Abstract: A cleaner head for a vacuum cleaning appliance includes a main body, a front agitator and a rear agitator, each agitator being rotatable relative to the main body, a mechanism for rotating the front agitator and the rear agitator, and a surface agitating edge located between the front agitator and the rear agitator.

Abstract: A cleaner head for a vacuum cleaning appliance includes a main body, a front agitator and a rear agitator, each agitator being rotatable relative to the main body, a mechanism for rotating the front agitator and the rear agitator, and a surface agitating edge located between the front agitator and the rear agitator.

Abstract: A cleaner head for a vacuum cleaning appliance includes a main body, a front agitator and a rear agitator, each agitator being rotatable relative to the main body, a mechanism for rotating the front agitator and the rear agitator, and a surface agitating edge located between the front agitator and the rear agitator.

Abstract: A clutch assembly for a surface treatment appliance includes an input clutch member, an output clutch member driven by the input clutch member, a motorized mechanism for effecting relative movement between the input clutch member and the output clutch member from an engaged position, in which torque is transmitted by the output clutch member to an output, to a disengaged position, in which torque is not transmitted to the output, and a control system for actuating the motorized mechanism.

Abstract: A cleaner head for a vacuum cleaning appliance includes a main body having a downwardly-directed suction opening and at least one surface engaging support member, a front agitator and a rear agitator, with each agitator being rotatable relative to the main body, and a mechanism for rotating the front agitator and the rear agitator. The front agitator has a relatively flexible pile and the rear agitator has relatively stiff bristles arranged to dislodge matter from the pile of the front agitator. The pile of the front agitator and the at least one surface engaging support member extend downwardly beyond the bristles of the rear agitator so as to space the bristles of the rear agitator from a relatively hard surface to be cleaned.

Abstract: A cleaner head for a cleaning appliance includes a housing, a suction opening through which dirt-bearing air enters the cleaner head, and a plurality of floor engaging support members connected to the housing. Each support member includes a curved lower surface and a rolling element located within a recessed portion of the lower surface of the support member. The outer surface of the rolling element is substantially coincident with a locus, or virtual surface, described by the lower surface of the support member.

Abstract: A cleaner head for a cleaning appliance includes a housing, a moveable agitator located within the housing, and a detachable unit extending about the agitator. The detachable unit includes a sole plate having a suction opening through which dirt-bearing air enters the cleaner head, a chassis detachably connected to the housing, and a flexible annular seal for allowing relative movement between the housing and the sole plate. One end of the flexible annular seal is connected to the chassis and the other end of the flexible annular seal is connected to the sole plate.

Abstract: A cleaner head for a cleaning appliance including a housing having an air outlet, a rotary brush bar assembly located within a chamber of the housing, the chamber having an air outlet which is in fluid communication with the air outlet of the housing, and a drive mechanism for driving the brush bar assembly, the drive mechanism extending into the chamber between first and second side walls of the chamber, wherein the brush bar assembly comprises a first brush bar section located within a first section of the chamber between the drive mechanism and the first side wall of the chamber, and a second brush bar section located within a second section of the chamber between the drive mechanism and the second side wall of the chamber, and wherein the air outlet of the chamber extends between and into both sections of the chamber.

Abstract: A surface treating head assembly for an appliance such as a vacuum cleaner includes a head and a piston assembly operable to apply a force to the head. The piston assembly is connected to the main motor of the vacuum cleaner by a valve. When the valve is opened, suction airflow flows through tubes connecting the motor to the piston assembly. The resulting suction force causes the piston assembly to contract, thereby drawing the cleaner head downwards. Thus, the head is urged towards the floor surface so as to improve the efficiency of a cleaning operation.

Abstract: A cleaner head for a cleaning appliance includes a housing, a sole plate for engaging with the floor surface, the sole plate comprising a suction opening through which dirt-bearing air enters the cleaner head, and a flexible annular seal located between the sole plate and the housing to allow the housing to move relative to the sole plate to reduce the force exerted on the sole plate by the housing, thereby allowing the sole plate to ride over the floor surface during a cleaning operation. The cleaner head includes at least one floor engaging support member connected to the housing for restricting the movement of the housing towards the sole plate to prevent the housing from pushing the sole plate against the floor surface.

