Robotic Vacuum Cleaning System
First Claim
1. A robot cleaning system comprising:
- a debris collection volume;
a vacuum airway configured to deliver debris to the debris collection volume; and
a cleaning head in pneumatic communication with the vacuum airway, the cleaning head comprising;
two resilient shape-changing tubes separated by an air gap opposing the vacuum airway; and
a form-following housing surrounding an outer circumferential periphery of each of the shape-changing tubes, the housing spaced from a radially outermost part of each of the shape-changing tubes by less than or equal to about 1 mm;
wherein the cleaning head is operable in;
a first configuration wherein the two shape-changing tubes rotate against a cleaning surface to agitate debris to pass through the air gap and into the vacuum airway; and
a second configuration wherein both shape-changing tubes deform opposite one another to roll an object larger than the air gap to pass into the vacuum airway.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A robot cleaning system includes a debris collection volume, a vacuum airway configured to deliver debris to the debris collection volume, and a cleaning head in pneumatic communication with the vacuum airway. The cleaning head includes two shape-changing resilient tubes separated by an air gap opposing the vacuum airway. The cleaning head is operable in a first configuration, where the two shape-changing resilient tubes rotate against a cleaning surface engaged by the cleaning head to agitate debris on the cleaning surface to pass through the air gap and into the vacuum airway, and a second configuration, where both shape changing resilient tubes deform opposite one another to roll an object larger than the air gap to pass into the vacuum airway.
4 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A robot cleaning system comprising:
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a debris collection volume; a vacuum airway configured to deliver debris to the debris collection volume; and a cleaning head in pneumatic communication with the vacuum airway, the cleaning head comprising; two resilient shape-changing tubes separated by an air gap opposing the vacuum airway; and a form-following housing surrounding an outer circumferential periphery of each of the shape-changing tubes, the housing spaced from a radially outermost part of each of the shape-changing tubes by less than or equal to about 1 mm; wherein the cleaning head is operable in; a first configuration wherein the two shape-changing tubes rotate against a cleaning surface to agitate debris to pass through the air gap and into the vacuum airway; and a second configuration wherein both shape-changing tubes deform opposite one another to roll an object larger than the air gap to pass into the vacuum airway. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A robot cleaning system comprising:
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a debris collection volume; a vacuum airway configured to deliver debris to the debris collection volume; and a cleaning head in pneumatic communication with the vacuum airway, the cleaning head comprising; two resilient shape-changing tubes separated by an air gap opposing the vacuum airway, each shape-changing tube having a circumferential wall; a plurality of agitator vanes extending outwardly along the circumferential wall of each shape-changing tube to agitate and direct debris from a cleaning surface location directly beneath the vacuum airway through the air gap, the agitator vanes extending into the air gap, the agitator vanes of one shape-changing tube non-overlapping with the agitator vanes of the other shape-changing tube; and a form-following housing surrounding between about 125 degrees and about 175 degrees of an outer circumferential periphery of each of the shape-changing tubes, the housing spaced from a radially outermost part of each of the shape-changing tubes by a distance that allows one or more air dams to form between the agitator vanes and the housing; wherein the cleaning head is operable in; a first configuration wherein the two shape-changing tubes rotate against a cleaning surface engaged by the cleaning head to agitate debris on the cleaning surface to pass through the air gap and into the vacuum airway; and a second configuration wherein both shape-changing tubes deform opposite one another to roll an object larger than the air gap to pass into the vacuum airway. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A robot cleaning system comprising:
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a debris collection volume; a vacuum airway configured to deliver debris to the debris collection volume; and a cleaning head in pneumatic communication with the vacuum airway, the cleaning head comprising; two resilient shape-changing tubes separated by an air gap opposing the vacuum airway; a plurality of agitator vanes extending outwardly along the circumferential wall of each shape-changing tube; and a form-following housing surrounding between about 125 degrees and about 175 degrees of an outer circumferential periphery of each of the shape-changing tubes, the housing spaced from a radially outermost part of each of the shape-changing tubes by a distance that allows one or more air darns to form between the agitator vanes and the housing; wherein the cleaning head is operable in; a first configuration wherein the two shape-changing tubes rotate against a cleaning surface engaged by the cleaning head to agitate debris on the cleaning surface to pass through the air gap and into the vacuum airway; and a second configuration wherein both shape changing resilient tubes deform opposite one another to roll an object larger than the air gap to pass into the vacuum airway. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification