Patents Examined by David Redding
  • Patent number: 11517169
    Abstract: A surface cleaning device comprises a cleaning head having a housing, a fluid tank configured to store fluid and be in fluid communication with the cleaning head, a cleaning pad coupled to the cleaning head and configured to remove debris from a surface, and a plurality of nozzles distributed along the cleaning pad, wherein the fluid tank is configured to release at least some of the fluid such that the released fluid flows through the plurality of nozzles onto the cleaning pad.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: ONTEL PRODUCTS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Ashok Khubani
  • Patent number: 11510534
    Abstract: A docking station for a dust collection box comprising: a housing; a socket formed by the housing configured to receive a dust collection box of a dust extractor; first and second apertures formed through a wall of the housing which aligns with air outlet and inlet apertures of a dust collection box when the dust collection box is mounted within the socket; a connector connectable to a vacuum source; and a dust channel mounted inside of the housing, which provides a passageway between the second aperture and the connector. The docking station may further include an air vent formed through a wall of the housing to allow air surrounding the housing to enter a cavity formed inside of the housing, where the first aperture is connected to the cavity in the housing to allow air in the cavity to exit the housing through the first aperture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: Black & Decker Inc.
    Inventors: Arthur Lauer, Marcus Rompel, Richard Cacchiotti
  • Patent number: 11510535
    Abstract: A robot cleaner includes a main body, and a wheel unit including a wheel configured to movably support the main body. The wheel unit is installed in a suspension unit and configured to be movable upward or downward. The suspension unit is configured to absorb impact when the wheel unit moves upward or downward, and is installed in a lifting unit coupled to the main body. The suspension unit is configured to be raised or lowered relative to the lifting unit. The lifting unit includes a lifting drive motor including a rotatable shaft disposed in parallel with a direction in which the suspension unit is configured to be raised or lowered, and a transmission unit configured to transmit a rotation force of the lifting drive motor to the suspension unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Seungjin Lee, Hwang Kim, Sangik Lee, Seaunglok Ham
  • Patent number: 11505959
    Abstract: The invention relates to a swimming-pool cleaning apparatus which comprises: a body; at least one hydraulic circuit for circulating liquid between at least one liquid intake and at least one liquid outlet, and through a filtering device of the cleaning apparatus; a fluid-circulation pump installed in the hydraulic circuit downstream from the filtering device; means for adjusting the pressure inside the hydraulic circuit upstream from the circulation pump, in response to a detected variation of said pressure, said pressure-adjustment means comprising: at least one secondary liquid intake (21) connected to the hydraulic circuit, upstream from the circulation pump, said at least one secondary liquid intake (21) being provided with a valve (22) mounted rotatably movable about an axis of rotation, and with means for driving the valve from an open position to a closed position, said means for driving the valve comprising a float (26), the orientation and/or the force of which depend on the orientation of the cleani
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: ZODIAC POOL CARE EUROPE
    Inventors: Philippe Blanc Tailleur, Louis Favie, Thierry Michelon, Philippe Pichon
  • Patent number: 11505163
    Abstract: A foreign matter removal device that removes foreign matters adhering to a lens (101) included in an in-vehicle camera (100), including a camera bracket (91) that attaches the in-vehicle camera (100) to a rear bumper panel (200b) of a vehicle in a state in which the lens (101) is exposed toward the outside of the rear bumper panel (200b) of the vehicle, a high-pressure air generation unit disposed inside the rear bumper panel (200b) and configured to generate high-pressure air, and a nozzle unit provided with a nozzle (22) that injects the high-pressure air toward the lens (101), wherein a through-hole (92) is formed in the camera bracket (91), and the high-pressure air generated by the high-pressure air generation unit passes from the inside to the outside of the rear bumper panel (200b) through the through-hole (92), and is injected from the nozzle (22) toward the lens (101).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroaki Kimura, Junji Baba, Akinobu Kubota, Yasuhiro Ichikawa
  • Patent number: 11497371
    Abstract: A floor cleaner including a vacuum source, a supply tank, and a recovery tank. The floor cleaner is configured to remove debris and fluid from a surface to be cleaned. The recovery tank includes a removably coupleable strainer configured to filter hair and large debris from a dirty fluid during emptying of the recovery tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: Techtronic Floor Care Technology Limited
    Inventors: Rafael Davila, Robert Lightbourn
  • Patent number: 11498438
