A hollow body of floor treating apparatus has a suction inlet for air and an air outlet adapted to be connected to a source of suction during normal operation of the apparatus. In order to avoid clogging of the suction inlet by large particles of waste material like scraps of paper, an agitator in the form of a rotatable roller brush is positioned at a region remote from the suction inlet. The agitator picks up large particles of waste material and delivers such material to a receptacle which is in communication with the agitator. The agitator and receptacle are out of the path of flow of air from the suction inlet to the air outlet.

A positive displacement air motor providing power to a rotating brush, brush agitator, or flexible blades for use in cleaning carpets, tile or wooden floors, upholstery, and drapes, allowing such air powered cleaning device to completely function with only the air provided by a vacuum cleaning motor or system.

Multiple side-by-side vacuum nozzles are reciprocated along paths of travel parallel to the preferred path of travel of carpet cleaning apparatus. The vacuum nozzles are propelled through a drive mechanism which moves each vacuum nozzle out of phase with the movement of every other nozzle. Cleaning fluid discharge members associated and movable with each vacuum nozzle direct cleaning fluid onto the carpet adjacent their respective vacuum nozzles.

A material having a unique, multi-colored appearance is described. More specifically, a material having a multi-colored appearance and a three-dimensional surface is described, along with a method of making such a material. The process involves providing a pile material having an upper portion of the pile yarns of a first color and a lower portion of the pile yarns of a second color that is visually distinct from the first color, then treating the material so as to displace at least some of the pile yarns to a different position with respect to the base web portion of the fabric from other of the pile yarns. In this way, the lower portions of at least some of the pile yarns are exposed, to provide a unique visual appearance as a result of the color differential, and a unique three dimensional appearance as a result of the difference between the position of the treated and untreated portions.

An apparatus and method for improving traction for mobile robots where traction is a concern. The mobile robot of the invention includes wheels and brushes. The wheels are mounted to the body of the robot. The brush is mounted to the body close to the wheels. When the wheels are rotating, the brush rubs against the wheel to get rid of debris on the tread of the wheel and cleans the wheel so that traction for the robot can be improved. An alternative way to improve traction by reducing slippage utilizes suction cups or wiper elements mounted on the wheel.