Vacuum nozzle and brushroll design

Abstract

A nozzle assembly for use on a vacuum cleaner includes a base unit, an outlet coupled to the base unit and pivotable with respect to the base unit, one or more wheels coupled to the base unit, and a suction chamber coupled to the base unit. The outlet is configured for engagement with a suction tube of the vacuum cleaner. The suction chamber includes a first agitator configured to rotate in a first direction, a second agitator configured to rotate in a second direction opposite from the first direction, and a suction port arranged between the first agitator and the second agitator.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A nozzle assembly configured for use on a vacuum cleaner, the nozzle assembly comprising:
 a base unit;   an outlet coupled to the base unit and pivotable with respect to the base unit, wherein the outlet is configured for engagement with a suction tube of the vacuum cleaner;   one or more wheels coupled to the base unit; and   a suction chamber coupled to the base unit, and comprising:
 a first agitator configured to rotate in a first direction, 
 a second agitator configured to rotate in a second direction opposite from the first direction, and 
 a suction port arranged between the first agitator and the second agitator. 
   
     
     
         2 . The nozzle assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the suction chamber comprises a housing, and the suction port is through a top surface of the housing. 
     
     
         3 . The nozzle assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the suction port is centrally located on the top surface of the housing. 
     
     
         4 . The nozzle assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the suction chamber comprises a first conduit extending from a first side of the suction port to a first side of the suction chamber and a second conduit extending from a second side of the suction port opposite from the first side of the suction chamber to a second side of the suction chamber opposite from the first side of the suction chamber. 
     
     
         5 . The nozzle assembly of  claim 4 , wherein each of the first conduit and the second conduit are upwardly tapered towards the suction port. 
     
     
         6 . The nozzle assembly of  claim 1 , wherein a bottom surface of the suction chamber comprises a structure extending below the suction port and between the first agitator and the second agitator. 
     
     
         7 . The nozzle assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first agitator is arranged in a forward position of the suction chamber and the second agitator is arranged parallel to the first agitator in a rear position of the suction chamber. 
     
     
         8 . The nozzle assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the suction chamber comprises a first motor configured to rotate the first agitator in a first direction and a second motor configured to rotate the second agitator in a second direction opposite from the first direction, the first and second motors being located between the first agitator and the second agitator. 
     
     
         9 . The nozzle assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the first motor is configured to change the speed of the first agitator or the first and second motors are configured to change the speed of the first and second agitators, respectively, in response to the nozzle assembly moving in a forward direction, and wherein the second motor is configured to change the speed of the second agitator or the first and second motors are configured to change the speed of the first and second agitators, respectively, in response to the nozzle assembly moving in a reverse direction. 
     
     
         10 . The nozzle assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the base unit comprises a sensor, and wherein the sensor is configured to determine a direction of travel of the nozzle assembly. 
     
     
         11 . The nozzle assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the suction chamber is coupled to the base unit about a pivot axis such that the suction chamber is configured to rotate about the pivot axis with respect to the base unit. 
     
     
         12 . The nozzle assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the first and second agitators are first and second rollers, and wherein the pivot axis runs parallel to and between a central axis of the first roller and a central axis of the second roller. 
     
     
         13 . The nozzle assembly of  claim 1 , wherein a geometry of a bottom surface of the suction chamber is mirrored across an axis passing through a center of the suction port and along a length of the suction port. 
     
     
         14 . A vacuum cleaner comprising:
 the nozzle assembly of  claim 1 ;   a handle at a proximal end of the vacuum cleaner;   a waste receptacle; and   a motor configured to draw air through the nozzle assembly and into the waste receptacle.   
     
     
         15 . A suction chamber configured for use on a vacuum cleaner, the suction chamber comprising:
 a housing;   first and second coupling ports on the housing, the first and second coupling ports facing each other and spaced apart from each other along an axis, wherein the first and second coupling ports are configured to engage with corresponding coupling structures of a base unit;   a first agitator arranged at a forward position of the housing;   a second agitator arranged at a rear position of the housing; and   a suction port through a top surface of the housing and between the first agitator and the second agitator.   
     
     
         16 . The suction chamber of  claim 15 , wherein the suction port is centrally located on the top surface of the housing. 
     
     
         17 . The suction chamber of  claim 15 , wherein the axis is a pivot axis such that the housing is configured to rotate about the pivot axis relative to the base unit, the pivot axis being arranged between the first agitator and the second agitator. 
     
     
         18 . The suction chamber of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 a first motor configured to rotate the first agitator in a first direction; and   a second motor configured to rotate the second agitator in a second direction opposite from the first direction, the first and second motors being located between the first agitator and the second agitator.   
     
     
         19 . The suction chamber of  claim 18 , wherein the first motor is configured to change the speed of the first agitator in response to the suction chamber moving in a forward direction, and wherein the second motor is configured to change the speed of the second agitator in response to the suction chamber moving in a reverse direction. 
     
     
         20 . The suction chamber of  claim 15 , wherein a geometry of a bottom surface of the suction chamber is mirrored across an axis passing through a center of the suction port and along a length of the suction port.