Vacuum turbo nozzle with movable visor

Abstract

A vacuum cleaner accessory tool having a housing with a brushroll chamber and an air turbine/motor chamber. The tool has a first inlet into the brushroll chamber, a second inlet into the brushroll chamber, and a hollow attachment tube extending from the housing. The hollow attachment tube is in fluid communication with the brushroll chamber. A brushroll is mounted in the brushroll chamber and adapted to rotate about a brushroll axis. The brushroll has one or more agitators extending from it, which are adapted to extend through the first inlet and the second inlet as the brushroll rotates about the brushroll axis. An air turbine or electric motor is mounted in the turbine/motor chamber and adapted to drive the agitator. A movable visor is provided to cover the first inlet in a first position, and the second inlet in a second position

1 . A vacuum cleaner accessory tool comprising: 
 a housing having a brushroll chamber and an air turbine chamber;    a first inlet into the brushroll chamber;    a second inlet into the brushroll chamber;    a hollow attachment tube extending from the housing, the hollow attachment tube being in fluid communication with the brushroll chamber;    a brushroll mounted in the brushroll chamber and adapted to rotate about a brushroll axis, the brushroll having one or more agitators extending therefrom, the agitators being adapted to extend through the first inlet and the second inlet as the brushroll rotates about the brushroll axis;    an air turbine mounted in the air turbine chamber and adapted to rotate about a turbine axis, the air turbine being adapted to drive the agitator; and    a movable visor adapted to cover the first inlet in a first position, and the second inlet in a second position.    
   
   
       2 . The vacuum cleaner accessory tool of  claim 1 , wherein the movable visor moves between the first position and the second position by rotating about a first axis, the first axis being generally coaxial with the brushroll axis.  
   
   
       3 . The vacuum cleaner accessory tool of  claim 1 , wherein the agitator is driven by the air turbine through a drive belt or a gear set.  
   
   
       4 . The vacuum cleaner accessory tool of  claim 1 , wherein the attachment tube is pivotally attached to the housing.  
   
   
       5 . The vacuum cleaner accessory tool of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the vacuum cleaner accessory tool is generally adapted to clean vertical surfaces when the movable visor is in the first position; and    the vacuum cleaner accessory tool is generally adapted to clean horizontal surfaces when the movable visor is in the second position.    
   
   
       6 . The vacuum cleaner accessory tool of  claim 1 , wherein the visor can be moved between the first position and the second position by pressing the movable visor against a surface being cleaned, and moving the housing relative to the surface being cleaned.  
   
   
       7 . The vacuum cleaner accessory tool of  claim 1 , wherein the visor can be moved by a user's hand between the first position and the second position.  
   
   
       8 . The vacuum cleaner accessory tool of  claim 1 , further comprising a resilient member adapted to releasably retain the visor in one or both of the first position and the second position.  
   
   
       9 . The vacuum cleaner accessory tool of  claim 1 , wherein the air turbine chamber is fluidly interposed between the brushroll chamber and the hollow attachment tube, and the air turbine is driven by air passing from the brushroll chamber to the hollow attachment tube.  
   
   
       10 . The vacuum cleaner accessory tool of  claim 1 , wherein the air turbine chamber is fluidly interposed between a turbine inlet and the hollow attachment tube, the turbine inlet being located separate from the brushroll chamber, and the air turbine is driven by ambient air entering the turbine inlet and passing into the hollow attachment tube.  
   
   
       11 . The vacuum cleaner accessory tool of  claim 1 , wherein the housing further comprises a crosspiece located between and separating the first inlet and the second inlet.  
   
   
       12 . The vacuum cleaner accessory tool of  claim 1 , wherein the housing is adapted to fit in one hand of a typical user.  
   
   
       13 . A vacuum cleaner accessory tool comprising: 
 a housing having a brushroll chamber and a motor chamber;    a first inlet into the brushroll chamber;    a second inlet into the brushroll chamber;    a hollow attachment tube extending from the housing, the hollow attachment tube being in fluid communication with the brushroll chamber;    a brushroll mounted in the brushroll chamber and adapted to rotate about a brushroll axis, the brushroll having one or more agitators extending therefrom, the agitators being adapted to extend through the first inlet and the second inlet as the brushroll rotates about the brushroll axis;    an electric motor mounted in the motor chamber, the electric motor being adapted to drive the agitator; and    a movable visor adapted to cover the first inlet in a first position, and the second inlet in a second position.    
   
