Patents Examined by Laura C Cole
-
Patent number: 6799351Abstract: A power nozzle for use with a vacuum cleaner. The power nozzle includes a housing having at least two compartments and a bottom surface, a rotary brush at least partially in a front compartment of the housing, a brush motor at least partially positioned in an back compartment of the housing, a suction opening located in the bottom surface of the housing, a set of front wheels, a set of rear wheels, and a wand connected to the housing. The bottom surface has a front end, a back end, and a non-planar shape. The bottom surface at least partially slopes downwardly at least between the front end of the bottom surface and the set of front wheels.Type: GrantFiled: March 29, 2002Date of Patent: October 5, 2004Assignee: HMI Industries, Inc.Inventor: Steven H. Porath
-
Patent number: 6795993Abstract: An electric toothbrush comprised of a handle and a neck; the handle containing a swing link connected to a motor and a cell cabinet; the neck also containing a crank to drive a brush head and another swing link abutted to its counterpart in the handle characterized by that a rotor being inserted to the motor shaft; a U-shape member inserted to the swing link in the handle; the U-shape member being engaged by friction due to reciprocal impact from the rotor thus to drive the swing link in the neck; and the crank further driving the brush head to execute lateral swing at an angle of thirty degrees to achieve the optimal tooth brushing effect.Type: GrantFiled: June 3, 2002Date of Patent: September 28, 2004Inventor: Yuan Huang Lin
-
Patent number: 6795998Abstract: A swab for cleaning electronic and electro-mechanical components includes a handle and a pull-truded fiber cleaning head. The handle is elongated and has a cleaning head end and a grasping end. The cleaning head end defines a securing region for securing the cleaning head to the handle. The cleaning head is formed from a plurality of fibers that are pulled through a die to compress the fibers into a substantially rigid, elongated cleaning head. The swab includes a tether to secure the swab and prevent inadvertent misplacement.Type: GrantFiled: July 24, 2000Date of Patent: September 28, 2004Assignee: Illinois Tool Works, Inc.Inventors: K. Scott Kammerer, Edward J. Forrest, Jr.
-
Patent number: 6792643Abstract: A wiper arm window latch system and method includes an end of a wiper arm which is mounted on a window and which is received in a drive coupler coupled to a drive motor mounted on a door. The drive coupler permits the wiper arm to be drivingly coupled to a wiper motor. The drive coupler and end of the wiper arm also cooperate to lock the wiper arm to the drive coupler, thereby causing the window of the vehicle to be locked in a closed position, such as against the door. This system and method is particularly suited for use in a vehicle having a rear window which is pivotable between an open position and a closed position and where a rear window wiper is desired or required.Type: GrantFiled: June 30, 2000Date of Patent: September 21, 2004Assignee: Valeo Electrical Systems, Inc.Inventor: Richard L. Ponziani
-
Patent number: 6792641Abstract: A pig for use with a tubular bore wherein the pig is comprised of a body which supports a plurality of turbine blades wherein the blades mechanically break down and remove debris from the tubular bore. The blades have a profile which allows forward movement and rotation about a longitudinal axis when acted upon by a propulsion fluid traveling through the tubular. In an alternative embodiment the blades are mounted on a stabilizer body to allow simultaneous centralization and cleaning.Type: GrantFiled: July 24, 2000Date of Patent: September 21, 2004Assignee: Hamdeen Incorporated LimitedInventor: Keith Laker
-
Patent number: 6786558Abstract: The present invention is directed to a brush head, particularly a toothbrush head, and to a method of manufacturing such a brush head. The brush head includes a bristle carrier and bristles fixedly secured thereto, said bristle carrier having a slot-type recess in which a multiplicity of bristles is received forming an elongated tuft with a closed, smooth outer contour corresponding essentially to the contour of the slot-type recess. According to the invention the brush head is characterized in that the slot-type recess is divided by means of at least one transverse wall into several segments, a separate tuft is inserted and secured in each of the segments, and the at least one transverse wall is constructed so that the separate tufts converge, forming in combination the elongated tuft with a closed, smooth outer contour.Type: GrantFiled: December 19, 2003Date of Patent: September 7, 2004Assignee: Braun GmbHInventors: Georges Driesen, Thomas Fritsch, Armin Schwarz-Hartmann
-
Patent number: 6780252Abstract: A lawn mower cleaning tool includes an elongated handle and a cleaning blade attached to one end of the handle. The handle has opposite ends, a longitudinal axis, and a length greater than the radius of the mower blade. An angled cleaning blade member attaches to one of the ends of the handle. The blade member includes a shank portion extending longitudinally from the handle and a scraping blade portion attached to the shank portion and diverging therefrom in a radial direction. Thus, the mower deck can be cleaned without the operator's hands entering into close proximity with the mower blade.Type: GrantFiled: July 14, 2003Date of Patent: August 24, 2004Inventor: Dean H. Holst
-
Patent number: 6775872Abstract: A vehicle for traversing a surface such as for carrying out an inspection, survey or maintenance operation upon that surface comprises two bodies interconnected by means to move the bodies towards and away from each other, each of those bodies being supported upon a multiplicity of resilient bristles (13; 25; 32) extending from it, the bristles of each body being mounted in groups upon bristle-carrying members (10; 23; 31) each guided for movement towards and away from the body, and fluid pressure means (25; 22; 34) to effect the guided movement of the bristle-carrying members in at least one of those directions.Type: GrantFiled: October 18, 2000Date of Patent: August 17, 2004Assignee: University of DurhamInventors: Ernest Appleton, Neil William Stutchbury
-
Patent number: 6775875Abstract: A visually appealing toothbrush having an applicator portion including a head and a track and including a replaceable bristle bed, wherein the track on which a bristle bed is slidingly mounted is rotatable out of a longitudinal axis of the handle into an open position by the rotation of a knob at the end of the handle, the open position allowing disengagement and replacement of the bristle bed, the track then being rotatable back into the longitudinal axis of the handle in order to trap and lock a newly mounted bristle bed by means of a stop at an extremity of the head.Type: GrantFiled: July 2, 2002Date of Patent: August 17, 2004Inventors: Charles Ornelas, Paul Sava, Jr.
