Surface Cleaning Appartus

Abstract

A surface cleaning apparatus comprising a debris retrieval body ( 3; 203; 403 ) and at least one collection means ( 67; 69; 259; 413; 447 ) provided within the debris retrieval body for accumulating debris from a surface to be cleaned. A rotatable elongate brush arrangement ( 39; 223; 427 ) is also provided within the debris retrieval body to retrieve a first portion of debris from the surface to be cleaned and to direct the first portion of the debris along a first pathway ( 301; 310; 311 ) into the at least one collection means. An inlet aperture ( 61; 255; 475; 485 ) is provided in the debris retrieval body for the passage along a second pathway ( 303; 312; 313; 315 ), independent of the first pathway, of a second portion of debris from the surface to be cleaned. The inlet aperture is formed in a chamber ( 57; 243; 469; 479 ) provided within the debris retrieval body and communicating with a means for creating suction, and the inlet aperture has an area less than the cross-sectional area of the chamber such that the speed of air flow through the inlet aperture as a result of the means for creating suction is high relative to the speed of air flow in the chamber.

1 . A surface cleaning apparatus comprising: 
 a debris retrieval body ( 3 ;  203 ;  403 );    at least one collection means ( 67 ;  69 ;  259 ;  413 ;  447 ) provided within the debris retrieval body for accumulating debris from a surface to be cleaned;    a rotatable elongate brush arrangement ( 39 ;  223 ;  427 ) provided within the debris retrieval body and adapted to retrieve a first portion of debris from the surface to be cleaned and to direct the first portion of the debris along a first pathway ( 301 ;  310 ;  311 ) into the at least one collection means; and    an inlet aperture ( 61 ;  255 ;  475 ;  485 ) provided in the debris retrieval body for the passage along a second pathway ( 303 ;  312 ,  313 ;  315 ), independent of the first pathway ( 301 ;  310 ;  311 ), of a second portion of debris from the surface to be cleaned, the inlet aperture being formed in a chamber ( 57 ;  243 ;  469 ;  479 ) provided within the debris retrieval body and communicating with a means for creating suction, the inlet aperture having an area less than the cross-sectional area of the chamber such that the speed of air flow through the inlet aperture as a result of the means for creating suction is high relative to the speed of air flow in the chamber.    
   
   
       2 . A surface cleaning apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the chamber is provided with a relatively large cross-sectional area compared to the area of the inlet aperture such that frictional losses caused by the flow of air through the chamber are minimised.  
   
   
       3 . A surface cleaning apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the inlet aperture ( 61 ;  255 ;  475 ;  485 ) is elongate.  
   
   
       4 . A surface cleaning apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the inlet aperture ( 61 ;  255 ;  475 ;  485 ) is spaced from the elongate brush arrangement ( 39 ;  223 ;  427 ).  
   
   
       5 . A surface cleaning apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the inlet aperture ( 61 ;  255 ;  475 ;  485 ) is positioned rearward of the elongate brush arrangement ( 39 ;  223 ;  427 ).  
   
   
       6 . A surface cleaning apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the inlet aperture ( 61 ;  255 ;  475 ;  485 ) extends substantially the full length of the elongate brush arrangement ( 39 ;  223 ;  427 ).  
   
   
       7 . A surface cleaning apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein a plurality of perforations is provided in a removable plate ( 257 ;  477 ) covering the inlet aperture ( 61 ;  255 ;  475 ;  485 ).  
   
   
       8 . A surface cleaning apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the debris retrieval body is provided with an opening ( 43 ;  229 ;  432 ) through which bristles ( 123 ) of the elongate brush arrangement extend for retrieving the first portion of debris.  
   
   
       9 . A surface cleaning apparatus as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the opening ( 43 ;  229 ;  32 ) for the bristles is separate from the inlet aperture ( 61 ;  255 ;  475 ;  485 ).  
   
   
       10 . A surface cleaning apparatus as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the inlet aperture ( 61 ;  255 ;  475 ) extends substantially parallel and adjacent to the opening for the bristles of the elongate brush arrangement.  
   
