Patent Publication Number: US-2005138764-A1

Title: Surface cleaning apparatus

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
      This invention relates to a surface cleaning apparatus, such as for a floor or upholstery, incorporating an elongate rotatable brush arrangement and an electric motor for rotating the brush.  
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      Current surface cleaning apparatus generally employs suction means. One of the drawbacks of such suction means is that the fans used to generate suction are relatively inefficient, i.e. typically 10 to 12 percent efficient in use, with the result that such apparatus tends not to be easily portable. This is especially the case where the apparatus incorporates batteries for powering the motor. It is therefore not practical to incorporate batteries of sufficient power in a readily portable suction cleaner in order to provide the degree of suction required for effective cleaning.  
      It is known to provide surface cleaning apparatus, such as for sweeping, in which an elongate brush arrangement, sometimes known as a brush bar, is supported for rotation in a housing which is adapted to be propelled at least in a forwards direction. The brush arrangement generally extends transversely of the housing and is adapted to contact a surface beneath it. The brush arrangement is arranged to be rotated by friction resulting from propelling the housing across a floor. The housing can be provided with wheels which contact the surface. One of the drawbacks of such a construction is that the friction drive is not very effective.  
      It is also known to provide one or more auxiliary brush arrangements extending outwardly from one or two front corners of the housing. The auxiliary brush arrangement is provided for rotation about an axis inclined to the vertical and is provided with radial bristles. An auxiliary brush arrangement of this kind is described in GB-A-1 547 286. The auxiliary brush arrangement is freely rotatable and relies for its rotation on contact with the floor or a skirting board of a room during propulsion of the apparatus across the floor. Such means of rotation is unreliable and results in particles of dust and/or dirt on the floor being flicked towards the elongate rotating brush assembly for collection by the apparatus. Furthermore, contact of the circular auxiliary brush arrangement with the floor or a skirting board results in bristles of the auxiliary brush arrangement which extend outwardly sideways from the housing undergoing angular rotation effectively in a backwards direction. This means that an auxiliary brush means extending outwardly from a front right hand corner of the housing, as viewed from above and behind the apparatus, would be rotated in a clockwise direction and would flick dust and or dirt around behind it in the direction of the elongate rotating brush arrangement. This is not very satisfactory.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a surface cleaning apparatus which overcomes, or at least ameliorates, at least some of the problems of known apparatus.  
      According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a surface cleaning apparatus comprising: 
          a body comprising a rear compartment, a forward compartment and an intermediate compartment arranged between the rear and forward compartments;     an elongate rotatable brush arrangement positioned within and extending across the forward compartment;     an electric motor positioned in the rear compartment; and     drive means extending between the rotatable brush arrangement and the electric motor.        

      A battery, such as a rechargeable battery, may be positioned in the rear compartment together with the electric motor. Alternatively, the electric motor may be mains powered.  
      The rotatable brush arrangement may extend substantially the entire width of the forward compartment.  
      The intermediate compartment may be provided with a removable closure, such as a removable side wall, for the removal of debris therefrom.  
      The drive means may pass at least partly through the intermediate compartment. The drive means may pass through a tunnel which passes at least partly through the intermediate compartment. The drive means may be positioned adjacent one side of the intermediate compartment.  
      The drive means may comprise a belt, for example a toothed belt, drive.  
      A wall may be provided between the rear compartment and the intermediate compartment to seal the rear compartment from the intermediate compartment.  
      A wall may be provided between the intermediate compartment and the forward compartment, the wall extending from the base of the intermediate compartment and terminating short of the top thereof. The top of the wall may be at substantially the same height as the top of the brush arrangement. The wall may be inclined rearwardly. The angle of inclination may be in the range of 15 to 20 degrees, for example.  
      The apparatus may incorporate handle means. The length of the handle means may be varied. For example, the handle means may be interchangeable. Thus, one handle means may be relatively short and another handle means may be relatively long. Alternatively, the other handle means may serve to extend the one handle means. The handle means, or at least the relatively long handle means, may be rotatable about the axis thereof to facilitate steering of the apparatus and/or may be pivotable about an axis transverse to the axial direction thereof.  
      An auxiliary brush arrangement may be provided at one side of the body of the apparatus. The auxiliary brush arrangement may extend outwardly from the forward compartment. The auxiliary brush arrangement may rotate about an axis inclined to the vertical. The auxiliary brush arrangement may be provided with radial bristles. The radial bristles may be inclined at an acute angle to the axis of rotation of the auxiliary brush arrangement. The auxiliary brush arrangement may be driven by the electric motor or by friction.  
