Description:BACKGROUND
Field of the invention
[001] Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to a floor cleaner and particularly to a multifunctional floor cleaning apparatus that performs vacuum cleaning and sweeping simultaneously.
Description of Related Art
[002] Cleaning is an essential and tedious task that is often overlooked. In today’s busy world, cleaning is often considered as a time-consuming activity and it has to be carried out not only in homes but in shopping centers and offices. Floor cleaning especially in public places requires all-time availability of a janitor. With the advancement in technology, various automation techniques have facilitated human activities and assisted in daily chores. Automation can simplify complex operations and can perform human tasks in a timely and precise manner. One such task is cleaning, which is usually undermined, but is an extremely important part that cannot be compromised. Many methods are available that clean the premises; however, they are tedious, labor-intensive, and time-consuming. People often use hand-controlled mops to sweep and mop the premises consecutively which requires manpower and human efforts. Also, many AI-enabled automated systems that perform vacuuming and mopping have invaded the market, yet they are beyond the budget of many families. Also, the availability and maintenance of these automated cleaning systems is a point of concern, and face challenges like cleaning whole floor surfaces, path planning, and the method of cleaning.
[003] Further, to overcome the aforementioned issues, some robotic cleaners have taken major attention in floor cleaning applications such as Roomba. The iRobot’s Roomba is equipped with several sensors that clean the floor and change the direction when some obstacle is detected. However, there are still some features that need to be improved like cleaning floor corners, removing dust, and polishing the surface.
[004] There is thus a need for an improved and advanced floor cleaner that can clean the floor surface, sweep dirt and dust, and vacuum simultaneously in an eco-friendly approach and can also administer the aforementioned limitations more efficiently.
SUMMARY
[005] Embodiments in accordance with the present invention provide a multifunctional floor cleaning apparatus. The apparatus comprising a frame designed to provide a support to components of the apparatus. The apparatus further comprising: a display unit attached to a top surface of the frame, characterized in that the display unit comprises a first turn on button and a second turn on button. The apparatus further comprising: a vacuum cleaner located at a base of the frame, and adapted to be activated upon pressing of the first turn on button by a user, wherein the activation of the vacuum cleaner actuates a motor to suck dust particles from air and to clean floor mattresses. The apparatus further comprising: links having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of each of the links are removably attached to the base of the frame. The apparatus further comprising: brushes attached to the second end of the corresponding links in an inclined position, and adapted to be activated upon pressing of the second turn on button by the user, wherein the activation of the brushes actuates the motor to move the brushes in a downward direction towards floor for collecting the dust particles.
[006] Embodiments of the present invention may provide a number of advantages depending on its particular configuration. First, embodiments of the present application may provide a multifunctional floor cleaning apparatus that may be designed for performing vacuuming and sweeping simultaneously.
[007] Next, embodiments of the present application may provide a multifunctional floor cleaning apparatus that comprises a vacuum cleaner that can be operated at various pressure levels.
[008] Next, embodiments of the present application may provide a multifunctional floor cleaning apparatus that may be designed for protection from contaminants like dust and debris.
[009] Next, embodiments of the present application may provide a multifunctional floor cleaning apparatus that may be designed for users suffering from backache problems.
[0010] Next, embodiments of the present application may provide a multifunctional floor cleaning apparatus that may be designed for preventing dust particles from spreading into atmosphere which may be harmful to human health.
[0011] Next, embodiments of the present application may provide a multifunctional floor cleaning apparatus that may be designed in an ecofriendly manner.
[0012] These and other advantages will be apparent from the present application of the embodiments described herein.
