Patents Examined by Marc Carlson
  • Robotic cleaner debris removal docking station
    Patent number: 11497363
    Abstract: A robotic cleaning system may include a robotic cleaner having a robotic cleaner dust cup and a docking station having a docking station dust cup configured to fluidly couple to the robotic cleaner dust cup. The docking station dust cup may include a first debris collection chamber, a second debris collection chamber fluidly coupled to the first debris collection chamber, and a filter fluidly coupled to the first debris collection chamber and the second debris collection chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: SharkNinja Operating LLC
    Inventors: Aaron Gill, David Harting, Hamish Thompson, Christopher Meyer-Rassow, Catriona C. A. Sutter, Isaku D. Kamada, Kai Xu, Devin Feng, Jason B. Thorne, Rahat Kahn, Margaret Mathieu
  • Robot cleaner and controlling method thereof
    Patent number: 11497364
    Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure relate to a robot cleaner and a controlling method thereof, and more particularly, to a robot cleaner and a traveling algorithm of a robot cleaner having an improved structure. A robot cleaner of the disclosure includes a brush unit having a suction flow path, a body unit configured to have a driving device, and be coupled to the brush unit to be rotatable with respect to the brush unit and a redirection device configured to rotate the body unit relative to the brush unit, and the redirection device includes a rotation guide extending along an inner circumferential surface of the brush unit, a rotation driving source disposed in the body unit and generating power, and a power transmission member which moves along the rotation guide by the power transmitted from the rotation driving source and rotates the body unit with respect to the brush unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Deok Sang Yun, Sang In Lee, Sung Jae Lee, Hwan Dong Lee, Hyoung Sub Choi
  • Floor processing device and system comprised of a floor processing device and an external terminal device
    Patent number: 11497367
    Abstract: A floor processing device has a floor processing element, a detection device for detecting a surface parameter of the floor surface, and a data processing device. The data processing device has a data memory, which stores a recommended use belonging to a surface parameter of the floor surface for using a specific floor processing element. The data processing device retrieves the recommended use from the data memory and transmits it to a user via an interface. The data processing device compares the size of a first surface area that has a first surface parameter with the size of the remaining surface areas of the environment, which have a surface parameter that deviates from the first surface parameter, and retrieves the recommended use from the data memory corresponding to the surface parameter that corresponds to the largest surface portion from the entirety of the surface areas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: Vorwerk & Co. Interholding GmbH
    Inventor: Christian Holz
  • Filter system for a vacuum cleaner
    Patent number: 11490773
    Abstract: A pre-filter for a filter system includes a frame having air flow openings having a height and an top portion having a width and a depth. The pre-filter includes a filter panel having a width less than or equal to the width of the top portion and a depth less than or equal to the depth of the top portion at least during insertion of the filter panel into the frame, and height equal to or greater than the height of the air flow openings. A filter system using the pre-filter includes a tank, an air intake aperture, an air exhaust aperture, and a cartridge filter. Another filter system has a relatively large air intake aperture that permits easy debris dumping. A vacuum cleaning system using the filter system includes a support structure connected to the filter system by a release lever.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: SHOP VAC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jason Gottschall, Craig A. Seasholtz
  • Apparatus and method for operating a personal grooming appliance or household cleaning appliance
    Patent number: 11494899
    Abstract: A system and method for operating a household cleaning appliance, including: providing a household cleaning appliance including, a powered and electronically controlled cleaning implement, and at least one physical sensor taken from a group consisting of: an orientation sensor, an acceleration sensor, an inertial sensor, a global positioning sensor, a pressure sensor, a load sensor, audio sensor, humidity sensor, and a temperature sensor; providing a camera associated with the household cleaning appliance; deriving an augmented classification using one or more classifiers classifying the physical sensor data and the image data; and modifying operation of the cleaning implement based upon the augmented classification.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Jonathan Livingston Joyce, Faiz Feisal Sherman, Xiaole Mao
  • Vehicle mounted lawn dethatcher
    Patent number: 11483986
    Abstract: A towable lawn dethatching device for use with a vehicle, containing: a. a frame having a front end, a rear end, a top, a bottom and two sides; b. a plurality of horizontally spaced apart tines supported by the frame; each of the plurality of horizontally spaced-apart tines having a first end and a second end; c. at least one wheel supported by the frame; d. a mounting portion adapted to pivotably couple the lawn dethatching device to the vehicle in a vertical axis, the lawn dethatching device is moveable between: e. a first position wherein the plurality of horizontally spaced-apart tines are in a dethatching position, wherein the first end of each of the plurality of horizontally spaced-apart tines is above the second end of each of the plurality of horizontally spaced-apart tines, to dethatch and accumulate thatch while the vehicle is moving in a first direction; and f.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Inventor: Gary Hugh Soper
  • Vacuum inlet valve assembly
    Patent number: 11484165
    Abstract: A vacuum inlet valve assembly has a housing configured to be mounted exterior to a preexisting wall in a structure such that the housing is connected with a conduit and the conduit is exterior to the wall and retains a hose therein, and the hose is adapted to be pulled out from a stored position within the conduit external from the wall to an extracted position, and when in the extracted position, an end cap or hose plug on the hose is releasably connected with a connection assembly in the housing. A portion of the conduit is clear or translucent or transparent so an operator can watch the end cap or hose plug approach the connection assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: H-P PRODUCTS, INC.
