Patents by Inventor Eric E. Muhlenkamp
Eric E. Muhlenkamp has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 9155433Abstract: A floor cleaning apparatus includes a body having a suction inlet and an exhaust outlet. A dirt collection vessel and a suction generator are both carried on the body. The suction generator moves an airstream through the suction inlet, the dirt collection vessel and the exhaust outlet. A filter drawer is carried on the body. A filter stop on the body aligns a filter in the filter drawer with an airstream port on the body as the filter drawer is moved from a fully opened toward a fully closed position.Type: GrantFiled: November 27, 2012Date of Patent: October 13, 2015Assignee: PANASONIC CORPORATION OF NORTH AMERICAInventors: Joseph B. Wofford, Eric E. Muhlenkamp
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Publication number: 20140143977Abstract: A floor cleaning apparatus includes a body having a suction inlet and an exhaust outlet. A dirt collection vessel and a suction generator are both carried on the body. The suction generator moves an airstream through the suction inlet, the dirt collection vessel and the exhaust outlet. A filter drawer is carried on the body. A filter stop on the body aligns a filter in the filter drawer with an airstream port on the body as the filter drawer is moved from a fully opened toward a fully closed position.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 27, 2012Publication date: May 29, 2014Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATION OF NORTH AMERICAInventors: Joseph B. Wofford, Eric E. Muhlenkamp
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Patent number: 8533903Abstract: A floor cleaning apparatus includes a housing having a nozzle assembly and a canister assembly. The nozzle assembly includes a suction inlet. Both a suction generator and a dirt collection assembly are carried on the housing. The dirt collection assembly includes a dirt cup, a shroud concentrically received within the dirt collection chamber defined by the dirt cup and at least one rib projecting from the shroud toward the bottom wall of the dirt cup. The rib is positioned so as to reduce air turbulence in the dirt collection chamber between an airflow guide on the shroud and the bottom wall of the dirt cup.Type: GrantFiled: March 19, 2010Date of Patent: September 17, 2013Assignee: Panasonic Corporation of North AmericaInventors: Eric E. Muhlenkamp, Joe M. Reynolds, Jeffrey T. Roney
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Publication number: 20110225764Abstract: A floor cleaning apparatus includes a housing having a nozzle assembly and a canister assembly. The nozzle assembly includes a suction inlet. Both a suction generator and a dirt collection assembly are carried on the housing. The dirt collection assembly includes a dirt cup, a shroud concentrically received within the dirt collection chamber defined by the dirt cup and at least one rib projecting from the shroud toward the bottom wall of the dirt cup. The rib is positioned so as to reduce air turbulence in the dirt collection chamber between an airflow guide on the shroud and the bottom wall of the dirt cup.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 19, 2010Publication date: September 22, 2011Inventors: ERIC E. MUHLENKAMP, Joe M. Reynolds, Jeffrey T. Roney
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Publication number: 20110072610Abstract: An upright vacuum cleaner includes a housing having a nozzle assembly and a canister assembly. The nozzle assembly and canister assembly are pivotally connected together. A suction inlet is provided on the nozzle assembly. A dirt collection vessel and a suction generator are both carried on the housing. A latch mechanism secures the canister assembly in an upright or storage position relative to the nozzle assembly. The latch mechanism includes an activator and a replaceable stop.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 8, 2010Publication date: March 31, 2011Inventor: Eric E. Muhlenkamp
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Patent number: 7636983Abstract: A floor care apparatus includes a telescoping handle stalk and a handle adjustment mechanism. The handle adjustment mechanism includes a control switch, an adjustment block, a linkage connecting the control switch and adjustment block and a locking pin for securing the handle stalk in a selected position.Type: GrantFiled: July 17, 2008Date of Patent: December 29, 2009Assignee: Panasonic Corporation of North AmericaInventor: Eric E. Muhlenkamp
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Publication number: 20090038109Abstract: A floor care apparatus includes a telescoping handle stalk and a handle adjustment mechanism. The handle adjustment mechanism includes a control switch, an adjustment block, a linkage connecting the control switch and adjustment block and a locking pin for securing the handle stalk in a selected position.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 17, 2008Publication date: February 12, 2009Inventor: Eric E. Muhlenkamp
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Publication number: 20080163449Abstract: An upright vacuum cleaner includes a housing having a nozzle assembly and a canister assembly. The nozzle assembly and canister assembly are pivotally connected together. A suction inlet is provided on the nozzle assembly. A dirt collection vessel and a suction generator are both carried on the housing. A latch mechanism secures the canister assembly in an upright or storage position relative to the nozzle assembly. The latch mechanism includes an activator and a replaceable stop.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 17, 2007Publication date: July 10, 2008Inventor: Eric E. Muhlenkamp
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Patent number: 7219389Abstract: A nozzle assembly housing includes a first wall, a second wall and an access opening in those walls. A locking tab receiver is provided on the first wall adjacent the access opening. A notch is provided on the second wall adjacent the access opening. Finally, a separate, removable panel closes the access opening. That panel includes a locking tab on a first edge that engages the locking tab receiver and a hinge lug on a second edge that is pivotally received in the notch.Type: GrantFiled: July 23, 2004Date of Patent: May 22, 2007Assignee: Panasonic Corporation of North AmericaInventors: Danielle M. Hafling, Eric E. Muhlenkamp
