With Work Surface Contact Or Penetration Sensing Patents (Class 15/358)
  • Patent number: 10362917
    Abstract: A cleaning robot includes a main body and a drive unit to move the main body. The drive unit includes a plurality of motors to generate driving force; a plurality of wheels connected to one of the plurality of motors and rotating by driving force received from the one of the plurality of motors; and a driving frame to support the plurality of wheels, receive driving force from another motor among the plurality of motors, and rotate for changing positions of the plurality of wheels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jeong Ki Yoo, Sung Jin Park, Jun Young Lee, Dong Min Shin, Dong Hun Lee, Jae Youl Jeong, Shin Kim, Heum Yong Park, In Hak Na
  • Patent number: 9451856
    Abstract: A surface treating head comprising a first body defining an inner aperture, and a support body defining an outer aperture, the outer aperture surrounding the inner aperture, and the support body being moveable relative to the first body to allow for relative movement between the inner and outer apertures in a substantially vertical direction, wherein the surface treating head further comprises a bellow seal provided between the first body and the support body that maintains a substantially airtight seal between the first body and support body irrespective of their relative positions and movements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: DYSON TECHNOLOGY LIMITED
    Inventors: Jonathan James Gray, Simon Peter Cross
  • Patent number: 8555462
    Abstract: A cleaner head for a cleaning appliance includes a housing, a moveable agitator located within the housing, and a detachable unit extending about the agitator. The detachable unit includes a sole plate having a suction opening through which dirt-bearing air enters the cleaner head, a chassis detachably connected to the housing, and a flexible annular seal for allowing relative movement between the housing and the sole plate. One end of the flexible annular seal is connected to the chassis and the other end of the flexible annular seal is connected to the sole plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Dyson Technology Limited
    Inventors: Scott Andrew Maguire, Andrew James Bower, Paul Barry Reid
  • Patent number: 8474094
    Abstract: A cleaner head for a cleaning appliance includes a housing, a sole plate for engaging with the floor surface, the sole plate comprising a suction opening through which dirt-bearing air enters the cleaner head, and a flexible annular seal located between the sole plate and the housing to allow the housing to move relative to the sole plate to reduce the force exerted on the sole plate by the housing, thereby allowing the sole plate to ride over the floor surface during a cleaning operation. The cleaner head includes at least one floor engaging support member connected to the housing for restricting the movement of the housing towards the sole plate to prevent the housing from pushing the sole plate against the floor surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: Dyson Technology Limited
    Inventors: Scott Andrew Maguire, Andrew James Bower
  • Patent number: 7921509
    Abstract: A suction brush for use in a vacuum cleaner and a method of adjusting the height thereof. The suction brush includes a brush casing having a suction opening to draw in air and a main air passage through which the air drawn in through the suction opening flows, a detecting unit disposed to the brush casing to detect a kind of a surface to be cleaned, a lifting unit to move a bottom surface of the brush casing close to and away from the surface to be cleaned, and a driving unit operated in response to a signal generated from the detecting unit and moving the lifting unit using air pressure generated by the air flowing through the main air passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: Samsung Gwangju Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jang-keun Oh, Min-ha Kim
  • Patent number: 7913353
    Abstract: A vacuum cleaner is provided. The vacuum cleaner includes a suctioning nozzle, a height adjusting unit, a manipulating part, a position sensing part, and a display part. The suctioning nozzle suctions air including dust. The height adjusting unit adjusts the height of the suctioning nozzle. The manipulating part manipulates the height adjusting unit. The position sensing part senses the height adjusted by the height adjusting unit. The display part externally displays the height sensed by the position sensing part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Tae Jin Park, Yun Hee Park
  • Patent number: 7631394
