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.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An agitator for a vacuum cleaner comprising:
 a body; and   at least one deformable flap extending from the body, the deformable flap includes at least one taper, the at least one taper causing a cleaning edge of the deformable flap to approach the body.   
     
     
         2 . The agitator of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one taper extends in an end region of the at least one deformable flap. 
     
     
         3 . The agitator of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one taper includes a first taper and a second taper, each taper extending in a corresponding end region of the deformable flap. 
     
     
         4 . The agitator of  claim 3 , wherein the first taper has a first slope and the second taper has a second slope, the first slope measuring differently from the second slope. 
     
     
         5 . The agitator of  claim 1 , wherein the deformable flap comprises a woven material. 
     
     
         6 . The agitator of  claim 5 , wherein the deformable flap includes a selvedge along the cleaning edge. 
     
     
         7 . The agitator of  claim 6 , wherein the deformable flap includes a mounting edge, the mounting edge having a plurality of segments that, when mounted to the body, cause the taper to be formed within the deformable flap. 
     
     
         8 . The agitator of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one deformable flap includes a plurality of deformable flaps, each deformable flap extending helically around the body, and, wherein, a length of each deformable flap measures less than a length of the body. 
     
     
         9 . The agitator of  claim 8 , wherein each deformable flap extends from an end region of the body to a central region of the body. 
     
     
         10 . The agitator of  claim 1  further comprising at least one bristle strip, the at least one bristle strip extending substantially parallel to a corresponding deformable flap. 
     
     
         11 . The agitator of  claim 10 , wherein a length of the at least one bristle strip measures less than a length of the corresponding deformable flap. 
     
     
         12 . A vacuum cleaner comprising:
 an agitator chamber including one or more ribs; 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 
 at least one deformable flap extending from the body, the deformable flap includes at least one taper, the at least one taper causing a cleaning edge of the deformable flap to approach the body. 
   
     
     
         13 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 12 , wherein the one or more ribs are disposed at opposing distal ends of the agitator chamber. 
     
     
         14 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 13 , wherein the at least one taper includes a first taper and a second taper, the first and second tapers extending within opposing end regions of a corresponding deformable flap. 
     
     
         15 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 12 , wherein the ribs extend from an agitator cover. 
     
     
         16 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 15 , wherein the agitator cover is an end cap. 
     
     
         17 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 12  wherein the agitator further comprises at least one bristle strip, the at least one bristle strip extending substantially parallel to a corresponding deformable flap. 
     
     
         18 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 17 , wherein a length of the at least one bristle strip measures less than a length of the corresponding deformable flap. 
     
     
         19 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 12 , wherein the at least one taper includes a first taper and a second taper, each taper extending in a corresponding end region of the deformable flap. 
     
     
         20 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 12 , wherein the body includes a taper that extends towards a central region of the body.