# US 2025/0143528 A1 · Triggerless surface cleaning device with automated control

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- Number: US 2025/0143528 A1
- Document ID: US20250143528A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 19/014,687
- Filed: 2025-01-09
- Published: 2025-05-08
- Earliest claimed: 2017-12-18
- Assignees: Techtronic Floor Care Technology Limited
- Applicants: Techtronic Floor Care Technology Limited
- Inventors: Kevin Terry; Patrick Diana; Douglas M. Rukavina
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20250143528A1

## CPC

- A47L 11/4011: {Regulation of the cleaning machine by electric means; Control systems and remote control systems therefor}
- A47L 5/365: {of the vertical type, e.g. tank or bucket type}
- A47L 7/0009: {with means mounted on the nozzle; nozzles specially adapted for the recovery of liquid}
- A47L 7/0023: {Recovery tanks (for cleaning machines A47L11/4013)}
- A47L 9/2805: {Parameters or conditions being sensed}
- A47L 9/2842: {Suction motors or blowers}
- A47L 9/2847: {Surface treating elements}
- A47L 11/302: {having rotary tools}
- A47L 11/34: Machines for treating carpets in position by liquid, foam, or vapour, e.g. by steam
- A47L 11/4016: {specially adapted for collecting fluids}
- A47L 11/4041: {Roll shaped surface treating tools}
- A47L 11/4044: {Vacuuming or pick-up tools; Squeegees}
- A47L 11/4058: {for adjusting the height of the tool}
- A47L 11/4072: {Arrangement of castors or wheels}
- A47L 11/4083: {Liquid supply reservoirs; Preparation of the agents, e.g. mixing devices}
- A47L 11/4088: {Supply pumps; Spraying devices; Supply conduits}
- A47L: DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING (brushes A46B; cleaning quantities of bottles or of other hollow articles of one kind B08B9/00; laundry D06F); SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL (cleaning in general B08)

## Abstract

A surface cleaner is provided. The surface cleaner comprises: an operating component configured to perform a function of the surface cleaner; a base moveable along a surface; an accelerometer configured to generate a signal; and a controller in communication with the accelerometer and the operating component, wherein the controller is operable to control the operating component based on the signal, and wherein the operating component is selected from a group consisting of a suction motor operable to generate an airflow, a brushroll motor operable to drive a brushroll, an actuator operable to adjust a height of a brushroll from the surface, a pump operable to deliver a cleaning fluid, an actuator operable to control an airflow or fluid valve, and an indicator operable to indicate a parameter of the surface cleaner.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A surface cleaner comprising:
a base moveable along a surface;
a suction source operable to generate an airflow;
an encoder operable to generate a signal in response to user-initiated movement of the base along the surface, wherein the signal is indicative of movement in a forward direction or movement in a rearward direction; and
a controller operatively connected to the encoder and the suction source, the controller being configured to change a power level to the suction source to a forward power level or a rearward power level based on the signal during operation of the surface cleaner and independent of user interaction with the surface cleaner other than the user-initiated movement, wherein the forward power level is less than the rearward power level.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The surface cleaner of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to decrease the airflow in response to the signal indicating no movement of the base.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The surface cleaner of claim 1, comprising a handle configured to be gripped by a user during a cleaning operation.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The surface cleaner of claim 1, comprising a fluid valve, wherein the controller is configured to control the fluid valve based on the signal.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The surface cleaner of claim 4, comprising an actuator for controlling the fluid valve, wherein the controller is configured to control the fluid valve using the actuator.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The surface cleaner of claim 1, comprising a brush assembly and an actuator operable to adjust a height of the brush assembly from the surface, wherein the controller is configured to control the actuator based on the signal.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The surface cleaner of claim 1, comprising a brush and a motor for driving the brush, wherein the controller is configured to control the motor based on the signal.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The surface cleaner of claim 1, comprising a liquid distribution system to deliver solution to the surface, wherein the controller is configured to operate, in response to the signal, the liquid distribution system in a distributing mode during the movement of the base and in a non-distributing mode during the movement of the base.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The surface cleaner of claim 8, wherein the signal is indicative of speed of movement of the base, and wherein the controller is configured to, while operating the liquid distribution system in the distributing mode, control the liquid distribution system to increase or decrease delivery of the solution to the surface in response to a respective increase or decrease of the speed of the movement of the base.

### Claim 10 (depends on 8)

The surface cleaner of claim 8, wherein the controller is configured to operate the liquid distribution system in the distributing mode in response to the signal indicating movement of the base in the forward direction.

### Claim 11

A cleaning apparatus comprising:
a base moveable along a surface;
a suction source structured to generate an airflow;
a sensor operable to generate a signal in response to user-initiated movement of the base along the surface, wherein the signal is indicative of one or more attributes selected from a group consisting of movement in a first direction, movement in a second direction, and speed of movement; and
a controller operatively connected to the sensor and the suction source, the controller being configured to change a functional parameter of the suction source to a first direction functional parameter or a second direction functional parameter based on the signal during operation of the surface cleaner and independent of user interaction with the surface cleaner other than the user-initiated movement, wherein the first direction functional parameter is less than the second direction functional parameter.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The cleaning apparatus of claim 11, wherein the controller is configured to decrease the airflow in response to the signal indicating no movement of the base.

### Claim 13 (depends on 11)

The cleaning apparatus of claim 11, comprising a handle configured to be gripped by a user during a cleaning operation.

### Claim 14 (depends on 11)

The cleaning apparatus of claim 11, comprising a fluid valve, wherein the controller is configured to control the fluid valve based on the signal.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The cleaning apparatus of claim 14, comprising an actuator for controlling the fluid valve, wherein the controller is configured to control the fluid valve using the actuator.

### Claim 16 (depends on 11)

The cleaning apparatus of claim 11, comprising a brush assembly and an actuator operable to adjust a height of the brush assembly from the surface, wherein the controller is configured to control the actuator based on the signal.

### Claim 17 (depends on 11)

The cleaning apparatus of claim 11, comprising a brush and a motor for driving the brush, wherein the controller is configured to control the motor based on the signal.

### Claim 18 (depends on 11)

The cleaning apparatus of claim 11, comprising a liquid distribution system to deliver solution to the surface, wherein the controller is configured to operate, in response to the signal, the liquid distribution system in a distributing mode during the movement of the base and in a non-distributing mode during the movement of the base.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The cleaning apparatus of claim 18, wherein the controller is configured to, while operating the liquid distribution system in the distributing mode, control the liquid distribution system to increase or decrease delivery of the solution to the surface in response to a respective increase or decrease of the speed of the base.

### Claim 20 (depends on 18)

The cleaning apparatus of claim 18, wherein the controller is configured to operate the liquid distribution system in the distributing mode in response to the signal indicating movement of the base in the first direction.