Patents by Inventor Duane Leigh Gilbert, JR.

Duane Leigh Gilbert, JR. has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20230042453
    Abstract: An autonomous coverage robot includes a cleaning assembly having forward roller and rearward rollers counter-rotating with respect to each other. The rollers are arranged to substantially maintain a cross sectional area between the two rollers yet permitting collapsing therebetween as large debris is passed. Each roller includes a resilient elastomer outer tube and a partially air-occupied inner resilient core configured to bias the outer tube to rebound. The core includes a hub and resilient spokes extending between the inner surface of the outer tube and the hub. The spokes suspend the outer tube to float about the hub and transfer torque from the hub to the outer tube while allowing the outer tube to momentarily deform or move offset from the hub during impact with debris larger than the cross sectional area between the two rollers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2022
    Publication date: February 9, 2023
    Inventors: Duane Leigh Gilbert, JR., Faruk Halil Bursal, Richard Joseph Therrien, Russell Walter Morin
  • Patent number: 11471020
    Abstract: An autonomous coverage robot includes a cleaning assembly having forward roller and rearward rollers counter-rotating with respect to each other. The rollers are arranged to substantially maintain a cross sectional area between the two rollers yet permitting collapsing therebetween as large debris is passed. Each roller includes a resilient elastomer outer tube and a partially air-occupied inner resilient core configured to bias the outer tube to rebound. The core includes a hub and resilient spokes extending between the inner surface of the outer tube and the hub. The spokes suspend the outer tube to float about the hub and transfer torque from the hub to the outer tube while allowing the outer tube to momentarily deform or move offset from the hub during impact with debris larger than the cross sectional area between the two rollers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: iRobot Corporation
    Inventors: Duane Leigh Gilbert, Jr., Faruk Halil Bursal, Richard Joseph Therrien, Russell Walter Morin
  • Publication number: 20210238007
    Abstract: A cable reel includes a spool to extend and retract a cable that includes a first conductor. The cable reel further includes a first connector that is connected with the spool and rotates in relation to the spool. The first connector includes a first contact that is connected to the first conductor of the cable. The cable reel further includes a second connector that does not rotate. The first connector and the second connector are mateable. The second connector includes a second contact that is connected to a second conductor. The first connector and the second connector automatically mate to make an electrical connection between the first conductor of the cable and the second conductor when the first connector and the second connector are aligned in a predetermined position and at least some length of cable has been extended.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2021
    Publication date: August 5, 2021
    Inventors: Jonathan Christopher Wilson, Duane Leigh Gilbert, JR., Damian Matthews, David Baxter
  • Publication number: 20200015646
    Abstract: An autonomous coverage robot includes a cleaning assembly having forward roller and rearward rollers counter-rotating with respect to each other. The rollers are arranged to substantially maintain a cross sectional area between the two rollers yet permitting collapsing therebetween as large debris is passed. Each roller includes a resilient elastomer outer tube and a partially air-occupied inner resilient core configured to bias the outer tube to rebound. The core includes a hub and resilient spokes extending between the inner surface of the outer tube and the hub. The spokes suspend the outer tube to float about the hub and transfer torque from the hub to the outer tube while allowing the outer tube to momentarily deform or move offset from the hub during impact with debris larger than the cross sectional area between the two rollers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2019
    Publication date: January 16, 2020
    Inventors: Duane Leigh Gilbert, JR., Faruk Halil Bursal, Richard Joseph Therrien, Russell Walter Morin
  • Patent number: 10433696
