ROBOTIC VACUUM CLEANER WITH AT LEAST ONE FIXED SIDE CLEANING MEMBER

Abstract

A robotic vacuum cleaner includes a main body having an underside configured to face a surface to be cleaned, a suction opening that opens into the underside of the main body and extending transversely to a main direction of travel of the robotic vacuum cleaner; and a first side cleaning member attached at a fixed location on a front part of the main body and located adjacent a first side edge of the main body, the first side cleaning member having a first cleaning part which is flexible and is configured to direct waste, which comes into contact with the first cleaning part when the robotic vacuum cleaner moves in the main direction of travel, toward the suction opening.

Claims

1. A robotic vacuum cleaner comprising: a main body having an underside which is configured to face a surface to be cleaned, a suction opening that opens into the underside of the main body and extending transversely to a main direction of travel of the robotic vacuum cleaner, and a receiving housing fluidly connected to the suction opening, a rotating cleaning brush rotatably mounted in the receiving housing about an axis of rotation extending transversely to the main direction of travel of the robotic vacuum cleaner, and a first side cleaning member mounted on a front part of the main body and located adjacent a first side edge of the main body, the first side cleaning member having a first cleaning part which is flexible, wherein the first side cleaning member is attached at a fixed location with respect to the main body, and wherein the first cleaning part is configured to direct waste, which comes into contact with the first cleaning part when the robotic vacuum cleaner moves in the main direction of travel, toward the suction opening, wherein the first cleaning part has an inclination, with respect to a horizontal direction, that varies along the first cleaning part.

2. The robotic vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein a distance between a front edge of the first cleaning part and a median longitudinal plane of the main body is greater than a distance between a rear edge of the first cleaning part and the median longitudinal plane of the main body.

3. The robotic vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the first side cleaning member is elongated and extends generally along a first extension direction.

4. The robotic vacuum cleaner according to claim 3, wherein the first cleaning part is twisted along the first extension direction.

5. The robotic vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the first cleaning part has a substantially. flat shape.

6. The robotic vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the first cleaning part is inclined to the horizontal direction and to a vertical direction when the robotic vacuum cleaner rests on a horizontal surface.

7. The robotic vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the first cleaning part comprises a first front wall portion which slopes downward and laterally outward from the main body.

8. The robotic vacuum cleaner according to claim 7, wherein the first front wall portion is inclined with respect to the horizontal direction by an angle of inclination between 30° and 60°.

9. The robotic vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the first cleaning part comprises a first rear wall portion that is inclined with respect to the horizontal direction by an angle of inclination between 70° and 90°.

10. The robotic vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the first cleaning part protrudes laterally from the first side edge of the main body.

11. The robotic vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the first side cleaning member has a first attachment portion which is attached at a fixed location in a first receiving groove provided on the main body, the first cleaning part being supported by the first attachment portion.

12. The robotic vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the first side cleaning member is located in front of the axis of rotation of the rotating cleaning brush.

13. The robotic vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the first side cleaning member is formed by a first side cleaning brush.

14. The robotic vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the first cleaning part is formed by a first cleaning lamella that is elastically deformable.

15. The robotic vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, further comprising a second side cleaning member mounted on the front part of the main body and located adjacent a second side edge of the main body, the second side cleaning member is attached at a fixed location with respect to the main body and having a second cleaning part which is flexible, the first and second cleaning parts being configured to direct waste, which comes into contact with the first and second cleaning parts when the robotic vacuum cleaner is moving along the main direction of travel, toward the suction opening.

16. The robotic vacuum cleaner according to claim 15, wherein the first and second cleaning parts converge toward each other toward a rear part of the main body.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0073] The purposes, aspects and advantages of this invention, according to the description given below of a particular embodiment of the invention presented by way of non-limiting example, will be better understood by referring to the attached drawings in which:

[0074] FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of a robotic vacuum cleaner according to the present invention.

[0075] FIG. 2 is a perspective view from below the robotic vacuum cleaner of FIG. 1.

[0076] FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the robotic vacuum cleaner of FIG. 1.

[0077] FIG. 4 is a front view of the robotic vacuum cleaner of FIG. 1.

[0078] FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view from below the robotic vacuum cleaner of FIG. 1.

[0079] FIG. 6 is an enlarged scale view of a detail from FIG. 3.

