Patents by Inventor Mark D. Kinter

Mark D. Kinter 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).

  • Patent number: 6192542
    Abstract: A wheel supported sweeping machine includes a hopper which is movable between operating and non-operating positions and a conveyor which is adjacent the hopper and is similarly movable between a lower operating position and a raised non-operating position. There is a cylindrical brush mounted on the frame which directs debris into the conveyor, with the conveyor raising the debris for deposit into an opening in the upper end of the hopper, which is aligned with a similar opening in the conveyor. At times, debris may fall into the space between the conveyor enclosure and hopper. A debris collecting ramp is located beneath the hopper and extends upwardly and rearwardly toward the hopper from the conveyor enclosure. There is a seal between the ramp and conveyor enclosure which prevents debris from falling downwardly until the conveyor enclosure has been raised, at which time, the debris will be deposited by the ramp through a lower opening in the conveyor enclosure to an area in the front of the brush.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2001
    Assignee: Tennant Company
    Inventors: Sherman B. Frederick, Mark D. Kinter, Richard Mark Pierce
  • Patent number: 4787923
    Abstract: This is concerned with an air filter cleaning arrangement in which the filter element, meaning the pleated filter media and its frame, is functionally connected to a vibrator so that it is resiliently or vibrationally isolated from the surrounding structure. The major effective component of the vibratory motion applied to the filter media is across the width of the filter pleats. The invention is used primarily in an industrial sweeper. It can also be used in other machines or equipment which have air filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 1987
    Date of Patent: November 29, 1988
    Assignee: Tennant Company
    Inventors: Mark J. Fleigle, Robert A. Geyer, Mark D. Kinter
  • Patent number: 4557739
    Abstract: This is concerned with a sweeper of the type that has a power operated brush that sweeps debris off of a floor or other surface to be cleaned and throws it into a hopper with a vacuum fan arranged to draw air from the hopper through a filter and exhaust it to the atmosphere. More particularly, the sweeper is provided with a precleaner and/or demister which separates the larger particles, and possibly moisture, from the airstream as it moves through the hopper, thereby protecting and/or aiding the filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 1984
    Date of Patent: December 10, 1985
    Assignee: Tennant-Company
    Inventors: Lloyd D. Fortman, Mark D. Kinter