      The forward compartment includes in the lower face thereof an aperture through which bristles of the brush arrangement protrude. A front part of the forward compartment may be movable to expose bristles at the front of the apparatus. For example, the cover may be removable or may be pivotable, or otherwise movable, to expose bristles at the front of the apparatus.  
      The rear compartment may be provided with ground-engaging wheels.  
      According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a surface cleaning apparatus comprising a body provided with an elongate rotatable brush arrangement, an electric motor and drive means extending between the rotatable brush arrangement and the electric motor, wherein the body is provided remote from the brush arrangement with one or more ground-engaging wheels.  
      The second aspect of the invention may incorporate features from the first aspect.  
      According to a third aspect of the present invention there is provided a surface cleaning apparatus comprising a housing provided with an elongate rotatable brush arrangement, wherein the housing is provided with a movable (including removable) cover for part of the brush arrangement.  
      Thus, the apparatus can clean surfaces that would not be possible with an apparatus having a front cover extending down to the level of the base of the apparatus and can, for example, clean the front faces of stair treads.  
      The third aspect of the invention may incorporate features from the first aspect.  
      According to a fourth aspect of the present invention there is provided a surface cleaning apparatus comprising a housing provided with an elongate rotatable brush arrangement, wherein bristles of the brush arrangement extend beneath the body to such an extent that the body can be inclined in use to increase contact between the bristles and a surface to be cleaned.  
      Thus, the housing may be inclined to increase contact between the bristles of the brush arrangement and the surface being cleaned or to increase the depth to which the bristles of the brush arrangement may penetrate the surface being cleaned.  
      The fourth aspect of the invention may incorporate features from the first aspect.  
      According to a fifth aspect of the present invention there is provided a surface cleaning apparatus comprising a body provided with an elongate rotatable brush arrangement, an electric motor and drive means extending between the rotatable brush arrangement and the electric motor, wherein the body is provided with handle means, the length of which handle means may be varied.  
      The fifth aspect of the invention may incorporate features from the first aspect.  
      According to a sixth aspect of the present invention there is provided a surface cleaning apparatus comprising a body provided with an elongate rotatable brush arrangement, an electric motor and drive means extending between the rotatable brush arrangement and the electric motor, wherein the body is provided with handle means mounted to be pivotable about a longitudinal axis thereof such that pivoting of the handle facilitates steering of the apparatus.  
      The sixth aspect of the invention may incorporate features from the first aspect.  
      According to a seventh aspect of the present invention there is provided surface cleaning apparatus comprising: a housing adapted to be propelled at least in a forwards direction on the surface; an elongate brush arrangement supported for rotation in and extending transversely of the housing and adapted to contact the surface; means to rotate the elongate brush arrangement; and at least one auxiliary brush means of substantially circular form extending outwardly from the housing and adapted to be rotatably driven by means within the housing, such that during rotation of the at least one auxiliary brush means, a peripheral region thereof angularly rotates to sweep debris into the path of the elongate brush arrangement.  
      The at least one auxiliary brush means may be arranged for rotation about a vertical axis or about an axis inclined to vertical.  
      The at least one auxiliary brush means may be arranged to extend outwardly from a right and/or left hand side of the housing. When such an auxiliary brush means extends outwardly from a right hand side of the housing, as viewed from above and behind the housing, the auxiliary brush means is arranged to be rotated in an anti-clockwise direction, as so viewed. When such an auxiliary brush means extends outwardly from a left hand side of the housing, as viewed from above and behind the housing, the auxiliary brush means is arranged to be rotated in a clockwise direction, as so viewed.  
      The at least one auxiliary brush means may be provided with radial bristles which may be inclined at an acute angle to an axis of rotation of the at least one auxiliary brush means.  
      The at least one auxiliary brush means may be rotatably driven by the elongate brush arrangement and suitably by gear means provided at at least one end of the elongate brush arrangement.  
      The at least one auxiliary brush means and/or the elongate brush arrangement may be adapted for rotation by means of at least one electric motor provided in the housing. Such at least one electric motor may be battery or mains operated.  
      Alternatively, the elongate brush arrangement may be adapted to be rotated by friction means resulting from propelling the housing across the surface, the elongate brush arrangement so rotated being adapted to rotate the at least one auxiliary brush means.  
      The housing may be provided with one or more wheels for engaging the surface and for enabling or assisting propulsion of the housing along the surface.  
