Robotic cleaner

Abstract

A robotic cleaner may include a chassis, an agitator assembly configured to engage a surface to be cleaned, and a lift mechanism moveably coupling the agitator assembly to the chassis. The lift mechanism may include a biasing mechanism. The biasing mechanism may be configured to generate a biasing force that urges the agitator assembly in a direction away from the surface to be cleaned. The biasing force may be insufficient to lift the agitator assembly from the surface to be cleaned.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A robotic cleaner comprising:
 a chassis;   an agitator assembly configured to engage a surface to be cleaned, the agitator assembly including an agitator that extends substantially parallel to a surface to be cleaned; and   a lift mechanism moveably coupling the agitator assembly to the chassis, the lift mechanism including a spring configured to generate a biasing force that urges the agitator assembly in a direction away from the surface to be cleaned, the biasing force being insufficient to lift the agitator assembly from the surface to be cleaned.   
     
     
         22 . The robotic cleaner of  claim 21 , wherein the lift mechanism further includes:
 a top plate;   a bottom plate; and   a plurality of linkages, a first end of each linkage being pivotally coupled to the top plate and a second end of each linkage being slidably coupled to the bottom plate, wherein the top plate is coupled to the chassis and the bottom plate is coupled to the agitator assembly.   
     
     
         23 . The robotic cleaner of  claim 22 , wherein the spring is configured to urge the linkages to pivot towards each other. 
     
     
         24 . The robotic cleaner of  claim 21 , wherein the spring is a tension spring. 
     
     
         25 . The robotic cleaner of  claim 21 , wherein the spring is a leaf spring. 
     
     
         26 . The robotic cleaner of  claim 21 , wherein the agitator assembly includes at least one motor. 
     
     
         27 . The robotic cleaner of  claim 26 , wherein the lift mechanism includes a plurality of springs configured to cooperate to encourage an even weight distribution across the agitator assembly. 
     
     
         28 . The robotic cleaner of  claim 26 , wherein the agitator is configured to be rotated by the at least one motor. 
     
     
         29 . The robotic cleaner of  claim 26 , wherein the agitator assembly includes at least one counterweight, the at least one counterweight and the at least one motor being positioned on opposing sides of the agitator assembly. 
     
     
         30 . A robotic cleaner comprising:
 a chassis;   a suction motor;   a dust cup fluidly coupled to the suction motor;   an agitator assembly configured to engage a surface to be cleaned, the agitator assembly including:   an agitator configured to rotate about a rotation axis that extends substantially parallel to the surface to be cleaned; and   a lift mechanism moveably coupling the agitator assembly to the chassis, the lift mechanism including a spring configured to generate a biasing force that urges the agitator assembly in a direction away from the surface to be cleaned, the biasing force being insufficient to lift the agitator assembly from the surface to be cleaned.   
     
     
         31 . The robotic cleaner of  claim 30 , wherein the agitator assembly is fluidly coupled to the dust cup. 
     
     
         32 . The robotic cleaner of  claim 30 , wherein the lift mechanism includes a top plate, a bottom plate, and a plurality of linkages, a first end of each linkage being pivotally coupled to the top plate and a second end of each linkage being slidably coupled to the bottom plate. 
     
     
         33 . The robotic cleaner of  claim 32 , wherein the top plate is coupled to the chassis and the bottom plate is coupled to the agitator assembly. 
     
     
         34 . The robotic cleaner of  claim 33 , wherein the spring is configured to urge the linkages to pivot towards each other. 
     
     
         35 . The robotic cleaner of  claim 30 , wherein the spring is a tension spring. 
     
     
         36 . The robotic cleaner of  claim 30 , wherein the spring is a leaf spring. 
     
     
         37 . The robotic cleaner of  claim 30 , wherein the agitator assembly includes at least one motor. 
     
     
         38 . The robotic cleaner of  claim 37 , wherein the lift mechanism includes a plurality of springs configured to cooperate to encourage an even weight distribution across the agitator assembly. 
     
     
         39 . The robotic cleaner of  claim 37 , wherein the agitator assembly includes at least one counterweight, the at least one counterweight and the at least one motor being positioned on opposing sides of the agitator assembly. 
     
     
         40 . A robotic cleaner comprising:
 a chassis;   an agitator assembly configured to engage a surface to be cleaned; and   a lift mechanism moveably coupling the agitator assembly to the chassis, the lift mechanism including one or more springs configured to:
 generate a biasing force that urges the agitator assembly in a direction away from the surface to be cleaned, the biasing force being insufficient to lift the agitator assembly from the surface to be cleaned; and 
 encourage an even weight distribution across the agitator assembly.