Controlled self operated vacuum cleaning system
First Claim
1. An automatically operable vacuum cleaning apparatus capable of movement in a specified area at predetermined time intervals, said cleaning apparatus comprising:
- a) a mobile cleaning apparatus having a body which is powered for driving movement in the specified area and in a non-controlled randomly operated path;
b) drive means in said body for generating a powered movement and driving the mobile cleaning apparatus in the specified area;
c) contact means associated with said body which is actuated when the body contacts a fixed structure; and
d) control means operatively connected to said contact means and said drive means to cause said drive means to alter the driving movement of the apparatus in another non-controlled randomly generated path which is different from the path followed by the apparatus when contacting the fixed structure until the apparatus thereby moves beyond the fixed structure.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A controlled self operating vacuum cleaning system which comprises a stationary housing for the storage of a mobile vacuum cleaner apparatus and where the housing is provided with an automatically openable and closable closure allowing exit and entry of the mobile vacuum cleaner unit. The mobile unit is driven by an internal drive motor which is powered by one or more batteries carried by the mobile vacuum cleaner unit. At preestablished times and preestablished time intervals, the closure of the housing will automatically open providing for ingress and egress and the mobile vacuum cleaner unit will exit and randomly clean the carpet of a certain specified area for a predetermined time period. The mobile vacuum cleaner unit is provided with obstacle detectors for causing the mobile unit to move beyond an obstacle, if it contacts an obstacle, as well as detectors for detecting the edge of a staircase and the edge of a carpet to cause the mobile unit to remain on the carpeted area. Upon return to the housing after the predetermined time interval, the mobile vacuum cleaner unit is automatically connected to a recharging electrical circuit for recharging the batteries of the mobile vacuum cleaner unit and simultaneously an additional vacuum dirt collection system causes evacuation of the dirt collected by the mobile cleaner unit.
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Citations
37 Claims
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1. An automatically operable vacuum cleaning apparatus capable of movement in a specified area at predetermined time intervals, said cleaning apparatus comprising:
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a) a mobile cleaning apparatus having a body which is powered for driving movement in the specified area and in a non-controlled randomly operated path;
b) drive means in said body for generating a powered movement and driving the mobile cleaning apparatus in the specified area;
c) contact means associated with said body which is actuated when the body contacts a fixed structure; and
d) control means operatively connected to said contact means and said drive means to cause said drive means to alter the driving movement of the apparatus in another non-controlled randomly generated path which is different from the path followed by the apparatus when contacting the fixed structure until the apparatus thereby moves beyond the fixed structure. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. An automatically operable vacuum cleaning apparatus capable of movement in a specified area at predetermined time intervals, said cleaning apparatus comprising:
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a) a movable cleaning apparatus body which is powered for movement in the specified area;
b) drive means carried with said body for causing a powered movement of the apparatus body in the specified area;
c) control means associated with the body for energizing the drive means and causing the apparatus to move in the specified area under its own control and without any external drive control at predetermine time intervals. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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14. An automatically operable vacuum cleaning system with automatic recharging means for recharging a source of stored energy forming part of the apparatus, said vacuum cleaning system comprising:
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a) a movable cleaning apparatus body which is powered for movement;
b) drive means in said body for causing powered movement of the apparatus body;
c) a battery source of power carried by said apparatus body and being connected to the drive means for causing the powered movement;
d) a housing for storage of said apparatus body when not in use; and
e) recharging means associated with said housing for automatically connecting to said battery source of power without any manual intervention when said apparatus is moved into said housing to thereby automatically recharge the battery source of power.
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22. An automatically operable vacuum cleaning system with a stationary debris collection station capable of receiving debris collected by a movable carpet cleaner apparatus and temporarily stored in a temporary storage chamber of the apparatus, said apparatus comprising:
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a) a movable cleaning apparatus body which is powered for movement;
b) drive means in said body causing powered movement of the apparatus body;
c) a temporary storage means carried by said apparatus for collecting debris picked-up by the apparatus during a cleaning operation;
d) valve means associated with said apparatus body for being openable to discharge the debris collected in the temporary storage means; and
e) a stationary debris collection station in a housing for said apparatus body and automatically removing debris from the temporary storage area when the movable apparatus body is stored in said housing. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 27, 28, 29, 30, 32)
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26. An automatically operable vacuum cleaning system which enables a mobile unit to be moved into and out of a housing for that mobile unit, said apparatus comprising:
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a) a mobile cleaning unit which is self-powered for movement;
b) drive means in said mobile unit for randomly driving said mobile unit in a selected area;
c) a housing means for temporarily storing said mobile unit when not in use;
d) door means on said housing and being automatically openable upon initiation of a cleaning cycle which is preprogrammed into said housing and allowing said mobile unit to exit said housing; and
e) a means enabling said mobile unit on its own power to re-enter said housing after a cleaning cycle and to enable closing of the door on said housing.
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31. An automatically operable vacuum cleaning apparatus capable of movement in a specified area at predetermined time intervals and which is capable of avoiding driving into and over a drop-off, said apparatus comprising:
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a) a mobile cleaning apparatus having a body which is powered for driving movement in the specified area;
b) drive means in said body for generating a powered movement and driving the mobile cleaning apparatus in the specified area;
c) a sensor capable of sensing a floor surface and being adapted for vertical shifting movement in response to variations in said floor surface; and
d) a driving control means for causing said drive means to move the mobile unit away from a drop-off in the floor surface sensed by said sensing means. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35, 37)
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36. An automatically operable vacuum cleaning system with means for cleaning a mobile unit forming part of said system upon completion of a cleaning cycle, said vacuum cleaning system comprising:
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a) a movable mobile unit which is powered for movement in a selected area for creating a vacuum cleaning of that area;
b) drive means in said mobile unit for causing powered movement of said mobile unit;
c) means in said mobile unit for creating a vacuum and withdrawing debris from a floor surface and storing same in said mobile unit;
d) a housing for storage of said mobile unit when not in a cleaning operation; and
e) a means for automatically removing any debris collected from said mobile unit upon completion of a cleaning operation and when said mobile unit is located within said housing.
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Specification