Patents Examined by Andrew A Horton
  • Patent number: 12282264
    Abstract: A cleaning apparatus for cleaning a surface of a photomask includes a housing defining a chamber, a photomask holder disposed within the chamber, and a gas dispenser disposed within the chamber to direct gas toward the photomask holder. The gas dispenser has two or more gas dispensing outlets. A driver is coupled to at least one of the photomask holder or the gas dispenser to establish relative movement between the photomask holder and the gas dispenser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2025
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventors: Ting-Hsien Ko, Chih-Wei Wen, Chung-Hung Lin
  • Patent number: 12279745
    Abstract: A filtering device for an evacuation station includes a filter bag configured to collect debris evacuated from a cleaning robot by an evacuation station. The filtering device includes an interface assembly configured to interface with the evacuation station. The interface assembly includes (i) a base attached to the filter bag along an opening of the filter bag, (ii) an access door configured to provide or limit access to a space within the filter bag depending on whether the access door is in an open position or a closed position, and (iii) one or more hinges connecting the base to the access door. The access door is rotatable around the one or more hinges from the closed position to the open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2025
    Assignee: iRobot Corporation
    Inventors: Andrew Vincent Wolff, Ryan Mercier, Chin Xu, Jason Jeffrey Suchman
  • Patent number: 12268352
    Abstract: A system has a floor processing device, a memory device and at least one accessory device for detachable connection with the floor processing device. The floor processing device has an acquisition device for acquiring the type of accessory device currently connected with the floor processing device, a user interface for receiving an operating specification for an operating parameter from a user, and a controller for controlling an operating activity according to the set operating parameter. The controller stores the operating parameter used last for a first operating activity together with information about the type of accessory device in the memory device and, after the accessory device has been disconnected from the floor processing device and then reconnected with the floor processing device, to access the stored operating parameter, and reset this operating parameter for a second operating activity to be performed chronologically after the first operating activity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2025
    Assignee: Vorwerk & Co. Interholding GmbH
    Inventor: Frederic Hahn
  • Patent number: 12264485
    Abstract: A surface spatula has a frame provided on the surfaces of the gripping parts with a soft, convex covering (3) made of thermoplastic plastic, which is integrally bonded to the substrate on parts of the outer surfaces of the spatial structure of the frame, shaped in the form of a longitudinal profile (1), preferably made of hard engineering plastic, preferably from the group of plastomers, where the spatial structure of the profile (1) is a closed body, internally ribbed, with the same outline along its entire length, where the covering (3), also made in the form of surface elements (27), is present on the outer surfaces of the handgrip (2) and the connector (5), where in the frontal view of the outline of the profile (1) the manual handle (2) is located in the upper part and has a contour (15) similar to an ellipse and which in the lower part is connected with the outline of the connector (5), situated at the bottom part of the tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2025
    Inventor: Jacek Olejnik
  • Patent number: 12257117
    Abstract: A personal care appliance which includes at least one flexible spring. The flexible spring having an grounded section with an outer surface and an inner surface, a rotational member arranged radially within the grounded section, wherein the rotational member is arranged to rotate within the grounded section in a first rotational direction about an imaginary rotational axis, and a compliant member having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is operatively engaged with the inner surface of the grounded section and the second end operatively engaged with the rotational member. The compliant member has a first stiffness such that the compliant member is arranged to resist rotation of the rotational member in at least the first rotational direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2025
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventor: Dave Ahlman
  • Patent number: 12256877
    Abstract: A surface cleaning head has a rotatably mounted brush, which is provided at a front end of the surface cleaning head, a cleaning solution delivery system and a removable liquid collection reservoir, which is provided in the surface cleaning head rearward of the brush. The cleaning solution delivery system comprises a pump, a liquid reservoir and a fluid flow path extending from the liquid reservoir to at least one delivery nozzle, wherein the at least one delivery nozzle is provided in the surface cleaning head and is configured to deliver a liquid drawn from the liquid reservoir to a portion of the brush that is located internal of the surface cleaning head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2024
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2025
    Assignee: Omachron Intellectual Property Inc.
