Patents Examined by Robert J Scruggs
  • Vacuum cleaner
    Patent number: 11503970
    Abstract: A vacuum cleaner includes an improved dual-action filter cleaning mechanism using both a rotational flicking action and a vertical shaking action. A debris removal assembly of the vacuum cleaner can include a filter assembly having a first filter and a second filter arranged in a nested configuration, and a filter cleaning mechanism configured to impart a combination of vertical shaking of the first filter and rotational flicking of the second filter. The filter cleaning mechanism can include a camming mechanism configured to simultaneously move the first filter along the axis and rotate the first filter about the axis while the second filter remains stationary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: BISSELL Inc.
    Inventors: Jian Yun Pi, Kan Yuk Yiu
  • Adjustable box wrench
    Patent number: 11504827
    Abstract: The invention comprises an adjustable box wrench that can provide a more accurate grasp and/or sufficient grip/contact with the faces of the head of a bolt, nut, and/or similarly related objects. The invention comprises a series of pins and links which form a loop within a hollow body and are folded onto each other to form a tight gripping surface at the wrench's box ends. The invention may also contain slide-switches and/or scroll knobs to help actuate link closure or guide links within the chamber of the body until the desired set of links is within a box end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: Invaluable Inventions
    Inventors: Kemaal Akber Esmail, Robert Fullerton
  • Central vacuum cleaning system control subsystems
    Patent number: 11503973
    Abstract: Central vacuum cleaning system comprising a vacuum source including: a motor within a motor housing and a motor control circuit connected to the motor; a handle to be held by an operator, a flexible hose for connecting the handle to a conduit system that is connected to the vacuum source; a user input interface at an input location on the handle for controlling an operation of the motor through the motor control circuit; and a communications system to transfer control signals from the user input interface to the motor control circuit wherein the communications system comprises an RF wireless transceiver in the handle, and an RF wireless transceiver at the motor control circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: CUBE INVESTMENTS LIMITED
    Inventor: J. Vern Cunningham
  • Wrench
    Patent number: 11498189
    Abstract: A tool for sealing a workpiece, the workpiece comprising a first component and a second component sharing a rotation axis A, the tool comprising: a fastening head capable of engaging the first component; a first motor operationally coupled to the fastening head; a controller capable of: storing a rotation value representing rotation of the first component a predetermined desired angle around axis A; measuring movement of the first component, and controlling movement of the first motor; the tool, when the fastening head is engaged with the first component, and the second component is essentially immobilized from rotation around axis A, is configured to allow precisely sealing the workpiece by: rotating the first component in a closing direction R toward the second component, according to the rotation value and under the control of the rotation by the controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Inventors: Amir Widmann, Agmon David Porat
  • Vacuum spray apparatus and uses thereof
    Patent number: 11491516
    Abstract: Spray apparatus and uses thereof are described herein. A vacuum spray nozzle apparatus may include a first tube in fluid communication with a fluid source, a rotor coupled to the tube, a conduit in fluid communication with the passages of the first tube, and a second tube coupled to the conduit, the second tube being in fluid communication with a vacuum source. The rotor is in fluid communication with the pressurized fluid source. The conduit is substantially arched or angled such that an outlet of the conduit is offset a radial distance in a radial direction from the rotor axis, and when pressurized fluid is ejected from the outlet, during use, rotates the conduit. The vacuum spray nozzle apparatus is configured to remove components from a material through the second tube when a pressure of the system is reduced using the vacuum source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: ECP Incorporated
    Inventor: Dennis Dehn
  • Securing device for securing press unit to driving member of ratchet wrench
    Patent number: 11484994
    Abstract: A wrench includes a driving unit located in the head of the wrench. A rod extends through the driving member and includes a stepped recess so as to control a bead in the radial hole of the driving member to secure a socket connected to the driving member. A rotary member is connected to the head and includes a room. A locking member is located in the room and locked to the driving member. A fixing area is formed between the locking member and the driving member so as to fix the locking member and the driving member together. The fixing area ensures that locking member is not separated from the driving member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Inventor: Yi-Fu Chen
  • Snap ring pliers
    Patent number: 11478911
    Abstract: A snap ring pliers contain: a handle, a first clamper, a second clamper, two clamp feet, and an adjustment structure. The handle includes a connection column. The first clamper includes a first hollow fitting ring, a first arcuate section, a second arcuate section, and a first straight section. The second clamper includes a second hollow fitting ring, a third arcuate section, a fourth arcuate section, and a second straight section. A respective one clamp foot of the two clamp feet includes a shaft inserted into the first straight section or the second straight section. The adjustment structure includes a first post, a second post, a threaded rod, and a sleeve. A direction of a threaded section of the first threaded orifice is opposite to a direction of a threaded section of the second threaded orifice. The threaded rod has a first screwing section and a second screwing section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Inventor: Pi-Liang Wu
