Patents Examined by Charles W Kling
  • Patent number: 8006710
    Abstract: In order to produce a cleaning device which cleans in a particularly effective manner wherein the cleaning device comprises a cleaning chamber for accommodating a workpiece requiring cleaning and a fluid transfer device for transferring at least one fluid into the cleaning chamber and/or out of the cleaning chamber and wherein the fluid transfer device comprises at least one nozzle in the form of a slotted nozzle extending along a slot axis and said fluid is arranged to be fed into the cleaning chamber or fed out of the cleaning chamber by means of said fluid transfer device in a direction transverse to the slot axis, it is proposed that the cleaning device comprise a slotted nozzle moving device for moving at least a part of the slotted nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: Dürr Ecoclean GmbH
    Inventor: Egon Käske
  • Patent number: 8006522
    Abstract: A washing machine is provided. The washing machine includes a support frame, which supports the main housing of the washing machine, and a liquid detergent container, which is disposed in the support frame and contains a liquid detergent therein. Therefore, the washing machine can improve the efficiency of the use of a liquid detergent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Kyeong Hwan Kim, Il Hyeon Jo, Jin Ho Chang
  • Patent number: 8001811
    Abstract: A washing machine having a water softening device which improves the solubility of a detergent and a water softening performance concurrently. The washing machine includes a tub; a water supply device for supplying water to the tub; a detergent supply device for supplying a detergent to the tub; and a water softening device for softening the water. The water softening device is disposed such that the water supplied from the water supply device can be mixed with the detergent supplied from the detergent supply device and then the water mixed with the detergent can be supplied to the water softening device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Jung Yoon Hahm, Eduard Kuzgi, Jin Ha Jeong, Hideo Nojima
  • Patent number: 8001984
    Abstract: A laparoscopic lens cleaner which is suitable for maintaining the lens of a laparoscope in a clean, dry condition during a laparoscopic surgical procedure is disclosed. An illustrative embodiment of the laparoscopic lens cleaner includes an elongated cleaner sheath having a sheath interior, a fluid conduit provided in the cleaner sheath, a fluid discharge nozzle provided in the sheath interior and communicating with the fluid conduit, a gas conduit provided in the cleaner sheath and a gas discharge nozzle provided in the sheath interior and communicating with the gas conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Inventor: Larry S. Sasaki
  • Patent number: 7993472
    Abstract: A dish washing machine capable of improving spatial utilization of a washing tub through the enlargement of the washing tub. The dish washing machine includes a washing tub, a sump mounted in the washing tub to receive and pump wash water, a sump housing forming an external appearance of the sump, a washing impeller to pump wash water from the sump housing, a drainage channel disposed at an inner edge of the sump housing, a pump motor surrounded by the drainage pump to drive the washing impeller, and a pump motor receiving part to receive the pump motor. The pump motor receiving part protrudes above the drainage channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Eui Soo Kim, Yong Woon Han, Young Ho Kwon, Shimotera Kennichi, Sung Jin Kim, Jung Chan Ryu, Jae Young Choi
  • Patent number: 7987862
    Abstract: A wash fluid containment system may include side walls that allow the systems to be easily positioned on uneven ground. The side walls are designed to reduce or eliminate binding and/or gaps that occur when conventional systems are placed on uneven ground. In one embodiment, the side walls include different portions that are adjustable relative to each other to allow the side walls to accommodate the uneven ground. The side walls may include one or more horizontally oriented panels that are adjustable relative to one or more vertically oriented support members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignee: Hydro Engineering Equipment & Supply Company
