Robotic cleaner

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12358169-B2
Application number	US-202217939323-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 7, 2022
Priority date	Sep 7, 2021
Publication date	Jul 15, 2025
Grant date	Jul 15, 2025

Abstract

A robotic cleaner may include a body having a top surface, a navigation sensor extending from the top surface of the body, a protective cover defining a sensor cavity, the navigation sensor being at least partially received within the sensor cavity, and a cover liquid diverter extending from an upper portion of the protective cover, the cover liquid diverter being flared in a direction of the body.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A robotic cleaner comprising:
a body having a top surface;
a suction inlet;
a dust cup fluidly coupled to the suction inlet;
a suction motor fluidly coupled to the dust cup;
a navigation sensor extending from the top surface of the body;
a protective cover defining a sensor cavity, the navigation sensor being at least partially received within the sensor cavity, the protective cover including a viewing aperture through which the navigation sensor emits signals; and
a cover liquid diverter extending from an upper portion of the protective cover, the cover liquid diverter being flared in a direction of the body such that the cover liquid diverter horizontally overlaps with a portion of the top surface of the body, wherein the viewing aperture extends between the cover liquid diverter and the top surface of the body.

2. The robotic cleaner of claim 1 , wherein the cover liquid diverter has a flare angle in a range of 50° to 85°.

3. The robotic cleaner of claim 1 , wherein the body includes a body liquid diverter.

4. The robotic cleaner of claim 3 , wherein the body liquid diverter and the cover liquid diverter are configured to cooperate to urge a liquid in a direction away from the navigation sensor.

5. The robotic cleaner of claim 4 , wherein the cover liquid diverter horizontally overlaps with at least a portion of the body liquid diverter.

6. The robotic cleaner of claim 3 , wherein at least a portion of the body liquid diverter is configured to urge liquid towards a drain opening.

7. The robotic cleaner of claim 6 further comprising a moveable bumper moveably coupled to a forward portion of the body, wherein the drain opening is disposed between at least a portion of the moveable bumper and the navigation sensor.

8. The robotic cleaner of claim 1 , wherein a bottom surface of the cover liquid diverter defines a diverter channel.

9. The robotic cleaner of claim 1 , wherein the cover liquid diverter defines a protective cover receptacle configured to receive at least a portion of the protective cover.

10. The robotic cleaner of claim 9 , wherein the cover liquid diverter further defines a plate receptacle configured to receive at least a portion of a plate, the plate being configured to cover a joint formed between the protective cover and the cover liquid diverter.

11. A robotic cleaner comprising:
a body having a top surface;
a light detection and ranging (LIDAR) sensor configured to rotate;
a protective cover defining a sensor cavity, the LIDAR sensor being at least partially received within the sensor cavity; and
a cover liquid diverter extending from an upper portion of the protective cover, the cover liquid diverter being flared in a direction of the body, wherein:
the body includes a body liquid diverter; and
at least a portion of the body liquid diverter is configured to urge liquid towards a drain opening.

12. The robotic cleaner of claim 11 , wherein the cover liquid diverter has a flare angle in a range of 50° to 85°.

13. The robotic cleaner of claim 11 , wherein the body liquid diverter and the cover liquid diverter are configured to cooperate to urge a liquid in a direction away from the LIDAR sensor.

14. The robotic cleaner of claim 13 , wherein the cover liquid diverter horizontally overlaps with at least a portion of the body liquid diverter.

15. The robotic cleaner of claim 11 further comprising a moveable bumper moveably coupled to a forward portion of the body, wherein the drain opening is disposed between at least a portion of the moveable bumper and the LIDAR sensor.

16. The robotic cleaner of claim 11 , wherein a bottom surface of the cover liquid diverter defines a diverter channel.

17. The robotic cleaner of claim 11 , wherein the cover liquid diverter defines a protective cover receptacle configured to receive at least a portion of the protective cover.

18. The robotic cleaner of claim 17 , wherein the cover liquid diverter further defines a plate receptacle configured to receive at least a portion of a plate, the plate being configured to cover a joint formed between the protective cover and the cover liquid diverter.

19. A robotic cleaner comprising:
a body having a top surface;
a navigation sensor extending from the top surface of the body;
a protective cover defining a sensor cavity, the navigation sensor being at least partially received within the sensor cavity; and
a cover liquid diverter extending from an upper portion of the protective cover, the cover liquid diverter being flared in a direction of the body, wherein:
the cover liquid diverter defines a protective cover receptacle configured to receive at least a portion of the protective cover; and
the cover liquid diverter further defines a plate receptacle configured to receive at least a portion of a plate, the plate being configured to cover a joint formed between the protective cover and the cover liquid diverter.

Assignees

• Sharkninja Operating Llc

Inventors

• Harting David
• Ge Jianjun
• Wall Craig Michael
• Hill Alexander S
• Huang Gang
• Ding Junfeng

Classifications

• A47L9/2889

  Safety or protection devices or systems, e.g. for prevention of motor over-heating or for protection of the user · CPC title

• A47L9/2805

  Parameters or conditions being sensed · CPC title

• A47L11/4083

  Liquid supply reservoirs; Preparation of the agents, e.g. mixing devices · CPC title

• A47L11/4011

  Regulation of the cleaning machine by electric means; Control systems and remote control systems therefor · CPC title

• A47L2201/06

  Control of the cleaning action for autonomous devices; Automatic detection of the surface condition before, during or after cleaning · CPC title