Patents Examined by Marc Carlson
  • Cleaning device
    Patent number: 11426038
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for cleaning a surface with a cleaning device having a body with a handle, a connector, and one or more cleaning heads that are removably attached to the cleaning device. Each cleaning head include a lower surface arranged to contact a surface to be cleaned and a dirt collection chamber permanently attached to the cleaning head. The cleaning head may include a support structure to support the dirt collection chamber and a cleaning sheet. The cleaning head also may include a suction nozzle. At least a portion of the dirt collection chamber may be made of a filter material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: SharkNinja Operating LLC
    Inventors: Samuel Emrys James, Michael James Douglas, David Stephen Clare, Chris Pinches, Nicholas James Sardar, Hugh James Croggon, Damian Lee
  • Optical indicium for communicating information to autonomous devices
    Patent number: 11426046
    Abstract: A beacon for a robotic cleaner may include a housing and an optical indicium having an optical pattern. The optical indicium may be coupled to the housing and be viewable by a camera of the robotic cleaner. After observing the optical indicium, the robotic cleaner may be caused to carry out an action associated with at least a portion of the optical pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: SharkNinja Operating LLC
    Inventors: Melinda L. Liggett, Adam Leech, Catriona C. A. Sutter, Isaku D. Kamada
  • Detection device
    Patent number: 11412903
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a detection system whereby a virus or the like can be effectively detected in order to suppress the spread of infectious disease by the virus or the like. The detection system according to the present disclosure includes an autonomous collection device that is capable of moving on a floor surface and for collecting an object on the floor surface, and a station device for detecting an analyte from the object collected from the floor surface by the autonomous collection device. The autonomous collection device includes a moving part for moving on the floor surface, a primary electric blower for sucking the object on the floor surface, and a dust container for storing the sucked object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Nakayama, Mikiya Nakata
  • Dust cup and handheld vacuum cleaner
    Patent number: 11412902
    Abstract: Provided are a dust cup and a handheld vacuum cleaner, which includes a cyclone filter is provided within the dust cup; a filter component is arranged within the cyclone filter; a dust cup base cover is provided at the bottom of the dust cup; an opening is provided on the dust cup base cover; and the filter component is capable of being directly mounted or removed at the bottom of a dust cup via the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: TINECO INTELLIGENT TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Zhiwei Zhang, Huaiqiang Ren
  • Electric vacuum cleaning apparatus
    Patent number: 11406236
    Abstract: An electric vacuum cleaning apparatus includes a station and an electric vacuum cleaner connectable/disconnectable from the station. The electric vacuum cleaner includes: a coarse-dust collecting chamber that accumulates coarse dust separated with a first separator; a filter chamber that accumulates fine dust separated with a filter; a coarse-dust waste-outlet that discharges the coarse dust from the coarse-dust collecting chamber; a fine-dust waste-outlet adjacent to the coarse-dust waste-outlet and discharges the fine dust from the filter chamber; and a waste-outlet lid that opens/closes both the coarse-dust waste-outlet and fine-dust waste-outlet together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: TOSHIBA LIFESTYLE PRODUCTS & SERVICES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masatoshi Tanaka, Satoshi Goto, Yukio Machida
  • Dust cup shutter for robotic cleaner
    Patent number: 11399678
    Abstract: A robotic cleaner may include a body, an agitator chamber within the body, an agitator disposed within the agitator chamber, a dust cup removably coupled to the body, the dust cup including a debris inlet, the debris inlet fluidly coupling the dust cup to the agitator chamber, and a shutter configured to transition between a cleaning position and an evacuation position in response to rotational movement of the agitator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: SharkNinja Operating LLC
    Inventor: Simon Wells
  • Information processing method, information processing apparatus and computer-readable recording medium storing information processing program
    Patent number: 11399682
    Abstract: An information processing method in a server device includes obtaining first information on an object to be sucked by a self-propelled vacuum cleaner, specifying a first article constituted by the object to be sucked based on the first information, specifying a second article relating to the first article based on second information on the first article and third information on an owner of the first article, and outputting fourth information on the specified second article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY CORPORATION OF AMERICA
    Inventor: Takanori Ogawa
  • Upright surface treatment apparatus having removable pod
    Patent number: 11399675
    Abstract: A reconfigurable surface treatment apparatus may include a wand and a pod removably coupled to the wand. The wand may have a first distal end that is configured to couple to a surface cleaning head and a second distal end that is configured to couple to a handle. The pod may include a suction motor assembly cavity, a battery cavity, and a dust cup cavity. The suction motor assembly cavity and the battery cavity may be disposed on opposing sides of a vertical plane, wherein the vertical plane extends along a central longitudinal axis of the pod. The dust cup cavity may be disposed between the suction motor assembly cavity and the battery cavity such that at least a portion of the dust cup cavity is disposed on each side of the vertical plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: SharkNinja Operating LLC
    Inventors: Scott B Niedzwecki, Andre D. Brown, Mingshun (Aaron) Su, Robert Yang, Lee M. Cottrell, Patrick Cleary
  • Universal gutter guard cleaning brush
    Patent number: 11388983
    Abstract: A brush with bristles attached to multiple sides is designed to clean any gutter guard type that is manufactured today, including reverse curve type gutter guards. The brush has a main body of reverse-oriented bristles and accommodates an extension pole on the “reverse” side. When placed on top of the gutter guard, the brush can be pushed/pulled back and forth using the pole to dislodge any unwanted debris attached to the gutter guard's working surface. The use of the pole removes the need for a person to be on the roof when attempting to clean the gutter and/or gutter guard. With multiple bristle orientations, the brush cart be used for other outdoor cleaning uses, such as house fixtures, structures, windows and so forth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: GUTTERGLOVE, INC.
