Abstract: A vacuum cleaner includes a housing having a suction nozzle opening, a source of suction in fluid communication with the suction nozzle opening for generating a working air stream through the housing, and a multiply-adjustable debris collecting blade coupled along the rear of the suction nozzle opening for collecting debris.

Abstract: A suction member includes a base part (3) and a plurality of protrusions (2). The base part (3) includes a first surface (4). Each of the protrusions (2) includes a side surface (6) contiguous to the first surface (4) and a top surface (5) contiguous to the side surface (6). The side surface (6) has a plurality of projecting ridges (7) extending in a direction apart from the first surface (4).

Abstract: A surface cleaning apparatus includes a housing including an upright handle assembly and a base mounted to the upright handle assembly and adapted for movement across a surface to be cleaned. The surface cleaning apparatus is further provided with a fluid delivery system comprising a fluid dispenser configured to dispense fluid to a brushroll and at least one fluid delivery channel forming a portion of a fluid delivery pathway. The fluid delivery channel can extend adjacent to a portion of the suction nozzle assembly. An interference wiper interfaces with a portion of the brushroll to remove excess liquid from the brushroll.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a cleaner with improved cleaning efficiency. A cleaner includes a main body having a dust collecting unit and a suction head including a head cover, a base plate having a suction port to suck in foreign substances on a surface to be cleaned and coupled to the head cover, and a brush rotatably provided between the head cover and the base plate, wherein the base plate includes a first inclined portion slantly extending from a front end of the suction port with respect to the surface to be cleaned, and a second inclined portion slantly extending from a rear end of the suction port with respect to the surface to be cleaned, and integrally formed with the first inclined portion.

Abstract: A surface cleaning apparatus includes a fluid delivery system and a fluid recovery system, as well as a hybrid brushroll including a dowel, a plurality of bristle extending from the dowel, and microfiber material provided on the dowel between the bristles. The hybrid brushroll is suitable for use on both hard and soft surfaces, and for wet or dry vacuum cleaning.

Abstract: A tool for a vacuum cleaner that comprises a nozzle and a bristle assembly. The nozzle comprises an elongate suction opening. The bristle assembly, which is mounted within the nozzle and protrudes through the suction opening, comprises a carrier to which a strip of bristles is attached.

Abstract: A floor cleaning head 10 comprises a body portion 12 and a pivotally attached nozzle 16. The nozzle 16 comprises resiliently flexible front and rear extending elongate blades 33, 34 depending from the underside thereof and a transversely extending suction mouth 20 disposed between the blades 33, 34, and intersected by a steam inlet duct 37 to form frontal and rear portions 20F, 20R. The orientation of the nozzle 16 is altered by a mechanism 23, such that the leading blade 33, 34 raises to allow dust and debris to pass beneath, while the trailing blade 34, 33 lowers to form a working edge against the floor surface, against which, dust, dirty water and debris gathers for removal by the induced airflow of an attached floor cleaner (not shown). The head 10 is thus configured to perform separate vacuuming and steam cleaning operations simultaneously, in a single pass.

Abstract: A vacuum cleaner includes a housing having a suction nozzle opening, a source of suction in fluid communication with the suction nozzle opening for generating a working air stream through the housing, and a multiply-adjustable debris collecting blade coupled along the rear of the suction nozzle opening for collecting debris.

Abstract: A tool for a vacuum cleaner that comprises a nozzle and a bristle assembly. A suction opening is provided in the base of the nozzle, which extends from a front to a rear of the nozzle. The bristle assembly is mounted within the nozzle and protrudes through the suction opening. The suction opening is delimited along its length by a leading edge and a trailing edge, and at least part of the leading edge is raised relative to a front end and a rear end of the nozzle. Consequently, when the tool is swept over a cleaning surface and the front end and the rear end of the nozzle contact the cleaning surface, a gap is created between the cleaning surface and the leading edge.

