Patents Examined by Stephanie Newton
  • Patent number: 8281444
    Abstract: A cleaning pig for a pipeline for long-distance transportation of a fluid material is advanced in the pipeline in a travel direction by the fluid material transported in the pipeline. The cleaning pig has a pig body and two collars connected to the pig body and spaced apart from one another. The pig body and the collars fill a pipe cross-section of the pipeline. An intermediate space is delimited between the two collars. A pressure opening is arranged at a trail end of the pig body in the travel direction. A pressure conduit connects the pressure opening to the intermediate space. A suction device is arranged in the intermediate space. A suction outlet is connected by a suction conduit to the suction device. The pressure conduit is connected to at least one jet opening directed with a jet action against an inner wall of the pipeline.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: Rosen Swiss AG
    Inventors: Patrik Rosen, Hubert Linder, Frank Fielers
  • Patent number: 8250697
    Abstract: A cable processing system includes a conveyor that holds cables and conveys the cables in a specified direction. The operation stretches the cables and allows them to be packaged or otherwise coiled. The cable processing system may wash the cables as they pass thereby.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: Production Resource Group, LLC
    Inventors: Robin Lee, Marc Palmer
  • Patent number: 8234743
    Abstract: An extendable toothbrush for assisting a person with impaired mobility of the arms. The toothbrush has an extendable neck that locks in place at various lengths. The toothbrush is capable of extending to twice its retracted length, thus allowing a user to reach their mouth without having to raise their arm. Rotating head and brush implements further increase mobility and access to different areas of the mouth. A removable toothpick tool is attached to the handle of the toothbrush for cleaning in between teeth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Inventor: William M Whisker
  • Patent number: 8220104
    Abstract: A mop fabric snap-in connection structure comprises: a disc having a groove formed around the bottom of the disc, and a plurality of first snap-in connection structures arranged in the groove; a plurality of mop fabrics, disposed across a surface of the groove; and a pressing member, installed at the bottom of the disc, and a main body of the pressing member having a plurality of second snap-in connection structures corresponding to and latched each other with the first snap-in connection structures of the groove respectively. The present invention engages two modules including the disc and the pressing member with the mop fabrics 80 into an M-shape by the mutual and alternate engagement, and the method of latching and fixing the two modules achieves a convenient assembling and a secured clamping, and prevents the fabrics from falling out easily without requiring any locking components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Inventor: Shu-Hsun Chu
  • Patent number: 8214969
    Abstract: A layered eraser, comprising: a plurality of eraser layers, comprising at least an innermost eraser layer and an outermost eraser layer; the outermost eraser layer containing the innermost eraser layer; each eraser layer adjacent at least one other eraser layer; each of the eraser layers having an outermost surface. The layered eraser may be adapted to fit about a writing instrument. Each eraser layer adjacent another eraser layer may have different shaped outermost surfaces. Embodiments include different eraser layers in the shapes of simulated space ships, simulated dinosaur heads, and simulated planets. In a preferred embodiment, the plurality of eraser layers comprise an innermost eraser layer, at least one intermediate eraser layer completely surrounding the innermost eraser layer, and an outermost eraser layer completely surrounding the at least one intermediate layer, one or more eraser layers being exposed after at least a portion of the layered eraser is worn away.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Inventor: Gavin Curtis
  • Patent number: 8209812
    Abstract: The grill cleaning brush provides for the cleaning of accumulated deposits from the sides of grill grate bars, along with the simultaneous cleaning of collected grease, oil, fat and other liquids or semi-liquids that have accumulated on the grill grate. The grill cleaning brush includes a base having opposed upper and lower surfaces, a gripping handle mounted on the upper surface of the base, and a cleaning layer attached to the lower surface of the base. The cleaning layer includes both a wire scrubber and a grease absorbent pad embedded within the wire scrubber. Preferably, the wire scrubber is provided as first and second wire scrubber pads attached to the lower surface of the base, the grease absorbent pad being sandwiched therebetween. The grease absorbent pad may be formed from cotton, paper, a combination of the two, or the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals
    Inventors: Mehmet Dondurur, Ahmet Z. Sahin
  • Patent number: 8209807
    Abstract: Automatic cleaning device (1) for a surface submerged in a liquid, designed to be connected to a pump, includes: a hollow head (2) that has a seat (11), first intake hose (5a) and second intake hose (5b) emptying into said hollow head (2), the seat (11) delimiting a space in which a flap valve (4) is housed, said flap valve (4) being able to work with said seat (11) so as to switch to the first and second blocking positions in which it respectively blocks the first intake hose (5a) and second intake hose (5b) during the operation of said device (1), characterized in that a prefilter (9) is placed in the hollow head (2) so as to keep the flap valve (4) from being clogged in the space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: Kokido Limited
