with the suction inlet to produce a working airflow there through, and a dirt container in fluid communication with the suction inlet and suction source. The foot assembly further includes a body defined by a central portion and a pair of extension arms, a rotatable agitator on each extension arm, and a drive assembly configured to counter-rotate the agitators. The counter-rotating agitators are operable to cooperate with the suction source to direct dust and debris towards the suction inlet.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A surface cleaning apparatus, comprising:
a housing;
at least one rotatable agitator located on the housing in juxtaposition with a surface to be cleaned, the at least one rotatable agitator adapted to be dampened;
a suction inlet;
a suction source to produce a working airflow;
a dirt cup in fluid communication with the suction inlet; and
a dirt inlet ramp forms a bottom wall of a dirt path from the suction inlet to a dirt ramp outlet and the dirt ramp outlet is fluidly coupled with the dirt cup; and
wherein the surface cleaning apparatus is configured to provide a manual damp mopping by manipulating the surface cleaning apparatus over the surface being cleaned without activating the suction source.

2. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the manual damp mopping includes applying a floor treatment.

3. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the at least one rotatable agitator can be dampened with at least one of water, detergent, or a liquid composition.

4. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the at least one rotatable agitator is a removable sheet or a removable pad.

5. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 4 wherein the removable sheet or the removable pad is pre-moistened with at least one of water, detergent, or other liquid composition.

6. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 4 wherein the housing includes a foot assembly adapted to be moved across a surface to be cleaned and having the suction inlet and an upright handle assembly pivotally mounted to the foot assembly.

7. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 6 , further comprising a stationary strip brush disposed on the foot assembly behind the suction inlet.

8. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 7 wherein the stationary strip brush comprises at least one row of bristles.

9. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the at least one rotatable agitator comprises a hub comprising at least one retainer that is adapted to receive at least one cleaning element, the at least one cleaning element comprising a flexible pad, brushes, bristles, a micro-fiber pad, a disposable non-woven fibrous dusting sheets, a synthetic chamois pad, a natural chamois pad, felt, yarn, cloth rags or any combination thereof.

10. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 9 wherein the hub comprises resilient bristle tufts disposed at intervals around a perimeter of the hub and extending substantially radially outwardly therefrom and the at least one cleaning element comprises radial strips separated by radial slits, the radial strips being configured to intermingle in spaces formed between the resilient bristle tufts on the hub when the cleaning element is mounted to the hub.

11. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 9 wherein the at least one cleaning element is a damp cleaning element.

12. A surface cleaning apparatus, comprising:
a housing mounted to a handle or wand assembly;
a suction source to produce a working airflow;
a filtration system to remove debris from the working airflow generated by the suction source;
a suction inlet;
a dirt container positioned in at least one of the handle, wand or housing;
a first agitator located on the housing in juxtaposition with a surface to be cleaned; and
a working air conduit extending from the suction inlet and the dirt container, wherein, when the suction source is active, the suction source draws debris through the suction inlet, along the working air conduit for collection into the dirt container, wherein a portion of the working air conduit forms an intermediate collection chamber, the intermediate collection chamber being removable from a stored position in the housing, wherein when the suction source is not active, manual movement of the housing over the surface being cleaned rotates the first agitator and transports debris removed from the surface being cleaned by the first agitator into the suction inlet and into the intermediate collection chamber.

13. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 12 , further comprising a second agitator located on the housing in juxtaposition with the surface to be cleaned, the second agitator adapted to be dampened.

14. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 13 wherein the user can operate the surface cleaning apparatus to provide a manual damp mopping by manipulating the surface cleaning apparatus over the surface being cleaned without activating the suction source.

15. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 13 wherein the second agitator can be dampened with at least one of water, detergent, or a liquid composition.

16. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 13 wherein the second agitator is a removable sheet or a removable pad.

17. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 16 wherein the removable sheet or the removable pad is pre-moistened with at least one of water, detergent, or other liquid composition.

18. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least one rotatable agitator is at least partially disposed above the dirt inlet ramp.

19. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least one rotatable agitator is at least partially disposed in the dirt path.

20. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 , wherein a rotation of the at least one rotatable agitator transports debris removed from the surface being cleaned into the suction inlet.

Assignees

• Bissell Inc

Inventors

• Krebs Alan J

Classifications

• A47L9/0472 Primary

  Discs · CPC title

• A47L5/225

  Convertible suction cleaners, i.e. convertible between different types thereof, e.g. from upright suction cleaners to sledge-type suction cleaners · CPC title

• A47L5/30

  with driven dust-loosening tools, e.g. rotating brushes · CPC title

• A47L5/362

  of the horizontal type, e.g. canister or sledge type · CPC title

• A47L7/0014

  with additional means or devices between nozzle and casing · CPC title