detachable robotic vacuum dustbin

Abstract

A removable dustbin for a robotic vacuum that is wholly separable from all electronic parts thereof including a motor unit such that the dustbin, when separated from the electronic parts, may be safely immersed in water for quick and easy cleaning. The dustbin design further facilitates easy access to the motor for convenient servicing and repair.

1 . A method for cleaning debris by a robotic vacuum, comprising:
 powering, with a battery of the robotic vacuum, an electric vacuum motor and an electric wheel motor of the robotic vacuum;   spinning, with a means to spin a brush, a brush of the robotic vacuum to facilitate collection of the debris;   pulling, with the electric vacuum motor, air through an opening in a dustbin of the robotic vacuum to generate suction for suctioning the debris through a debris window of the dustbin;   receiving, with the dustbin, the debris suctioned through the debris window; and   decoupling, with at least one latch, the dustbin from a chassis of the robotic vacuum housing an electric vacuum motor during operation;   wherein:
 the robotic vacuum comprises:
 the chassis; 
 a set of wheels; 
 an electric wheel motor to drive the set of wheels; 
 a processor configured to control the electric motor; 
 the battery; 
 the dustbin; 
 the electric vacuum motor; and 
 the brush; 
 
 the electric vacuum motor is coupled to or interfaces with the dustbin via at least the opening; 
 the dustbin is configured to receive a frame of a removeable filter and a filter; and 
 the dustbin is free of electronic circuitry when decoupled from the chassis of the robotic vacuum housing the electric vacuum during operation. 
   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 coupling, with the at least one latch, the dustbin with the chassis, wherein the at least one latch is configured to at least transition between a first state that couples the dustbin to the chassis to a second state that decouples the dustbin from the chassis.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein a prong ejects the dustbin from the chassis upon releasing the at least one latch to decouple the dustbin from the chassis. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the chassis forms at least a portion of a cylinder when coupled with the dustbin;   the dustbin comprises an exterior wall forming an arc-shape with a radius matching a radius of the cylinder; and   the dustbin defines a portion of a void.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 opening, with a debris window release of the dustbin, the debris window when the debris window release is engaged.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 immersing the dustbin in water for cleaning when free of electronic circuitry.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the electric vacuum motor comprises at least one impeller to generate suction for suctioning the debris through the debris window. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the dustbin defines an airflow path through:
 the debris window of the dustbin;   an interior cavity of the dustbin; and   the filter through which air is pulled by the electric vacuum motor.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the chassis comprises a void with a shape complementary to at least a portion of a shape of the dustbin. 
     
     
         10 . A robotic vacuum, comprising:
 a dustbin for receiving debris;   a set of wheels;   an electric motor to drive wheels;   a processor;   a battery for supplying power;   an electric vacuum motor;   a brush for facilitating collection of debris; and   a means to spin the brush;   wherein:
 the electric vacuum motor pulls air through an opening in the dustbin of the robotic vacuum to generate suction for suctioning the debris through a debris window of the dustbin; 
 the dustbin receives the debris suctioned through the debris window; 
 the electric vacuum motor is coupled to or interfaces with the dustbin via at least the opening; 
 the dustbin is configured to receive a frame of a removeable filter and a filter; 
 at least one latch decouples the dustbin from a chassis of the robotic vacuum housing an electric vacuum motor during operation; 
 the at least one latch couples the dustbin with the chassis; 
 the at least one latch is configured to at least transition between a first state that couples the dustbin to the chassis to a second state that decouples the dustbin from the chassis; 
 the chassis forms at least a portion of a cylinder when coupled with the dustbin; 
 the chassis comprises a void with a shape complementary to at least a portion of a shape of the dustbin; 
 the dustbin comprises an exterior wall forming an arc-shape with a radius matching a radius of the cylinder; 
 the dustbin fills the void when coupled with the chassis; and 
 the dustbin is suitable for immersion in water. 
   
     
     
         11 . The robotic vacuum of  claim 10 , wherein a prong ejects the dustbin from the chassis upon releasing the at least one latch to decouple the dustbin from the chassis. 
     
     
         12 . The robotic vacuum of  claim 11 , wherein:
 the dustbin comprises a debris window release for opening the debris window; and   the debris window is opened upon engaging the debris window release.   
     
     
         13 . The robotic vacuum of  claim 11 , wherein electric power is prevented from being supplied to the dustbin upon releasing the at least one latch. 
     
     
         14 . The robotic vacuum of  claim 10 , wherein the electric vacuum motor comprises at least one impeller to generate suction for suctioning the debris through the debris window. 
     
     
         15 . The robotic vacuum of  claim 10 , wherein the dustbin defines an airflow path through:
 the debris window of the dustbin;   an interior cavity of the dustbin; and   the filter through which air is pulled by the electric vacuum motor.   
     
     
         16 . A method, comprising:
 transitioning at least one latch between at least a first state that couples the dustbin to a chassis of the robotic vacuum to a second state that decouples the dustbin from the chassis of the robotic vacuum;   wherein:
 the chassis comprises a void; 
 the dustbin comprises an exterior wall forming an arc-shape with a radius matching a radius of the chassis; 
 the chassis forms at least a portion of a cylinder when coupled with the dustbin; 
 the dustbin defines a portion of a void; 
 an electric vacuum motor housed within the chassis of the robotic vacuum during operation pulls air through an opening in the dustbin to generate suction for suctioning debris through a debris window of the dustbin; 
 the dustbin receives the debris suctioned through the debris window; 
 the electric vacuum motor is coupled to or interfaces with the dustbin via at least the opening in the dustbin; 
 the dustbin is configured to receive a frame of a removeable filter and a filter; and 
 the dustbin defines an airflow path through:
 the debris window of the dustbin; 
 an interior cavity of the dustbin; and 
 the filter through which air is pulled by the electric vacuum motor. 
 
   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the robotic vacuum comprises:
 the chassis;   the electric vacuum motor;   the dustbin for receiving debris;   a set of wheels;   an electric wheel motor to drive wheels;   a processor;   a battery for supplying power to the electric vacuum motor and the electric wheel motor;   a brush for facilitating collection of debris; and   a means to spin the brush.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the dustbin is suitable for immersion in water when decoupled from chassis of the robotic vacuum and the electric vacuum motor housed within the chassis of the robotic vacuum during operation. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein:
 a prong ejects the dustbin from the chassis of the robotic vacuum upon releasing the at least one latch to decouple the dustbin from the chassis of the robotic vacuum;   the dustbin comprises a debris window release for opening the debris window; and   the debris window is opened upon engaging the debris window release.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein electric power is prevented from being supplied to the dustbin upon releasing the at least one latch to transition to the second state.