Patents Examined by Robert Scruggs
  • Patent number: 9504364
    Abstract: A cordless, battery-powered system of cleaning products. The system of cleaning products includes devices such as upright vacuums (e.g., a stick vacuum, a lightweight upright vacuum, etc.), a hand-held vacuum, a carpet-cleaner, a canister vacuum, and the like. Each of the devices is powered by a battery pack which is interchangeable among the devices. The battery pack includes a combination of hardware and software for connecting to, identifying, and communicating with the cleaning products to ensure that each of the products receives the power necessary to ensure optimal performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: Techtronic Floor Care Technology Limited
    Inventors: Brett Reed, Markus Allemann, Doug Rukavina, Mark Reindle, Norm Siegel, Jack W. Gee, Jamie Horvath, Mark Butts
  • Patent number: 9504368
    Abstract: A robot cleaner to perform a cleaning process by changing a traveling pattern according to a cleaning start position and a method for controlling the same are disclosed. The robot cleaner recognizes a current position of the robot cleaner upon receiving the automatic cleaning command. If the automatic cleaning process starts from the charger, the robot cleaner performs the automatic cleaning process using a conventional cleaning method. Otherwise, if the automatic cleaning process starts from the outside of the charger, the robot cleaner changes a traveling pattern, performs the spot cleaning process and then selectively performs the automatic cleaning process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Woo Ram Chung, Jae Man Joo, Dong Won Kim, Jun Pyo Hong, Jae Young Jung, Kyung Hwan Yoo, Hwi Chan Jang
  • Patent number: 9505123
    Abstract: A tool handle includes a cavity to receive a T-handle tool. When the tool handle is placed on the T-handle tool, the tool handle provides a better grip of the tool handle to apply greater torque. The tool handle includes a protrusion which is able to detachably couple with the T-handle tool. Once coupled with the T-handle tool, the tool handle is able to be grasped by a user to rapidly turn the T-handle tool. In some embodiments, the T-handle tool includes an added tool. A tool container is able to store T-handle tools and the tool handle. The tool container includes a locking mechanism to lock the tools in place and a tamper prevention mechanism to ensure the locking mechanism is not tampered with while the tool container is in the store.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: Wagic, Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald L. Johnson, Robert J. Gallegos, Steven Simas Escobar, Anders Scot Hudson, Idriss Mansouri-Chafik Ruiz, Yugen Patrick Lockhart, Howard Allen Wilson, Eric M. Colton
  • Patent number: 9504366
    Abstract: A bare floor cleaner with an upright assembly pivotally mounted to a base assembly, a steam generator, a fluid distributor which distributes steam onto the surface to be cleaned, and a mop cloth provided on the base assembly. The mop cloth is mounted to the base assembly by a mop cloth plate that is removable from the base assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: BISSELL Homecare, Inc.
    Inventors: Gary A. Kasper, Joseph M. White, John L. Jansen, Aaron P. Griffith, Yu Xiaoming, Yang Caiyin
  • Patent number: 9498092
    Abstract: A cleaning brush is composed of a grip, a brush body, and a tightener. The grip includes a mounting portion running through first and second lateral sides and having an opening formed on a top side thereof, and a retaining portion located at third and fourth lateral sides. The brush body is a spherical reticular member formed of a tubular reticulum and includes a central portion passing through the opening and located at the mounting portion. The holds the central portion and the retaining portion for limiting the relative positions of the brush body and the grip. Thus, the brush body is not subject to sliding with respect to the grip to make the cleaning brush have definite perception of touch and preferable cleaning effect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Inventor: Che-Yuan Chang
  • Patent number: 9498613
    Abstract: A rotary tattoo machine with suspended motor give, includes: a frame adapted to receive and support rotary tattoo machine components; a spring mechanism having at least one spring connected to the frame; a D.C. rotary drive motor connected to the at least one spring and rotatably suspended from the spring mechanism relative to the frame, the D.C. rotary drive motor having a drive shaft and a cam extending therefrom; a needle drive mechanism connected to the cam; and, a tattoo needle connected to the needle drive mechanism. There is an optional spring tension adjustment mechanism connected to the at least one spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Inventor: Richard M. Cahill
