Cleaner head for a vacuum cleaner

Abstract

A cleaner head for a vacuum cleaner includes a suction cavity having an opening through which debris enters the cleaner head, and an outlet. An agitator is mounted in the suction cavity in a cantilevered manner for rotation relative thereto. The agitator includes a core which is conical in shape and has a first, free end and a second end which has a larger diameter than the first end. The cleaner head includes an agitator engaging member for pressing against the agitator any debris which has become wrapped around the agitator.

1 . A cleaner head for a vacuum cleaner, the cleaner head comprising:
 a suction cavity comprising an opening through which debris enters the cleaner head, and an outlet;   an agitator mounted in the suction cavity in a cantilevered manner for rotation relative thereto, the agitator comprising a core which is conical in shape and has a first, free end and a second end which has a larger diameter than the first end; and   an agitator engaging member for pressing against the agitator any debris which has become wrapped around the agitator.   
     
     
         2 . The cleaner head as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the core has an external surface which is inclined at a cone angle to the longitudinal axis of the agitator, and wherein the engaging member extends in a direction which is inclined at the cone angle to the longitudinal axis of the agitator. 
     
     
         3 . The cleaner head as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the cleaner head comprises a sole plate in which the opening is formed, and wherein, in use, the lowermost portion of the external surface of the core is parallel to the sole plate. 
     
     
         4 . The cleaner head as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the engaging member extends substantially the entire length of the agitator. 
     
     
         5 . The cleaner head as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the engaging member is biased towards the agitator. 
     
     
         6 . The cleaner head as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the engaging member comprises a resilient member which is biased towards the agitator. 
     
     
         7 . The cleaner head as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the resilient member is in the form of a strip of resilient material. 
     
     
         8 . The cleaner head as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein the strip of resilient member has a substantially uniform width. 
     
     
         9 . The cleaner head as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the suction cavity is defined by a substantially conical housing of the cleaner head, and wherein the engaging member is mounted on the housing. 
     
     
         10 . The cleaner head as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the engaging member is located opposite to the opening through which debris enters the cleaner head. 
     
     
         11 . The cleaner head as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the engaging member is located adjacent to the opening through which debris enters the cleaner head. 
     
     
         12 . The cleaner head as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the core of the agitator comprises upstanding helical ridges, and the agitator comprises a row of bristles located between the helical ridges. 
     
     
         13 . The cleaner head as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein the engaging member is arranged to press wrapped debris against at least the bristles of the agitator. 
     
     
         14 . The cleaner head as claimed in any preceding  claim 1 , comprising a drive for driving rotation of the agitator, and wherein the agitator is connected to the drive at or towards the second end of the agitator. 
     
     
         15 . The cleaner head as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein the drive comprises a motor located externally of the agitator, and a belt connecting the agitator to the motor.