Patents Examined by Shay L. Karls
  • Patent number: 7743453
    Abstract: The invention relates to a wiping device for wiping surfaces to be cleaned, especially floor surfaces, comprising a plate-type or frame-type wiping element holder (1), preferably in an essentially long, rectangular form, and a wiping element (4) consisting of textile material or the like, which is adapted and fixed to the wiping element holder (1). Said wiping element (4) respectively comprises, on the upper side facing the wiping element holder (1), close to the two opposing sides, and close to the narrow sides in the long, rectangular form, a narrow fixing strip (5), which is applied with its ends to the wiping element (5) [sic]. Said fixing strip extends approximately transversally on the wiping element holder (1) when the wiping element (4) is fixed to the same (1). Position fixing arrangements are provided on the wiping element holder (1), where the fixing strips (5) should extend when the wiping element is fixed (4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2010
    Assignee: Ecolab Inc.
    Inventors: Franz Kresse, Heiko Faubel
  • Patent number: 7739768
    Abstract: A device with a squeegee configuration and an absorbent material positioned between protruding squeegee walls for treating a working surface with wiping edges of the squeegee configuration and the absorbent material is disclosed. A device, in accordance with the invention, comprises a curved squeegee and means for coupling the curved squeegee to a spray nozzle for wiping the working surface with edges of the curved squeegee and spray the working surface with the spray nozzle. A system, in accordance with the invention, comprises a vacuum source, a liquid source and an applicator head with squeegees and apertures wherein a portion the apertures are configured to couple the vacuum source and draw a vacuum on a working surface and a second portion of the apertures are configured to couple to the liquid source and deliver a liquid to the working surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2010
    Inventor: James A. Gavney, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7735179
    Abstract: The present invention includes a toothbrush having a handle attached to a head. The head may rotate positions relative to the handle to improve brushing of both teeth and tongue of a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Inventor: Jeffrey L. Dawes
  • Patent number: 7730573
    Abstract: The dipstick fuel squeegee of the present invention includes an elongated, rigid but lightweight base with foot pegs on either end and is long enough to span the opening of most large tanks. The base has a midsection into which first a wiper member and then a securing member are releasably attached. There are openings in the midsection, the wiper member, and the securing member which are vertically aligned. The openings of the midsection and the securing member are approximately equal in size while the opening in the wiper element is smaller. The wiper element is made of a flexible, resilient material and substantially centered over the opening in the seat. During use, a dipstick is inserted through the three openings of the squeegee, the user secures the squeegee by standing on the foot pegs, and the wiper member dislodges any liquid adhering to the dipstick as the user raises it through the squeegee.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2010
    Inventor: Larry Snyder
  • Patent number: 7730569
    Abstract: A head portion of a nodally mounted rotating toothbrush is removable from a handle portion, which has a driving system therein. The head portion includes a spring assembly, having two spring sections, the spring assembly having a node point between the two ends and a nodal mount member at the node point which is connected to a cover member of the head portion. A driving assembly is arranged to drive the first spring section, the second section rotating in an opposing direction from the first spring section, the second spring section having a drive shaft extending therefrom, upon a free end of which a brushhead is mounted. When the head portion is removed from the handle, the spring assembly is removed therewith.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2010
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventors: Joseph W. Grez, John W. Pace, Bruce E. Taber, Duane B. Kutsch
  • Patent number: 7725975
    Abstract: A device for cleaning a liquid crystal display panel including at least one pad part cleaning brush removing foreign matters from a pad part of the liquid crystal display panel, a holder holding the pad part cleaning brush, a driving shaft rotating the holder, and a driving motor providing a rotating force to the driving shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: LG Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Choong Un Lee
  • Patent number: 7721371
    Abstract: The invention relates to an electric toothbrush (10) having a rechargeable energy store (24) that is arranged in an inner space (36) in the body (12) of the toothbrush (10). The inner space (36) is sealed by a primary sealing element (56) against splash water and other detrimental influences. At least one contact element (28) for an external power supply unit (46) produces an electrically conductive connection to the energy store (24). The contact element is located either within the inner space (36), it being possible for the primary sealing element (56) to be removed for charging purposes, or outside the inner space (36), in which case it is optionally protected by an additional secondary sealing element (76). The invention also relates to a process for producing such a toothbrush.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2010
