Vacuum cleaner with twin independently driven agitators

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.

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.