  • Patent number: 9494318
    Abstract: A device for cleaning a chimney preferably includes a rod assembly, cleaning arms, fan blades, a camera, and a stabilizing/positioning assembly. The cleaning arms are provided on an assembly that includes a rotatable hub with the cleaning arms extending from the hub. The fan blades may also extend from the hub or they may be provided separately. The camera is continuously rotatable around the longitudinal axis to allow an uninterrupted 360° scan of the chimney. The stabilizing/positioning assembly is effective to position the cleaning assembly hub a pre-selected stabilizing/positioning distance from an interior wall of a chimney while the hub rotates in the chimney. The cleaning and fan hub(s) is driven by a cable surrounded by a casing that allows the cable to rotate in the casing without rotating the casing. Controls allow the operator to control the speed and direction of the cleaning arms and the camera.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Inventors: John E. Meredith, Thomas J. Urban
  • Patent number: 9492255
    Abstract: An oral hygiene device includes a handle and a cleaning head supported on one end of the handle. A vibratory source is supported on the handle and is operative to generate vibratory output. A mounting element is disposed between the handle and the vibratory source. A connecting member extends between the vibratory source and the cleaning head, and is adapted to generate motion at the cleaning head in response to the vibratory output generated at the vibratory source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: Access Business Group International LLC
    Inventors: Douglas A. Gall, Craig Saunders, John W. Spirk, John R. Nottingham
  • Patent number: 9492045
    Abstract: A surface cleaning apparatus comprises an air flow passage extending from a dirty air inlet to a clean air outlet, a cyclone positioned in the air flow passage and having a cyclone air inlet, a cyclone air outlet and having a cyclone axis, a suction motor positioned in the air flow passage and having a motor axis, and a filter assembly downstream of the cyclone air outlet and upstream of the suction motor, the filter assembly comprising a longitudinally extending filter axis that may be generally parallel to the cyclone axis, spaced apart longitudinally extending upstream and downstream air flow passages and a longitudinally extending filter media therebetween some. In some embodiments, at least a portion of one of the upstream and downstream air flow passages is positioned interior the filter media.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: Omachron Intellectual Property Inc.
    Inventor: Wayne Ernest Conrad
  • Patent number: 9486064
    Abstract: A brush head component connection system, applied in a personal care utensil, comprises: a brush head component and a motor bracket (11) mounted on a personal care utensil casing (13), a motor (10) disposed in the motor bracket (11), and a seal ring (12) located between the motor bracket (11) and the personal care utensil casing (13). A driving shaft of the motor (10) is disposed in holes at the center of the bottoms of the motor bracket (11), the personal care utensil casing (13) and the seal ring (12), and has an end connected to one end of an eccentric shaft (14). The other end of the eccentric shaft (14) deviates from the central position and is connected to the driving shaft connected onto the brush head component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2016
    Assignee: Zensun (Shanghai) Science & Technology Limited
    Inventor: Mingdong Zhou
  • Patent number: 9475178
    Abstract: An adjustable socket that includes a housing, a rotatable member engageable with the housing such that the rotation of the rotatable member causes the housing to move upwardly or downwardly along the longitudinal axis, an adjusting collar engageable with the rotatable member and the housing, a plurality of jaws, a retainer, and a lock member. Each jaw is received in a corresponding one of apertures of the housing. The lock member is operatively connected with the rotatable member and is constructed and arranged to secure the adjusting collar to the housing and the plurality of jaws. The jaws are movable towards and away from the longitudinal axis of the housing through a range of positions upon the rotation of the rotatable member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: STANLEY BLACK & DECKER, INC.