    Assignee: Trisa Holding AG
    Inventors: Philipp Pfenniger, Adrian Pfenniger, Franz Fischer
  • Patent number: 7712174
    Abstract: In a rolling driving actuator used as a drive source of a power toothbrush, permanent magnets are formed flat plate shape, and constituting a moving object by being attached to grooves formed on an outer peripheral face of a yoke which is press-fitted to and fixed on a shaft. On the other hand, a tubular shaped stator, which is constituted by a coil wound around a bobbin and stationary yokes provided on both side of the bobbin in axial direction of the shaft, is provided to face an outer face of the permanent magnet or an outer face of the yoke of the moving object with a predetermined clearance so that a center axis thereof becomes coaxial with the center axis of the shaft. By supplying an alternating current to the coil, the moving object is driven in rolling driving around the axis of the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2010
    Assignee: Panasonic Electric Works Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroaki Shimizu, Ryo Motohashi, Hidekazu Yabuuchi, Takahiro Nishinaka, Katsuhiro Hirata, Yuya Hasegawa
  • Patent number: 7707676
    Abstract: The toothbrush of the present invention comprises an elongated handle having a head attached to one end. The head has a bristle-bearing face having longitudinal perimeter portions adjacent longitudinal edges and at least two perimetric, elastomeric massaging elements alternately arranged with groups of bristle tufts along each of the longitudinal perimeter portions. The brush can comprise further massaging elements which are not located along the longitudinal perimeter portions though the use of such additional elements is preferably minimized. The perimetric massaging elements have rotational symmetry through an angle of 120° or less, preferably being circular. The cross-sectional area proportion of elastomeric massaging elements to bristles on the brush head is less than 25%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2010
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventor: Sanjay Amratlal Solanki
  • Patent number: 7698776
    Abstract: A balanced cleaning apparatus that advantageously contains a carrying handle, a dust pan and a bucket wherein the dustpan and the bucket are carried at the two ends of the carrying handle in a balanced position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2010
    Inventor: John H. Lawson
  • Patent number: 7690069
    Abstract: A cleaning tool, such as a mop, used for cleaning a surface includes a cleaning head having a face with a plurality of projections extending therefrom. A cleaning pad is removably attached to the cleaning head face by engagement with the projections, the pad being formed of a first material having a thickness and composition such that the projections penetrate through the pad and extend beyond an outer planar surface of the first material. The projections thus serve to securely attach the cleaning pad to the head and also provide an abrasive scrubbing functionality to the cleaning tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2010
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Fung-Jou Chen, Jeffrey D. Lindsay
  • Patent number: 7681274
    Abstract: A horizontal car wash implement for a vehicle laundering or finishing plant wherein a horizontal implement rotated by a hydraulic motor is mounted between the free ends of pivot arms carried by spaced vertical support columns on opposing sides of a vehicle wash lane. The car wash implement is mounted between the ends of a pair of spaced apart, parallel support arms and a counterweight is mounted to the ends of a second pair of spaced support arms. The counterweight support arms and the car wash implement support arms are adapted to pivotally mount to the vertical support columns. The counterweight support arms and the implement support arms are mechanically interconnected such that the support arms of the car wash implement and the counterweight pivotally move synchronously in opposing directions relative to one another on one side of the vertical support columns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2010
    Assignee: Belanger, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael J. Belanger
  • Patent number: 7681275
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a dust cloth texture having fiber bundles or bundles of intermingled yarn for dusting formed on a cleaning side of a piece of nonwoven cloth by locally press-fusing. The dust cloth texture is characterized by that a plurality of press-fusing lines are formed on the dust cloth by successively splicing a plurality of closed geometric frames, whereby the lengths and directions of the fiber bundles or intermingled yarn extending outside the fusing frames are varied with the geometric shapes and line angles of the fusing lines, such that the freedom of distribution of the fibers or intermingled yarn is increased and the dusting effect is also optimized. Meanwhile, the fiber bundles or yarn inside the fusing frames are undulated to further enhance the cleaning effect of the dust cloth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2010