   
       11 . A surface cleaning apparatus as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the inlet aperture ( 61 ;  255 ;  475 ;  485 ) has an area less than the area of the opening ( 43 ;  229 ;  432 ) for the bristles.  
   
   
       12 . A surface cleaning apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein connection means in the form of ducting means ( 64 ;  247 ;  473 ;  483 ) is provided for the passage of the second portion of the debris from the inlet aperture to the means for creating suction.  
   
   
       13 . A surface cleaning apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the apparatus is adapted to convey the first portion of debris directly to the at least one collection means.  
   
   
       14 . A surface cleaning apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the at least one collection means comprises a first collection means ( 67 ;  259 ;  447 ) for the first portion of debris and a second collection means ( 69 ;  413 ) for the second portion of debris.  
   
   
       15 . A surface cleaning apparatus as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein the first collection means ( 67 ) and the second collection means ( 69 ) comprise a first segregated section and a second segregated section of a single debris collection receptacle.  
   
   
       16 . A surface cleaning apparatus as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein the second collection means ( 69 ) is substantially sealed.  
   
   
       17 . A surface cleaning apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the at least one collection means is in the form of a removable tray.  
   
   
       18 . A surface cleaning apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein an auxiliary rotary brush ( 237 ;  441 ) is provided at one side of the elongate brush arrangement.  
   
   
       19 . A surface cleaning apparatus as claimed in  claim 18 , wherein the auxiliary rotary brush ( 237 ;  441 ) is provided in a detachable support member ( 239 ;  443 ) secured to the debris retrieval body.  
   
   
       20 . A surface cleaning apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the means for creating suction ( 417 ) is provided within the debris retrieval body.  
   
   
       21 . A surface cleaning apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the means for creating suction is provided remotely from the debris retrieval body.  
   
   
       22 . A surface cleaning apparatus as claimed in  claim 21 , wherein the remotely provided means for creating suction is incorporated into a cleaner body ( 1 ) attached to the debris retrieval body.  
   
   
       23 . A surface cleaning apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the means for creating suction is a cyclonic suction generating system.  
   
   
       24 . A surface cleaning apparatus as claimed in  claim 23 , wherein the cyclonic suction generating system comprises a cyclonic separator ( 9 ;  457 ) adapted to transfer the second portion of the debris to the collecting means.  
   
   
       25 . A surface cleaning apparatus as claimed in  claim 24 , wherein the cyclonic separator ( 9 ) comprises at least one member ( 21 ) extending transversely to a longitudinal axis of the cyclonic separator adapted to form at least one pivot between two pivotable sections of the surface cleaning apparatus.  
   
   
       26 . A surface cleaning apparatus as claimed in  claim 25 , wherein the second portion of debris is transferred from the cyclonic separator ( 9 ) to the collection means via a duct ( 73 ) provided within the at least one pivot ( 21 ).  
   
   
       27 . A surface cleaning apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the debris retrieval body comprises two separate inlet apertures ( 475 ;  485 ).  
   
   
       28 . A surface cleaning apparatus as claimed in  claim 27 , wherein a first inlet aperture ( 475 ) is connected to a first suction creating means ( 417 ) by a first connection means ( 473 ) and a second inlet aperture ( 485 ) is connected to a second suction creating means by a second connection means ( 483 ) separate from the first connection means ( 473 ).  
   
   
       29 . A surface cleaning apparatus as claimed in  claim 28 , wherein the at least one collecting collection means comprises a collection means ( 413 ) for a portion of debris retrieved by the first inlet aperture ( 475 ) and a separate collection means ( 447 ) for a portion of debris retrieved by the elongate brush arrangement ( 427 ).  
   
   
       30 . A surface cleaning apparatus as claimed in  claim 29 , wherein the collections means ( 413 ) for debris retrieved by the first inlet aperture is in the form of a removable section of the debris retrieval body.  
   
   
       31 . A surface cleaning apparatus as claimed in  claim 28 , wherein the second inlet aperture ( 485 ) has a greater area than the first inlet aperture ( 475 ).