Patents Examined by David Redding
  • Patent number: 11737632
    Abstract: A coverage robot including a chassis, multiple drive wheel assemblies disposed on the chassis, and a cleaning assembly carried by the chassis. Each drive wheel assembly including a drive wheel assembly housing, a wheel rotatably coupled to the housing, and a wheel drive motor carried by the drive wheel assembly housing and operable to drive the wheel. The cleaning assembly including a cleaning assembly housing, a cleaning head rotatably coupled to the cleaning assembly housing, and a cleaning drive motor carried by cleaning assembly housing and operable to drive the cleaning head. The wheel assemblies and the cleaning assembly are each separately and independently removable from respective receptacles of the chassis as complete units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: iRobot Corporation
    Inventors: Chikyung Won, Scott Thomas Burnett, Stephen A. Hickey, Deepak Ramesh Kapoor, Zivthan A. Dubrovsky, Selma Svendsen, Robert Rizzari, Paul E. Sandin
  • Patent number: 11737631
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides, in one aspect, method of controlling an autonomous cleaning robot, the method comprising: navigating the autonomous cleaning robot to a docking station; sensing that the autonomous cleaning robot is navigating to the docking station; increasing a vacuum power of a vacuum assembly of the autonomous cleaning robot to reduce an amount of debris from an airflow channel proximate to an inlet of a cleaning bin disposed in the autonomous cleaning robot; and then decreasing the vacuum power of the vacuum assembly of the autonomous cleaning robot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: iRobot Corporation
    Inventors: Travis James Gschrey, Eric Burbank, Oliver Lewis, Milan Modh, Sophia Wennstedt
  • Patent number: 11737636
    Abstract: The cleaning device includes a main body and at least one drive wheel. The at least one drive wheel is arranged on the main body. The main body can walk on the surface to be cleaned by means of the at least one drive wheel. The cleaning device further includes a driving mechanism, a movable bracket, and a cleaning assembly. The driving mechanism is arranged on the main body, the movable bracket is movably connected to the bottom of the main body, and is connected to the driving mechanism. The movable bracket reciprocates along the direction parallel to the surface to be cleaned under the driving action of the driving mechanism. The cleaning assembly is detachably connected to the movable bracket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: SHENZHEN FLY RODENT DYNAMICS INTELLIGENT TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Wuji Zhang, Quanlong Lu, Changtai Xia
  • Patent number: 11730335
    Abstract: A surface cleaning apparatus includes a steam delivery system, a liquid delivery system, and a recovery system. The steam delivery system may include a steam dispenser having one outlet to dispense steam toward the surface to be cleaned and another outlet to dispense steam away from the surface to be cleaned as visible steam vapor. The apparatus may have multiple cleaning modes, including a mode where liquid is dispensed and a mode where liquid and steam are dispensed. Methods for operating a surface cleaning apparatus and for self-cleaning a surface cleaning apparatus are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: BISSELL Inc.
    Inventors: Jacob Resch, Andrew Woodcox, Jeremy W. Hoffmann
  • Patent number: 11730327
    Abstract: A hand vacuum includes a nozzle portion at a front end of the hand vacuum having a dirty air inlet. An air flow passage extends from the dirty air inlet to a clean air outlet in a main body rearward of the nozzle portion. The main body houses a suction motor in the air flow passage. First and second laterally spaced apart opposed arm members extend between the nozzle portion and the main body, and a volume is positioned between the nozzle portion, the main body and the opposed arm members. An air treatment member assembly comprising an air treatment member is removably positionable in the volume. When the air treatment member assembly is mounted to the hand vacuum cleaner in an operating position, the air treatment member assembly is positioned in the volume and the air treatment member is positioned in the air flow path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: Omachron Intellectual Property Inc.