    Inventors: Darrell V. Nieschwitz, Greg A. Calderone, Shawn C. Metz
  • Cleaner holder and cleaner unit
    Patent number: 11484166
    Abstract: A cleaner holder comprises a base, a stand coupled to the base and extending upward from the base, a support body coupled to an upper portion of the stand and configured to support a cleaner, and a cleaning module support coupled to the stand and configured to support a cleaning module of the cleaner. The cleaning module may be detachably coupled to an extension tube of the cleaner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Jonghyun Seo, Mantae Hwang
  • Vacuum cleaner and vacuum cleaning system in wireless communication with a user-controlled electronic device
    Patent number: 11471017
    Abstract: A vacuum cleaner includes a base defining a suction chamber, a brushroll driven by a brushroll motor, a transmitter and a receiver both of which are in wireless communication with a user-controlled electronic device, and a controller in communication with the transmitter, the receiver, the brushroll sensor, and the floor sensor. The controller controls the brushroll motor. The controlling the brushroll motor includes controlling the brushroll motor to a first value or a second value based on a user selected factor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: Techtronic Floor Care Technology Limited
    Inventors: Patrick Truitt, Todd Zimmerman
  • Method and apparatus for executing cleaning operation
    Patent number: 11471016
    Abstract: A cleaning apparatus and a method of executing a cleaning operation are provided. The cleaning apparatus includes a sensor including a plurality of sensors, a memory configured to store at least one instruction, and a processor configured to execute the at least one instruction to control the cleaning apparatus. The processor is further configured to determine properties of a pollutant on a movement path of the cleaning apparatus by using the sensor, determine a cleaning operation of removing the pollutant, based on the determined properties of the pollutant, and execute the determined cleaning operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hyunseok Hong, Myungsik Kim, Minsu Hwangbo, Hyunsuk Kim, Seungbeom Han
  • Automatically moving robotic vacuum cleaner as well as system comprised of an automatically moving robotic vacuum cleaner robot and an external vacuum cleaning apparatus
    Patent number: 11457789
    Abstract: An automatically moving robotic vacuum cleaner has a housing and a filter chamber for receiving suction material. The housing has a housing opening that is formed on the upper side of the housing and has a displaceable sealing element, which can be displaced from a closed position that closes the housing opening into a released position that releases the housing opening, so as to enable access to the filter chamber. The closure element can be mounted on the housing in a linearly movable manner. There is a detection device that is set up to detect the presence of an external vacuum cleaning apparatus to be connected with the housing opening in the area of the housing opening of the robotic vacuum cleaner. The robotic vacuum cleaner also has a control device that is set up to control an opening of the housing opening upon detection of the external vacuum cleaning apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: Vorwerk & Co. Interholding GmbH
    Inventor: Roman Ortmann
  • Vacuum cleaner
    Patent number: 11452412
    Abstract: A vacuum cleaner (1) comprising a container (2), a suction unit (60), an air channeling unit (25), operative between the container (2) and the suction unit (60), wherein the air channeling unit (25) comprises: a collector (26) having a suction mouth (27) at an intake side of the air channeling unit (25), a deflector (28) positioned at the intake side and radially extending at least over a central portion of the suction mouth (27), the collector (26) and the deflector (28) delimiting a suction channel (29) connecting the suction mouth (27) to an inlet port (22) of the suction unit (60).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: Diversey, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas Keller
  • Material removal from surfaces
    Patent number: 11453034
    Abstract: Scrapers for removing adhered material from surfaces employ continuous and discontinuous material removal edges to remove different types of material. Continuous and sometimes discontinuous material removal edges are constructed and arranged to conform to the curvature of a surface from which material is to be removed, when a user forces the scraper against the surface. Some scrapers include multiple material removal edges designed to simultaneously contact the surface. The use of multiple points of contact combined with locations of handles provide stable designs that reduce hand and wrist strain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Inventor: Hal P. Greenberger
  • Electric vacuum cleaner apparatus
    Patent number: 11452424
