FLOOR CLEANER DOCK

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a dock for a floor cleaner. More particularly but not exclusively, this invention relates to a mobile dock for a floor cleaner.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Various types of floor cleaner are available. They include “dry” floor cleaners such as vacuum cleaners, and “wet” floor cleaners. Wet floor cleaners apply a cleaning fluid to the floor as part of the cleaning process. Wet floor cleaners often include a reservoir for holding cleaning fluid, means by which to apply the cleaning fluid to the floor, cleaning pads arranged to be in contact with the floor and for agitating the cleaning fluid once applied to the floor, and potentially a waste liquid reservoir for receiving waste liquid, i.e. the cleaning fluid once it has been in contact with the floor and agitated by the cleaning pads. The wet floor cleaner may also comprise at least one flexible blade, or squeegee, to help contain the cleaning fluid in the cleaning area during the cleaning process. The wet floor cleaner will also often contain a power source, for example a rechargeable battery, which powers some or all of: the application of cleaning fluid to the floor; driving the cleaning pads to agitate the cleaning fluid in contact with the floor; and removing the waste liquid into the waste liquid reservoir as required.

As such, floor cleaners, and in particular wet floor cleaners, may have several service requirements, including but not limited to: refilling cleaning fluid; emptying waste liquid; recharging the power source; conditioning the cleaning pads; and general cleaning and sanitising of the floor cleaner. The present invention seeks to address at least some of these service requirements.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to a first aspect, the invention provides a mobile dock for receiving a floor cleaner, the mobile dock comprising: a receiving unit for receiving the floor cleaner, a drive unit arranged to effect translational motion of the mobile dock, a control unit arranged to communicate with a paired device, such that the control unit controls the drive unit to effect translational motion of the mobile dock based on the relative positions of the mobile dock and paired device.

The mobile dock according to the invention allows a user of a floor cleaner to conveniently access the dock during use of a floor cleaner. The paired device may be the said floor cleaner. The paired device may be a smart device such as a mobile phone, or other personal smart device such as a tablet or smart watch. During use of the floor cleaner, the floor cleaner may require a service function, and provision of a mobile dock ensures that the dock is close by when required. The mobile dock may be operable in a “follow-me” mode, in which the control unit controls the drive unit such that the mobile dock remains a consistent distance from the paired device. In such a mode, the mobile dock may follow a user around a room, or between rooms, as the user cleans with the floor cleaner. The mobile dock may be operable in a “come-to-me” mode, in which the control unit is activated by a signal sent by the paired device when the user requires the presence of the mobile dock. In response to the signal, the control unit controls the drive unit to take the mobile dock to the approximate location of the paired unit. In such a mode, the user may clean using the floor cleaner, and request the presence of the mobile dock when service functions are required, or when the cleaning operation is finished.

The drive unit may comprise a battery and a motor. The drive unit may comprise at least one driven wheel. The drive unit may comprise a driven track. The drive unit may comprise a steerable wheel to facilitate the desired translational motion of the mobile dock. Alternatively or additionally, the mobile dock may comprise a series of driven wheels or driven tracks which are independently operable to facilitate the desired translational motion of the mobile dock.

The mobile dock may comprise a battery arranged to supply charge to the floor cleaner when the floor cleaner is received in the receiving unit. The drive unit battery may be the same battery that is arranged to supply charge to the floor cleaner when the floor cleaner is received in the receiving unit. Alternatively, separate batteries may be provided.

The mobile dock may be arranged to receive a vacuum floor cleaner. The mobile dock may be arranged to receive a wet floor cleaner. The wet floor cleaner may be a hard floor cleaner. The wet floor cleaner may be a carpet cleaner. The wet floor cleaner may be a floor polisher.

The mobile dock may comprise a reservoir for receiving waste liquid from the paired wet floor cleaner. Provision of a waste liquid reservoir may reduce or remove the need for a user to return to a fixed location to empty waste liquid from the floor cleaner. The mobile dock may comprise a reservoir for supplying cleaning fluid to the wet floor cleaner. Provision of a cleaning fluid reservoir may reduce or remove the need for a user to return to a fixed location to refill the floor cleaner with cleaning fluid.

The mobile dock may comprise a cleaning device arranged to clean the floor cleaner. The cleaning device may be one or more of brushes, fluid jets, a disinfectant supply, UV light, or a heater. Provision of a cleaning device arranged to clean the floor cleaner may improve the hygiene of the floor cleaner, and/or the effectiveness of the floor cleaner in use.

The mobile dock may comprise a removable accessory compatible for use with the paired floor cleaner. For example, the removable accessory may comprise replacement cleaning pads, or an alternative head unit for the floor cleaner. The alternative head cleaner may be arranged to be optimised for cleaning different floor surfaces, or shaped to allow cleaning of hard to reach floor surfaces. Provision of a removable accessory may improve the versatility of the floor cleaner.

