Patents Examined by Thomas Raymond Rodgers
  • Patent number: 11974706
    Abstract: A washcloth is comprised of a first washcloth layer and a second washcloth layer, wherein the first and second washcloth layers at least partially overlap each other. A compressible scrubber is placed between the overlapping portion of the layers, and the layers are joined together, forming a pocket to contain the scrubber between the layers, but also allowing the scrubber a degree of movement therebetween. The scrubber is preferably of a spherical shape having a compressible quality so that it adopts an oval shape upon being compressed. Examples of a scrubber in accordance with the invention are a rubber ball or a spherical hollow plastic lattice.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Inventor: Michael Louis Figueroa
  • Patent number: 11814799
    Abstract: A sweeping machine for mounting to a blower is adapted for sweeping debris, e.g., snow, from an area around an obstacle, e.g., fire hydrant. The sweeping machine comprises a rotating brush having an axis of rotation which is horizontal, a frame for the rotating brush, an arm extending from a proximal end to a distal end to which the frame is secured, a blower, and a pivoting mechanism secured to the blower. The pivoting mechanism is adapted to swivel the arm upwardly to lift the rotating brush and to swivel the arm within a horizontal plane to move the rotating brush horizontally relative to the blower. Thereby, the sweeping machine is adapted to sweep debris from the area around the obstacle by the rotating brush toward the blower which is itself adapted to blow the debris away from the obstacle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: EDDYNET INC.
    Inventors: Eric Lapalme, Marc Bouchard, René Bellerose, Sébastien Gagnon
  • Patent number: 11793298
    Abstract: A hair brush with an array of bristles (4). Each bristle extends from a base to a free end. Some or all of the bristles have relatively wide first portion, towards the base of the bristle, and a relatively narrow second portion, towards the free end of the bristle. The bristles are arranged in offset rows and centre lines of the rows are spaced apart such that at least part of the first portion of bristles in one row extends between adjacent bristles in an adjacent row and/or, when viewed perpendicular to the rows, the width of the first portion of the bristles in one row is, over part of their length, the same or greater than the space between adjacent bristles in an adjacent row so as to partially occlude the space between bristles in an adjacent row. The bristles are sized and arranged so that the first portion of the bristles serves to easily penetrate and divide hair between the bristles and the second portion of the bristles enables tension to be applied to the hair when hair flows between the bristles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Inventors: Shaun Pulfrey, Cameron Bruce William Treeby
  • Patent number: 11794320
    Abstract: The present invention relates to torque application tools, such as a torque screwdriver and ratchet tools, with one or more light indicators disposed in a ring shape around the tool. The light indicators are adapted to indicate amounts of torque values and/or angle values as the tool is used to tighten or install a work piece. For example, the light indicators may flash at a first flashing rate, when about 40% of a target torque or angle value is applied; flash at a second flashing rate (greater or faster than the first flashing rate) when about 60% of the target torque or angle value is applied; and illuminate at a solid state when about 80% of the target torque or angle value is applied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: Snap-on Incorporated
    Inventors: Jerry A. King, Nathan J. Lee, Donald J. Reynertson
  • Patent number: 11787027
    Abstract: A mode setting unit sets a parameter setting mode or a work mode. A parameter setting unit sets a plurality of parameter values in the parameter setting mode. A torque estimation unit calculates a tightening torque value by using a detection result from an impact detection unit. In a work mode, a control unit stops a rotation of a motor based on the plurality of parameter values set by the parameter setting unit and in accordance with the tightening torque value calculated by the torque estimation unit. In the parameter setting mode, a work information storage unit stores the tightening torque value calculated by the torque estimation unit during a tightening work according to a user operation, and the parameter setting unit sets the plurality of parameter values based on the tightening torque value stored in the work information storage unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Hiroshi Miyazaki
  • Patent number: 11787021
    Abstract: An angle screw feeding device comprises a screw feeding unit, a screw transporting unit, and a screw driving unit. The device is able to be used with small screws. Further, the device is able to perform an automatic screwing action at any selected angles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: Bright Machines, Inc.
    Inventors: Dason Cheung, Murad Kurwa
  • Patent number: 11784449
    Abstract: Crimping pliers are configured to crimp cable lugs onto electrical conductors. The crimping pliers includes first and second crimping jaws pivotally connected together, a first crimping matrix mounted for rotation on the first crimping jaw, a second crimping matrix mounted for rotation on the second crimping jaw, each crimping jaw having a plurality of different first crimping dies formed therein, and interlocks provided on the crimping jaws. The interlocks are configured to lock one of the crimping dies on each crimping jaw into a working position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: GUSTAV KLAUKE GMBH
    Inventor: Egbert Frenken
  • Patent number: 11782142
    Abstract: A device which is designed to detect surroundings and which includes a housing and a sensor situated within the housing. The housing includes a transmitter/receiver window, through which the corresponding sensor signals may be emitted into the surroundings by the sensor, and/or sensor signals from the surroundings may be received. The device includes a cover, the cover being designed to be transparent to the sensor signals, and the cover being designed to cover the transmitter/receiver window against exterior surroundings of the device. The device includes a cleaning unit, which is situated at an outside of the housing and is movable relative to the housing using a drive unit. The cleaning unit is designed to remove contaminants from the cover. The cleaning unit includes at least one first nozzle to spray a cleaning liquid onto the cover, and at least one second nozzle to blow a gas onto the cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: Andre Albuquerque, Annemarie Holleczek, Joao Oliveira, Pedro Caldelas, Maria Vorontsova, Ricardo Andre
  • Patent number: 11759941
    Abstract: In an example, a hammer head may include a cavity, a receptacle channel connected to the cavity, a first wedge, and a second wedge. The receptacle channel may have a first receptacle end that may be proximate and/or open to the cavity. The receptacle channel may be configured to receive a handle and a receptacle cross-section of the receptacle channel may have an elliptic shape. The first wedge may be disposed in the receptacle channel and may have a first upper portion that may be proximate to the cavity. The first wedge may be disposed on an end of a major axis of the receptacle cross-section. The second wedge may be disposed in the receptacle channel and may be opposite the first wedge. The second wedge may have a second upper portion that may be proximate to the cavity and may be disposed on an end of the major axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2023
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: ROMP FASTENERS LLC
    Inventor: Hollis C. Henderson, Jr.