Abstract: A vacuum cleaner includes a housing having a suction nozzle, a source of suction in fluid communication with the suction nozzle for generating a working air stream through the housing, an agitator provided within the housing, and a roller provided in front of the agitator which rolls over larger debris while creating a seal for picking up smaller debris.

Abstract: A dust mitigating device is provided for use in debris handling. A dust mitigating device may comprise a rake having a head and a first axis, a collection head coupled to the rake, and an exit passage in fluid communication with the collection head. The collection head comprises a suction port and has a second axis. The collection head is configured to align with the head of a rake such that the second axis substantially parallel with the first axis and proximate the first axis. The exit passage is configured to couple to a negative pressure source.

Abstract: A tool for a vacuum cleaner that includes a nozzle and a bristle assembly. An elongate suction opening is provided in a base of the nozzle. The bristle assembly is mounted within the nozzle and includes a carrier to which a strip of bristles is attached. The carrier pivots or flexes relative to the nozzle and has a pair of wings located on opposite sides of the bristles.

Abstract: A floor washing-drying machine including a scraping device that is capable of automatic orientation. The scraping device follows changes of direction of the machine by a simple and effective orienting mechanism so as to wipe all the surface washed by a washing mechanism, without leaving any wet portions on the surface. An idle mode mechanism is achieved by a bushing to which the scraping device is connected. The bushing is mounted in an idle and axially slidable mode on the brush rotation shaft.

Abstract: An extractor comprises a foot assembly supported by at least one wheel at a rearward portion thereof and at least one rotatable agitator at a forward portion thereof, a fluid delivery system, a fluid recovery system and an extension with a first end aligned with an inlet for an extraction path and a second end in register with a surface to be cleaned. The foot assembly can be traversed over the surface to be cleaned in alternating forward and rearward movements. Movement of the foot assembly in a rearward direction supports the forward portion of the foot assembly on the extension in a first position and the at least one agitator and movement of the foot assembly in a forward direction shifts support of the forward portion of the foot assembly off of the extension in a second position.

Abstract: An attachment for a vacuum cleaning appliance includes a head and a handle connected to the head. The head includes a bristle carrier having a plurality of bristles, and a bristle cover having a plurality of apertures. A conduit is connectable to a vacuum cleaning appliance for conveying an air flow from the bristle cover towards the appliance. The head includes a suction opening of the conduit and the handle includes an air bleed into the conduit. An actuator effects relative movement between the bristle carrier and the bristle cover from a stowed configuration in which the bristles are retracted relative to the bristle cover to a deployed configuration in which the bristles protrude from the bristle cover through the apertures.

Abstract: An attachment for a vacuum cleaning appliance includes a head and a handle connected to the head. The head includes a bristle carrier having a plurality of bristles, and a bristle cover having a plurality of apertures. A conduit is connectable to a vacuum cleaning appliance for conveying an air flow towards the appliance. The head includes a first suction opening of the conduit and the handle includes a second suction opening of the conduit. An actuator effects relative movement between the bristle carrier and the bristle cover from a stowed configuration in which the bristles are retracted relative to the bristle cover to a deployed configuration in which the bristles protrude from the bristle cover through the apertures.

Abstract: A grooming device includes a head and a handle. A first end of the handle is connected to the head, and a second end of the handle is connectable to a vacuum cleaning appliance. The head includes a bristle carrier having a plurality of bristles, and a bristle cover having a plurality of apertures. The device includes an actuator manually operable by a user to effect relative movement between the bristle carrier and the bristle cover from a stowed configuration in which the bristles are retracted relative to the bristle cover to a deployed configuration in which the bristles protrude from the bristle cover through the apertures. The handle includes a conduit for conveying an air flow from the head to the second end of the handle. Resilient members are provided for returning the head to the stowed configuration automatically when the actuator is released by the user.

Abstract: An attachment for a vacuum cleaning appliance includes a head having a bristle carrier and a bristle cover. The bristle carrier includes a plurality of bristles and the bristle cover includes a plurality of apertures. The attachment includes a conduit which is connectable to a vacuum cleaning appliance for conveying an air flow from the bristle cover towards the appliance, a handle connected to the head, and an actuator which is depressible towards the handle to effect relative movement between the bristle carrier and the bristle cover between a stowed configuration in which the bristles are retracted relative to the bristle cover and a deployed configuration in which the bristles protrude from the bristle cover through the apertures.

