US 12,433,465 B2
Docking station for an autonomous floor cleaner
Todd R. VanTongeren, Ada, MI (US); Andrew J. Brouwers, Grand Rapids, MI (US); Justin Nguyen, Wyoming, MI (US); and Daniel A Schurr, Wyoming, MI (US)
Assigned to BISSELL Inc., Grand Rapids, MI (US)
Filed by BISSELL Inc., Grand Rapids, MI (US)
Filed on Dec. 4, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/527,507.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/432,769, filed on Dec. 15, 2022.
Prior Publication US 2024/0197131 A1, Jun. 20, 2024
Int. Cl. A47L 11/29 (2006.01)
CPC A47L 11/29 (2013.01) [A47L 2201/022 (2013.01); A47L 2201/024 (2013.01); A47L 2201/026 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A docking station for an autonomous floor cleaner, the docking station comprising:
a storage tank configured to hold a supply of cleaning fluid;
a dispensing port configured to couple with a first port on the autonomous floor cleaner to refill a supply tank on the autonomous floor cleaner with cleaning fluid from the storage tank;
a discharge path configured to convey cleaning fluid from the storage tank to the dispensing port;
a pump to move cleaning fluid through the discharge path;
a heater to heat cleaning fluid in the discharge path;
a recirculation chamber in the discharge path, the recirculation chamber having an outlet in fluid communication with the discharge path configured to convey cleaning fluid from the storage tank to the dispensing port; and
a recirculation port configured to couple with a second port on the autonomous floor cleaner to circulate cleaning fluid from the supply tank on the autonomous floor cleaner to the recirculation chamber.