[0013] The preceding is a simplified summary to provide an understanding of some embodiments of the present invention. This summary is neither an extensive nor exhaustive overview of the present invention and its various embodiments. The summary presents selected concepts of the embodiments of the present invention in a simplified form as an introduction to the more detailed description presented below. As will be appreciated, other embodiments of the present invention are possible utilizing, alone or in combination, one or more of the features set forth above or described in detail below.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0014] The above and still further features and advantages of embodiments of the present invention will become apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description of embodiments thereof, especially when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, and wherein:
[0015] FIG. 1A illustrates a perspective view of a multifunctional floor cleaning apparatus, according to an embodiment of the present invention;
[0016] FIG. 1B illustrates a bottom view of the multifunctional floor cleaning apparatus, according to an embodiment of the present invention;
[0017] FIG. 1C illustrates a top view of the multifunctional floor cleaning apparatus, according to an embodiment of the present invention;
[0018] FIG. 1D illustrates a left view of the multifunctional floor cleaning apparatus, according to an embodiment of the present invention;
[0019] FIG. 1E illustrates a rear view of the multifunctional floor cleaning apparatus, according to an embodiment of the present invention;
[0020] FIG. 1F illustrates a perspective view of the multifunctional floor cleaning apparatus, according to another embodiment of the present invention; and
[0021] FIG. 2 depicts a flowchart of a method of operating the multifunctional floor cleaning apparatus, according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0022] The headings used herein are for organizational purposes only and are not meant to be used to limit the scope of the description or the claims. As used throughout this application, the word "may" is used in a permissive sense (i.e., meaning having the potential to), rather than the mandatory sense (i.e., meaning must). Similarly, the words “include”, “including”, and “includes” mean including but not limited to. To facilitate understanding, like reference numerals have been used, where possible, to designate like elements common to the figures. Optional portions of the figures may be illustrated using dashed or dotted lines, unless the context of usage indicates otherwise.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0023] The following description includes the preferred best mode of one embodiment of the present invention. It will be clear from this description of the invention that the invention is not limited to these illustrated embodiments but that the invention also includes a variety of modifications and embodiments thereto. Therefore, the present description should be seen as illustrative and not limiting. While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative constructions, it should be understood, that there is no intention to limit the invention to the specific form disclosed, but, on the contrary, the invention is to cover all modifications, alternative constructions, and equivalents falling within the scope of the invention as defined in the claims.
[0024] In any embodiment described herein, the open-ended terms "comprising", "comprises”, and the like (which are synonymous with "including", "having” and "characterized by") may be replaced by the respective partially closed phrases "consisting essentially of", “consists essentially of", and the like or the respective closed phrases "consisting of", "consists of”, the like.
[0025] As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an”, and “the” designate both the singular and the plural, unless expressly stated to designate the singular only.
[0026] FIG. 1A illustrates a perspective view of a multifunctional floor cleaning apparatus 100 (hereinafter referred to as the apparatus 100), according to an embodiment of the present invention. According to an embodiment of the present invention, the apparatus 100 may be designed for performing vacuuming and sweeping simultaneously. Further, in an embodiment of the present invention, the apparatus 100 may also be designed for users suffering from backache problems. Furthermore, in an embodiment of the present invention, the apparatus 100 may be designed for preventing dust particles from spreading into the atmosphere which may be harmful to human health.
[0027] According to embodiments of the present invention, the apparatus 100 may comprise a frame 102 that may be designed to provide a support to components of the apparatus 100. The components may be, but not limited to, wheels 104a-104d (hereinafter referred to as the wheels 104, handles 106a-106b (hereinafter referred to as the handles 106), a battery 108, a display unit 110, a vacuum cleaner 112, links 114a-114b (hereinafter referred to as the links 114), brushes 116a-116b (hereinafter referred to as the brushes 116), and a lever 118.
[0028] The frame 102 may be made up of a material such as, but not limited to, steel material, aluminium material, composite material, alloy material, and so forth. Embodiments of the present invention are intended to include or otherwise cover any type of the material of the frame 102 including known related art and/or later developed technologies.
[0029] In an embodiment of the present invention, the wheels 104 may be attached at a bottom of the frame 102. The wheels 104 may make the apparatus 100 portable by enabling a user to move the apparatus 100 from a first location to a second location, in an embodiment of the present invention. According to embodiments of the present invention, the wheels 104 may be made up of material such as, but not limited to, a plastic material, a rubbery material, a cushioned material, a metallic material, and so forth. Embodiments of the present invention are intended to include or otherwise cover any type of the material of the wheels 104, including known, related art, and/or later developed technologies.
[0030] FIG. 1B illustrates a bottom view of the apparatus 100, according to an embodiment of the present invention. In an embodiment of the present invention, the apparatus 100 may comprise the handles 106 that may be provided at a top backside of the frame 102. The handles 106 may enable the user to hold and move the apparatus 100 in a forward direction and a backward direction to clean the floor, in an embodiment of the present invention. According to embodiments of the present invention, the handles 106 may be made up of any material such as, but not limited to, a wooden material, a hard plastic material, a casted material, a High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE) material, a Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) material, iron material, and so forth. Embodiments of the present invention are intended to include or otherwise cover any material of the handles 106, including known, related art, and/or later developed technologies.
