Floor care apparatus having visual dirt indicator with flexible membrane circuit
US7373689B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 21, 2006 |
| Grant date | May 20, 2008 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 31, 2026 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA47L9/30
- WIPO fieldFurniture, games
- WIPO sectorOther fields
Abstract
A floor care apparatus has a housing with a wall having a contour. A flexible membrane circuit includes an adhesive side that attaches the circuit to the wall to generally follow the contour. A controller connects to the circuit and illuminates a visual indicator as a relative function of the cleanliness or dirtiness of a signal of a dirt sensor connected to the controller. A motor is also controlled by the controller as a relative function of the dirt sensor signal. Further, the flexible membrane circuit includes a side opposite the adhesive side to friction fit the visual indicator against the housing. Preferably, the visual indicator includes a plurality of colors, from light emitting diodes, wherein the side opposite the adhesive side of the circuit connects to the light emitting diodes.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.