Patents Examined by Chris K. Moore
  • Patent number: 5860187
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a portable cleaning system for ductwork and a method utilizing the cleaning system. The system includes a sound or air pulse generator for producing infrasound air pulses for short duration and introducing the air pulses into an air conduit which causes the air conduit to resonate or vibrate at a given infrasound frequency. The induced vibration causes contaminants in the ductwork to be entrained in the air pulses and carried with the air pulses to an exit of the air conduit where the air is filtered to remove the contaminants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 19, 1999
    Inventors: Andrzej Flaszynski, Wilhelm Lilliehook
  • Patent number: 5857240
    Abstract: A vacuum cleaner with a main body, an upper body and a lower body. The upper body, in which a motor and dust collector are installed, is joined to the lower body, which supports the upper body and also allows the rotation of the upper body. Coupling means joins the upper body to the lower body so as to allow the upper body to rotate on the lower body. One of the coupling means is fixed on the upper body's bottom center, and the other end is a shaft that is joined to the lower body's top center. A bearing member is installed between the upper body's bottom and the lower body's top surface so as to reduce frictional resistance between the two components. The bearing member includes grooves formed on the top surface of the lower body, and balls seated in the grooves that move freely therein, thereby preventing damage to a connecting hose connecting the cleaner's cleaning attachment with the main body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 12, 1999
    Assignee: Kwangju Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yi-Song Park, Sung-Ho An
  • Patent number: 5857239
    Abstract: A vacuum cleaner comprising a moisture cleaner device which is easily attached and removed. The moisture cleaner device comprises a frame providing the circulation track of the moisture cleaner; a working roller and a driven roller mounted sideways in the top and lower part of the said frame; a first coupling means for attachment and removal of the lower part of the moisture cleaner to the vacuum suction head section; a second coupling means for attachment and removal of the top part of the moisture cleaner to a connecting pipe; and a moisture cleaner mounted to the surface of the frame. Because the peripheral surface of the working roller is uneven, when the vacuum suction head portion is moved back and forth, the working roller and driven roller are rotated, the moisture cleaner thus being operative such that the moisture cleaner contacts the floor as the normal vacuum suction cleaning proceeds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 12, 1999
    Assignee: Kwanju Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jang Keun Oh, Woo Yong Park
  • Patent number: 5855036
    Abstract: A wand for use in a vacuum system that is made from rigid or non-rigid polymeric materials that have static dissipative qualities so that any static discharge event will be at low enough energy levels so as not to pose a hazard to humans and will be well below the minimum ignition energy for many industrial powders and dusts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 5, 1999
    Inventor: Richard P. Krock
  • Patent number: 5852847
    Abstract: A high speed pick-up head for a street sweeper is provided for efficiently removing debris from a roadway surface as the street sweeper moves in a direction of travel. The pick-up head has a width extending in a transverse direction with respect to the direction of travel which defines a path of debris removal along the surface to be cleaned. The pick-up head also includes a structural housing having a top cover portion, a plurality of downwardly extending edge wall portions, a cross-member extending between opposed edge wall portions and disposed at an angle with respect to the transverse direction, and pressure and suction chambers adjacently arranged within the housing and separated by the cross-member. The pressure chamber has a generally circular inlet disposed adjacent to one of the edge wall portions, and a closed bottom portion. The suction chamber has a generally rectangular outlet disposed opposite the inlet of the pressure chamber, and an open bottom disposed adjacent to the surface to be cleaned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 29, 1998
    Assignee: Elgin Sweeper Company
    Inventors: Christopher R. Weiss, Robert A. Jajko, Larry D. Granderson, Sr., Norman L. Todd
  • Patent number: 5852846
    Abstract: A windshield airstream deflector for vehicles which projects a blanket of fast moving air over the vehicle's windshield. The blanket of fast moving air is a barrier which prevents rain, snow, freezing rain or sleet from impacting the windshield. A turbine accelerates fresh air over the windshield via windshield ducts. A heating element is selectively operated to heat the air to aid defrosting of the windshield. Attached to the end of the windshield duct is a windshield exhaust duct which distributes the blanket of fast moving air equally over the windshield. An electrical heating element is disposed on the windshield exhaust duct to prevent or dispel any buildup of ice on the windshield exhaust duct. Power to drive the turbine comes from either the engine via a belt attached to the engine and turbine via a shaft, a direct current motor which has a battery as the power supply, or from the vehicle exhaust system via a dual turbine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 29, 1998