    Abstract: An autonomous coverage robot includes a cleaning assembly having forward roller and rearward rollers counter-rotating with respect to each other. The rollers are arranged to substantially maintain a cross sectional area between the two rollers yet permitting collapsing therebetween as large debris is passed. Each roller includes a resilient elastomer outer tube and a partially air-occupied inner resilient core configured to bias the outer tube to rebound. The core includes a hub and resilient spokes extending between the inner surface of the outer tube and the hub. The spokes suspend the outer tube to float about the hub and transfer torque from the hub to the outer tube while allowing the outer tube to momentarily deform or move offset from the hub during impact with debris larger than the cross sectional area between the two rollers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: iRobot Corporation
    Inventors: Duane Leigh Gilbert, Jr., Faruk Halil Bursal, Richard Joseph Therrien, Russell Walter Morin
  • Publication number: 20170238780
    Abstract: An autonomous coverage robot includes a cleaning assembly having forward roller and rearward rollers counter-rotating with respect to each other. The rollers are arranged to substantially maintain a cross sectional area between the two rollers yet permitting collapsing therebetween as large debris is passed. Each roller includes a resilient elastomer outer tube and a partially air-occupied inner resilient core configured to bias the outer tube to rebound. The core includes a hub and resilient spokes extending between the inner surface of the outer tube and the hub. The spokes suspend the outer tube to float about the hub and transfer torque from the hub to the outer tube while allowing the outer tube to momentarily deform or move offset from the hub during impact with debris larger than the cross sectional area between the two rollers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2017
    Publication date: August 24, 2017
    Inventors: Duane Leigh Gilbert, JR., Faruk Halil Bursal, Richard Joseph Therrien, Russell Walter Morin
  • Patent number: 9675224
    Abstract: An autonomous coverage robot includes a cleaning assembly having forward roller and rearward rollers counter-rotating with respect to each other. The rollers are arranged to substantially maintain a cross sectional area between the two rollers yet permitting collapsing therebetween as large debris is passed. Each roller includes a resilient elastomer outer tube and a partially air-occupied inner resilient core configured to bias the outer tube to rebound. The core includes a hub and resilient spokes extending between the inner surface of the outer tube and the hub. The spokes suspend the outer tube to float about the hub and transfer torque from the hub to the outer tube while allowing the outer tube to momentarily deform or move offset from the hub during impact with debris larger than the cross sectional area between the two rollers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: iRobot Corporation
    Inventors: Duane Leigh Gilbert, Jr., Faruk Halil Bursal, Richard Joseph Therrien, Russell Walter Morin
  • Publication number: 20160106279
    Abstract: An autonomous stair climbing platform and surface cleaning apparatus, systems, and methods may be provided. Embodiments of the present disclosure may comprise an autonomous surface cleaning robot capable of ascending and descending stairs a single tread at a time such that each stair can be cleaned in addition to all other floor surfaces. In addition the stair climbing mobility system further allows a plurality of other functions, including, but not limited to telepresence, payload delivery or communication that is not limited to a single level as is the case with currently available systems.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2015
    Publication date: April 21, 2016
    Inventor: Duane Leigh Gilbert, JR.
  • Publication number: 20160073846
    Abstract: An autonomous coverage robot includes a cleaning assembly having forward roller and rearward rollers counter-rotating with respect to each other. The rollers are arranged to substantially maintain a cross sectional area between the two rollers yet permitting collapsing therebetween as large debris is passed. Each roller includes a resilient elastomer outer tube and a partially air-occupied inner resilient core configured to bias the outer tube to rebound. The core includes a hub and resilient spokes extending between the inner surface of the outer tube and the hub. The spokes suspend the outer tube to float about the hub and transfer torque from the hub to the outer tube while allowing the outer tube to momentarily deform or move offset from the hub during impact with debris larger than the cross sectional area between the two rollers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2015
    Publication date: March 17, 2016
    Applicant: iRobot Corporation
    Inventors: Duane Leigh Gilbert, JR., Faruk Halil Bursal, Richard Joseph Therrien, Russell Walter Morin
  • Patent number: 9220386
