Vacuum cleaner multi-directional brushroll/agitator

Abstract

A vacuum cleaner brushroll/agitator assembly that sweeps carpets/rugs from two opposing directions during vacuum operation. This dual sweeping motion is accomplished by assembling smaller brushroll Sections onto a Center Axle to equal the length and size of the traditional, one-piece brushroll. Each Section rotates in the opposite direction of the adjacent Sections. The new art solves the problem of carpet fibers being constantly swept from only one (the same) side of the fibers during each repetitive-pattern vacuuming episode.

1 . A vacuum cleaner brushroll/agitator whereby the traditional one-piece brushroll/agitator is replaced by the assemblage of several smaller brushroll “Sections” mounted onto a squared Center Axle (six sections would be ideal on a typical household vacuum cleaner, Number of sections can be decreased or increased to adapt to vacuum cleaner type and size), Also mounted onto the Center Axle—between each Section—is a Directional Disc which transfers the direction of rotation of one Section into opposite directional rotation of the next Section, This new art allows carpet fibers to be swept from two opposing directions during a routine vacuuming episode. 
     
     
         2 . Each Section of the brushroll assemblage of  claim 1  is made of nylon, plastic polymer, metal, or other durable material. 
     
     
         3 . Each Section of the brushroll assemblage of  claim 1  is hollow for light weight and to allow for the insertion of Internal Endcaps (ring gears) at each end of the Section. 
     
     
         4 . Each Section of the brushroll assemblage of  claim 1  has one male end and one female end, This allows each section to fit slightly into or around the adjoining section such that the internal workings of the final assemblage are invisible. 
     
     
         5 . Each Section of  claim 1  is completed by installing an Internal Endcap into each end (save the outward-facing ends of the first and last Sections). 
     
     
         6 . A Passive External Endcap is installed on the outward-facing end of the first brushroll Section of the final assemblage of  claim 1 ; A Belt-Driven External Endcap is installed on the outward-facing end of the final (last) Section of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         7 . The outside diameter of each Internal Endcap of  claim 5  is approximately the same as the inside diameter of either the female end of each brushroll Section or the (smaller) male end of each Section. 
     
     
         8 . The face of each Internal Endcap of  claim 5  is a ring gear, The teeth of the ring gear is designed to mesh with the teeth of the bevel gears that are installed on the Directional Disc of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         9 . Each Internal Endcap of  claim 5  is installed in each brushroll Section in a recessed position within the Section, This will allow—upon final assembly of the Sectional Brushroll/Agitator—each Internal Endcap to mesh with a Directional Disc that will be installed between each Section while still allowing each Section to fit slightly into or around each adjacent Section. 
     
     
         10 . The Center Axle of the final assembly of  claim 1  is squared, hollow (for rigidity and light weight) and is of a sufficient length to extend beyond the combined total length of the assembled brushroll Sections. 
     
     
         11 . The length of the Center Axle of the final assembly of  claim 1  is sufficient to extend from one internal side of the vacuum cleaner nozzle housing to the opposing internal side of the nozzle housing. 
     
     
         12 . The Center Axle of  claim 1  mounts into recesses of the internal sides of the vacuum cleaner nozzle housing. 
     
     
         13 . The Directional Disc of  claim 1  is a thin nylon, plastic, or metal disc with bevel-shaped cut-outs in the north, south, east, and west positions. 
     
     
         14 . The Directional Disc of  claim 1  has a squared center opening, The opening is approximately the same size as the outside dimensions of the Center Axle, allowing the Directional Disc to be mounted onto the Center Axle between each brushroll Section, The squared opening will prevent the Directional Disc from rotating during brushroll operation. 
     
     
         15 . The outside diameter of the Directional Disc of  claim 1  does not exceed the outside diameter of the male end of each brushroll Section, This will allow the Directional Disc—along with the male end of each Section—to fit into (and be hidden by) the female end of the next Section. 
     
     
         16 . The Directional Disc of  claim 1  has bevel gears installed in the bevel cutouts of each Directional Disc, The gears are installed by inserting pins through the edge of the Disc, with each pin entering the bevel cutout, passing through the center of each bevel gear, and into the body of the Directional Disc, The pins are secured either by tension (“tight fit” through the opening in the edge of the Disc) or via adhesion. 
     
     
         17 . Round Bushings are a part of the installation of each brushroll Section onto the Center Axle of  claim 1 —fitting into the center openings of each Internal Endcap of  claim 5  and each External Endcap of  claim 6 , The outside diameter of each bushing is slightly less than the diameter of the center opening of each Internal and External Endcap—thus allowing each Endcap (ergo, each Section) to rotate on the squared Center Axle. 
     
     
         18 . Each Bushing of  claim 17  has a thickness that is equal to—or slightly greater than—the thickness of the center opening of each Internal and External Endcap. 
     
     
         19 . Each Bushing of  claim 17  has a squared center opening to allow installation of the Bushing onto the squared Center Axle, The Bushing fits snugly onto the Center Axle to resist lateral movement of the Bushing along the Center Axle during normal operation of the brushroll/agitator 
     
     
         20 . As an alternative to Bushings, Sleeves can be used as part of the installation of each brushroll Section onto the Center Axle of  claim 1 , The Sleeves would be made of the same material as the Bushings. 
     
     
         21 . The Sleeve of  claim 20 , wherein the center opening would be square, The dimensions of the center opening would be approximately the same as the outside dimensions of the squared Center Axle to allow the Sleeve to be inserted onto the Center Axle. 
     
     
         22 . The Sleeve of  claim 20  would be inserted into each assembled brushroll/agitator Section. 
     
     
         23 . The Sleeve of  claim 20  would have a length greater than the length of each assembled Section, sufficient to contact the face of one Directional Disc, pass through the center of each assembled Section, then contact the face of the next Directional Disc—thus preventing lateral movement of the Sleeve along the Center Axle. 
     
     
         24 . The outside diameter of each Sleeve of  claim 20  is the same as that of each Bushing of  claim 17 . 
     
     
         25 . Two Lock Rings or Axle Caps are used to bind the assembled parts of  claim 1  onto the Center Axle. 
     
     
         26 . If Lock Rings are used as part of  claim 25 , a sufficient length of the Center Axle of  claim 10  extends beyond each Lock Ring such that each end of the Center Axle can be mounted into recesses of the inside walls of the vacuum cleaner brushroll housing. 
     
     
         27 . If Axle Caps are used as part of  claim 25 , each end of the Center Axle would extend into each Axle Cap and the “tops” of the Axle Caps would be mounted into recesses of the inside walls of the vacuum cleaner brushroll housing.