[0080] FIG. 7 is a partial bottom view of the robotic vacuum cleaner of FIG. 1.

[0081] FIG. 8 is a partial perspective view from below the robotic vacuum cleaner of FIG. 1.

[0082] FIG. 9 is an enlarged scale view of a detail from FIG. 4.

[0083] FIG. 10 is an enlarged scale view of a detail from FIG. 4.

[0084] FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a first cleaning member belonging to the robotic vacuum cleaner of FIG. 1.

[0085] FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a first cleaning member belonging to the robotic vacuum cleaner of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0086] Only those elements necessary for understanding the invention are shown. In order to facilitate interpretation of the drawings, the same elements are labeled with the same references across all the figures.

[0087] Note that in this document, the terms “horizontal”, “vertical”, “lower”, “upper”, “height”, “top”, “above” used to describe the robot vacuum cleaner or the main body refer to the robotic vacuum cleaner in the situation of use when it rests with its wheels on a floor to be cleaned which is flat and horizontal.

[0088] FIGS. 1 to 12 show a robotic vacuum cleaner 2 configured to move autonomously over a surface to be cleaned.

[0089] The robotic vacuum cleaner 2 comprises a main body 3 having an underside 4 that is configured to face the surface to be cleaned, and a suction opening 5 that opens into the underside 4 of the main body 3. The suction opening 5 is elongated and extends transversely, and more particularly perpendicularly, to a main direction of travel D of the robotic vacuum cleaner 2. Advantageously, the suction opening 5 has a generally rectangular shape, and thus has a front edge 5.1 and a rear edge 5.2 that are substantially parallel.

[0090] The main body 3 further comprises a receiving housing 6 which is fluidly connected to the suction opening 5.

[0091] According to the embodiment shown in the figures, the front part 31 of the main body 3 has a generally rectangular shape when viewed from above, and the rear part 32 of the main body 3 has a generally semi-circular shape when viewed from above. Thus, the main body 3 has a general D-shape when viewed from above. However, the main body 3 could have any other shape when viewed from above, for example a circular or rectangular shape.

[0092] The robotic vacuum cleaner 2 further comprises a rotating cleaning brush 7 which is rotatably mounted in the receiving housing 6 about an axis of rotation A which extends transversely, and more particularly perpendicularly, to the main direction of travel D. Advantageously, the axis of rotation A of the rotating cleaning brush 7 is substantially horizontal when the robotic vacuum cleaner 2 rests on a horizontal surface.

[0093] The robotic vacuum cleaner 2 also includes a drive mechanism (not visible in the figures) that is configured to rotate the rotating cleaning brush 7 about the axis of rotation A.

[0094] As shown more particularly in FIG. 3, the robotic vacuum cleaner 2 comprises two drive wheels 8 which are mounted so as to be rotatable with respect to the main body 3, and which have substantially parallel, and advantageously merged, axes of rotation B.

[0095] The two drive wheels 8 are configured to project from the underside 4 of the main body 3, and are arranged on either side of the median longitudinal plane P of the main body 3. Advantageously, the two drive wheels 8 are arranged symmetrically with respect to the median longitudinal plane P of the main body 3.

[0096] The two drive wheels 8 are advantageously motorized independently of each other. Thus, the robotic vacuum cleaner 2 comprises two rotary drive mechanisms 9 housed in the main body 3 and each configured to rotate a respective drive wheel by the two drive wheels 8. Each rotary drive mechanism 9 comprises a drive motor rotatably coupled to the respective drive wheel and arranged, for example, in a respective side part of the main body 3 or in the rear part 32 of the main body 3. Depending on the control of the two aforementioned drive motors, the main body 3 can rotate to the left, to the right or on itself, and move forward or backward.

[0097] According to the embodiment shown in the figures, the robotic vacuum cleaner 2 has additional wheels 11 which are freely and rotatably mounted with respect to the main body 3 and which are arranged on the front part 31 of the main body 3, and for example between a front edge 3.10 of the main body 3 and the front edge 5.1 of the suction opening 5. Advantageously, the additional wheels are two in number and are arranged symmetrically with respect to the median longitudinal plane P of the main body 3.

