Charles W Fisher

US Patent:

6459955, Oct 1, 2002

Filed:

Nov 17, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/715307

Inventors:

Eric Richard Bartsch - Cincinnati OH
Charles William Fisher - Loveland OH
Paul Amaat France - West Chester OH
James Frederick Kirkpatrick - Milford OH
Gary Gordon Heaton - Cincinnati OH
Thomas Charles Hortel - Cincinnati OH
Arseni Velerevich Radomyselski - Hamilton OH
James Randy Stigall - Hebron KY

Assignee:

The Procter Gamble Company - Cincinnati OH

International Classification:

G06F 1900

US Classification:

700245, 700247, 700256, 700258, 700259, 31856811, 31856812, 31856816, 318587, 342457, 342418

Abstract:

An autonomously movable cleaning robot comprising a platform and motive force to autonomously move the robot on a substantially horizontal surface having boundaries. The robot further has a computer processing unit for storing, receiving and transmitting data, and a cleaning implement operatively associated with the robot. The robot receives input data from an external source. The external source may be physical manipulation of the robot, remote control, or by triangulation from at least three external transmitters.

US Patent:

6481515, Nov 19, 2002

Filed:

May 30, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/580083

Inventors:

James F. Kirkpatrick - Milford OH
Harry B. Maddox - Cincinnati OH
Kevin B. Clendenien - Cincinnati OH
Andrew Weatherston - Cincinnati OH
Charles W. Fisher - Loveland OH
Gary G. Heaton - Cincinnati OH
Larry R. Genskow - West Chester OH
Christopher J. Binski - Cincinnati OH

Assignee:

The Procter Gamble Company - Cincinnati OH

International Classification:

B60K 100

US Classification:

180 651, 15319

Abstract:

One aspect of the invention is directed to an autonomous mobile surface treating apparatus having a chassis, a drive mechanism mounted to the said chassis by a suspension, and a substantially rigid shell movably mounted to the chassis. The suspension includes a resilient member interposed between the drive mechanism and the chassis so that when the shell is pushed toward the supporting surface with a predetermined force the resilient member compresses to permit the drive mechanism to move and the shell and/or the chassis to contact the supporting surface. A second aspect of the invention is directed to the movable support of shell relative to the chassis. The shell is supported by a plurality of elongated elastic supports received within plurality of elongated openings in the chassis. Preferably, a passive portion of a collision detection sensor is attached to a central portion of the shell. A third aspect of the invention is directed to a non-skid lower edge member movably attached to the shell to adjust a clearance between the non-skid lower edge member and the supporting surface.

US Patent:

6779217, Aug 24, 2004

Filed:

Feb 16, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/785356

Inventors:

Charles William Fisher - Loveland OH

Assignee:

The Procter Gamble Company - Cincinnati OH

International Classification:

A47L 11292

US Classification:

15 98, 15 491, 15 792

Abstract:

The present invention relates to a horizontally movable and downwardly biased appendage that extends laterally from a surface treating apparatus, such as a robotic floor cleaner. The robotic floor cleaner and/or appendage may use disposable cleaning sheets, such as dust clothes, wipes, sheet-brushes, and the like, to clean under objects or into corners but does not substantially interfere with the rotation of the surface treating apparatus about its axis when it is adjacent to encountered obstacles. The appendage can extend under low hanging obstructions to remove dirt, and reach into corners innavigable or unreachable by the robotic floor cleaner.