Patents by Inventor Eric Burbank
Eric Burbank 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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Patent number: 11871888Abstract: A cleaning roller mountable to a cleaning robot is featured. The cleaning roller includes an elongate member extending along a longitudinal axis of the cleaning roller, and a vane extending outward from the elongate member. The vane includes a first vane portion attached to the elongate member, and a second vane portion attached to the first vane portion. The first vane portion extends from the elongate member at a location intersecting a radial axis of the cleaning roller. The first vane portion extends along a first axis angled relative to the radial axis and away from the radial axis in a tangential direction. The second vane portion extends along a second axis angled relative to the first axis. A first angle between the first axis and the radial axis is greater than a second angle between the second axis and the radial axis.Type: GrantFiled: September 3, 2021Date of Patent: January 16, 2024Assignee: iRobot CorporationInventors: Eric Burbank, Timothy R. Ohm, Erik Amaral
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Patent number: 11793385Abstract: An autonomous mobile cleaning robot can include an outer shell and a bumper. The outer shell can include a rim extending around at least a portion of a periphery of the outer shell and can include a first feature connected to the rim. The bumper can be connected to the outer shell and can movable with respect to the outer shell when the bumper is connected to the outer shell. The bumper can include a second feature connected to the inner surface.Type: GrantFiled: April 29, 2022Date of Patent: October 24, 2023Assignee: iRobot CorporationInventors: Andrew J. Pastore, Pu Zhou, Eric Burbank
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Patent number: 11737631Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: September 7, 2021Date of Patent: August 29, 2023Assignee: iRobot CorporationInventors: Travis James Gschrey, Eric Burbank, Oliver Lewis, Milan Modh, Sophia Wennstedt
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Patent number: 11641990Abstract: A mobile cleaning robot includes a removable filter unit configured to receive a supply airflow generated by a blower and to filter debris from the supply airflow, a filter seat, a filter access opening, a filter access door, and a filter presence system. The filter access door is pivotable between a closed position, wherein the filter access door covers the filter access opening, and an open position, wherein the filter access door is displaced from the filter access opening to permit access to the filter seat. The filter presence system is configured to: permit the filter access door to move from the open position into the closed position when the filter unit is disposed in the filter seat; and prevent the filter access door from being moved into the closed position when the filter unit is not disposed in the filter seat. The filter presence system includes a lift arm movable between an extended position and a retracted position.Type: GrantFiled: September 14, 2020Date of Patent: May 9, 2023Assignee: iRobot CorporationInventors: Eric Burbank, Christopher Robin Grace, Oliver Majer Lewis, Stephen Albert Hickey, Jude Royston Jonas
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Publication number: 20220280011Abstract: An autonomous mobile cleaning robot can include an outer shell and a bumper. The outer shell can include a rim extending around at least a portion of a periphery of the outer shell and can include a first feature connected to the rim. The bumper can be connected to the outer shell and can movable with respect to the outer shell when the bumper is connected to the outer shell. The bumper can include a second feature connected to the inner surface.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 29, 2022Publication date: September 8, 2022Inventors: Andrew J. Pastore, Pu Zhou, Eric Burbank
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Patent number: 11330953Abstract: An autonomous mobile cleaning robot can include an outer shell and a bumper. The outer shell can include a rim extending around at least a portion of a periphery of the outer shell and can include a first feature connected to the rim. The bumper can be connected to the outer shell and can movable with respect to the outer shell when the bumper is connected to the outer shell. The bumper can include a second feature connected to the inner surface.Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 2019Date of Patent: May 17, 2022Assignee: iRobot CorporationInventors: Andrew J. Pastore, Pu Zhou, Eric Burbank
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Publication number: 20220047131Abstract: A cleaning roller mountable to a cleaning robot is featured. The cleaning roller includes an elongate member extending along a longitudinal axis of the cleaning roller, and a vane extending outward from the elongate member. The vane includes a first vane portion attached to the elongate member, and a second vane portion attached to the first vane portion. The first vane portion extends from the elongate member at a location intersecting a radial axis of the cleaning roller. The first vane portion extends along a first axis angled relative to the radial axis and away from the radial axis in a tangential direction. The second vane portion extends along a second axis angled relative to the first axis. A first angle between the first axis and the radial axis is greater than a second angle between the second axis and the radial axis.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 3, 2021Publication date: February 17, 2022Inventors: Eric Burbank, Timothy R. Ohm, Erik Amaral