[0098] The robotic vacuum cleaner 2 further comprises a suction unit (not visible in the figures) which is housed in the main body 3. The suction unit comprises an electric motor and a fan coupled to the electric motor to generate an air flow through the suction opening 5 and the receiving housing.

[0099] The robotic vacuum cleaner 2 also includes a waste collection device (not visible in the figures) which is arranged upstream of the suction unit and through which the air flow generated by the fan passes when the robotic vacuum cleaner 2 is in operation.

[0100] The robotic vacuum cleaner 2 also includes a power supply battery 15 configured to provide electrical power to the various electrical components housed in the main body 3. Advantageously, the power battery supply 15 is rechargeable and is housed in the main body 3.

[0101] The robotic vacuum cleaner 2 further comprises a control device 13 which is configured to control the operation of the robotic vacuum cleaner 2, and in particular to control the movements of the main body 3 for example according to random or methodical movements.

[0102] In particular, the control device 13 is configured to control the aforementioned rotary drive mechanisms based on data received from various sensors arranged on the main body 3, such as proximity sensors, contact sensors and/or drop sensors. The control device 13 may, for example, include an electronic card configured to receive and process these various data.

[0103] The robotic vacuum cleaner 2 further comprises a transmitter/receiver 14 that is configured to communicate with a docking station configured to accommodate the robotic vacuum cleaner 2, in particular during the recharging phases of the latter's power supply battery 15.

[0104] As shown in FIG. 2, the robotic vacuum cleaner 2 includes a first side cleaning member 16 and a second side cleaning member 17 that are fixed with respect to the main body 3. The first and second side cleaning members 16, 17 are located on the front part 31 of the main body 3 and are arranged respectively adjacent a first side edge 3.11 and a second side edge 3.12 of the main body 3. Advantageously, the first and second side cleaning members 16, 17 are located in front of the front edge 5.1 of the suction opening 5, and are set back from the front edge 3.10 of the main body 3.

[0105] According to the embodiment shown in the figures, the first and second lateral cleaning members 16, 17 are arranged symmetrically with respect to the median longitudinal plane P of the main body 3.

[0106] Advantageously, the first side cleaning member 16 protrudes from the underside 4 of the main body 3 by a first protrusion height that is substantially constant along the first side cleaning member 16, and the second side cleaning member 17 protrudes from the underside 4 of the main body 3 by a second protrusion height that is substantially constant along the second side cleaning member 17 and that is substantially identical to the first protrusion height.

[0107] According to the embodiment shown in the figures, the first and second side cleaning members are elongated and extend generally along a first extension direction DE1 and a second extension direction DE2 respectively.

[0108] The first side cleaning member 16 has a first attachment portion 18 which is elongated and is fixed in a first receiving groove 19 provided on the main body 3, and a first cleaning part 21 which is fixed to the first attachment portion 18 and projects from the first receiving groove 19. Similarly, the second side cleaning member 17 has a second attachment portion 22 that is elongated and is attached in a second receiving groove 23 provided on the main body 3, and a second cleaning part 24 that is attached to the second attachment portion 22 and protrudes from the second receiving groove 23. Advantageously, the first and second extension directions DE1, DE2 are respectively defined by the extension directions of the first and second fastening parts 18, 22.

[0109] Advantageously, each of the first and second cleaning parts 21, 24 is flexible and has a generally flat shape.

[0110] According to the embodiment shown in the figures, each of the first and second receiving grooves 19, 23 has a T-shaped cross-section, and each of the first and second attachment portions 18, 22 has a generally rectangular cross-section. However, the first and second receiving grooves 19, 23 and the first and second fastening parts 18, 22 could have cross sections of any other shape.

[0111] According to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 12, the first and second receiving grooves 19, 23 are provided on the underside 4 of the main body 3, and extend generally along first and second groove directions DR1, DR2, respectively, which converge toward each other in the direction of the rear part 32 of the main body 3. The first and second groove directions DR1, DR2 are respectively inclined with respect to the median longitudinal plane P of the main body 3 by an angle of inclination β1 and an angle of inclination β2 which are each between 20 and 40°, for example between 25 and 35°, and advantageously about 30°.

[0112] As shown more particularly in FIG. 3, the first and second cleaning parts 21, 24 are elongated and converge toward each other toward the rear part 32 of the main body 3. In other words, the front edges 210, 240 of the first and second cleaning parts 21, 24 are spaced apart by a first separation distance and the rear edges 211, 241 of the first and second cleaning parts 21, 24 are spaced apart by a second separation distance that is less than the first separation distance.