[0031] FIG. 1C illustrates a top view of the apparatus 100, according to an embodiment of the present invention. In an embodiment of the present invention, the apparatus 100 may comprise the battery 108 that may be placed on a base of the frame 102, to supply power to components of the apparatus 100 to operate. In an embodiment of the present invention, the battery 108 may be, but not limited to, a dry battery, a rechargeable battery, and so forth. Embodiments of the present invention are intended to include or otherwise cover any type of the battery 108, including known, related art, and/or later developed technologies.
[0032] In another embodiment of the present invention, the apparatus 100 may be operated by a direct power supply. In such embodiment of the present invention, the apparatus 100 may be provided with a power cord such as, a Universal Serial Bus (USB) power cord that may be having a first end attached to a wall socket and a second end attached to a socket (not shown) of the apparatus 100 to supply the power to the apparatus 100.
[0033] In an embodiment of the present invention, the apparatus 100 may comprise the display unit 110 attached to a top surface of the frame 102. The display unit 110 may be a touch screen display that may comprise a first turn on button 120a, a second turn on button 120b, a first turn off button 122a and a second turn off button 122b. The first turn on button 120a and the first turn off button 122a may be pressed by the user to activate and/or deactivate the vacuum cleaner 112.
[0034] The second turn on button 120b and the second turn off button 122b may be pressed by the user to activate and/or deactivate the brushes 116. The display unit 110 may be, but not limited to, a visual display unit, a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) screen, and alike, in an embodiment of the present invention. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the display unit 110 may be a Light Emitting Diode (LED) screen. Embodiments of the present invention are intended to include or otherwise cover any type of the display unit 110, including known, related art, and/or later developed technologies.
[0035] FIG. 1D illustrates a left view of the apparatus 100, according to an embodiment of the present invention. The apparatus 100 may comprise the vacuum cleaner 112 that may be located at the base of the frame 102 to vacuum a specific area of the floor, in an embodiment of the present invention. The activation of the vacuum cleaner 112 may operate a motor to suck dust particles from air and to clean floor mattresses, in an embodiment of the present invention. The vacuum cleaner 112 may be, but not limited to, a wet vacuum, a dry vacuum, a rotary floor machine, and so forth. Embodiments of the present invention are intended to include or otherwise cover any type of the vacuum cleaner 112, including known, related art, and/or later developed technologies.
[0036] The motor may be in-built within the vacuum cleaner 112 and the brushes 116, and may be actuated to operate the vacuum cleaner 112 and the brushes 116 respectively. The motor may be an electric motor such as, but not limited to, a Direct Current (DC) motor, an Alternate Current (AC) motor, and so forth. Embodiments of the present invention are intended to include or otherwise cover any type of the motor, including known, related art, and/or later developed technologies.
[0037] FIG. 1E illustrates a rear view of the apparatus 100, according to an embodiment of the present invention. The apparatus 100 may comprise the links 114. In an embodiment of the present invention, a first end of each of the links 114 may be removably attached to the base of the frame 102 and a second end of each of the links 114 may be removably attached to the corresponding brushes 116. In another embodiment of the present invention, the first end of each of the links 114 may be fixedly attached to the base of the frame 102 and the second end of each of the links 114 may be fixedly attached to the corresponding brushes 116.
[0038] According to embodiments of the present invention, the links 114 are adjustable links that may be having an external rod capable to accommodate an internal rod having a diameter lesser than the external rod to increase and/or decrease a length of the corresponding brushes 116. In an embodiment of the present invention, each of the links 114 may comprise a locking mechanism that may comprise a locking member for locking the internal rod relative to the external rod in place. The locking mechanism may be, but not limited to, a locking button, a cam lock, a clutch lock, and so forth. Embodiments of the present invention are intended to include or otherwise cover any type of the locking mechanism, including known, related art, and/or later developed technologies.
[0039] The links 114 may be made up of a material such as, but not limited to, a plastic, a stainless steel, a wood, an iron and so forth. Embodiments of the present invention are intended to include or otherwise cover any type of the material of the links 114, including known, related art, and/or later developed technologies.
