Self leveling vacuum cleaner system, device and method

Abstract

The present invention is a system, device, and method for use of a steerable tractor powered unit (STPU) comprising a vacuum cleaner mounted to a self-leveling platform coupled to a tactile joystick staff operable to control said steerable tractor powered unit, considerably reducing the effort required to operate said vacuum cleaner; a variety of vacuum cleaner types are adaptable for use with said STPU.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A steerable tractor powered vacuum unit comprising a self-leveling platform coupled to a tactile joystick staff;
 said self-leveling platform further comprising a housing, onboard processor coupled to a nonvolatile memory and a volatile memory, sensors coupled to the onboard processor including one or more accelerometers and/or gyroscopes, control software in the form of sequential instructions stored in said nonvolatile memory to be loaded into the volatile memory and executed by said processor, a driving motor coupled to a drive wheel and powered by an onboard or external power supply, and mechanically supported by support struts; said onboard processor, volatile and non-volatile memory, sensors, control software, motor, and wheel being operable to maintain self-leveling platform at a desired orientation; said drive wheel being located approximately below the center of mass of said steerable tractor powered unit and being capable of moving said steerable tractor powered unit forward or backward; and   said tactile joystick staff further comprising a tactile control handle, tactile control rod, tactile joystick staff interface, and tactile control handle interface; said tactile joystick staff being operable to command movement of said steerable tractor powered unit via user actuation of said tactile joystick staff interface and/or said tactile control handle interface.   
     
     
         2 . The steerable tractor powered vacuum unit of  claim 1  in which said tactile joystick staff interface is a rigid connection between said tactile control rod and said support struts, said support struts extending upward from said self-leveling platform. 
     
     
         3 . The steerable tractor powered vacuum unit of  claim 1  in which said tactile joystick staff interface is a pivot joint between said tactile control rod and said support struts allowing rotation about an axis parallel to the axis of rotation of said drive wheel, namely upward/forward/clockwise or downward/backward/counter-clockwise. 
     
     
         4 . The steerable tractor powered vacuum unit of  claim 3  in which said support struts further comprise a handle rest having a fastening mechanism to maintain said tactile joystick staff in a stowed position when not in use. 
     
     
         5 . The steerable tractor powered vacuum unit of  claim 4  in which said fastening mechanism comprises a magnet embedded in said handle rest, said magnet removably securing said tactile joystick staff to said handle rest when said magnet contacts said tactile control rod. 
     
     
         6 . The steerable tractor powered vacuum unit of  claim 1  in which said tactile control handle interface is a fixed, rigid connection between said tactile control handle and said tactile control rod. 
     
     
         7 . The steerable tractor powered vacuum unit of  claim 1  in which said tactile control handle interface is a pivot joint between said tactile control handle and said tactile control rod allowing rotation about an axis parallel to the axis of rotation of said drive wheel. 
     
     
         8 . The steerable tractor powered vacuum unit of  claim 1  in which said self-leveling platform further comprises a mounting platform coupled to the upper surface of said housing by a freely-rotating pin joint having an axis of rotation parallel to the axis of rotation of said drive wheel. 
     
     
         9 . The steerable tractor powered vacuum unit of  claim 8  in which said support struts connect said housing to said tactile joystick staff interface and are dimensioned to accommodate said mounting platform. 
     
     
         10 . The steerable tractor powered vacuum unit of  claim 8  in which said steerable tractor powered unit further comprises a vacuum cleaner, said vacuum cleaner being attached to said mounting platform. 
     
     
         11 . The steerable tractor powered vacuum unit of  claim 10  in which said self-leveling platform further comprises a brush head coupled to said vacuum cleaner by a rigid fixed-length tube, said brush head comprising a floor-facing opening, said vacuum cleaner impelling a dust-laden airstream inward through said opening via suction. 
     
     
         12 . The steerable tractor powered vacuum unit of  claim 1  in which said steerable tractor powered unit further comprises a vacuum cleaner. 
     
     
         13 . The steerable tractor powered vacuum unit of  claim 1  in which said self-leveling platform further comprises on its upward-facing surface a plurality of quick-release latches corresponding to complementary geometry on said vacuum cleaner such that said vacuum cleaner can be removably attached to said self-leveling platform upper surface. 
     
     
         14 . The steerable tractor powered vacuum unit of  claim 12  in which said self-leveling platform further comprises a brush head coupled to said vacuum cleaner by a primary flexible hose, said brush head comprising a floor-facing opening, said vacuum cleaner impelling a dust-laden airstream inward through said opening via suction. 
     
     
         15 . The steerable tractor powered vacuum unit of  claim 14  in which said self-leveling platform further comprises lateral support brackets attached via pin joints to the sides of said self-leveling platform and brush head, such that said brush head is maintained at a fixed distance from said self-leveling platform. 
     
