Vacuum cleaner having a variable speed brushroll

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a vacuum cleaner for cleaning several floor types. The vacuum cleaner includes a rotational brush roll for interfacing with the several floor types, a multi-speed motor for driving the brush roll, a speed control mechanism for controlling the speed of the multi-speed motor, and an input mechanism whereby a user selects a speed of the multi-speed motor. Further, the input mechanism is associated with at least three different speed settings.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A vacuum cleaner for cleaning several floor types, the cleaner comprising: 
 a rotational brushroll for interfacing with several floor types, the several floor types to be cleaned;    a motor for driving the brushroll, the motor having a multitude of speed settings;    speed control means for controlling the motor speed, with each motor speed causing an associated rotational speed of the brushroll to tailor the interface of the brushroll with the respective floor types to be cleaned; and    input means for the manual control of the speed control means.    
     
     
         2 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 1 , wherein the input means is associated with at least three discrete settings.  
     
     
         3 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 1 , further comprising a brushroll housing.  
     
     
         4 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 3 , wherein the brushroll is housed in the brush roll housing.  
     
     
         5 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 4 , wherein the motor for driving the brushroll is housed in the brushroll housing.  
     
     
         6 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 1 , wherein the brushroll includes means for moving particulate matter.  
     
     
         7 . A method for cleaning several floor types, the method comprising: 
 evaluating a type of floor to be cleaned;    selecting a brushroll speed based on the type of floor to be cleaned; and    cleaning the floor.