Surface cleaning apparatus

1. A surface cleaning apparatus comprising:

a brushroll that rotates about an axis, the brushroll defining a cylindrical portion with a cylindrical portion diameter and the axis extending centrally through the cylindrical portion, the brushroll further including a rib that extends in a direction away from the axis,

wherein the rib includes a face extending along a line that is collinear with a secant through the cylindrical portion to an outer diameter, wherein the cylindrical portion diameter is more than 50% of the outer diameter, and

wherein a brush member extends from the face.

2. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the rib extends helically along and around the axis.

3. The cleaning apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the brushroll includes a plurality of ribs, wherein each of the ribs extends helically along and around the axis.

4. The cleaning apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the brushroll includes at least three ribs.

5. The cleaning apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising,

a suction source;

a dirt separator in fluid communication with the suction source; and

a suction nozzle in fluid communication with the dirt separator and the suction source.

6. The cleaning apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the brush member extends from the face a length such that a portion of the length of the brush member is drawn along the surface to be cleaned as the brushroll rotates about the axis.

7. The cleaning apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the brush member extends from the face a length that is larger than 0.5 times the cylindrical portion diameter.

8. The cleaning apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the brush member extends from the face a length that is larger than 0.65 times the cylindrical portion diameter.

9. The cleaning apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the brush member extends from the face a length that is between 0.7 and 1.5 times the cylindrical portion diameter.

10. The cleaning apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the brush member includes a plurality of polymer bristles.

11. The cleaning apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the brushroll is formed by two or more modular segments assembled in axial alignment.

12. A surface cleaning apparatus comprising:

a brushroll that rotates about an axis, the brushroll including

a body,

a rib extending outwardly from the body, the rib having a face that forms an angle in the range of 60-120 degrees with respect to the body, and

a brush member extending outwardly the face, the brush member forming an angle in the range of 70-110 degrees with respect to the face, the brush member extending a length larger than 0.5 times a diameter of the body.

13. The surface cleaning apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the rib extends helically along and around the axis.

14. The cleaning apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the brushroll includes a plurality of ribs, wherein each of the ribs extends helically along and around the axis.

15. The cleaning apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the brushroll includes at least three ribs.

16. The cleaning apparatus of claim 12 , further comprising,

a suction source;

a dirt separator in fluid communication with the suction source; and

a suction nozzle in fluid communication with the dirt separator and the suction source.

17. The cleaning apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the brush member extends from the face a length such that a portion of the length of the brush member is drawn along the surface to be cleaned as the brushroll rotates about the axis.

18. The cleaning apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the brush member extends from the face a length that is larger than 0.65 times the diameter of the body.

19. The cleaning apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the brush member extends from the face a length that is between 0.7 and 1.5 times the diameter of the body.

20. The cleaning apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the brush member includes a plurality of polymer bristles.

21. The cleaning apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the brushroll body is formed by two or more modular segments assembled in axial alignment.