Rollered nozzle

• US 5,481,781 A
• Filed: 01/21/1994
• Issued: 01/09/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 01/21/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Healthy Gain Investments Limited
• Original Assignee: Hoover Company (Whirlpool Corporation)
• Inventors: Weber, Vincent L.
• Primary Examiner(s): MOORE, CHRISTOPHER K
• Application Number:
  US08/183,870
• Time in Patent Office: 718 Days
• Field of Search: 15/378, 15/418, 15/419, 15/420, 15/421, 15/422
• US Class Current: 15/378
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 5/30 with driven dust-loosening tools, e.g. rotating brushes
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/04 with driven brushes or agitators
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/0488 Combinations or arrangements of several tools, e.g. edge cleaning tools

Abstract

A vacuum cleaner is provided with a nozzle having front and rear rollers that extend for, essentially, the width of the nozzle from side to side. Ideally, these rollers are mounted at least partly within the vacuumized envelope formed by the nozzle.

Claims

1. A suction nozzle for a cleaner having:

a) an agitator chamber;

b) a suction opening for said nozzle;

c) a pair of rollers mounted in said agitator chamber and extending downwardly into said suction opening;

e) said agitator chamber including an agitator;

f) said rollers disposed, one forwardly and one rearwardly of said agitator;

g) said agitator chamber including sealing means for sealing against said rollers to help maintain an envelope for suction within said suction nozzle;

h) said sealing means taking the form of a pair of elastomeric sealing lips engaging resiliently against said rollers;

i) said rollers being substantially elongated; and

j) said sealing lips also being substantially elongated to extend along said rollers;

k) said agitator chamber including side walls;

l) said side walls having bottom terminations; and

m) said elongated rollers having a bottom outer periphery aligned with said bottom terminations.

2. The suction nozzle for a cleaner as set out in claim 1 wherein:

a) said agitator is a driven agitator.

3. The suction nozzle for a cleaner as set out in claim 1 wherein:

a) the diameter of each of said rollers is small in comparison to the diameter of said agitator.

4. A suction nozzle for a cleaner having:

a) an agitator chamber;

b) a suction opening for said nozzle;

c) a pair of rollers mounted in said agitator chamber and extending downwardly into said suction opening;

d) said agitator chamber including an agitator;

e) said rollers being disposed one forwardly and one rearwardly of said agitator;

f) said agitator chamber including sealing means for sealing against said rollers to help maintain an envelope of suction within said suction nozzle;

g) said sealing means taking the form of a pair of elastomeric sealing lips engaging resiliently against said rollers;

h) said agitator being a brush carrying agitator; and

i) said rollers have diameters greatly smaller than the diameter of said agitator.

5. The suction nozzle of claim 4 wherein:

a) said agitator chamber is formed at least partly by outer front and rear walls;

b) said front and rear walls having generally vertically extending lower terminating portions;

c) said sealing lips attached to said lower terminating portions of said front and rear walls to extend downwardly along said outer front and rear walls;

d) said generally vertically extending terminating portions of said front and rear walls being disposed outwardly, relative to said suction nozzle, of the centers of said rollers.

6. The suction nozzle of claim 5 wherein:

a) said elastomeric sealing lips are formed from relatively thin material.

7. The suction nozzle of claim 4 wherein:

a) said rollers are substantially elongated; and

b) said sealing lips are also substantially elongated to extend along said rollers.

8. A suction nozzle for a cleaner having:

a) an agitator chamber;

b) a suction opening for said nozzle;

c) at least one roller mounted in said agitator chamber and extending downwardly into said suction opening;

d) said agitator chamber includes an agitator;

e) said roller being disposed outwardly of said agitator;

f) said agitator chamber including sealing means for sealing against said roller to help maintain an envelope of suction within said suction nozzle;

g) said sealing means taking the form of an elastomeric sealing lip engaging resiliently against said roller;

h) said agitator being a brush containing agitator; and

i) said roller having a diameter greater smaller than the diameter of said agitator.

9. The suction nozzle of claim 8 wherein:

a) said agitator chamber is formed at least partly by outer front and rear walls;

b) said front and rear walls having generally vertically extending lower terminating portions;

c) said sealing lip attached to one of said lower terminating portions;

d) said one of said terminating portions being disposed outwardly, relative to said suction nozzle, of the center of said roller.