Random motion cleaner

• US 20020066149A1
• Filed: 12/01/2000
• Published: 06/06/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/01/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Healthy Gain Investments Limited
• Original Assignee: Hoover Company (Whirlpool Corporation)
• Inventors: Thomas, Kevin L., Gerber, Douglas E.
• Granted Patent: US 6,571,415 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 15/98
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/10 motor-driven
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/24 Floor-sweeping machines, motor-driven
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/40 Parts or details of machines not provided for in groups A47L11/02 - A47L11/38, or not restricted to one of these groups, e.g. handles, arrangements of switches, skirts, buffers, levers
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4066 Propulsion of the whole machine
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2201/04 Automatic control of the travelling movement; Automatic obstacle detection

Abstract

A self-propelled bare floor cleaner is provided having a random motion generator which enhances the maneuverability of the bare floor cleaner. The random motion generator is rotatably attached to the frame of the cleaner and propels the cleaner across the floor in a random motion. This random motion facilitates cleaning of the floor by making the cleaner easier to manipulate. The random motion generator includes a hollow spherical shell. In the preferred embodiment, the hollow spherical shell houses a weighted motor assembly which is rotatably mounted on a center fixed axle which extends diametrically between the first and second hemispherical halves and is attached thereto. The weighted motor assembly is comprised of a motor housing and a power source, such as batteries or cells. A motor is housed within the motor housing and rotates the motor housing about the center fixed axle. The power source is mounted to one side of the motor housing to provide an unbalanced weight to the motor assembly relative to the fixed center. This unbalanced weight causes the random motion generator to roll across the floor in a random motion and, thus, the bare floor cleaner is also propelled across the floor in a random motion to facilitate cleaning of the floor.

Claims

1. A self-propelled bare floor cleaner, comprising:

a cleaning assembly; and

a random motion generator operatively connected to said dusting assembly, said cleaning assembly comprising;

a frame having a wall;

a securing mechanism for securing the random motion generator within the frame; and

a cleaning device attaching to the frame.

2. The self propelled bare floor cleaner of claim 1, wherein said random motion generator includes:

a hollow substantially spherical shell rotatably attached to the frame; and

a weighted motor assembly having a motor for rotating the random motion generator and rotatably attached to a center fixed axle, the center fixed axle extending diametrically across opposing sides of said spherical shell.

3. The self-propelled bare floor cleaner of claim 2, wherein said weighted motor assembly includes a motor housing for housing the motor and a power source being operatively mounted to one side of the motor housing to provide an unbalanced weight to the weighted motor assembly.

4. The self-propelled bare floor cleaner of claim 3, wherein at least one weight is operatively mounted to the same side of the weighted motor assembly as the power source.

5. The self-propelled bare floor cleaner of claim 3, wherein the power source is at least one battery.

6. The self-propelled bare floor cleaner of claim 5, wherein the at least one battery is rechargeable.

7. The self-propelled bare floor cleaner of claim 6, wherein the random motion generator includes a receiving mechanism for recharging the rechargeable battery.

8. The self-propelled bare floor cleaner of claim 7, wherein the receiving mechanism includes:

a receptacle operatively connected to the weighted motor assembly and fixedly positioned within a first opening of the random motion generator; and

,

a switch operatively connected to the receptacle and the weighted motor assembly,

wherein when an AC to DC power adapter contacts the receptacle, the switch turns the weighted motor assembly off to facilitate charging of the at least one battery, and when the AC to DC power adapter is removed from the receptacle, the switch turns the weighted motor assembly on to facilitate use of the bare floor cleaner.

9. The self-propelled bare floor cleaner of claim 1, wherein the frame includes:

a cylindrical wall having a first end, the first end of the cylindrical wall forming a first cylindrical wall opening having a diameter larger than the diameter of the random motion generator, the first cylindrical wall opening receiving the random motion generator;

an angled wall section attached to the first end of the cylindrical wall and extending outwardly therefrom; and

,

a peripheral lip attached to the angled wall.

10. The self-propelled bare floor cleaner of claim 1, wherein the securing mechanism for securing the random motion generator within the frame includes an inner lip, the inner lip operatively attaching to the first end of the cylindrical wall of the frame.

11. The self-propelled bare floor cleaner of claim 2, further comprising:

a power switch having first and second positions, the power switch operatively connected to the weighted motor assembly, wherein when the power switch is in the first position, the weighted motor assembly is activated and when the power switch is in the second position, the weighted motor assembly is deactivated.

12. The self-propelled bare floor cleaner of claim 2, wherein the random motion generator includes a rubber ring operatively mounted on the perimeter of said spherical shell.

14. The charging stand of claim 13, wherein the power source is an AC to DC power adapter having first and second ends, the first end of the AC to DC power adapter being received by the first opening in the indentation of the support platform and the second end of the AC to DC power adapter connecting to a power cord for communication with an AC power receptacle to recharge the random motion generator.

15. The charging stand of claim 13, further comprising a ramp for facilitating removal of the random motion generator.

16. The charging stand of claim 13, further comprising an ejection assembly for ejecting the random motion generator.

17. The charging stand of claim 16, wherein the ejection assembly includes:

an ejection arm, said ejection arm being received by at least one aperture defined in the support platform;

a linkage arm having first and second ends, said first end of the linkage arm being operatively connected to the ejection arm;

a support operatively connected to the second end of the linkage arm; and

,

a foot pedal pivotally connected to the support, wherein when the foot pedal is depressed the ejection arm is projected through the aperture in the support platform and contacts the random motion generator positioned in the support platform and ejects the random motion generator.

18. The charging stand of claim 17, further comprising a second aperture defined in the support platform and being diametrically opposed to the at least one aperture defined in the support platform.

20. The self propelled bare floor cleaner of claim 2, wherein said hollow substantially spherical shell includes first and second hemispherical halves.

21. The self propelled bare floor cleaner of claim 1, wherein said cleaning device is a dust cloth.

13. A charging stand for charging a self-propelled bare floor cleaner having a random motion generator, comprising:

a cylindrical wall having a first end;

a support platform operatively attached to the first end of the cylindrical wall, the support platform including an indentation for receiving the random motion generator, the indentation having a first opening defined therein; and

a power source communicating with a power receptacle to recharge the random motion generator.

19. A method of cleaning a bare floor comprising the steps of:

providing a self-propelled bare floor cleaner having a cleaning device, a frame attached to the cleaning device, and a random motion generator rotatably mounted to the frame;

activating the power source to the random motion generator;

contacting the floor with the random motion generator; and

,

propelling the bare floor cleaner across the floor in a random motion to cause the cleaning device to clean the bare floor.