Patents by Inventor Michael James Douglas
Michael James Douglas 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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Publication number: 20200138256Abstract: Apparatus and method for receiving and holding debris in a collection chamber of a vacuum cleaner. The collection chamber has an inlet opening through which debris-entrained air enters the collection chamber. When the vacuum cleaner is off, the cover prevents debris from leaving the collection chamber through the inlet opening. The wall of the collection chamber moves when negative pressure is applied to the collection chamber, and the wall movement moves the cover from the inlet opening, allowing the debris-entrained air to enter the collection chamber. In some embodiments, the moving part of the wall is an air filter.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 1, 2019Publication date: May 7, 2020Applicant: SharkNinja Operating LLCInventors: Michael James Douglas, Richard Mathias
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Publication number: 20200116592Abstract: Systems and methods for improving fuel economy in vehicles such as Class 8 trucks are provided. In some embodiments, signals indicating states of the powertrain are collected and used to generate fuel rate optimization values. Fuel rate optimization values may indicate a difference between optimum fuel flow rates and actual fuel flow rates during a vehicle drive cycle. Recorded fuel rate optimization values may be used to compare different vehicle configurations during testing, and may also be used to evaluate vehicle performance during real-world operation.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 16, 2019Publication date: April 16, 2020Applicant: PACCAR IncInventors: Christopher Michael James Douglas, Michael Douglas Gerty, Mark G. Malowicki
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Patent number: 10555647Abstract: Methods and apparatus for cleaning a surface with a cleaning device having a body with a handle, a connector, and one or more cleaning heads that are removably attached to the cleaning device. Each cleaning head include a lower surface arranged to contact a surface to be cleaned and a dirt collection chamber permanently attached to the cleaning head. The cleaning head may include a support structure to support the dirt collection chamber and a cleaning sheet. The cleaning head also may include a suction nozzle. At least a portion of the dirt collection chamber may be made of a filter material.Type: GrantFiled: May 23, 2019Date of Patent: February 11, 2020Assignee: SharkNinja Operating LLCInventors: Samuel Emrys James, Michael James Douglas, David Stephen Clare, Chris Pinches, Nicholas James Sardar, Hugh James Croggon, Damian Lee
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Patent number: 10542855Abstract: Methods and apparatus for cleaning a surface with a cleaning device having a body with a handle, a connector, and one or more cleaning heads that are removably attached to the cleaning device. Each cleaning head include a lower surface arranged to contact a surface to be cleaned and a dirt collection chamber permanently attached to the cleaning head. The cleaning head may include a support structure to support the dirt collection chamber and a cleaning sheet. The cleaning head also may include a suction nozzle. At least a portion of the dirt collection chamber may be made of a filter material.Type: GrantFiled: June 3, 2019Date of Patent: January 28, 2020Assignee: SharkNinja Operating LLCInventors: Samuel Emrys James, Michael James Douglas, David Stephen Clare, Chris Pinches, Nicholas James Sardar, Hugh James Croggon, Damian Lee
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Patent number: 10524625Abstract: Methods and apparatus for cleaning a surface with a cleaning device having a body with a handle, a connector, and one or more cleaning heads that are removably attached to the cleaning device. Each cleaning head include a lower surface arranged to contact a surface to be cleaned and a dirt collection chamber permanently attached to the cleaning head. The cleaning head may include a support structure to support the dirt collection chamber and a cleaning sheet. The cleaning head also may include a suction nozzle. At least a portion of the dirt collection chamber may be made of a filter material.Type: GrantFiled: May 23, 2019Date of Patent: January 7, 2020Assignee: SharkNinja Operating LLCInventors: Samuel Emrys James, Michael James Douglas, David Stephen Clare, Chris Pinches, Nicholas James Sardar, Hugh James Croggon, Damian Lee
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Publication number: 20190320865Abstract: In general, the present disclosure is directed to a force-sensing arrangement for use in surface cleaning devices, such as a vacuum device, that allows a user-supplied force to be translated into a command signal to cause the surface cleaning device to accelerate forward, reverse or to veer/turn in a desired direction. In an embodiment, the surface cleaning device includes a nozzle, wheels, motor(s) to drive the wheels, and an upright handle portion. The surface cleaning device includes a force-sensing arrangement with load cells coupled at a position where user force is transferred from the upright portion to the nozzle. The force-sensing arrangement detects the user supplying a relatively small amount of force and translates the same into measurement signals. A controller coupled to the load cells utilizes the measurement signals to determine or “infer” a desired direction of travel.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 23, 2019Publication date: October 24, 2019Inventors: Andre D. BROWN, David S. CLARE, Nicholas SARDAR, Christopher P. PINCHES, Samuel Emrys JAMES, Michael James DOUGLAS, Hugh J. CROGGON, Jason B. THORNE
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Publication number: 20190320866Abstract: In general, the present disclosure is directed to a hand-held surface cleaning device that includes circuitry to communicate with a robotic surface cleaning device to cause the same to target an area/region of interest for cleaning. Thus, a user may utilize the hand-held surface cleaning device to perform targeted cleaning and conveniently direct a robotic surface cleaning device to focus on a region of interest. Moreover, the hand-held surface cleaning device may include sensory such as a camera device for extracting three-dimensional information from a field of view. This information may be utilized to map locations of walls, stairs, obstacles, changes in surface types, and other features in a given location. Thus, a robotic surface cleaning device may utilize the mapping information from the hand-held surface cleaning device as an input in a real-time control loop, e.g., as an input to a Simultaneous Localization and Mapping (SLAM) routine.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 23, 2019Publication date: October 24, 2019Inventors: Jason B. THORNE, Andre D. BROWN, David S. CLARE, Nicholas SARDAR, Christopher P. PINCHES, Samuel Emrys JAMES, Michael James DOUGLAS, Hugh J. CROGGON
