Floor tool

• US 20030163889A1
• Filed: 03/10/2003
• Published: 09/04/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dyson Technology Limited (Beeswax Holdings UK Limited)
• Original Assignee: Dyson Technology Limited (Beeswax Holdings UK Limited)
• Inventors: Bagwell, Martin Paul
• Granted Patent: US 7,069,620 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 15/398
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/02 Nozzles suction nozzles for fluid transport B65G51/00
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/06 with fixed, e.g. adjustably fixed brushes or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/0613 with means specially adapted for picking up threads, hair or the like, e.g. brushes, combs, lint pickers or bristles pads
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/0633 with retractable brushes, combs, lips or pads

Abstract

A floor tool (50) for use in vacuum cleaning floor surfaces comprises a sole plate (55) having a suction channel (61, 62). The suction channel is bounded on at least one side by a working edge (80, 82) for engaging with the floor surface. Lint pickers (70, 72) are positioned alongside the suction channel (61, 62) and are separated from the suction channel (61, 62) by the working edge (80, 82). The lint pickers are mounted on a surface (65, 66) of the floor tool which is inclined with respect to the plane in which the working edges (80, 82) lie. The sole plate (55) is pivotally mounted with respect to a suction outlet such that movement of the floor tool (0) in a forward and backwards direction alternately brings one of the working edges (80, 82) in closer contact with the floor surface.

Claims

1. A floor tool for use in vacuum cleaning floor surfaces comprising a sole plate comprising a suction channel, the channel being bounded on at least one side by a working edge and a lint picker which is positioned alongside the suction channel and is separated from the suction channel by the working edge, wherein the working edge is suitable for engaging with and agitating a floor surface across its fall width, all of the working edge lying in the same plane.

2. A floor tool according to claim 1 wherein the suction channel extends across the tool transversely to the direction in which the tool is pushed across the floor surface.

3. A floor tool according to claim 1 or 2 wherein both sides of the suction channel are bounded by a working edge.

4. A floor tool according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the lower face of the floor tool adjacent to the working edge and on the side of the working edge remote from the suction channel is inclined with respect to the plane in which the working edges lie.

5. A floor tool according to claim 4 wherein the lint picker is mounted on a support which projects outwardly from the inclined lower face.

6. A floor tool according to claim 5 wherein the support is arcuately shaped.

7. A floor tool according to any one of claims 3 to 6 wherein the sole plate is pivotally mounted with respect to a suction outlet such that movement of the floor tool in a forward and backwards direction alternately brings one of the working edges in closer contact with the floor surface.

8. A floor tool according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the working edge is an angular edge.

9. A floor tool according to claim 8 wherein the working edge has a radius of curvature substantially equal to 0.2 mm.

10. A floor tool according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the lint picker extends across more than one third of the width of the suction channel.

11. A floor tool according to claim 9 wherein the lint picker extends across substantially one half of the width of the suction channel.

12. A floor tool according to claim 10 wherein the lint picker extends across substantially the full width of the suction channel.

13. A floor tool substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.