Agitator with hair removal

Abstract

A rotatable agitator is used in a surface clearing head of a surface cleaning apparatus. The agitator is coupled to the cleaning head at least partially within an agitator chamber and is rotated about a pivot axis. The agitator includes an elongated agitator body and a hair migration portion. The hair migration portion includes a continuous row of bristles and a sidewall. The continuous row of bristles and sidewall are at least partially revolved around and extend along at least a portion of the pivot axis from one of a collection area or a first end region of the agitator and either another collection area or a second end region of the agitator. The sidewall extends substantially parallel to the continuous row of bristles within the hair migration portion. The continuous row of bristles and sidewall are configured to reduce hair from becoming entangled in the bristles and to migrate hair towards the collection area or the first end region of the agitator.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A surface clearing apparatus comprising:
 a cleaning head including a cleaning head body, said cleaning head body at least partially defining an agitator chamber; and   an agitator configured to be coupled to said cleaning head at least partially within said agitator chamber and to be rotated about a pivot axis extending along a longitudinal axis, said agitator including an elongated agitator body and at least one hair migration portion, said hair migration portion comprising:
 at least one continuous row of bristles at least partially revolved around and extending outward from and along at least a portion of said longitudinal axis of said elongated agitator body from one of a collection area or a first end region of said agitator and either another collection area or a second end region of said agitator; and 
 at least one sidewall substantially parallel and immediately adjacent to said at least one continuous row of bristles within said hair migration portion, said at least one sidewall having a height Hs that is 50% or less of a height Hb of said at least one row of bristles. 
   
     
     
         2 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein at least one continuous row of bristles and said at least one sidewall are configured to migrate hair towards at least one of said collection area or said first end region of said agitator. 
     
     
         3 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein at least one continuous row of bristles and said at least one sidewall are configured to reduce hair from becoming entangled in said bristles. 
     
     
         4 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein at least a portion of said at least one row of bristles has a constant pitch. 
     
     
         5 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein at least a portion of said at least one row of bristles has a variable pitch. 
     
     
         6 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein said variable pitch is configured to accelerate a migration of hair as said hair migrates towards either said collection area or said first end region of the agitator. 
     
     
         7 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one sidewall extends outward from a portion of said elongated agitator body. 
     
     
         8 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein said at least one sidewall extends outward from a portion of an outer periphery of the elongated agitator body. 
     
     
         9 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one sidewall extends outward from a base of said elongated agitator body from which said row of bristles is coupled. 
     
     
         10 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one sidewall extends inward from a portion of said elongated agitator body. 
     
     
         11 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein a radially distal-most portion of said at least one sidewall is disposed at a radial distance from said pivot axis of said elongated agitator body that is within 20 percent of a radial distance of adjacent, surrounding periphery of said elongated agitator body, and a proximal-most portion of said at least one sidewall is disposed at a radial distance that is less than said radial distance of said adjacent, surrounding periphery of said elongated agitator body. 
     
     
         12 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said hair migration portion is configured to urge hair towards said first end of said elongated agitator body. 
     
     
         13 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said elongated agitator body comprises a first and at least a second piece each including a connection configured to removably couple said first and said second piece together. 
     
     
         14 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein said agitator includes at least one collection area, and wherein at least one of said connections is disposed within said collection area. 
     
     
         15 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one collection area. 
     
     
         16 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein said hair migration portion is configured to urge hair towards said at least one collection area. 
     
     
         17 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein said at least one collection area further comprises at least one hair removal feature. 
     
     
         18 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein said at least one hair removal feature includes at least one of a groove, a slot, an opening, a hole, or a recessed region. 
     
     
         19 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said agitator is coupled to only said first end of said cleaning head body, and wherein said at least one continuous row of bristles and said at least one sidewall are configured to migrate hair towards said second end of said agitator. 
     
     
         20 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one hair migration protrusion that extends outward from a portion of an inner surface of said agitator chamber that is configured to contact said at least one continuous row of bristles and generate an Archimedes screw force that urges said hair towards at least one of said collection area or said first end region of said agitator.