US 12,239,279 B2
Cleaning rollers for cleaning robots
Eric Burbank, Bedford, MA (US); Timothy R. Ohm, Grover Beach, CA (US); and Erik Amaral, Lexington, MA (US)
Assigned to iRobot Corporation, Bedford, MA (US)
Filed by iRobot Corporation, Bedford, MA (US)
Filed on Jan. 12, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/412,260.
Application 18/412,260 is a continuation of application No. 17/466,559, filed on Sep. 3, 2021, granted, now 11,871,888, issued on Jan. 16, 2024.
Application 17/466,559 is a continuation of application No. 16/288,699, filed on Feb. 28, 2019, granted, now 11,109,727, issued on Sep. 7, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2024/0260800 A1, Aug. 8, 2024
Int. Cl. A47L 9/04 (2006.01); A47L 9/28 (2006.01)
CPC A47L 9/0477 (2013.01) [A47L 9/0411 (2013.01); A47L 9/2852 (2013.01); A47L 2201/04 (2013.01)] 25 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A cleaning robot comprising:
a body;
a drive system configured to move the body of the cleaning robot across a floor surface; and
a cleaning roller comprising:
a support structure configured to be attached to the body for rotating the cleaning roller about a longitudinal axis relative to the body to clean or sweep the floor surface;
a sheath comprising a shell rotationally coupled to the support structure; and
a plurality of vanes extending outward from the shell and along a longitudinal direction of the shell, wherein at least one vane of the plurality of vanes comprises:
a first portion extending radially outward from the shell;
a second portion extending radially outward from the first portion to a radial outer edge of the at least one vane; and
an opening extending through a thickness of the first portion and extending radially outward from the shell to the second portion, wherein the opening is located longitudinally between a first helical portion of the at least one vane and an oppositely oriented second helical portion of the at least one vane.