Patents Examined by David A. Redding
  • Patent number: 12035875
    Abstract: A vacuum cleaner has a portable cleaning unit that is removably mounted to the surface cleaning head. The vacuum cleaner is operable in a floor cleaning configuration in which the portable cleaning unit is mounted to the surface cleaning head and is part of the air flow path through the vacuum cleaner. The portable cleaning unit is also useable in a portable cleaning configuration in which the portable cleaning unit is removed from the surface cleaning head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2023
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2024
    Assignee: Omachron Intellectual Property Inc.
    Inventor: Wayne Ernest Conrad
  • Patent number: 12035857
    Abstract: An extraction cleaner may include a cleaner body including a pump and a suction motor, a supply tank configured to be removably coupled to the cleaner body and configured to receive a first cleaning fluid, an additive tank configured to receive a second cleaning fluid, a recovery tank configured to be removably coupled to the cleaner body, and a cleaning tool including a fluid applicator and a cleaning assembly, the fluid applicator is configured to deliver one of the first cleaning fluid or a mixture of the first cleaning fluid and the second cleaning fluid to a surface to be cleaned and the cleaning assembly is configured to extract at least a portion of the delivered first cleaning fluid or at least a portion of the delivered mixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2023
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2024
    Assignee: SharkNinja Operating LLC
    Inventors: Lee M. Cottrell, Daniel Innes, Jordan Ridgley, Philippa Copeland, Mingliang Qin, Xuemei Liu, Ying Dong, Bin Yao, Cong Su, Dawei Liu, Xiang Zhou, Heliang Chen, Richard Dahlgren
  • Patent number: 12024137
    Abstract: A vehicle has: a communicating portion that communicates a passenger compartment interior with a passenger compartment exterior; a discharging device that, by operating, discharging at least one of dust or liquid which is within the passenger compartment through the communicating portion to the passenger compartment exterior; and a control section that, in a case of judging that there are no vehicle occupants within the passenger compartment, operates the discharging device, and causes dust within the passenger compartment to be discharged to the passenger compartment exterior.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2024
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yukinori Ii, Takeo Moriai, Kazunori Mitomi, Yasuyuki Kamezaki, Kazuhide Tabata, Hiromi Nosaka, Kenta Miyahara
  • Patent number: 12022984
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an autonomous cleaning robot. The autonomous cleaning robot may include a main body (1), a cleaning assembly, a cleaning cloth and an obstacle-assisting wheel. The cleaning assembly is mounted on the main body (1). The cleaning assembly may include a first cleaning subassembly (2) removable and provided on the main body (1). The cleaning cloth is removable and provided on the first cleaning subassembly. The obstacle-assisting wheel is rotatably mounted on the cleaning assembly and protruding from the cleaning cloth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2024
    Assignee: Shenzhen Rock Times Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Xing Li, Song Peng, Youcheng Lu
  • Patent number: 12011127
    Abstract: A floor cleaner including a including a base, an upright portion, and a recovery tank. The recovery tank includes a baffle configured to separate liquid and air from a liquid-laden stream entering the recovery tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2023
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2024
    Assignee: Techtronic Floor Care Technology Limited
    Inventors: Rafael Davila, Robert McRorie, Yogeshwar Sookdeo
  • Patent number: 12011129
    Abstract: An extraction cleaner may include a base, an upright body pivotally coupled to the base, a supply tank removably coupled to the upright body and a recovery tank removably coupled to the upright body. The base may include a non-removable door and a removable suction nozzle. At least one fluid dispensing nozzle may be provided on the door. The door may be pivotally coupled to the base for providing access to an agitator. The cleaner may include and auto-spray configuration. The cleaner may include a support on the upright portion for the recovery tank. The cleaner may include an additive tank received in a receptacle of the supply tank. The recovery tank may include a float and/or an airflow management configuration. The cleaner may include a cleaning tool and a suction changeover valve and/or a fluid changeover valve. The cleaner may include a mixing valve for supplying fluid to a fluid changeover valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2023
