Vacuum cleaner with agitator assembly incorporating a clutch mechanism

Abstract

An upright vacuum cleaner includes a housing having a handle assembly pivotally connected to a nozzle assembly. A suction generator and dirt collection vessel are carried on the housing. The suction generator includes a drive motor. A rotary agitator assembly and a suction inlet are carried on the nozzle assembly. The rotary agitator assembly includes an axle, a drive pulley mounted on the axle, an agitator body mounted on the axle and a clutch assembly. The clutch assembly includes a first clutch element, a second clutch element, a first biasing spring, a second biasing spring and an actuator that allows the operator to selectively engage and disengage the clutch assembly.

1 . An upright vacuum cleaner, comprising:
 a housing including a handle assembly pivotally connected to a nozzle assembly, said nozzle assembly including a suction inlet;   a suction generator carried on said housing, said suction generator including a drive motor;   a dirt collection vessel carried on said housing; and   a rotary agitator assembly carried on said nozzle assembly, said rotary agitator assembly including an axle, a drive pulley mounted on said axle, an agitator body mounted on said axle and a clutch assembly;   said clutch assembly including a first clutch element carried on said drive pulley, a second clutch element carried on said agitator body, a first spring biasing said first and second clutch elements apart with a biasing force F 1 , a second spring biasing said first and second clutch elements together with a biasing force F 2 , a spring holder holding said second spring and an actuator to selectively engage and displace said spring holder and thereby disengage said clutch assembly and interrupt drive-to said agitator body.   
   
   
       2 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 1 , wherein said, biasing force F 2  of said second spring is greater than said biasing force F 1  of said first spring. 
   
   
       3 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 2 , wherein said agitator body includes a first end cap at a first end and a second end cap at a second end. 
   
   
       4 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 3 , further including a first bearing assembly held in said first end cap and a second bearing assembly held in said second end cap, said first and second bearing assemblies allowing said agitator body to rotate freely on said axle. 
   
   
       5 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 4 , further including a third bearing assembly held in said drive pulley, said third bearing assembly allowing said drive pulley to rotate freely on said axle. 
   
   
       6 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 5 , further including a first mounting block at a first end of said axle and a second mounting block at a second end of said axle. 
   
   
       7 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 6 , wherein said actuator is carried by said second mounting block. 
   
   
       8 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 7 , wherein said spring holder includes a flange and said actuator includes a cam. 
   
   
       9 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 8 , wherein said cam includes a sloped surface that engages said flange or said spring holder. 
   
   
       10 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 9 , wherein, said actuator is displaceable between a first position out of engagement with said flange wherein said clutch assembly is engaged and said agitator body is driven and a second position wherein, said clutch, assembly is disengaged and drive to said agitator body is interrupted. 
   
   
       11 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 1 , wherein said dirt collection vessel is a dirt cup. 
   
   
       12 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 11 , wherein said dirt cup includes a cylindrical sidewall, a tangentially directed inlet and an axially directed outlet. 
   
   
       13 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 12 , further including a primary filter received in said dirt cup over said axially directed outlet. 
   
   
       14 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 1 , wherein said dirt collection vessel is a filter bag. 
   
   
       15 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 1 , wherein said second clutch element is made from rubber.