    Abstract: An autonomous mobile robot comprise: a chassis having a drive system in communication with a control system; a cleaning head assembly having a lower cage and mounted to the chassis; a debris collection bin mounted to the chassis; a vacuum airway having a vacuum inlet and an airway outlet positioned adjacent the debris collection bin, and configured to deliver debris from the cleaning head assembly to a debris collection bin, the vacuum airway extending between the cleaning assembly and debris collection bin and being in fluid communication with an impeller disposed within the debris collection bin; and a cleaning head module connected to the chassis and having a front roller including a front shape-changing resilient tube and an adjacent rear roller including a rear shape-changing resilient tube rotatably opposing therewith beneath the vacuum inlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: iRobot Corporation
    Inventors: Duane Leigh Gilbert, Jr., Faruk Halil Bursal, Richard Joseph Therrien, Russell Walter Morin
  • Publication number: 20150107037
    Abstract: An autonomous coverage robot includes a cleaning assembly having forward roller and rearward rollers counter-rotating with respect to each other. The rollers are arranged to substantially maintain a cross sectional area between the two rollers yet permitting collapsing therebetween as large debris is passed. Each roller includes a resilient elastomer outer tube and a partially air-occupied inner resilient core configured to bias the outer tube to rebound. The core includes a hub and resilient spokes extending between the inner surface of the outer tube and the hub. The spokes suspend the outer tube to float about the hub and transfer torque from the hub to the outer tube while allowing the outer tube to momentarily deform or move offset from the hub during impact with debris larger than the cross sectional area between the two rollers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 31, 2014
    Publication date: April 23, 2015
    Applicant: iRobot Corporation
    Inventors: Duane Leigh Gilbert, JR., Faruk Halil Bursal, Richard Joseph Therrien, Russell Walter Morin
  • Patent number: 8955192
    Abstract: An autonomous coverage robot includes a cleaning assembly having forward roller and rearward rollers counter-rotating with respect to each other. The rollers are arranged to substantially maintain a cross sectional area between the two rollers yet permitting collapsing therebetween as large debris is passed. Each roller includes a resilient elastomer outer tube and a partially air-occupied inner resilient core configured to bias the outer tube to rebound. The core includes a hub and resilient spokes extending between the inner surface of the outer tube and the hub. The spokes suspend the outer tube to float about the hub and transfer torque from the hub to the outer tube while allowing the outer tube to momentarily deform or move offset from the hub during impact with debris larger than the cross sectional area between the two rollers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: iRobot Corporation
    Inventors: Duane Leigh Gilbert, Jr., Faruk Halil Bursal, Richard Joseph Therrien, Russell Walter Morin
  • Patent number: 8910342
    Abstract: A robot cleaning system includes a debris collection volume, a vacuum airway configured to deliver debris to the debris collection volume, and a cleaning head in pneumatic communication with the vacuum airway. The cleaning head includes two shape-changing resilient tubes separated by an air gap opposing the vacuum airway. The cleaning head is operable in a first configuration, where the two shape-changing resilient tubes rotate against a cleaning surface engaged by the cleaning head to agitate debris on the cleaning surface to pass through the air gap and into the vacuum airway, and a second configuration, where both shape changing resilient tubes deform opposite one another to roll an object larger than the air gap to pass into the vacuum airway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: iRobot Corporation
    Inventors: Duane Leigh Gilbert, Jr., Faruk Halil Bursal, Richard Joseph Therrien, Russell Walter Morin
  • Patent number: 8881339
    Abstract: An autonomous coverage robot includes a chassis having forward and rearward portions. A drive system is mounted to the chassis and configured to maneuver the robot over a cleaning surface. A cleaning assembly is mounted on the forward portion of the chassis and has two counter-rotating rollers mounted therein for retrieving debris from the cleaning surface, the longitudinal axis of the forward roller lying in a first horizontal plane positioned above a second horizontal plane on which the longitudinal axis of the rearward roller lies. The cleaning assembly is movably mounted to the chassis by a linkage affixed at a forward end to the chassis and at a rearward end to the cleaning assembly. When the robot transitions from a firm surface to a compressible surface, the linkage lifts the cleaning assembly from the cleaning surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: iRobot Corporation