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2024
    Assignee: SharkNinja Operating LLC
    Inventors: Adam Udy, Chi Ho Hui, Jian cheng Wang, Kevin O'Malley, Qiang Liu, Yinhui Li, Bin Yao, Linqiang Feng, Mingchun Zhu, Mingliang Qin, Richard Marc Dahlgren
  • Patent number: 12007558
    Abstract: A cleaning unit for a sensor with a sensor housing and a drive shaft comprises a holding element which extends along an axis and is suitable for being mounted on the drive shaft so that the cleaning unit can be moved by the drive shaft and a wiper element which is fastened to the holding element and has a ring which axially surrounds the holding element, so that the ring is in contact with the sensor housing of the sensor when the holding element is mounted on the drive shaft, wherein the ring has at least one tooth which extends radially to the axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2024
    Assignee: Endress+Hauser Conducta GmbH+Co. KG
    Inventors: Alejandro Vaca Torres, Andreas Müller
  • Patent number: 12005484
    Abstract: In one example there is disclosed, an apparatus (10) for vacuum cleaning a tank (11). The apparatus (10) includes a main body (12) coupled to a working arm (14) and a plurality of support legs (16) coupled to the main body (12). The main body (12) includes a main conduit (40) extending lengthwise therethrough and a common central actuator (32) fitted about by the main conduit (40). The working arm (14) includes a vacuum conduit (50) in fluid communication with the main conduit (40). The plurality of support legs (16) are operatively coupled to the common central actuator (32) so as to be simultaneously moveable at least between a collapsed condition so as to fit through an opening 18 of the tank 11, and an extended condition in which the plurality of support legs (16) are moved relatively outwardly so as to be telescopically extendable within the tank (11) to engage a side wall (20) of the tank to support the main body (12). Other examples of the apparatus, a system and related methods are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2023
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2024
    Assignee: CONTRACT RESOURCES PTY LTD
    Inventor: Colin Brian Nicholson
  • Patent number: 11998150
    Abstract: A docking station for a vacuum cleaner may include a receptacle configured to engage at least a portion of the vacuum cleaner such that, in response to engaging the receptacle, a vacuum cleaner flow path extending within the vacuum cleaner is transitioned from a cleaning flow path to an evacuation flow path, a suction motor of the vacuum cleaner being configured to urge air along the vacuum cleaner flow path and a docking station dust cup configured to receive debris from a vacuum cleaner dust cup of the vacuum cleaner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2024
    Assignee: SharkNinja Operating LLC
    Inventors: Daniel J. Innes, Andre D. Brown, Jason B. Thorne, Kai Xu, Sam Liu
  • Patent number: 11998162
    Abstract: A support device of the cleaner includes a charging stand body provided with a charging port for charging the cleaner and a plurality of fixing parts disposed to be spaced apart from each other on the charging stand body and each having a fixing groove in which a fixing protrusion provided on the cleaner is accommodated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2024
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Philjae Hwang, Mantae Hwang, Jungbae Hwang
  • Patent number: 11992167
    Abstract: A hand vacuum cleaner comprises a cyclone unit comprising a first cyclonic stage and a second cyclonic stage. The first cyclonic stage has a first stage cyclone with a cyclone axis of rotation that extends between the front and rear ends of the cyclone. The cyclone axis of rotation extends through a central portion of the second cyclonic stage. The nozzle has a nozzle axis that extends through a central portion of the first stage cyclone between the front and rear ends of the cyclone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2023
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2024
    Assignee: Omachron Intellectual Property Inc.