    Abstract: A surface treatment robot includes a chassis having forward and rear ends and a drive system carried by the chassis. The drive system includes right and left driven wheels and is configured to maneuver the robot over a cleaning surface. The robot includes a vacuum assembly, a collection volume, a supply volume, an applicator, and a wetting element, each carried by the chassis. The wetting element engages the cleaning surface to distribute a cleaning liquid applied to the surface by the applicator. The wetting element distributes the cleaning liquid along at least a portion of the cleaning surface when the robot is driven in a forward direction. The wetting element is arranged substantially forward of a transverse axis defined by the right and left driven wheels, and the wetting element slidably supports at least about ten percent of the mass of the robot above the cleaning surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: iRobot Corporation
    Inventors: Duane L. Gilbert, Jr., Marcus R. Williams, Andrea M. Okerholm Huttlin, Elaine H. Kristant, Sheila A. Longo, Daniel E. Kee, Marc D. Strauss
  • Patent number: 11490771
    Abstract: A cleaning device, in particular for a cleaning attachment for a hard surface vacuum cleaner, includes at least a first wiper lip and a second wiper lip. A third lip is arranged between the first and second wiper lips so as to space apart the first and second wiper lips.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Rhys Jenkins
  • Patent number: 11484171
    Abstract: A cleaning machine has a housing, a supply tank, a suction nozzle, a suction source, and a recovery tank that includes a container having sidewalls projecting upwardly from a bottom wall thereby defining an open top, a cover connected to the open top of the container, and an air-liquid separator extending into the recovery tank from the open top and having a vertical sidewall, a lower wall extending laterally from a lower end of the vertical sidewall toward an adjacent sidewall of the sidewalls of the container. The vertical sidewall, the lower wall, and the adjacent sidewall define a separation chamber, the vertical sidewall includes a vertical rib extending outwardly from the vertical sidewall and into the separation chamber. The separation chamber includes a dirty fluid inlet receiving fluid from the suction nozzle through the cover, and a dirty fluid outlet directing fluid from the separation chamber into the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: Techtronic Floor Care Technology Limited
    Inventors: Michael Bloom, Rafael Davila
  • Patent number: 11484169
    Abstract: A surface treatment apparatus may include a surface cleaning head having an agitator, an agitator motor configured to cause the agitator to rotate, and a controller. The controller can be configured to determine a surface type corresponding to a surface to be cleaned and to transition the surface treatment apparatus between a first operational mode and a second operational mode based, at least in part, on the determined surface type. Determining the surface type may include measuring a plurality values corresponding to a current draw of the agitator motor over a predetermined time window at a predetermined time interval, determining an average corresponding to the measured values, comparing the average to at least a first threshold, and transitioning the surface treatment apparatus between the operational modes based, at least in part, on the comparison.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: SharkNinja Operating LLC
    Inventors: Damian Howard, John White
  • Patent number: 11484164
    Abstract: The hand-held cleaner includes a body, and a cyclone dust collecting apparatus detachably mounted in the body. The cyclone dust collecting apparatus includes a pre-motor filter unit having a filter grill and a filter member, a dust collecting bin having one end to which the pre-motor filter unit is coupled and the other end opposite to the one end in which an cyclone inlet is formed, and a cyclone bin disposed in the dust collecting bin and having a spiral flow path-guide member integrally formed therein. A moving path of air drawn into the cyclone inlet is maintained in the same direction until the air is discharged through the pre-motor filter unit via the cyclone bin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jung-gyun Han, Ki-man Kim, Seog-bong Baek, Dong-jun Kim
  • Patent number: 11478115
    Abstract: An autonomous traveling floor cleaner is disclosed that improves cleaning efficiency. A floor cleaner may include a suction nozzle that suctions suction matter collected by a rotary brush, an extension nozzle that suctions suction matter collected by an extension brush, and a collection box for collecting, through an inlet, the suction matter suctioned by the nozzles. The floor cleaner may have an elongated profile. The extension nozzle may be switchable between a retracted posture and a lateral cleaning posture. The extension nozzle in the lateral cleaning posture may be pivotable rearward. The extension nozzle in the lateral cleaning posture may have a protruding end in the width direction to be aligned with an end of a turning range of the floor cleaner in the width direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: OMRON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tomokazu Imae, Atsushi Mizoguchi
  • Patent number: 11478120
    Abstract: A cleaner includes: a body which forms an outer appearance; and a mop module which is detachably connected to the body. The mop module includes: a pair of spin mops which contacts a floor while rotating clockwise or counterclockwise when viewed from a top; and a module housing which connects the pair of spin mops. The cleaner may travel autonomously due to the rotation of the spin mops.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Jaewon Jang, Minwoo Lee
  • Patent number: 11471020