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Publication number: 20220022714Abstract: The present disclosure provides, in one aspect, an autonomous cleaning robot including a body, a drive operable to move the body across a floor surface, and a circuit board mounted below an upper surface of the body of the autonomous cleaning robot. The autonomous cleaning robot also includes one or more electrical contacts, a base of each electrical contact being mounted on the circuit board and a contact tip of each electrical contact being configured to protrude through a corresponding opening in the upper surface, wherein each electrical contact comprises a double curved structure to allow the electrical contact to be vertically flexible. The autonomous cleaning robot also includes a hinged lid including one or more contact pads, the one or more contact pads being configured to contact corresponding electrical contacts protruding through the upper surface as the lid is opened or closed.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 7, 2021Publication date: January 27, 2022Inventors: Travis James Gschrey, Eric Burbank, Oliver Lewis, Milan Modh, Sophia Wennstedt
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Patent number: 11122951Abstract: The present disclosure provides, in one aspect, an autonomous cleaning robot including a body, a drive operable to move the body across a floor surface, and a circuit board mounted below an upper surface of the body of the autonomous cleaning robot. The autonomous cleaning robot also includes one or more electrical contacts, a base of each electrical contact being mounted on the circuit board and a contact tip of each electrical contact being configured to protrude through a corresponding opening in the upper surface, wherein each electrical contact comprises a double curved structure to allow the electrical contact to be vertically flexible. The autonomous cleaning robot also includes a hinged lid including one or more contact pads, the one or more contact pads being configured to contact corresponding electrical contacts protruding through the upper surface as the lid is opened or closed.Type: GrantFiled: December 31, 2018Date of Patent: September 21, 2021Assignee: iRobot CorporationInventors: Travis James Gschrey, Eric Burbank, Oliver Lewis, Milan Modh, Sophia Wennstedt
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Patent number: 11109727Abstract: A cleaning roller mountable to a cleaning robot is featured. The cleaning roller includes an elongate member extending along a longitudinal axis of the cleaning roller, and a vane extending outward from the elongate member. The vane includes a first vane portion attached to the elongate member, and a second vane portion attached to the first vane portion. The first vane portion extends from the elongate member at a location intersecting a radial axis of the cleaning roller. The first vane portion extends along a first axis angled relative to the radial axis and away from the radial axis in a tangential direction. The second vane portion extends along a second axis angled relative to the first axis. A first angle between the first axis and the radial axis is greater than a second angle between the second axis and the radial axis.Type: GrantFiled: February 28, 2019Date of Patent: September 7, 2021Assignee: iRobot CorporationInventors: Eric Burbank, Timothy R. Ohm, Erik Amaral
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Patent number: 10966587Abstract: This document describes a mobile cleaning robot that includes a chassis that supports a drive system, a debris collection volume; and a cleaning head formed to complete a bottom of the robot. The cleaning head includes a frame for affixing the cleaning head to the chassis, a monolithic housing having an interior cavity, a suspension linkage movably suspending the monolithic housing from the frame, the suspension linkage being configured to lift the monolithic housing, a diaphragm formed of a flexible material and mated to the monolithic housing, a rigid duct mated the frame to form a pneumatic path between the monolithic housing and the rigid duct through the diaphragm, and cleaning extractors disposed in the interior cavity of the monolithic housing.Type: GrantFiled: October 24, 2019Date of Patent: April 6, 2021Assignee: iRobot CorporationInventors: William Farmer, Thomas P. Schregardus, Eric Burbank
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Publication number: 20210093146Abstract: An autonomous mobile cleaning robot can include an outer shell and a bumper. The outer shell can include a rim extending around at least a portion of a periphery of the outer shell and can include a first feature connected to the rim. The bumper can be connected to the outer shell and can movable with respect to the outer shell when the bumper is connected to the outer shell. The bumper can include a second feature connected to the inner surface.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 30, 2019Publication date: April 1, 2021Inventors: Andrew J. Pastore, Pu Zhou, Eric Burbank
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Patent number: 10905297Abstract: A robot that includes a cleaning head including a first cleaning roller comprising a first sheath comprising a first shell and a first plurality of vanes extending along the first shell and extending radially outward from the first shell, the first shell tapering from end portions of the first sheath toward a center of the first cleaning roller, and the first plurality of vanes having a uniform height relative to a first axis of rotation of the first cleaning roller; and a second cleaning roller comprising a second sheath comprising a second shell and a second plurality of vanes extending along the second shell and extending radially outward from the second shell, the second shell being cylindrical along an entire length of the second cleaning roller, and the second plurality of vanes having a uniform height relative to a second axis of rotation of the second cleaning roller.Type: GrantFiled: November 9, 2018Date of Patent: February 2, 2021Assignee: iRobot CorporationInventors: John P. O'Brien, Eric Burbank
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Publication number: 20200405106Abstract: A mobile cleaning robot includes a removable filter unit configured to receive a supply airflow generated by a blower and to filter debris from the supply airflow, a filter seat, a filter access opening, a filter access door, and a filter presence system. The filter access door is pivotable between a closed position, wherein the filter access door covers the filter access opening, and an open position, wherein the filter access door is displaced from the filter access opening to permit access to the filter seat. The filter presence system is configured to: permit the filter access door to move from the open position into the closed position when the filter unit is disposed in the filter seat; and prevent the filter access door from being moved into the closed position when the filter unit is not disposed in the filter seat. The filter presence system includes a lift arm movable between an extended position and a retracted position.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 14, 2020Publication date: December 31, 2020Inventors: Eric Burbank, Christopher Robin Grace, Oliver Majer Lewis, Stephen Albert Hickey, Jude Royston Jonas