Abstract: A method of removing hair from a surface laden with hair comprising moving a hair collection element along the surface in a first direction to collect hair, depositing the collected hair at a first location, gliding the hair collection element along the surface in a second direction away from the first location and removing the collection hair from the first location.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a suction nozzle for a vacuum cleaner, which includes a nozzle body having a contaminants suction port formed on a bottom surface thereof, and a fur-removing member having a fur-removing body rotatably disposed at a side of the contaminants suction port on the nozzle body, a fur-removing portion formed in a plurality of pins vertically to the fur-removing body, and a plurality of rotation cams, wherein when the nozzle body moves in a first direction, the plurality of rotation cams forces the fur-removing body to rotate so that a leading end of the fur-removing portion is spaced apart from a surface to be cleaned.

Abstract: A nozzle assembly of a vacuum cleaner is disclosed. The nozzle assembly includes a nozzle assembly body having an air inlet and an air outlet, a drum brush unit disposed in the nozzle assembly body in the vicinity of the air inlet, and having a drum brush disposed to brush away dirt or dust adhered to a surface to be cleaned while coming in rotation contact therewith, and a movable brush unit disposed in at least one of the front and the rear of the air inlet on an undersurface of the nozzle assembly body to pivot in an opposite direction to a moving direction of the nozzle assembly body thus to change a contacting angle to the surface to be cleaned in the range of a predetermined angle and then to brush away dirt or dust adhered to the surface to be cleaned, in moving of the nozzle assembly body.

Abstract: A nozzle unit for an electric vacuum cleaner has a body case with a nozzle open toward a surface to be cleaned, a first pipe coupled to the body case so as to be rotatable in the direction, and a second pipe coupled to the first pipe so as to be rotatable in the direction. A first and a second air flow passage, formed inside the first and second pipes respectively, are arranged substantially in a straight line as seen in a side view. The first pipe has a sliding portion that has an arc-shaped cross section and that slides along the inner surface of the body case, and this sliding portion is arranged inside the body case, which is substantially rectangular, as seen in a plan view.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for collecting dust is disclosed. Preferably, the dust to be collected is chalk dust. The apparatus includes a housing supporting an eraser head and having a cavity in fluid communication with a suction device. Interposed between the cavity and the suction device is a collection chamber assembly. A matrix of apertures in the front wall are selectively openable and closeable by a controller in response to the orientation of the eraser. When the eraser is moved across a chalkboard to create airborne chalk dust, the apertures are selectively opened by the controller, the suction device urging the airborne chalk dust through the apertures, through the cavity, and into the collection chamber assembly where it is filtered and stored. The method includes the steps of providing the apparatus of the invention, energizing the suction device, and moving the eraser across a chalkboard to collect chalk dust.

Abstract: A nozzle unit for an electric vacuum cleaner has a body case 32 with a nozzle 34a open toward a surface to be cleaned, a first pipe 35 coupled to the body case 32 so as to be rotatable in the direction J1, and a second pipe 36 coupled to the first pipe 35 so as to be rotatable in the direction J2. A first and a second air flow passage, formed inside the first and second pipes 35 and 36 respectively, are arranged substantially in a straight line as seen in a side view. The first pipe 35 has a sliding portion 35a that has an arc-shaped cross section and that slides along the inner surface of the body case 32, and this sliding portion 35a is arranged inside the body case 32, which is substantially rectangular, as seen in a plan view.

Abstract: A vacuum assisted broom for sweeping floors having a sweeping member, preferably in the form of a plurality of stiff bristles, for bi-directional sweeping of the floor. The sweeping member is operatively mounted within a housing member, which housing member partially encloses the sweeping member within its hollow interior such that the bristles depend from the housing member through a first opening. A handle member is securely attached to the housing member and extends upwardly therefrom. The sweeping member has bristles which are extended such that the broom may be used as a conventional broom, and as a vacuum pick-up. An electrical switch is actuated so as to turn on a suction means that is operatively connected to the interior of the housing member, thus to create a partial vacuum, at the first opening of the housing member.