      The housing may be provided with a compartment for receiving debris picked up from the surface by the elongate brush arrangement.  
      Alternatively, the housing may be provided with outlet means, such as a pipe or hose means, for directing debris, picked up from the surface by the elongate brush arrangement, into a receiving container, such as a bag, located elsewhere in or on the apparatus.  
      The housing may be adapted for demountable or fixed connection to suction hose means, such suction hose means being adapted to receive from the housing debris picked up from the surface by the elongate brush arrangement. The suction hose means may incorporate electrical wiring and connection means, by means of which one or more electric motors in the housing may be powered from a remote source, such as electric mains, or battery means.  
      The surface for cleaning by the apparatus of the present invention may be any surface which is to be swept and may be a floor, stairway, or upholstery, of premises or vehicles.  
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
      For a better understanding of the present invention and to show more clearly how it may be carried into effect reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings in which:  
       FIG. 1  is a plan view of one embodiment of a surface cleaning apparatus according to the present invention;  
       FIG. 2  is a side elevational view, partly in section, of the surface cleaning apparatus shown in  FIG. 1 ;  
       FIG. 3  is an elevational view of the surface cleaning apparatus of  FIGS. 1 and 2  with an alternative handle;  
       FIG. 4  is a perspective view of another embodiment of surface cleaning apparatus according to the present invention with part of a brush bar cover removed for clarity;  
       FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the apparatus of  FIG. 4 , with part of the housing thereof removed;  
       FIG. 6  is an underside view of the apparatus of  FIG. 4  with part of the brush bar cover removed for clarity;  
       FIG. 7  is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of surface cleaning apparatus according to the present invention with part of the brush bar cover removed for clarity (shown in dashed lines); and  
       FIG. 8  is a perspective view of a further embodiment of surface cleaning apparatus according to the present invention with part of the brush bar cover removed for clarity (shown in dashed lines). 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
      The surface cleaning apparatus shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2  comprises a body  1 , suitably moulded of plastics material, and having effectively three compartments.  
      A rear compartment  3  houses an electric motor  5  and a rechargeable battery pack  7 . The battery pack  7  may be connected to a mains power supply (not shown) for recharging the battery pack. The battery pack may either be connected to the mains supply whenever the apparatus is not in use or at suitable times when the battery pack has become depleted. Switch means (not shown) is provided to permit a user to energise and de-energise the motor  5  as desired. As an alternative to a rechargeable battery pack, the apparatus could employ disposable batteries or be mains powered.  
      A forward compartment  9  houses an elongate rotatable brush arrangement  11 . For convenience a forward wall of the forward compartment is arcuate and extends around the periphery of the brush arrangement  11 . The bottom of the forward compartment is open at  13  to allow the bristles of the brush arrangement to contact a floor, carpet or the like over which the surface cleaning apparatus is to be moved. The rear of the forward compartment is a rearwardly inclined wall  15  which allows debris, such as dust, dirt and the like, to be propelled up the wall due to rotation of the brush arrangement  11  and to pass over the wall into an intermediate compartment  17  which will be described in more detail hereinafter. The wall  15  extends upwardly to about the same height as the top of the brush arrangement  11  and is angled rearwardly (i.e. away from the forward compartment) at an angle of about 18 degrees. The precise angle is not important, but the inclination facilitates the passage of the debris up and over the wall and at the same time facilitates retention of the debris within the intermediate compartment  17 . The brush arrangement extends substantially the entire width of the forward compartment and is provided with two helically arranged rows of bristles. The two rows are diametrically opposed and each row is in the form of a pair of separate helices which twist in opposite directions and meet substantially midway between the ends of the brush arrangement.  
      The intermediate compartment  17  is positioned between the wall  15  and a wall  21  which encloses the electrical components  5 ,  7  in the rear compartment  3 , the wall  21  protecting the components in the rear compartment from the ingress of debris. The intermediate compartment  17  also has a lower wall, an upper wall and side walls formed by the outer wall of the body  1 . Debris therefore accumulates within the intermediate compartment  17 . The intermediate compartment is provided with a removable closure to facilitate the removal of debris. For example, one of the walls, such as a side wall, the upper wall or the lower wall, can be removed in order that the debris can be emptied from the intermediate compartment, the removed wall being replaced once the compartment has been emptied. Ideally, side wall  23  is removable for emptying purposes. The wall  15  provides the advantage that debris does not readily escape from the intermediate compartment  17  and, even if the body is inclined such that the forward compartment is below the intermediate compartment, the debris does not escape from the intermediate compartment.  
