Vacuum cleaner head having agitator element and rib

Abstract

A cleaner head for a vacuum cleaner, the cleaner head having a housing defining a suction chamber comprising an outlet, and an agitator element mounted to the housing for rotation about a first axis such that the agitator comprises a first, free end and a second end. The housing comprises at least one rib extending within the housing along a helical, spiral, or angled path, the rib contacting the agitator element, such that, in use, hair picked up by the agitator element is moved axially towards the first end by the at least one rib as the agitator element rotates.

1 . A cleaner head for a vacuum cleaner, the cleaner head comprising:
 a housing defining a suction chamber comprising an outlet; and   an agitator element, the agitator element being mounted to said housing for rotation about a first axis such that the agitator element comprises a first, free end and a second end;   wherein the housing comprises at least one rib extending within the housing along a helical, spiral, or angled path, the rib contacting the agitator element, such that, in use, hair picked up by the agitator element is moved axially towards the first end by the at least one rib as the agitator element rotates.   
     
     
         2 . The cleaner head of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one rib comprises a contact face on a side of the rib facing the first end, the contact face being inclined relative to an outer surface of the agitator element at inclination angle greater than 90 degrees. 
     
     
         3 . The cleaner head of  claim 2 , wherein the inclination angle varies along at least part of a length of the rib. 
     
     
         4 . The cleaner head of  claim 3 , wherein the rib comprises a leading portion and a trailing portion relative to the direction of rotation of the agitator element, and the inclination angle increases in a direction towards the trailing portion. 
     
     
         5 . The cleaner head of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one rib is canted at a cant angle towards the first end, along at least part of a length of the rib. 
     
     
         6 . The cleaner head of  claim 5 , wherein the cant angle varies along at least a part of the length of the rib's length. 
     
     
         7 . The cleaner head of  claim 2 , wherein the contact face of the at least one rib includes, in cross section, an acutely angled corner for scraping hair from or along the agitator element. 
     
     
         8 . The cleaner head of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one of the ribsrib includes a ramped leading portion. 
     
     
         9 . The cleaner head of  claim 1 , including a plurality of the ribs, wherein ends of adjacent ribs overlap with each other, such that, in use, hair picked up by the agitator element is moved from rib to rib as the agitator element rotates. 
     
     
         10 . The cleaner head of  claim 1 , wherein the agitator element has a shape that tapers towards the first end in a direction along the first axis. 
     
     
         11 . The cleaner head of  claim 1 , wherein contact pressure between the at least one rib and the outer surface increases closer to the first end. 
     
     
         12 . The cleaner head of  any preceding claim 1 , comprising a plurality of the at least one rib, wherein the ribs are axially more closely spaced towards the first end. 
     
     
         13 . The cleaner head of  any preceding claim 1 , comprising a plurality of the least one rib, wherein the ribs overlap axially to a greater extent towards the first end. 
     
     
         14 . The cleaner head of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one rib traces a helix of a single, constant axial pitch. 
     
     
         15 . The cleaner head of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one rib traces a varying angle relative to the housing. 
     
     
         16 . The cleaner head of  claim 1 , comprising a motor for rotating the agitator element in use. 
     
     
         17 . The cleaner head of  claim 1 , wherein the agitator element comprises a textile covering or bristles disposed on the outer surface. 
     
     
         18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . The cleaner head of  claim 1 , wherein the outer surface is resiliently compressible. 
     
     
         20 . The cleaner head of  claim 19 , wherein a distance by which the at least one rib compresses the resiliently compressible material increases closer to the first end. 
     
     
         21 . The cleaner head of  any preceding claim 1 , comprising a further agitator element, wherein agitator element and the further agitator element are adjacent to each other and axes of rotation of the agitator element and the further agitator element are disposed within a common plane. 
     
     
         22 . (canceled) 
     
     
         23 . (canceled)