Rotatable brush for surface cleaning apparatus

Abstract

A surface cleaning apparatus has a rotatably mounted brush. The brush has a plurality of bristles which have a bristle radial length, a forward rotational side and a rearward rotational side in a direction of rotation of the brush. A trailing hair blocking member is provided adjacent the rearward rotational side of the bristles, the trailing hair blocking member having a trailing hair blocking radial length, wherein in a plane transverse to the axis of rotation, the trailing hair blocking radial length of the trailing hair blocking member is proximate the bristle length, whereby the trailing hair blocking member interacts with the floor during rotation of the brush.

1 . A surface cleaner for cleaning a floor comprising:
 (a) an air flow path extending from a dirty air inlet to a clean air outlet with an air treatment member and a suction motor provided in the air flow path;   (b) a rotatably mounted brush associated with the dirty air inlet, the rotatably mounted brush having an axis of rotation, a brush length in the axial direction, a radial outer surface, and first and second axially spaced apart sides;   (c) a plurality of bristles extending outwardly from the radial outer surface, the bristles having a bristle length from the radial outer surface to an outer end of the bristles, the bristles having a forward rotational side and a rearward rotational side in a direction of rotation of the brush;   (d) a trailing hair blocking member provided adjacent the rearward rotational side of the bristles, the trailing hair blocking member having a trailing hair blocking length from the radial outer surface to an outer end of the trailing hair blocking member, wherein in a plane transverse to the axis of rotation, the trailing hair blocking length of the trailing hair blocking member is proximate the bristle length, whereby the trailing hair blocking member interacts with the floor during rotation of the brush.   
     
     
         2 . The surface cleaner of  claim 1  wherein the trailing hair blocking member is made of an elastomeric material. 
     
     
         3 . The surface cleaner of  claim 1  further comprising a hard floor cleaning pad positioned rearward of the trailing hair blocking member in a direction of rotation of the brush. 
     
     
         4 . The surface cleaner of  claim 3  wherein the hard floor cleaning pad comprises microfiber material. 
     
     
         5 . The surface cleaner of  claim 3  wherein, in the direction of rotation of the brush, the hard floor cleaning pad extends angularly around the brush from the trailing hair blocking member to a location adjacent the forward rotational side of the bristles. 
     
     
         6 . The surface cleaner of  claim 5  wherein, in a direction of rotation of the brush, the hard floor cleaning pad extends angularly around the brush from a location adjacent the rearward rotational side of the trailing hair blocking member to the location adjacent the forward rotational side of the bristles. 
     
     
         7 . The surface cleaner of  claim 6  wherein the hard floor cleaning pad has a pad length from the radial outer surface to an outer end of the pad and the pad length is shorter than the bristle length. 
     
     
         8 . The surface cleaner of  claim 7  wherein the hard floor cleaning pad has a pad length from the radial outer surface to an outer end of the pad and the pad length is shorter than the trailing hair blocking length. 
     
     
         9 . The surface cleaner of  claim 7  further comprising a leading hair blocking member provided on the forward rotational side of the bristles, the leading hair blocking member having a leading hair blocking length from the radial outer surface to an outer end of the leading hair blocking member. 
     
     
         10 . The surface cleaner of  claim 9  wherein the leading hair blocking member is provided adjacent the forward rotational side of the bristles. 
     
     
         11 . The surface cleaner of  claim 10  wherein the leading hair blocking member abuts the forward rotational side of the bristles. 
     
     
         12 . The surface cleaner of  claim 9  wherein the leading hair blocking length is shorter than the trailing hair blocking length. 
     
     
         13 . The surface cleaner of  claim 1  wherein the trailing hair blocking member abuts the rearward rotational side of the bristles. 
     
     
         14 . The surface cleaner of  claim 3  wherein the trailing hair blocking member is less flexible than the bristles. 
     
     
         15 . The surface cleaner of  claim 1  wherein, at a location at which the plane transverse to the axis of rotation intersects the brush, the trailing hair blocking length and the bristle length essentially have a common length. 
     
     
         16 . The surface cleaner of  claim 1  wherein, at a location at which the plane transverse to the axis of rotation intersects the brush, a hard floor cleaning pad extends uninterruptedly angularly around the brush from the trailing hair blocking member to a location adjacent the forward rotational side of the bristles. 
     
     
         17 . The surface cleaner of  claim 16  wherein the hard floor cleaning pad has a pad length from the radial outer surface to an outer end of the pad and the pad length is shorter than the bristle length. 
     
     
         18 . The surface cleaner of  claim 17  wherein, at a location at which the plane transverse to the axis of rotation intersects the brush, the trailing hair blocking length and the bristle length essentially have a common length. 
     
     
         19 . The surface cleaner of  claim 17  wherein the hard floor cleaning pad has a pad length from the radial outer surface to an outer end of the pad and the pad length is shorter than the trailing hair blocking length. 
     
     
         20 . The surface cleaner of  claim 1  wherein, in a direction of rotation of the brush, a hard floor cleaning pad extends angularly around the brush from a location adjacent the rearward rotational side of the trailing hair blocking member to the location adjacent the forward rotational side of the bristles.