The Hoover Comapny

Other

Techtronic Floor Care Technology Limited

Greg A Bilek

William G Alford

Jackson William Wegelin

Ronald J Stephens

Vincent L Weber

Kurt D Harsh

Nick M Bosyj

Raymond L Lawter

Donald A Coates

Arne J Diehl

Steven W Blate

David W Moine

Kevin L Thomas

Darwin T McKnight

Edgar A Maurer

William S Houston

Erik D Lesco

Glenn Matusz

Ryan S Steiner

John Charles Porter

Leron R Thomas

Nick M Bosyi

Jerry L Balzer

David P Parks

David C Kumpf

Ronald Kintz

David Cotsmire

Joseph A Garisto

Jeff Louis

An agitator arrangement for a floor cleaning machine is disclosed including various multi-agitator configurations or one agitator configuration with a plurality of brushes with bristle bundles for rotation of the brushes about an approximate vertical axis with a plurality of stationary downwardly projecting, bristle bundles arranged in at least one row approximately side by side with or without an offset. In particular, agitator assemblies having multiple brushes that rotate in approximately a horizontal and approximately a vertical axis or that rotate at different speeds and torque. Other configurations may include multi-row multiple vertical axis agitators.

Floor cleaning device with multiple agitators

The invention is an agitator configuration for a floor care appliance such as an upright vacuum cleaner. The floor care appliance is provided with at least two agitator chambers each having at least one rotary agitator member disposed therein. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, a vacuum cleaner suction nozzle is provided with symmetric left and right agitator disposed adjacent one another. A front agitator assembly comprised of a left and right agitator half-section is disposed in the left and right agitator chambers, respectively. A rear agitator is located rearward of the front agitator assembly and is also comprised of a left and right agitator half-section disposed in the left and right agitator chambers, respectively. A plurality of brush members extend from each agitator half-section arranged in a helical pattern around the circumference of each of the agitator-half-sections. The left and right agitator half-sections of the front agitator assembly have opposite helical patterns so that a 'chevron' pattern is formed from the front agitator assembly. The 'chevron' brush pattern sweeps dirt particles from the center of the suction nozzle along the front of the cleaner toward the suction nozzle's outer edges. Similarly, the left and right agitator half-sections of the rear agitator assembly have opposite helical patterns so that a &#x201c;chevron&#x201d; pattern is formed from the rear agitator assembly. The &#x201c;chevron&#x201d; brush pattern sweeps dirt particles from the center of the suction nozzle along the rear edge of the suction nozzle toward the suction nozzle's outer edges.

Agitator drive configuration

A vacuum cleaner is provided having a suction nozzle comprised of a transparent agitator housing and an opaque suction nozzle body. The agitator housing forms a downwardly disposed nozzle chamber divided into a right and left agitator chamber. The right and left agitator chambers each have a forward or front suction duct adjacent the front edges of the respective agitator chambers. The right and left agitator chambers also each have a rearward or rear suction duct adjacent the rear edges of the respective agitator chambers. A nozzle liner is also disposed within the nozzle chamber partially forming a right and left dirt and air passage over the right and left agitator chambers, respectively, to fluidly connect the respective front suction ducts with the rear discharge ports located in the rear of each of the right and left agitator chambers. The rear suction ducts are also fluidly connected to respective rear discharge ports to remove dirt particles. The front and rear stringers of bottom plate of the foot serve as ledges or bottom walls of the respective front and rear suction ducts. Dirt particles flung onto the ledges by the front and rear agitators are momentarily captured on the ledges before being removed by the respective front or rear suction duct.

Multiple chamber suction nozzle configuration

A suction nozzle for a floor care appliance such as an upright vacuum cleaner having at least a first channel located above an agitator to carry air and dirt to a suction passageway. The cleaner has several embodiments, one of which has a single channel and a single agitator. Another embodiment has front and rear suction ducts, a channel, and a single agitator. Yet another embodiment has the single channel and dual agitators. Still yet another embodiment has front and rear suction ducts and dual agitators. Further yet still, another embodiment has front and rear suction ducts, a channel, and dual agitators. Several embodiments of an agitator drive assembly are provided using various means to provide rotary power to the agitator(s).

Suction nozzle configuration

A removable dirt separation system for a vacuum cleaner is disclosed. The dirt separation system includes a dirt cup having a number of outer walls having a first portion defined by a filter assembly and a second portion with a first translucent panel to allow viewing material which accumulates within the dirt cup. The dirt cup further includes a top opening allow emptying of the dirt cup and an inlet in fluid communication with a suction nozzle of the vacuum cleaner. The dirt separation system further includes a lid for sealing the upper opening of the dirt cup. The dirt separation system yet further include a dirt duct for routing air which exits the filter assembly to an exit opening of the dirt separation system. A method of operating a removable dirt separation system for a vacuum cleaner is also disclosed.

