Modular vacuum cleaners

Abstract

Disclosed are devices, systems, and methods for modular vacuum cleaners. An example vacuum cleaner system includes a canister vacuum cleaner device and a robotic vacuum cleaner device, where the robotic vacuum cleaner is removably coupled to or is digitally communicable with the canister vacuum cleaner device. The canister vacuum cleaner device comprises a canister to collect debris, a vertical hollow structure that located towards a rear of the canister and coupled to the canister, a flexible extendable hose, and a housing located below the canister, wherein the housing includes a retractable electrical cord. The robotic vacuum cleaner device comprises: a storage area to collect debris, a battery, a plurality of wheels that are removably coupled to one or more motors, and a lever or a valve structured to direct debris either to the storage area or to the canister.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A vacuum cleaner system, comprising:
 an upright canister vacuum cleaner device, comprising:
 a suction drive device comprising a motor to create a suction force to pull an airflow containing debris into the upright canister vacuum cleaner device, 
 a canister to collect the debris separated from the airflow, 
 a vertical hollow structure that located towards a rear of the canister and coupled to the canister, and 
 a flexible extendable hose included in the vertical hollow structure, wherein a first end of the flexible extendable hose is coupled to a retractable handle portion located on top of the vertical hollow structure, and wherein a second end of the flexible extendable hose that is opposite to the first end is coupled to the canister; and 
   a robotic vacuum cleaner device that is removably coupled to upright canister vacuum cleaner device, wherein the robotic vacuum cleaner device comprises:
 a second suction drive device comprising one or more motors to create a second suction force, independent of the suction force creatable by the suction drive device of the upright canister vacuum cleaner device, wherein, when operated, the second suction drive device is operable to pull a second airflow containing debris into the robotic vacuum cleaner device, 
 a debris storage area to collect the debris separated from the second airflow, 
 a battery, 
 a plurality of wheels that are removably coupled to the one or more motors of the second suction drive device, 
 a control unit comprising a processor and a memory coupled to processor, wherein the control unit is configured to determine an attachment state of the robotic vacuum cleaner device coupled to the upright canister vacuum cleaner device and a detachment state of the robotic vacuum cleaner device uncoupled to the upright canister vacuum cleaner device, wherein the control unit is configured to shut down the second suction drive device when the attachment state is determined and to allow operation of the second suction drive device when the detachment state is determined, and 
 a lever or a valve structured to direct dirty airflow either to the debris storage area of the robotic vacuum cleaner device or to the canister of the upright canister vacuum cleaner device. 
   
     
     
         2 . The vacuum cleaner system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a docking station to removably attach at least one of the robotic vacuum cleaner or the upright canister vacuum cleaner device,   the docking station including a housing, an inlet on the housing, a transfer channel within the housing and coupled to the inlet, and a debris collection chamber disposed in the housing and coupled to the transfer channel,   wherein the docking station is operable to transfer at least one of the collected the debris separated from the second airflow in the debris storage area of the robotic vacuum or the collected debris separated from the airflow in the canister of the upright canister vacuum cleaner device to the debris collection chamber of the docking station.   
     
     
         3 . The vacuum cleaner system of  claim 1 , wherein the lever or valve of the robotic vacuum cleaner is automatically controllable by the control unit of the robotic vacuum cleaner based on a determined state, or wherein the lever or valve of the robotic vacuum cleaner is manually controllable. 
     
     
         4 . The vacuum cleaner system of  claim 3 , wherein the automatically controllable lever or valve is configured to direct the dirty airflow to the debris storage area of the robotic vacuum cleaner device when the determined state is the detachment state, and to direct the dirty airflow to canister of the upright canister vacuum cleaner device when the determined state is the attachment state. 
     
     
         5 . The vacuum cleaner system of  claim 1 , wherein a top surface of the robotic vacuum cleaner device includes a depressed region in which at least some of a bottom region of the upright canister vacuum cleaner device is removably coupled to the top surface of the robotic vacuum cleaner device. 
     
     
         6 . The vacuum cleaner system of  claim 5 , wherein the depressed region includes a first hole though which debris is directed to a second hole on a bottom surface of the upright canister vacuum cleaner device, wherein the second hole extends from the bottom surface of the canister into the canister. 
     
