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

Abstract

An agitator for a vacuum cleaner includes an agitator body and a resiliently deformable flap. The resiliently deformable flap includes a front face, a rear face, and one or more protrusions extending outwardly from the front face. An agitator for a vacuum cleaner includes an agitator body and a bristle strip and/or a plurality of tufts arranged in one or more rows along the agitator body. The bristle strip and/or a plurality of tufts includes a first bristle group including a plurality of nylon bristles and at least a second bristle group including a plurality of para-aramid bristles.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An agitator for a vacuum cleaner comprising:
 an agitator body having a first end region and a second end region; and   a first resiliently deformable flap extending outwardly from the agitator body between the first end region and the second end region, the first resiliently deformable flap including:
 a first front facing layer including a fabric; and 
 a first rear facing layer including an elastomer; 
   a second resiliently deformable flap extending outwardly from the agitator body between the first end region and the second end region, the second resiliently deformable flap including:
 a second front facing layer including a fabric; and 
 a second rear facing layer including an elastomer; and 
   one or more rows of a bristle strip and/or a plurality of tufts extending outwardly from the agitator body between the first end region and the second end region, the one or more rows extending generally parallel to the first resiliently deformable flap and the second resiliently deformable flap, wherein the one or more rows is disposed behind the first resiliently deformable flap and in front of the second resiliently deformable flap.   
     
     
         2 . The agitator of  claim 1 , wherein the first resiliently deformable flap extends from the first end region to the second end region. 
     
     
         3 . The agitator of  claim 2 , wherein the second resiliently deformable flap extends from the first end region to the second end region. 
     
     
         4 . The agitator of  claim 3 , wherein the one or more rows extends from the first end region to the second end region. 
     
     
         5 . The agitator of  claim 1 , wherein the elastomer of the first rear facing layer includes a silicone or a rubber. 
     
     
         6 . The agitator of  claim 5 , wherein fabric of the first front facing layer includes a polyester. 
     
     
         7 . The agitator of  claim 1 , wherein fabric of the first front facing layer includes a woven fabric. 
     
     
         8 . The agitator of  claim 1 , wherein the first front facing layer and the first rear facing layer are co-molded together. 
     
     
         9 . The agitator of  claim 1 , wherein the first front facing layer and the first rear facing layer are overmolded together. 
     
     
         10 . An agitator for a vacuum cleaner comprising:
 an agitator body; and   a resiliently deformable flap extending outwardly from the agitator body, the resiliently deformable flap including:
 a base configured to be secured to the agitator body; 
 a front face defined by a facing layer, the facing layer including a fabric; and 
 a rear face defined a backing layer, the backing layer including an elastomer; 
   wherein the facing layer and the backing layer both form part of the base.   
     
     
         11 . The agitator of  claim 10 , wherein at least a portion of the base, front face, and rear face includes a generally T-shaped cross-section. 
     
     
         12 . The agitator of  claim 10 , wherein the base includes a front portion and extending generally away from the front face and a rear portion extending generally away from the rear face. 
     
     
         13 . The agitator of  claim 12 , wherein the backing layer extends across both the front portion and the rear portion. 
     
     
         14 . The agitator of  claim 13 , wherein the facing layer extends only the front portion of the base. 
     
     
         15 . The agitator of  claim 12 , wherein the facing layer extends only the front portion of the base. 
     
     
         16 . The agitator of  claim 12 , wherein front portion and the rear portion of the base extend in generally opposite directions from each other. 
     
     
         17 . An agitator for a vacuum cleaner comprising:
 an agitator body; and   a resiliently deformable flap extending outwardly from the agitator body, the resiliently deformable flap including:
 a base configured to be secured to the agitator body; 
 a front face extending radially outward from the base, the front face defined by a facing layer, the facing layer including a fabric; and 
 a rear face extending radially outward from the base, the rear face defined a backing layer, the backing layer including an elastomer; 
   wherein the facing layer extends radially outward from the base further than the rear layer.   
     
     
         18 . The agitator of  claim 17 , wherein a distal most end of the facing layer defines a cleaning edge configured to contact a surface to be cleaned. 
     
     
         19 . The agitator of  claim 18 , wherein the backing layer does contact the surface to be cleaned. 
     
     
         20 . The agitator of  claim 18 , wherein the cleaning edge forms a selvedge.