    Inventor: Robert C. Lenney
  • Predictive maintenance of mobile cleaning robot
    Patent number: 11382473
    Abstract: Described herein are systems and methods for assessing a health status of a cleaning head assembly in a mobile cleaning robot. The mobile robot includes motorized cleaning member that rotatably engages a floor surface to extract debris. An exemplary system includes a processor circuit that receives robot data produced by the mobile cleaning robot traversing an environment, determines a robot parameter using a portion of the received robot data corresponding to a floor area having a specific surface condition traversed repeatedly by the mobile cleaning robot, and determines a state of the cleaning head and an estimate of remaining useful life of the cleaning head based on the robot parameter. The determined state of the cleaning head system can be provide to a user via a user interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: iRobot Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel J. Burns, Teresa Borcuch
  • Vacuum cleaner
    Patent number: 11375864
    Abstract: A vacuum cleaner includes a head assembly including a housing and a fan arranged in the housing. A dust storage barrel and a filter assembly are arranged below the head assembly, the dust storage barrel being detachably connected to the head assembly. A switch is provided for controlling the fan located in the housing. A side wall of the housing has a cavity defined by an opening. A switch trigger is provided for turning on or turning off the switch and is located in the cavity so that no part of the switch trigger extends outwardly past an outer contour of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: Skybest Electric Appliance Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Xiaoxian Bian, Haiping Liu, Miao Wu
  • Powered toothbrush bristle head
    Patent number: 11376106
    Abstract: A powered toothbrush and toothbrush head comprise a transmission housing; a substantially disk-shaped bristle carrier; a plurality of first bristle tufts arranged on the bristle carrier along a first virtual circle; and a plurality of second bristle tufts arranged on the bristle carrier along a second virtual circle, the second virtual circle being concentric with and having a smaller diameter than the first virtual circle, wherein each of the plurality of first bristle tufts includes a plurality of bristles of a first type, having a tapered form.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: SUNSTAR AMERICAS, INC.
