Suction nozzle with obstacle sensor
First Claim
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1. A suction nozzle for a vacuum cleaner, comprising:
- a nozzle body comprising a nozzle suction inlet adapted to be fluidly interconnected to a source of suction;
a first side brush rotatably mounted to the nozzle body near a first side of the nozzle body;
a first motor operably coupled with the first side brush for selectively rotating the first side brush;
a second side brush rotatably mounted to the nozzle body near a second side of the nozzle body;
a second motor operably coupled with the second side brush for selectively rotating the second side brush;
a controller operably connected to the first motor and the second motor;
a first proximity sensor operably connected to the controller and adapted to send an output signal to the controller upon sensing an obstacle proximate to the first side of the nozzle body; and
a second proximity sensor operably connected to the controller and adapted to send an output signal to the controller upon sensing an obstacle proximate to the second side of the nozzle body;
wherein the controller energizes the first motor to rotate the first side brush only in response to the output signal from the first sensor and the controller energizes the second motor to rotate the second side brush only in response to the output signal from the second sensor.
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Abstract
A suction nozzle for a vacuum cleaner includes one or more sensor(s) to sense an obstacle near or proximate to the suction nozzle. A side brush can be rotated or a working air path can be diverted based on a signal from the sensor(s).
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. A suction nozzle for a vacuum cleaner, comprising:
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a nozzle body comprising a nozzle suction inlet adapted to be fluidly interconnected to a source of suction; a first side brush rotatably mounted to the nozzle body near a first side of the nozzle body; a first motor operably coupled with the first side brush for selectively rotating the first side brush; a second side brush rotatably mounted to the nozzle body near a second side of the nozzle body; a second motor operably coupled with the second side brush for selectively rotating the second side brush; a controller operably connected to the first motor and the second motor; a first proximity sensor operably connected to the controller and adapted to send an output signal to the controller upon sensing an obstacle proximate to the first side of the nozzle body; and a second proximity sensor operably connected to the controller and adapted to send an output signal to the controller upon sensing an obstacle proximate to the second side of the nozzle body; wherein the controller energizes the first motor to rotate the first side brush only in response to the output signal from the first sensor and the controller energizes the second motor to rotate the second side brush only in response to the output signal from the second sensor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A suction nozzle for a vacuum cleaner, comprising:
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a nozzle body comprising a nozzle suction inlet; a first edge suction inlet provided near a side of the nozzle body; a first side brush rotatably mounted near the side of the nozzle body; a diverter assembly for selectively fluidly coupling one of the nozzle suction inlet and the first edge suction inlet with a source of suction and movable between a first position in which the nozzle suction inlet is fluidly coupled with the source of suction, and a second position in which the first edge suction inlet is fluidly coupled with the source of suction; a controller operably connected to the diverter assembly; and a first sensor operably connected to the controller and adapted to send an output signal to the controller upon sensing an obstacle; wherein the controller moves the diverter assembly to the second position and rotates the first side brush in response to the output signal from the first sensor. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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Specification