-
Patent number: 6769150Abstract: An optical connector cleaning device for cleaning a ferrule end surface of an optical or fiberoptic connector is described. The device includes a cleaning rod, a drive mechanism, and a cleaning media, such as a swab, a brush, a pad, or a foam, connected to an end of the cleaning rod and having a thickness past the end of the cleaning rod of at least about 0.125 inches. A mating connector housing the cleaning rod may be provided for connecting with the optical connector. The drive mechanism may be housed in a handheld body or may be mounted on a dummy card connector physically compatible with a slot in a card-cage. The dummy card connector may include an adjustable frame which can be adjusted to modify card size in order for the same dummy card connector to be physically compatible with more than one physical slot configuration.Type: GrantFiled: November 7, 2001Date of Patent: August 3, 2004Assignee: Alcatel, Societe AnonymeInventors: Kechuan Liu, Shawn Legas
-
Patent number: 6766559Abstract: An upright vacuum cleaner includes a nozzle assembly and a canister assembly pivotally connected to the nozzle assembly. A suction generator is carried on one of the nozzle assembly or the canister assembly. The upright vacuum cleaner also includes a telescoping handle assembly including an elongated handle received in a slot for sliding movement relative to the canister assembly, a projecting guide pin carried on the elongated handle, a cooperating guide channel in the canister assembly for receiving the guide pin and a latch carried on the canister assembly for selectively engaging any one of the longitudinally spaced apertures formed in the elongated handle.Type: GrantFiled: March 5, 2002Date of Patent: July 27, 2004Assignee: Matsushita Electric Corporation of AmericaInventors: Jeffrey T. Roney, James T. Crouch
-
Patent number: 6760945Abstract: An electric toothbrush having a detachable brush head assembly including a driven shaft that is driven by a driveshaft disposed with in a housing. The driveshaft is part of or secured to a torsion bar that supports an armature including a pair of magnets. An electric coil receives an alternating flow of current at a predetermined frequency that causes the magnets to be alternately attracted to the coil and causes the torsion bar to oscillate in an oscillatory rotary motion.Type: GrantFiled: January 14, 2002Date of Patent: July 13, 2004Assignee: HoMedics, Inc.Inventors: Roman S. Ferber, Edmund L. Sokolik
-
Patent number: 6754931Abstract: Bathing brush including an annular main body made of elastic and water-absorbent material and several bathing balls fixed on the main body at intervals. Each of the bathing balls includes at least one elastic mesh tube and at least one binding member. The circumference of the elastic mesh tube is crimped and waved. Then the elastic mesh tube is bound by the binding member. The bathing balls tightly abut against the circumference of the main body. In use of the bathing brush, the multiple bathing balls are able to maintain water therein. Moreover, the main body can also maintain a certain amount of water therein. The water contained in the main body can be gradually released to infiltrate into the adjacent bathing balls. Accordingly, the bathing balls can kept wet for a longer time.Type: GrantFiled: February 6, 2002Date of Patent: June 29, 2004Inventor: Ching-Chen Chen
-
Patent number: 6751824Abstract: A wafer cleaning device is disclosed in which a brush is integrally formed with a nozzle for supplying pure water, such that a uniform water screen is formed on a surface of a wafer and particles on the wafer can be entirely removed. The cleaning device includes injectors for ejecting pure water supplied from a pure water supplier onto a wafer; nozzles disposed at one end of each of the injectors; and a brush for cleaning the wafer while moving horizontally between a center and edges of the wafer. The injectors include a first injector for ejecting pure water at an upper position of the wafer toward the center of the wafer, and a second injector disposed adjacent to the brush along one side of a brush arm, the brush arm supporting the brush and moving the brush and second injector toward the wafer.Type: GrantFiled: May 9, 2001Date of Patent: June 22, 2004Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.Inventors: Jong-Woon Oh, Dong-Jun You, Ju-Sang Byun, Seung-Hoon Kong
-
Patent number: 6745434Abstract: A cleaning attachment for converting a cleaning implement, such as a broom, to a mop includes a flexible cover having end sections interconnected by a central section. Fastening structure secures the end sections together to create an enclosure for the broom head. Reusable mounting structure is provided on the exposed lower outer surface of the central section for engagement with a wipe.Type: GrantFiled: July 27, 2001Date of Patent: June 8, 2004Assignee: Watch Hill Harbor TechnologiesInventors: James A. Smith, Hertha Smith
