Patents Examined by Robert Scruggs
  • Patent number: 9445660
    Abstract: An oral care implement comprising at least one tapered bristle. In one embodiment, the invention can be an oral care implement comprising: a handle; a head having a face; a tuft hole in the face, the tuft hole having a polygonal transverse cross-sectional profile; and a bristle tuft mounted in the first tuft hole and extending from the face of the head, the first bristle tuft comprising a plurality of tapered bristles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: COLGATE-PALMOLIVE COMPANY
    Inventors: Thomas Mintel, Douglas Hohlbein
  • Patent number: 9440347
    Abstract: A tool implement with integrated stake puller providing a working tool and a stake puller member for pulling a concrete foundation stake from the ground. A tool implement, such as a hammer, a crowbar, or a mallet, forms a primary body including a handle and a tool head being a respective hammerhead, head of a crowbar, and mallet head. A C-shaped stake puller member is disposed in one of a first position and a second position on the handle and, alternately in a third position on the tool head depending on the type of tool head. Each stake puller member has a puller mouth including a smooth-surfaced inner side, concave top and bottom sections disposed on opposite sides of the inner side, and disposed on each of the top section and the bottom section in a position parallel to each other and perpendicular to the respective handle and alternately tool head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Inventor: James Lopez
  • Patent number: 9439546
    Abstract: A cleaning head for a surface cleaning apparatus has a plurality of struts extending from a front chamber having a dirty air inlet to a rear chamber having a transition duct that is in communication with a filtration apparatus of a surface cleaning apparatus by a dirty fluid outlet. One or more of the struts comprises an airflow passage. In one embodiment, no outer casing is provided surrounding the struts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: Omachron Intellectual Property Inc.
    Inventor: Wayne Ernest Conrad
  • Patent number: 9434219
    Abstract: A tire changing machine including enhanced control features for automated operator of tire change procedures with operator oversight and ability to manually adjust machine operation when desired. Dead man control input, user interfaces and programs for implementing the interfaces, methods for completing tire bead seating, informational displays of wheel rim and tire information, coordinated tool positioning, and automated lubrication features are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: Hunter Engineering Co.
    Inventors: Joel Clasquin, Steven K. Molbach, Douglas S. Hanneken, Micah N. Vaninger, Charlie Polster, Peter N. Liebetreu
  • Patent number: 9427125
    Abstract: A vacuum cleaner has a removable cyclonic separator that includes a cyclone chamber; a dirt-collection chamber, open at one end; and an outlet duct from the cyclone chamber. An open end of the outlet duct is arranged for connection to a motor intake duct on the cleaner, the outlet duct and dirt collection chamber sharing a common wall section which divides the open end of the outlet duct from the open end of the dirt collection chamber. A cover closes off the open end of the dirt collection chamber and can be opened to allow access to the dirt collection chamber for emptying. When the cover is in the closed position, a cover sealing member forms an air seal between the cover and the common wall section. When the outlet duct is connected to the motor inlet duct, an outlet duct sealing member forms an air seal between the ducts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: DYSON TECHNOLOGY LIMITED
    Inventors: Paul Andrew McLuckie, Stuart Lloyd Genn, Jeremy William Crouch
  • Mop
    Patent number: 9427130
    Abstract: A mop comprising a mop head (1) that has at least one cleaning strip (2) is disclosed. The cleaning strip (2) comprises at least one cleaning surface (5) on which raised cleaning islands (6) made of flock fibers are arranged. The cleaning strip (2) is attached to the mop head (1) at one of its ends (3) and has a free end (4). The raised cleaning islands (6) on the at least one cleaning surface (5) of the cleaning strip (2) are arranged at certain distances (7) from each other and are surrounded on all sides by storage spaces (8) for holding dirt. The size of the storage spaces (8) steadily decreases from the end (3) of the cleaning surface (5) facing the mop head (1) in the mopping direction (9) of the free end (4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: Carl Freudenberg KG
    Inventors: Karl-Ludwig Gibis, Norbert Weis, Dieter Philipp, Lars Schmitt
  • Patent number: 9427853
    Abstract: Manufacturing systems and methods are disclosed. In one example, an apparatus to apply a predetermine torque to a fitting having a head and a nut engageable with the head is provided. The apparatus includes a driveshaft, configured to be arranged concentrically with an axis and to be rotatable about the axis, a first socket, configured to be arranged concentrically with the axis and to receive the head, and a second socket, configured to receive the nut and to be rotatable relative to the first socket by the driveshaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: James Eric Brodhead, Raymond L. Kroll, Brenda K. Carlson
  • Patent number: 9427124
    Abstract: A vacuum cleaner comprises a removable dust separator. The dust separator has an inlet duct and an outlet duct. The inlet duct is arranged for fluid connection to a dirt-air duct on the cleaner, and the outlet duct is arranged for fluid connection to a motor intake duct on the cleaner. In accordance with the invention, the inlet duct and outlet duct share a common wall which divides the open ends of the ducts, an inlet duct sealing member is provided for forming an air-seal between the inlet duct and the dirty-air duct, and an outlet duct sealing member is provided for forming an air seal between the outlet duct and the motor intake duct. Both seals are thus required to fail in order to short-circuit the two dirty-air duct and the motor intake duct, despite there being a common wall section between the inlet duct and the outlet ducts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: Dyson Technology Limited
