Patents Examined by Weilun Lo
  • Patent number: 11452366
    Abstract: Bristle tuft assemblies and associated fabrication methods are disclosed. One disclosed bristle tuft assembly comprises a bristle tuft, a retention material and a support surface. The support surface is permeable to the retention material when the retention material is in a molten state. The retention material is fused into the support surface. The bristle tuft is connected to the support surface via the retention material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: Willo 32 SAS
    Inventors: Jean-Marie de Gentile, David Aurélien Barlet, Loïc Guérin, Gisèle Caillon-Bach
  • Patent number: 11425990
    Abstract: A beveled broom and step-on dustpan cleaning system including a step-on dustpan having a step-on portion configured to allow a user to collect debris in a receptacle of the dustpan when a force is applied on the step-on portion. The dustpan includes a lip portion which is configured to seal against a floor surface upon a user stepping on the step-on portion to collect debris. A beveled broom having a broom head configured with a beveled or chamfered shape at a functional angle to provide an effective and efficient contact surface to a floor surface to collect debris during use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: Carl Freudenberg KG
    Inventors: Doug Metzel, Robert Ancheta
  • Patent number: 11382729
    Abstract: A toothbrush head for an electric toothbrush including a driving shaft, includes a brush rod and a connecting member. The brush rod has a first end configured to carry bristles and a second end configured to be connected with the driving shaft, the second end defines a holding groove, and a lower surface of the second end is provided with an opening communicated with the holding groove. The connecting member includes a connecting body and an elastic piece connected to the connecting body. The connecting body is arranged inside the holding groove, the elastic piece is arranged between the opening and the connecting body and resists against an inner sidewall surrounding the holding groove. The opening and the holding groove are configured to allow the driving shaft to be inserted therethrough to be engaged with the connecting body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: SHENZHEN NUOSHENG SHIYUAN TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Hanping Li
  • Patent number: 11351581
    Abstract: Various drop head coupling assemblies are described. The coupling assemblies enable a drop head tool typically used in drain cleaning operations to be releasably engaged with a drain cleaning cable. The coupling assemblies enable the drop head tool to undergo a wide range of motion relative to the drain cleaning cable, particularly during rotation of the cable and drop head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: Ridge Tool Company
    Inventors: Christopher Schmauder, Richard R. Bowles, Sachin Shashikant Dakare, Sandeep Sidagouda Patil Patil
  • Patent number: 11350728
    Abstract: A connector for an electric toothbrush to mount a toothbrush head with an electric toothbrush handle of the electric toothbrush is provided. The connector includes a body configured to be received in an opening of the toothbrush head. The body includes a first section, a second section, and a third section extending one above the other, and includes a seating profile, an aperture, and a biasing member. The seating profile is defined at adjoining of the second and third sections. The aperture is formed inside of the body to receive a drive shaft of the electric toothbrush handle. Further, the biasing member is received along the third section and rests on the seating profile, and operatively coordinates with a threaded profile and a flexible profile of the third section to facilitates snugly coupling of the toothbrush head with the electric toothbrush handle of the electric toothbrush.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Inventor: Huabiao Shen
  • Patent number: 11346098
    Abstract: Augers that utilize a drain cleaning cable which can be rotated and selectively extended or retracted from the auger are described. The augers utilize coupling assemblies that enable easy coupling or decoupling between the drain cleaning cable and a torque transmission shaft of the auger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: Ridge Tool Company
    Inventors: Harald Krondorfer, Christopher Schmauder, Jacob Schneider, James Teets
  • Patent number: 11344929
    Abstract: A pipe de-burring assembly for de-burring a pipe and a pipe fitting includes a cylinder that has a pair of wells each extending therein to insertably receive a respective one of a pipe and a pipe fitting. A shaft extends lengthwise through the cylinder and the shaft is rotatably coupled to a power tool to rotate the cylinder. A plurality of first bristles is each of the first bristles is coupled to the shaft and each of the first bristles frictionally engages an inside surface of the pipe fitting for de-burring the inside surface of the pipe fitting. A plurality of second bristles is each coupled to the cylinder and each of the second bristles frictionally engages an outside surface of the pipe to de-burr the outside surface of the pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Inventor: Joseph D' Agosta
  • Patent number: 11344395