    Inventors: Wayne Ernest Conrad, Daniel Innes, Dave Petersen, Adam Udy
  • Patent number: 12257612
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a wafer stage and a particle removing assembly. The wafer stage includes a cup adjacent to a wafer chuck. The particle removing assembly is configured to remove contaminant particles from the cup. In some embodiments, the particle removing assembly comprises a flexible ejecting member that includes one or more elongated tubes, a front tip, and a cleaning tip adapter configured to attach the front tip to each of the one or more elongated tubes. The front tip includes front openings and lateral openings from which pressurized cleaning material are introduced onto an unreachable area of the cup to remove the contaminant particles from the cup.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2025
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Meng-Hsueh Wu, Fang Yu Kuo, Kai Yu Liu, Yu-Chun Wu, Jau-Sheng Huang, Wei-Yi Chen
  • Patent number: 12251737
    Abstract: An apparatus for protecting a sensor includes: a housing accommodating the sensor to allow a sensing plane of the sensor to be exposed, and mounted on an installation object, a protective film disposed to face a sensing plane of the sensor, and a moving unit installed in the housing and moving the protective film while the protective film is maintained with respect to the sensing plane of the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2025
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Eun Sik Kim
  • Patent number: 12245684
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a tooth brushing system that provides users with a novel and convenient way to clean their teeth. The system is primarily comprised of at least one brushing ball with a plurality of bristles and at least one battery, at least one toothbrush which is further comprised of at least one LED and a plurality of bristles, and at least one storage case. The brushing ball is further comprised of a LED light that may be changed to a plurality of lighting colors. The system further provides a toothbrush that allows a user to be able to see into the darker areas of their mouth to facilitate better cleaning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2025
    Inventor: Cheryl Hunter
  • Patent number: 12245686
    Abstract: A paint brush having a handle that includes integrated grip pad(s). The paint brush includes a handle and bristles operatively attached to the handle. The handle includes a major portion and grip pad(s) integrated with the major portion. The major portion of the paint brush handle may be made of a first material and the grip pad(s) may be made of a second material different from the first. The first material may have a greater elastic modulus or flexural modulus than the second material. The major portion of the handle includes pockets on opposite sides of the handle, and at least one through-hole extending between the pockets. Grip pad(s) may be over-molded into the pocket(s), which includes depositing a material of the grip pads into the pocket(s), resulting in a unitary structure of grip material extending through the through-hole(s).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2025
    Assignee: The Wooster Brush Company
    Inventors: John L. Scott, Sr., James M. Byrne
  • Patent number: 12232916
    Abstract: The invention discloses an integrated device for washing and brushing teeth, in particular to the technical field of oral care. The main body of the integrated device for washing and brushing teeth comprises a toothbrush head, a shell, a water pump assembly and an acoustic motor communicated with the water pump assembly; The toothbrush head is installed at one end of the shell, a water outlet pipeline is arranged in the toothbrush head, and at least two water outlet holes communicated with the water outlet pipeline are arranged on the bristle surface of the toothbrush head; The inside of the shell is provided with a cavity, and the water pump assembly and the acoustic motor are both installed in the cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2025
    Inventor: Xilai Wang
  • Patent number: 12226928
    Abstract: A deduster is comprised of two sets (pairs) of counter-rotating dedusting brushes in cooperation with a vacuum system for saw dust removal from wooden lumber. In addition to these features, the deduster may feature a separate, movable, top brush assembly that can be easily adjusted for different board thicknesses and raised up to allow for clearing board jams and for pass-through if boards were to be run without dedusting. This deduster apparatus is modular, thereby allowing it to be positioned over an existing machine or a lumber board unscrambler machine such as a lugged unscrambler machine. There is also a deduster for a board handling hopper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2025
    Assignee: Automated Industrial Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles D. Lamb, Zachary Adams
  • Patent number: 12213635
    Abstract: A utensil for collecting and pouring solid or liquid products, and in particular to a utensil adapted both for collecting and pouring solid products in powder or granular form, and for collecting and pouring liquid products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2025
    Inventor: Emanuela Spinaccè
  • Patent number: 12213640
    Abstract: A hand vacuum cleaner has a cyclone unit and a pistol grip handle. The cyclone unit comprises a cyclone chamber with a cyclone axis of rotation extending between the front and rear ends of the cyclone chamber. When the hand vacuum cleaner is oriented with the cyclone axis of rotation extending horizontally, the inlet conduit is located at a lower side of the hand vacuum cleaner, the pistol grip handle is provided on a lower side of the main body and the pistol grip handle extends upwardly from a lower end of the pistol grip handle to an upper end of the pistol grip handle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2025
    Assignee: Omachron Intellectual Property Inc.
