Patents Examined by Edward L. Roberts, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5448792
    Abstract: A tooth-brush is provided which has a brush shank (4) adapted to be driven electrically by a drive (2) and provided with a brush-head (5) having bristles (6), which brush-head performs movement (8), for example, a loosening movement whose frequency is higher than 30 Hz and whose amplitude is between 0.1 mm and 5 mm, which brush-head performs an additional movement (9), for example, a wiping movement having a frequency of between 1 Hz and 5 Hz. The combination of a rapid loosening movement and a slow wiping movement ensures that the teeth are cleaned in a thorough but gentle manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 12, 1995
    Assignee: U.S. Philips Corporation
    Inventors: Wolfgang U. Wiedemann, Piet C. J. Van Rens, Norbert Schneider
  • Patent number: 5446939
    Abstract: The present invention is to remedy the cumbersome and messy operation in obtaining a quick shoe shine individually by providing a cylindrical brush. The cylindrical brush is utilized by attaching it to the motor operated screwdriver. The brush has a shape of a cylindrical body with the flat top and bottom. The cylindrical body and the flat top have bristles on them, but the bottom has shaft extending out to be attached to the motorized screwdriver. The bristles on the top portion of the cylindrical body are designed to be used as a polish applicator to the shoe. To the top portion of the cylindrical brush, there is a covering wall having a smaller cylindrical shape which is inserted into the body of the brush from the top with handle extended out onto the surface of the side controlling the covering wall. Also provided is a top brush lid instead of the covering wall to fit over the brush on the top.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 5, 1995
    Inventor: Joseph H. Park
  • Patent number: 5444888
    Abstract: A foot-and-toe cleaning apparatus that comprises an elongated shaft formed from a stiff plastic material which is provided with a cleaning assembly mounted adjacent the lower end of the shaft which includes a toe-cleaning device that includes a pair of spaced-apart support arm members extending outwardly from the shaft having a cleaning element supported therebetween and secured in place by a nut threadably mounted on each arm member. A brush is mounted on the shaft and positioned diametrically opposite from that of the toe-cleaning device for cleaning one's foot area including the ankle and lower portion of the legs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 29, 1995
    Inventor: Edward L. Withey
  • Patent number: 5444886
    Abstract: An apparatus designed to efficiently and positively clean a main piping not only totally, but also partially by the reciprocation of a pig. The cleaning apparatus is provided with a launcher (4) for projecting a pig (1) and a catcher (36) for receiving the pig (1) at both ends of a main piping (37). A compressed gas is supplied from a feed nozzle of the launcher to thereby send the pig to the catcher (36). In consequence to the arrival of the pig, the compressed gas is discharged through a discharge nozzle (29) of the catcher (36), when the pressure is decreased and the pig is accordingly stopped. The decrease of the pressure is detected by a pressure sensor (33) of the launcher (4). When the pig arrives at the catcher (36), it is detected by a pressure sensor (33) of the catcher (36). The compressed gas is supplied from a feed nozzle (22) of the catcher (36) based on the detecting signal of the pressure sensor (33 ) of the launcher (4), to thereby send the pig towards the launcher (4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 29, 1995
    Assignee: Fuji Oil Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shoichi Takashina, Koichi Ishihara
  • Patent number: 5442827
    Abstract: A handle component (1) of an electric toothbrush protrudes from the end of a hollow shaft (3), which holds a drive shaft (9) coaxially therein. A brush attachment (4) with rotatable bristle tufts (6) is disposed in the hollow shaft (3) in such a way that the drive shaft (9) is coupled with a shaft (7) in the brush attachment (4), wherein said shaft (7) drives the bristle tufts (6). The hollow shaft (3) is driven by a motor to oscillate around its longitudinal axis and/or to slide back and forth in the direction of its longitudinal axis. (FIG.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 22, 1995
    Assignee: Bausch & Lomb Incorporated
    Inventor: Edgar Hommann
  • Patent number: 5443533
    Abstract: A paint trimming apparatus is described which includes a body and a pad removably secured to the body. The pad has a top, a bottom and an edge angled outwardly from the top toward the bottom. The edge is covered with a liquid impermeable membrane. A guide support is pivotally secured to the body and moveable between a first position covering the impermeable membrane and a second position spaced from the pad. A guide blade is removably secured to the guide support. A handle is secured to the body. The paint trimming apparatus, as described, reduces the frequency of fouling and is easier to clean when fouled by paint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 22, 1995
    Inventor: Walter Magnien
  • Patent number: 5442826
    Abstract: The invention disclosed a method for cleaning a pipe in the inside comprising steps of inserting a pig into a pipe, and reciprocally moving the pig thereafter by aerial vibration to clean the inside of pipe. An apparatus for cleaning a pipe in the inside comprises a pig removably inserted into a pipe from an end side thereof and a vibration generating source for transferring the pig in reciprocal motion by means of aerial motion to clean the inside of pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 22, 1995
    Assignees: Matsui Manufacturing Co., Ltd., Kyowa Hakko Kogyo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazue Murata, Hiroshi Tada, Yoshitaka Koishi, Osamu Matsui, Kiyoshi Morimoto, Yoshika Sanada, Teiichi Miwa
