Appendage for a robot

• US 6,779,217 B2
• Filed: 02/16/2001
• Issued: 08/24/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/30/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
• Original Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
• Inventors: Fisher, Charles William
• Primary Examiner(s): Chin, Randall E.
• Assistant Examiner(s): KARLS, SHAY LYNN
• Application Number:
  US09/785,356
• Publication Number:
  US 20020002751A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,285 Days
• Field of Search: 15/971, 15/98, 15/491, 15/395, 152/31, 15/78, 15/791, 15/792, 15/80--88
• US Class Current: 15/98
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/03 characterised by having provisions for supplying cleaning or polishing agents A47L11/065, A47L11/085, A47L11/125, A47L11/145, A47L11/161, A47L11/1625, A47L11/185, A47L11/201 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/10 motor-driven
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/12 with reciprocating or oscillating tools
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/24 Floor-sweeping machines, motor-driven
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/29 Floor-scrubbing machines characterised by means for taking-up dirty liquid
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/292 having rotary tools A47L11/30 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4011 Regulation of the cleaning machine by electric means; Control systems and remote control systems therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4061 Steering means; Means for avoiding obstacles; Details related to the place where the driver is accommodated
• 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 2201/04 Automatic control of the travelling movement; Automatic obstacle detection

Abstract

The present invention relates to a horizontally movable and downwardly biased appendage that extends laterally from a surface treating apparatus, such as a robotic floor cleaner.

The robotic floor cleaner and/or appendage may use disposable cleaning sheets, such as dust clothes, wipes, sheet-brushes, and the like, to clean under objects or into corners but does not substantially interfere with the rotation of the surface treating apparatus about its axis when it is adjacent to encountered obstacles. The appendage can extend under low hanging obstructions to remove dirt, and reach into corners innavigable or unreachable by the robotic floor cleaner.

Claims

1. An appendage that laterally extends from a mobile apparatus for treating a surface, said appendage comprising an elongate flaccid body having a proximal end which remains in fixed relationship relative to said mobile apparatus and a distal end remote therefrom, said body being transitionally movable in the horizontal plane whereby said distal end moves relative to said mobile apparatus and biased downwardly toward the treatment surface causing said body to contact the treatment surface and to collect dust and debris from the treatment surface.

2. An appendage according to claim 1, wherein said body is made of a flexible material.

3. An appendage according to claim 2, wherein said body having a length less than about 15.5 cm.

4. An appendage according to claim 1, wherein said appendage being pivotally attached to said mobile apparatus.

5. An appendage according to claim 1, wherein said first side having a rim disposed along a peripheral edge of said body, said rim extending upwardly from said first side, whereby said rim providing the downwardly bias of said body.

6. An appendage according to claim 1, wherein said appendage having an aspect ratio of at least 4.

7. An appendage that laterally extends from a mobile apparatus for treating a surface, said appendage comprising

an elongate body having a proximal end which remains in fixed relationship relative to said mobile apparatus and a distal end remote therefrom including a top face and a bottom face, said body being movable in the horizontal plane whereby said distal end moves relative to the mobile apparatus and biased downwardly toward the surface;

at least one sheet holder connector attached to said top face of said body;

a compliant pad attached to said bottom face of said body; and

a cleaning sheet, whereby said downwardly biased body causing said sheet to come in compliant contact with the surface and collect dust and debris from the surface.

8. An appendage according to claim 7, wherein said top face of said body comprises a rim disposed along a peripheral edge of said body, said rim extending upwardly from said top face, whereby said rim providing the downwardly bias of said body.

9. An appendage according to claim 8, wherein said body is made of a flexible material.

10. An appendage according to claim 8, wherein said appendage being pivotally attached to said apparatus.

11. An appendage according to claim 8, wherein said body is telescoping.

12. An appendage according to claim 8, wherein said body of said appendage is integral to a sheet holder body located under the mobile apparatus.