    Abstract: An electrically driven toothbrush is provided, comprising a hollow handle having a first end provided with a tooth brushing portion and a second end provided with an opening. An electrical assembly module is inserted into the hollow handle through the opening and provides power to turn on the toothbrush. A conductive elastic piece is fitted with the electrical assembly module and contacts with an electrical fixture. A cap member is removably attached to the hollow handle for encapsulation. At least one trigger portion is provided on one side of the cap member. When the trigger portion contacts with the conductive elastic piece, the conductive elastic piece deforms and touches with the electrical fixture to form an electrical loop with the electrical assembly module to generate power for turning on the proposed toothbrush. By designing above, it successfully achieves purposes of improving and enhancing the conveniences of use for users.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: SHUMMI ENTERPRISE CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Chia-Lin Lee
  • Patent number: 11325170
    Abstract: A drum-type pipe cleaning device comprises a drum rotatable about a rotational axis and a cleaning cable allocated to the drum. A longitudinal section of the cleaning cable extends from the drum. The longitudinal section is rotatable about its longitudinal axis through a rotation of the drum. The drum-type pipe cleaning device further comprises a handle, which is configured to support the drum in a rotatable manner. Furthermore, the drum-type pipe cleaning device comprises a drive shaft for driving the drum and an attachment point allocated to the drive shaft for connecting the drive shaft to a drive unit for drive purposes. A freewheel clutch is provided, through which the drive shaft is or can be connected to the drum in an operative manner such that the freewheel clutch is engaged when the drive shaft is being driven and the freewheel clutch runs freely when the drum is being driven.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: ROTHENBERGER AG
    Inventors: Dennis Hesse, Maximilian Gottschalk
  • Patent number: 11322345
    Abstract: A method includes performing a first post Chemical Mechanical Polish (CMP) cleaning on a wafer using a first brush. The first brush rotates to clean the wafer. The method further includes performing a second post-CMP cleaning on the wafer using a second brush. The second brush rotates to clean the wafer. The first post-CMP cleaning and the second post-CMP cleaning are performed simultaneously.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Fu-Ming Huang, Liang-Guang Chen, Ting-Kui Chang, Chun-Chieh Lin
  • Patent number: 11311096
    Abstract: A brush head for an oral cleansing device is provided. The brush head may include a shaft and a cantilevered beam positioned within the shaft. The cantilevered beam may be configured to press against a drive shaft of the oral cleansing device to transfer motion of the drive shaft to the brush head. The cantilevered beam may be formed on an adapter secured within the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: WATER PIK, INC.
    Inventor: Robert D. Wagner
  • Patent number: 11297931
    Abstract: A dental care apparatus including a head and a handle. The head includes a brush, a massager, and a guard. The brush and the massager extend from opposing side portions of the head. The massager includes a base and a plurality of projections extending from the base to stimulate oral tissue. The base is adapted to change in shape to conform to an interior surface of a mouth. The guard extends along a perimeter of the head to prevent, or at least reduce, traumatic contact with oral tissue. The handle includes an eating utensil and a cleaner. The eating utensil and the cleaner extend from opposing side portions of the handle. The eating utensil includes a reflective surface to facilitate visual inspection of an oral cavity and a bumper rim extending along a perimeter of the handle to circumferentially encase the reflective surface. The cleaner includes a plurality of projections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: BRUSHTIME ENTERPRISES, LLC
    Inventor: Winifred J. Booker
  • Patent number: 11246399
    Abstract: A bristle for an oral care implement and an oral care implement including a plurality of such bristles. The bristle may include a body extending along a longitudinal axis from a proximal end to a distal end, the body having tapered portion having a transverse cross-sectional profile with a perimeter defined by a first linear section and a second linear section that intersect to form a first apex, a third linear section and a fourth linear section that intersect to form a second apex, a first curved section extending between the first and third linear sections, and a second curved section extending between the second and fourth linear sections. The body may also include a cylindrical body portion such that the tapered portion extends from a top end of the cylindrical body portion. The bristle includes various edges and rounded contours for enhanced cleaning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: Colgate-Palmolive Company
    Inventors: Wen Jin Xi, Yan Mei Ji
  • Patent number: 11241079
    Abstract: An oral care implement and/or a cleaning element for an oral care implement. The cleaning element may include an annular cleaning component having an inner surface defining a cavity. The annular cleaning component may be formed from a plurality of arcuate portions with each of the arcuate portions extending from a first end to a second end and terminating in a distal end. A height of each of the arcuate portions may be greater at the second end than at the first end. The plurality of arcuate portions may be arranged in a ring so that the first end of each of the arcuate portions is adjacent to the second end of another one of the arcuate portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2022
