Directional control method for dual brush robotic pool cleaners

• US 8,241,430 B2
• Filed: 06/29/2007
• Issued: 08/14/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/04/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Zodiac Pool Systems, LLC (Fluidra, S.A.)
• Original Assignee: Aqua Products Incorporated
• Inventors: Erlich, Giora, Horvath, Tibor
• Primary Examiner(s): Kornakov, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): WHATLEY, KATELYN B
• Application Number:
  US11/824,447
• Publication Number:
  US 20080087299A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,873 Days
• Field of Search: 134/6, 134/18, 134/21, 134/56.R, 134/57.R, 134/58.R, 15/17
• US Class Current: 134/18
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 13/00 Brushes with driven brush bodies or carrierspower-driven toothbrushes A61C17/16
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 13/02 power-driven carriers
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 4/1654 Self-propelled cleaners
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0219 ensuring the processing of the whole working surface

Abstract

A method for accurately controlling the directional and turning movement of a self-propelled robotic pool cleaner while cleaning a pool includes the steps of propelling the pool cleaner in a first direction along a generally straight path from a first sidewall toward an opposing sidewall of the pool, wherein said pool cleaner is propelled to a position in the pool corresponding to a distance greater than the midpoint between the first sidewall and the opposing sidewall and before contacting the opposing sidewall of the pool; stopping the pool cleaner at the position and pivoting the pool cleaner to a predetermined angular change in direction; and reversing direction and resuming propulsion of the pool cleaner, wherein the pool cleaner moves in a second direction along a generally straight path that is angularly displaced from the first direction.

Claims

1. A method of controlling the directional movement of a self-propelled robotic pool cleaner while cleaning a pool comprising the steps of:

(a) propelling the pool cleaner in a first direction along a generally straight path away from a first sidewall toward an opposing sidewall of the pool, wherein said pool cleaner is propelled to a turning point in the pool that is at a distance greater than the midpoint between the first sidewall and the opposing sidewall and displaced from the opposing sidewall of the pool;

(b) stopping the pool cleaner at the turning point and radially pivoting the pool cleaner at a first angle with respect to the first direction to cause a predetermined angular change in direction; and

(c) resuming the propulsion of the pool cleaner in a reverse direction to return to the first sidewall in a second direction along a generally straight path that is angularly displaced from the first direction.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of repeating steps (a) through (c) in one of either a clockwise or counter-clockwise direction around the pool.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising the step of propelling said pool cleaner up a sidewall of said pool while traversing in at least one of the first and second directions.

4. The method of claim 2, further comprising the step of manually controlling the distance the pool cleaner moves past the midpoint between the opposing sidewalls.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein said step of manually controlling the distance the pool cleaner moves comprises receiving a signal from a user-actuated switch.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein said step of manually increasing the distance the pool cleaner moves comprises initiating a series of activation signals that incrementally increase the distance the pool cleaner moves past said midpoint between the opposing sidewalls.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said propelling the pool cleaner a distance greater than the midpoint between opposing sidewalls of the pool comprises the step of setting a first predetermined time that the pool cleaner is propelled in the first direction.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising the step of manually setting a second predetermined time that the pool cleaner is propelled in the first direction.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the second predetermined time is incrementally added to a value associated with the first predetermined time.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

(d) stopping the pool cleaner at the first sidewall and radially pivoting the pool cleaner to effect a predetermined angular change such that a longitudinal axis of the cleaner is positioned normal to the first sidewall; and

(e) repeating steps (a) through (d).

11. The method of claim 1, wherein said stopping step includes radially pivoting the pool cleaner at the first angle in a clockwise direction with respect to the first direction.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein said stopping step includes radially pivoting the pool cleaner at the first angle in a counter-clockwise direction with respect to the first direction.