[0113] Thus, the first and second cleaning parts 21, 24 are configured to direct and guide waste, which comes into contact with either of the first and second cleaning parts 21, 24, to the suction opening 5 when the robotic vacuum cleaner 2 moves along the main direction of travel D.

[0114] According to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 12, the first and second extension directions DE1, DE2 are substantially horizontal when the robotic vacuum cleaner 2 rests, with its drive wheels 8, on a horizontal surface. However, each of the first and second extension directions DE1, DE2 could be inclined with respect to the horizontal by, for example, an angle of inclination between ±20°, and advantageously ±10°. Each of the first and second extension directions DE1, DE2 is advantageously inclined with respect to the median longitudinal plane P of the main body 3 by an angle of inclination of between 20° and 40°, for example between 25° and 35°, and advantageously of about 30°.

[0115] The first and second extension directions DE1, DE2 may be substantially parallel to the first and second groove directions DR1, DR2, respectively, or may be slightly inclined to the first and second groove directions DR1, DR2 respectively.

[0116] The first and second cleaning parts 21, 24 may respectively be formed by a first cleaning lamella and a second cleaning lamella that are elastically deformable (see in particular FIGS. 2, 3, 6 and 11). However, according to an alternative embodiment of the invention, the first and second cleaning parts 21, 24 may be formed respectively by one or more first row(s) of bristles or tufts of bristles extending along the first extension direction DE1 and one or more second row(s) of bristles or tufts of bristles extending along the second extension direction DE2 (see in particular FIGS. 4, 7, 9, 10 and 12). According to such an embodiment of the invention, the first and second side cleaning members 16, 17 then form first and second side cleaning brushes that are fixed relative to the main body 3.

[0117] According to the embodiment shown in the figures, the first and second cleaning parts 21, 24 are twisted along the first and second extension directions DE1, DE2, respectively, such that the first cleaning part 21 has an inclination, with respect to the horizontal, which varies along the first cleaning part 21, and such that the second cleaning part 24 has an inclination, with respect to the horizontal, which varies along the second cleaning part 24. Advantageously, the first and second cleaning parts 21, 24 are twisted such that the inclination of the first cleaning part 21, with respect to the horizontal, increases towards the rear edge 211 of the first cleaning part 21, and such that the inclination of the second cleaning part 24, with respect to the horizontal, increases towards the rear edge 241 of the second cleaning part 24.

[0118] As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the first cleaning part 21 includes a first front wall portion 21.1 that slopes downward and laterally outward from the main body 3, and the second cleaning part 24 includes a second front wall portion 24.1 that slopes downward and laterally outward from the main body 3. The first and second front parts 21.1, 24.1 are respectively inclined with respect to the horizontal by an angle of inclination α1 and an angle of inclination α2 which are each between 30 and 60°, and advantageously between 35 and 45°.

[0119] As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the first cleaning part 21 comprises a first rear wall portion 21.2 which is inclined with respect to the horizontal by an angle of inclination a3 between 70 and 90°, advantageously between 80 and 90°, and the second cleaning part 24 comprises a second rear wall portion 24.2 which is also inclined with respect to the horizontal by an angle of inclination a4 between 70 and 90°, advantageously between 80 and 90°. Advantageously, the first rear wall portion 21.2 slopes downward and laterally outward from the main body 3, and the second rear wall portion 24.2 slopes downward and laterally outward from the main body 3.

[0120] According to the embodiment shown in the figures, the first front wall portion 21.1 projects laterally from the first side edge 3.11 of the main body 3 and the first rear wall portion 21.2 is set back from the first side edge 3.11 of the main body 3. Similarly, the second front wall portion 24.1 projects laterally from the second side edge 3.12 of the main body 3, and the second rear wall portion 24.2 is set back from the second side edge 3.12 of the main body 3.

[0121] Advantageously, the first attachment portion 18 is set back from the first side edge 3.11 of the main body 3, and the second attachment portion 22 is also set back from the second side edge 3.12 of the main body 3. These arrangements prevent the first and second attachment portions 18, 22, which are generally more rigid than the first and second cleaning parts 21, 24, from coming into contact with obstacles encountered by the robotic vacuum cleaner, and degrading these obstacles or blocking the robotic vacuum cleaner.