    Abstract: A suction brush for a vacuum cleaner is provided. The suction brush includes an upper casing; a lower casing; an elevating plate installed between the upper casing and the lower casing; a cleaned surface sensing part for sensing; a lever rotatably provided around a rotating shaft that is parallel to the elevating plate; and a solenoid. The solenoid rotates the lever in one direction when the surface to be cleaned is the hard floor and rotates the lever in the other direction when the surface to be cleaned is the carpet. The lower casing contacts the surface to be cleaned as the elevating plate descends, while it comes apart from the surface to be cleaned as the elevating plate ascends.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2009
    Assignee: Samsung Gwangju Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jang-keun Oh, Min-ha Kim, Dong-houn Yang
  • Publication number: 20040143930
    Abstract: A device for an autonomous cleaning apparatus such as a robot vacuum cleaner. The apparatus has a chassis with a housing including a front bumper part and at least two drive wheels (12) or the like. The housing also includes an electric guidance and control system and an obstacle sensing system including the front bumper part (13). The front bumper part is movably arranged with respect to the chassis and the movement between the chassis and the front bumper part is sensed and causes a control signal to be transmitted to the guidance and control system when the front bumper part encounters and obstacle or obstruction. The guidance and control system can then maneuvrer the robot vacuum cleaner around the obstacle or obstruction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2004
    Publication date: July 29, 2004
    Inventor: Anders Haegermarck
  • Patent number: 6299437
    Abstract: A freight container in the form of a tractor-trailer or intermodal container which is convertible for selectively carrying solid freight or bulk liquid freight including a housing, a plurality of collapsible tanks in the housing, liquid outlets in the tanks and conduits in communication with the liquid outlets located entirely within the housing and an opening in the housing proximate the outlets of the conduits. A liquid washing assembly is permanently mounted on the tanks both in the expanded and collapsed conditions of the tanks. Guide structure is provided in association with the frame of the collapsible tanks for guiding the frame in a perfectly vertical direction both when the tanks are being expanded and being collapsed. The upper and lower edges of the tank sides are bolted and clamped to their associated frames. Hot air ducts encircle the liquid conduits in the bases of the tanks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2001
    Assignee: Converta-Vans, Incorporated
    Inventors: James J. Bonerb, Thomas J. Bonerb, David Bounerba
  • Patent number: 6142868
    Abstract: A repair kit and method facilitate a quick and durarble paint repair on any color vehicle or other painted item. The kit includes a fine abrasive surface preparation tool, an applicator, and a universal touch-up paint. A second embodiment adds a small flexible rubber sanding block, a plurality of pre-cut ultrafine sanding papers, and an ultrafine polish having an abrasive selected to remove sandpaper scratches and restore the gloss to sanded paint. These elements combine to produce a smooth unbroken surface finish in a repaired area when used for paint repairs with a matching color touch-up paint. One embodiment of the fine abrasive surface preparation tool is a reusable, retractable brush to hold fiberglass bristle cartridges and provides room for a warning label and storage for a spare cartridge. A second embodiment is a low cost fiberglass brush which is disposable and has a cap cover the bristles when not in use and during shipping.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2000
    Inventor: John Pfanstiehl
  • Patent number: 5730644
    Abstract: A repair kit and method facilitate a quick and durable paint repair on any color vehicle or other painted item. The kit includes a fine abrasive surface preparation tool, an applicator, and a universal touch-up paint. A second embodiment adds a small flexible rubber sanding block, a plurality of pre-cut ultrafine sanding papers, and an ultrafine polish having an abrasive selected to remove sandpaper scratches and restore the gloss to sanded paint. These elements combine to produce a smooth unbroken surface finish in a repaired area when used for paint repairs with a matching color touch-up paint. One embodiment of the fine abrasive surface preparation tool is a reusable, retractable brush to hold fiberglass bristle cartridges and provides room for a warning label and storage for a spare cartridge. A second embodiment is a low cost fiberglass brush which is disposable and has a cap to cover the bristles when not in use and during shipping.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 24, 1998
    Inventor: John Pfanstiehl