Surface cleaning apparatus

Abstract

A surface cleaning apparatus comprises a body ( 1; 106 ) including a rear compartment ( 3; 108 ), a forward compartment ( 9; 114 ) and an intermediate compartment ( 17; 124 ) arranged between the rear and forward compartments. An elongate rotatable brush arrangement ( 11; 116 ) is positioned within and extends across the forward compartment ( 9; 114 ). An electric motor ( 5; 110 ) is positioned in the rear compartment ( 3; 108 ), and drive means ( 25, 27, 29; 128, 130, 131 ) extends between the rotatable brush arrangement and the electric motor.

1 . A surface cleaning apparatus comprising: 
 a body ( 1 ;  106 ) comprising a rear compartment ( 3 ;  108 ), a forward compartment ( 9 ;  114 ) and an intermediate compartment ( 17 ;  124 ) arranged between the rear and forward compartments;    an elongate rotatable brush arrangement ( 11 ;  116 ) positioned within and extending across the forward compartment ( 9 ;  114 );    an electric motor ( 5 ;  110 ) positioned in the rear compartment ( 3 ;  108 ); and    drive means ( 25 ,  27 ,  29 ;  128 ,  130 ,  131 ) extending between the rotatable brush arrangement and the electric motor.    
     
     
         2 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , characterised in that a battery ( 7 ;  112 ) is positioned in the rear compartment ( 3 ;  108 ) together with the electric motor ( 5 ;  110 ).  
     
     
         3 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 2 , characterised in that the battery ( 7 ;  112 ) is rechargeable.  
     
     
         4 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , characterised in that the electric motor ( 5 ;  110 ) is mains powered.  
     
     
         5 . An apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, characterised in that the rotatable brush arrangement ( 11 ;  116 ) extends substantially the entire width of the forward compartment ( 9 ;  114 ).  
     
     
         6 . An apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, characterised in that the intermediate compartment ( 17 ;  124 ) is provided with a removable closure for the removal of debris therefrom.  
     
     
         7 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 6 , characterised in that the removable closure comprises a removable side wall ( 23 ;  126 ).  
     
     
         8 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 6 , characterised in that the removable closure comprises a removable tray.  
     
     
         9 . An apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, characterised in that the drive means ( 25 ,  27 ,  29 ;  128 ,  130 ,  131 ) passes at least partly through the intermediate compartment ( 17 ;  124 ).  
     
     
         10 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 9 , characterised in that the drive means ( 25 ,  27 ,  29 ;  128 ,  130 ,  131 ) passes through a tunnel ( 31 ;  132 ) which passes at least partly through the intermediate compartment ( 17 ;  124 ).  
     
     
         11 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 9  or  10 , characterised in that the drive means ( 25 ,  27 ,  29 ;  128 ,  130 ,  131 ) is positioned adjacent one side of the intermediate compartment ( 17 ;  124 ).  
     
     
         12 . An apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, characterised in that the drive means ( 25 ,  27 ,  29 ;  128 ,  130 ,  131 ) comprises a belt drive.  
     
     
         13 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 12 , characterised in that the drive means ( 25 ,  27 ,  29 ;  128 ,  130 ,  131 ) comprises a toothed belt.  
     
     
         14 . An apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, characterised in that a wall ( 21 ) is provided between the rear compartment ( 3 ;  108 ) and the intermediate compartment ( 17 ;  124 ) to seal the rear compartment from the intermediate compartment.  
     
     
         15 . An apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, characterised in that a wall ( 15 ;  122 ) is provided between the intermediate compartment ( 17 ;  124 ) and the forward compartment ( 9 ;  114 ), the wall extending from the base of the intermediate compartment and terminating short of the top thereof.  
     
     
         16 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 15 , characterised in that the top of the wall ( 15 ;  122 ) is at substantially the same height as the top of the brush arrangement ( 11 ;  116 ).  
     
     
         17 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 15  or  16 , characterised in that the wall ( 15 ;  122 ) is inclined rearwardly.  
     
     
         18 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 17 , characterised in that the angle of inclination of the wall ( 15 ;  122 ) is in the range of 15 to 20 degrees.  
     
     
         19 . An apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, characterised in that the apparatus incorporates handle means ( 33 ;  154 ).  
     
     
         20 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 19 , characterised in that the length of the handle means ( 33 ;  154 ) can be varied.  
     
     
         21 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 20 , characterised in that the handle means ( 33 ,  154 ) is interchangeable.  
     
     
         22 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 20 , characterised in that a further handle ( 41 ) means serves to extend the first-mentioned handle means ( 33 ).  
     
     
         23 . An apparatus as claimed in any one of  claims 19  to  22 , characterised in that the handle means ( 33 ;  154 ) is rotatable about the axis thereof to facilitate steering of the apparatus.  
     
     
         24 . An apparatus as claimed in any one of  claims 19  to  23 , characterised in that the handle means ( 33 ;  154 ) is pivotable about an axis transverse to the axial direction thereof.  
     
     
         25 . An apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, characterised in that an auxiliary brush arrangement ( 134 ) is provided at one side of the body ( 106 ) of the apparatus.  
     
     
         26 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 25 , characterised in that the auxiliary brush arrangement ( 134 ) extends outwardly from the forward compartment ( 114 ).  
     
     
         27 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 25  or  26 , characterised in that the auxiliary brush arrangement ( 134 ) is rotatable about an axis inclined to the vertical.  
     
     
         28 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 25 ,  26  or  27 , characterised in that the auxiliary brush arrangement ( 134 ) is provided with radial bristles ( 140 ).  
     
     
         29 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 28 , characterised in that the radial bristles ( 140 ) are inclined at an acute angle to the axis of rotation of the auxiliary brush arrangement ( 134 ).  
     
     
         30 . An apparatus as claimed in any one of  claims 25  to  29 , characterised in that the auxiliary brush arrangement ( 134 ) is driven by the electric motor ( 110 ).  
     
     
         31 . An apparatus as claimed in any one of  claims 25  to  29 , characterised in that the auxiliary brush arrangement ( 134 ) is driven by friction.  
     
     
         32 . An apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, characterised in that the forward compartment ( 9 ;  114 ) includes in the lower face thereof an aperture ( 13 ) through which bristles of the brush arrangement ( 11 ;  116 ) protrude.  
     
     
         33 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 32 , characterised in that a front part of the forward compartment ( 9 ;  114 ) is movable to expose bristles at the front of the apparatus.  
     
     
         34 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 33 , characterised in that a cover forming the front part of the forward compartment ( 9 ;  114 ) is removable to expose bristles at the front of the apparatus.  
     
     
         35 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 33 , characterised in that a cover forming the front part of the forward compartment ( 9 ;  114 ) is pivotable to expose bristles at the front of the apparatus.  
     
     
         36 . An apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, characterised in that the rear compartment ( 3 ;  108 ) is provided with ground-engaging wheels ( 158 ,  160 ).