Patents Examined by Shay L Balsis
  • Patent number: 7120961
    Abstract: A brush wear adjustment system for use in a powered street sweeper to provide for consistent sweeping performance where wear of rotary brush bristles is constantly sensed and the rotational speed of the rotary brush is automatically increased to maintain a desired bristle tip speed to maintain desirable sweeping attributes. Rotary brush support arm angular displacement is monitored in order for an electro-hydraulic controller to influence rotational speed of the rotary brush and to provide a readout relative to bristle length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2006
    Assignee: Tennant Company
    Inventors: Steven L. Boomgaarden, Robert J. Erko, Michael S. Wilmo, Scott A. Kroll
  • Patent number: 7117554
    Abstract: A lateral transmission casing (6) for a self-propelled running swimming pool cleaner, comprises a housing, an input shaft provided with elements for removable coupling with a clutch shaft (2) of the apparatus, at least an output shaft provided with elements for removable coupling with a running member (13, 14) of the apparatus, elements for transmitting the powering rotary movement between the input shaft and each output shaft, the housing bearing and guiding the shafts and the transmission elements. Detachable mounting elements enable the casing to be rigidly and removably fixed (6) into a single-piece assembly on the side of the apparatus. The invention also concerns an apparatus equipped with such a casing (6), and its maintenance method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2006
    Assignee: Zodiac Pool Care Europe
    Inventor: Philippe Pichon
  • Patent number: 7117555
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a powered toothbrush with two moving bristle bearing parts, the first such part is disc-shaped and rotates or oscillates back-and-forth, the second such part is coupled to the brush head by an elastomeric material, such that the second section can be moved either by the force of brushing or by selective engagement with the drive mechanism of the toothbrush.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2006
    Assignee: Colgate-Palmolive Company
    Inventors: Joseph Edward Fattori, John J. Gatzemeyer, Eyal Eliav
  • Patent number: 7096530
    Abstract: An extendable handle for a paint applicator includes an first shaft having a distal end and a proximal end and a second shaft with a distal end and a proximal end and which is telescopically disposed within the first shaft. A guide block is disposed on the second shaft and defines a curved channel. A third shaft has a distal end and a proximal end and is telescopically disposed within the second shaft. An advancement strip has a first end connected to the distal end of the first shaft and a second end connected to the proximal end of the third shaft and is disposed through the curved channel of the guide block. The advancement strip can both push and pull the third shaft relative to the second shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2006
    Assignee: Newell Operating Company
    Inventor: Matthew G. Goulet
  • Patent number: 7086117
    Abstract: A grill rack cleaning device is disclosed for efficiently cleaning grill racks having parallel metal rods. The cleaning device comprises a rigid main body and plurality of substantially cylindrical clip members. The clip members are spaced apart from each other in transverse direction; and are secured to said main body in a parallel manner with respect to the longitudinal direction. The clip member comprises a thin, elastically deflectable and substantially cylindrical wall member which surrounds a substantially cylindrical hollow interior, and has an opening along the longitudinal direction. The clip members are sized such that the circular cross section of the hollow interior is approximately the same as the circular cross section of the metal rods in a grill rack to be cleaned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2006
    Inventor: Daniel Howard Lann
  • Patent number: 7082638
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an electromotive toothbrush and more particularly, to an electromotive toothbrush, comprising upper and lower tooth covers surrounding and covering upper and lower teeth, respectively, and having bristles formed at a surface contacting the teeth; a first driving rod combined with a surface of the upper and lower tooth covers where there are no bristles; a second driving rod combined with a left side of a surface of the upper and lower tooth covers where there are bristles; a third driving rod combined with a left side of a surface of the upper and lower tooth covers where there are bristles; a plurality of sensors independently sensing positions of the first, second, and third driving rods; reciprocation means driving the first driving rod and the second and third driving rods in opposite directions to move the upper and lower tooth covers in opposite directions and thereby clean the teeth, the reciprocation means driven by power supplied from a motor, in response to position
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2006
    Inventor: Kyung-Yong Koh
  • Patent number: 7076825
    Abstract: A floor machine for cleaning floors with a rotary brush or buffer includes (1) a base assembly having a motor and skirt with no frame and (2) a handle and frame assembly. The frame/handle assembly can readily be attached to the base assembly by a simple engagement of the frame to a support mounted on the housing of the motor. This permits (1) the handle and frame assembly to be packaged in a shipping carton which need only be tall enough to accommodate the wheel diameter of the handle/frame assembly and (2) the base assembly of motor and skirt to be packaged in a second carton having a size which need only accommodate such base/motor and skirt assembly with no significant wasted space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2006
    Assignee: NSS Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventor: Jeffery R. Fellhauer
  • Patent number: 7059008
    Abstract: Disclosed is a brush for cleaning toilet bowls and the like. The brush has a permanent handle and can be used with a replaceable/disposable brush head that is flushable after use. The brush is a stack of sheets of water-dissolvable material. The sheets are compressed to both bind them together into a stack. There is a longitudinal slit in the rear of the brush head to create left and right rear attachment tabs. A wand provides a remote system for clamping and unclamping the brush head. The wand has a jaw whose mouth has two wedge shaped teeth that are offset from each other to clamp the corresponding tabs while driving the tabs in opposite directions in the jaw.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2006
    Assignee: S.C. Johnson & Son, Inc.
