Agitator for a surface treatment apparatus and a surface treatment apparatus having the same

Abstract

An example of an agitator for a vacuum cleaner may include a body and at least one deformable flap extending from the body. The deformable flap may include at least one taper. The at least one taper causes a cleaning edge of the deformable flap to approach the body.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . An agitator for a vacuum cleaner comprising:
 a body having a first end, a second end, and a central region disposed therebetween;   a first deformable flap extending from and helically around the body, the first deformable flap including a first end region disposed proximate the first end of the body, a second end region disposed within the central region of the body, and a first central region disposed therebetween, wherein the second end region includes at least a first taper in which a height of the first deformable flap decreases as a distance from the first central region of the first deformable flap increases, wherein the first height of the first deformable flap extends from a first base of the first deformable flap to a first cleaning edge of the first deformable flap; and   a second deformable flap extending from and helically around the body, the second deformable flap including a third end region disposed proximate the second end of the body, a fourth end region disposed within the central region of the body, and a second central region disposed therebetween, wherein the fourth end region includes at least a second taper in which a second height of the second deformable flap decreases as a distance from the second central region of the second deformable flap increases, wherein the second height of the second deformable flap extends from a second base of the second deformable flap to a second cleaning edge of the second deformable flap;   wherein the first and second deformable flaps each have a length that is less than a length of the body; and   wherein the first taper of the second end region of the first deformable flap partially overlaps with the second taper of the fourth end region of the second deformable flap within the central region of the body as the agitator rotates.   
     
     
         22 . The agitator of  claim 21 , wherein the first end region taper includes a third taper. 
     
     
         23 . The agitator of  claim 22 , wherein the first taper has a first slope and the third taper has a second slope, the first slope being different from the second slope. 
     
     
         24 . The agitator of  claim 21 , wherein the first deformable flap comprises a combination of a flexible material and fabric, the fabric including a woven material. 
     
     
         25 . The agitator of  claim 24 , wherein the first deformable flap includes a selvedge along the first cleaning edge. 
     
     
         26 . The agitator of  claim 21  further comprising at least one bristle strip, the at least one bristle strip extending substantially parallel to the first deformable flap. 
     
     
         27 . The agitator of  claim 26 , wherein a length of the at least one bristle strip is less than a length of the first deformable flap. 
     
     
         28 . The agitator of  claim 21 , further comprising a first bristle strip extending substantially parallel to the first deformable flap and a second bristle strip extending substantially parallel to the second deformable flap. 
     
     
         29 . The agitator of  claim 28 , wherein the first deformable flap extends helically around the body in a first direction and the second deformable flap extends helically around the body in a second direction, the first and second directions being opposite each other. 
     
     
         30 . A vacuum cleaner comprising:
 an agitator chamber including a plurality of teeth; and   an agitator disposed within the agitator chamber such that at least a portion of the agitator engages the one or more ribs, the agitator including:   a body having a first end, a second end, and a central region disposed therebetween;   a first deformable flap extending from and helically around the body, the first deformable flap including a first end region disposed proximate the first end of the body, a second end region disposed within the central region of the body, and a first central region disposed therebetween, wherein the second end region includes at least a first taper in which a height of the first deformable flap decreases as a distance from the first central region of the first deformable flap increases, wherein the first height of the first deformable flap extends from a first base of the first deformable flap to a first cleaning edge of the first deformable flap; and   a second deformable flap extending from and helically around the body, the second deformable flap including a third end region disposed proximate the second end of the body, a fourth end region disposed within the central region of the body, and a second central region disposed therebetween, wherein the fourth end region includes at least a second taper in which a second height of the second deformable flap decreases as a distance from the second central region of the second deformable flap increases, wherein the second height of the second deformable flap extends from a second base of the second deformable flap to a second cleaning edge of the second deformable flap;   wherein the first and second deformable flaps have a length that is less than a length of the body;   wherein the first taper of the second end region of the first deformable flap partially overlaps with the second taper of the fourth end region of the second deformable flap within the central region of the body as the agitator rotates; and   wherein the deformable flap is configured to contact the plurality of teeth.   
     
     
         31 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 30 , wherein the agitator further comprises at least one bristle strip, the at least one bristle strip extending substantially parallel to the first deformable flap. 
     
     
         32 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 31 , wherein a length of the at least one bristle strip is less than a length of the first deformable flap. 
     
     
         33 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 30 , wherein the body includes a taper that extends towards a central region of the body. 
     
     
         34 . The agitator of  claim 30 , further comprising a first bristle strip extending substantially parallel to the first deformable flap and a second bristle strip extending substantially parallel to the second deformable flap. 
     
     
         35 . The agitator of  claim 34 , wherein the first deformable flap extends helically around the body in a first direction and the second deformable flap extends helically around the body in a second direction, the first and second directions being opposite each other. 
     
     
         36 . A vacuum cleaner comprising:
 an agitator chamber including a plurality of teeth; and   an agitator disposed within the agitator chamber such that at least a portion of the agitator engages the one or more ribs, the agitator including:
 a body; and 
 a deformable flap extending from the body, the deformable flap comprising a combination of a flexible material and fabric, the fabric including a woven material; 
   wherein the deformable flap is configured to contact the plurality of teeth.   
     
     
         37 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 36 , wherein the deformable flap includes at least one taper at an end region of the deformable flap, the at least one taper causing a height of the deformable flap in at least a portion of the end region to be less than a height of the deformable flap in a central region of the deformable flap, wherein the height of the deformable flap extends from a base of the deformable flap to a cleaning edge of the deformable flap, the base of the deformable flap is secured to the body. 
     
     
         38 . The agitator of  claim 37 , wherein the deformable flap includes a selvedge along the cleaning edge. 
     
     
         39 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 36 , wherein the agitator further comprises at least one bristle strip, the at least one bristle strip extending substantially parallel to the deformable flap. 
     
     
         40 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 39 , wherein a length of the at least one bristle strip is less than a length of the deformable flap.