    Abstract: An electric vacuum cleaner apparatus includes: a station, an electric vacuum cleaner attachable to the station, and plural attaching detectors which can detect the electric vacuum cleaner is attached in the station. The electric vacuum cleaner includes a cleaner body; a tubular part connected to the cleaner body and sucks in dust; and a primary dust container that stores dust sucked in with the tubular part. The station includes a secondary dust container that stores dust discharged from the primary dust container. The electric vacuum cleaner apparatus permits transfer of dust from the primary dust container to the secondary dust container when at least two of the plural attaching detectors have detected the attaching of the electric vacuum cleaner to the station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: TOSHIBA LIFESTYLE PRODUCTS & SERVICES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Sato, Masatoshi Tanaka, Yukio Machida
  • Cleaning robot and method of controlling the same
    Patent number: 11452423
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a cleaning robot and a method of controlling the same, and more particularly, to a cleaning robot that changes a moving path by detecting an obstacle through a change in permittivity detected while driving about a cleaning space, and a method of controlling the same. The cleaning robot comprises a main body; a driver configured to move the main body; an obstacle detector including an electrode plate provided on the bottom of the main body and a touch IC configured to detect a change in capacitance detected by the electrode plate and; and a controller configured to determine the obstacle based on a signal transmitted by the obstacle detector, and to control the driver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hwa-Sung Kim, Chang Hyun Park, Su-Ho Jo
  • Blower apparatus
    Patent number: 11445870
    Abstract: A blower apparatus is driven by a drive motor and has an intake opening and a discharge opening. The blower apparatus has a handle for guiding the blower apparatus with the handle being mounted on the blower apparatus such that it is pivotable from a first position into at least a second position. The blower apparatus is configured such that, during operation of the blower apparatus, an air flow passes through the discharge opening in a discharge direction. The handle has a grip region, which, in the first position, is inclined differently with respect to the discharge direction compared with the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: Andreas Stihl AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Mario Kuschewski, Simon Jug
  • Coating removal system
    Patent number: 11433437
    Abstract: A HEPA-qualified coating removal system, coating removal tool, and method is disclosed. The HEPA-qualified coating removal system comprises a HEPA-vacuum coupled to a coating removal tool via a vacuum line. A method of using the HEPA-qualified coating removal system includes, but is not limited to, the steps of the user putting on appropriate protective equipment, connecting the vacuum line of the HEPA-vacuum to an outlet of the coating removal tool, activating the HEPA-vacuum, using scraping motion of coating removal tool to strip a surface and the resulting loose debris being removed by suction force from the environment, deactivating the HEPA-vacuum, and disposing of the debris collected in the HEPA vacuum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Inventor: James T. Pierson
  • Nozzle for cleaner
    Patent number: 11426041
    Abstract: A nozzle for a cleaner has a nozzle housing, which has a nozzle base and a drain hole for discharging water from the nozzle housing. The nozzle also has a rotary cleaning unit disposed below the nozzle housing. The rotary cleaning unit has a rotation plate that can be attached to a mop. The nozzle has a driving unit that includes a driving motor for driving the rotary cleaning unit. The nozzle also has a control board for controlling the drive motor. In addition, the nozzle has a water tank detachably mounted on an upper side of the nozzle housing. The water tank stores water and supplies the water to the rotary cleaning unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Jinwoo Lee, Chungjae Ryu, Jonghyun Seo
  • Cleaning device
    Patent number: 11426044
    Abstract: Apparatus and method for receiving and holding debris in a collection chamber of a vacuum cleaner. The collection chamber has an inlet opening through which debris-entrained air enters the collection chamber. When the vacuum cleaner is off, an internal valve prevents debris from leaving the collection chamber through the inlet opening. The internal valve is movable from a first sealed position, in which the internal valve covers the chamber inlet opening, to a second unsealed position in which the internal valve does not cover the chamber inlet opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: SharkNinja Operating LLC
    Inventors: Michael Douglas, Samuel Emrys James, Richard Mathias
  • Surface cleaning apparatus
    Patent number: 11426045
    Abstract: A surface cleaning apparatus includes a housing having an elongate axis (H) and supports a suction source, and a dirt separation device having an elongate axis (A). The dirt separation device includes a separator for separating dirt from dirt-laden air, and a dirt collection chamber for receiving separated dirt. The dirt separation device or a part of the dirt separation device is releasably connected to the housing. A passage member that transports dirt-laden air to the dirt separation device has an elongate axis (B). The dirt separation device is pivotally moveable relative to the housing to effect release of the dirt separation device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Inventors: Simon Matthew Pougher, Darren Holmes, Richard Waters, Anna Jaanus, Jose Casella