Remote control vacuum cleaner

• US 5,709,007 A
• Filed: 06/10/1996
• Issued: 01/20/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 06/10/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Wayne Chiang
• Original Assignee: Wayne Chiang
• Inventors: Chiang, Wayne
• Primary Examiner(s): MOORE, CHRISTOPHER K
• Application Number:
  US08/660,922
• Time in Patent Office: 589 Days
• Field of Search: 15/339, 15/340.1, 15/352, 15/329, 15/344
• US Class Current: 15/329
• 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 5/225 Convertible suction cleaners, i.e. convertible between different types thereof, e.g. from upright suction cleaners to sledge-type suction cleaners
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 5/24 Hand-supported suction cleaners
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 5/28 Suction cleaners with handles and nozzles fixed on the casings, e.g. wheeled suction cleaners with steering handle A47L5/24 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/009 Carrying-vehicles; Arrangements of trollies or wheels; Means for avoiding mechanical obstacles
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0033 by having the operator tracking the vehicle either by direct line of sight or via one or more cameras located remotely from the vehicle

Abstract

A remote control vacuum cleaner (10) comprising a mobile unit (12) and a vacuum unit (14). A facility (16) is for attaching the vacuum unit (14) onto the mobile unit (12) in a removable manner. A remote control unit (18) is provided, to operate the mobile unit (12) and the vacuum unit (14), so that the mobile unit (12) will move along a floor (20), while the vacuum unit (14) will clean by suction, the dirt and dust from the floor (20).

Claims

1. A remote control vacuum cleaner comprising:

a) a mobile unit;

b) a vacuum unit;

c) means for attaching said vacuum unit onto said mobile unit in a removable manner; and

d) a remote control unit to operate said mobile unit and said vacuum unit, so that said mobile unit will move along a floor, while said vacuum unit will clean by suction, dirt and dust from the floor.

2. A remote control vacuum cleaner as recited in claim 1, wherein said mobile unit includes:

a) a generally rectangular shaped body having a flat top wall;

b) a rear wheel assembly in said body;

c) means for driving said rear wheel assembly;

d) a front wheel assembly in said body; and

e) means for steering said front wheel assembly.

3. A remote control vacuum cleaner as recited in claim 2, wherein said driving means includes:

a) a battery carried in said body to supply power for said driving means;

b) a radio control receiver with a receiver antenna carried in said body and electrically connected to said battery;

c) a motor control servo carried in said body and electrically connected to said radio control receiver;

d) a drive motor carried in said body and operated by said motor control servo; and

e) a gear reduction coupled to said rear wheel assembly and operated by said drive motor.

4. A remote control vacuum cleaner as recited in claim 3, wherein said steering means includes a steering servo carried in said body electrically connected to said radio control receiver and operable to said front wheel assembly.

5. A remote control vacuum cleaner as recited in claim 1, wherein said vacuum unit includes:

a) a generally rectangular shaped housing having a flat bottom wall to carry the various components for operating said vacuum unit;

b) a suction nozzle on a front end of said housing; and

c) a handle on said housing, so that when said vacuum unit is removed from said mobile unit, a person can grasp said handle and use said vacuum unit as an independent cordless handy appliance.

6. A remote control vacuum cleaner as recited in claim 5, further including means for recharging said battery built into said body, wherein said recharging means includes:

a) a battery charger carried in said body and electrically connected to said battery;

b) a jack in said body electrically connected to said battery charger;

c) a jack plug to engage with said jack;

d) an elongated electrical cord connected at a first end to said jack plug; and

e) a transformer plug connected to a second end of said elongated electrical cord, whereby said transformer plug engages with a wall outlet to operate said battery charger in said body.

7. A remote control vacuum cleaner as recited in claim 6, wherein said recharging means further includes a vacuum charge pin electrically connected to said battery charger, so that when said vacuum unit is attached to said mobile unit, said battery charger will also recharge a battery carried within said housing of said vacuum unit.

8. A remote control vacuum cleaner as recited in claim 5, further including a suction nozzle hood adapter hinged to said suction nozzle of said housing of said vacuum unit, so that said suction nozzle hood adapter will reach down to suck up the dirt and dust upon the floor.

9. A remote control vacuum cleaner as recited in claim 5, further including a suction nozzle hood adapter built into a forward end of said mobile unit, so that said suction nozzle of said housing of said vacuum unit can plug into said suction nozzle hood adapter to suck up the dirt and dust upon the floor.

10. A remote control vacuum cleaner as recited in claim 1, wherein said attaching means includes:

a) a vacuum docking bracket located at a forward end between said mobile unit and said vacuum unit; and

b) a spring clip latching mechanism at a rearward end between said mobile unit and said vacuum unit.

11. A remote control vacuum cleaner as recited in claim 1, wherein said attaching means includes:

a) a first VELCRO pad affixed onto said mobile unit; and

b) a second VELCRO pad affixed under said vacuum unit, so that when said vacuum unit is placed upon said mobile unit, said first VELCRO pad will mate with said second VELCRO pad.

