US 11,925,306 B2
Docking station for autonomous floor cleaner
Andrew James Brouwers, Grand Rapids, MI (US); David VanKampen, Grand Rapids, MI (US); Jeffery Swan, Ovid, MI (US); Patryk D. Akhurst, Grand Rapids, MI (US); and Jared Thomas, West Olive, MI (US)
Assigned to BISSELL Inc., Grand Rapids, MI (US)
Filed by BISSELL Inc., Grand Rapids, MI (US)
Filed on Jan. 26, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/158,175.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/967,074, filed on Jan. 29, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2021/0228039 A1, Jul. 29, 2021
Int. Cl. A47L 9/28 (2006.01); A47L 9/00 (2006.01); A47L 11/40 (2006.01); G05D 1/02 (2020.01); H02J 7/00 (2006.01)
CPC A47L 9/2873 (2013.01) [A47L 9/0063 (2013.01); A47L 9/009 (2013.01); A47L 9/2894 (2013.01); A47L 11/4005 (2013.01); A47L 11/4061 (2013.01); A47L 11/4066 (2013.01); A47L 11/4091 (2013.01); H02J 7/0042 (2013.01); A47L 2201/022 (2013.01); A47L 2201/04 (2013.01)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A docking station for an autonomous floor cleaner, comprising:
a housing having a bottom side on which the docking station rests and a backstop;
charging contacts disposed on the housing configured to charge a battery of the autonomous floor cleaner;
springs biasing the charging contacts to a neutral position corresponding to a condition in which the autonomous floor cleaner is not docked with the docking station, the charging contacts moveable to a contact position corresponding to a condition in which the autonomous floor cleaner is docked with the docking station, wherein the charging contacts are located on the backstop;
an activating switch controlling the supply of power to the charging contacts, the activating switch configured to be actuated by at least one of the charging contacts in the contact position;
docking signal transmitters within the housing configured to transmit light signals that are detectable by the autonomous floor cleaner, wherein the housing comprises a portion aligned with the docking signal transmitters that is one of transparent and translucent to admit light signals therethrough;
a shroud within the housing, the shroud comprising a plurality of opaque enclosures, each one of the plurality of opaque enclosures enclosing one of the docking signal transmitters; and
at least one of the plurality of opaque enclosures comprising a wall around one of the docking signal transmitters and an aperture in the wall through which light is emittable, the aperture defining a direction and angle of a transmission zone for the one of the docking signal transmitters.