    Inventors: Duane Leigh Gilbert, Jr., Faruk Halil Bursal, Richard Joseph Therrien, Russell Walter Morin
  • Publication number: 20140289983
    Abstract: An autonomous coverage robot includes a cleaning assembly having forward roller and rearward rollers counter-rotating with respect to each other. The rollers are arranged to substantially maintain a cross sectional area between the two rollers yet permitting collapsing therebetween as large debris is passed. Each roller includes a resilient elastomer outer tube and a partially air-occupied inner resilient core configured to bias the outer tube to rebound. The core includes a hub and resilient spokes extending between the inner surface of the outer tube and the hub. The spokes suspend the outer tube to float about the hub and transfer torque from the hub to the outer tube while allowing the outer tube to momentarily deform or move offset from the hub during impact with debris larger than the cross sectional area between the two rollers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2014
    Publication date: October 2, 2014
    Applicant: iRobot Corporation
    Inventors: Duane Leigh Gilbert, JR., Faruk Halil Bursal, Richard Joseph Therrien, Russell Walter Morin
  • Publication number: 20140289999
    Abstract: A robot cleaning system includes a debris collection volume, a vacuum airway configured to deliver debris to the debris collection volume, and a cleaning head in pneumatic communication with the vacuum airway. The cleaning head includes two shape-changing resilient tubes separated by an air gap opposing the vacuum airway. The cleaning head is operable in a first configuration, where the two shape-changing resilient tubes rotate against a cleaning surface engaged by the cleaning head to agitate debris on the cleaning surface to pass through the air gap and into the vacuum airway, and a second configuration, where both shape changing resilient tubes deform opposite one another to roll an object larger than the air gap to pass into the vacuum airway.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2014
    Publication date: October 2, 2014
    Applicant: iRobot Corporation
    Inventors: Duane Leigh Gilbert, JR., Faruk Halil Bursal, Richard Joseph Therrien, Russell Walter Morin
  • Publication number: 20120317744
    Abstract: An autonomous coverage robot includes a chassis having forward and rearward portions. A drive system is mounted to the chassis and configured to maneuver the robot over a cleaning surface. A cleaning assembly is mounted on the forward portion of the chassis and has two counter-rotating rollers mounted therein for retrieving debris from the cleaning surface, the longitudinal axis of the forward roller lying in a first horizontal plane positioned above a second horizontal plane on which the longitudinal axis of the rearward roller lies. The cleaning assembly is movably mounted to the chassis by a linkage affixed at a forward end to the chassis and at a rearward end to the cleaning assembly. When the robot transitions from a firm surface to a compressible surface, the linkage lifts the cleaning assembly from the cleaning surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2012
    Publication date: December 20, 2012
    Inventors: Duane Leigh Gilbert, JR., Faruk Halil Bursal, Richard Joseph Therrien, Russell Walter Morin
  • Publication number: 20120311813
    Abstract: An autonomous mobile robot comprise: a chassis having a drive system in communication with a control system; a cleaning head assembly having a lower cage and mounted to the chassis; a debris collection bin mounted to the chassis; a vacuum airway having a vacuum inlet and an airway outlet positioned adjacent the debris collection bin, and configured to deliver debris from the cleaning head assembly to a debris collection bin, the vacuum airway extending between the cleaning assembly and debris collection bin and being in fluid communication with an impeller disposed within the debris collection bin; and a cleaning head module connected to the chassis and having a front roller including a front shape-changing resilient tube and an adjacent rear roller including a rear shape-changing resilient tube rotatably opposing therewith beneath the vacuum inlet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2012
    Publication date: December 13, 2012
    Inventors: Duane Leigh Gilbert, JR., Faruk Halil Bursal, Richard Joseph Therrien, Russell Walter Morin
  • Patent number: D699010
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: iRobot Corporation
    Inventor: Duane Leigh Gilbert, Jr.