Horizontal Agitator for Robotic Vacuum

• US 20150320279A1
• Filed: 04/28/2015
• Published: 11/12/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/07/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bobsweep, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Bobsweep, Inc.
• Inventors: Ebrahimi Afrouzi, Ali
• Granted Patent: US 9,877,626 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/19 Parts or details of the brushing tools
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2201/00 Robotic cleaning machines, i.e. with automatic control of the travelling movement or the cleaning operation
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/0411 driven by electric motor
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/0477 Rolls
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/0483 Reciprocating or oscillating tools, e.g. vibrators, agitators, beaters

Abstract

A horizontally vibrating brush for an automated robotic vacuum to agitate carpet fibers and like materials in a horizontal rather than vertical plane to loosen debris during vacuuming without causing debris to become more deeply embedded.

Claims

1. A method for an automated robotic vacuum to agitate debris particles on surfaces under said automated robotic vacuum comprising a brush that vibrates in a plane horizontal to the plane of the surface on which said automated robotic vacuum is working, said vibrations powered by a vibrating electric motor that delivers vibrations to a spring connected to an agitating bar by a mount, said agitating bar delivering movements to said brush through rubber mounts.

2. The method of claim 1 in which said brush is a main brush of said automated robotic vacuum.

3. The method of claim 1 in which said brush is provided separately from a main brush of said automated robotic vacuum in a secondary brush.

4. The method of claim 1 in which the method further comprises a means to retract said brush such that, when retracted, said brush does not make contact with the surface on which said automated robotic vacuum is working.

5. The method of claim 4 in which the method further comprises a floor-detection system to detect the type of flooring on which said automated robotic vacuum is working, said brush being retracted when certain predetermined types of flooring are detected and engaged when certain other predetermined types of flooring are detected.

6. The method of claim 1 in which the bristles of said brush are arranged linearly.

7. A horizontally-vibrating agitator for an automated robotic vacuum comprising a member projecting from the bottom of the chassis of said automated robotic vacuum into the surface on which said automated robotic vacuum is working, said horizontal vibrations provided through a vibrating electric motor delivering vibrations to a spring connected to an agitating bar by a mount, said agitating bar delivering movements to said agitator through rubber mounts.

8. A horizontally-vibrating agitator for an automated robotic vacuum comprising a member projecting from the bottom of the chassis of said automated robotic vacuum into the surface on which said automated robotic vacuum is working and vibrating in a plane horizontal to the plane on which said automated robotic is working.