  • Pliers
    Patent number: 11478903
    Abstract: A pliers has jaw portions incorporating gripping faces for the clamping of the desired workpiece, two pivotal handle portions and a sprung toothed strut positioned between the handles. A bow shaped resilient portion, incorporated within the second arm portion, when the pliers are operated this resilient portion imparts a useful superior sprung pressure upon the clamped workpiece by the gripping face of the jaws. The second arm and bend promoting portion are contiguous with each other. The jaws can further be usefully locked in the required clamping position upon the workpiece by a toothed sprung strut pivotally attached to the first and second arms and conveniently being locked or unlocked according to the locking switch pivotal within the first arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Inventor: Nigel Buchanan
  • Surface cleaning apparatus
    Patent number: 11478117
    Abstract: A surface cleaning apparatus comprises a cyclone positioned in an air flow path having a tangential air inlet with an inlet end, an outlet end, a cross-sectional flow area in a direction of flow through the tangential air inlet, a height in a direction of the cyclone axis of rotation and a width in a direction transverse to the height of the tangential air inlet. The air flow path comprises an air flow conduit at the inlet end of the tangential inlet having a cross-sectional flow area in a direction transverse to a direction of flow through the air flow conduit. The cross-sectional flow area of the tangential air inlet is greater than the cross-sectional flow area of the air flow conduit and one of the width and height of the tangential air inlet is greater than the other of the width and height of the tangential air inlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: Omachron Intellectual Property Inc.
    Inventors: Wayne Ernest Conrad, Nina Conrad, Dave Petersen
  • Pliers with improved joint design
    Patent number: 11478902
    Abstract: A hand tool (100) includes a head section (102) including a top jaw (106) and a bottom jaw (108), a handle section (104) including a top handle (112) and a bottom handle (114), and a joint assembly coupling the head section (102) to the handle section (104). The top jaw (106) is coupled to the bottom handle (114) by a first transition portion, and the bottom jaw (108) is operably coupled to the top handle (112) by a second transition portion. The first and second transition portions are pivotally coupled to each other by a pivot pin (140). The first transition portion is disposed on a first side of a longitudinal centerline of the hand tool (100), and at least a majority of the second transition portion is disposed on a second side of the longitudinal centerline such that a width of the first transition portion is less than a width of the second transition portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: APEX BRANDS, INC.
    Inventors: Junwei Zhong, Fengping Zhu, Zhihong Fu, Chen-Hsun Chou
  • Manual tool, and bit and torque sensor used therefor
    Patent number: 11472009
    Abstract: To provide a manual tool excellent in workability and operability and capable of precise tightening torque management, a manual tool includes a grip including a bit holding part that detachably holds a bit, and a torque sensor that is of a magnetostrictive type, and includes a detecting part that is penetrated by the bit held by the bit holding part and surrounds an outer periphery of the bit, the torque sensor is capable of contactlessly detecting a torque acting on the bit, and is detachably provided to the grip. The torque sensor can be configured to be formed so as to be mountable to the grip with the bit mounted to the bit holding part of the grip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignees: FUJIKIN INCORPORATED, SASADA MAGNETICS AND SENSORS LABORATORY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Akihiro Harada, Masahiko Ochiishi, Tsutomu Shinohara, Ichiro Sasada
  • Gripper jaws and blades for an insulation stripper, and insulation stripper
    Patent number: 11469576
    Abstract: Gripper jaws for an insulation stripper have a gripping surface and an attachment extension with ribs which run transversely to a longitudinal direction of a cable to be gripped when the gripping surfaces are fitted, and have groove-like recesses corresponding to the ribs and running between the latter. When the gripper jaws are fitted, the ribs can enter into the recesses of the opposing gripper jaw in accordance with the thickness of the cable to be gripped. Blades for an insulation stripper have, on their free ends that run into a blade tip with an acute angle in cross-section, a contour line which has a depression, when seen from a side view in which the contour line forms the termination line of the blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: Rennsteig Werkzeuge GmbH
    Inventors: Georg Holland-Moritz, Michael Brueckner, Ralf Legler
  • Socket-based driving tool with retractable non-marring cover
    Patent number: 11465444
    Abstract: A driving tool includes an elongate socket body, and a non-marring cover around the socket body. The socket body includes a socket compatible with lug nuts, and a driver adaptor behind the socket. The cover is supported on the socket body for axial extension and axial retraction ahead of the socket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Dave Bruni, Natalie P. Suthern, David E. Wojtowicz
  • One-handed pipe wrench
    Patent number: 11458601