     
         16 . The steerable tractor powered vacuum unit of  claim 14  in which said vacuum cleaner further comprises a secondary flexible hose attachment and a diverter valve operable to switch vacuum suction between said brush head and said secondary flexible hose attachment by 90 degree rotation of said diverter valve. 
     
     
         17 . The steerable tractor powered vacuum unit of  claim 14  in which said vacuum cleaner further comprises a secondary flexible hose attachment, said secondary hose attachment and primary flexible hose being coupled to a manifold and each comprising a ball valve which can be rotated 90 degrees to stop flow through the associated hose. 
     
     
         18 . The steerable tractor powered vacuum unit of  claim 12  in which said vacuum cleaner is a handheld-type vacuum cleaner, said vacuum cleaner being attached to the upper surface of said self-leveling platform housing. 
     
     
         19 . The steerable tractor powered vacuum unit of  claim 12  in which said vacuum cleaner is a canister-type vacuum cleaner. 
     
     
         20 . The steerable tractor powered vacuum unit of  claim 19  in which said canister-type vacuum cleaner is attached to the upper surface of said self-leveling platform housing. 
     
     
         21 . The steerable tractor powered vacuum unit of  claim 19  in which said vacuum cleaner canister is located on the floor and coupled to said brush head via flexible hose coupled to a manifold, said manifold being attached to the upper surface of said self-leveling platform housing. 
     
     
         22 . The steerable tractor powered vacuum unit of  claim 12  in which said vacuum cleaner is a wet/dry vacuum cleaner, said vacuum cleaner being attached to the upper surface of said self-leveling platform housing. 
     
     
         23 . A steerable tractor powered unit comprising a self-leveling platform, tactile joystick staff, and vacuum cleaner;
 said self-leveling platform further comprising a housing, onboard processor, nonvolatile memory, sensors including one or more accelerometers and/or gyroscopes, control software in the form of sequential instructions stored in said memory to be executed by said processor, a driving motor coupled to a drive wheel, onboard or external power supply, and support struts; said processor, memory, sensors, control software, motor, and wheel being operable to maintain self-leveling platform at a desired orientation; said drive wheel being located approximately below the center of mass of said steerable tractor powered unit and being capable of moving said steerable tractor powered unit forward or backward; said self-leveling platform further comprising a mounting platform coupled to the upper surface of said housing by a freely-rotating pin joint having an axis of rotation parallel to the axis of rotation of said drive wheel;   said tactile joystick staff further comprising a tactile control handle, tactile control rod, tactile joystick staff interface, and tactile control handle interface; said tactile joystick staff interface having a pivot joint between said tactile control rod and said support struts allowing rotation about an axis parallel to the axis of rotation of said drive wheel; said tactile control handle interface is a pivot joint between said tactile control handle and said tactile control rod allowing rotation about an axis parallel to the axis of rotation of said drive wheel; said tactile joystick staff being operable to command movement of said steerable tractor powered unit via user actuation of said tactile joystick staff interface and/or said tactile control handle interface;   said vacuum cleaner being attached to said mounting platform; said support struts connecting said housing to said tactile joystick staff interface and being dimensioned to accommodate said vacuum cleaner and mounting platform between them; said self-leveling platform further comprising a brush head coupled to said vacuum cleaner via rigid tube, said brush head comprising a floor-facing opening, said vacuum cleaner impelling a dust-laden airstream inward through said opening via suction.   
     
     
         24 . The steerable tractor powered unit of  claim 23  in which said self-leveling platform further comprises on its upward-facing surface a plurality of quick-release latches corresponding to complementary geometry on said vacuum cleaner such that said vacuum cleaner can be removably attached to said self-leveling platform upper surface. 
     
     
         25 . The steerable tractor powered unit of  claim 23  in which said support struts further comprise a handle rest having a fastening means to maintain said tactile joystick staff in a stowed position when not in use. 
     
     
         26 . The steerable tractor powered unit of  claim 25  in which said fastening means comprises a magnet embedded in said handle rest, said magnet removably securing said tactile joystick staff to said handle rest when said magnet contacts said tactile control rod. 
     
     
         27 . The steerable tractor powered unit of  claim 23  in which said vacuum cleaner is a handheld-type vacuum cleaner. 
     
     
         28 . The steerable tractor powered unit of  claim 23  in which said vacuum cleaner is a canister-type vacuum cleaner. 
     
     
         29 . The steerable tractor powered unit of  claim 23  in which said vacuum cleaner is a wet/dry vacuum cleaner. 
     
     
         30 . A method for assembling and using the steerable tractor powered unit of  claim 23  comprising the steps of:
 attaching the vacuum cleaner to the upper surface of the self-leveling platform; 
 attaching the tactile joystick staff to the support struts of the self-leveling platform; 
 applying power to the steerable tractor powered unit; and 
 controlling movement of the steerable tractor powered unit by manipulating the tactile control handle and tactile control rod.