# US 9,775,485 B2 · Autonomous floor cleaner > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,775,485 B2 - Document ID: US9775485B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/294,532 - Filed: 2014-06-03 - Published: 2014-12-04 - Granted: 2017-10-03 - Earliest claimed: 2013-06-03 - Assignees: BISSELL Homecare, Inc. - Applicants: BISSELL Homecare, Inc. - Inventors: Jeffrey A. Scholten; Michael T. Dillane; Tyler James Imhoff; Scott M. Rose; Adam Luedke - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9775485B2 ## CPC - A47L 11/24: Floor-sweeping machines, motor-driven - A47L 11/33: having means for storing dirt - A47L 11/4013: {Contaminants collecting devices, i.e. hoppers, tanks or the like} - A47L 11/4025: {Means for emptying} - A47L 11/4036: {Parts or details of the surface treating tools} - A47L 11/4038: {Disk shaped surface treating tools} - A47L 11/4061: {Steering means; Means for avoiding obstacles; Details related to the place where the driver is accommodated} - A47L 11/4066: {Propulsion of the whole machine} - A47L 11/4069: {Driving or transmission means for the cleaning tools} - A47L 11/4072: {Arrangement of castors or wheels} - A47L 2201/00: Robotic cleaning machines, i.e. with automatic control of the travelling movement or the cleaning operation - 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 An autonomous floor cleaner includes a base that is movable over a surface to be cleaned, a collection chamber associated with the base, and a rotating top mounted coupled with the base for rotation relative to the base, where the top carries at least one sweeping element for sweeping dirt on the surface to be cleaned toward the collection chamber. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An autonomous floor cleaner comprising: a base adapted for movement over a surface to be cleaned; a top coupled with the base; at least one sweeping element associated with the top; a collection chamber associated with the base; and a drive system associated with the base; wherein the drive system is coupled to the top to rotate the top relative to the base about a top axis. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The autonomous floor cleaner from claim 1, wherein the at least one sweeping element extends beyond the base. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The autonomous floor cleaner from claim 1, wherein the top axis is non-perpendicular to the base. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The autonomous floor cleaner from claim 1, wherein the at least one sweeping element comprises at least one of a brush strip, a resilient fin, or a rotating brush. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The autonomous floor cleaner from claim 1, wherein the at least one sweeping element comprises at least one of brush strip provided on an underside of the top. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The autonomous floor cleaner from claim 5, wherein the at least one brush strip comprises a plurality of bristles, with at least some of the bristles extending outwardly beyond the periphery of the top. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The autonomous floor cleaner from claim 1, wherein the at least one sweeping element comprises at least one resilient fin that carries a sweeping material comprising a layer of foam and a layer of bristles. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The autonomous floor cleaner from claim 1, wherein the at least one sweeping element comprises at least one rotating brush, and the drive system rotates the at least one rotating brush about a brush axis. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The autonomous floor cleaner from claim 1, wherein the drive system is further coupled with the base for moving the base over the surface to be cleaned, wherein the top axis is generally perpendicular to the direction of movement of the base over the surface to be cleaned. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The autonomous floor cleaner from claim 1, wherein the drive system comprises a motor coupled with the top for rotating the top about the top axis. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The autonomous floor cleaner from claim 10, wherein the drive system further comprises at least one wheel coupled with the motor and the base for propelling the base over the surface to be cleaned. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The autonomous floor cleaner from claim 1 and further comprising at least one dirt inlet at the periphery of the base, wherein the dirt inlet is in communication with the collection chamber. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The autonomous floor cleaner from claim 12, wherein the at least one dirt inlet is at least partially defined between the base and the top. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The autonomous floor cleaner from claim 12, wherein the at least one dirt inlet is at least partially defined by a guide provided on the base for directing dirt into the collection chamber. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The autonomous floor cleaner from claim 12, wherein the base comprises at least one ramped surface at least partially defining the at least one dirt inlet. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The autonomous floor cleaner from claim 15, and further comprising an opening to the collection chamber formed in the base near an upper portion of the ramped surface. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The autonomous floor cleaner from claim 15, and further comprising a guide adjacent to the at least one ramped surface for directing dirt into the collection chamber, wherein the at least one dirt inlet is further at least partially defined by the guide. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The autonomous floor cleaner from claim 17, wherein the guide comprises a curved vane which projects upwardly from the base and extends along the ramped surface. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The autonomous floor cleaner from claim 1 and further comprising a dusting cloth coupled to a bottom surface of the base. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The autonomous floor cleaner from claim 19, wherein the dusting cloth forms a portion of the collection chamber.