    Abstract: A truly one-handed operable pipe wrench is provided which includes a handle having a first end and a second end, a fixed jaw disposed at the second end of the handle, and a rotatable jaw pivotally attached to the second end of the handle. The rotatable jaw includes a first engaging end and a second driven end. A lever arm is pivotally attached to the handle. The lever arm includes a handle portion and an actuating portion. When the lever arm rotates relative to the handle, the actuating portion is in contact with the second driven end of the rotatable jaw causing the rotatable jaw to rotate relative to the second end of the handle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: JS Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Chungeng Chen
  • Powered ratcheting torque wrench
    Patent number: 11453105
    Abstract: A power tool comprises a housing defining a grip portion, a motor having a motor drive shaft, a drive assembly including a crankshaft configured to receive torque from the motor drive shaft, an output assembly having an output member configured to receive torque from the crankshaft, a bearing rotatably supporting the crankshaft, a retainer configured to prevent translation of the bearing along the crankshaft past the retainer, and a transducer assembly disposed between the grip portion and the output member to measure the amount of torque applied through the output member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: MILWAUKEE ELECTRIC TOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Wyatt R. Silha, Jacob P. Schneider, John S. Dey, IV, Hans T. Banholzer, Qiang Wei Li, Pu Shao Zhang, Qian Guo Qin
  • Oral care implement and filament for the same
    Patent number: 11445810
    Abstract: A mechanically tapered bristle filament for an oral care implement. The filament is characterized by a long thin tapered end portion. The tapered end portion has a taper length and tip diameter comparable to chemically tapered filaments. The areal surface roughness of the tapered end portion however is greater than chemically tapered filaments thereby producing increased scrubbing action against the surfaces of the teeth. The foregoing taper and roughness characteristics of the present filament enhance inter-dental cleaning effectiveness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: Colgate-Palmolive Company
    Inventors: Stephen Nelson, Alan Sorrentino
  • Torque limiting ratchet wrench
    Patent number: 11440169
    Abstract: A fastener driving device including an elongate shaft extending between the driving head and the handle is provided that has a torque limiting mechanism disposed partially within the handle and extending through the elongate shaft into engagement with the driving head. The torque limiting mechanism enables the driving head to drive the fastener into the substrate without exerting more than a predetermined maximum torque on the fastener, thereby avoiding damage from being done to the fastener and/or the substrate. A ratcheting mechanism is disposed within a torque gear of the torque limiting mechanism to provide a ratcheting function to the tool with a small profile for the tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: Gauthier Biomedical, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael T. Gauthier, Kyle Berndt, Joseph Weasler
  • Quick reciprocating wrench
    Patent number: 11440165
    Abstract: A quick reciprocating wrench includes a main body, a claw, and an elastic device therebetween. The main body includes a first jaw opening having a pivot end and a block portion. The claw includes a second jaw opening having a pivotal combination portion and a retaining portion. The pivotal combination portion is pivotally connected with the pivot end, so the claw and the main body pivotally move against each other. The fastener is engaged in the first and the second jaw openings. Distance between the block portion and the neighboring force bearing face of the fastener decreases along a direction in opposite to the expansion direction of the claw and the block portion. The largest width of the distal end of the retaining portion is greater than the smallest distance between the block portion and the first force bearing face of the fastener.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Inventor: Bobby Hu
  • Backup wrenches
    Patent number: 11440168
    Abstract: A reaction torque limiting backup wrench arrangement (1) has at least one fastener engaging means e.g. spanner (6) or socket (170), for a pressure boundary bolted joint nut (5) of a respective fastener (3). The backup wrench arrangement provides a reaction torque up to a threshold above which rotation allowed by motion of the fastener engaging means is determined by a magnitude of the reaction torque and force deflection characteristic of a biasing arrangement acting directly or indirectly on the fastener engaging means. Tension in the flexible tension element e.g. chain (7) urges the spanner (6) onto the nut (5) of the fastener permitting the spanner to displace when torque transmitted through a bolt to the nut or bolt head within the spanner exceeds a threshold torque, enabling the nut or bolt head to rotate, helping prevent bolt over-tightening, and helping indicate the bolt seizing or galling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: Integrity Engineering Solutions Pty Ltd
    Inventor: Ian Warren Brown
  • Joint-disconnecting tool
    Patent number: 11433508
    Abstract: A joint-disconnecting tool includes a clamp and a controller. The clamp includes a case, two branches, a pin and two linking elements. Each of the branches includes a lever extending in the case and a jaw extending out of the case. The pin connects the levers to the case. Each of the linking elements includes an end pivotally connected to one of the levers in the case. The controller includes two handles, a wire, a sheath and a spring. The handles are pivotally connected to each other. The wire includes an end connected to one of the handles and another end connected to another end of each of the linking elements. The sheath wraps the wire except for the ends. The sheath includes an end abutted against another one of the handles and another end abutted against the case. The spring tends to push the linking elements from the case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: Chien Yu Hong Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Chang-Ta Tsai