    Inventors: Thomas Pelletier, Heather Li
  • Patent number: 9457508
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methods for retrofitting a thermoforming trim removal system to utilize a perforated collection bag to collect waste instead of a rigid collection bin. The perforated collection bag can be made of inexpensive, disposable polymeric materials, including those that can be recycled in the same waste stream as the waste, thereby permitting full bags to be discarded without first emptying their waste contents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: EVO Development, LLC
    Inventor: Robert Dean Robbins
  • Patent number: 9451854
    Abstract: A repositionable fluid suction device is disclosed. The device includes a central body and a suction channel located on an underside of the central body extending at least partially around a periphery of the central body. A rim extends downward from the central body, and may define a portion of the suction channel. A fluid collection trough extends at least partially around the periphery of the central body to collect fluids that fall on the upper surface of the central body. The outermost peripheral edge of the suction device may comprise at least one concave portion extending radially inward toward the central body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Inventors: Anthony Scott Diminick, R. Douglas Evans, Jr., Dane R. Jackson, Brian Dennis Kratzer, Matthew A. Romito
  • Patent number: 9453378
    Abstract: A spinner assembly for threading or unthreading tubular members above the floor of a well site has a spinner with an open throat, a plurality of rollers rotatable about a substantially vertical axis, a motor for driving the plurality of rollers, and a plurality of brackets supporting the plurality of rollers. The open throat is suitable for receiving one of the tubular members therein. The spinner housing has a common axis. The plurality of rollers are adapted to engage the tubular member received in the open throat. The brackets are disposed within the spinner housing on opposite sides of the open throat. The brackets are movable inwardly and outwardly of the spinner housing in opposite directions at a substantially straight line along the common axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Inventor: Yaogen Ge
  • Patent number: 9452517
    Abstract: A collapsible torque wrench includes: a shank having a drive head at a front end and two pivoted ends at a rear end; a connection rod, a front end of which being pivotally connected with the first pivoted end; a housing having a tubular body and a casing fixedly disposed on one side of the tubular body, the connection rod being relatively slidably fitted in the tubular body; a torque adjustment mechanism being mounted in the tubular body and including a fixing block, the fixing block being mounted in the tubular body by at least two pins; and a stop member received in the casing. A front end of the stop member is pivotally connected with the second pivoted end. The fixing block is easily demounted from the tubular body for replacement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: KABO TOOL COMPANY
    Inventor: Chih-Ching Hsieh
  • Patent number: 9452465
    Abstract: The present invention relates to wire bending system for a hand tool for forming a controlled bend in a wire. The tool has a wire bending system engaged with a hand tool. The wire bending or shaping system may be open or enclosed, and optionally permits bending in a direction that is perpendicular or coaxial to an axis of a hand tool. The wire bending system may be at either side of the hand tool. A pin may be used to additionally aid bending. The hand tool is provided with a plurality of first and second operably engaged housings for securing a number of tool bits members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Inventors: Wayne Anderson, Warren Anderson
  • Patent number: 9446936
    Abstract: A pneumatically operated opener device includes a holding unit, an air valve unit, an air injection unit, and a mounting member. The holding unit includes a hollow grip and a high pressure nitrogen bottle. The air valve unit includes a valve seat and a compressed nozzle module. The air injection unit includes a hollow air duct, a hollow push rod, and an air injecting needle. The mounting member has a through hole and a hollow slot, and the hollow push rod of the air injection unit is extended through the through hole of the mounting member. Thus, the cork is pushed upward by the thrust force of nitrogen from the high pressure nitrogen bottle and is detached from the wine bottle smoothly so that the cork will not be broken and will not produce chips during the opening process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Inventors: Wei-Tung Kao, Chih-Lin Hsieh
  • Patent number: 9446443
    Abstract: A cutting member for a shaving razor includes an elongated blade portion that tapers to a cutting edge, an elongated base portion that is integral with the blade portion, and a bent portion, intermediate the blade portion and the base portion. In some implementations, at least part of the cutting member has a thickness of at least about 0.005 inch (0.127 millimeter).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: The Gillette Company
    Inventors: William Scott Masek, Matthew Joseph Guay, Michael Joseph Bond, Joseph Allan DePuydt, Ming Laura Xu
  • Patent number: 9445873
    Abstract: A torque-limiting device may include a shaft extending axially through upper and lower shanks and a spring to connect to a nut. The upper and lower shanks may be under a force from the spring and further configured to selectively engage within a predetermined torque limit and disengage at above the predetermined torque limit. Accordingly, the shaft may receive torque up to the predetermined limit as provided by a user operating a handle of the torque-limiting device. The torque-limiting device may be disposable, reusable, economical, and have high torque capabilities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: ECA Medical Instruments
    Inventors: John Nino, David Ivinson
  • Patent number: 9445701
    Abstract: A cleaner and a vertical cleaner are provided. The cleaner includes: a body having a connecting tube; a brush holder, with a rolling brush mounted therein; a motor cover rotatably mounted onto the brush holder around a first axis, defining an accommodating space therein, and having an opening, the connecting tube being configured to connect to the opening rotatably around a second axis different from the first axis; a motor disposed in the accommodating space for driving the rolling brush to rotate relative to the brush holder around a third axis parallel to the first axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: Jiangsu Midea Cleaning Appliances Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Youwei Gu