Vacuum cleaner brushroll

Abstract

A vacuum cleaner brushroll according to an embodiment of the invention includes a brushroll body and at least one row of bristle tufts disposed on the brushroll body. The at least one row of bristle tufts includes a first tuft of a first effective length from the brushroll body and at least a second tuft of a second effective length that is different from the first effective length.

1 . A vacuum cleaner brushroll, comprising: 
 a brushroll body; and    at least one row of bristle tufts disposed on the brushroll body, with the at least one row of bristle tufts comprising a first tuft of a first effective length from the brushroll body and at least a second tuft of a second effective length that is different from the first effective length.    
     
     
         2 . The vacuum cleaner brushroll of  claim 1 , wherein the first tuft is of a first diameter and the second tuft is of a second diameter that is different from the first diameter.  
     
     
         3 . The vacuum cleaner brushroll of  claim 1 , wherein the first tuft is of a first stiffness and the second tuft is of a second stiffness that is different from the first stiffness.  
     
     
         4 . The vacuum cleaner brushroll of  claim 1 , wherein the first tuft is of a first material and the second tuft is of a second material that is different from the first material.  
     
     
         5 . The vacuum cleaner brushroll of  claim 1 , wherein the first tuft is of a first color and the second tuft is of a second color that is different from the first color.  
     
     
         6 . The vacuum cleaner brushroll of  claim 1 , wherein the first tuft is of a first number of bristles and the second tuft is of a second number of bristles that is different from the first number of bristles.  
     
     
         7 . The vacuum cleaner brushroll of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one row of bristle tufts is substantially radially-outwardly oriented from the brushroll body.  
     
     
         8 . The vacuum cleaner brushroll of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one row of bristle tufts is angled with respect to a radius direction of the brushroll body.  
     
     
         9 . A vacuum cleaner brushroll, comprising: 
 a brushroll body; and    at least one row of substantially radially-outwardly oriented bristle tufts disposed on the brushroll body, with a particular tuft of the at least one row comprising first bristles of a first effective length from the brushroll body and at least second bristles of a second effective length that is different from the first effective length.    
     
     
         10 . The vacuum cleaner brushroll of  claim 9 , wherein the first bristles are of a first diameter and the second bristles are of a second diameter that is different from the first diameter.  
     
     
         11 . The vacuum cleaner brushroll of  claim 9 , wherein the first bristles are of a first stiffness and the second bristles are of a second stiffness that is different from the first stiffness.  
     
     
         12 . The vacuum cleaner brushroll of  claim 9 , wherein the first bristles are of a first material and the second bristles are of a second material that is different from the first material.  
     
     
         13 . The vacuum cleaner brushroll of  claim 9 , wherein the first bristles are of a first color and the second bristles are of a second color that is different from the first color.  
     
     
         14 . The vacuum cleaner brushroll of  claim 9 , wherein the first bristles are formed of a first number of bristles and the second bristles are formed of a second number of bristles that is different from the first number of bristles.  
     
     
         15 . A method of forming a vacuum cleaner brushroll, said method comprising: 
 providing a brushroll body; and    providing at least one row of bristle tufts disposed on the brushroll body, with the at least one row of bristle tufts comprising a first tuft of a first effective length from the brushroll body and at least a second tuft of a second effective length that is different from the first effective length.    
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the first tuft is of a first diameter and the second tuft is of a second diameter that is different from the first diameter.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the first tuft is of a first stiffness and the second tuft is of a second stiffness that is different from the first stiffness.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the first tuft is of a first material and the second tuft is of a second material that is different from the first material.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the first tuft is of a first color and the second tuft is of a second color that is different from the first color.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the first tuft is of a first number of bristles and the second tuft is of a second number of bristles that is different from the first number of bristles.  
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the at least one row of bristle tufts is substantially radially-outwardly oriented from the brushroll body.  
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the at least one row of bristle tufts is angled with respect to a radius direction of the brushroll body.  
     
     
         23 . A method of forming a vacuum cleaner brushroll, said method comprising: 
 providing a brushroll body; and    providing at least one row of substantially radially-outwardly oriented bristle tufts disposed on the brushroll body, with a particular tuft of the at least one row comprising first bristles of a first effective length from the brushroll body and at least second bristles of a second effective length that is different from the first effective length.    
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the first bristles are of a first diameter and the second bristles are of a second diameter that is different from the first diameter.  
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the first bristles are of a first stiffness and the second bristles are of a second stiffness that is different from the first stiffness.  
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the first bristles are of a first material and the second bristles are of a second material that is different from the first material.  
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the first bristles are of a first color and the second bristles are of a second color that is different from the first color.  
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the first tuft is of a first number of bristles and the second tuft is of a second number of bristles that is different from the first number of bristles.