    Inventor: Wayne Ernest Conrad
  • Patent number: 11992173
    Abstract: A floor-cleaning appliance has a housing movable in a working direction, forming a chamber, and having a downwardly directed intake opening extending in the working direction and in a transverse direction crosswise thereto. A front deflector and a rear deflector are provided in the opening with the latter spaced rearward in the working direction from the former. A flexible cleaning element is spanned over the deflectors and engageable with a floor surface below the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2024
    Assignee: WESSEL-WERK GMBH
    Inventor: Philipp Rath
  • Patent number: 11992172
    Abstract: A surface cleaning head includes a housing having a front side and back side, a brush roll rotatably mounted to the housing within a suction conduit and having at least a portion proximate the opening of the suction conduit, a leading roller mounted to the housing in front of the brush roll, and a drive mechanism operatively coupled to the brush roll and the leading roller for driving the brush roll and the leading roller at same time. The brush roll includes an agitator body and a first bristle/flap arrangement comprising a first deformable flap extending from the agitator body and a first bristle strip and/or row of tufts extending from the agitator body and disposed adjacent to the first deformable flap. The first deformable flap is disposed at an aggressive angle and the first bristle strip and/or row of tufts is arranged at a passive angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2024
    Assignee: SharkNinja Operating LLC
    Inventors: Steven Gacin, Jason B. Thorne, Adam Udy, Charles S. Brunner, Xavier F. Cullere, Nicholas Sardar, Ognjen Vrdoljak, Daniel R. Der Marderosian, Andre D. Brown, Daniel J. Innes
  • Patent number: 11986136
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a surface cleaning apparatus that includes a fluid delivery system for mopping a floor surface after sweeping debris from the floor surface. The surface cleaning apparatus can have a brushroll, a collection bin that receives dirt and liquid swept by the brushroll, and a cleanout member configured to empty the collection bin and mechanically remove dirt and liquid accumulated on one or more internal surfaces of the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2023
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2024
    Assignee: BISSELL Inc.
    Inventors: Jason W. Pruiett, Jacob Resch, James Theodore Hotary, Guoshun Wang
  • Patent number: 11986145
    Abstract: A kit comprising a hand vacuum cleaner and a floor standing docking station for the hand vacuum cleaner. When the hand vacuum cleaner is docked with the floor standing docking station and the openable door of the hand vacuum cleaner is opened, dirt collected in the dirt collection region of the hand vacuum cleaner is transferrable to the dirt collection chamber of the floor standing docking station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2024
    Assignee: Omachron Intellectual Property Inc.
    Inventor: Wayne Ernest Conrad
  • Patent number: 11986139
    Abstract: An extraction cleaner includes a steam delivery system, a liquid delivery system, and a recovery system, and includes multiple cleaning modes, including a first cleaning mode in which components of the steam delivery system, liquid delivery system, and recovery system are active, a second cleaning mode in which components of the delivery system and recovery system are active, and a third cleaning mode in which components of the steam delivery system are active. Methods for operating an extraction cleaner are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2023
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2024
    Assignee: BISSELL Inc.
    Inventors: Mitchell J. DeJonge, Ryan J. Alt, Steve M. Johnson
  • Patent number: 11974714
    Abstract: A wet/dry vacuum (1) having a bottom vertical discharge (13) located on a collection tank (2) and an elevated rolling stand (14) that allows the wet/dry vacuum and collection tank to be rolled over a bucket or toilet and emptied of any collected liquids. A strainer 13 and hinged attachment to the stand allows a user to easily empty hard debris from the wet/dry vacuum by simply tipping the collection tank over from its elevated position into a trash can.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Inventors: Gregory M. Selinger, Angela F. Selinger
  • Patent number: 11957298
    Abstract: A material collection system is provided. The system can include a vehicle, a conduit, a vacuum generator mounted to the vehicle to develop an airflow and to draw material into the conduit, and a moveable boom mounted to the vehicle to support the conduit. The system can include a control system to control a speed of the vacuum generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: Old Dominion Brush Company
    Inventors: Britt R. Calloway, Robert Mayes, Andrew Nitchie, Tim Stumph, Chris Turner
  • Patent number: 11950745
    Abstract: A surface cleaning apparatus includes a cyclone bin assembly that includes a cyclone chamber and a dirt collection chamber. A first end of the cyclone bin assembly includes at least a portion of the cyclone chamber and at least a portion of the dirt collection chamber and at least a portion of a sidewall separating the dirt collection chamber and the cyclone chamber. The first end of the cyclone bin assembly is rotationally mounted between a closed position and an open position in which an end of the cyclone chamber and an end of the dirt collection chamber are opened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: Omachron Intellectual Property Inc.
    Inventors: Wayne Ernest Conrad, Daniel Innes
  • Patent number: 11950747
    Abstract: An extraction cleaner having a cleanout tool for use with a surface cleaning apparatus such as an extraction cleaner or vacuum cleaner includes a nozzle cleaning implement and a brush cleaning implement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: BISSELL Inc.
    Inventors: David M. Miller, Karyn Lee Sagorski, Daniel Browne