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

Abstract

A surface cleaning head includes a housing having a front side and back side, a brush roll rotatably mounted to the housing within a suction conduit and having at least a portion proximate the opening of the suction conduit, a leading roller mounted to the housing in front of the brush roll, and a drive mechanism operatively coupled to the brush roll and the leading roller for driving the brush roll and the leading roller at same time. The brush roll includes an agitator body and a first bristle/flap arrangement comprising a first deformable flap extending from the agitator body and a first bristle strip and/or row of tufts extending from the agitator body and disposed adjacent to the first deformable flap. The first deformable flap is disposed at an aggressive angle and the first bristle strip and/or row of tufts is arranged at a passive angle.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . An agitator for a vacuum cleaner comprising:
 an agitator body including a first channel; and   a first bristle strip and/or row of tufts extending from the agitator body; and   a first deformable flap extending from a first base, the first base configured to be received in the first channel and including a first mounting surface and a second mounting surface each extending away from each other, the first mounting surface extending from a first face of the first deformable flap and the second mounting surface extending from a second face of the first deformable flap.   
     
     
         22 . The agitator of  claim 21 , wherein the first mounting surface and second first mounting surface form a “T” shape. 
     
     
         23 . The agitator of  claim 21 , wherein the first bristle strip and/or row of tufts extends generally parallel to the first deformable flap. 
     
     
         24 . The agitator of  claim 21 , wherein the first bristle strip and/or row of tufts is disposed adjacent to the first deformable flap. 
     
     
         25 . The agitator of  claim 21 , further comprising a second channel and a second deformable flap having two oppositely disposed faces, the second deformable flap extending from a second base configured to be received in the second channel, the second base including two mounting surfaces extending away from each other and extending away from the two oppositely disposed faces, respectively. 
     
     
         26 . The agitator of  claim 25 , wherein the agitator body includes a first lateral end, a second lateral end disposed opposite the first lateral end, and a central region disposed between the first and second lateral ends, and wherein the first channel extends from the first lateral end towards the central region and the second channel extends from the second lateral end towards the central region. 
     
     
         27 . The agitator of  claim 26 , wherein the first deformable flap extend from the first lateral end to the central region and wherein the second deformable flap extend from the second lateral end to the central region. 
     
     
         28 . The agitator of  claim 27 , wherein a portion of the first deformable flap overlaps with a portion of the second deformable flap as the agitator rotates about a rotation axis extending through the first and second lateral ends. 
     
     
         29 . The agitator of  claim 28 , wherein the second deformable flap is rotationally offset relative to the first deformable flap. 
     
     
         30 . The agitator of  claim 25 , further comprising a second bristle strip and/or row of tufts extending from the agitator body 
     
     
         31 . The agitator of  claim 30 , wherein the second strip and/or row of tufts extends generally parallel to the second deformable flap. 
     
     
         32 . The agitator of  claim 21 , wherein the first base includes a plurality of segments, each of the plurality of segments spaced apart from an adjacent segment. 
     
     
         33 . The agitator of  claim 21 , wherein the first deformable flap includes a combination of fabric and an elastomeric material. 
     
     
         34 . The agitator of  claim 33 , wherein the elastomeric material includes rubber or silicone. 
     
     
         35 . The agitator of  claim 33 , wherein the fabric includes a polyester fabric and/or a nylon fabric. 
     
     
         36 . The agitator of  claim 33 , wherein the elastomeric material includes a rubber and/or a silicone and the fabric includes a polyester fabric and/or a nylon fabric. 
     
     
         37 . The agitator of  claim 21 , wherein the first deformable flap extends away from the agitator body at an angle of 10-45 degrees. 
     
     
         38 . The agitator of  claim 37 , wherein the first channel is configured to align the first deformable flap at the angle of 10-45 degrees. 
     
     
         39 . The agitator of  claim 21 , wherein the first bristle strip and/or row of tufts extends away from the agitator body at an angle of 10-45 degrees. 
     
     
         40 . The agitator of  claim 21 , wherein the first deformable flap extends away from the agitator body at an angle of 10-45 degrees and wherein the first bristle strip and/or row of tufts extends away from the agitator body at an angle of 10-45 degrees.