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Publication number: 20190282045Abstract: Methods and apparatus for cleaning a surface with a cleaning device having a body with a handle, a connector, and one or more cleaning heads that are removably attached to the cleaning device. Each cleaning head include a lower surface arranged to contact a surface to be cleaned and a dirt collection chamber permanently attached to the cleaning head. The cleaning head may include a support structure to support the dirt collection chamber and a cleaning sheet. The cleaning head also may include a suction nozzle. At least a portion of the dirt collection chamber may be made of a filter material.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 3, 2019Publication date: September 19, 2019Applicant: SharkNinja Operating LLCInventors: Samuel Emrys James, Michael James Douglas, David Stephen Clare, Chris Pinches, Nicholas James Sardar, Hugh James Croggon, Damian Lee
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Patent number: 10416043Abstract: Systems and methods for improving fuel economy in vehicles such as Class 8 trucks are provided. In some embodiments, signals indicating states of the powertrain are collected and used to generate fuel rate optimization values. Fuel rate optimization values may indicate a difference between optimum fuel flow rates and actual fuel flow rates during a vehicle drive cycle. Recorded fuel rate optimization values may be used to compare different vehicle configurations during testing, and may also be used to evaluate vehicle performance during real-world operation.Type: GrantFiled: June 23, 2017Date of Patent: September 17, 2019Assignee: PACCAR IncInventors: Christopher Michael James Douglas, Michael Douglas Gerty, Mark G. Malowicki
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Publication number: 20190274496Abstract: Methods and apparatus for cleaning a surface with a cleaning device having a body with a handle, a connector, and one or more cleaning heads that are removably attached to the cleaning device. Each cleaning head include a lower surface arranged to contact a surface to be cleaned and a dirt collection chamber permanently attached to the cleaning head. The cleaning head may include a support structure to support the dirt collection chamber and a cleaning sheet. The cleaning head also may include a suction nozzle. At least a portion of the dirt collection chamber may be made of a filter material.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 23, 2019Publication date: September 12, 2019Applicant: SharkNinja Operating LLCInventors: Samuel Emrys James, Michael James Douglas, David Stephen Clare, Chris Pinches, Nicholas James Sardar, Hugh James Croggon, Damian Lee
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Publication number: 20190274497Abstract: Methods and apparatus for cleaning a surface with a cleaning device having a body with a handle, a connector, and one or more cleaning heads that are removably attached to the cleaning device. Each cleaning head include a lower surface arranged to contact a surface to be cleaned and a dirt collection chamber permanently attached to the cleaning head. The cleaning head may include a support structure to support the dirt collection chamber and a cleaning sheet. The cleaning head also may include a suction nozzle. At least a portion of the dirt collection chamber may be made of a filter material.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 23, 2019Publication date: September 12, 2019Applicant: SharkNinja Operating LLCInventors: Samuel Emrys James, Michael James Douglas, David Stephen Clare, Chris Pinches, Nicholas James Sardar, Hugh James Croggon, Damian Lee
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Publication number: 20190274498Abstract: Methods and apparatus for cleaning a surface with a cleaning device having a body with a handle, a connector, and one or more cleaning heads that are removably attached to the cleaning device. Each cleaning head include a lower surface arranged to contact a surface to be cleaned and a dirt collection chamber permanently attached to the cleaning head. The cleaning head may include a support structure to support the dirt collection chamber and a cleaning sheet. The cleaning head also may include a suction nozzle. At least a portion of the dirt collection chamber may be made of a filter material.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 23, 2019Publication date: September 12, 2019Applicant: SharkNinja Operating LLCInventors: Samuel Emrys James, Michael James Douglas, David Stephen Clare, Chris Pinches, Nicholas James Sardar, Hugh James Croggon, Damian Lee
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Publication number: 20190246853Abstract: A surface treatment apparatus may include a coupling, a handle, an accessory coupled to the coupling, and a toggle proximate the handle. The accessory may have at least two operational states. An actuation of the toggle may cause the accessory to transition between operational states.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 7, 2019Publication date: August 15, 2019Inventors: Nicholas SARDAR, Christopher P. PINCHES, Lee M. COTTRELL, Samuel Emrys James, Michael James Douglas, David S. Clare
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Publication number: 20190075984Abstract: Methods and apparatus for cleaning a surface with a cleaning device having a body with a handle, a connector, and one or more cleaning heads that are removably attached to the cleaning device. Each cleaning head include a lower surface arranged to contact a surface to be cleaned and a dirt collection chamber permanently attached to the cleaning head. The cleaning head may include a support structure to support the dirt collection chamber and a cleaning sheet. The cleaning head also may include a suction nozzle. At least a portion of the dirt collection chamber may be made of a filter material.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 10, 2018Publication date: March 14, 2019Applicant: SharkNinja Operating LLCInventors: Samuel Emrys James, Michael James Douglas, David Stephen Clare, Chris Pinches, Nicholas James Sardar, Jamie Croggon, Damian Lee
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Publication number: 20180372057Abstract: Systems and methods for improving fuel economy in vehicles such as Class 8 trucks are provided. In some embodiments, signals indicating states of the powertrain are collected and used to generate fuel rate optimization values. Fuel rate optimization values may indicate a difference between optimum fuel flow rates and actual fuel flow rates during a vehicle drive cycle. Recorded fuel rate optimization values may be used to compare different vehicle configurations during testing, and may also be used to evaluate vehicle performance during real-world operation.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 23, 2017Publication date: December 27, 2018Applicant: PACCAR IncInventors: Christopher Michael James Douglas, Michael Douglas Gerty, Mark G. Malowicki