    Inventors: Paul Andrew McLuckie, Stuart Lloyd Genn, Jeremy William Crouch
  • Patent number: 9421675
    Abstract: The invention provides an adjustable torque screwdriver, including a torque input assembly and a torque output assembly, and further including a ratchet pair, which comprises a first ratchet and a second ratchet, respectively having circular teeth. The torque input assembly transmits the torque to the first ratchet, and the second ratchet then transmits the torque to the torque output assembly, and the circular teeth are arranged to enable the ratchet pair to slip either clockwise or counterclockwise, but not to slip in the respective opposite direction. The adjustable torque screwdriver also includes an adjusting assembly and an elastic assembly, the elastic assembly exerting pressure to the ratchet to tightly fit the ratchet pair, the adjusting assembly loading and unloading the elastic assembly, thereby adjusting the exerted pressure and the in-between fitting tightness of the ratchet pair, thus adjusting the torque for the ratchet pair to slip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignees: Hangzhou Great Star Tools Co., Ltd., Hangzhou Great Star Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Wentian Yu
  • Patent number: 9415485
    Abstract: A hand tool, pliers and a lock button assembly for a hand tool. The hand tool includes a first jaw assembly including a first rail, a second jaw assembly including a second rail shorter than the first rail, a pivot member coupling the jaw assemblies for pivoting movement between an open position and a closed position. The lock button assembly includes a first lock button member defining a second rail groove operable to selectively receive the second rail; and a second lock button member separate from and connectable to the first lock button member, the lock button members, when connected, cooperating to define a first rail groove receiving the first rail. The lock button assembly is operable between a locked position, engaging the first and second rails to releasably hold the jaw assemblies in the closed position, and an unlocked position, in which the second rail is disengaged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: MILWAUKEE ELECTRIC TOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Michael S. Steele, Wade Burch
  • Patent number: 9414734
    Abstract: A side brush assembly including a side arm capable of being exposed outside a main body and returning inside the main body and a side brush unit mounted to the side arm, a robot cleaner and a control method of the robot cleaner is provided. The robot cleaner includes a main body and at least one side brush assembly to increase a dust-removing area. The side brush assembly includes a side brush body, a side arm mounted to a bottom surface of the side brush body and configured to be exposed outside the main body, a side brush unit rotatably mounted to the side arm, a lever configured to rotate together with the side arm, a cam configured to rotate by receiving driving force from a driving motor, and an elastic member connecting the lever and the cam to rotate the lever by elastic force thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Joo Sung Moon, Kyung Hwan Yoo, Kyoung Woun Kim, Jeong Gon Song
  • Patent number: 9409286
    Abstract: A screw removal tool may include a tool body, a driving unit and a tool tip, wherein the tool body has a hexagonal shaft, which is connected to a cylindrical pin at a driving end, and the cylindrical pin is connected to a block, and the pin and the block are arranged in an eccentric manner at the driving end; and wherein the driving unit has an eccentric connecting hole that mates with the cylindrical pin of the tool body and the driving unit can be rotated; wherein the tool tip has an eccentric hole that mates with the block, and pressure is applied on the block to prevent the tool tip from falling out.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Inventor: Yang-Ming Hsu
  • Patent number: 9408512
    Abstract: A separator for a vacuum cleaner has a cover part from which webs are projecting which are positioned along the circumference of the cover part at a spacing one behind the other with formation of through openings. At least some of the webs are without connection with each other at the end that is facing away from the cover part. The webs are elastically yielding transversely to the longitudinal direction. The webs are positioned in their mounting position with radial pretension on a spider which is fixedly seated on the motor shaft of the vacuum cleaner. Due to centrifugal forces occurring in operation of the vacuum cleaner as a result of the high rotary speed of the motor shaft, the webs of the separator are positioned with their free ends under high force on the spider. The separator is thus reliably entrained by the spider by friction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: PROAIR GmbH Gerätebau
    Inventor: Paul Roth
  • Patent number: 9408509
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a vacuum including a dust extraction system. The system includes a filter assembly, an airflow generation assembly, and valve assembly. The airflow generation assembly is configured to draw contaminated air toward the filter assembly and exhaust filtered air as a discharge stream. The filter assembly is configured to remove contaminants from the contaminated airflow by capturing particulate material suspended within the airflow. The valve assembly is configured to selectively direct filtered airflow into the filter assembly such that the filtered air stream cleans the filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: Black & Decker Inc.
