Mobile cleaning robot for floors

• US 6,938,298 B2
• Filed: 10/29/2001
• Issued: 09/06/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Turbjorn Aasen
• Original Assignee: Turbjorn Aasen
• Inventors: Aasen, Turbjorn
• Primary Examiner(s): Snider, Theresa T.
• Application Number:
  US10/168,433
• Publication Number:
  US 20030126701A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,408 Days
• Field of Search: 15/98, 15/491, 15/15.1, 153/19, 153/401, 700245-246, 700/250, 700/254, 700/256, 700/258, 700/260, 700/262, 318/568.1, 318/568.11, 901/1
• US Class Current: 15/319
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/24 Floor-sweeping machines, motor-driven
• 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 11/4066 Propulsion of the whole machine
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2201/04 Automatic control of the travelling movement; Automatic obstacle detection
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 5/00 Structural features of suction cleaners
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 57/00 Vehicles characterised by having other propulsion or other ground- engaging means than wheels or endless track, alone or in addition to wheels or endless track sledges B62B; motor sledges B62M

Abstract

A mobile robot is described for random movement across a surface where a drive unit is arranged inside a top-hat. Cleaning equipment such as electrostatic dusters or equipment for vacuuming can be fixed to the top-hat so that the mobile robot functions as a cleaning robot.

Claims

1. A self-propelled mobile cleaning robot comprising

a housing;

means for securing a dust cloth to said housing; and

a drive unit within said housing and projecting downwardly from said housing to rollably engage a floor surface, said drive unit being characterized in being unconnected to and movable relative to said housing whereby said drive unit is able to impact against said housing from within said housing to cause said housing to move along the floor surface and in being movable on a momentum of rotation principle whereby upon actuation said drive unit moves across the floor surface in a random manner.

2. A self-propelled mobile cleaning robot as set forth in claim 1 wherein said drive unit has a ball shape.

3. A self-propelled mobile cleaning robot as set forth in claim 1 wherein said drive unit is battery operated.

4. A self-propelled mobile cleaning robot as set forth in claim 1 wherein said housing is of semi-spherical shape.

5. A self-propelled mobile cleaning robot as set forth in claim 1 wherein said housing is of cylindrical shape.

6. A self-propelled mobile cleaning robot as set forth in claim 1 wherein said means secures the dust cloth in a radially outwardly directed manner.

7. A self-propelled mobile cleaning robot as set forth in claim 1 which further comprises a fan mounted on said housing for drawing air upwardly into said housing from the floor surface.

8. A self-propelled mobile cleaning robot as set forth in claim 7 further comprising a one-way valve having a plurality of openings facing the floor surface for drawing air therethrough, a chamber within said housing for receiving air from said valve and a filter between said fan and said chamber for filtering dust from air drawn through said chamber.

9. A self-propelled mobile cleaning robot comprising

a housing;

a dust cloth removably secured to said housing; and

a drive unit within said housing and projecting downwardly from said housing to rollably engage a floor surface, said drive unit being characterized in being unconnected to and movable relative to said housing whereby said drive unit is able to impact against said housing from within said housing to cause said housing to move along the floor surface and being movable on a momentum of rotation principle whereby upon actuation said drive unit moves across the floor surface in a random manner.

10. A self-propelled mobile cleaning robot as set forth in claim 9 which further comprises a fan mounted on said housing for drawing air upwardly into said housing from the floor surface.

11. A self-propelled mobile cleaning robot as set forth in claim 10 further comprising a one-way valve having a plurality of openings facing the floor surface for drawing air therethrough, a chamber within said housing for receiving air from said valve and a filter between said fan and said chamber for filtering dust from air drawn through said chamber.

12. A self-propelled mobile cleaning robot as set forth in claim 9 wherein said means secures the dust cloth in a radially outwardly directed manner.

13. A self-propelled mobile cleaning robot comprising

a housing;

and

a drive unit within said housing and projecting downwardly from said housing to rollably engage the floor surface, said drive unit being characterized in being unconnected to and movable relative to said housing whereby said drive unit is able to impact against said housing from within said housing to cause said housing to move along the floor surface and in being movable on a momentum of rotation principle whereby upon actuation said drive unit moves across surface in a random manner.

14. A self-propelled mobile cleaning robot as set forth in claim 13 which further comprises a fan mounted on said housing for drawing air upwardly into said housing from the floor surface.

15. A self-propelled mobile cleaning robot as set forth in claim 14 further comprising a one-way valve having a plurality of openings facing a floor for drawing air therethrough, a chamber within said housing for receiving air from said valve and a filter between said fan and said chamber for filtering dust from air drawn through said chamber.