Aerial drone cleaning device and method of cleaning a target surface therewith

• US 9,963,230 B2
• Filed: 01/11/2016
• Issued: 05/08/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 01/11/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
• Original Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
• Inventors: Borman, Michelle Lynn, Bradbury, Glenn Allen, Chang, Su Yon, Huston, Larry L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Amin, Bhavesh V
• Application Number:
  US14/992,195
• Publication Number:
  US 20170197713A1
• Time in Patent Office: 848 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4066 Propulsion of the whole machine
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 13/20 Mops
• 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: B08B 1/143 Wipes
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 39/024 of the remote controlled vehicle type, i.e. RPV
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 1/22 Taking-up articles from earth's surface
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/13 Flying platforms
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/00 UAVs specially adapted for particular uses or applications
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/30 for imaging, photography or videography
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0094 involving pointing a payload, e.g. camera, weapon, sensor, towards a fixed or moving target
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/101 specially adapted for aircraft

Abstract

A drone which can be piloted by a user. The drone has at least one or both of a depending head and an outwardly extending elongate handle. A cleaning sheet may be removably disposed on the head, to clean a target surface, such as a floor or countertop. A duster may be removably disposed on the handle, to clean a target surface, such as an elevated surface or clean personal items.

Claims

1. A drone suitable for cleaning tasks, said drone comprising:

A chassis for holding components of the drone;

at least one rotary wing driven by a respective motor;

a controller for piloting the drone in speed and altitude relative to a target surface;

at least one strut depending from the chassis;

a head connected to said at least one strut, the head having a downwardly facing surface to removably receive a cleaning sheet thereon; and

a shock absorber operatively mounted between said at least one strut and said head for absorbing compressive forces between said head and a target surface.

2. A drone according to claim 1 further comprising a plurality of grippers disposed on the head, the grippers being usable to removably attach a cleaning sheet to the head.

3. A drone according to claim 1 further comprising a plurality of hooks disposed on the downwardly facing surface of the head, the hooks being usable to removably attach a cleaning sheet to the head.

4. A drone according to claim 1 wherein said strut is a telescoping strut.

5. A drone according to claim 4 further comprising a cleaning sheet removably disposed on the head.

6. A drone according to claim 1 further comprising at least one of a vacuum source and a beater bar disposed on the head and being usable to collect debris from a target surface.

7. A drone according to claim 6 wherein the vacuum source or beater bar are driven by a dedicated electric motor, the dedicated motor not being configured to drive a rotor.

8. A method of cleaning a target surface using a drone, said method comprising the steps of:

providing a drone suitable for cleaning tasks, the drone comprising;

a chassis for holding components of the drone;

at least one rotary wing driven by a respective motor;

a controller for piloting the drone in speed and altitude relative to a target surface; and

at least one of an elongate handle connected to said chassis at a proximal end and extending outwardly therefrom to a distal end, said handle being configured to removably receive a cleaning duster thereon and a head having a downwardly facing surface to removably receive a cleaning sheet thereon;

providing a duster or a cleaning sheet complementary to said handle or to said head, respectively;

removably disposing said duster or said sheet onto said handle or said head;

piloting said drone to a target surface, and

said step of piloting said drone comprises piloting said drone to clean a floor and comprises the step of piloting said drone to clean a table or countertop; and

contacting said duster or a cleaning sheet with the target surface to clean debris therefrom.

9. A method according to claim 8 having a duster disposed on a complementary handle, and said step of piloting said drone comprises piloting said drone to an elevated position outside the reach of the user to clean debris therefrom.

10. A method according to claim 9 wherein said step of piloting said drone comprises piloting said drone outdoors.

11. A method according to claim 8 comprising the step of cleaning a table or countertop before cleaning a floor.

12. A method according to claim 8 comprising the step of removably disposing both a cleaning sheet and a duster on said head and said handle, respectively.