      The brush arrangement  11  is rotated by the motor  5  by way of toothed rollers  25 ,  27  attached to the motor and to the brush, respectively, and by way of a toothed belt  29 , for example of elastomeric material, extending around the two rollers. The toothed belt  29  is enclosed within a tunnel  31  where it passes through the intermediate compartment  17  in order to prevent the ingress of debris into the rear compartment  3 . The tunnel  31  may pass through the intermediate compartment  17  at any convenient point. However, particularly in the event side wall  23  is removable for emptying purposes, the tunnel may be arranged at that side of the intermediate compartment  17  remote from the side wall  23 .  
      A handle  33  is attached to the body  1  in the region of the rear compartment  3 , the body being formed with a recess  35  beneath the handle to allow the handle to be gripped while maintaining a low profile for the surface cleaning apparatus. The handle  33  may be in two parts, a first part  37  which is secured to the body  1  and a second part  39  which can be removed from the first part and replaced by a longer handle part  41  as shown in  FIG. 3 . The longer handle part  41  is provided with swivel means  43  to allow the handle part  41  to rotate about the axis thereof relative to the body  1  and with pivot means  45  to allow the handle part to pivot about an axis transverse to the axial direction of the handle part to enable the surface cleaning apparatus to be steered by the user. As an alternative to interchangeable handles, the handle part  41  may be removably engageable with the handle part  33 . In such a case, the handle part  33  is arranged such that the swivel means  43  functions only in certain positions of the handle part  33  in order that movement can be inhibited when the handle part  33  is used alone.  
      As will be apparent particularly from  FIG. 3 , the bristles of the brush arrangement  11  extend outwardly from the aperture in the forward compartment  9 . In order to remove stubborn debris and/or to revitalise carpet the lower front region of the forward compartment may be chamfered, or the front region of the forward compartment may be movable (including removable), to increase the exposure of the bristles in this region. In this way, the forward part of the apparatus may be inclined relative to the surface to be cleaned, thereby increasing contact between the bristles and a surface to be cleaned and, on some surfaces, increasing the depth to which the bristles penetrate and clean the surface.  
      Although not shown, an auxiliary rotary brush may be provided at that side of the brush arrangement  11  which incorporates the roller  27  and the belt  29 . Such an auxiliary brush is described, for example, in GB-A-1 547 286. Such an auxiliary brush is able to sweep debris into the path of the brush arrangement  11  which might otherwise be missed due to the lack of bristles in the region of the roller  27 . The auxiliary brush may be driven by any suitable means, such as gearing from the brush arrangement  11  or by friction with the surface to be swept, and is suspended from and extends outwardly beyond the body  1 . The auxiliary brush may comprise a cylindrical body rotatable about an axis which is inclined to the vertical by about 10 degrees so as to extend outwardly beyond the body  1 . Bristles protrude radially outwardly from the periphery of the cylindrical body, but need not be perpendicular to the axis of rotation and may preferably be at an angle of about 80 degrees to the axis of rotation so as to form a cone which increases in cross-section with increasing distance from the body  1 .  
      Although not shown, the front part of the forward compartment  9  may be removed to expose the bristles at the front of the apparatus. This effectively increases the aperture in the forward compartment which would seriously impair the effectiveness of a suction cleaner, but in the present invention can effectively be used to assist in the sweeping of stairs, cleaning upholstery and carpets in vehicles and the like operations where a greater exposed area of bristles can be useful. As an alternative to removing the front part of the compartment  9 , the front part may be movable, for example pivotable or slidable, relative to the remainder of the compartment in order to expose the bristles.  
      Although not shown, the rear compartment  3  may be provided with ground-engaging wheels in order to assist mobility of the surface cleaning apparatus. The ground-engaging wheels may, for example, be formed externally in the side regions of the rear compartment  3  or may be provided within recesses formed at least partly beneath the rear compartment  3 .  
      Although the illustrated embodiments of the present invention are intended primarily for domestic use, the surface cleaning apparatus can also be used outdoors or in workshops if desired. However, it may be preferable to provide a more rugged design specifically adapted for such use.  