    Inventor: E. H. Gonzalez
  • Patent number: 5852844
    Abstract: A combination of a sliver intake assembly for guiding and introducing simultaneously a plurality of slivers into a drawing frame and a suction assembly for removing waste, such as dust or fiber fly. The combination includes an emplacement situated below the sliver intake assembly for accommodating a plurality of coiler cans from which slivers are withdrawn by the sliver intake assembly. The suction assembly has a suction duct which extends along the sliver intake assembly in a region thereof for drawing waste thereinto by vacuum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 29, 1998
    Assignee: Trutzschler GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Ferdinand Leifeld
  • Patent number: 5850665
    Abstract: The invention discloses a control device for an integrated suction cleaner unit (1) pneumatically connected to a system of tubes (13) which open, at their ends (13A), onto couplings (11) into which the mating end (9) of a hose (8) is inserted, the latter having at its other end (8A) a handle (5) onto which are fitted the cleaning accessories. The control device for the suction cleaning unit is of the type using acoustic transmission via the tube system (13) located between the suction cleaning unit (1) and the couplings (11) pressure wave detection (19, 23 and 28) for detecting specific acoustic pressure waves and controlling the suction cleaning unit (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 22, 1998
    Assignee: Aldes Aeraulique
    Inventor: Serge Bousset
  • Patent number: 5850669
    Abstract: A vacuum cleaner head, for attachment directly to a vacuum cleaner body having a central longitudinal axis, has exposed bristles with remote ends on a plane off-set by about 70.degree. to the central axis. The bristles extend along opposing sides of a lower surface of the head in strips at either side of a channel through which dust and debris gathered up by the bristles passes into the vacuum body. The off-set plane means that when the body is held directly or by a handle, a natural comfortable sweeping action, with the handle axis at about 20.degree. to the vertical, keeps both strips of bristle in contact with the swept surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 22, 1998
    Assignee: Techtronic Industries Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Andreas Schupp, Timmy Hok Yin Sin
  • Patent number: 5850667
    Abstract: An extension handle for a portable vacuum includes an elongate shaft having a proximal end zone, a central zone, and a distal end zone. An attachment bracket for attaching the elongate shaft to a handle portion of the portable vacuum includes first and second pivoting members. The distal end zone of the shaft attaches to the first pivoting member which includes a finger extending therefrom, with a tip of the finger positioned in operative proximity to an on/off switch of the vacuum. The second pivoting member attaches to the handle portion of the portable vacuum, wherein pivoting movement of the first member relative to the second member results in operation of the on/off power switch to respectively activate and deactivate the vacuum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 22, 1998
    Inventor: Joseph A. Orsini
  • Patent number: 5850668
    Abstract: A vacuum cleaner has an electric motor driving an air impeller that creates low pressure inside the tank of the vacuum cleaner. The motor also drives a pump impeller which is located in the tank and draws liquid material from the bottom of the tank and expels it from the tank. Near an inlet to the pump is a priming mechanism having bellows which are compressed to force liquid material up into the pump. Portions of the pump, including the inlet and the outlet as well as the priming mechanism, are attached to a tank extension which fits over the top of the tank. The lid of the vacuum cleaner, which carries the motor and air impeller, fits over the tank extension when the vacuum cleaner is used for liquid material. The tank extension and its associated pump components are removable from the tank to facilitate use of the vacuum cleaner on dry material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 22, 1998
    Assignee: Shop Vac Corporation
    Inventors: Robert C. Berfield, Randy L. Buss, Craig A. Seasholtz
  • Patent number: 5850666
    Abstract: An upright vacuum cleaner is provided and includes an upper section with a handle (15) and a lower cleaning nozzle section (14, 14') having a main suction opening (18) formed in the underside (16) thereof. A suction source (M) is provided and an edge cleaning tool (60) having a suction bore (64) formed therethrough is releasably connected to the cleaning nozzle section (14'). A suction hose (20) selectively connects one of the main suction opening (18) of the nozzle (14') and the suction bore (64) of the edge cleaning tool (60) with the suction source (M). First and second laterally spaced casters (30a, 30b) extend from the underside (16) of the nozzle (14, 14') and each caster (30a, 30b) is pivotable respectively about a vertical axis (D,E). First and second laterally spaced fixed wheels (32a, 32b), each rotatable about a single rolling axis (C), are also provided and positioned forward of the first and second casters (30a, 30b).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 22, 1998
    Assignee: Royal Appliance Mfg. Co.