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Patent number: 7165286Abstract: An agitator includes a high strength, continuous metal axle, a pulley held on one end of the metal axle and a sleeve of lightweight plastic material received over the axle. The agitator is manufactured by molding a pulley body onto an underlying metal support or D-nut, fitting an axle into the pulley, molding a sleeve around the axle and securing a cleaning structure on the sleeve.Type: GrantFiled: April 10, 2002Date of Patent: January 23, 2007Assignee: Panasonic Corporation of North AmericaInventors: Jeffrey T. Roney, Eric E. Muhlenkamp
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Patent number: 7007336Abstract: An agitator includes a high strength, continuous metal axle, a pulley held on one end of the metal axle and a sleeve of lightweight plastic material received over the axle. The agitator is manufactured by molding a pulley body onto an underlying metal support or D-nut, fitting an axle into the pulley, molding a sleeve around the axle and securing a cleaning structure on the sleeve.Type: GrantFiled: November 17, 2003Date of Patent: March 7, 2006Assignee: Panasonic Corporation of North AmericaInventors: Jeffrey T. Roney, Eric E. Muhlenkamp
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Patent number: 6859970Abstract: An agitator includes an axle, a pulley having a hub mounted to the axle and a belt receiving face having at least one lengthwise channel and a sleeve of molded material received over the axle and in the at least one lengthwise channel. A method of constructing an agitator from an axle and pulley includes the fitting of the axle into the pulley, the injecting of plastic resin into one end of the agitator forming mold on a first side of the pulley and the directing of plastic through at least one channel in the pulley to a second side of the pulley.Type: GrantFiled: July 18, 2002Date of Patent: March 1, 2005Assignee: Matsushita Electric Corporation of AmericaInventors: Jeffrey T. Roney, Eric E. Muhlenkamp
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Patent number: 6832408Abstract: A two-piece caddy and vacuum cleaner accessory assembly is provided. The caddy includes first and second body sections that are connected together without the use of a separate independent fastener. The first body section includes first, second and third accessory receptacles. The second body section includes first, second and third accessory engaging clips. The receptacles and clips function to hold various vacuum cleaner tools and accessories such as an extension hose, a wand, a crevice cleaning tool and a nozzle brush.Type: GrantFiled: March 25, 2002Date of Patent: December 21, 2004Assignee: Matsushita Electric Corporation of AmericaInventors: Jeffrey T. Roney, Eric E. Muhlenkamp
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Publication number: 20040168282Abstract: The present invention relates to a nozzle assembly and to a vacuum cleaner incorporating that nozzle assembly. The nozzle assembly includes a housing having a main cavity and at least one intake opening in fluid communication with the main cavity. Additionally, the nozzle assembly includes an edge cleaning duct having an inlet adjacent an edge of the housing and an outlet in fluid communication with the main cavity. More specifically the housing includes first and second nesting sections that define a channel that functions as the edge cleaning duct. The vacuum cleaner incorporates the nozzle assembly described along with a canister assembly that is connected to the nozzle assembly. Both a suction generator and dirt collection vessel are carried on one of the canister assembly and the nozzle assembly. The suction generator draws air entrained with dirt and debris through the nozzle assembly to the dirt collection vessel before exhausting clean air back into the environment.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 27, 2004Publication date: September 2, 2004Inventors: Joel E. Hitzelberger, Eric E. Muhlenkamp
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Publication number: 20040148723Abstract: An agitator includes a high strength, continuous metal axle, a pulley held on one end of the metal axle and a sleeve of lightweight plastic material received over the axle. The agitator is manufactured by molding a pulley body onto an underlying metal support or D-nut, fitting an axle into the pulley, molding a sleeve around the axle and securing a cleaning structure on the sleeve.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 17, 2003Publication date: August 5, 2004Inventors: Jeffrey T. Roney, Eric E. Muhlenkamp
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Publication number: 20040019992Abstract: An agitator includes a high strength, continuous metal axle, a pulley held on one end of the metal axle and a sleeve of lightweight plastic material received over the axle. The agitator is manufactured by molding a pulley body onto an underlying metal support or D-nut, fitting an axle into the pulley, molding a sleeve around the axle and securing a cleaning structure on the sleeve.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 5, 2003Publication date: February 5, 2004Inventors: Jeffrey T. Roney, Eric E. Muhlenkamp
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Publication number: 20040010875Abstract: An agitator includes an axle, a pulley having a hub mounted to the axle and a belt receiving face having at least one lengthwise channel and a sleeve of molded material received over the axle and in the at least one lengthwise channel. A method of constructing an agitator from an axle and pulley includes the fitting of the axle into the pulley, the injecting of plastic resin into one end of the agitator forming mold on a first side of the pulley and the directing of plastic through at least one channel in the pulley to a second side of the pulley.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 18, 2002Publication date: January 22, 2004Inventors: Jeffrey T. Roney, Eric E. Muhlenkamp
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Publication number: 20030024067Abstract: A two-piece caddy and vacuum cleaner accessory assembly is provided. The caddy includes first and second body sections that are connected together without the use of a separate independent fastener. The first body section includes first, second and third accessory receptacles. The second body section includes first, second and third accessory engaging clips. The receptacles and clips function to hold various vacuum cleaner tools and accessories such as an extension hose, a wand, a crevice cleaning tool and a nozzle brush.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 25, 2002Publication date: February 6, 2003Inventors: Jeffrey T. Roney, Eric E. Muhlenkamp