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Patent number: 10779695Abstract: A mobile cleaning robot includes a removable filter unit configured to receive a supply airflow generated by a blower and to filter debris from the supply airflow, a filter seat, a filter access opening, a filter access door, and a filter presence system. The filter access door is pivotable between a closed position, wherein the filter access door covers the filter access opening, and an open position, wherein the filter access door is displaced from the filter access opening to permit access to the filter seat. The filter presence system is configured to: permit the filter access door to move from the open position into the closed position when the filter unit is disposed in the filter seat; and prevent the filter access door from being moved into the closed position when the filter unit is not disposed in the filter seat. The filter presence system includes a lift arm movable between an extended position and a retracted position.Type: GrantFiled: July 18, 2018Date of Patent: September 22, 2020Assignee: iRobot CorporationInventors: Eric Burbank, Christopher Robin Grace, Oliver Majer Lewis, Stephen Albert Hickey, Jude Royston Jonas
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Publication number: 20200275812Abstract: A cleaning roller mountable to a cleaning robot is featured. The cleaning roller includes an elongate member extending along a longitudinal axis of the cleaning roller, and a vane extending outward from the elongate member. The vane includes a first vane portion attached to the elongate member, and a second vane portion attached to the first vane portion. The first vane portion extends from the elongate member at a location intersecting a radial axis of the cleaning roller. The first vane portion extends along a first axis angled relative to the radial axis and away from the radial axis in a tangential direction. The second vane portion extends along a second axis angled relative to the first axis. A first angle between the first axis and the radial axis is greater than a second angle between the second axis and the radial axis.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 28, 2019Publication date: September 3, 2020Inventors: Eric Burbank, Timothy R. Ohm, Erik Amaral
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Publication number: 20200205632Abstract: The present disclosure provides, in one aspect, an autonomous cleaning robot including a body, a drive operable to move the body across a floor surface, and a circuit board mounted below an upper surface of the body of the autonomous cleaning robot. The autonomous cleaning robot also includes one or more electrical contacts, a base of each electrical contact being mounted on the circuit board and a contact tip of each electrical contact being configured to protrude through a corresponding opening in the upper surface, wherein each electrical contact comprises a double curved structure to allow the electrical contact to be vertically flexible. The autonomous cleaning robot also includes a hinged lid including one or more contact pads, the one or more contact pads being configured to contact corresponding electrical contacts protruding through the upper surface as the lid is opened or closed.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 31, 2018Publication date: July 2, 2020Inventors: Travis James Gschrey, Eric Burbank, Oliver Lewis, Milan Modh, Sophia Wennstedt
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Publication number: 20200121155Abstract: This document describes a mobile cleaning robot that includes a chassis that supports a drive system, a debris collection volume; and a cleaning head formed to complete a bottom of the robot. The cleaning head includes a frame for affixing the cleaning head to the chassis, a monolithic housing having an interior cavity, a suspension linkage movably suspending the monolithic housing from the frame, the suspension linkage being configured to lift the monolithic housing, a diaphragm formed of a flexible material and mated to the monolithic housing, a rigid duct mated the frame to form a pneumatic path between the monolithic housing and the rigid duct through the diaphragm, and cleaning extractors disposed in the interior cavity of the monolithic housing.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 24, 2019Publication date: April 23, 2020Inventors: William Farmer, Thomas P. Schregardus, Eric Burbank
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Patent number: 10470636Abstract: This document describes a mobile cleaning robot that includes a chassis that supports a drive system, a debris collection volume; and a cleaning head formed to complete a bottom of the robot. The cleaning head includes a frame for affixing the cleaning head to the chassis, a monolithic housing having an interior cavity, a suspension linkage movably suspending the monolithic housing from the frame, the suspension linkage being configured to lift the monolithic housing, a diaphragm formed of a flexible material and mated to the monolithic housing, a rigid duct mated the frame to form a pneumatic path between the monolithic housing and the rigid duct through the diaphragm, and cleaning extractors disposed in the interior cavity of the monolithic housing.Type: GrantFiled: December 1, 2017Date of Patent: November 12, 2019Assignee: iRobot CorporationInventors: William Farmer, Thomas P. Schregardus, Eric Burbank
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Patent number: D931797Type: GrantFiled: May 29, 2019Date of Patent: September 28, 2021Assignee: iRobot CorporationInventors: Eric Burbank, Stephen A. Hickey, Milan Modh