Abstract: A cleaner head for a vacuum cleaning appliance includes a main body having a downwardly-directed suction opening and at least one surface engaging support member, a front agitator and a rear agitator, with each agitator being rotatable relative to the main body, and a mechanism for rotating the front agitator and the rear agitator. The front agitator has a relatively flexible pile and the rear agitator has relatively stiff bristles arranged to dislodge matter from the pile of the front agitator. The pile of the front agitator and the at least one surface engaging support member extend downwardly beyond the bristles of the rear agitator so as to space the bristles of the rear agitator from a relatively hard surface to be cleaned.

Abstract: A cleaner head for a vacuum cleaning appliance includes a main body, a front agitator and a rear agitator, each agitator being rotatable relative to the main body, a mechanism for rotating the front agitator and the rear agitator, and a surface agitating edge located between the front agitator and the rear agitator.

Abstract: A surface treating head includes a main body, a suction cavity in the main body including first and second suction channels, each of which is bounded on one side by a working edge, an air duct interposed between the first and second suction channels for conveying air towards the working edges, a brush unit and a drive mechanism for moving the brush unit between a stowed position in which the air duct is open to the atmosphere and a deployed position in which the air duct is closed.

Abstract: A surface treating head assembly for an appliance such as a vacuum cleaner includes a head and a drivable agitator in the form of a brush bar, rotatably housed in the head. A cam arrangement is rotatably driven in the head. The cam arrangement includes a pair of cams, each having a plurality of cam faces, each cam face corresponding to respective predetermined vertical positions of the brush bar. Thus, the height of the brush bar is selectively controllable between the predetermined positions, such that the depth of penetration of the bristles of the brush bar may be optimized for different types of carpet.

Abstract: A surface treating head includes a main body, a suction cavity in the main body including first and second suction channels, each of which is bounded on one side by a working edge, an air duct interposed between the first and second suction channels for conveying air towards the working edges, a brush unit and a drive mechanism for moving the brush unit between a stowed position in which the air duct is open to the atmosphere and a deployed position in which the air duct is closed.

Abstract: A cleaner head for a cleaning appliance including a housing having an air outlet, a rotary brush bar assembly located within a chamber of the housing, the chamber having an air outlet which is in fluid communication with the air outlet of the housing, and a drive mechanism for driving the brush bar assembly, the drive mechanism extending into the chamber between first and second side walls of the chamber, wherein the brush bar assembly comprises a first brush bar section located within a first section of the chamber between the drive mechanism and the first side wall of the chamber, and a second brush bar section located within a second section of the chamber between the drive mechanism and the second side wall of the chamber, and wherein the air outlet of the chamber extends between and into both sections of the chamber.

Abstract: A cleaner head for a cleaning appliance includes a housing, a suction opening through which dirt-bearing air enters the cleaner head, and a plurality of floor engaging support members connected to the housing. Each support member includes a curved lower surface and a rolling element located within a recessed portion of the lower surface of the support member. The outer surface of the rolling element is substantially coincident with a locus, or virtual surface, described by the lower surface of the support member.

Abstract: A cleaner head for a cleaning appliance includes a housing, a sole plate for engaging with the floor surface, the sole plate comprising a suction opening through which dirt-bearing air enters the cleaner head, and a flexible annular seal located between the sole plate and the housing to allow the housing to move relative to the sole plate to reduce the force exerted on the sole plate by the housing, thereby allowing the sole plate to ride over the floor surface during a cleaning operation. The cleaner head includes at least one floor engaging support member connected to the housing for restricting the movement of the housing towards the sole plate to prevent the housing from pushing the sole plate against the floor surface.

Abstract: A cleaner head for a cleaning appliance includes a housing, a moveable agitator located within the housing, and a detachable unit extending about the agitator. The detachable unit includes a sole plate having a suction opening through which dirt-bearing air enters the cleaner head, a chassis detachably connected to the housing, and a flexible annular seal for allowing relative movement between the housing and the sole plate. One end of the flexible annular seal is connected to the chassis and the other end of the flexible annular seal is connected to the sole plate.

Abstract: A clutch assembly for a surface treatment appliance includes an input clutch member, an output clutch member driven by the input clutch member, a control system for determining the difference between the rotational speeds of the input clutch member and the output clutch member, and a drive system for effecting relative movement between the input clutch member and the output clutch member from an engaged position, in which torque is transmitted by the output clutch member to an output, to a disengaged position, in which torque is not transmitted to the output, depending on said difference between the rotational speeds.