Random motion cleaner

• US 7,254,859 B2
• Filed: 04/11/2003
• Issued: 08/14/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/01/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hoover Company (Whirlpool Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Hoover Company (Whirlpool Corporation)
• Inventors: Thomas, Kevin L., Gerber, Douglas E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Till; Terrence R.
• Application Number:
  US10/411,957
• Publication Number:
  US 20030205242A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,586 Days
• Field of Search: 15/491, 15/971, 15/98, 153/19, 152/46, 180/20, 280/28.5
• US Class Current: 15/98
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/10 motor-driven
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/24 Floor-sweeping machines, motor-driven
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/40 Parts or details of machines not provided for in groups A47L11/02 - A47L11/38, or not restricted to one of these groups, e.g. handles, arrangements of switches, skirts, buffers, levers
• 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

Abstract

A self-propelled floor cleaner is provided having a random motion generator which enhances the maneuverability of the floor cleaner. The random motion generator is rotatably attached to the frame of the cleaner and propels the cleaner across the floor in a random motion. This random motion facilitates cleaning of the floor by making the cleaner easier to manipulate. The random motion generator includes a hollow spherical shell. In the preferred embodiment, the hollow spherical shell houses a weighted motor assembly which is rotatably mounted on a center fixed axle which extends diametrically between the first and second hemispherical halves and is attached thereto. The weighted motor assembly is comprised of a motor housing and a power source, such as batteries or cells. A motor is housed within the motor housing and rotates the motor housing about the center fixed axle. The power source is mounted to one side of the motor housing to provide an unbalanced weight to the motor assembly relative to the fixed center. This unbalanced weight causes the random motion generator to roll across the floor in a random motion and, thus, the floor cleaner is also propelled across the floor in a random motion to facilitate cleaning of the floor.

Claims

1. A self-propelled bare floor cleaner comprising:

a cleaning assembly;

a random motion generator operatively connected to said cleaning assembly;

a cleaning element operatively connected to said cleaning assembly, said cleaning assembly being in operative relationship with said floor surface when said self-propelled floor cleaner is in use;

wherein said random motion generator includes;

a frame;

a hollow substantially spherical shell rotatably attached to the frame; and

a weighted motor assembly having a motor for rotating the random motion generator and rotatably attached to a center fixed axle, the center fixed axle extending diametrically across opposing sides of said spherical shell.

2. The self-propelled floor cleaner of claim 1, further including an onboard power source for powering said random motion generator.

3. The self-propelled floor cleaner of claim 2, wherein said power source is at least one battery.

4. The self-propelled floor cleaner of claim 3, wherein said at least one battery is rechargeable.

5. The self-propelled bare floor cleaner of claim 1, wherein said weighted motor assembly includes a motor housing for housing the motor and a power source being operatively mounted to one side of the motor housing to provide an unbalanced weight to the weighted motor assembly.

6. The self-propelled bare floor cleaner of claim 5, wherein at least one weight is operatively mounted to the same side of the weighted motor assembly as the power source.

7. The self-propelled bare floor cleaner of claim 6, wherein the power source is at least one battery.

8. The self-propelled bare floor cleaner of claim 7, wherein the at least one battery is rechargeable.

9. The self-propelled bare floor cleaner of claim 8, wherein the random motion generator includes a receiving mechanism for recharging the rechargeable battery.

10. The self-propelled bare floor cleaner of claim 9, wherein the receiving mechanism includes:

a receptacle operatively connected to the weighted motor assembly and fixedly positioned within a first opening of the random motion generator; and

a switch operatively connected to the receptacle and the weighted motor assembly,

wherein when an AC to DC power adapter contacts the receptacle, the switch turns the weighted motor assembly off to facilitate charging of the at least one battery, and when the AC to DC power adapter is removed from the receptacle, the switch turns the weighted motor assembly on to facilitate use of the bare floor cleaner.

11. The self-propelled bare floor cleaner of claim 1, wherein the cage includes:

a cylindrical wall having a first end, the first end of the cylindrical wall forming a first cylindrical wall opening having a diameter larger than the diameter of the random motion generator, the first cylindrical wall opening receiving the random motion generator;

an angled wall section attached to the first end of the cylindrical wall and extending outwardly therefrom; and

a peripheral lip attached to the angled wall.

12. The self-propelled bare floor cleaner of claim 1, further comprising a power switch having first and second positions, the power switch operatively connected to the weighted motor assembly, wherein when the power switch is in the first position, the weighted motor assembly is activated and when the power switch is in the second position, the weighted motor assembly is deactivated.

13. The self-propelled bare floor cleaner of claim 1, wherein the random motion generator includes a rubber ring operatively mounted on the perimeter of said spherical shell.

14. The self-propelled bare floor cleaner of claim 1, wherein said floor surface is a bare floor surface.