    Inventors: Supinda Watcharotone, Toru Saito, Jonathan Gum
  • Cleaner stand and cleaning apparatus having the same
    Patent number: 11375862
    Abstract: A cleaner stand configured to separate only a cleaner body by holding a suction unit or configured to separate the cleaner body coupled to the suction unit by releasing a hold on the suction unit, according to a separation direction of the cleaner body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Gi Hoon Ko, Yeon Young Nam
  • Vacuum cleaner including filter cleaning device
    Patent number: 11363927
    Abstract: A vacuum cleaner including a housing, a suction inlet, a suction source, a collector and a filtering unit. The housing includes a suction airflow through the housing. The suction source draws the suction airflow through the suction inlet. The collector receives debris separated from the suction airflow and is disposed between the suction inlet and the suction source. The filtering unit includes a filter, a retractable member, and a biasing member, where the retractable member is operable in directions towards and away from the filter for supplying momentary impact to the filter for providing agitations to rid the filter from debris. The biasing member urges the retractable member towards the filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Assignee: MILWAUKEE ELECTRIC TOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jonathan M. Mantes, Fraizier Reiland, Anthony R. Sleck
  • Holder for vacuum cleaner dust container
    Patent number: 11363926
    Abstract: A vacuum cleaner dust container holder for holding a dust container having a connector plate. The holder has an insert slot configured to receive the connector plate of the dust container and configured to hold the connector plate in a working position within a vacuum cleaner during use of the vacuum cleaner. The insert slot is configured to bend at least a first portion of the connector plate upon insertion of the connector plate into the insert slot, or configured to bend at least a first portion of the connector plate after insertion of the connector plate into the insert slot. A connector plate for a vacuum cleaner dust container, and a vacuum cleaner comprising a holder are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Inventors: Bert Scheufen, Patrik Werius, Simon Faremo
  • Cleaner holder
    Patent number: 11363928
    Abstract: A cleaner holder includes a charging stand having a battery accommodating space formed therein in which a battery detachably mounted to a cleaner is accommodated, wherein the battery accommodating space includes: a charging port selectively in contact with a battery terminal provided in the battery; a battery guide configured to perform guiding such that the battery comes into contact with the charging port; and an inlet which extends toward an upper side of the battery guide and through which the battery is inserted or withdrawn, and an upper end of the inlet is higher than an upper end of the battery accommodated in the battery accommodating space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Namhee Kim, Jinju Kim, Bohyun Nam, Sehwan Bae, Jungbae Hwang
  • Vacuum cleaner and filter for a vacuum cleaner
    Patent number: 11363922
    Abstract: A vacuum cleaner including a suction inlet, a conduit in fluid communication with the suction inlet, a filter having a valve releasably connected to a filter inlet, the filter configured to collect debris drawn through the suction inlet. The vacuum cleaner further comprising a release mechanism moveable from a first position to a second position. In the first position, the filter is in fluid communication with the conduit to collect debris with the valve being open, and in the second position, the filter is disconnected from the conduit with the valve being closed. Movement of the release mechanism between the first and second positions closes the valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Assignee: Techtronic Floor Care Technology Limited
    Inventors: Roderick Burgess, Robert Patrick Warren, Joseph M. Lehman, Garry Fee, Michael Bloom, William Jacob Kozlowski, Jr., Steven Marcus
  • Rotary boom with snow and ice removal system
    Patent number: 11359342
    Abstract: A rotary broom assembly is provided for use with a vehicle to reduce the accumulation of ice and snow on the rotary broom assembly when clearing paved surfaces, such as airport runways. The rotary broom assembly includes one or more wiper assemblies that are mounted for reciprocating movement along a broom hood. The broom hood includes a generally flat top surface and the wiper assemblies move along the top surface to clear snow and ice from the top surface of the broom hood. During forward movement of the wiper blade, the scraping edge of the wiper blade contacts the top surface of the broom hood to remove accumulated ice and snow. During the reverse movement of the wiper blade, the scraping edge of the wiper blade is lifted from the top surface to reduce removal of accumulated ice and snow during the reverse movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: Alamo Group Inc.
    Inventors: Rikos A. Kasim, Ted N. Tadysak
  • Information processing method, information processing apparatus and computer-readable recording medium storing information processing program
    Patent number: 11357376
    Abstract: An information processing method in a server device includes obtaining first information obtained by at least one of one or more sensors installed in a space, detecting the breakage of an article present in the space based on the first information, estimating a situation where the breakage of the article occurred based on the first information, and outputting second information for causing a self-propelled device to perform a predetermine operation in the space according to the estimated situation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Corporation of America
    Inventors: Takanori Ogawa, Masashi Koide
  • Suction material collecting station, system made from a suction material collecting station and a suction cleaner, and a method for the same
    Patent number: 11357373
    Abstract: A suction material collecting station for regenerating a filter chamber of a suction cleaner has an interface for connecting to the suction cleaner, a suction material collection container, a fan for generating a negative pressure in the suction material collection container, and an electric motor for driving the fan so that suction material contained in the filter chamber may be conveyed into the suction material collection container. The suction material collecting station has a control and evaluation unit that calculates a surroundings disturbance parameter and controls the operation of the electric motor automatically, depending on the surroundings disturbance parameter and a device parameter of the suction cleaner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: Vorwerk & Co. Interholding GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Buening, Benjamin Fleczok, Robert Frielinghaus, Martin Helmich, Lorenz Hillen, Christian Holz, Gerhard Isenberg, Andrej Mosebach, Roman Ortmann, Kevin Schmitz, Fabian Vitz, Niklas Van Teeffelen, Georg Hackert