    Inventors: James P. McCormick, Richard Lopez
  • Patent number: 7980260
    Abstract: An automatic dishwasher having a tub defining a wash chamber for receiving utensils to be washed and including a rotatable spray arm located within the wash chamber and a liquid recirculation system for selectively supplying liquid to the rotatable spray arm and where the rotatable spray arm is driven with a power unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Roger James Bertsch, Jordan Robert Fountain
  • Patent number: 7980102
    Abstract: Disclosed is a washing machine, which prevents solidification of liquid detergent by rapidly recovering the liquid detergent left in a liquid detergent supply passage and a liquid detergent supply pump by forming a negative pressure differential by use of the liquid detergent supply pump for a set period of time after the supply of liquid detergent is finished.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Kyeong Hwan Kim, Il Hyeon Jo, Jin Ho Chang, Woo Young Kim
  • Patent number: 7980101
    Abstract: A laundry machine including a selectively rotatable drum, a pump for supplying water to a steam generator, and a controller for determining if the pump is out of order. This determination is made by monitoring either a time period required for supplying water to a preset water level of the steam generator or electric current drawn by the pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Chang Woo Son, Sang Hun Bae, Chul Jin Choi, Dong Hyun Kim, Young Bok Son, Heung Jae Kim
  • Patent number: 7975710
    Abstract: An apparatus for cleaning electronic packages comprises a tank containing cleaning fluid and a holder above the tank that supports the electronic packages above a top surface of the cleaning fluid with the electronic packages facing the cleaning fluid. Acoustic energy generators are immersed in the cleaning fluid for generating and propagating acoustic energy towards the top surface of the cleaning fluid to create streaming fluid jets projecting upwardly at the top surface to contact and clean the electronic packages supported on the holder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Assignee: ASM Assembly Automation Ltd
    Inventors: Hon Keung Lai, Hoi Shuen Tang, Wang Lung Tse
  • Patent number: 7967019
    Abstract: A cleaning material is applied to a surface of a substrate. The cleaning material includes one or more polymeric materials for entrapping contaminants present on the surface of the substrate. A rinsing fluid is applied to the surface of the substrate at a controlled velocity to effect removal of the cleaning material and contaminants entrapped within the cleaning material from the surface of the substrate. The controlled velocity of the rinsing fluid is set to cause the cleaning material to behave in an elastic manner when impacted by the rinsing fluid, thereby improving contaminant removal from the surface of the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Assignee: Lam Research Corporation
    Inventors: Ji Zhu, Arjun Mendiratta, David Mui
  • Patent number: 7967918
    Abstract: Provided area cleaning apparatus and an associated method of using the disclosed apparatus wherein the apparatus utilizes one or more nozzles configured to provide a coherent stream of one or more cleaning fluids for removing accumulated fine particulate matter, sludge, from surfaces. The nozzles may be sized, arranged and configured to provide coherent streams that maintain the initial stream diameter for a substantial portion of the maximum dimension of the space being cleaned. The apparatus and method are expected to be particularly useful in the cleaning of heat exchangers incorporating a plurality of substantially vertical and narrowly spaced tubes by directing cleansing streams along a plurality of intertube spaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Assignee: Dominion Engineering, Inc.
