Removing hair from a surface

• US 7,998,277 B2
• Filed: 12/18/2008
• Issued: 08/16/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/09/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bissell Inc.
• Original Assignee: Bissell Homecare, Inc. (Bissell Inc.)
• Inventors: Nguyen, Tom Minh
• Primary Examiner(s): Redding; David A
• Application Number:
  US12/337,666
• Publication Number:
  US 20090090386A1
• Time in Patent Office: 971 Days
• Field of Search: 153/93, 154/01, 154/02, 153/65, 153/69, 134/6, 134/9, 134/21
• US Class Current: 134/21
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 13/006 formed by winding a strip tuft in a helix about the body
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 25/08 Pads or the like for cleaning clothes using adhesive surfaces A47L25/005
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 7/0066 adapted for removing nail dust, hair or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/02 Nozzles suction nozzles for fluid transport B65G51/00
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/0422 driven by the rotation of the supporting wheels on which the nozzle travels over the floor
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/0433 Toothed gearings
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/0466 Rotating tools
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/0477 Rolls
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/0488 Combinations or arrangements of several tools, e.g. edge cleaning tools
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/0653 with mechanical actuation, e.g. using a lever
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/0666 with tilting, floating or similarly arranged brushes, combs, lips or pads

Abstract

A method of removing hair from a surface laden with hair comprising moving a hair collection element along the surface in a first direction to collect hair, depositing the collected hair at a first location, gliding the hair collection element along the surface in a second direction away from the first location and removing the collection hair from the first location.

Claims

1. A method of removing hair from a surface laden with hair, comprising:

moving a hair collection element along the surface in a first direction to collect hair;

depositing the collected hair at a first location;

gliding the hair collection element along the surface in a second direction away from the first location; and

removing the collected hair from the first location by suctioning the collected hair;

wherein the moving step comprises applying pressure to the surface using the hair removal element and the gliding step comprises relieving pressure applied by the hair collection element on the surface so that collection of hair in the second direction is substantially avoided.

2. The method of removing hair of claim 1 wherein the depositing step comprises forming a pile of the collected hair at the first location.

3. The method of removing hair of claim 2 wherein the hair collection element comprises a plurality of projections that are transversely elongated.

4. The method of removing hair of claim 3 wherein the projections are arranged in a plurality of rows and the projections in one row are offset from elongated projections in an adjacent row.

5. The method of removing hair of claim 4 wherein the hair collection element is formed of an elastomeric material.

6. The method of removing hair of claim 5 wherein the moving step comprises moving a vacuum cleaner in the first direction.

7. The method of removing hair of claim 6 wherein the gliding step comprises moving the vacuum cleaner in the second direction.

8. A method of removing hair from a surface laden with hair, comprising:

moving a hair collection element along the surface in a first direction to collect hair;

depositing the collected hair at a first location;

gliding the hair collection element along the surface in a second direction away from the first location; and

removing the collected hair from the first location by suctioning the collected hair;

wherein the hair collection element comprises a directional fabric.

9. The method of removing hair of claim 8 wherein the moving step comprises moving a vacuum cleaner in the first direction.

10. The method of removing hair of claim 9 wherein the gliding step comprises moving the vacuum cleaner in the second direction.

11. The method of removing hair of claim 10 wherein the hair collection element comprises at least one projection oriented at an angle of about 45°

with respect to the surface to be cleaned.

12. The method of removing hair of claim 10 wherein the hair collection element is configured to rotate when the cleaning head is moved in the second direction.

13. The method of removing hair of claim 10 wherein the hair collection element is configured to glide over the surface to be cleaned when the cleaning head is moved in the second direction.