     
         7 . The vacuum cleaner system of  claim 1 , wherein a rear portion of the robotic vacuum cleaner device includes an indented region in which the vertical hollow structure of the upright canister vacuum cleaner device is removably coupled to the robotic vacuum cleaner device, wherein the indented region includes a first hole though which debris is directed to a second hole on a bottom end of the vertical hollow structure. 
     
     
         8 . The vacuum cleaner system of  claim 7 , wherein the upright canister vacuum cleaner device and the robotic vacuum cleaner device are removably coupled by magnets. 
     
     
         9 . The vacuum cleaner system of  claim 1 , wherein the robotic vacuum cleaner device is in digital communication with an electronic circuit of the upright canister vacuum cleaner device. 
     
     
         10 . The vacuum cleaner system of  claim 9 , wherein the electronic circuit of the upright canister vacuum cleaner includes a transceiver in wireless communication with a transceiver of the control unit of the robotic vacuum cleaner, and wherein the upright canister vacuum cleaner is operably independent from the robotic vacuum cleaner such that both the upright canister vacuum cleaner and the robotic vacuum cleaner wirelessly connect with each other and exchange or send information pertaining to a surface to be cleaned, including information about a portion of the surface already vacuumed by at least one of the upright canister vacuum cleaner or the robotic vacuum cleaner. 
     
     
         11 . The vacuum cleaner system of  claim 1 , wherein the upright canister vacuum cleaner device comprises a canister handle positioned on a top side of the canister. 
     
     
         12 . The vacuum cleaner system of  claim 1  wherein the upright canister vacuum cleaner device comprises a storage housing located below the canister, wherein the storage housing includes a retractable electrical cord. 
     
     
         13 . The vacuum cleaner system of  claim 12 , wherein the suction drive device is contained within the storage housing. 
     
     
         14 . The vacuum cleaner system of  claim 1 , wherein the upright canister vacuum cleaner device includes a filtration unit configured before the canister in an airflow passage leading to the suction drive device, wherein the filtration unit includes at least one of a cyclone separator or one or more filter sheets. 
     
     
         15 . A robotic vacuum cleaner device, comprising:
 a housing;   a suction drive device contained within the housing and comprising one or more motors to create a suction force to pull an airflow containing debris into the robotic vacuum cleaner device;   a storage area contained within the housing to collect debris;   a battery contained within the housing;   a plurality of wheels disposed on a bottom side of the housing that are removably coupled to the one or more motors of the suction drive device;   a control unit contained within the housing and comprising a processor and a memory coupled to processor; and   a lever or a valve positioned in a channel within the housing to direct debris to the storage area or a hole configured on a side of the housing,   wherein the robotic vacuum cleaner device is configured to attach to and operate independently of a separate upright canister vacuum cleaner device.   
     
     
         16 . The robotic vacuum cleaner device of  claim 15 , wherein the control unit is configured to determine an attachment state of the robotic vacuum cleaner device coupled to the upright canister vacuum cleaner device and a detachment state of the robotic vacuum cleaner device uncoupled to the upright canister vacuum cleaner device, wherein the control unit is configured to shut down the suction drive device of the robotic vacuum cleaner device when the attachment state is determined. 
     
     
         17 . The robotic vacuum cleaner device of  claim 15 , wherein the side includes a top side of the robotic vacuum cleaner device that includes a depressed region that includes the hole, which includes a moveable cover or expose the hole. 
     
     
         18 . The robotic vacuum cleaner device of  claim 15 , wherein the side includes a rear side of the robotic vacuum cleaner device that includes an indented region that includes the hole, which includes a moveable cover to cover or expose the hole. 
     
     
         19 . The robotic vacuum cleaner device of  claim 15 , wherein the lever or valve is automatically controllable by the control unit based on a determined state. 
     
     
         20 . The robotic vacuum cleaner device of  claim 19 , wherein the lever or valve is configured to direct the dirty airflow to the storage area of the robotic vacuum cleaner device when the determined state is the detachment state, and to direct the dirty airflow to the hole on the side of the robotic vacuum cleaner device to allow the upright canister vacuum cleaner device to pull the dirty air when the determined state is the attachment state.