Agitator for a surface treatment apparatus and a surface treatment apparatus having the same

Abstract

An agitator for a vacuum cleaner including an elongated main body extending along a pivot axis and having first and second opposite lateral ends, one or more soft cleaning elements extending from elongated main body between the first and second opposite lateral ends, one or more channels formed within the one or more soft cleaning elements and disposed between the first and second opposite lateral ends, and one or more deformable flaps disposed within the one or more channels and extending from the elongated main body.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An agitator for a vacuum cleaner comprising:
 an elongated main body extending along a pivot axis and having first and second opposite lateral ends;   one or more soft cleaning elements extending from elongated main body between the first and second opposite lateral ends;   one or more channels formed within the one or more soft cleaning elements and disposed between the first and second opposite lateral ends; and   one or more deformable flaps disposed within the one or more channels and extending from the elongated main body.   
     
     
         2 . The agitator of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more channels is configured to allow the one or more deformable flaps to move forward and backward as the agitator rotates about the pivot axis. 
     
     
         3 . The agitator of  claim 2 , wherein the one or more channels have a width proximate an opening of the one or more channel that is 3-20 mm wide. 
     
     
         4 . The agitator of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more soft cleaning elements extend over a substantial portion of a generally cylindrical portion of the elongated main body. 
     
     
         5 . The agitator of  claim 4 , wherein the one or more soft cleaning elements extend over the entire generally cylindrical portion of the elongated main body except where the at least one channel is formed. 
     
     
         6 . The agitator of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more channels includes a first and a second channel and wherein the one or more deformable flaps includes a first and a second deformable flap disposed within the first and second channel, respectively, the first channel extending from the first lateral end to a central region of the agitator and the second channel extending from the second lateral end to the central region of the agitator. 
     
     
         7 . The agitator of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more channels extends from the first lateral end to the second lateral end of the agitator. 
     
     
         8 . The agitator of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more channels have a generally “U” cross-sectional shape. 
     
     
         9 . The agitator of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more channels have a generally “V” cross-sectional shape. 
     
     
         10 . The agitator of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more deformable flaps have a height extending radially outward from the elongated main body that is equal to a height of the one or more soft cleaning elements. 
     
     
         11 . The agitator of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more deformable flaps have a height extending radially outward from the elongated main body that is less than a height of the one or more soft cleaning elements. 
     
     
         12 . The agitator of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more deformable flaps have a height extending radially outward from the elongated main body that is greater than a height of the one or more soft cleaning elements. 
     
     
         13 . The agitator of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more bristle strips disposed within the one or more channels. 
     
     
         14 . The agitator of  claim 13 , wherein the one or more bristle strips is disposed rotationally before the one or more deformable flaps. 
     
     
         15 . The agitator of  claim 13 , wherein the one or more bristle strips is disposed rotationally after the one or more deformable flaps. 
     
     
         16 . The agitator of  claim 13 , wherein the one or more bristle strips has a height extending radially outward from the elongated main body that is greater than a height of the one or more soft cleaning elements. 
     
     
         17 . The agitator of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more rows of tufts disposed within the one or more channels. 
     
     
         18 . The agitator of  claim 17 , wherein the one or more rows of tufts is disposed rotationally before the one or more deformable flaps. 
     
     
         19 . The agitator of  claim 17 , wherein the one or more rows of tufts is disposed rotationally after the one or more deformable flaps. 
     
     
         20 . The agitator of  claim 17 , wherein the one or more bristle strips has a height extending radially outward from the elongated main body that is greater than a height of the one or more soft cleaning elements.