    Inventors: Richard C. Farone, Craig M. Saunders, Jeffrey M. Kalman, Paul D. Stephens, Robert A. Salo, Charles J. Thur, Michael F. Wright
  • Patent number: 5839155
    Abstract: A continuous flow recycling cleaning system includes a canister containing a liquid cleaning solution, and a dispensing conduit for conveying the cleaning solution from the canister to a cleaning tool head for direct application to a carpet, upholstery fabric or other material at an application area. A recovery conduit is connected to the cleaning tool head for returning recovered cleaning solution, along with air and extracted soil, to the canister. The system includes at least one ozone injector selectively positioned along a fluid flow pathway that includes the canister, the dispensing and recovery conduits, and the cleaning tool head. The fluid flow pathway further can include a counterflow conduit and an ozone-introduction conduit provided solely for the injection of ozone. Each injector is coupled to an ozone generator, to combine the ozone with the cleaning solution flowing through the injector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 24, 1998
    Assignee: CFR Corporation
    Inventors: Edward D. Berglund, Sung K. Cho, Lowell H. Schiebe
  • Patent number: 5839157
    Abstract: A street sweeper is provided including a vacuum pick-up head having a relatively low noise level and high sweeping efficiency resulting from the careful control of the velocity and direction of the air flow. In order to control the air flow, the internal contour of the pick-up head is optimized to accommodate the streamline flow pattern to minimize turbulence and boundary layer separation. The cross sectional area of the internal contour of the pick-up head is designed to be substantially constant or slightly converging. A support assembly for supporting a nozzle assembly is provided which minimizes damage to the pick-up head and minimizes infiltration into the pick-up head. A suction tube is also provided which minimizes the noise level and increases the efficiency of the pick-up head and the fan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 24, 1998
    Assignee: Elgin Sweeper Company
    Inventors: Daniel P. Strauser, Robert E. Field
  • Patent number: 5839154
    Abstract: A device for removing an adhered foreign substance, such as chewing gum, from surfaces employs a reciprocating scraper that separates the substance from the surface to be cleaned. A liquid, such as cleaning solution or solvent, is optionally discharged in the vicinity of the end of the scraper to augment the separation. A vacuum device draws air and loosened matter into an opening in the nozzle and traps it in a container. Optionally, the vacuum device is attached to a nozzle movable away from and toward the scraper by pushing a handle. When the nozzle moves toward the scraper, it activates the vacuum device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 24, 1998
    Assignee: Suiden Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuzo Kawai, Katsutoshi Naramura, Yoshihide Takahashi
  • Patent number: 5839159
    Abstract: An upright wet extractor includes a base assembly, a manipulative handle pivotally attached to the base assembly, and a motor driven agitator brush. A cleaning solution dispensing tank is removably attached to the handle assembly by a pivotable latch member. In a floor cleaning mode, cleaning solution is selectively supplied by gravity from the dispensing tank to a spray nozzle through a supply tube controlled by a pinch valve. In an attachment hose cleaning mode, cleaning solution is selectively supplied by a motor driven pump from the dispensing tank to an attachment hose spray nozzle controlled by a trigger valve. A suction motor/fan assembly is carried by the base assembly which is selectively in fluid communication with a floor nozzle in the floor mode and a hose nozzle in the attachment mode. Conversion between floor mode and attachment mode is carried out by manual operation of a knob of a multi-functional valve/switch assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 24, 1998
    Assignee: White Consolidated Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard Karr, David Erickson, Kevin Genge, William Hanold, Gregory Luebbering, William Phelan
  • Patent number: 5839156
    Abstract: A remote controllable automatic moving vacuum cleaner comprises a body having a separate intake port to intake dust, a powered moving device enabling the body to be moved forward and backward, a powered direction changing device enabling the body to be moved leftward and rightward and a wired or wireless remote control to control the devices in order to freely move the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 24, 1998
    Assignee: Kwangju Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yi Song Park, Young Pung No
  • Patent number: 5839158
    Abstract: A combined vacuum cleaner and broom device includes an elongate hollow handle connected at its lower end to separable housing parts. The housing part contains an electric motor and fan and the housing part contains a dust collecting compartment. Lines of bristles extend across a lower end of the housing part and form between them a dust passage. The dust passage is partly closed off by elongate porous resilient pads. Rechargeable batteries are stored with the handle and an electric switch with a slidable operating disc turns the motor ON and OFF. The lines of bristles are relatively off-set with respect to the height of the device to provide a normal sweeping orientation during use, that is with the handle at say 25.degree. to the vertical. The device is normally used simultaneously as a broom and the vacuum cleaner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 24, 1998
    Assignee: Techtronic Industries Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Andreas Schupp, Timmy Hok Yin Sin
  • Patent number: 5839160
    Abstract: A clutch control mechanical device is disclosed for the brush axle of a vacuum cleaner. The clutch control mechanical device is located at the undercarriage of the machine with a pressure control shaft extending out of the inner sides of the undercarriage. At the corresponding position, the underside of the upper body joining the undercarriage is equipped with a pressure control piece so that when the upper body is in a vertical position to the undercarriage, the pressure control piece shall press down on the pressure control shaft of the clutch control mechanical device which suspends rotation of the brush axle. When the upper body is in a slanted angle to the undercarriage, the removal of external force shall return the pressure control shaft to its original position by a spring bias which rotates the brush axle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 24, 1998
    Assignee: Kinergy Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chieh-Chun Wang, Chia-Ming Lin
  • Patent number: 5836047
    Abstract: A vacuum cleaner has a cleaner body section having a first recess, and a second recess. The vacuum cleaner further has a first connector section, a second connector section, a suction pipe section and a brush section. First and second arc-shaped slots are provided in order for first and second protrusions of the first connector section to be slidably inserted in the slots and to be placed on the first recess. The second connector section is fixedly inserted in the second recess. The first connector section is connected to the second connector section. When the vacuum cleaner is used in the upright mode, the brush section is detachably connected to the first connector section and the suction pipe section is detachably connected to the second connector section, to thereby provide an air passageway from the brush section, the first connector section, the second connector section, and the suction pipe section, up to the cleaner body section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 17, 1998
    Assignee: Daewoo Electronics Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Jin Bang Lee, Byung Cheol Choi, Seon Kyu Kim, Yeong Je Jeon, Seon Young Hong, Nam Ho Lee