Rotary cleaning body, suction port body of vacuum cleaner, and production method of rotary cleaning body

• US 7,159,276 B2
• Filed: 05/18/2005
• Issued: 01/09/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/22/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Toshiba Tec Corporation (Toshiba Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toshiba Tec Corporation (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: Ohtsu, Yasuhiro, Omoto, Shuhei
• Primary Examiner(s): Snider; Theresa T.
• Application Number:
  US11/134,591
• Publication Number:
  US 20050246857A1
• Time in Patent Office: 601 Days
• Field of Search: 153/83, 151/83, 153/66, 151/412, 15/5, 151/79, 151/82
• US Class Current: 15/383
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/0477 Rolls

Abstract

Catching grooves (34) extending in the axial direction are formed in the cylindrical outer surface of a brush base (35) that has a slender, substantially cylindrical shape and made of a twistable material. Brush attaching portions (43) of brush members (41) and blade attaching portions (47) of scraping members (42) are respectively secured in the catching grooves (34) so that axially aligned bristles (44) of each brush member (41) and an axially extending blade (46) of each scraping member (42) project from the cylindrical outer surface of the brush base (35). Receiving members (53) are respectively fitted to both ends of a shaft (51) inserted through a shaft insertion hole (39) of the brush base (35). By rotating the receiving members (53) in opposite directions, the brush base (35) is twisted in a spiral and secured. By eliminating the necessity of forming the brush base (35) in a twisted shape beforehand by means of twist extrusion molding, the invention facilitates production of the brush base (35). Adjusting the degree of twisting the brush base (35) ensures a sufficient twisting precision.

Claims

1. A rotary cleaning body comprising:

a cylindrical mounting meter which is formed of a deformable material and has a cylindrical outer surface, and which comprises;

(i) a plurality of recessed receiving grooves in the outer cylindrical surface that are spaced apart circumferentially around the mounting meter and that extend axially along the mounting meter, and (ii) a plurality of recessed stopper grooves that are formed in the outer cylindrical surface of the mounting member between adjacent ones of the receiving grooves;

a plurality of cleaning members, each of which has a base end secured in a corresponding one of the receiving grooves to be attached to the mounting member so as to extend along the axial direction of the mounting meter and protrude outward in a radial direction of the mounting meter;

an axial member inserted through a center of said mounting member;

a plurality of supporting meters which prevent unintentional displacement of the cleaning meters at axial ends of the receiving grooves, and each of which comprises a plurality of fitting protrusions that are insertable into the stopper grooves, respectively, so as to secure the mounting member to the axial member; and

wherein when the supporting members are coupled to the axial member, the coupling of the supporting members to the mounting member via the fitting protrusions and stopper grooves causes the mounting member to be spirally twisted such that the receiving grooves are shaped into spirals, and the mounting member is supported in the twisted state due to the coupling of the supporting members to the mounting member via the fitting protrusions and stopper grooves.

2. A suction port body for a vacuum cleaner comprising:

(i) a casing including a suction port open to the outside; and

(ii) a rotary cleaning body which is rotatably attachable to the casing so that the rotary cleaning body faces a surface to be

cleaned, wherein the rotary cleaning body comprises;

a cylindrical mounting member which is formed of a deformable material and has a cylindrical outer surface, and which comprises;

(i) a plurality of recessed receiving grooves in the outer cylindrical surface that are spaced apart circumferentially around the mounting member and that extend axially along the mounting member, and (ii) a plurality of recessed stopper grooves that are formed in the outer cylindrical surface of the mounting member between adjacent ones of the receiving grooves;

a plurality of cleaning members, each of which has a base end secured in a corresponding one of the receiving grooves to be attached to the mounting member so as to extend along the axial direction of the mounting member and protrude outward in a radial direction of the mounting member;

an axial member inserted through a center of said mounting member; and

a plurality of supporting members which prevent unintentional displacement of the cleaning members at axial ends of the receiving grooves, and each of which comprises a plurality of fitting protrusions that are insertable into the stopper grooves, respectively, so as to secure the mounting member to the axial member;

wherein when the supporting members are coupled to the axial member, the coupling of the supporting members to the mounting member via the fitting protrusions and stopper grooves causes the mounting member to be spirally twisted such that the receiving grooves are shaped into spirals, and the mounting member is supported in the twisted state due to the coupling of the supporting members to the mounting member via the fitting protrusions and stopper grooves.

3. A method of producing a rotary cleaning body, comprising:

securing base ends of a plurality of cleaning members in respective recessed receiving grooves so as to extend along an axial direction of a deformable mounting member and to protrude outward in a radial direction of the mounting member, wherein the recessed receiving grooves are formed in an outer cylindrical cuter surface of the mounting member and are spaced apart circumferentially around the mounting member and extend axially along the mounting member, and the mounting member includes a plurality of recessed stopper grooves that are formed in the outer cylindrical surface between adjacent ones of the receiving grooves;

inserting an axial member through the center of said mounting member;

coupling a supporting member to each axial end of the mounting member, such that fitting protrusions of the supporting member are inserted into the stopper grooves, respectively, of the mounting member, so as to secure the mounting member to the axial member and to prevent unintentional displacement of the cleaning members at axial ends of the receiving grooves;

coupling the supporting members to the axial member such that, due to the coupling of the supporting members to the mounting member via the fitting protrusions and stopper groves, the mounting member is spirally twisted such that the receiving grooves are shaped into spirals, and such that the mounting member is supported in the twisted state.

4. The method as claimed in claim 3, further comprising heating the mounting member while the mounting member is twisted.