Floor tool

Abstract

A floor tool for an apparatus for cleaning a floor surface includes a source of suction. The floor tool includes a housing having an interior surface that defines a chamber for receiving at least a portion of a cleaning member. The housing includes a chamber inlet for receiving dirty air, and a chamber outlet for communication with the suction source. The housing is formed of at least two housing portions which provide said interior surface and all of said housing portions are permanently connected or permanently joined to each other.

1 - 48 . (canceled) 
     
     
         49 . A floor tool for an apparatus for cleaning a floor surface, said apparatus including a source of suction, the floor tool including:
 a housing having an interior surface that defines a chamber for receiving at least a portion of a cleaning member, the housing including:
 a chamber inlet for receiving dirty air; and 
 a chamber outlet for communication with the suction source, 
   wherein the housing is formed of at least two housing portions which provide said interior surface and all of said housing portions are permanently connected or permanently joined to each other.   
     
     
         50 . A floor tool according to  claim 49 , wherein one of the housing portions includes a floor facing surface and the chamber inlet is formed at least partially, and preferably completely, in said housing portion. 
     
     
         51 . A floor tool according to  claim 49 , wherein the housing has an opening through which the cleaning member can pass into the chamber. 
     
     
         52 . A floor tool according to  claim 51 , wherein the opening is formed in a laterally facing side wall of the housing. 
     
     
         53 . A floor tool according to  claim 51 , including a cleaning member positioned at least partially in the chamber. 
     
     
         54 . A floor tool according to  claim 53 , wherein a portion of the cleaning member extends outside of the chamber. 
     
     
         55 . A floor tool according to  claim 53 , wherein the housing includes a closing member that co-operates with the cleaning member so as to substantially seal a remainder of the opening in a fluid tight manner. 
     
     
         56 . A floor tool according to  claim 55 , wherein the closing member includes two closing member parts which engage each other. 
     
     
         57 . A floor tool according to  claim 56 , wherein one or both closing member parts include a recess to receive a portion of the cleaning member. 
     
     
         58 . A floor tool according to  claim 49 , including a removable cover member which together with the housing forms a space for receiving a drivable portion of the cleaning member. 
     
     
         59 . A floor tool according to  claim 53 , including a driving device for effecting rotation of the cleaning member, which device is arranged to connect to the portion of the cleaning member which is positioned outside of the chamber. 
     
     
         60 . A floor tool according to  claim 49 , wherein all of said housing portions are ultrasonically welded to each other or formed as a unitary construction. 
     
     
         61 . A floor tool according to  claim 49 , wherein all of said housing portions are formed by moulding. 
     
     
         62 . A floor tool according to  claim 49 , wherein the housing is formed from acrylonitrile butadiene styrene. 
     
     
         63 . A floor tool according to  claim 49 , wherein the cleaning member is a rotatable brush bar. 
     
     
         64 . A floor tool for an apparatus for cleaning a floor surface, said apparatus including a source of suction, the floor tool including:
 a housing including:
 a chamber inlet for receiving dirty air; and 
 a chamber outlet for communication with the suction source, wherein the housing is a unitary component. 
   
     
     
         65 . A floor tool for an apparatus for cleaning a floor surface, said apparatus including a source of suction, the floor tool including:
 a housing including:
 a chamber inlet for receiving dirty air; 
 a chamber outlet for communication with the suction source; and 
   a cleaning member including cleaning elements having respective distal portions which extend through the chamber inlet so as to engage a floor surface during use;   at least one floor engaging support element for supporting the floor tool and for spacing, at a predetermined distance, the chamber inlet from the floor surface,   wherein the distal portion of each of a plurality of the cleaning elements extends further away from the chamber inlet than the pre-determined distance.   
     
     
         66 . A floor tool according to  claim 65 , wherein the distal portion of said cleaning elements extends at least twice as far away from the chamber inlet than the pre-determined distance. 
     
     
         67 . A floor tool according to  claim 65 , wherein the distal portion of the cleaning elements extends a distance of between 0.7 to 1.3 mm from the chamber inlet. 
     
     
         68 . A floor tool according to  claim 65 , wherein the at least one support element spaces the chamber inlet a distance of between 0.3 to 0.7 mm from the floor surface, and more preferably the at least one support element spaces the chamber inlet 0.5 mm or about 0.5 mm from the floor surface. 
     
     
         69 . An apparatus for cleaning a floor surface, the apparatus comprising:
 a source of suction; and   a floor tool for cleaning a floor surface, the floor tool including:
 a housing having an interior surface that defines a chamber for receiving at least a portion of a cleaning member, the housing including:
 a chamber inlet for receiving dirty air; and 
 a chamber outlet for communication with the suction source, 
 
   wherein the housing is formed of at least two housing portions which provide said interior surface and all of said housing portions are permanently connected or permanently joined to each other.