Removable dirt separation system for a vacuum cleaner

A dirt collecting system for a vacuum cleaner includes a dirt cup formed with a first dirt collecting chamber and a second dirt collecting chamber separated by an apertured wall. An inlet opening is formed in the dirt cup and communicates with the first dirt collecting chamber for inputting a stream of dirt laden air into the first dirt collecting chamber. An exhaust opening is formed in the second dirt collecting chamber for allowing the filtered air stream to exit the dirt cup. The aperture wall includes a pre-filter for filtering coarse particles from a stream of dirt laden and depositing the coarse particles in the first dirt collecting chamber. A filter member is positioned within the second dirt collecting chamber and communicates with the exhaust port. The filter element filters fine particles from the air stream and deposits the fine particles within the second dirt collecting chamber. The filter member is supported by a filter support which extends from the aperture wall to vertically support the filter member within the second dirt collecting chamber. The aperture wall, filter support and filter member are removably mounted within the dirt cup to provide for removal and cleaning thereof. A lid removalby mounts on the dirt cup and encloses the first and second dirt collecting chamber and is held thereon by a latching mechansim.

Dirt collecting system for a vacuum cleaner

A suction nozzle for a floor care appliance such as an upright vacuum cleaner having at least a fist channel located above an agitator to carry air and dirt to a suction passageway. The cleaner has several embodiments, one of which has a single channel and a single agitator. Another embodiment has front and rear suction ducts, a channel, and a single agitator. Yet another embodiment has the single channel and dual agitators. Still yet another embodiment has front and rear suction ducts and dual agitators. Further yet still, another embodiment has front and rear suction ducts, a channel, and dual agitators. Several embodiments of an agitator drive assembly are provided using various means to provide rotary power to the agitator(s).

A dirt collecting system for a vacuum cleaner includes a dirt cup formed with a first dirt collecting chamber and a second dirt collecting chamber separated by an apertured wall. An inlet opening is formed in the dirt cup and communicates with the first dirt collecting chamber for inputting a stream of dirt laden air into the first dirt collecting chamber. An exhaust opening is formed in the second dirt collecting chamber for allowing the filtered air stream to exit the dirt cup. The aperture wall includes a pre-filter for filtering coarse particles from a stream of dirt laden air and depositing the coarse particles in the first dirt collecting chamber. A filter member is positioned within the second dirt collecting chamber and communicates with the exhaust port. The filter element filters fine particles from the air stream and deposits the fine particles within the second dirt collecting chamber. The filter member is supported by a filter support which extends from the aperture wall to vertically support the filter member within the second dirt collecting chamber. The aperture wall, filter support and filter member are removably mounted within the dirt cup to provide for removal and cleaning thereof. A lid removalby mounts on the dirt cup and encloses the first and second dirt collecting chamber and is held thereon by a latching mechanism.

A vacuum cleaner having a dirt collecting system including a latch to seal a positively pressurized dirt cup. The latch also serves to secure the dirt cup to the cleaner housing when in the closed position. The dirt cup is formed with a first dirt collecting chamber and a second dirt collecting chamber separated by an apertured wall. An inlet opening is formed in the dirt cup and communicates with the first dirt collecting chamber for inputting a stream of dirt laden air into the first dirt collecting chamber. An exhaust opening is formed in the second dirt collecting chamber for allowing the filtered air stream to exit the dirt cup. The aperture wall includes a pre-filter for filtering coarse particles from a stream of dirt laden and depositing the coarse particles in the first dirt collecting chamber. A filter member is positioned within the second dirt collecting chamber and communicates with the exhaust port. The filter element filters fine particles from the air stream and deposits the fine particles within the second dirt collecting chamber. The filter member is supported by a filter support which extends from the aperture wall to vertically support the filter member within the second dirt collecting chamber. The aperture wall, filter support and filter member are removably mounted within the dirt cup to provide for removal and cleaning thereof.

Vacuum cleaner with latching arrangement

Vacuum cleaner dirt receptacle

Filter cartridge

A hand held cleaner is provided with a swiveling nozzle that moves from a position perpendicular to the cleaner body to a position of axial alignment with it. A series of stops are mounted on the swiveling nozzle and cleaner body to limit nozzle swing to these two positions. A reciprocable latch is mounted with the nozzle to engage, selectively, in one of a pair of latching apertures in the cleaner body to lockingly maintain the swiveling nozzle of its stopped positions. The agitator and agitator belt are offset from what would be considered their normal centered relationship to accommodate the swiveling action of the hand held cleaner nozzle.

Hand held cleaner with swiveling nozzle

Growing community of inventors

Norton, OH, United States of America

Greg A Bilek