      In use of the surface cleaning apparatus according to the invention, as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the apparatus is placed upon a surface to be swept, such as a carpet, and the switch operated to energise the motor and consequently to rotate the brush arrangement to sweep debris from the surface and then propel the debris up and over the inclined wall  15  and into the intermediate compartment  17  where it is temporarily stored. As the surface cleaning apparatus is moved over the surface with the brush arrangement  11  rotating, any further debris is similarly swept from the surface and propelled up and over the wall  15  and into the intermediate compartment  17 . The surface cleaning apparatus is extremely portable and can be employed wherever it may be required. For example, it can be used to sweep stairs without the need for electrical leads or suction hoses. The shape of the apparatus with the rounded shape of the rear compartment as illustrated facilitates movement of the apparatus over stairs, but ground engaging wheels may be provided to further facilitate such sweeping operations.  
      When the intermediate compartment  17  is to be emptied, one wall of the compartment is removed as explained above and the debris can readily be discharged. The removable wall is then replaced. Alternatively, the intermediate compartment may be in the form of a tray which can be removed and emptied so as to discharge debris.  
      When the surface cleaning apparatus is not in use it can be stored, for example either in a cupboard or the like or plugged into a mains supply in order to recharge the battery  7 .  
      Thus the surface cleaning apparatus of the present invention incorporates an electrically driven brush arrangement. The brush arrangement is not driven by frictional forces between the surface cleaning apparatus and the surface over which it is to be moved. Thus, efficiency of the apparatus is not dependent on the nature of the frictional contact. Further, the apparatus does not rely on suction means to draw the debris into a storage chamber. Thus, efficiency of the apparatus is not dependent on the effectiveness of suction means and the substantial power drain of suction means on the rechargeable battery is avoided. The provision of the motor at the rear of the apparatus eliminates the need for increased height should the motor be positioned over the compartment for collecting dust and the like and also provides effective full width cleaning which would not be possible if the motor was to be positioned within the compartment for collecting debris. In such a position, debris is likely to accumulate around the motor and cause blockages. The present invention overcomes this problem by passing the drive means for the brush arrangement at least partly through the debris compartment.  
      Referring to  FIGS. 4, 5  and  6 , apparatus  102  for cleaning a surface  104  by sweeping comprises a housing  106 , suitably of moulded plastics material, and effectively having three compartments. A rear compartment  108  houses an electric motor  110  and a rechargeable battery pack  112 . The battery pack  112  may be connected to a mains power supply (not shown) for recharging the battery pack. The battery pack may either be connected to the mains supply whenever the apparatus is not in use or at suitable times when the battery pack has become depleted. Switch means  113  is provided to permit a user to energise and de-energise the motor  110  as desired. As an alternative to a rechargeable battery pack, the apparatus could employ disposable batteries or be mains powered.  
      A forward compartment  114  houses a transversely-arranged elongate rotatable brush arrangement  116 , with bristles  118 . Such elongate rotatable brush arrangement  116  is sometimes known as a brush bar. The bottom of the forward compartment  114  is open at  120  to allow the bristles  118  of the elongate brush arrangement  116  to contact a floor, carpet or the like over which the apparatus is to be propelled. The rear of the forward compartment is a rearwardly inclined wall  122  which allows debris, such as dust, dirt and the like to be propelled up the wall due to rotation of the brush arrangement  116  and to pass over the wall into an intermediate compartment  124 . The front of the forward compartment is provided with a cover (not shown) which may be removable if desired. Debris accumulating in the intermediate compartment  124  can be removed by opening a cover  126 . The wall  122  extends upwardly to about the same height as the top of the elongate brush arrangement  116  and may be angled rearwardly (i.e. away from the forward compartment) such as at an angle of about 18 degrees. The precise angle is not important, but the inclination facilitates the passage of the debris up and over the wall  122  and at the same time facilitates retention of the debris within the intermediate compartment  124 .  
      The elongate brush arrangement  116  is rotated by the motor  110  by way of toothed rollers  128 ,  130  attached to the motor and to the brush arrangement, respectively, and by way of a toothed belt  131 , for example of elastomeric material, extending around the two rollers. The toothed belt  131  is enclosed within a tunnel  132  where it passes through or alongside the intermediate compartment  124  in order to prevent the ingress of debris into the rear compartment  108 .  
      An auxiliary brush means  134  is provided extending outwardly from the housing  106  at the right hand side of the elongate rotatable brush arrangement  116  as viewed from above and behind the apparatus  102 . The auxiliary brush means  134  is of substantially circular form and is supported for rotation about an axis  136 , which may be vertical or inclined to vertical, such as at an angle of about 10 degrees to vertical. The auxiliary brush means  134  has a body  138  provided with radial bristles  140  which are inclined at an acute angle to the axis of rotation  136  so as to effectively form a conical arrangement increasing in cross-section with increasing distance from the body  138 .  
