SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR ROBOTIC GUTTER CLEANING

• US 20080098553A1
• Filed: 08/07/2007
• Published: 05/01/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/15/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: iRobot Corporation
• Original Assignee: Umagination Labs, LP
• Inventors: Dayton, Douglas, Park, Sung
• Granted Patent: US 7,979,945 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 15/236.04
• CPC Class Codes: B08B 9/00 Cleaning hollow articles by methods or apparatus specially adapted thereto B08B6/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B08B 9/049 having self-contained propelling means for moving the cleaning devices along the pipes , i.e. self-propelled
• CPC Class Codes: B08B 9/051 the cleaning devices having internal motors , e.g. turbines for powering cleaning tools
• CPC Class Codes: E04D 13/0765 Cleaning tools

Abstract

In embodiments of the present invention, a gutter-cleaning device comprises a housing containing an impeller drive facility, the housing configured to fit into a gutter, an impeller, disposed at an end of the housing and driven by the impeller drive facility, and a transport facility for transporting the housing along the gutter

Claims

1. A gutter-cleaning device, comprising:

a housing containing an impeller drive facility, the housing configured to fit into a gutter;

an impeller, disposed at an end of the housing and driven by the impeller drive facility; and

a transport facility for transporting the housing along the gutter.

7. The device of claim 1, further comprising a placement facility for facilitating placement of the gutter-cleaning device into a gutter.

16. The device of claim 1, wherein the impeller is formed from at least one of a molded elastomer, neoprene, rubber, plastic, and an electrostatic cloth.

17. The device of claim 1, wherein the impeller is at least one of a helical-bristled brush, a flexible paddle, a full stiff bristle brush, a spiral stiff bristle brush, a wire brush, a dethatching brush, an alternating paddle brush, a flexible bucket, a multiply-vaned impeller, and an alternating flexible blade.

18. The device of claim 1, wherein the transport facility is at least one of a wheel, a snake drive, a worm drive, a crab or walking drive, a scoot-and-compress or accordion drive, and a string of beads drive.

21. The device of claim 1, further comprising a vision system disposed on the housing for facilitating navigation and programming of the device.

30. The device of claim 1, further comprising a navigation system to facilitate autonomous control of the device.

35. The device of claim 1, further comprising a programming facility to set programs for autonomous control.

155. The device of claim 1, further comprising a remote control facility.

156. The device of claim 155, wherein an antenna of the remote control facility is associated with a placement facility.

2-6. -6. (canceled)

8-15. -15. (canceled)

19-20. -20. (canceled)

22-29. -29. (canceled)

31-34. -34. (canceled)

36-77. -77. (canceled)

78. A method of a gutter-cleaning device, comprising:

providing a housing containing an impeller drive facility, the housing configured to fit into a gutter;

disposing an impeller at an end of the housing and driving the impeller with the impeller drive facility; and

providing a transport facility for transporting the housing along the gutter.

84. The method of claim 78, further comprising providing a placement facility for facilitating placement of the gutter-cleaning device into a gutter.

93. The method of claim 78, wherein the impeller is formed from at least one of a molded elastomer, neoprene, rubber, plastic, and an electrostatic cloth.

94. The method of claim 78, wherein the impeller is at least one of a helical-bristled brush, a flexible paddle, a full stiff bristle brush, a spiral stiff bristle brush, a wire brush, a dethatching brush, an alternating paddle brush, a flexible bucket, a multiply-vaned impeller, and an alternating flexible blade.

95. The method of claim 78, wherein the transport facility is at least one of a wheel, a snake drive, a worm drive, a crab or walking drive, a scoot-and-compress or accordion drive, and a string of beads drive.

98. The method of claim 78, further comprising disposing a vision system disposed on the housing for facilitating navigation and programming of the device.

107. The method of claim 78, further comprising providing a navigation system to facilitate autonomous control of the device.

112. The method of claim 78, further comprising providing a programming facility to set programs for autonomous control.

157. The method of claim 78, further comprising providing a remote control facility.

158. The method of claim 157, wherein an antenna of the remote control facility is associated with a placement facility.

79-83. -83. (canceled)

85-92. -92. (canceled)

96-97. -97. (canceled)

99-106. -106. (canceled)

108-111. -111. (canceled)

113-154. -154. (canceled)