[0122] As shown in FIG. 3, the first cleaning part 21 includes a first lower elongated edge 25 that extends along the entire length of the first cleaning part 21 and is configured to contact a surface to be cleaned when the robotic vacuum cleaner 2 is resting on the surface to be cleaned, and the second cleaning part 24 includes a second lower elongated edge 26 that extends along the entire length of the second cleaning part 24 and is configured to contact the surface to be cleaned when the robotic vacuum cleaner 2 is resting on said surface to be cleaned.

[0123] According to the embodiment shown in the figures, the rear end of the first lower elongated edge 25 and a first end 7.1 of the rotating cleaning brush 7 are located substantially at the same distance from the first side edge 3.11 of the main body 3, and the rear end of the second lower elongated edge 26 and a second end 7.2 of the rotating cleaning brush 7 are located substantially at the same distance from the second side edge 3.12 of the main body 3. Advantageously, the rear end of the first lower elongated edge 25 is located adjacent the first end 7.1 of the rotating cleaning brush 7, and the rear end of the second lower elongated edge 26 is located adjacent the second end 7.2 of the rotating cleaning brush 7.

[0124] As previously mentioned, the first and second cleaning parts 21, 24 are twisted along the first and second extension directions DE1, DE2 respectively. Such twisting of the first and second cleaning parts 21, 24 can be achieved in various ways.

[0125] For this purpose, the robotic vacuum cleaner 2 may, for example, comprise one or more first deformation surface(s) configured to deform the first side cleaning member 16 such that the first cleaning part 21 is twisted along the first extension direction DE1 and thus has an inclination, with respect to the horizontal, that varies along the first cleaning part 21, and one or more second deformation surface(s) configured to deform the second side cleaning member 17 such that the second cleaning part 24 is twisted along the second extension direction DE2 and thus has an inclination, with respect to the horizontal, that varies along the second cleaning part 24.

[0126] According to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 12, the bottom wall and the side walls of the first receiving groove 19 are twisted and thus form the aforementioned first deformation surfaces, and the bottom wall and the side walls of the second receiving groove 23 are twisted and thus form the aforementioned second deformation surfaces.

[0127] According to an alternative embodiment of the invention not shown in the figures, the bottom wall of each of the first and second receiving grooves 19, 23 could be flat, and only the side walls of the first receiving groove 19 could form the aforementioned first deformation surfaces and only the side walls of the second receiving groove 23 could form the aforementioned second deformation surfaces. According to yet another embodiment of the invention not shown in the figures, the robotic vacuum cleaner 2 could comprise a single first deformation surface that would be formed by one of the side walls of the first receiving groove 19 and a single second deformation surface that would be formed by one of the side walls of the second receiving groove 23.

[0128] According to another embodiment of the invention not shown in the figures, the main body 3 could comprise a first deformation member, such as a deformation rib, which is provided on the lower side 4 of the main body 3 and comprises a first deformation surface, and a second deformation member, such as a deformation rib, which is provided on the lower side 4 of the main body 3 and comprises a second deformation surface.

[0129] According to another embodiment of the invention, the robotic vacuum cleaner 2 could be devoid of first and second deformation surfaces, and the first and second cleaning parts 21, 24 could be shaped to be twisted.

[0130] According to one embodiment of the invention not shown in the figures, the rear end of the first lower elongated edge 25 could be located adjacent a first side edge of the suction opening 5, and the rear end of the second lower elongated edge 26 could be located adjacent a second side edge of the suction opening 5.

[0131] According to one embodiment not shown in the figures, the first and second cleaning parts 21, 24 could be flat (and not twisted) and each have an inclination, with respect to the horizontal, that would be constant along the respective one of the first and second extension directions DE1, DE2.

[0132] According to another embodiment not shown in the figures, the first and second receiving grooves 19, 23 could be substantially parallel to the median longitudinal plane P of the main body 3.

[0133] Of course, the invention is in no way limited to the described and illustrated embodiment, which was only provided by way of example. Changes can still be made, particularly with regard to the constitution of the various elements or by substituting technical equivalents, without departing from the scope of protection of the invention.