Cleaning head for vacuum cleaner

Abstract

A cleaning head for a vacuum cleaner includes a brushroll chamber and defining an air path, an inlet into the brushroll chamber, and dual counterrotating brushrolls mounted in the brushroll chamber. The brushrolls have sets of tines that are timed to interfere with each other as the brushrolls rotate to pull pet hair and other debris into the air path.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A cleaning head for a vacuum cleaner, comprising:
 a housing having a brushroll chamber and defining an air path;   an inlet into the brushroll chamber, the inlet in fluid communication with the air path;   a first brushroll mounted in the brushroll chamber and configured to rotate about a first axis in first direction, the first brushroll including a first set of tines; and   a second brushroll mounted in the brushroll chamber and configured to rotate about a second axis in a second direction that is counter to the first direction, the second brushroll including a second set of tines;   wherein the second set of tines are timed to interfere with the first set of tines as the first and second brushrolls counterrotate to pull hair into the air path above the first and second brushrolls.   
     
     
         2 . The cleaning head of  claim 1 , wherein the first brushroll comprises an elongated agitator body to which the first set of tines is affixed, with the first set of tines extending outwardly from the elongated agitator body. 
     
     
         3 . The cleaning head of  claim 2 , wherein the first set of tines extend radially from the elongated agitator body, and the first set of tines comprise a root at the elongated agitator body and a tip opposite the root, wherein the root and tip lie in a plane when not subject to external force, and wherein the tip is configured to bend out of the plane when in interference with the second set of tines. 
     
     
         4 . The cleaning head of  claim 2 , wherein the first set of tines comprise a plurality of first tines having roots at the elongated agitator body and tips opposite the roots, wherein the tips are configured to extend through the inlet as the first brushroll rotates. 
     
     
         5 . The cleaning head of  claim 4 , wherein the plurality of first tines comprise an engagement surface that contacts a surface to be cleaned during rotation of the first brushroll, wherein the tips are configured to extend below and through the inlet so that at least of a portion of the engagement surface rubs across the surface to be cleaned to comb hair from the surface to be cleaned. 
     
     
         6 . The cleaning head of  claim 1 , wherein the first set of tines and the second set of tines comprise silicone rubber. 
     
     
         7 . The cleaning head of  claim 1 , wherein the first set of tines and the second set of tines comprise a plurality of tines each having a flat rectilinear body having a root, a tip opposite the root, an engagement surface configured to contact a surface to be cleaned or another tine during rotation of the first and second brushrolls, a non-engagement surface opposite the engagement surface, and lateral sides joining the engagement surface and the non-engagement surface. 
     
     
         8 . The cleaning head of  claim 1 , wherein the first set of tines and the second set of tines comprise a plurality of tines having a tine length, a tine width, and a tine thickness, wherein the tine length is greater than the tine width and the tine thickness, and the tine width is greater than the tine thickness. 
     
     
         9 . The cleaning head of  claim 8 , wherein the tine width is at least three times greater than the tine thickness. 
     
     
         10 . The cleaning head of  claim 8 , wherein the first brushroll comprises a first elongated agitator body and the second brushroll comprises a second elongated agitator body separated from the first elongated agitator body by a gap distance measured along a perpendicular line between the first and second axes, wherein the tine length is greater than at least one half of the gap distance. 
     
     
         11 . The cleaning head of  claim 1 , wherein the first set of tines comprises a plurality of tines arranged in multiple rows, each row extending in a generally helical formation from a first lateral end of the first brushroll to a second lateral end of the first brushroll. 
     
     
         12 . The cleaning head of  claim 1 , wherein the first brushroll comprises a first elongated agitator body and the second brushroll comprises a second elongated agitator body separated from the first elongated agitator body by a gap, and the second set of tines are timed to interfere with the first set of tines as the first and second set of tines move through the gap. 
     
     
         13 . The cleaning head of  claim 1 , wherein individual tines of the first set of tines are arranged on the first brushroll to interfere with respective individual tines of the second set of tines for at least a predetermined number of degrees of rotation as the first and second brushrolls counterrotate. 
     
     
         14 . The cleaning head of  claim 1 , comprising an attachment tube extending from the housing, the attachment tube being in fluid communication with the air path. 
     
     
         15 . An accessory tool for a vacuum cleaner, comprising:
 a housing having a brushroll chamber and defining an air path;   an inlet into the brushroll chamber, the inlet in fluid communication with the air path;   an attachment tube extending from the housing, the attachment tube being in fluid communication with the air path;   a first brushroll mounted in the brushroll chamber and configured to rotate about a first axis in first direction, the first brushroll comprising a first set of tines; and   a second brushroll mounted in the brushroll chamber and configured to rotate about a second axis in a second direction that is counter to the first direction, the second brushroll comprising a second set of tines;   wherein the second set of tines are timed to interfere with the first set of tines as the first and second brushrolls counterrotate to pull hair into the air path above the first and second brushrolls.   
     
     
         16 . The accessory tool of  claim 15 , wherein the housing comprises an air turbine chamber, and comprising an air turbine mounted in the air turbine chamber and configured to rotate about a turbine axis, the air turbine coupled with the first and second brushrolls to drive the rotation of the first and second brushrolls. 
     
     
         17 . The accessory tool of  claim 16 , comprising:
 a belt coupling the air turbine with the first brushroll, wherein the air turbine and first brushroll rotate in same direction; and   a gear set coupling the first brushroll with the second brushroll, wherein the air turbine and second brushroll rotate in opposing directions.   
     
     
         18 . The accessory tool of  claim 15 , comprising at least one suction-focusing notch on an underside of the housing and disposed on a lateral edge of the inlet. 
     
     
         19 . The accessory tool of  claim 15 , wherein the first set of tines and the second set of tines comprise a plurality of tines each having a flat rectilinear body having a root, a tip opposite the root, an engagement surface configured to contact a surface to be cleaned or another tine during rotation of the first and second brushrolls, a non-engagement surface opposite the engagement surface, and lateral sides joining the engagement surface and the non-engagement surface. 
     
     
         20 . A vacuum cleaner comprising:
 a suction source configured to generate a working airstream through a working air path;   a separating and collection assembly configured to separate hair and other debris from the working airstream; and   an accessory tool comprising:
 a housing having a brushroll chamber and defining a tool air path; 
 an inlet into the brushroll chamber, the inlet in fluid communication with the tool air path; 
 an attachment tube extending from the housing, the attachment tube fluidly connecting the tool air path with the working air path; 
 a first brushroll mounted in the brushroll chamber and configured to rotate about a first axis in first direction, the first brushroll including a first set of tines; and 
 a second brushroll mounted in the brushroll chamber and configured to rotate about a second axis in a second direction that is counter to the first direction, the second brushroll including a second set of tines; 
 wherein the second set of tines are timed to interfere with the first set of tines as the first and second brushrolls counterrotate to pull hair into the air path above the first and second brushrolls.