    Inventor: Wayne Ernest Conrad
  • Patent number: 11723503
    Abstract: A robotic cleaner may include a chassis, an agitator assembly configured to engage a surface to be cleaned, and a lift mechanism moveably coupling the agitator assembly to the chassis. The lift mechanism may include a biasing mechanism. The biasing mechanism may be configured to generate a biasing force that urges the agitator assembly in a direction away from the surface to be cleaned. The biasing force may be insufficient to lift the agitator assembly from the surface to be cleaned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: SharkNinja Operating LLC
    Inventors: Margaret Mathieu, Charles S. Brunner
  • Patent number: 11723505
    Abstract: A floor maintenance machine includes a clean fluid tank with a discharge funnel running therethrough that forms part of an exhaust pathway for a vacuum source. The vacuum source discharges an exhaust during operation of the machine from the exhaust outlet into the discharge funnel. The exhaust may be gaseous and/or include a liquid component in the case of a machine malfunction if liquid from a recovery chamber is non-ideally drawn into the vacuum source in the case a fail-safe does not work. The discharge funnel can provide a way for the liquid to exit the interior of the machine in such case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: RPS Corporation
    Inventor: Sean K. Goff
  • Patent number: 11717121
    Abstract: A robotic vacuum cleaner includes a main body having an underside configured to face a surface to be cleaned, a suction opening that opens into the underside of the main body and extending transversely to a main direction of travel of the robotic vacuum cleaner; and a first side cleaning member attached at a fixed location on a front part of the main body and located adjacent a first side edge of the main body, the first side cleaning member having a first cleaning part which is flexible and is configured to direct waste, which comes into contact with the first cleaning part when the robotic vacuum cleaner moves in the main direction of travel, toward the suction opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Inventors: Laurent Delair, Mickael Boillet
  • Patent number: 11707171
    Abstract: A surface cleaning apparatus comprising a cleaning head and a brushroll. The cleaning head includes a cleaning head body having an agitator chamber including an opening on an underside of the cleaning head body. The brushroll is rotatably mounted to the cleaning head body such that a portion of the brushroll extends below the underside for directing debris into the opening. The brushroll includes an elongated body extending laterally between a first and second end region, a slit opening extending between the first and second end region, angular stationary teeth extending proximate to an edge of the slit opening, and a cutting blade configured to be at least partially received within the slit opening and to move laterally between the first and second end regions. The cutting blade bar includes teeth that are configured to engage with the stationary teeth to cut hair.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: SharkNinja Operating LLC
    Inventor: Alden Kelsey
  • Patent number: 11707169
    Abstract: A robot cleaner includes a main body having a suction motor; a moving unit to automatically move the main body; and a suction module to be in communication with the suction motor and to clean a floor, wherein an accommodating portion in which a part of the suction module is accommodated is provided at a lower portion of a front side of the main body, and while the suction module is located in the accommodating portion, a part of the suction module is disposed to be vertically overlapped with the main body, and another part of the suction module protrudes toward both sides from a front portion of the main body, and still another part of the suction module protrudes to a front of the main body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Hyosung Kim, Bohyun Nam, Sojin Park, Jin-Ju Kim, Sehwan Bae
  • Patent number: 11707177
    Abstract: A surface cleaning apparatus having an upright assembly, a power source, and a coiled electrical cable. The upright assembly including a frame and a telescoping handle at last partially extending from the frame and movable between an extended position and a contracted position. The coiled electrical cable being provided within a portion of the telescoping handle and configured to uncoil or coil when the telescoping handle is moved between the extended position and the contracted position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: BISSELL Inc.
    Inventor: Tom Minh Nguyen
  • Patent number: 11700988
    Abstract: A cleaning method of a cleaning robot, a chip, and a cleaning robot. The cleaning method of the cleaning robot includes: moving forward and along a first lateral direction to form a first cleaning path; moving backward to form a second cleaning path; moving forward and along a second lateral direction to form a third cleaning path, where the second lateral direction is opposite to the first lateral direction; and repeatedly performing the first cleaning path, the second cleaning path, and the third cleaning path in turn. The cleaning method of the cleaning robot improves the cleaning effect by repeatedly performing a three-segment series of paths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: SHENZHEN SILVER STAR INTELLIGENT GROUP CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Dunhao Liu, Shunfeng Jiang
  • Patent number: 11696664
    Abstract: A cleaning apparatus may include a cleaning unit that is kept from moving downwardly from a predetermined limit position. The apparatus body includes a positioning member that positions the cleaning unit at the limit position. The cleaning unit includes an intake nozzle that is arranged at a position separated from the surface to be cleaned by a predetermined gap, a cam member that holds the cleaning unit at the limit position, and an operation input unit that changes the limit position to a higher position by moving the cleaning unit upward by operating the cam member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2023
    Assignee: OMRON Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Io, Koji Sugita, Tomokazu Imae
  • Patent number: 11690491
    Abstract: A surface cleaning apparatus having a housing, a suction nozzle, a suction source, a steam port, a steam supply system, and a flexible seal. The housing having a cleaning foot and an upper housing operably coupled to the cleaning foot. The suction source being fluidly connected to the suction nozzle by a working air conduit. The steam port having an aperture provided in the cleaning foot. The steam supply system having a steam nozzle with at least a portion that projects through the steam port. The flexible seal being provided at least around the steam nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: BISSELL Inc.
