Plug storage structure of cleaning robot

• US 8,898,854 B2
• Filed: 08/05/2011
• Issued: 12/02/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/23/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: MSI Computer Company Limited (Micro-Star International Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: MSI Computer Company Limited (Micro-Star International Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Tso, Tse-Ying, Teng, You-Wei
• Primary Examiner(s): REDDING, DAVID A
• Application Number:
  US13/198,827
• Publication Number:
  US 20120242279A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,215 Days
• Field of Search: 153/19, 153/39, 153/401, 15D/IG.1
• US Class Current: 15/319
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2201/00 Robotic cleaning machines, i.e. with automatic control of the travelling movement or the cleaning operation
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2201/022 Recharging of batteries
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2852 Elements for displacement of the vacuum cleaner or the accessories therefor, e.g. wheels, casters or nozzles
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2868 Arrangements for power supply of vacuum cleaners or the accessories thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2873 Docking units or charging stations for autonomous or robotic vacuum cleaners A47L2201/02
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/40 Working vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2260/32 Auto pilot mode
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/52 characterised by DC-motors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/16 Connectors, e.g. plugs or sockets, specially adapted for charging electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/14 Plug-in electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 15/01 Rechargeable batter

Abstract

An plug storage structure of a cleaning robot is presented. A charging structure includes a charging base and a main body of an electronic device. The charging base includes a charging terminal and a projecting portion. The main body has an external housing, charging plugs and an plug storage device. When the main body reaches the charging base, the projecting portion triggers the plug storage device, so that the charging plugs protrude from the external housing, so as to be connected to the charging terminal. When the main body leaves the charging base, the plug storage device automatically receives the charging plugs inside the external housing, so as to keep the plugs of the cleaning robot received inside the external housing during cleaning, thereby preventing the plugs of the cleaning robot from colliding with and damaging adjacent furniture.

Claims

1. A plug storage structure of a cleaning robot, configured to improve storage of at least one charging plug of an electronic device, the plug storage structure comprising:

a charging base, comprising a charging terminal and a projecting portion; and

a main body, having an external housing, the at least one charging plug, a deflector rod and a movable element, wherein the external housing is further disposed with a first hole and a second hole, the deflector rod has a first end and a second end, the first end is connected to the at least one charging plug, the movable element is connected to the first end and the external housing respectively, a pivot is further disposed between the first end and the second end, the first hole is disposed correspondingly between the charging terminal and the at least one charging plug, and the second hole is disposed correspondingly between the projecting portion and the second end;

wherein the projecting portion presses against the second end through the second hole, so as to enable the first end to rotate around the pivot in a direction towards the external housing, the first end protrudes the at least one charging plug from the external housing through the first hole, so as to be connected to the charging terminal, and when the main body leaves the charging base, the movable element pushes the deflector rod, so as to enable the first end to rotate around the pivot in a direction away from the external housing, thereby storage the at least one charging plug inside the external housing.

2. The plug storage structure of the cleaning robot according to claim 1, wherein the number of the first hole or the second hole is equal to that of the charging terminal or the at least one charging plug.

3. The plug storage structure of the cleaning robot according to claim 1, wherein the second end is disposed on an outer side of the external housing.

4. The plug storage structure of the cleaning robot according to claim 1, wherein the main body is further disposed with at least one bump, and the bumps are respectively disposed beside the second end of the deflector rod, so as to enable the deflector rod to move in a space formed by the bumps.

5. The plug storage structure of the cleaning robot according to claim 1, wherein the movable element is an extension spring, a torsion spring or a magnet.

6. The plug storage structure of the cleaning robot according to claim 1, wherein the main body further comprises a circuit connecting board, the first end is connected to one side surface of the circuit connecting board, and the other side surface of the circuit connecting board is connected to the at least one charging plug and the movable element respectively.

7. A plug storage structure of a cleaning robot, configured to improve storage of at least one charging plug of an electronic device, the plug storage structure comprising:

a charging base, comprising a charging terminal and a projecting portion; and

a main body, having an external housing, the at least one charging plug, a deflector rod and a movable element, wherein the external housing is further disposed with a first hole and a second hole, the deflector rod has a first end and a second end, the first hole is disposed correspondingly between the charging terminal and the at least one charging plug, the second hole is disposed at a bottom of the external housing, the first end is connected to the at least one charging plug, the deflector rod is further disposed with a pivot at the external housing, the movable element is disposed on the pivot, one end of the movable element presses against an outer side of the external housing, and the other end of the movable element is connected to the second end;

wherein the projecting portion presses against the second end, so as to enable the first end to rotate around the pivot in a direction towards the external housing, the first end protrudes the at least one charging plug from the external housing through the first hole, so as to be connected to the charging terminal and compress the movable element, and when the main body leaves the charging base, the movable element pushes the deflector rod, so as to enable the first end to rotate around the pivot in a direction away from the external housing, thereby storage the at least one charging plug inside the external housing.

8. The plug storage structure of the cleaning robot according to claim 7, wherein the movable element is an extension spring or a torsion spring.