Agitator with debrider and hair removal

Abstract

A surface cleaning apparatus including a body defining an agitation chamber, an agitator partially disposed within the agitation chamber and configured to rotate about a pivot axis, and a debrider at least partially disposed within the agitation chamber. The agitator includes an elongated body having a first and a second end, a sidewall extending radially outward from the elongated body extending between the first and the second ends, and a plurality of bristles extending radially outward from the elongated body. The plurality of bristles are arranged in at least one row adjacent to the sidewall. The debrider includes a plurality of teeth configured to contact a portion of the sidewall as the agitator rotates about the pivot axis.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A surface cleaning apparatus comprising:
 a body defining an agitation chamber;   an agitator partially disposed within said agitation chamber and configured to rotate about a pivot axis, said agitator comprising:
 an elongated body having a first and a second end; 
 a sidewall extending radially outward from said elongated body, said sidewall extending between said first and said second ends; and 
 a plurality of bristles extending radially outward from said elongated body, said plurality of bristles arranged in at least one row adjacent to said sidewall; and 
   a debrider at least partially disposed within said agitation chamber, said debrider comprising a plurality of teeth configured to contact a portion of said sidewall as said agitator rotates about said pivot axis.   
     
     
         2 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said plurality of bristles are disposed in front of said sidewall as said agitator rotates in a first direction about said pivot axis such that said plurality of bristles lead said sidewall. 
     
     
         3 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein said agitator comprises a first and a second row of said bristles and a first and a second sidewall adjacent to said first and said second row of said bristles, respectively. 
     
     
         4 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said plurality of bristles do not contact said teeth of said debrider as said agitator rotates about said pivot axis. 
     
     
         5 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein said plurality of bristles are arranged in a plurality of tufts, said plurality of tufts arranged in said at least one row, each tuft comprising a plurality of bristles. 
     
     
         6 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein a spacing between adjacent teeth of said plurality of teeth is configured to allow said tufts to pass therebetween as said agitator rotates about said pivot axis. 
     
     
         7 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said plurality of bristles contact said teeth of said debrider as said agitator rotates about said pivot axis. 
     
     
         8 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said plurality of teeth are configured to contact up to 10 mm of the distal most end of said sidewall. 
     
     
         9 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein a distal most end of said sidewall is located within 10 mm of said least one row of said plurality of bristles. 
     
     
         10 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said sidewall comprises a flexible material. 
     
     
         11 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprises at least two rows of said plurality of bristles and at least two sidewalls, wherein only two of said sidewalls are configured to contact said teeth of said debrider as said agitator rotates about said pivot axis. 
     
     
         12 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said debrider includes a central region and first and a second lateral region, wherein said teeth in said lateral region are configured to contact a smaller portion of said sidewall compared to said teeth in said central region as said agitator rotates about said pivot axis. 
     
     
         13 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said debrider includes 0.5-16 teeth per inch. 
     
     
         14 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said plurality of teeth having a spacing of up to 50.8 mm center to center. 
     
     
         15 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a first and a second enlarged end cap disposed at said first and said second ends of said elongated body, said first and said second enlarged end caps extending radially outward beyond the sidewall. 
     
     
         16 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a first and a second end cap disposed at said first and said second ends of said elongated body, wherein sidewall abuts against said first and said second end caps. 
     
     
         17 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein sidewall is received in a recess formed in said first and said second enlarged end caps. 
     
     
         18 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein plurality of bristles extend radially up to 5 mm beyond the sidewall. 
     
     
         19 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said surface cleaning apparatus comprises a robot cleaning apparatus configured to autonomously navigate in a space to pick-up debris. 
     
     
         20 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said surface cleaning apparatus comprises an upright vacuum.