Patents Examined by Marc Carlson
  • Patent number: 11759072
    Abstract: A floor cleaner having a recovery tank, a suction source, and a filter basket. The suction source is configured to generate an airflow along a fluid flow path to draw fluid and debris from a surface to be cleaned into the recovery tank. The recovery tank has an outlet duct on a tank body. The filter basket is positioned in the outlet duct on the tank body and configured to filter debris from the airflow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: Techtronic Floor Care Technology Limited
    Inventors: John Morphey, Douglas Rukavina
  • Patent number: 11759831
    Abstract: A drain cleaning device for removing debris from a drain is disclosed herein. In one embodiment, the drain cleaning device includes a handle section; a rod section connected to the handle section, the rod section optionally including one or more ribs, the one or more ribs configured to add structural rigidity to the rod section, and the one or more ribs further configured to facilitate the cleaning of grime from a side of a drain pipe; and an optional tip section connected to the rod section, the tip section including a plurality of projections disposed thereon, the plurality of projections configured to grab and collect debris from the drain pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: Imagination Products Corporation
    Inventors: Stephen S. Turner, Scott I. Turner
  • Patent number: 11751742
    Abstract: A vacuum cleaner includes an upright body mounted to a base that moves over a surface to be cleaned. A rotational coupling can be provided between the upright body and the base for coupling the upright body to the base for movement about at least one rotational axis. The rotational coupling can include at least a swivel joint. A cord rewinder can be provided above the swivel joint for storing and dispensing a power cord.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: BISSELL Inc.
    Inventors: Phong Hoang Tran, Todd Richard VanTongeren
  • Patent number: 11754830
    Abstract: A vibration device includes a light transmissive body, a first cylindrical body, a plate-shaped spring portion, a second cylindrical body, and a vibrating body. The light transmissive body includes a main body portion on an inner side of a portion supported by the first cylindrical body, and a protruding portion extending from the main body portion toward an outer circumference of the light transmissive body and protruding outward more than a portion supported by the first cylindrical body. A ratio between an equivalent mass calculated from a moment of inertia of the protruding portion and a weight of the main body portion is about 0.8 to about 1.2, and a resonant frequency of the light transmissive body is larger than a resonant frequency of the spring portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: MURATA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Katsumi Fujimoto, Takahide Nakadoi
  • Patent number: 11751744
    Abstract: A moving robot and a controlling method thereof are disclosed. The moving robot includes a dust sensor that detects dust in air suctioned during cleaning, and a controller that performs control so that the robot performs cleaning while traveling over a traveling area distinguished into a plurality of regions. The controller stores, in the data unit, dust information detected by the dust sensor and a number of times of cleaning in each region. The controller also sets a cleaning region and a non-cleaning region based on cleaning data, which is calculated based on the dust information and the number of times of cleaning. This helps prevent cleaning from being repeated unnecessarily and allows for cleaning depending on the number of times of cleaning, despite a small amount of dust. Accordingly, an entire indoor area may be maintained in a constant clean state and cleaning efficiency may be enhanced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventor: Wonchul Jo
  • Patent number: 11744418
    Abstract: An improved shop vacuum with wet/dry capability uses a vacuum tube that terminates in a space between the canister and the vacuum compartment such that the fluid and content exiting the vacuum tube is not directly opposed the negative pressure source. This allows the fluid to drain into the canister in a more controlled and less volatile condition, reducing splashing and entrainment of the fluid. Moreover, a second exit for the vacuum has been added to the canister to improve the efficiency of the vacuum and the overall performance of the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: Norco Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Jeff Romero
  • Patent number: 11737623
    Abstract: Systems and methods for providing a two-in-one vacuum cleaner are disclosed. In an exemplary embodiment, the system comprises a nozzle that is detachable from a rest of a vacuum cleaner. The nozzle is configured to perform as a vacuum nozzle of the vacuum cleaner when attached to the vacuum cleaner. The nozzle is also configured to perform as a robotic vacuum cleaner when detached from the vacuum cleaner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: TRANSFORM SR BRANDS LLC
    Inventor: Salameh Alsweis
  • Patent number: 11737633
    Abstract: An extraction cleaner is provided with a removable recovery tank having a recovery container, a drain opening quick-empty valve, and an actuator assembly for emptying the recovery container. The drain opening can be provided on a lower portion of the recovery container. The actuator assembly can selectively open the valve. At least a portion of the actuator assembly can be provided on an upper portion of the recovery container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: BISSELL Inc.
