Apparatus for cleaning a surface

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11812906-B2
Application number	US-202217959397-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 4, 2022
Priority date	Jun 22, 2018
Publication date	Nov 14, 2023
Grant date	Nov 14, 2023

Abstract

An apparatus for cleaning a surface includes a liquid delivery system for storing cleaning liquid and delivering the cleaning liquid to the surface to be cleaned, a fluid recovery system and a control system. The control system includes a controller that is coupled to a sensing assembly. Methods of operating the same include sensing foam or liquid with the sensing assembly.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A surface cleaning device, comprising:
a base adapted for contacting a surface of a surrounding environment to be cleaned;
a suction source;
a suction nozzle assembly provided on the base and defining a suction nozzle in fluid communication with the suction source;
a fluid delivery and recovery system, comprising:
a fluid supply tank adapted to hold a supply of fluid;
a fluid dispenser in fluid communication with the fluid supply tank; and
a recovery container in fluid communication with the suction nozzle assembly;

a body assembly configured to receive the recovery container; and
a sensor assembly provided with the body assembly and located adjacent to the recovery container, wherein the sensor assembly includes a self-capacitive sensing system having a plurality of probes and the plurality of probes are conductive pads mounted adjacent the recovery container; and
wherein the plurality of probes are located along a height of the recovery container such that the sensor assembly is configured to sense or detect multiple liquid levels within the recovery container.

2. The surface cleaning device of claim 1 , wherein the recovery container includes a wall thickness below 3 millimeters.

3. The surface cleaning device of claim 1 , wherein the body assembly includes a wall abutting the sensor assembly.

4. The surface cleaning device of claim 3 , wherein the wall includes brackets for holding the sensor assembly.

5. The surface cleaning device of claim 1 , wherein the surface cleaning device is one of an upright vacuum cleaner, a multi-surface floor cleaner, a robotic vacuum, a canister vacuum, a portable deep cleaner, an upright deep cleaner, or a commercial extractor.

6. The surface cleaning device of claim 5 , wherein
a controller is operationally connected to at least one of the suction source, a pump, an agitator, or a user interface, and
the controller is configured to deenergize the at least one of the suction source, the pump, the agitator, or the user interface based on input from the sensor assembly.

7. The surface cleaning device of claim 1 , comprising a controller in communication with the sensor assembly, wherein the sensor assembly provides input to the controller.

8. The surface cleaning device of claim 7 , wherein the controller determines a liquid level based on the input from the sensor assembly.

9. The surface cleaning device of claim 8 , comprising an accelerometer communicatively coupled to the controller, wherein the accelerometer provides an input to the controller.

10. The surface cleaning device of claim 1 , wherein the recovery container is removably mounted to the body assembly.

11. The surface cleaning device of claim 10 , comprising a controller configured to detect a presence or an absence of the recovery container via input from the sensing assembly.

12. The surface cleaning device of claim 11 , comprising a user interface in communication with the controller, wherein the controller is configured to indicate via the user interface the presence or the absence of the recovery container.

13. A surface cleaning device, comprising:
a base adapted for contacting a surface of a surrounding environment to be cleaned;
a suction source;
a suction nozzle assembly provided on the base and defining a suction nozzle in fluid communication with the suction source;
a fluid delivery and recovery system, comprising:
a fluid supply tank adapted to hold a supply of fluid;
a fluid dispenser in fluid communication with the fluid supply tank; and
a recovery container in fluid communication with the suction nozzle assembly;

a body assembly configured to receive the recovery container;
a sensor assembly provided with the body assembly and located adjacent to the recovery container;
a controller in communication with the sensor assembly, wherein the sensor assembly provides input to the controller; and
an accelerometer communicatively coupled to the controller, wherein the accelerometer provides an input to the controller;
wherein the controller determines a liquid level based on the input from the sensor assembly; and
wherein tilt of the recovery container is determined by the controller in communication with the accelerometer.

14. The surface cleaning device of claim 13 , wherein the recovery container includes a wall thickness below 3 millimeters.

15. A surface cleaning device, comprising:
a base adapted for contacting a surface of a surrounding environment to be cleaned;
a suction source;
a suction nozzle assembly provided on the base and defining a suction nozzle in fluid communication with the suction source;
a fluid delivery and recovery system, comprising:
a fluid supply tank adapted to hold a supply of fluid;
a fluid dispenser in fluid communication with the fluid supply tank; and
a recovery container in fluid communication with the suction nozzle assembly;

a body assembly configured to receive the recovery container;
a sensor assembly provided with the body assembly and located adjacent to the recovery container;
a controller in communication with the sensor assembly, wherein the sensor assembly provides input to the controller; and
an accelerometer communicatively coupled to the controller, wherein the accelerometer provides an input to the controller;
wherein the controller determines a liquid level based on the input from the sensor assembly; and
wherein the controller determines a liquid level based on the input from the accelerometer and the input from the sensor assembly.

16. The surface cleaning device of claim 15 , wherein the sensor assembly includes a self-capacitive sensing system having a plurality of probes.

17. The surface cleaning device of claim 15 , wherein the recovery container includes a wall thickness below 3 millimeters.

18. The surface cleaning device of claim 15 , wherein the accelerometer is located on a printed circuit board of the controller.

19. The surface cleaning device of claim 18 , wherein the controller is further configured to provide a visual or audible status indication via a user interface based on the determined liquid level.

20. A surface cleaning device, comprising:
a base adapted for contacting a surface of a surrounding environment to be cleaned;
a suction source;
a suction nozzle assembly provided on the base and defining a suction nozzle in fluid communication with the suction source;
a fluid delivery and recovery system, comprising:
a fluid supply tank adapted to hold a supply of fluid;
a fluid dispenser in fluid communication with the fluid supply tank; and
a recovery container in fluid communication with the suction nozzle assembly;

a body assembly configured to receive the recovery container; and
a sensor assembly provided with the body assembly and located adjacent to the recovery container;
wherein the recovery container includes a wall thickness below 3 millimeters.

Assignees

• Bissell Inc

Inventors

• Scholten Jeffrey A
• Resch Jacob
• Boles Jacob S
• Villaroman Bryan Lee
• Royale Victoria J
• Lambrix Timothy R

Classifications

• A47L1/00

  Cleaning windows · CPC title

• A47L11/4019 Primary

  Fill level sensors; Security means to prevent overflow, e.g. float valves · CPC title

• A47L7/0028

  Security means, e.g. float valves or level switches for preventing overflow · CPC title

• A47L11/34 Primary

  Machines for treating carpets in position by liquid, foam, or vapour, e.g. by steam · CPC title

• A47L11/4008

  Arrangements of switches, indicators or the like · CPC title