Cleaning appliance in which access is granted based on an authorization carrier and authorization profile

• US 9,367,044 B2
• Filed: 01/24/2013
• Issued: 06/14/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 07/26/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alfred Kã¤Rcher GmbH & Company KG
• Original Assignee: Alfred Kã¤Rcher GmbH & Company KG
• Inventors: Troff, Gilles, Stadelmann, Frank, Noller, Bernd, Schaefer, Rainer
• Primary Examiner(s): Girma, Fekadeselassie
• Assistant Examiner(s): Burgdorf, Stephen
• Application Number:
  US13/749,597
• Publication Number:
  US 20130141211A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,237 Days
• Field of Search: 340/5.21, 235/375, 348/734, 455/411
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4008 Arrangements of switches, indicators or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4011 Regulation of the cleaning machine by electric means; Control systems and remote control systems therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 1/01 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/20 involving the use of a pass

Abstract

The invention relates to a cleaning appliance, wherein in order to access same, an access authorization stored on an authorization carrier is required, the appliance including two or more authorization carriers with access authorizations stored thereon which are linked to different authorization profiles, and a detection unit for detecting the access authorization of an authorization carrier, wherein a range of functions dependent on the authorization profile linked to the access authorization can be provided to an operator by the cleaning appliance. In order to provide such a cleaning appliance which is more user-friendly in operation, it is proposed that each authorization carrier comprises an identification device for providing an identifier which is associated with the particular authorization profile of the authorization carrier and which is perceivable by the operator using a sensory organ, wherein identifiers associated with different authorization profiles are different from one another.

Claims

1. A cleaning system comprising a cleaning appliance and three or more authorization carriers, wherein in order to access the cleaning appliance an access authorization stored on an authorization carrier is required,

wherein the three or more authorization carriers with access authorizations stored thereon are linked to different authorization profiles,

wherein the cleaning appliance comprises a detection unit for detecting the access authorization of an authorization carrier,

wherein a range of functions dependent on the authorization profile linked to the access authorization is provided to an operator by the cleaning appliance,

wherein each authorization carrier comprises an identifier which is associated with the particular authorization profile of the authorization carrier and which is perceivable by the operator using a sensory organ,

wherein identifiers associated with different authorization profiles are different from one another,

wherein the cleaning appliance is a floor cleaning machine,

wherein the cleaning appliance includes an optical display and a controller for display of authorization information associated with the authorization profile of an authorization carrier used by the operator for accessing the cleaning appliance,

wherein at least two of the three or more authorization carriers have the same authorization profile and identical identifiers,

wherein the identifiers of the three or more authorization carriers are perceivable using the same sensory organ,

wherein the identifiers of the three or more authorization carriers are visually perceivable identifiers,

wherein the visually perceivable identifiers are a color,

wherein the identifier of each of the three or more authorization carriers is situated on a surface of each of the three or more authorization carriers,

wherein the identifiers of the three or more authorization carriers are unchanging with respect to at least one of space and time, and

wherein the three or more authorization carriers are transponders, each having a memory element for the access authorization, and wherein the access authorization is detectable in each case in a contactless manner by means of the detection unit.

2. The cleaning system according to claim 1, wherein the identifier of at least one of the three or more authorization carriers is perceivable by touch.

3. The cleaning system according to claim 2, wherein the identifier which is perceivable by touch comprises at least one of elevations and depressions which are formed on the authorization carrier.

4. The cleaning system according to claim 1, wherein the identifier of at least one authorization carrier is an always perceivable identifier.

5. The cleaning system according to claim 1, wherein the identifier of at least one of the three or more authorization carriers extends over the entire surface of the at least one authorization carrier.

6. The cleaning system according to claim 1, wherein in the case of an identifier of the authorization profile of the authorization carrier based on a color, the authorization information is a display color of the optical display.

7. The cleaning system according to claim 6, wherein the color of the identifier and the display color match.