    Inventor: David M. Miller
  • Patent number: 11717124
    Abstract: An evacuation station for a mobile floor cleaning robot comprises a housing and an air treatment assembly removably mountable to the housing. The air treatment assembly is provided on a first lateral housing end. The first lateral housing end is provided with a housing air inlet that is downstream of the air treatment assembly air outlet whereby the air treatment assembly air outlet faces the housing air inlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: Omachron Intellectual Property Inc.
    Inventor: Wayne Ernest Conrad
  • Patent number: 11712139
    Abstract: A surface cleaning head with a leading roller may be used to facilitate capturing of debris in the air flow into a suction conduit on the underside of the surface cleaning head. The leading roller is generally positioned adjacent to and in advance of the opening of the suction conduit. The surface cleaning head may have dual agitators—a leading roller and a rotating brush roll—with the leading roller being located in front of the brush roll. The leading roller may have a smaller diameter than the brush roll and may provide a softer cleaning element. The leading roller may also have a bottom portion exposed to the flow path to the suction conduit and at least a top half that is not exposed to that flow path. The leading roller may also float relative to the surface cleaning head and/or may be adjustable relative to the brush roll.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: SharkNinja Operating LLC
    Inventors: Jason B. Thorne, Daniel Meyer, Andre David Brown, Sam Liu
  • Patent number: 11707168
    Abstract: A vacuum cleaner including a motor, a suction opening, an exhaust opening, and an air passageway in fluid communication with the suction source and the exhaust opening. The motor receives power from a power cord that enters the lower portion of the main body through a power cord opening. The main body also includes a drain opening, configured to allow egress of any liquid in the main body. The power cord opening is higher than the drain opening. The vacuum also includes a protective tubular frame that surrounds the battery. The tubular frame is energy-absorbing, and is removable and replaceable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: Techtronic Floor Care Technology Limited
    Inventor: Michael Bloom
  • Patent number: 11703176
    Abstract: An apparatus and related method are provided for loading a pig into a pipeline. The apparatus includes a tubular reducer, a rigid member including a pig-engaging surface, and a guide member slidingly engaged by the rigid member to permit axial movement, while limiting radial movement, of the rigid member in relation to the reducer. In use, when the reducer is aligned concentrically with the pipeline end with the front end of the reducer bearing axially, either directly or indirectly, against the pipeline end, and the pig-engaging surface is disposed axially rearward of the reducer, increased tension in the cable pulls the rigid member axially forward relative to the pipeline, whereupon the attached pig-engaging surface pushes the pig through the reducer and into the pipeline interior.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Inventor: Warren Peterson
  • Patent number: 11693387
    Abstract: A facility for automated modelling of the cutting process for a particular material to be cut by a beam cutting tool, such as a waterjet cutting system, from empirical data to predict aspects of the waterjet's effect on the workpiece across a range of material thicknesses, across a range of cutting geometries, and across a range of cutting quality levels, all of which may be broader than, and independent of the actual requirements for a target workpiece, is described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: OMAX Corporation
    Inventors: Axel H. Henning, James M. O'Connor, Carl Olsen
  • Patent number: 11684226
    Abstract: A motor cover includes a lattice structure defining a plurality of vent openings that provide ventilation of the motor cover. Each vent opening of the plurality of vent openings is defined by a first cross member, a second cross member, a first side member, and a second side member of the lattice structure. The second cross member is spaced vertically below the first cross member and the first side member is spaced horizontally forward from the second side member. Each of the first and second side members extend from the first cross member to the second cross member. The second cross member extends further outward from a central vertical axis of the motor cover than the first cross member, and the first side member extends further outward from the central longitudinal axis than the second side member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: Emerson Electric Co.