  • Patent number: 5438728
    Abstract: A rotary brush assembly for treating a surface has a circular disk having a generally fiat first side and a second side. A plurality of elongated fibers are individually attached to the first side of the disk and positioned generally parallel to one another and perpendicular to the first side of the disk. The unattached ends of the fibers collectively define a generally planar treatment surface adjacent and generally parallel to the first side of the disk. The fibers are positioned such that the fibers form areas of filled space on the treatment surface, the areas of filled space separated by areas without fibers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 8, 1995
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Michael J. Kubes, Lawrence J. Mann, Jonathan E. Noble
  • Patent number: 5437073
    Abstract: A tube cleaner (42) for removing deposits from the inner wall of condenser and other types of tubes has scrapers (20) for contacting the inner wall of the tube. The scrapers (20) are adapted to contact the wall so as to form an angle of 90 degrees or less rearwards of the scrapers (20) when the cleaner travels through the tube, so as to achieve more effective cleaning. The scrapers (20) may consist of one or more split rings mounted in incomplete transverse channels (44) on a central core (32).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 1, 1995
    Inventor: Graham H. Smith
  • Patent number: 5437075
    Abstract: A golf cart mounted golf cleat cleaner includes a plate having a brush attached thereto. The brush is attached to a mounting bracket by a hinge which is preferably spring biased. The cleat cleaner also includes a brace which is attached to the brush plate by a hinge. The brace engages the attachment bracket on the golf cart, so as to support the brush plate in an approximately horizontal use position. The cleat cleaner may be folded into a storage position by disengaging the free end of the brace from the golf cart or attachment bracket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 1, 1995
    Assignee: PVM Enterprises, L.L.C.
    Inventor: Charles D. Peake
  • Patent number: 5435036
    Abstract: An apparatus for washing a plurality of baby bottles and associated components concurrently comprising a housing having front and rear walls, side walls, a lower base coupling together the walls in a box-like configuration and an upper plate with a plurality of aligned apertures extending therethrough; a drive shaft mounted for rotation adjacent to the lower surface of the housing parallel with the base, the main drive shaft having a plurality of driving bevel gears spaced along its length; a plurality of driven shafts with driven bevel gears in operative association with the driving bevel gears of the main drive shaft, each driven bevel gear having in association therewith three parallel rods with mating gears interrelated with its associated driven bevel gear to effect rotation of the mating gears and parallel rods from the driven bevel gears; brush bristles formed at the upper ends of the parallel rods in proximity to the apertures of the upper plate the first set of parallel rods having short cone-shaped
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 25, 1995
    Inventors: Bryan E. Hedrick, Donald D. Hedrick
  • Patent number: 5435031
    Abstract: An apparatus for automatically cleaning submerged surfaces, such as the bottom and side walls of a swimming pool. In a preferred embodiment, the apparatus includes onboard sensors, and an onboard processor (preferably, a microprocessor) which controls operation of the apparatus in response to status information supplied from the sensors. Preferably, the apparatus has an onboard watertight battery and an adjustable inlet nozzle size, and includes left and right track treads which are controllable to cause the apparatus to turn or rotate (clockwise or counterclockwise), or translate in a forward or reverse direction, on a horizontal or vertically inclined submerged surface. A transmission assembly is provided for each track tread, including a cam wheel and a cam follower connected thereto within a sealed control assembly, and a shift link extending through a seal in the control assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 25, 1995
    Assignee: H-Tech, Inc.
    Inventors: Don S. Minami, Michael J. Shawver, Thomas P. Jensen, Lawrence A. Shubert, Kenneth N. Marshall
  • Patent number: 5435034
    Abstract: An electric toothbrush having separable handle and brush segments, a rotating motor shaft extending exteriorly of the handle segment, and a reciprocating toothed rack in the brush segment which engages and imparts a counter-rotating movement to a plurality of tufts on the brush head. A cylindrically shaped gear mounts to and is axially movable on the motor shaft when the brush and handle segments are attached together. First and second lifting cams configured as elliptical flanges lying in oblique planes are provided in radially spaced relationship on the exterior surface and interior bore hole of the gear, respectively. Respective first and second guide grooves are associated with the lifting cams and the reciprocal toothed rack whereby rotation of the gear generates a long stroke of the rack through the interaction of the first and second lifting cams and guide grooves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 25, 1995
    Assignee: Bausch & Lomb Incorporated
    Inventors: Michael Bigler, Edgar Hommann, Scott Myerly
  • Patent number: 5435032
    Abstract: A toothbrush head consists of a hollow body (16) closed at one side by a flexible membrane (13) formed with cavities (17) to hold bases of tufts of bristles. The cavities form protrusions extending up inside the body (16) which are pushed against by a reciprocating finger (18) to tilt and move the bristles relative to the body (16).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 25, 1995
    Assignee: ISIS International, Inc.