    Inventors: Pai Yung Lin, Ya Ching Yang
  • Patent number: 7673371
    Abstract: A vacuum broom apparatus for removing particulate debris from surfaces such as those of floors includes a housing which has an upper wall from which protrudes a vacuum inlet tube connectable to a vacuum power source. The housing includes a shroud which protrudes downwardly from the upper wall and peripherally surrounds a broom which protrudes downwardly within the shroud through a bottom opening thereof. One or more vacuum nozzles which communicate with the vacuum inlet tube are positioned adjacent to the broom. Optionally, a front wall of the shroud is elastically flexible to thereby effect an air dam between a lower edge of the front wall and a floor surface against which it may be pressed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2010
    Assignee: H & J Company LLC
    Inventor: Jamshid Jim Shahbaz
  • Patent number: 7669274
    Abstract: A device for restoring a light permeability of headlight lenses of motor vehicles has a holder, a working layer attached to the holder and adapted to clean and polish a surface of a headlight lense when the device is moved relative to the latter, and a sponge-like element located between the holder and the working layer and formed so that it applies an elastic biasing action to the working layer to provide a cleaning and polishing action by the working layer and at the same time to absorb a liquid required for the cleaning and polishing action.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2010
    Assignee: Universal Photonics
    Inventors: Alex Cooper, Yevgeny Bederak, Sergey Vladimirtsev
  • Patent number: 7665177
    Abstract: A cleaning swab has an elongated handle defining a longitudinal axis and having a diameter. The handle has a cleaning head end. A cleaning head is formed from a sheet of non-linting material having a predetermined thickness so as to form a predetermined cleaning head diameter. The material forms a seal-less tip and a pair of longitudinal side seals extending along longitudinal sides of the cleaning head. Excess material forms a cleaning surface suitable for standard polish and angle physical connector polished end faces. A sleeve has a central opening for receiving the handle such that the cleaning head extends beyond an open end of the sleeve. Use of a first predetermined thickness of material forms a first swab having a cleaning head having a first diameter cleaning head and use of a second different predetermined thickness of material forms a second swab having a second different diameter. The sleeve is configured to interchangeably receive the first swab and the second swab.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2010
    Assignee: Illnois Tool Works, Inc.
    Inventor: Edward J. Forrest
  • Patent number: 7665173
    Abstract: A washing system for an elevated surface has a) a housing having a liquid application cleaning system therein; b) a support element that supports and elevates the washing system; c) a rigid member extending from a surface of the housing that faces away from a surface to be cleaned so that the cable, when supporting the cleaning system against the surface to be cleaned and connected to the housing at a connection point, exerts a rotational force on the cleaning system in relation to the fixed fulcrum at the roof top; and d) weights provided at a distance and direction from the connection point fulcrum to at least in part counterbalance the rotational force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2010
    Inventors: Dallas W. Simonette, Michael R. Lange
  • Patent number: 7647668
    Abstract: A method and a drywall tool for making flat and even joints for the construction industry are disclosed. This innovative hand tool for making flat even joints includes a central section that is a cut out notch allowing for an extruded amount of drywall compound that produces a sufficient width and height to be placed over the drywall tape within the drywall recessed or butt joints. Once this cures, a simple fill in step using a standard towel allows these process steps to be accomplished by an unskilled worker, while producing flat and even joints, requiring less time, and dust.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2010
    Inventor: Jay Meyerl
  • Patent number: 7644464
    Abstract: A caulk tool has a finishing head at one end of a handheld main body, and a cutting mechanism located near the other end. The finishing head can include a bristle structure used for smoothing out caulk and sealants. The cutting mechanism may include a push button blade for cutting tips of caulk and sealant tubes to a desired length and angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Inventor: Joseph W. Bommarito
  • Patent number: 7644468
    Abstract: The inventive wringer for scrubbing buckets basically consists of two independent tilting parts of a wringer (4) which are pivotally coupled inside the space of a support (1) fixed to the bucket mouthpiece. Said independent parts (4) are pivotally coupled with parallel axes communicating with the end spaces (3) of the support (1) and are tiltable oppositely to the resistance of spring elements (5).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Assignee: SP Berner Plastic Group, S.L.
    Inventor: Julián Escarpa Gil