According to a second aspect, the invention provides a mobile dock and floor cleaner, the mobile dock as described with reference to the first aspect of the invention. The floor cleaner may be received in the receiving unit of mobile dock. The floor cleaner may comprise any of the features described with respect to the floor cleaner which may be received in the receiving unit of the mobile dock of the first aspect of the invention.

It will of course be appreciated that features described in relation to one aspect of the present invention may be incorporated into other aspects of the present invention. For example, the second aspect of the invention may incorporate any of the features described with reference to the first aspect of the invention and vice versa.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings of which:

FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of a floor cleaner;

FIG. 2 shows a schematic view of a floor cleaner inserted into a mobile dock;

FIG. 3 shows a schematic view of the floor cleaner and mobile dock of FIG. 3 with the floor cleaner removed from the mobile dock; and

FIG. 4 shows a schematic view of the components of a mobile dock.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 shows a floor cleaner 10, which comprises a cleaning head 12, a body 14 pivotally attached to the cleaning head 12, and a handle 16 extending away from the body 14. The cleaning head 12 comprises two cleaning pads 18, which are arranged to contact a floor and oscillate during use, and a front squeegee 20 and rear squeegee 22, respectively positioned in front of and behind the cleaning pads 18. The terms “front” and “rear” will be understood by the skilled person to mean the front and rear of the cleaning head 12 when the floor cleaner 10 is being used by a user. In FIG. 1, the front squeegee 20 is shown in a retracted position, and may also be folded down into a deployed position, in which the front squeegee 20 makes contact with the floor. The body 14 comprises a cleaning fluid reservoir, a waste fluid reservoir, and a battery (not shown). The cleaning fluid reservoir is arranged to hold cleaning fluid and apply the cleaning fluid to the floor during use of the floor cleaner 10. The cleaning pads 18 oscillate during use of the floor cleaner, thereby agitating the cleaning fluid on the floor, providing a cleaning effect. The cleaning fluid becomes dirty during agitation, and the waste liquid reservoir is arranged to suck up and store the waste liquid during use of the floor cleaner. The battery is arranged to power the application of cleaning fluid to the floor, the oscillation of the cleaning pads 20, and the sucking up of the waste liquid. The handle 16 comprises a user interface 24 which turns on and off the floor cleaner functions.

FIG. 2 shows the floor cleaner 10 which has been inserted into a mobile dock 30. The mobile dock 30 comprises a receiving unit 32 which receives the cleaning head 12 of the floor cleaner 10, and a support arm 34 against which the handle 16 of the floor cleaner 10 rests. The mobile dock 30 also comprises four driven wheels 36 (only three shown in FIG. 2) located at the corners of the mobile dock 30, which may be driven to effect translational motion of the mobile dock 30.

FIG. 3 shows the floor cleaner 10 and mobile dock 30 as described with reference to FIG. 2, with the floor cleaner 10 removed from the mobile dock 30 and being used to clean a floor by a user 38. The mobile dock 30 is arranged to move towards a paired device in the possession of the user 38 as will be described below.

FIG. 4 shows a schematic representation of the components of the mobile dock 30 and a paired device 56. The mobile dock 30 comprises a battery 40, a waste liquid reservoir 42, a cleaning fluid reservoir 44, cleaning jets 46, a receiving unit 32, a control unit 48, a wireless communications unit 50, a charging port 52, and a user interface 54. The battery 40 is attached to a charging cord which allows connection to mains power for recharging the battery 40. The battery 40 is further connected to and powers the driven wheels 36, each of which includes a small electric motor arranged to drive an attached wheel. The battery may also be connected to and supply power to the charging port 52. The charging port 52 is arranged to electrically connect to the floor cleaner 10 and supply an additional charge to the battery of the floor cleaner 10. In this embodiment, the charging port 52 provides a wireless charging function. In alternative arrangements, the charging port 52 may physically connect to the floor cleaner 10 in order to charge the battery of the floor cleaner 10. The waste liquid reservoir 42 is arranged to receive waste liquid from the waste liquid tank of the floor cleaner 10 when the floor cleaner 10 and the mobile dock 30 are joined together. The waste liquid reservoir 42 is arranged underneath the waste liquid tank of the floor cleaner 10, the waste liquid tank of the floor cleaner 10 further including a outlet port which is opened when the floor cleaner 10 is joined with the mobile dock 30, such that the waste liquid empties from the waste liquid tank of the floor cleaner into the waste liquid reservoir 42 under gravity. The cleaning fluid reservoir 44 includes a nozzle which connects to the cleaning fluid tank of the floor cleaner 10 when the floor cleaner 10 and mobile dock 30 are joined together. The cleaning fluid reservoir 44 is arranged to feed cleaning fluid through the nozzle into the cleaning fluid tank of the floor cleaner 10 in order to refill the floor cleaner 10. The cleaning jets 46 are arranged to squirt cleaning fluid onto the cleaning pads 18 of the floor cleaner 10 when the floor cleaner 10 and mobile dock are joined together. This agitates any dirt present on the cleaning pads 18, such that the dirt is removed from the cleaning pads 18. The receiving unit 32 has already been shown in FIG. 2, and is shaped and sized to approximately correspond to the shape and size of the cleaning head 12 of the floor cleaner 10. The control unit 48 is arranged to control all of the functions of the mobile dock 30, including the operation of the active functions such as refilling the cleaning fluid reservoir of the floor cleaner 10, the charging of the floor cleaner 10, and the cleaning of the cleaning pads 18. The control unit 48 is also connected to the wireless communications unit 50. The wireless communications unit 50 is arranged to wirelessly communicate with a paired device 56, which in this case is a smart device being carried by the user 38. In this embodiment, the wireless communications protocol is Bluetooth. Any suitable wireless communications protocol could be used.