    Inventor: Gregory J. McDougall
  • Patent number: 5432974
    Abstract: A car washing machine having a tunnel-shaped stationary car washing machine body (1) installed on the floor (2) and adapted to continuously wash a vehicle (2) as the latter is transported by a pair of roller conveyors (7a, 7b). The car washing machine body (1) has a washing section (3) in the front region thereof, a waxing section (4) in the intermediate region thereof and a drying section (5) in the rear region thereof. The roller conveyors (7a, 7b) are designed so that one conveyor (7b) supports the wheels (8b, 9b) on one side of the vehicle (1), while the other conveyor (7a) supports the wheels (8a, 9a) on the other side of the vehicle (1), the vehicle (1) being guided with one conveyor (7b) serving as a reference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 18, 1995
    Assignee: Daifuku Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Nobuo Yasutake, Akira Ikari, Masamoto Ueda
  • Patent number: 5430904
    Abstract: An instrument for transferring coating film onto a surface requiring transfer printing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 11, 1995
    Assignee: Fujicopian Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masahiko Ono, Yoshinobu Yamashita
  • Patent number: 5429678
    Abstract: A car-cleaning implement (1) comprises a spongy resiliently-flexible liquid-absorbent block (2) having an exposed face (3) for applying soapy water, and its opposite face sheathed with a thin flexible skin (4) which is not water absorbent and is formed with parallel ribs (5) extending between opposite ends of the block. By inverting the block after washing off the soapy water, the ribbed skin can be used to remove water droplets from the painted surface of the car without streaking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 4, 1995
    Inventor: Arthur J. Fany
  • Patent number: 5428854
    Abstract: A replaceable bristle ring for removable attachment to a swimming pool cleaner, such bristle ring having bristles secured along it and projecting downwardly to terminate in bristle ends adapted to support the pool cleaner on a surface to be cleaned and means facilitating attachment with respect to the pool cleaner housing. A preponderance of the bristles are preferably inclined along lines which are skew lines with respect to the axis of the ring, such that vibration causes movement of the pool cleaner along a swimming pool bottom surface. A preferred replaceable ring has an annular surface with features for interengagement with another bristle ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 4, 1995
    Assignee: Sta-Rite Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Dieter J. Rief, Herman E. Frentzel
  • Patent number: 5426806
    Abstract: A sport grip cleaning unit to be used at the location of the sporting activity. The cleaning unit consists of a vending operation under the control of the user. The unit consists of a two compartment cabinet whereby the user is able to control the cleaning action of the unit by the insertion of the sporting apparatus handle into the unit whereby the grip handle butt depresses a micro-switch activating the cleaning brushes. This action also causes the cleaning fluid pump to activate whereby the cleaning fluid floods the cleaning area to lubricate and flush accumulated grime, grit, and oils into the drain system where it is filtered and recycled. Thus the grip is restored to its desired tacky, firm hold condition. The sport grip cleaning unit includes a cleaning fluid reservoir that is removable from the unit for replacement with a new reservoir of cleaning fluid. In this manner, the cleaning unit is self-contained and can be easily serviced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 27, 1995
    Assignee: Trio Johnson, Inc.
    Inventors: Dennis N. Johnson, Christopher A. Johnson
  • Patent number: 5426807
    Abstract: A tube cleaning apparatus for tubes and pipes installed in power plant and similar industrial equipment utilizes a rotating brush assembly fitted to one end of a rotary cable encased in a protective casing and driven at its other end in clockwise and counterclockwise rotation by a reversible motor. The invention provides a drive unit fitted with a plurality of drive rollers for engaging the protective casing and propelling the casing, cable and brush assembly at a high rate of speed into and out of each tube being cleaned. A control system for the drive unit enables the operator to manipulate the reversible motor by issuing pulses to actuate switches controlling on/off and direction of rotation of the motor. An arresting device provides for stopping forward progress of the brush assembly as it reaches the end of each tube being cleaned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 1993
    Date of Patent: June 27, 1995
    Assignee: Goodway Tools Corporation
    Inventors: Arvid K. Grimsley, Joseph J. Franzino, William W. Coville