12. A remote control vacuum cleaner as recited in claim 1, wherein said remote control unit includes:

a) a casing held by a first hand of a person;

b) a radio control transmitter with a transmitter antenna carried in said casing;

c) a battery carried in said casing, to supply power to said radio control transmitter;

d) an upstanding operating lever extending in a vertical position from said casing electrically connected to said radio control transmitter, and movable to an angular position by a second hand of the person;

e) indicia on a top surface of said casing about said operating lever, to indicate movement of said operating lever forward, rearward, left and right for activating said radio control transmitter to send electrical signals to said mobile unit; and

f) an on/off switch is in said casing for said vacuum unit.

13. A remote control vacuum cleaner comprising:

a) a mobile unit, wherein said mobile unit includes a generally rectangular shaped body having a flat top wall, a rear wheel assembly in said body, means for driving said rear wheel assembly, a front wheel assembly in said body and means for steering said front wheel assembly;

b) a vacuum unit;

c) means for attaching said vacuum unit onto said mobile unit in a removable manner; and

d) a remote control unit to operate said mobile unit and said vacuum unit, so that said mobile unit will move along a floor, while said vacuum unit will clean by suction, dirt and dust from the floor.

14. A remote control vacuum cleaner as recited in claim 13, wherein said driving means includes:

a) a battery carried in said body to supply power for said driving means;

b) a radio control receiver with a receiver antenna carried in said body and electrically connected to said battery;

c) a motor control servo carried in said body and electrically connected to said radio control receiver;

d) a drive motor carried in said body and operated by said motor control servo; and

e) a gear reduction coupled to said rear wheel assembly and operated by said drive motor.

15. A remote control vacuum cleaner as recited in claim 14, wherein said steering means includes a steering servo carried in said body electrically connected to said radio control receiver and operable to said front wheel assembly.

16. A remote control vacuum cleaner as recited in claim 15, wherein said vacuum unit includes:

a) a generally rectangular shaped housing having a flat bottom wall to carry the various components for operating said vacuum unit;

b) a suction nozzle on a front end of said housing; and

c) a handle on said housing, so that when said vacuum unit is removed from said mobile unit, a person can grasp said handle and use said vacuum unit as an independent cordless handy appliance.

17. A remote control vacuum cleaner as recited in claim 16, further including means for recharging said battery built into said body, wherein said recharging means includes:

a) a battery charger carried in said body and electrically connected to said battery;

b) a jack in said body electrically connected to said battery charger;

c) a jack plug to engage with said jack;

d) an elongated electrical cord connected at a first end to said jack plug; and

e) a transformer plug connected to a second end of said elongated electrical cord, whereby said transformer plug engages with a wall outlet to operate said battery charger in said body.

18. A remote control vacuum cleaner as recited in claim 17, wherein said recharging means further includes a vacuum charge pin electrically connected to said battery charger, so that when said vacuum unit is attached to said mobile unit, said battery charger will also recharge a battery carried within said housing of said vacuum unit.

19. A remote control vacuum cleaner as recited in claim 18, wherein said attaching means includes:

a) a vacuum docking bracket located at a forward end between said mobile unit and said vacuum unit; and

b) a spring clip latching mechanism at a rearward end between said mobile unit and said vacuum unit.

20. A remote control vacuum cleaner as recited in claim 19, further including a suction nozzle hood adapter hinged to said suction nozzle of said housing of said vacuum unit, so that said suction nozzle hood adapter will reach down to suck up the dirt and dust upon the floor.

21. A remote control vacuum cleaner as recited in claim 18, wherein said attaching means includes:

a) a first VELCRO pad affixed onto said mobile unit; and

b) a second VELCRO pad affixed under said vacuum unit, so that when said vacuum unit is placed upon said mobile unit, said first VELCRO pad will mate with said second VELCRO pad.

22. A remote control vacuum cleaner as recited in claim 21, further including a suction nozzle hood adapter built into a forward end of said mobile unit, so that said suction nozzle of said housing of said vacuum unit can plug into said suction nozzle hood adapter to suck up the dirt and dust upon the floor.

23. A remote control vacuum cleaner as recited in claim 18, wherein said remote control unit includes:

a) a casing held by a first hand of a person;

b) a radio control transmitter with a transmitter antenna carried in said casing;

c) a battery carried in said casing, to supply power to said radio control transmitter;

d) an upstanding operating lever extending in a vertical position from said casing electrically connected to said radio control transmitter, and movable to an angular position by a second hand of the person;

e) indicia on a top surface of said casing about said operating lever, to indicate movement of said operating lever forward, rearward, left and right for activating said radio control transmitter to send electrical signals to said mobile unit; and

f) an on/off switch in said casing for said vacuum unit.