Robot cleaner

• US 9,149,168 B2
• Filed: 03/08/2013
• Issued: 10/06/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/08/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Baek, Ohhyun, Shim, Inbo
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, DUNG V
• Application Number:
  US13/790,932
• Publication Number:
  US 20130232720A1
• Time in Patent Office: 942 Days
• Field of Search: 153/401, 153/19, 153/39
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 5/12 with power-driven air-pumps or air-compressors, e.g. driven by motor vehicle engine vacuum
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/00 Details or accessories of suction cleaners, e.g. mechanical means for controlling the suction or for effecting pulsating action; Storing devices specially adapted to suction cleaners or parts thereof; Carrying-vehicles specially adapted for suction cleaners
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/009 Carrying-vehicles; Arrangements of trollies or wheels; Means for avoiding mechanical obstacles
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/0686 Nozzles with cleaning cloths, e.g. using disposal fabrics for covering the nozzle

Abstract

Provided is a robot cleaner. The robot cleaner includes a main body having a plurality of fixing slots that are spaced apart from each other, a moving device providing a driving force for moving the main body, and a bracket on which a cleaning member is mounted, the bracket including a plurality of fixing ribs that horizontally move and are respectively coupled to the plurality of fixing slots.

Claims

1. A robot cleaner comprising:

a main body having a plurality of fixing slots that are spaced apart from each other;

a moving device providing a driving force for moving the main body; and

a bracket on which a cleaning member is mounted, the bracket comprising a plurality of fixing ribs that horizontally move and are respectively coupled to the plurality of fixing slots,

wherein the bracket comprises;

a first part on which the cleaning member is mounted, the first part comprising the plurality of fixing ribs; and

a second part on which a grasp to be grasped by a user is disposed, the second part extending from the first part,

wherein the bracket is coupled to the main body in front and rear directions of the main body.

2. The robot cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of fixing slots are spaced apart from each other in left and right directions of the main body.

3. The robot cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of fixing slots are spaced apart from each other in front and rear directions of the main body.

4. The robot cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of fixing slots comprise a first fixing slot, and the plurality of fixing ribs comprise a first fixing rib,

wherein the first fixing slot is defined by cutting a portion of a protrusion that protrudes downward from a bottom surface of the main body.

5. The robot cleaner according to claim 4, wherein the bracket has an opening for preventing an interference with the protrusion.

6. The robot cleaner according to claim 4, wherein an auxiliary wheel for assisting the movement of the main body is disposed on a bottom surface of the main body, and

an opening for preventing an interference with the auxiliary wheel is defined in the bracket.

7. The robot cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of fixing slots comprise a second fixing slot, and the plurality of fixing ribs comprise a second fixing rib,

wherein the second fixing slot comprises a hook protrusion, and the second fixing rib comprises a fixing hook that is hooked on the hook protrusion.

8. The robot cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the first part is disposed on a lower portion of the main body;

and

the second part is disposed on a rear portion of the main body.

9. The robot cleaner according to claim 8, wherein a discharge hole through which air suctioned into the main body is discharged is defined in the main body, and

an opening through which the air discharged from the discharge hole passes is defined in the second part.

10. The robot cleaner according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of guide ribs spaced apart from each other are disposed on the bottom surface of the main body to guide mounting of the bracket in a horizontal direction.

11. The robot cleaner according to claim 10, wherein an inclination guide part for guiding the mounting of the bracket so that the bracket is disposed between the plurality of guide ribs is disposed on the bottom surface of the main body.

12. The robot cleaner according to claim 1, further comprising a micro switch driven by the bracket, the micro switch being turned on or off according to whether the bracket is mounted on the main body.

13. The robot cleaner according to claim 1, further comprising:

a driving member driven by the bracket mounted on the main body;

an elastic member applying an elastic force to the driving member so that the driving member is driven in a direction opposite to a direction in which the bracket is driven; and

a micro switch turned on or off by the driving of the driving member.

14. A robot cleaner comprising:

a main body comprising a first fixing slot and a second fixing slot spaced apart from the first fixing slot;

a bracket on which a cleaning member is mounted, the bracket comprising a first fixing rib inserted into the first fixing slot and a second fixing rib inserted into the second fixing slot; and

a detecting unit disposed at the main body to detect whether the bracket is mounted on the main body,

wherein each of the fixing ribs of the bracket is inserted into each of the fixing slots of the main body in a direction parallel to front and rear directions of the main body.

15. The robot cleaner according to claim 14, wherein the first fixing slot is defined by cutting a portion of a protrusion in which a portion of a bottom surface of the main body protrudes downward, and

an opening in which the protrusion is disposed in a state where the bracket is mounted on the main body is defined in the bracket.

16. The robot cleaner according to claim 14, wherein the bracket comprises:

a first part on which the cleaning member is mounted, the first part being disposed adjacent to a bottom surface of the main body; and

a second part integrated with the first part, the second part being disposed adjacent to a rear surface of the main body.

17. The robot cleaner according to claim 16, wherein the first and second fixing ribs are disposed on the first part, and

a grasp part to be grasped by a user to mount or separate the bracket on or from the main body is disposed on the second part.

18. The robot cleaner according to claim 16, wherein an opening for avoiding interference with an auxiliary wheel disposed on the bottom surface of the main body is defined in the first part, and

an opening through which air discharged to the outside of the main body passes is defined in the second part.

19. The robot cleaner according to claim 14, wherein the detecting unit comprises a micro switch that is turned on or off by the bracket mounted on or separated from the main body.

20. A robot cleaner comprising:

a main body having one or more fixing slots;

a moving device providing a driving force for moving the main body;

an auxiliary wheel provided on a bottom surface of the main body; and

a bracket on which a cleaning member is mounted, the bracket comprising one or more fixing ribs that are respectively coupled to the one or more fixing slots,

wherein the bracket comprises an opening for avoiding interference with the auxiliary wheel, and the auxiliary wheel passes through the opening when the bracket is coupled to the main body.