    Assignee: Colgate-Palmolive Company
    Inventor: Eduardo Jimenez
  • Patent number: 11234572
    Abstract: A docking station for a robotic vacuum cleaner may include a suction motor, a collection bin, and a filter system fluidly coupled to the suction motor. The suction motor may be configured to suction debris from a dust cup of the robotic vacuum cleaner. The filter system may include a filter medium to collect debris suctioned from the dust cup, a compactor configured to urge a first portion of the filter medium towards a second portion of the filter medium such that a closed bag can be formed, and a conveyor configured to urge the closed bag into the collection bin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: SharkNinja Operating LLC
    Inventors: David Harting, Jason B. Thorne
  • Patent number: 11234803
    Abstract: The invention relates an electrical cleaning and care appliance, pressure alarming method and apparatus for the appliance. Transducer elastic members of the appliance engage in resonance oscillation motion with bending strain characteristics, are symmetrically distributed on the left and right sides of the longitudinal axis (L2) of a drive shaft, and have approximately equal section moduli in bending, approximately equal lengths, approximately equal deflection amplitudes and opposite flexure directions; the angle between the longitudinal axis (L1) of a cleaning element and the normal direction of the transducer elastic member plane is 0° to 60°; the frequency of the alternating current in a drive coil is a fixed value equal to f0max?n, where n is a fixed value in the range of ?0.3(f0max?f0min) to 0.85(f0max?f0min). Therefore, the appliance has a higher mechanical efficiency, a simple structure and a lower cost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: Shanghai Shift Electrics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Xiaoguo Dai, Zhenwu Xu
  • Patent number: 11213183
    Abstract: A portable device for receiving a liquid from a floor via a squeegee or another scraping implement includes a container having a bottom and an opening that is distanced from the bottom, a ramp that extends from the opening of the container to a position generally levelled with the bottom, the ramp being adapted to receive the squeegee in a scraping movement thereon, and a handle portion that is more distanced from the bottom of the container than the opening thereof. The handle portion is adapted to receive a blade portion of the squeegee in order to move the device therewith.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignee: Nadeau Design Inc.
    Inventor: Claude Nadeau
  • Patent number: 11206917
    Abstract: An oral implement and a method of forming an oral care implement. The oral care implement may include a head having a front surface and a plurality of tooth cleaning elements extending from the front surface. In one embodiment, the plurality of tooth cleaning elements may include three different types of tooth cleaning elements, each type of tooth cleaning element being formed of a different material. In one embodiment each of the materials has a different hardness and thus the oral care implement includes three different types of tooth cleaning elements each having a different hardness. In another embodiment, the oral care implement may include bristles and a molded cleaning element that may function as an interdental cleaner. Such a molded cleaning element may include a body and tines extending therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: Colgate-Palmolive Company
    Inventors: Douglas Hohlbein, Kenneth Waguespack, Daniel Wainless
  • Patent number: 11202497
    Abstract: A method of forming an oral care implement. The method may include providing a body having a base and a bridge extending from a distal end of the base, the bridge terminating in a free end, mounting a plurality of tooth cleaning elements to the bridge, bending the bridge toward a proximal end of the base, and coupling the free end of the bridge to a proximal end of the base, thereby forming a head of an oral care implement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2021
    Assignee: Colgate-Palmolive Company
    Inventors: Eduardo Jesus Jimenez, Kenneth Waguespack, Douglas Joseph Hohlbein, Anthony Baxter, Marisol Rodriguez, Alberto Mantilla, Ellis Junior Smith, Chad Leighton Helland
  • Patent number: 11191418
    Abstract: A cleaning apparatus and system for removing debris from a surface of a plate or utensil. The apparatus has a cleaning area and a pair of brushes disposed in the cleaning area with the bristles of a first brush facing toward the bristles of the second brush so that debris is scraped off the surface as the plate or utensil is pushed through the bristles. The cleaning area may be defined by a container or an opening in a work surface. Brush mounting mechanisms mount the brushes to opposing sidewalls of the container or opposing interior surfaces of the opening. The brush mounting mechanisms and brushes can be cooperatively configured so the bristles of the brushes overlap each other where the plate or utensil will be pushed through the bristles. The mounting mechanism may be a clip that engages a sidewall of the container. The system includes the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: P.S. Creations LLC
    Inventors: Nathan Stephen Stein, Ryan Ronald Kruse, Robert Carl Swanland