Surface cleaning apparatus

Abstract

A surface cleaning apparatus comprises a body including a rear compartment, a forward compartment and an intermediate compartment arranged between the rear and forward compartments. An elongate rotatable brush arrangement is positioned within and extends across the forward compartment. An electric motor is positioned in the rear compartment, and drive means extends between the rotatable brush arrangement and the electric motor.

1 - 47 . (canceled)  
   
   
       48 . A surface cleaning apparatus, comprising: 
 a) a body comprising a rear compartment, a forward compartment, and an intermediate compartment for collecting debris arranged between the rear and forward compartments;    b) an elongate rotatable brush positioned within and extending across the forward compartment;    c) an electric motor for driving the rotatable brush; and    d) a handle that is rotatable about an axial direction of the handle relative to the body and is pivotable about an axis transverse to the axial direction of the handle to facilitate steering of the apparatus.    
   
   
       49 - 50 . (canceled)  
   
   
       51 . The apparatus of  claim 48 , wherein the intermediate compartment is defined by a wall between the forward compartment and the intermediate compartment, a wall between the intermediate compartment and the rear compartment, and side walls.  
   
   
       52 . The apparatus of  claim 51 , wherein one side wall is removable to facilitate removal of debris.  
   
   
       53 . The apparatus of  claim 52 , wherein the removable side wall includes a cover.  
   
   
       54 . The apparatus of  claim 51 , wherein the intermediate compartment includes a tray that can be removed and emptied so as to discharge debris.  
   
   
       55 . The apparatus of  claim 51 , wherein the electric motor is operably connected to the elongate rotatable brush by a belt, the belt being enclosed within a tunnel that passes through the intermediate compartment.  
   
   
       56 . The apparatus of  claim 55 , wherein the tunnel is arranged at a side remote from the removable side wall.  
   
   
       57 . The apparatus of  claim 51 , wherein the wall between the forward and intermediate compartments is inclined rearwardly.  
   
   
       58 . The apparatus of  claim 57 , wherein the wall between the forward and intermediate compartments has an angle of inclination of from 15 to 20 degrees.  
   
   
       59 . The apparatus of  claim 51 , wherein the wall between the intermediate and rear compartments seals the rear compartment from the intermediate compartment.  
   
   
       60 . The apparatus of  claim 48 , wherein a front part of the forward compartment is movable to expose bristles on the elongate rotatable brush at the front part of the forward compartment.  
   
   
       61 . The apparatus of  claim 48 , wherein the rear compartment is provided with ground-engaging wheels.  
   
   
       62 - 76 . (canceled)  
   
   
       77 . The apparatus of  claim 48 , wherein the forward compartment further comprises an opening in a lower surface thereof, and wherein a lower front region of the body is chamfered so that bristles of the elongate brush protrude from the body in the region of the chamfer such that, when the apparatus is inclined relative to a surface to be cleaned, contact between the bristles and the surface to be cleaned is increased.  
   
   
       78 . The apparatus of  claim 48 , wherein the electric motor is located in the rear compartment.  
   
   
       79 . The apparatus of  claim 48 , wherein the handle is attached to the body in a region of the rear compartment.  
   
   
       80 . A surface cleaning apparatus, comprising: 
 a) a body having a forward compartment and rear compartment;    b) an elongate rotatable brush having bristles and extending across the forward compartment, wherein a front part of the forward compartment is movable to expose the bristles on the elongate rotatable brush at the front part of the forward compartment; and    c) an electric motor for driving the rotatable brush.    
   
   
       81 . The apparatus of  claim 80 , further comprising a handle rotatable about an axial direction of the handle to facilitate steering of the apparatus.  
   
   
       82 . The apparatus of  claim 81 , wherein the handle is further pivotable about an axis transverse to the axial direction of the handle.  
   
   
       83 . The apparatus of  claim 80 , further comprising an intermediate compartment defined by a wall between the forward compartment and the intermediate compartment, a wall between the intermediate compartment and the rear compartment, and side walls.  
   
   
       84 . The apparatus of  claim 83 , wherein one side wall is removable to facilitate removal of debris.  
   
   
       85 . The apparatus of  claim 84 , wherein the removable side wall includes a cover.  
   
   
       86 . The apparatus of  claim 83 , wherein the intermediate compartment includes a tray that can be removed and emptied so as to discharge debris.  
   
   
       87 . The apparatus of  claim 83 , wherein the electric motor is operably connected to the elongate rotatable brush by a belt, the belt being enclosed within a tunnel that passes through the intermediate compartment.  
   
   
       88 . The apparatus of  claim 87 , wherein one side wall is removable to facilitate removal of debris and the tunnel is arranged at a side remote from the removable side wall.  
   
   
       89 . The apparatus of  claim 83 , wherein the wall between the forward and intermediate compartments is inclined rearwardly.  
   
   
       90 . The apparatus of  claim 89 , wherein the wall between the forward and intermediate compartments has an angle of inclination of from 15 to 20 degrees.  
   
   
       91 . The apparatus of  claim 83 , wherein the wall between the intermediate and rear compartments seals the rear compartment from the intermediate compartment.  
   
   
       92 . The apparatus of  claim 80 , wherein the electric motor is located in the rear compartment.  
   
   
       93 . The apparatus of  claim 92 , wherein the forward compartment further comprises an opening in a lower surface thereof, and wherein a lower front region of the body is chamfered so that bristles of the elongate brush protrude from the body in the region of the chamfer such that, when the apparatus is inclined relative to a surface to be cleaned, contact between the bristles and the surface to be cleaned is increased.  
   
   
       94 . The apparatus of  claim 80 , wherein the handle is attached to the body in a region of the rear compartment.