Vacuum cleaner

Abstract

A vacuum cleaner includes a base and a brushroll positioned within the base. The base has a suction opening and is configured to move along a surface to be cleaned. The brushroll is rotatable relative to the base about an axis, and the brushroll includes a first end, a second end, an inflection point located between the ends, and a material that protrudes radially away from the brushroll. The material extends between the first end and the second end and wraps around the brushroll with a pitch. The material wraps in a first direction between the first end and the inflection point and wraps in a second direction between the inflection point and the second end.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A base of a vacuum cleaner, comprising:
 a housing having a suction opening, the base being configured to move along a surface to be cleaned; and   a brushroll removable from and insertable into the housing and rotatable about an axis, the brushroll including a body, a first end, and a second end opposite the first end,   wherein the housing includes an aperture defined by a cylindrical inner surface through which the brushroll is removable,   wherein a plurality of teeth are spaced around the cylindrical inner surface and extend into the aperture defined by the cylindrical inner surface,   wherein the plurality of teeth protrude radially inward from the cylindrical inner surface and subsequently protrude parallel with the axis and towards the brushroll located within the housing, and   wherein the plurality of teeth are configured to collect debris from the brushroll when the brushroll is removed from the housing through the aperture.   
     
     
         22 . The base according to  claim 21 ,
 wherein each of the plurality of teeth defines a radial portion that extends radially inward from the cylindrical inner surface and an axial portion that extends axially towards the brushroll in the housing from the radial portion, and   wherein a terminal end of the radial portion has the same width as a base end of the axial portion.   
     
     
         23 . The base according to  claim 22 , wherein a terminal end of the axial portion is narrower than the base end of the axial portion. 
     
     
         24 . The base according to  claim 21 , wherein the body of the brushroll includes a wall and a plurality of grooves that extend into the wall along a length of the body between the first end and the second end. 
     
     
         25 . The base according to  claim 24 , further comprising a cleaning material received within a recess formed in the body of the brushroll. 
     
     
         26 . The base according to  claim 24 , wherein the plurality of teeth are axially spaced apart from the plurality of grooves of the brushroll when the brushroll is installed within the housing. 
     
     
         27 . The base according to  claim 21 , wherein the brushroll is removable through the aperture in a direction along the axis. 
     
     
         28 . The base according to  claim 21 , wherein the teeth are formed integrally with the base. 
     
     
         29 . The base according to  claim 21 , further comprising a handle coupled to the brushroll, positioned at the aperture, and configured to rotate relative to the aperture. 
     
     
         30 . The base according to  claim 21 , further comprising a handle coupled to the brushroll, positioned at the aperture, and configured to rotate relative to the plurality of teeth. 
     
     
         31 . A base of a vacuum cleaner, comprising:
 a housing having a suction opening, the housing being configured to move along a surface to be cleaned; and   a brushroll removable from and insertable into the housing and rotatable about an axis, the brushroll including a body, a first end, and a second end opposite the first end,   wherein the housing includes an aperture defined by a circumferential surface through which the brushroll is removable,   wherein a plurality of teeth are spaced around the circumferential surface and protrude radially inward of the circumferential surface and subsequently protrude parallel with the axis towards the brushroll located within the housing, and   wherein the plurality of teeth are configured to collect debris from the brushroll when the brushroll is removed from the housing through the aperture.   
     
     
         32 . The base according to  claim 31 ,
 wherein each of the plurality of teeth defines a radial portion that extends radially inward from the circumferential surface and an axial portion that extends axially towards the brushroll in the housing from the radial portion, and   wherein a terminal end of the radial portion has the same width as a base end of the axial portion.   
     
     
         33 . The base according to  claim 32 , wherein a terminal end of the axial portion is narrower than the base end of the axial portion. 
     
     
         34 . The base according to  claim 31 , wherein the body of the brushroll includes a wall and a plurality of grooves that extend into the wall along a length of the body between the first end and the second end. 
     
     
         35 . The base according to  claim 34 , further comprising a cleaning material received within a recess formed in the body of the brushroll. 
     
     
         36 . The base according to  claim 34 , wherein the plurality of teeth are axially spaced apart from the plurality of grooves of the brushroll when the brushroll is installed within the housing. 
     
     
         37 . The base according to  claim 31 , wherein the brushroll is removable through the aperture in a direction along the axis. 
     
     
         38 . The base according to  claim 31 , wherein the teeth are formed integrally with the base. 
     
     
         39 . The base according to  claim 31 , further comprising a handle coupled to the brushroll, positioned at the aperture, and configured to rotate relative to the aperture. 
     
     
         40 . The base according to  claim 31 , further comprising a handle coupled to the brushroll, positioned at the aperture, and configured to rotate relative to the plurality of teeth.