The mobile dock is operable in either a “follow-me” mode, or a “come-to-me” mode.

In the follow-me mode, the wireless communications unit 50 is arranged to remain in regular communication with the paired device 56 in order to ascertain the location of the paired device 56, and send that information to the control unit 48 which controls the movement of the mobile dock 30 such that the mobile dock 30 remains a consistent distance from the paired device 56. The paired device 56 and the mobile dock 30 may each comprise a GPS chip in order to ascertain the relative positions of the paired device 56 and mobile dock 30. The skilled person will appreciate various other sensors may be used, for example optical, laser, ultrasound, and/or infrared, in order to determine the relative locations of the paired device 56 and mobile dock 30. As the user 38 operates the floor cleaning device 10, the mobile dock 30 follows the user 38 around to provide convenient access to the mobile dock 30 and the various services provided by the mobile dock 30. In the come-to-me mode, the user 38 activates the paired device 56 to send a signal to the wireless communications unit 50, that signal including the location of the paired device 56 and a command which is passed to the control unit 48 which activates the movement of the mobile dock 30 such that the mobile dock 30 moves into close proximity to the location of the paired device 56. The activation of the paired device 56 comprises selecting a come-to-me option provided via a user interface of the paired device 56. This allows the user 38 to conveniently access the mobile dock 30 when required. The mobile dock 30 is also operable in a “home” mode when the floor cleaner 10 is received by the mobile dock 30. In the home mode, the control unit 48 is arranged to activate movement of the mobile dock 30 such that the mobile dock 30 moves to a home location, for example in a utility cupboard. The mobile dock 30 may also automatically connect to a home station at the home location. The home station may comprise a charging point connected to mains electricity, and arranged to charge the battery 40. The home station may further include cleaning fluid and waste liquid reservoirs to respectively refill and empty the cleaning fluid reservoir 44 and waste liquid reservoir 42 of the mobile dock 30. Such an arrangement will further decrease the maintenance actions required to be undertaken by the user. The home mode may be activated by the user 38 operating the paired device 56. In alternative or additional arrangements, the home mode may be activated by a user interface present on the mobile dock 30, or after a set amount of time has elapsed since the floor cleaner 10 was received by the mobile dock 30. The set amount of time is chosen to correspond with the user 38 finishing their cleaning activities, for example 10 minutes. After the elapsed time, the home mode is activated and the mobile dock 30 and floor cleaner 10 returns to the home location.

Whilst the present invention has been described and illustrated with reference to particular embodiments, it will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that the invention lends itself to many different variations not specifically illustrated herein. By way of example only, certain possible variations will now be described.

The wireless communications protocol could be any suitable wireless communication protocol, for example Zigbee, Z-wave, or WIFI. The paired device may be the floor cleaner 10. In such an arrangement, the floor cleaner 10 will include a wireless communications unit arranged to communicate with the mobile dock 30, and a user interface which allows selection of the follow-me mode, or the come-to-me mode, and potentially the home mode.

The floor cleaner may be a dry floor cleaner, such as a vacuum cleaner or floor polisher which does not apply liquid to the floor. The mobile dock may still provide useful service functions to a dry floor cleaner, such as recharging the dry floor cleaner, cleaning the dry floor cleaner, and storing the dry floor cleaner when the user finishes their cleaning activity.

The mobile dock 30 may be arranged to carry one or more accessories for use with the floor cleaner.

Where in the foregoing description, integers or elements are mentioned which have known, obvious or foreseeable equivalents, then such equivalents are herein incorporated as if individually set forth. Reference should be made to the claims for determining the true scope of the present invention, which should be construed so as to encompass any such equivalents. It will also be appreciated by the reader that integers or features of the invention that are described as preferable, advantageous, convenient or the like are optional and do not limit the scope of the independent claims. Moreover, it is to be understood that such optional integers or features, whilst of possible benefit in some embodiments of the invention, may not be desirable, and may therefore be absent, in other embodiments.

FLOOR CLEANER DOCK

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