-
Patent number: 6725495Abstract: In a first aspect of the invention an adjustable hairbrush includes an inner cylinder to which are affixed brush bristles and an outer cylinder through which the brush bristles extend. The inner and outer cylinders may be rotated about a common axis with respect to one another so as to adjust the length of the portion of the bristles protruding from the outer cylinder. A mechanism to limit rotation may be provided. In a second aspect of the invention, a pair of foundations held on a central rod disposed along an axis secure a number of connecting rods which, in turn, support portions of a cylinder oriented parallel to the axis. Bristles protrude from the cylinder portions. As the angle between the connecting rods and the central rod is adjusted, the cylinder portions move toward and away from the central rod so as to vary the diameter of the brush.Type: GrantFiled: August 24, 2000Date of Patent: April 27, 2004Inventor: Masood Habibi
-
Patent number: 6721987Abstract: An oral cleaning device that can fit onto a human finger is provided. The oral cleaning device, or dental wipe, is at least partially made from an elastomeric material, such as an elastomeric nonwoven, so that the wipe can more aptly fit onto a finger. Furthermore, the wipe, in some instances, can possess a barrier that is liquid-impervious, but vapor-permeable so that the finger of a user is more comfortable during cleaning. Various additives can be applied to the wipe to aid in the cleaning process.Type: GrantFiled: April 4, 2001Date of Patent: April 20, 2004Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.Inventors: Jason P. McDevitt, Michael S. Brunner, Jark C. Lau, Jaeho Kim
-
Patent number: 6721986Abstract: In one aspect, the present invention is directed to an electric toothbrush. The toothbrush includes a housing, an electric motor, a first transmission and a second transmission. The electric motor is connected to the housing has a motor output member for rotation about a motor output axis. The first transmission is connected to the housing, and converts rotational movement from the motor output member into rotational reciprocating movement at a first average angular speed. The second transmission is linked to the first transmission, and converts rotational reciprocating movement from the first transmission into rotational reciprocating movement at a second average angular speed about a second transmission output axis that is parallel to the motor output axis. The second transmission drives an output member to reciprocate at the second average angular speed about the second transmission output axis. A brush head is removably connectable to the output member.Type: GrantFiled: June 28, 2001Date of Patent: April 20, 2004Inventor: Qingping Zhuan
-
Patent number: 6721988Abstract: A paint roller having modular, rebuildable sections including a hollow tubular handle terminating in a cylindrical end connected to an offset midsection and a roller spindle rod. The offset midsection includes a pair of clamps at opposed ends. The first clamp includes a clamp body with a slotted opening and a collar having an opening within which said cylindrical end is received. A screw passing through the clamp body and collar is turned to retract the collar into the slotted opening thus locking the handle to the midsection. A second clamp includes a clamp housing with a threadable opening, a plastic bushing transverse to the threadable opening and a spindle rod having ridges passing through the plastic bushing. A set screw is insertable within the threadable opening, pushing a plastic surface of the plastic bushing into the ridges and locking the spindle rod to the clamp and attached midsection.Type: GrantFiled: January 22, 2002Date of Patent: April 20, 2004Inventor: Byron J. Woodruff
-
Patent number: 6718592Abstract: A wiper pivot for a wiper apparatus of motor vehicles, which is provided with a pivot holder 3 having a shaft-holding portion 3b to rotatably support a pivot shaft 2, and a body-fixing portion 3d to be fixed to the vehicle body and formed in one body of resin together with the shaft-holding portion 3b through a connecting portion 3c, and the connecting portion 3c is further provided with a thin-walled destructible portion 4 to be destroyed at the time when impulsive force exceeding the predetermined value is applied on the pivot shaft 2.Type: GrantFiled: February 5, 2001Date of Patent: April 13, 2004Assignee: Jidosha Denki Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Yasuo Ohashi, Toshiyuki Fuke