[0040] The brushes 116 may be electronic brushes that may be operated by the motor for collecting dust particles while sweeping, in an embodiment of the present invention. In an embodiment of the present invention, the brushes 116 may be attached to the second end of the corresponding links 114 in an inclined position. The brushes 116 may be moved in a downward direction towards the floor (as shown in FIG. 1F) when operated by the motor, in an embodiment of the present invention. In an embodiment of the present invention, a movement of the brushes 116 may be restricted up to a certain level by using the lever 118. In an embodiment of the present invention, the lever 118 may be rotated in a clockwise direction to move the brushes 116 in the downward direction for cleaning the floor. In such embodiment of the present invention, the lever 118 may be rotated in an anti-clockwise direction to move the brushes 116 in an upward direction. In another embodiment of the present invention, the lever 118 may be rotated in the anti-clockwise direction to move the brushes 116 in the downward direction for cleaning the floor. In an embodiment of the present invention, the lever 118 may be rotated in the clockwise direction to move the brushes 116 in the upward direction.
[0041] FIG. 1F illustrates a perspective view of the apparatus 100, according to another embodiment of the present invention. In an embodiment of the present invention, the brushes 116 may be moved towards the floor to achieve an open state of the brushes 116. The brushes 116 may be operated by using the motor on the floor to sweep the floor, in an embodiment of the present invention.
[0042] FIG. 2 depicts a flowchart of a method 200 of operating the apparatus 100, according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0043] At step 202, the apparatus 100 may enable the user to press the first turn on button 120a and the second turn on button 120b provided on the display unit 110.
[0044] At step 204, the activation of the first turn on button 120a and the second turn on button 120b may enable the battery 108 to supply the power to the motor to actuate the vacuum cleaner 112 and the brushes 116.
[0045] At step 206, the apparatus 100 may enable the user to rotate the lever 118 in one of, the direction such as, the clockwise direction or the anti-clockwise direction to restrict the movement of the brushes 116 during vacuum cleaning based on a requirement.
[0046] At step 208, the apparatus 100 may enable the user to press the first turn off button 122a and the second turn off button 122b provided on the display unit 110 to deactivate the vacuum cleaner 112 and the brushes 116 respectively.
[0047] While the invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be the most practical and various embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the disclosed embodiments, but on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the scope of the appended claims.
[0048] This written description uses examples to disclose the invention, including the best mode, and also to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the invention, including making and using any devices or systems and performing any incorporated methods. The patentable scope the invention is defined in the claims, and may include other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if they have structural elements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if they include equivalent structural elements within substantial differences from the literal languages of the claims. , Claims:CLAIMS
I/We Claim:
1. A multifunctional floor cleaning apparatus (100), the apparatus (100) comprising:
a frame (102) designed to provide a support to components of the apparatus (100);
a display unit (110) attached to a top surface of the frame (102), characterized in that the display unit (110) comprises a first turn on button (120a) and a second turn on button (120b);
a vacuum cleaner (112) located at a base of the frame (102), and adapted to be activated upon pressing of the first turn on button (120a) by a user, wherein the activation of the vacuum cleaner (112) actuates a motor to suck dust particles from air and to clean floor mattresses;
links (114a-114b) having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of each of the links (114a-114b) are removably attached to the base of the frame (102); and
brushes (116a-116b) attached to the second end of the corresponding links (114a-114b) in an inclined position, and adapted to be activated upon pressing of the second turn on button (120b) by the user, wherein the activation of the brushes (116a-116b) actuates the motor to move the brushes (116a-116b) in a downward direction towards floor for collecting the dust particles.
2. The apparatus (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the apparatus (100) is moved from a first location to a second location by using wheels (104a-104d) attached at a bottom of the frame (102).
3. The apparatus (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the apparatus (100) is moved by a user in a forward direction and a backward direction to clean the floor by holding handles (106a-106b) provided at a top backside of the frame (102).
4. The apparatus (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the apparatus (100) is operated by receiving power from a battery (108) placed on the base of the frame (102).
5. The apparatus (100) as claimed in claim 4, wherein the battery (108) is a rechargeable battery.
6. The apparatus (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the display unit (110) is a Light Emitting Diode (LED) screen.
7. The apparatus (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein a movement of the brushes (116a-116b) are restricted up to a certain level by using a lever (118) during vacuum cleaning.
8. The apparatus (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the links (114a-114b) are adjustable links adapted to increase and/or decrease a length of the corresponding brushes (116a-116b).
9. The apparatus (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the display unit (110) comprises a first turn off button (122a) and a second turn off button (122b) to be pressed by the user to deactivate the vacuum cleaner (112) and the brushes (116a-116b) respectively.
10. The apparatus (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the apparatus (100) is operated by a direct power supply.

Date: February 01, 2023
Place: Noida

Dr. Keerti Gupta
Patent Agent (IN/PA-1529)
Agent for the Applicant