    Inventors: Kan Yuk Yiu, Jian Yun Pi
  • Patent number: 11678781
    Abstract: A cleaning accessory for a vacuum cleaner comprises a housing. A rotatable cleaning brush is rotatably mounted to the housing. The rotatable cleaning brush has at least one flexible cleaning element projecting outwards from a side of the housing. The at least one flexible cleaning element is configured to rotate and engage with a surface to be cleaned. A rotatable cleaning bar rotatably is mounted within the housing and the rotatable cleaning brush is rotatably coupled to the rotatable cleaning bar. At least a portion of the rotatable cleaning brush is seated within the rotatable cleaning bar or a drive mechanism coupled to the rotatable cleaning bar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: Black & Decker, Inc.
    Inventor: Derek Muir
  • Patent number: 11678737
    Abstract: A method of cleaning a surface includes positioning a brush in contact with the surface. The method further includes rotating the brush about a second axis relative to a drum. The method also includes rotating the drum about a first axis relative to a bracket, connected to a handle and rotatably supporting the drum, such that the brush orbitally revolves about the first axis. The first axis is parallel to the second axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: John W. Pringle-Iv, Raul Tomuta, Chris J. Erickson
  • Patent number: 11672398
    Abstract: A handheld cleaning device includes a surface-moving portion and an upright portion. The surface-moving portion is in contact with a surface to be cleaned and is connected with the upright portion. The upright portion is configured to move the surface-moving portion in a case in which the surface-moving portion is in operation. The handheld cleaning device further includes a power battery configured to supply power to the handheld cleaning device. The surface-moving portion further includes at least two non-coaxial brushrolls configured to clean stains on the surface to be cleaned. The rotation speed of each brushroll is less than 3000 r/min.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: BEIJING ROBOROCK TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yunlong Yang
  • Patent number: 11672397
    Abstract: A vacuum cleaner has a portable cleaning unit that is removably mounted to the surface cleaning head. The vacuum cleaner is operable in a floor cleaning configuration in which the portable cleaning unit is mounted to the surface cleaning head and is part of the air flow path through the vacuum cleaner. The portable cleaning unit is also useable in a portable cleaning configuration in which the portable cleaning unit is removed from the surface cleaning head and the suction motor is powered by an energy storage member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: Omachron Intellectual Property Inc.
    Inventor: Wayne Ernest Conrad
  • Patent number: 11672399
    Abstract: An autonomous coverage robot includes a chassis, a drive system configured to maneuver the robot, and a cleaning assembly. The cleaning assembly includes a cleaning assembly housing and at least one driven sweeper brush. The robot includes a controller and a removable sweeper bin configured to receive debris agitated by the driven sweeper brush. The sweeper bin includes an emitter disposed on an interior surface of the bin and a receiver disposed remotely from the emitter on the interior surface of the bin and configured to receive an emitter signal. The emitter and the receiver are disposed such that a threshold level of accumulation of debris in the sweeper bin blocks the receiver from receiving emitter emissions. The robot includes a bin controller disposed in the sweeper bin and monitoring a detector signal and initiating a bin full routine upon determining a bin debris accumulation level requiring service.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: iRobot Corporation
    Inventors: Mark Steven Schnittman, Daniel N. Ozick, Gregg W. Landry
  • Patent number: 11666192
    Abstract: A nozzle of a cleaner includes a nozzle body, a rotation cleaning part having a rotation plate to which a rag is attached, a driving device provided in the nozzle body, a water tank, a water supply passage, and a water adjuster of which at least a portion is mounted on the nozzle body at a rear side thereof so as to be exposed to a rear surface or a top surface of the nozzle body. A user standing on the same floor surface as the nozzle body may manipulate the water adjuster by using his or her foot. The water adjuster may be configured to adjust an on/off operation and a rotation speed (e.g., rpm) of the pump motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Seunghyun Song, Seongmin Kim, Jaeyoung Kim, Wookjun Chung