The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Nov. 19, 2002
Filed:
May. 30, 2000
James F. Kirkpatrick, Milford, OH (US);
Harry B. Maddox, Cincinnati, OH (US);
Kevin B. Clendenien, Cincinnati, OH (US);
Andrew Weatherston, Cincinnati, OH (US);
Charles W. Fisher, Loveland, OH (US);
Gary G. Heaton, Cincinnati, OH (US);
Larry R. Genskow, West Chester, OH (US);
Christopher J. Binski, Cincinnati, OH (US);
The Procter & Gamble Company, Cincinnati, OH (US);
Abstract
One aspect of the invention is directed to an autonomous mobile surface treating apparatus having a chassis, a drive mechanism mounted to the said chassis by a suspension, and a substantially rigid shell movably mounted to the chassis. The suspension includes a resilient member interposed between the drive mechanism and the chassis so that when the shell is pushed toward the supporting surface with a predetermined force the resilient member compresses to permit the drive mechanism to move and the shell and/or the chassis to contact the supporting surface. A second aspect of the invention is directed to the movable support of shell relative to the chassis. The shell is supported by a plurality of elongated elastic supports received within plurality of elongated openings in the chassis. Preferably, a passive portion of a collision detection sensor is attached to a central portion of the shell. A third aspect of the invention is directed to a non-skid lower edge member movably attached to the shell to adjust a clearance between the non-skid lower edge member and the supporting surface. A fourth aspect of the invention is directed to a vacant volume that defines a module receiving area adapted to removeably receive a surface treatment module, preferably a plurality of types of surface treatment modules including a pressure adjusting module. A fifth aspect of the invention is directed to a surface treatment module adapted to be removably received in a surface treatment module receiving area of an autonomous mobile surface treating apparatus.