    Abstract: An autonomous coverage robot includes a cleaning assembly having forward roller and rearward rollers counter-rotating with respect to each other. The rollers are arranged to substantially maintain a cross sectional area between the two rollers yet permitting collapsing therebetween as large debris is passed. Each roller includes a resilient elastomer outer tube and a partially air-occupied inner resilient core configured to bias the outer tube to rebound. The core includes a hub and resilient spokes extending between the inner surface of the outer tube and the hub. The spokes suspend the outer tube to float about the hub and transfer torque from the hub to the outer tube while allowing the outer tube to momentarily deform or move offset from the hub during impact with debris larger than the cross sectional area between the two rollers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: iRobot Corporation
    Inventors: Duane Leigh Gilbert, Jr., Faruk Halil Bursal, Richard Joseph Therrien, Russell Walter Morin
  • Patent number: 11472377
    Abstract: A vehicle having an on-board vacuum includes an interior trim quarter side panel assembly disposed adjacent a third row of seats, and an on-board central vacuum system integrated into the interior trim quarter panel assembly. The interior trim quarter side panel assembly includes an outermost surface, an armrest portion positioned between an inboard sidewall and an outboard sidewall of the interior trim quarter panel assembly, and generally sloping toward an interior floor of the vehicle, and a handle pocket defining an opening in the armrest portion and a cavity below the outermost surface. The on-board central vacuum system includes a vacuum hose coupled to a vacuum motor assembly, and a vacuum nozzle handle coupled to the vacuum hose and nestingly received within the handle pocket such that in a stowed position within the handle pocket cavity, the vacuum nozzle handle is located at or below the outermost surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: FCA US LLC
    Inventors: Ricardo Garcia, Glenn W Abbott
  • Patent number: 11464374
    Abstract: Disclosed is a robot cleaner which adjusts a suction area of air suctioned into a suction port through a shutter and a shutter driving device configured to operate the shutter, so that a flow rate of air is adjusted, thus more effectively suctioning dust in the air by using a fan motor having a fixed capacity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kyung Han Jeong, Byung Chan Kim, Woo Ram Oh, Kyu Ha Lee, Byoung In Lee
  • Patent number: 11464377
    Abstract: A suction head of a vacuum cleaner including a housing having a suction port, a drum brush rotatably installed in the housing, a foreign substance removal pad provided on an inner surface of the housing to remove foreign substances wound on the drum brush by friction, and an anti-slip pad provided on the drum brush to prevent the foreign substances from slipping upon experiencing the friction with the foreign substance removal pad.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Seokman Hong, Kihwan Kwon, Dongwoo Ha, Taegwang Kim, Jiwon Choi
  • Patent number: 11464381
    Abstract: A vacuum cleaner includes a vacuum body defining an agitation chamber, an agitator, and an illumination system. The agitator is rotatably disposed at least partially within the agitation chamber and includes an agitator body defining an illumination chamber. The illumination system is at least partially disposed within the illumination chamber and includes at least one light source. Alternatively, a vacuum cleaner includes a vacuum body defining an agitation chamber, an agitator rotatably disposed at least partially within the agitation chamber, an illumination coupled to the vacuum body and including at least one light source, and a light guide configured to redirect light emitted in a first direction from the at least one light source to a second direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: SharkNinja Operating LLC
    Inventors: Jason B. Thorne, Andre D. Brown, Kai Xu
  • Patent number: 11464384
    Abstract: A floor cleaner includes a handle, a body, a base movable over a surface to be cleaned, and a supply tank coupled to the body. The supply tank having an inlet opening defining an inlet opening width and a fluid disposed therein. A water soluble package includes a cleaning solution disposed therein and is inserted within the supply tank to combine with the fluid disposed therein to form a cleaning fluid. A distribution nozzle is in communication with the supply tank and disperses the cleaning fluid towards a ground surface. The package has an unfolded dimension defined by a first width that is larger than the inlet width, a height defined orthogonal to the first width, and a thickness defined orthogonal to the first width and the height. The package folds from the unfolded dimension to a compact size having a folded dimension defined by a second width that is smaller than the inlet opening width.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: Techtronic Cordless GP
    Inventors: Ryan Caycoya, Vernon D. Campbell
  • Patent number: 11464383
    Abstract: Aspects of the present invention relate to a recovery tank support structure for a surface cleaning device such as an extractor. The support structure partially encircles and supports the recovery tank removably mounted to a base in order to prevent any unwanted movement of the tank or its contents during operation of the extractor. The support structure creates a void for housing the recovery tank, wherein a locking mechanism may be employed to engage the recovery tank and secure it in position. An upper portion having a handle for propelling the extractor is pivotable about the base independent of the support structure thereby allowing a user access to a wide range of pivoting motion and maneuverability during extractor operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: TECHTRONIC FLOOR CARE TECHNOLOGY LIMITED
    Inventors: Douglas M. Rukavina, Donovan Bode