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).
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Publication number: 20230042453Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: October 14, 2022Publication date: February 9, 2023Inventors: Duane Leigh Gilbert, JR., Faruk Halil Bursal, Richard Joseph Therrien, Russell Walter Morin
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Patent number: 11471020Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: August 5, 2019Date of Patent: October 18, 2022Assignee: iRobot CorporationInventors: Duane Leigh Gilbert, Jr., Faruk Halil Bursal, Richard Joseph Therrien, Russell Walter Morin
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Publication number: 20210238007Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: February 1, 2021Publication date: August 5, 2021Inventors: Jonathan Christopher Wilson, Duane Leigh Gilbert, JR., Damian Matthews, David Baxter
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Publication number: 20200015646Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: August 5, 2019Publication date: January 16, 2020Inventors: Duane Leigh Gilbert, JR., Faruk Halil Bursal, Richard Joseph Therrien, Russell Walter Morin
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Patent number: 10433696Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: May 9, 2017Date of Patent: October 8, 2019Assignee: iRobot CorporationInventors: Duane Leigh Gilbert, Jr., Faruk Halil Bursal, Richard Joseph Therrien, Russell Walter Morin
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Publication number: 20170238780Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: May 9, 2017Publication date: August 24, 2017Inventors: Duane Leigh Gilbert, JR., Faruk Halil Bursal, Richard Joseph Therrien, Russell Walter Morin
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Patent number: 9675224Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: November 20, 2015Date of Patent: June 13, 2017Assignee: iRobot CorporationInventors: Duane Leigh Gilbert, Jr., Faruk Halil Bursal, Richard Joseph Therrien, Russell Walter Morin
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Publication number: 20160106279Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: October 15, 2015Publication date: April 21, 2016Inventor: Duane Leigh Gilbert, JR.
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Publication number: 20160073846Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: November 20, 2015Publication date: March 17, 2016Applicant: iRobot CorporationInventors: Duane Leigh Gilbert, JR., Faruk Halil Bursal, Richard Joseph Therrien, Russell Walter Morin
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Patent number: 9220386Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: April 30, 2012Date of Patent: December 29, 2015Assignee: iRobot CorporationInventors: Duane Leigh Gilbert, Jr., Faruk Halil Bursal, Richard Joseph Therrien, Russell Walter Morin
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Publication number: 20150107037Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: December 31, 2014Publication date: April 23, 2015Applicant: iRobot CorporationInventors: Duane Leigh Gilbert, JR., Faruk Halil Bursal, Richard Joseph Therrien, Russell Walter Morin
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Patent number: 8955192Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: June 12, 2014Date of Patent: February 17, 2015Assignee: iRobot CorporationInventors: Duane Leigh Gilbert, Jr., Faruk Halil Bursal, Richard Joseph Therrien, Russell Walter Morin
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Patent number: 8910342Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: June 12, 2014Date of Patent: December 16, 2014Assignee: iRobot CorporationInventors: Duane Leigh Gilbert, Jr., Faruk Halil Bursal, Richard Joseph Therrien, Russell Walter Morin
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Patent number: 8881339Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: April 30, 2012Date of Patent: November 11, 2014Assignee: iRobot CorporationInventors: Duane Leigh Gilbert, Jr., Faruk Halil Bursal, Richard Joseph Therrien, Russell Walter Morin
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Publication number: 20140289983Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: June 12, 2014Publication date: October 2, 2014Applicant: iRobot CorporationInventors: Duane Leigh Gilbert, JR., Faruk Halil Bursal, Richard Joseph Therrien, Russell Walter Morin
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Publication number: 20140289999Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: June 12, 2014Publication date: October 2, 2014Applicant: iRobot CorporationInventors: Duane Leigh Gilbert, JR., Faruk Halil Bursal, Richard Joseph Therrien, Russell Walter Morin
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Publication number: 20120317744Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: April 30, 2012Publication date: December 20, 2012Inventors: Duane Leigh Gilbert, JR., Faruk Halil Bursal, Richard Joseph Therrien, Russell Walter Morin
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Publication number: 20120311813Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: April 30, 2012Publication date: December 13, 2012Inventors: Duane Leigh Gilbert, JR., Faruk Halil Bursal, Richard Joseph Therrien, Russell Walter Morin
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Patent number: D699010Type: GrantFiled: April 30, 2012Date of Patent: February 4, 2014Assignee: iRobot CorporationInventor: Duane Leigh Gilbert, Jr.