Abstract: A vacuum assisted broom for sweeping floors having a sweeping member, preferably in the form of a plurality of stiff bristles, for bi-directional sweeping of the floor. The sweeping member is operatively mounted within a housing member, which housing member partially encloses the sweeping member within its hollow interior such that the bristles depend from the housing member through a first opening. A handle member is securely attached to the housing member and extends upwardly therefrom. The sweeping member is moveable between a first extended position the bristles are extended sufficiently that the broom may be used as a conventional broom, and a second retracted position where the sweeping member is substantially retracted into the housing member, with only a short end portion of the bristles extending outwardly from the housing member.

Abstract: An electric vacuum cleaner having a suction nozzle comprising a dust inlet formed in a bottom surface of a nozzle body and a rotary brush rotatably mounted therein along said dust inlet, wherein said electric vacuum cleaner having either or both of configurations that said nozzle body has a flexible member mounted to a front wall thereof to rotate back and forth corresponding to the backward and forward movement of said nozzle body so that the flexible member comes in contact with a floor to cover a lower portion of said front wall, and that said nozzle body has a sliding piece slidably mounted on at least one of side walls thereof to open and close the side face corresponding to the backward and forward movement of said nozzle body.

Abstract: A floor nozzle of a vacuum cleaner is provided with an upper nozzle housing hingedly connected to an intake joint of the cleaner and a lower nozzle housing securely connected to the upper nozzle housing through a bumper, with an intake opening being formed on a lower side of the lower nozzle housing. A first air passage communicating between the intake opening and the intake joint is formed in the upper and lower nozzle housings. A dust collector is accommodated in the nozzle housings, and defines in it a second air passage communicating the first air passage. A thread catcher is so accommodated in the dust collector as to be rotatable in response to forward and rearward movement of the floor nozzle. The thread catcher is capable of catching waste thread on a surface to be cleaned when it rotates upon forward movement of the floor nozzle.

Abstract: A sole plate and rake latch assembly in a vacuum cleaner nozzle is provided which is capable of making the nozzle effective for both raking and cleaning shag-type rugs and rugs with short nap. The sole plate is provided with forwardly and rearwardly inclined walls extending upwardly from an air intake opening disposed lengthwise therein. A pivotal rake member is mounted adjacent the upper edge of both the forwardly and rearwardly inclined walls with the inclined walls preferably having recesses formed in their outer surface to receive the lower ends of the rake members in nesting position therein. Several rake latching means are provided which enable the rake members to be moved into either raking position or in nesting position.

Abstract: A blower to clear obstructions such as leaves from a golf green in preparation to "putting" the ball, comprising a head having a slit to be positioned in proximity to the surface of the green. A tubular shaft extends upwardly from the head and terminates in a housing containing a motor having a fan. Batteries in the housing provide current to operate the motor upon actuation of a switch. The fan causes air to flow through the slit to blow the obstructions from the surface of the green in preparation for "putting" the ball. A brush can be positioned on the head to remove obstructions too heavy to be moved by the air stream.

Abstract: An improved tool is disclosed for cleaning hard surface floors. The tool includes a scrubbing block which is pivotally mounted on the lower end of a handle that may be manipulated by a person standing by the tool. A housing is mounted about the scrubbing block and is connected with the scrubbing block by leaf springs so as to permit the housing to "float" with respect to the scrubbing block. The housing includes a bottom surface and curved, generally transverse, front and rear channels that are disposed adjacent to the front and rear of the housing, that are open to the floor, and that are connected with a vacuum conduit. Squeegee blades are disposed in the channels and are carried therein by support members pivotally mounted on the housing. The support members include a plurality of depending feet which support the housing so that its bottom surface is above the floor to be cleaned.