      The auxiliary brush means  134  is rotatably driven from the rotating elongate brush arrangement  116  by a gear wheel  142  at the end of the elongate brush arrangement  116  which meshes with a further gear wheel  144  on the body  138  of the auxiliary brush means  134 . The auxiliary brush means  134  is caused to be rotated in an anti-clockwise direction denoted by arrow  146 , as viewed from above and behind the apparatus  102 . During such rotation of the auxiliary brush means  134 , a peripheral region thereof rotates from a sideways-directed position  148  ( FIG. 6 ) outside the housing  106  to an opposed sideways-directed position  150  covered by the housing  106 , through a forwardly-directed position  152 .  
      The apparatus  102  is provided with a handle  154  by means of which it can be propelled at least in a forwards direction  156 . Wheels  158  and  160  are provided to enable or assist manual propulsion of the apparatus across the surface  104  to be swept, such as a floor, stairway or upholstery. The handle  154  could be longer, or be of a different shape or form, as required.  
      The rotating auxiliary brush means  134  does not rely on contact with the surface  104  for its rotation and therefore provides more efficient sweeping of edge regions of the surface  104  regardless of the nature of the surface  104 . Furthermore, the direction of rotation  146  of the auxiliary brush means  134  ensures that debris is swept positively by the auxiliary brush arrangement  134  into a position ahead of the rotating elongate rotating brush assembly  116 , ready to be picked up by the elongate brush arrangement  116 .  
      If desired, instead of or in addition to the auxiliary brush means  134  provided extending outwardly from the right hand side of the housing  106 , a similar auxiliary brush means (not shown) could likewise be provided extending outwardly from the left hand side of the housing  106  and driven from the opposite end of the elongate brush arrangement  116 . Such additional or alternative auxiliary brush means differs from the auxiliary brush means  134  only in that it is caused to rotate in a clockwise, rather than anti-clockwise, direction as viewed from above and behind the apparatus  102 .  
      Instead of the apparatus  102  being provided with a battery or mains powered electric motor  110  to drive the elongate brush arrangement  116  and hence the auxiliary brush means  134 , a known form of friction drive means (not shown), resulting from propulsion of the apparatus  102  along the surface  104 , may be utilised to effect rotation of the elongate brush arrangement  116  and hence rotation of the auxiliary brush means  134 .  
      An alternative embodiment of apparatus according to the present invention is shown in  FIG. 7 . Such alternative embodiment comprises an upright vacuum cleaner apparatus  102 A, having a housing  106 A with wheels  158 A and  160 A, a rotating elongate brush arrangement  116 A and an auxiliary brush means  134 A. The apparatus  102 A is constructed in substantially similar manner to the apparatus  102  of  FIGS. 4, 5  and  6 , with the main exception that instead of the debris-collecting compartment  124  of  FIG. 5 , a debris-collecting container  124 A, which may include a bag, is provided between a handle  154 A and the housing  106 A and connected by a well-known form of suction arrangement (not shown) to the housing  106 A.  
      A further embodiment of apparatus  102 B according to the present invention is shown in  FIG. 8 . Here the housing  106 B incorporates components similar to those of the housing  106  of  FIGS. 4, 5  and  6  including wheels  158 B and, in particular, an elongate rotating brush arrangement  116 B with an auxiliary rotating brush means  134 B driven therefrom. However, no debris-collecting compartment is provided inside the housing  106 B. Instead, the housing  106 B is provided with a tubular portion  162  which is demountable on, or may be fixed to, a debris-receiving flexible hose  164  connected to a well-known form of suction vacuum cleaner  166 , which may be of cylinder form, mounted on wheels  168 . Electrical wiring  170  can be incorporated in the hose  164  by means of which mains electrical power can be supplied from the vacuum cleaner  166 , and through a connector  172  and wiring  174  in the tubular portion  162 , to an electric motor  110 B where provided in the housing  106 B for driving the elongate rotating brush arrangement  116 B and the auxiliary brush means  134 B. Of course, such wiring  170  would be unnecessary where the elongate brush arrangement  116 B and the auxiliary brush means  134 B driven therefrom, is caused to be rotated by the friction means previously described. Alternatively, the elongate brush arrangement  116 B and the auxiliary brush means  134 B may be caused to be rotated by means of a (rechargeable) battery or an air turbine driven by air passing along the tubular portion  162 . The housing  106 B with its included components could be provided as an accessory for existing vacuum cleaners of cylinder form.