    Inventors: Jean Collin, Ryan Jones, Joshua Luszcz, Marc Kreider, Aaron Pellman, Robert Varrin, Jr., David Arguelles
  • Patent number: 7967020
    Abstract: A hand held self contained cleaning apparatus includes a reservoir containing a single use cleaning and/or disinfecting liquid, a pump, and a nozzle for directing a spray of the cleaning and/or disinfecting liquid against a soiled nipple of a pacifier or baby bottle cap. The apparatus includes a platform for supporting the pacifier or bottle cap, a mouth for inserting the nipple into an area just above the nozzle, and a separator for preventing dirty liquid from returning to the reservoir. The spray is directed against a soiled nipple to loosen and remove soil from the nipple. After cleaning the pacifier or bottle cap, the dirty cleaning liquid is released so new clean liquid may be used for the next cleaning. The apparatus may be carried with other related items and used to clean the pacifier or bottle cap at any location and in particular away from home.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Inventor: Matthew Jimenez
  • Patent number: 7958900
    Abstract: The invention relates to a cleaning machine (MA) comprising a vessel (VE) having a stirring member (BA) mounted therein, the stirring member carrying a load of utensils of a first type. The stirring member also carries a load of utensils of a second type. The invention also provides a method of cleaning using such a machine, containing a cleaning liquid (WA). The method has a first cleaning stage during which the level of the liquid (WA) is lower than or equal to the level of the content of the stirring member (BA). It optionally includes a second cleaning stage during which the level of the liquid (WA) is higher than the level of the content of the stirring member (BA).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Inventors: Jacques Henri Bielle, Pierre Laujon
  • Patent number: 7950404
    Abstract: A method of removing a surface material from a resin product including: coarsely crushing the resin product having a resin substrate and the surface material formed thereon by coating or adhesive bonding, introducing the coarsely crushed product into a cylinder, and transporting the coarsely crushed product in the cylinder while bringing the product into contact with heated steam and stirring the product by a rotor having a protruding bar, to peel the surface material from the product. The heat of the heated steam and the rubbing heat by the stirring reduce the bonding strength between the surface material and the resin substrate to easily peel the surface material from the product by rubbing the product with each other. Thus, the removal of the surface material formed on a surface of a resin substrate by coating or adhesive bonding can be achieved with enhanced efficiency, environment safety and processing capacity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Fuji Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiroshi Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 7946304
    Abstract: A dish washing machine capable of smoothly discharging dirt contained in wash water out of a sump so as to prevent the emission of bad smells from the dirt and prevent the propagation of bacteria. The dish washing machine includes a sump to receive and pump wash water, a sump housing forming an external appearance of the sump, a drainage pump coupled with the sump housing to discharge wash water and dirt, and a drainage channel disposed in the sump housing to guide wash water and dirt to the drainage pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2011
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Eui Soo Kim, Yong Woon Han, Young Ho Kwon, Shimotera Kennichi, Sung Jin Kim, Jung Chan Ryu, Jae Young Choi
  • Patent number: 7937974
    Abstract: A laundry processing apparatus is disclosed. The laundry processing apparatus includes a drum having a drum opening perforated in a circumferential surface thereof for entrance/exit of laundry, a drum door for opening and closing the drum opening, and a locking device for automatically coupling the drum and the drum door to each other while the drum and the drum door are rotated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Jin Woong Kim, Na Eun Kim, Jae Won Chang
  • Patent number: 7934279
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a control method of a laundry machine. The control method includes inputting a command to drive the steam laundry dryer, and determining whether water is supplied to a steam generator of the steam laundry dryer. According to the control method of the steam laundry dryer, it is possible to effectively remove wrinkles from clothes and to prevent the breakage of the steam laundry dryer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2011
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Chang Woo Son
  • Patent number: 7931155
    Abstract: A dishwasher including a basket having a holder whose position may be easily changed using a lever from an active state to a passive state, by folding ergonomically, so that different kinds of kitchenware may be washed, such as saucepans, pans, etc. or plates, glasses, etc. The active position of the holder is utilized to hold such kitchenware such as plates, glasses etc. at right or certain inclined angles in order for the mentioned type of kitchenware to be washed easily at the lower and upper basket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2011
    Inventor: Cem Bastuji
  • Patent number: 7909047
    Abstract: A cleaning apparatus (4) for cleaning a hair-cutting portion (2) of an electric hair-cutting device (1) includes a cleaning-liquid basin (5) for receiving the hair-cutting portion of the electric hair-cutting device in a central area such that the hair-cutting portion is at least partially immersed in the cleaning liquid (13). The electric hair-cutting device is cleaned by generating a cleaning-liquid flow revolving within the basin (5) around the central area of the basin, the hair-cutting portion being at least partially immersed in the cleaning liquid. The liquid flow effectively entrains debris away from the hair-cutting portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventors: Klaas Kooijker, Fokke Roelof Voorhorst, Martijn Van Baren, Jacob Brinkert, Alastair Ian Blake