    Inventor: Wayne Ernest Conrad
  • Patent number: 12201251
    Abstract: A surface cleaner is provided. The surface cleaner comprises: an operating component configured to perform a function of the surface cleaner; a base moveable along a surface; an accelerometer configured to generate a signal; and a controller in communication with the accelerometer and the operating component, wherein the controller is operable to control the operating component based on the signal, and wherein the operating component is selected from a group consisting of a suction motor operable to generate an airflow, a brushroll motor operable to drive a brushroll, an actuator operable to adjust a height of a brushroll from the surface, a pump operable to deliver a cleaning fluid, an actuator operable to control an airflow or fluid valve, and an indicator operable to indicate a parameter of the surface cleaner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2024
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2025
    Assignee: TECHTRONIC FLOOR CARE TECHNOLOGY LIMITED
    Inventors: Kevin Terry, Patrick Diana, Douglas M. Rukavina
  • Patent number: 12205831
    Abstract: A cleaning apparatus includes: a cleaning tank that defines a cleaning space for cleaning a wafer; a wafer rotation mechanism that is arranged inside the cleaning tank and holds and rotates the wafer; a cleaning member that contacts and cleans a surface of the wafer, is rotatable around a central axis extending in a lateral direction, and has a length in an axial direction longer than a radius of the wafer; a swing mechanism that swings the cleaning member around a swing axis located inside the cleaning tank to move the cleaning member from a retracted position outside of the wafer to a cleaning position directly above the wafer; a second cleaning means that cleans the surface of the wafer; and a second swing mechanism that swings the second cleaning means around a second swing axis located inside the cleaning tank to pass directly above a center of the wafer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2024
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2025
    Assignee: EBARA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Mitsuru Miyazaki, Tomoaki Fujimoto, Koichi Fukaya, Fumitoshi Oikawa, Takuya Inoue
  • Patent number: 12193621
    Abstract: A cleaning device for cleaning a surface is described. The cleaning device includes at least one cleaning element and a wetting system to supply a cleaning liquid to the at least one cleaning element. The wetting system is operable in one of at least one normal operation mode and a boost operation mode involving an increased supply rate of the cleaning liquid with respect to the at least one normal operation mode. During start-up of the cleaning device in a wet cleaning mode thereof, a start-up operation mode of the wetting system is determined to be one of the normal operation mode or the boost operation mode on the basis of assessment of an actual value of at least one parameter that is indicative of whether or not the at least one cleaning element is in a wet cleaning condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2025
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventors: Bastiaan Johannes De Wit, Anke Rieka Meulendijks, Jamila Midhat, Orhan Kahya, Chengang Cao, Rinse Hendrik Bosma, Fermin Espin Franco, Robert Friso Burgers, Albert Al-Shorachi, Arjan Sander Vonk
  • Patent number: 12185889
    Abstract: Aspects of the present invention relate to a triggerless extractor surface cleaning device for cleaning a surface in which a cleaning solution is distributed to the surface and extracted using suction along with dirt and/or debris on the surface in a continuous operation as the extractor moves along the surface. The extractor further comprises an encoder positioned adjacent a wheel of the extractor for detecting a rotational direction and speed of the wheel to generate a signal. Based on receiving the signal, a controller controls operation of a valve to situationally distribute the cleaning solution to the surface depending on a forward rotation of the wheel and independent of user actuation of a trigger positioned on a handle used to propel the extractor along the surface. Distribution of the cleaning solution can be further optimized based on the detected rotational speed of the wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2024
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2025
    Assignee: TECHTRONIC FLOOR CARE TECHNOLOGY LIMITED
    Inventors: Patrick Diana, Douglas M. Rukavina
  • Patent number: 12178311
    Abstract: A power tool includes a power head receiving power from a power source. A drive coupled to the power head extends along a longitudinal axis, and the drive is engaged with a connector. Various aspects relate to the connector. The connector includes an internal bore configured to couple to the drive to a shank of a working tool. The connector further includes an external lobe protruding radially outward from the longitudinal axis, the lobe having a locking mechanism configured to secure the second working tool in response to relative movement between the lobe and the second working tool in both an axial direction and a rotational direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2024
    Assignee: Techtronic Cordless GP
    Inventor: Tyler H. Knight
  • Patent number: 12178384
    Abstract: An autonomous cleaning robot includes a drive system to move the autonomous cleaning robot about a floor surface, a cleaning head on a bottom portion of the autonomous cleaning robot, a side brush on the bottom portion of the autonomous cleaning robot, and a vacuum system in pneumatic communication with the opening. The cleaning head is configured to direct debris from the floor surface into the autonomous cleaning robot as the autonomous cleaning robot moves about the floor surface. The side brush is rotatable about a rotational axis forming a non-zero angle with a floor surface, and the side brush comprising an opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2024
    Assignee: iRobot Corporation
    Inventors: Shipra Arora, Philip Petrides, Lauren D. Stern