Vacuum cleaner with twin independently driven agitators

• US 20050160555A1
• Filed: 01/27/2005
• Published: 07/28/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/27/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Panasonic Corporation Of North America (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Panasonic Corporation Of North America (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Mayes, R. Michael
• Application Number:
  US11/044,142
• Publication Number:
  US 20050160555A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 15/384
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 5/30 with driven dust-loosening tools, e.g. rotating brushes
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/0411 driven by electric motor
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/0477 Rolls
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/0488 Combinations or arrangements of several tools, e.g. edge cleaning tools

Abstract

A floor cleaning apparatus includes a nozzle assembly and a canister assembly. A suction generator is carried on the nozzle assembly or the canister assembly. A dirt collection vessel is also carried on the nozzle assembly or the canister assembly. Still further, a first agitator with a first internal drive motor and a second agitator with a second internal drive motor are both carried on the nozzle assembly. Additionally, a method is also provided. The method includes the steps of equipping a floor cleaning apparatus with first and second agitators and independently driving those agitators.

Claims

1. A floor cleaning apparatus, comprising:

a nozzle assembly;

a canister assembly;

a suction generator carried on one of said nozzle assembly and said canister assembly;

a dirt collection vessel carried on one of said canister assembly and said nozzle assembly;

a first agitator having a first internal drive motor carried on said nozzle assembly; and

a second agitator having a second internal drive motor carried on said nozzle assembly.

2. The floor cleaning apparatus of claim 1, wherein said canister assembly is pivotally connected to said nozzle assembly.

3. The floor cleaning apparatus of claim 1, wherein said dirt collection vessel is a filter bag.

4. The floor cleaning apparatus of claim 1, wherein said dirt collection vessel is a dirt cup.

5. The floor cleaning apparatus of claim 1, wherein said dirt collection vessel is a cyclonic airflow chamber.

6. The floor cleaning apparatus of claim 1, wherein said floor cleaning apparatus is a device selected from a group consisting of an upright vacuum cleaner, a canister vacuum cleaner, a hand-held vacuum cleaner and an extractor.

7. A floor cleaning apparatus, comprising:

a nozzle assembly;

a canister assembly;

a suction generator carried on one of said nozzle assembly and said canister assembly;

a dirt collection vessel carried on one of said canister assembly and said nozzle assembly;

a first agitator carried on said nozzle assembly;

a first agitator drive motor connected to said first agitator;

a second agitator carried on said nozzle assembly; and

a second agitator drive motor connected to said second agitator.

8. A method of providing an improved floor cleaning apparatus, comprising:

equipping said floor cleaning apparatus with a first agitator and a second agitator; and

independently driving said first and second agitators.

9. The method of claim 8 including driving said first and second agitators at different speeds.

10. The method of claim 9, including driving said first and second agitators in different directions.

11. The method of claim 8 including driving said first and second agitators in different directions.

12. The method of claim 8 including providing said first agitator with a first internal drive motor and said second agitator with a second internal drive motor.

13. The method of claim 12 including driving said first and second agitators at different speeds.

14. The method of claim 13, including driving said first and second agitators in different directions.

15. The method of claim 12 including driving said first and second agitators in different directions.