    Inventors: Terra J. Morgan, Douglas A. Soller, Kenneth W. Michaels, Peter M. Neumann
  • Patent number: 7055205
    Abstract: The toothbrush can prevent harmful effects that the conventional toothbrushes frequently give and is composed of disintegratable or replaceable parts, so that a user can select an optimum toothbrush by combining suitable parts depending on the individual user's specificity. The toothbrush contains a head having bristles implanted therein, a neck having the head attached to the distal end thereof and a holder for holding the neck. The head is a single piece or is composed of a plurality of head segments. The holder is provided at the distal end thereof with an adjuster for adjusting the length of the neck protruding from the holder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2006
    Inventor: Yoshihiro Aoyama
  • Patent number: 7055203
    Abstract: A tube cleaning machine for industrial smooth bore tubes and enhanced tubes in which the machine includes a rotary brush with means for selecting brush rotary speed for optimum cleaning of the smooth bore and enhanced tubes, and in which the machine includes a water side and a chemical side for supplying a cleaning medium to tubes being cleaned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2006
    Assignee: Goodway Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Joseph J Franzino
  • Patent number: 7055204
    Abstract: A cleaning device having a support pad with a planar side and a side opposed to the planar side. An electrostatic cleaning sheet is detachably secured across the planar side of the pad. An elongated arm is secured at one end to the opposed side of the support pad. An elongated handle has one end secured to the other end of the arm by a locking joint which selectively locks the handle to the arm at a plurality of predetermined angular positions. A rubber blade which forms a squeegee is also secured to the opposed side of the support pad.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2006
    Assignee: The Evercare Company
    Inventor: Sherry Ajluni
  • Patent number: 7051397
    Abstract: A multi-use tool device is provided with an actuator that is moveable to turn a tool relative to the tool device to change the angle of attack of the tool to the work or to change to a different work surface on the fool. Further, the tool device is releasably connected to the tool without the use of threaded fasteners or wrenches. An actuator on the tool is moved to release the tool and preferably to push the tool from the tool device so that the user need not touch a dirty or spent tool that may be coated with an adhesive, mastic or the like. Conversely, the tool may be attached by pushing the tool relative to the tool device. Also, the preferred tool is made in one piece with a connecting portion and a turning portion thereon. The illustrated tool has an upstanding post and angularly spaced teeth that cooperate with the tool device to allow the connected tool to be turned relative to the tool body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2006
    Assignee: Master Products, Inc.
