Robotic cleaner with air jet assembly

Abstract

A robotic cleaner may include a body having a top wall, a bottom wall, and a sidewall extending between the top wall and the bottom wall, a suction motor, and at least one air jet assembly configured to encourage generation of a vortex between the body, a surface to be cleaned, and a vertical surface extending from the surface to be cleaned.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A robotic cleaner comprising:
 a body having a top wall, a bottom wall, and a sidewall extending between the top wall and the bottom wall;   a suction motor; and   at least one air jet assembly configured to encourage generation of a vortex between the body, a surface to be cleaned, and a vertical surface extending from the surface to be cleaned.   
     
     
         2 . The robotic cleaner of  claim 1  further comprising a wet cleaning assembly. 
     
     
         3 . The robotic cleaner of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one air jet assembly includes a nozzle having a flow splitter, the flow splitter includes a first flow side and a second flow side, wherein a second surface length of the second flow side is greater than a first surface length of the first flow side. 
     
     
         4 . The robotic cleaner of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one air jet assembly includes a nozzle that defines a nozzle outlet central axis, the nozzle outlet central axis extending in an outward direction that extends away from the sidewall of the body, in a forward direction, relative to a direction of forward movement of the robotic cleaner, and in a downward direction that extends toward the bottom wall of the body. 
     
     
         5 . The robotic cleaner of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one air jet assembly includes a nozzle that defines a nozzle outlet central axis, the nozzle outlet central axis extends at:
 a forward angle that is defined between the nozzle outlet central axis and a front-rear cross axis that extends parallel to a direction of forward movement of the robotic cleaner; and   a downward angle that is defined between the nozzle outlet central axis and a horizontal plane that extends between the bottom wall and the top wall.   
     
     
         6 . The robotic cleaner of  claim 5 , wherein the forward angle is in a range of 30° to 60° and the downward angle is in a range of 15° to 35°. 
     
     
         7 . The robotic cleaner of  claim 6 , wherein the forward angle is about 41° and the downward angle is about 27°. 
     
     
         8 . A robotic cleaner comprising:
 a body having a top wall, a bottom wall, and a sidewall extending between the top wall and the bottom wall;   a suction motor; and   at least one air jet assembly, at least a portion of the at least one air jet assembly being received within a receptacle defined in the sidewall of the body, the at least one air jet assembly being configured to generate an air jet that extends outwardly from the sidewall of the body.   
     
     
         9 . The robotic cleaner of  claim 8 , wherein the at least one air jet assembly is fluidly coupled to a fan. 
     
     
         10 . The robotic cleaner of  claim 8 , further comprising a wet cleaning assembly. 
     
     
         11 . The robotic cleaner of  claim 8 , wherein the at least one air jet assembly includes a nozzle that defines a nozzle outlet central axis, the nozzle outlet central axis extending in an outward direction that extends away from the sidewall of the body, in a forward direction, relative to a direction of forward movement of the robotic cleaner, and in a downward direction that extends toward the bottom wall of the body. 
     
     
         12 . The robotic cleaner of  claim 8 , wherein the at least one air jet assembly includes a nozzle that defines a nozzle outlet central axis, the nozzle outlet central axis extends at:
 a forward angle that is defined between the nozzle outlet central axis and a front-rear cross axis that extends parallel to a direction of forward movement of the robotic cleaner; and   a downward angle that is defined between the nozzle outlet central axis and a horizontal plane that extends between the bottom wall and the top wall.   
     
     
         13 . The robotic cleaner of  claim 12 , wherein the forward angle is in a range of 30° to 60° and the downward angle is in a range of 15° to 35°. 
     
     
         14 . The robotic cleaner of  claim 8 , wherein the at least one air jet assembly includes a nozzle having a flow splitter. 
     
     
         15 . A robotic cleaner comprising:
 a body having a top wall, a bottom wall, and a sidewall extending between the top wall and the bottom wall;   a suction motor; and   at least one air jet assembly disposed on an assembly axis, the assembly axis extends perpendicular to a direction of forward movement of the robotic cleaner and extends along a widest width of the body that extends in a direction perpendicular to the direction of forward movement, the at least one air jet assembly being configured to generate an air jet that extends outwardly from the sidewall of the body.   
     
     
         16 . The robotic cleaner of  claim 15 , wherein the at least one air jet assembly is fluidly coupled to a fan. 
     
     
         17 . The robotic cleaner of  claim 15 , wherein the at least one air jet assembly includes a nozzle. 
     
     
         18 . The robotic cleaner of  claim 17 , wherein the nozzle defines a nozzle outlet central axis, the nozzle outlet central axis extending in an outward direction that extends away from the sidewall of the body, in a forward direction, relative to the direction of forward movement of the robotic cleaner, and in a downward direction that extends toward the bottom wall of the body. 
     
     
         19 . The robotic cleaner of  claim 17 , wherein the nozzle defines a nozzle outlet central axis, the nozzle outlet central axis extends at:
 a forward angle that is defined between the nozzle outlet central axis and a front-rear cross axis that extends parallel to the direction of forward movement of the robotic cleaner; and   a downward angle that is defined between the nozzle outlet central axis and a horizontal plane that extends between the bottom wall and the top wall.   
     
     
         20 . The robotic cleaner of  claim 19 , wherein the forward angle is in a range of 30° to 60° and the downward angle is in a range of 15° to 35°.