An autonomous floor-cleaning robot comprising a housing infrastructure including a chassis, a power subsystem; for providing the energy to power the autonomous floor-cleaning robot, a motive subsystem operative to propel the autonomous floor-cleaning robot for cleaning operations, a command and control subsystem operative to control the autonomous floor-cleaning robot to effect cleaning operations, and a self-adjusting cleaning head subsystem that includes a deck mounted in pivotal combination with the chassis, a brush assembly mounted in combination with the deck and powered by the motive subsystem to sweep up particulates during cleaning operations, a vacuum assembly disposed in combination with the deck and powered by the motive subsystem to ingest particulates during cleaning operations, and a deck adjusting subassembly mounted in combination with the motive subsystem for the brush assembly, the deck, and the chassis that is automatically operative in response to an increase in brush torque in said brush assembly to pivot the deck with respect to said chassis. The autonomous floor-cleaning robot also includes a side brush assembly mounted in combination with the chassis and powered by the motive subsystem to entrain particulates outside the periphery of the housing infrastructure and to direct such particulates towards the self-adjusting cleaning head subsystem.

An autonomous floor-cleaning robot comprising a housing infrastructure including a chassis, a power subsystem; for providing the energy to power the autonomous floor-cleaning robot, a motive subsystem operative to propel the autonomous floor-cleaning robot for cleaning operations, a command and control subsystem operative to control the autonomous floor-cleaning robot to effect cleaning operations, and a self-adjusting cleaning head subsystem that includes a deck mounted in pivotal combination with the chassis, a brush assembly mounted in combination with the deck and powered by the motive subsystem to sweep up particulates during cleaning operations, a vacuum assembly disposed in combination with the deck and powered by the motive subsystem to ingest particulates during cleaning operations, and a deck adjusting subassembly mounted in combination with the motive subsystem for the brush assembly, the deck, and the chassis that is automatically operative in response to an increase in brush torque in said brush assembly to pivot the deck with respect to said chassis. The autonomous floor-cleaning robot also includes a side brush assembly mounted in combination with the chassis and powered by the motive subsystem to entrain particulates outside the periphery of the housing infrastructure and to direct such particulates towards the self-adjusting cleaning head subsystem.

A surface cleaner including a housing and a blade assembly with a blade element. The blade assembly is movable between a lowered position and a raised position relative to the housing. A spring is coupled between the housing and the blade assembly, and the spring applies a force on the blade assembly to move the blade assembly toward the lowered position. The blade element is allowed to move toward the raised position, against the force, such that the force maintains the blade element in contact with a surface to be cleaned. In addition, when in the raised position, the blade element is held against the force and inhibited from moving toward the lowered position.

A surface cleaner including a housing and a blade assembly with a blade element. The blade assembly is movable between a lowered position and a raised position relative to the housing. A spring is coupled between the housing and the blade assembly, and the spring applies a force on the blade assembly to move the blade assembly toward the lowered position. The blade element is allowed to move toward the raised position, against the force, such that the force maintains the blade element in contact with a surface to be cleaned. In addition, when in the raised position, the blade element is held against the force and inhibited from moving toward the lowered position.

A floor care appliance having a height-adjustable brush set. A pushbutton of the brush set is actuatable for height adjustment via a manual suction tube of the floor care appliance. The pushbutton has a receptacle for receiving an edge region of a manual suction tube and/or for foot actuation.

A floor care appliance having a height-adjustable brush set. A pushbutton of the brush set is actuatable for height adjustment via a manual suction tube of the floor care appliance. The pushbutton has a receptacle for receiving an edge region of a manual suction tube and/or for foot actuation.

An autonomous cleaning robot (e.g., an autonomous vacuum) may clean an environment using a cleaning head that is self-actuated. The cleaning head includes an actuator assembly comprising an actuator configured to control rotation and vertical movement of a cleaning roller, a controller, and a cleaning roller having an elongated cylindrical length connected to the actuator assembly. The cleaning head also includes a computer processor connected to the actuator assembly and a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium that causes the computer processor to map the environment based on sensor data captured by the autonomous vacuum. The computer processor may determine an optimal height for the cleaning head based on the map and instruct the actuator assembly to adjust the height of the cleaning head.

An autonomous cleaning robot (e.g., an autonomous vacuum) may clean an environment using a cleaning head that is self-actuated. The cleaning head includes an actuator assembly comprising an actuator configured to control rotation and vertical movement of a cleaning roller, a controller, and a cleaning roller having an elongated cylindrical length connected to the actuator assembly. The cleaning head also includes a computer processor connected to the actuator assembly and a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium that causes the computer processor to map the environment based on sensor data captured by the autonomous vacuum. The computer processor may determine an optimal height for the cleaning head based on the map and instruct the actuator assembly to adjust the height of the cleaning head.

A vacuum cleaner for removing debris from a surface to be cleaned includes a suction chamber having a suction nozzle opening, a source of suction in fluid communication with the suction chamber, a brushroll provided within the suction chamber, and a roller provided in a roller chamber in front of the brushroll.

A vacuum cleaner for removing debris from a surface to be cleaned includes a suction chamber having a suction nozzle opening, a source of suction in fluid communication with the suction chamber, a brushroll provided within the suction chamber, and a roller provided in a roller chamber in front of the brushroll.