    Inventors: Mark J. Tomasiak, Douglas C. Schultz
  • Patent number: 11679713
    Abstract: An autonomous mobile robot includes a body, a drive supporting the body above a floor surface, a light-propagating plate positioned on the body and having a periphery defining a continuous loop, light sources each being positioned to direct light through a portion of the plate to a portion of the continuous loop, and a controller to selectively operate the light sources to provide a visual indicator of a status or service condition of the autonomous mobile robot. The drive is configured to maneuver the mobile robot about the floor surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: iRobot Corporation
    Inventors: Cory White, Benjamin H. Schriesheim, Oliver Lewis, Stephen A. Hickey, Stuart R. Jang, Michael J. Dooley
  • Patent number: 11678783
    Abstract: The present disclosure discloses a cleaning base station. The cleaning base station includes a base and a vibration device. The vibration device includes a driving mechanism and a cleaning element. The driving mechanism is fixed to the base. The cleaning element is connected to the driving mechanism. The cleaning element is configured to contact a part-to-be-cleaned of a cleaning robot. The driving mechanism drives the cleaning element to vibrate so as to clean the part-to-be-cleaned of the cleaning robot. The present disclosure also discloses a cleaning robot system using the cleaning base station described above. The present disclosure has the advantages of reducing a user's burden of manual cleaning and avoiding contamination of a floor surface by the part-to-be-cleaned of the cleaning robot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: SHENZHEN FLY RODENT DYNAMICS INTELLIGENT TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Zhexin Gao
  • Patent number: 11678779
    Abstract: An accessory tool for a vacuum cleaner includes a conduit and a nozzle. The conduit includes a first end coupled to the vacuum cleaner and a second end opposite the first end. The nozzle is coupled to the second end and includes a first portion with a first set of teeth and a first channel with an opening opposite the first set of teeth. The nozzle also includes a second portion with a second set of teeth and a second channel with an opening opposite the second set of teeth. The first set of teeth interlock with the second set of teeth, and are configured to cause the first portion and the second portion to pivot together relative to the conduit between a closed position and an open position. The nozzle is movable along an outer surface of the conduit from the second end toward the first end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: MILWAUKEE ELECTRIC TOOL CORPORATION
    Inventor: Michael A. Verhagen
  • Patent number: 11672390
    Abstract: A vacuum cleaner includes a housing, a debris chamber defined within the housing, and a motor assembly connected to the housing and operable to generate airflow through the debris chamber. The motor assembly includes a motor, an impeller, an impeller housing, and a controller. The impeller is connected to the motor and operable to generate airflow upon operation of the motor. The impeller housing is constructed of an electrically-conductive material. The impeller is positioned within the impeller housing. The controller includes a circuit board assembly. The circuit board assembly including a common circuit, and the impeller housing is electrically connected to the common circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: Emerson Electric Co.
    Inventor: Thomas E. Fogarty, Jr.
  • Patent number: 11673168
    Abstract: A blower includes a motor mounted to a frame. The frame includes wheels mounted to the frame. The blower includes a fan powered by the motor and a blower outlet. The fan is configured to expel air from the fan through the blower outlet. The blower outlet is movable in a horizontal direction and a vertical direction. The blower includes a horizontal control for controlling a horizontal position of the blower outlet. The blower includes a vertical control for controlling a vertical position of the blower outlet. Both the horizontal and vertical controls are positioned remote from the blower outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: Generac Power Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: William D. Wooden, Anthony Orgain, Seth Joubert
  • Patent number: 11672392
    Abstract: A vacuum cleaner includes a suction nozzle including a housing that defines an inlet, a first shaft disposed at a side of the housing, a driver configured to rotate the first shaft, a rotating brush that extends along an axis and is configured to, based on rotation of the first shaft, rotate about the axis to thereby move dust on a surface to toward the inlet, a detachable cover configured to rotatably support a first end of the rotating brush, and a second shaft disposed at a second end of the rotating brush and configured to engage with the first shaft to rotate the rotating brush. The first shaft and the second shaft are configured to contact each other and to define first contact surfaces that have a spiral shape about the axis and that are configured to transfer rotational force from the first shaft to the second shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Phil Jae Hwang, Chung Jae Ryu, Chiwan Kim, Gyoungmin Lee, Yun Bo Park