   
       14 . The vacuum cleaner accessory tool of  claim 13 , wherein the movable visor moves between the first position and the second position by rotating about a first axis, the first axis being generally coaxial with the brushroll axis.  
   
   
       15 . The vacuum cleaner accessory tool of  claim 13 , wherein the electric motor is powered by one or more auxiliary batteries.  
   
   
       16 . The vacuum cleaner accessory tool of  claim 13 , wherein the electric motor is powered by electrical leads to a vacuum cleaner to which the vacuum cleaner accessory tool is attached.  
   
   
       17 . The vacuum cleaner accessory tool of  claim 13 , wherein the attachment tube is pivotally attached to the housing.  
   
   
       18 . The vacuum cleaner accessory tool of  claim 13 , wherein: 
 the vacuum cleaner accessory tool is generally adapted to clean vertical surfaces when the movable visor is in the first position; and    the vacuum cleaner accessory tool is generally adapted to clean horizontal surfaces when the movable visor is in the second position.    
   
   
       19 . The vacuum cleaner accessory tool of  claim 13 , wherein the visor can be moved between the first position and the second position by pressing the movable visor against a surface being cleaned, and moving the housing relative to the surface being cleaned.  
   
   
       20 . The vacuum cleaner accessory tool of  claim 13 , wherein the visor can be moved by a user's hand between the first position and the second position.  
   
   
       21 . The vacuum cleaner accessory tool of  claim 13 , further comprising a resilient member adapted to releasably retain the visor in one or both of the first position and the second position.  
   
   
       22 . The vacuum cleaner accessory tool of  claim 13 , wherein the housing is adapted to fit in one hand of a typical user.  
   
   
       23 . A vacuum cleaner accessory tool comprising: 
 a housing having an elongated chamber therein;    a first elongated inlet into the elongated chamber;    a second elongated inlet into the elongated chamber;    a hollow attachment tube extending from the housing, the hollow attachment tube being in fluid communication with the elongated chamber;    a movable visor adapted to cover the first inlet in a first position, and the second inlet in a second position.    
   
   
       24 . The vacuum cleaner accessory tool of  claim 23 , wherein the movable visor moves between the first position and the second position by rotating about a first axis, the first axis being generally parallel with the brushroll axis.  
   
   
       25 . The vacuum cleaner accessory tool of  claim 23 , wherein a brushroll is mounted in the elongated chamber and adapted to rotate about a brushroll axis, the brushroll having one or more agitators extending therefrom, the agitators being adapted to extend through the first elongated inlet and the second elongated inlet as the brushroll rotates about the brushroll axis.  
   
   
       26 . The vacuum cleaner accessory tool of  claim 23 , further comprising an air turbine adapted to drive the brushroll.  
   
   
       27 . The vacuum cleaner accessory tool of  claim 23 , further comprising an electric motor adapted to drive the brushroll.  
   
   
       28 . The vacuum cleaner accessory tool of  claim 23 , wherein: 
 the vacuum cleaner accessory tool is generally adapted to clean vertical surfaces when the movable visor is in the first position; and    the vacuum cleaner accessory tool is generally adapted to clean horizontal surfaces when the movable visor is in the second position.    
   
   
       29 . The vacuum cleaner accessory tool of  claim 23 , wherein the visor can be moved between the first position and the second position by pressing the movable visor against a surface being cleaned, and moving the housing relative to the surface being cleaned.  
   
   
       30 . The vacuum cleaner accessory tool of  claim 23 , wherein the visor can be moved by a user's hand between the first position and the second position.  
   
   
       31 . The vacuum cleaner accessory tool of  claim 23 , further comprising a resilient member adapted to releasably retain the visor in one or both of the first position and the second position.  
   
   
       32 . The vacuum cleaner accessory tool of  claim 23 , wherein the housing is adapted to fit in one hand of a typical user.