    Inventors: George Smeja, Michael V. Smeja, Troy Livingston
  • Patent number: 7047585
    Abstract: A power tool in accordance with the invention includes a housing having a handle connected to the housing in at least one position and extending about the rear of the housing with first and second end portions positioned at least in part off the sides of the housing such that the handle allows an operator a range of locations about the housing to facilitate an effective two-handed grip to maintain control over the power tool. The power tool may include an actuator, such as a switch, to regulate power supplied to the tool's motor, and may automatically shift to deactivate the power tool when an unintentional impact above a predetermined magnitude is received by the power tool. The power tool may also include a recess for maintaining an accessory tool and may be designed so that it is both statically and dynamically balanced in order to provide a balanced tool both at rest and during operation, and in order to reduce the amount of vibration experienced by an operator during use of the tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2006
    Assignee: WMH Tool Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher T. Boyer, John T. Gerritsen, Mark R. Lytell, Joel G. Delman, Peter J. Kopec
  • Patent number: 7043791
    Abstract: An applicator suitable for applying various powders and liquids in the fields of cosmetics, writing, painting, and medical treatment etc, which is particularly preferred as a make-up instrument such as a chip or a brush for applying eye shadow, and to a method of producing the applicator. The applicator has one or two coating parts obtained by grinding the peripheral part of either or both ends of an applicator main body which is made by bonding a fiber bundle with a synthetic resin solution, and a holding part being the unground middle part of the applicator main body, wherein the applicator main body impregnated with the resin solution is dried by hot air and the solvent in the resin solution is removed, thereby the resin is unevenly distributed and exists more in the peripheral part, and the peripheral part becomes harder than the central part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2006
    Assignee: Aubex Corporation
    Inventor: Yuko Saito
  • Patent number: 7032270
    Abstract: A toilet cleaning apparatus and caddy is provided which includes a tool which may be held in a user's hand. A swab, which is flushable down the toilet after the cleaning process is complete, is provided which is easily attached and detached from the tool. The tool is movable to a number of operative positions which assist in the loading, holding, or removal of the swab. A caddy is also provided which can hold the tool as well as unused swabs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2006
    Assignee: Novalabs, LLC
    Inventors: Marc. L. Vitantonio, Renard J. Passerell, Robert Soreo, Daniel J. Wanhainen, John R. Nottingham, John W. Spirk
  • Patent number: 7028366
    Abstract: An angular notched trowel applies a bonding material uniformly to a substrate. The angular notched trowel contains: (a) a top plate; (b) a notched plate connected along and descending from the trailing edge of the top plate; (c) a handle connected to the upper surface of the top plate, and (d) a descending member connected to the lower surface of the top plate or the handle. The bottom of the descending member is located so that the spread section is substantially free of gaps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2006
    Inventor: Allen R. Brozoska
  • Patent number: 7013523
    Abstract: A bathing ball is constructed to include a first endless tube of lace-like fabric, a second endless tube of lace-like fabric, a first binder fastened to the first endless tube of lace-like fabric to tie up a middle part of the first endless tube of lace-like fabric, for enabling the first endless tube of lace-like fabric to be stretched into a first spherical body, and a second binder fastened to a middle part of the second endless tube of lace-like fabric and the tied up middle part of the first endless tube of lace-like fabric, for enabling the second endless tube of lace-like fabric to be stretched into a second spherical body around the periphery of the first spherical body
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2006
    Inventor: Che-Yuan Chang
  • Patent number: 7010826
    Abstract: A substrate cleaning tool having little particle sticking to the tool and a substrate cleaning apparatus having the substrate cleaning tool are provided. The substrate cleaning tool 23 has a plurality of thready brush members 46 in a bundle. The brush members 46 are capable of passing cleaning liquid through and ejecting the cleaning liquid through respective surfaces of the members 46. In operation, the substrate cleaning tool 23 is brought into contact with a substrate W in their relative movement in order to clean the substrate W. As the cleaning liquid is ejected from the surfaces of the brash members 46, particles are washed away from the surfaces of the brash members 46. Consequently, it is possible to eliminate a possibility that the particles etc. are transferred to the substrate W.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2006
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Keizo Hirose, Kenji Sekiguchi
  • Patent number: 6996872
    Abstract: A paint roller tray includes a paint roller reservoir adjacent one end and a roll off area sloping upwardly away from the paint roller reservoir. The slope of the roll off area is maintained by a support member longitudinally spaced from the paint roller reservoir. The support member is comprised of one or more compartments each having a closed bottom and open top, and an inner wall extending above the upper end of the roll off area to separate each compartment from the roll off area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2006
    Assignee: The Wooster Brush Company
    Inventor: Steven C. Tennant
  • Patent number: 6990706
    Abstract: A toothbrush having a head which carries a dental cleaning tool, and a grip handle, the head and handle being disposed along a longitudinal head-handle axis, the toothbrush having a resiliently flexible structure which can resiliently bend under the action of toothbrushing pressure and having adjustment means comprising a longitudinally moveable stiffening member which can be moved longitudinally into greater or lesser engagement with the resiliently flexible structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2006
    Assignees: GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare GmbH & Co KG, M&C Schiffer GmbH
    Inventors: Gerd Broecker, Matthias Georgi, Berthold Meyer, Wolf-Dieter Müller