    Inventor: Michael Chandler
  • Patent number: 8196250
    Abstract: An apparatus for cleaning heads of golf clubs has a substantially upstanding housing having an upper end, a lower end and a wall structure interconnecting the two and defining a chamber. At least one portal is formed in the wall structure. The portals may be slot-like or may have a curvilinear configuration such as a circle or ellipse. A set of brushes extends from the interior of the upper end into the chamber. An opposing set of brushes extends from the interior of the lower end into the chamber. The terminal ends of the two sets of brushes define a substantially narrow passageway in alignment with the portals. At least one of the upper and lower sets of brushes has a plurality of bristle zones wherein the brush bristles of one bristle zone are of a different length and rigidity than the brush bristles of a different bristle zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Inventor: Richard Dean Kawka
  • Patent number: 8191201
    Abstract: The invention is based on a connection element (16, 44, 50, 66, 74, 80) for connecting a wiper blade (10), which has at least one spring rail (14) as a supporting element, to a wiper arm in an articulated manner, with the connection element (16, 44, 50, 66, 74, 80) having claws (22, 46, 52) which are integrally formed on the side of a base part (18) and, in the mounted state, surround and retain the spring rail (14) by the base part (18) being supported on a part of a wiper rubber (12) which is arranged between the spring rail (14) and the base part (18, 56, 68, 70). The invention proposes that the connection element (16, 44, 50, 66, 74, 80) has means (28, 58, 60, 68, 72, 76, 78, 82, 84) with which the surface pressure between the base part (18, 56, 68, 70) and the wiper rubber (12) is locally increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Peter De Block, Klaus-Dieter Haefele, Bart Fatan, Wilfried Merkel, Rudi Crabbé, Paul Criel, Eric Windmolders, David Van Baelen
  • Patent number: 8191199
    Abstract: Disclosed is a windshield wiper assembly capable of being mounted on an oscillating wiper mechanism of a vehicle. The windshield wiper assembly comprises a cleaning unit and a rotating mechanism. The cleaning unit comprises a wiper shaft and a plurality of cleaning implements detachably coupled to a peripheral surface of the wiper shaft. The rotating mechanism is coupled to the cleaning unit. The rotating mechanism is capable of rotating the cleaning unit in a manner such that a cleaning implement from the plurality of cleaning implements is selectively brought into contact with a windshield of the vehicle and configured to clean the windshield upon oscillating the cleaning unit over the windshield.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Inventor: Marsha Miller
  • Patent number: 8185994
    Abstract: The present invention thoroughly cleans hairbrushes and combs and comprises an upper portion with at least two openings for containing a hair remover and an item to be cleaned, a rotating roller brush, and a housing portion. The roller brush, together with the hair remover, effectively clean and remove hair from styling combs and brushes and prevent accumulated hair from impeding the cleaning action by removing it from the roller brush. The device is configured in a specialized concave crescent shape, and the pattern of bristles on the roller brush is configured to optimize cleaning action on hairbrushes and styling combs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: Dynamic Cleaning Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Ted J. Brackett, C. Martin Smith
  • Patent number: 8171594
    Abstract: A paint brush includes a plurality of filaments that form a brush head. A handle, having a brush attachment end, can be coupled to the brush head. The handle can have a grip that extends away from the brush head. A coating can cover the brush attachment end and at least a portion of the grip. The coating can form a seal around the handle to resist absorption of chemicals by the handle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: Proform Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Jon Terry Cox, Jon Paul Cox
  • Patent number: 8166605
    Abstract: A windshield wiper arm bracket includes a pair of side walls. Each of said side walls include at least one centrally located pin arm receiving hole formed therein. The bracket also includes a post attaching the pair of side walls together. The post is for receiving a pin arm adaptor thereon. The bracket also includes an attachment arm formed on a bottom of each of the pair of side walls. The attachment arms are for connecting the bracket to a windshield wiper assembly. An adaptor for a windshield wiper arm bracket includes a top portion and a web portion. The web portion includes a central aperture formed therein. The central aperture includes a first portion for receiving a post of the windshield wiper arm bracket and a second aperture for receiving a pin arm of a windshield wiper arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: Alberee Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Albert Lee
  • Patent number: 8151398
    Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide effective technique for a higher cleaning effect and higher operability of a cleaning element. Representative cleaning element includes a fusion bonded part having a curved portion to project to the holding space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: Uni-Charm Corporation
    Inventors: Akemi Tsuchiya, Yoshinori Tanaka
  • Patent number: 8127390
    Abstract: A robot according to the present invention cleans the outer surface of a window/wall by performing automatic movement along the outer surface of the window/wall while being vacuum-sucked onto the outer surface. The robot includes a moving unit for moving the robot in a first direction, a direction changing unit for rotating the moving unit to change a movement direction of the robot, and a cleaning unit mounted on at least one side of the robot. The robot can prevent water used to clean the window or outer wall of a building from being dropped toward a lower story. Also, the robot can run smoothly so that it can achieve a satisfactory cleaning operation without forming spots. The robot uses a turntable system, so that it can also freely change the movement direction thereof about the center thereof up to 360° without requiring any radius of rotation, to easily approach even a dead zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Inventor: Yong Wook Kim
  • Patent number: 8127394
    Abstract: The invention relates to an end-piece (20) for a windshield wiper blade unit, which end-piece comprises: an open hollow body (26) that receives a longitudinal end of the spine member; and locking means for locking the end of the spine member in the engaged position in which it is engaged in the cylindrical recess. In accordance with the invention, the locking means (46, 48) are declutchable, so as to enable the end-piece to be dismounted from the front end of the spine member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: Valeo Systèmes d'Essuyage
    Inventors: Jean-Michel Jarasson, Frédéric Boussicot, Xavier Bousset
  • Patent number: 8122559
    Abstract: A wiper motor has an output shaft, which is reciprocally pivoted forward and backward upon energization of the wiper motor and outputs a drive force for driving first and second wiper arms. A crank arm is integrally pivotably fixed to the output shaft. First and second connecting rods are pivotably connected to first and second connecting points, respectively, of the crank arm. A first lever arrangement is connected between the first connecting rod and the first wiper arm to reciprocally pivot the first wiper arm upon reciprocal movement of the first connecting rod. A second lever arrangement is connected between the second connecting rod and the second wiper arm to reciprocally pivot the second wiper arm upon reciprocal movement of the second connecting rod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignee: ASMO Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Takashi Hasegawa
  • Patent number: 8117708
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a cosmetic brush in which the protrusion and retraction of a brush head is accomplished using a pushing bar in order to prevent the brush head from being damaged while the brush head protrudes from and retracts into a main body. The cosmetic brush includes a main body having an exit on a front side thereof and an insertion portion on a back side, an object member including a brush head which protrudes from and retracts into the main body through the exit, a pushing bar enabling the brush head to protrude from the main body, and a cover usually covering the exit of the main body and enabling the brush head to be protruded from the main body by a pushing bar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Inventor: Joung Chul Kim
  • Patent number: 8087117
    Abstract: A coverage robot includes a chassis, a drive system, and a cleaning assembly. The cleaning assembly includes a housing and at least one driven cleaning roller including an elongated core with end mounting features defining a central longitudinal axis of rotation, multiple floor cleaning bristles extending radially outward from the core, and at least one compliant flap extending radially outward from the core to sweep a floor surface. The flap is configured to prevent errant filaments from spooling tightly about the core to aid subsequent removal of the filaments. In another aspect, a coverage robot includes a chassis, a drive system, a controller, and a cleaning assembly. The cleaning assembly includes a housing and at least one driven cleaning roller. The coverage robot includes a roller cleaning tool carried by the chassis and configured to longitudinally traverse the roller to remove accumulated debris from the cleaning roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Assignee: iRobot Corporation
    Inventors: Deepak Ramesh Kapoor, Zivthan A. Dubrovsky
  • Patent number: 8079107
    Abstract: In an overhead throwing sweeping machine, the cylindrical sweeping roller (4) which is rotatable about its longitudinal axis is retained on jointly adjustable pivoted arms, and the dirt container (6) arranged behind the sweeping roller (4) has a receiving opening, the bottom edge (15) of which lies adjacent to the sweeping roller (4). In order to reset the sweeping area of the sweeping roller (4) after wear of the bristles, a cable control (20) is provided which runs over a bearing surface (11) which, at a pivoted arm designed as a double-armed lever and intended for the sweeping roller (4), is formed on that arm (7) of said double-armed lever which is remote from the longitudinal axis (4?) of the sweeping roller (4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignee: Hako-Werke GmbH
    Inventors: Heinrich Katenhusen, Frank Thormahlen, Joachim Hartlein