    Inventors: Barry E. Plato, Jonathan Bianco, Abraham Sanchez, Michael Cieszko, Daryl S. Meredith
  • Patent number: 9402529
    Abstract: The present invention includes a doormat comprising of a base including a mat element and a bottom portion for engaging with a supporting surface; pipes interconnected to each other disposed in a formation, wherein disposed periodically along the pipes is at least one miniature can for receipt of fluid to be piped through the pipes, which themselves include a plurality of holes for the dispensed fluid, to be dispensed therethru when the pressure is exerted on the upper surface element of the doormat, which comprises of a brush member with at least one main aperture for providing access to the at least one miniature can disposed along the pipes and one or a plurality of minor apertures for permitting the dispensed fluid to reach the upper surface thereby eliminating germs from being carried from one location to another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Inventor: Isaac S. Daniel
  • Patent number: 9402518
    Abstract: An operation of a robotic cleaner includes generating at least one map including information regarding a space to be cleaned by using information measured by at least one sensor. The operation also includes setting a cleaning path by using the at least one map, and cleaning according to the cleaning path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Nikolay Burlutskiy
  • Patent number: 9393678
    Abstract: A head bolt tightening tool for a cone crusher head assembly includes a support which is able to support the head assembly non-rotatably on the support, and a reaction arm equipment which is fitted to the support and which is able to hold a head bolt tightening wrench non-rotatably relative to the support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignee: Metso Minerals (France) S.A.
    Inventor: Romain Berthier
  • Patent number: 9392919
    Abstract: A vacuum cleaner comprises an improved dirt separator and collection module, which includes an exhaust grill comprising a plurality of vanes defining inlet passages for guiding working air through the module. At least one of the vanes can define an air exhaust conduit for exhausting working air from the module through the exhaust grill.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignee: BISSELL Homecare, Inc.
    Inventor: Gary A. Kasper
  • Patent number: 9392922
    Abstract: A surface cleaning apparatus has a supply tank for holding a supply of cleaning solution, a spray tip in fluid communication with the supply tank for distributing the cleaning solution to the surface to be cleaned, and a spray tip receiver. A removable connection between the spray tip and spray tip receiver removably mounts the spray tip to the spray tip receiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignee: BISSELL Homecare, Inc.
    Inventor: Kenneth M. Lenkiewicz
  • Patent number: 9388543
    Abstract: A Multi-purpose truck for re-establishment of safe and practicable road conditions, after car accidents, through cleaning of the road platform, said truck being equipped by: several tanks, a high-pressure water gun for spraying cleaning products, a suction system suitable to remove, from the road platform, an emulsion that results from the addition of cleaning products to the debris on the road platform, and tanks containing the resulting emulsion to be temporarily stocked at a location, before being definitely delivered to special and authorized plants for disposal. The power supply, necessary to make the multi-purpose truck work properly, can be directly provided by the engine of the truck and/or any other point of energy transmission in the kinematic chain, or it can be directly provided by a pneumatic circuit previously installed on the same truck. The extracted energy can be used as a power supply for mechanical, electrical, or hydraulic devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: Sicurezza e Ambiente S.p.A.
    Inventor: Angelo Cacciotti