Surface cleaning apparatus

Abstract

A surface cleaning apparatus including a surface cleaning head having a front end, a rear end and a brush that is rotatably mounted about a rotation axis. When the surface cleaning head is placed on a horizontal surface and moved in a forward direction with the brush in position to clean the surface, the rotational axis extends generally horizontally and generally transverse to the forward direction. The brush is rotatable in a clockwise direction and the brush is also rotatable in a counter clockwise direction.

1 . A surface cleaning apparatus comprising a surface cleaning head having a front end, a rear end and a brush that is rotatably mounted about a rotation axis wherein, when the surface cleaning head is placed on a horizontal surface and moved in a forward direction with the brush in position to clean the surface, the rotational axis extends generally horizontally and generally transverse to the forward direction, wherein the brush is rotatable in a clockwise direction and wherein the brush is also rotatable in a counter clockwise direction. 
     
     
         2 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising:
 (a) a first path from the brush to a large particulate collection area wherein, when the brush rotates in one of the clockwise and counter clockwise directions, the brush conveys large particulate matter towards the large particulate collection area; and, 
 (b) a second path from the brush to a small particulate collection area wherein, when the brush rotates in the other of the clockwise and counter clockwise directions, the brush conveys small particulate matter towards the small particulate collection area. 
 
     
     
         3 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 2  wherein, when the brush rotates in the clockwise direction, the brush conveys large particulate matter towards the large particulate collection area and, when the brush rotates in the counter clockwise direction, the brush conveys small particulate matter towards the small particulate collection area. 
     
     
         4 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 3  wherein the large particulate collection area and the small particulate collection area are positioned rearward of the brush and the second path comprises a ramp extending rearwardly to the small particulate collection area. 
     
     
         5 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising:
 (a) a first path from the brush to a collection area wherein, when the brush rotates in one of the clockwise and counter clockwise directions, the brush conveys large particulate matter towards the collection area; and, 
 (b) a second path from the brush to the collection area wherein, when the brush rotates in the other of the clockwise and counter clockwise directions, the brush conveys small particulate matter towards the collection area. 
 
     
     
         6 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 5  wherein, when the brush rotates in the clockwise direction, the brush conveys large particulate matter towards the collection area and, when the brush rotates in the counter clockwise direction, the brush conveys small particulate matter towards the collection area. 
     
     
         7 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 6  wherein the large particulate collection area and the small particulate collection area are positioned rearward of the brush and the second path comprises a ramp extending rearwardly to the collection area. 
     
     
         8 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the brush rotates at a first speed in one of the clockwise and counter clockwise directions and the brush rotates at a second speed in the other of the clockwise and counter clockwise directions and the first speed is less than the second speed. 
     
     
         9 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 1  wherein, when the brush rotates in the clockwise direction, the brush rotates at a first speed and, when the brush rotates in the counter clockwise direction, the brush rotates at a second speed and the first speed is less than the second speed. 
     
     
         10 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the brush rotates in one of the clockwise and counter clockwise directions when the surface cleaning head is moved forwardly and the brush rotates in the other of the clockwise and counter clockwise directions when the surface cleaning head is moved rearwardly. 
     
     
         11 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 10  further comprising a brush motor, the brush motor rotates in a first direction when the surface cleaning head is moved forwardly and the brush motor automatically rotates in an opposite direction when the surface cleaning head is moved rearwardly. 
     
     
         12 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 10  further comprising wheels, the brush is drivingly connected to at least one of the wheels by a mechanical linkage and the mechanical linkage comprises a clutch wherein, when the surface cleaning head is moved forwardly, the cutch is in a first position and the brush motor rotates in a first direction and, when the surface cleaning head is moved rearwardly, the cutch is in a second position and the brush motor rotates in an opposite direction. 
     
     
         13 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 12  further comprising a drive handle that is rotatable from a first position to a second position wherein, when the handle is in the first position, the handle is positioned rearward of the rear end of the surface cleaning head whereby the handle is operable by a user to move the surface cleaning head forwardly, and when the handle is in the second position, the handle is positioned forward of the front end of the surface cleaning head whereby the handle is operable by a user to move the surface cleaning head rearwardly, and movement of the handle moves the clutch between the first and second positions. 
     
     
         14 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 12  wherein a change in direction of rotation of the wheels moves the clutch between the first and second positions. 
     
     
         15 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 1  wherein a user-controlled actuator is operable to selectively control the direction of rotation of the brush. 
     
     
         16 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a suction motor and a suction slot is located rearwardly of the brush. 
     
     
         17 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a collection container that is removable mounted to the surface cleaning apparatus. 
     
     
         18 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a collection container that has a volume that is expandable. 
     
     
         19 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 17  wherein the collection container is a flexible bag and the surface cleaning apparatus further comprises a bag receiver. 
     
     
         20 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a cleaning module that is removably attachable to the surface cleaning apparatus, the cleaning module comprising a liquid reservoir wherein, when the cleaning module is mounted to the surface cleaning apparatus, the surface cleaning apparatus is operable to direct a cleaning fluid at a surface to be cleaned.