  • Patent number: 11759071
    Abstract: Apparatus and method for receiving and holding debris in a collection chamber of a vacuum cleaner. The collection chamber has an inlet opening through which debris-entrained air enters the collection chamber. When the vacuum cleaner is off, the cover prevents debris from leaving the collection chamber through the inlet opening. The wall of the collection chamber moves when negative pressure is applied to the collection chamber, and the wall movement moves the cover from the inlet opening, allowing the debris-entrained air to enter the collection chamber. In some embodiments, the moving part of the wall is an air filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Inventors: Michael James Douglas, Richard Mathias
  • Patent number: 11759089
    Abstract: A lint brush includes a housing and a lint tool having a lint-removing material. The lint tool is movable along a longitudinal axis of the housing between a stowed position where the lint tool is housed in the housing and a deployed position where the lint tool is extended from the housing. The lint tool is rotatable relative to the longitudinal axis from the deployed position to a first rotated position. An actuator is mounted to one of the housing and the lint tool. The actuator is configured to move the lint tool from the first rotated position back to the deployed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: Helen of Troy Limited
    Inventors: Daniel John Connors, Conor Patrick McNamara, Benjamin Beck, Douglas A. Marsden, Ryan Donovan, Michael McDuffee, Jonathan Mark Liston, Phillip Seagram, Marina Eaves
  • Patent number: 11751743
    Abstract: An autonomous vacuum cleaner includes an autonomously moveable housing carrying a vacuum collection system for generating a working air flow for removing dirt from the surface to be cleaned and storing the dirt in a collection space. Distance sensors for position sensing are mounted to the housing, behind a sensor cover. The distance sensors can be staggered and/or positioned above a brush chamber for a brushroll.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: BISSELL Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey A. Scholten, Jake Andrew Mohan, Andrew James Brouwers, Eric Daniel Buehler, James Joseph Minnema, Jr., Derek Everett Smith, David VanKampen
  • Patent number: 11751740
    Abstract: A surface cleaning apparatus comprising a cyclone positioned in an air flow path. The cyclone has a cyclone chamber with a thin walled porous outlet member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: Omachron Intellectual Property Inc.
    Inventor: Wayne Ernest Conrad
  • Patent number: 11745989
    Abstract: Rotating or pressing one or more handles will rotate one or more cams which push on the lid side. This causes a lever to rotate and forces two opposing jaws to press on the jar. With further rotating or pressing, the cam(s) rotates more and its rough surface or teeth forces the lid to rotate with high torque. Since the cam size is smaller than the lid diameter, much less force is needed to open the lid. And since the jar lid opener grips both the lid and the jar at the same time, there is no need to hold the jar tight while rotating or press the handles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Inventor: Samir Moufawad Moufawad
  • Patent number: 11738720
    Abstract: This vehicle cleaner unit, for cleaning a to-be-cleaned object mounted on the vehicle, is provided with: a single motor; a single pump comprising a cylinder which extends in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle cleaner unit and into which air is introduced, and a piston which can carry out linear motion in the longitudinal direction inside of the cylinder and which blows air to outside of the vehicle cleaning unit at high pressure; a biasing spring which biases the piston to a first side in the longitudinal direction; and a single worm mechanism which transmits rotary motion of the motor to cause the piston to carry out linear motion to the second side opposite of the first side. The rotation axis of the motor and the longitudinal direction are parallel, and the motor and the pump are positioned on the same side of the worm mechanism in the longitudinal direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masayuki Kondo, Akinobu Kubota
  • Patent number: 11731257
    Abstract: An ergonomic lateral sweeping device is described. In an embodiment, the device has a sweeping head such as a broom or rake head, and an elongated pole attached to the head. A paddle is rotatably attached to the elongated pole opposite the head, the paddle being wider than the elongated pole. The paddle has a front surface and a rear surface that extend horizontally and vertically so as to provide an area of contact between an arm and a torso. A handle is attached to the pole between the paddle and the sweeping head for rotation about a single axis with respect to the paddle. The handle has a hand grip to receive a rotational force to control a rotational position of the sweeping head with respect to the paddle, wherein the handle and the sweeping head rotate together with respect to the paddle about the single axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Inventor: Erik P. Barnaal
  • Patent number: 11718272
    Abstract: Provided are a wiper intelligence control method and device. The a wiper intelligence control method includes following steps: an operation state of a wiper is switched to an automatic wiper operation state or a manual wiper operation state according to a received wiper operation state switch signal; when the wiper operates in the automatic wiper operation state, if a wiper movement speed adjustment signal output from a manual operation module is received, a current wiper movement speed is adjusted; when the wiper is switched from the automatic wiper operation state to the manual wiper operation state, the current wiper movement speed of the wiper is locked as the wiper movement speed in the manual wiper operation state; when the wiper operates in the manual wiper operation state, if the wiper movement speed adjustment signal output from the manual operation module is received, the current wiper movement speed is adjusted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Inventor: Yu Xu
  • Patent number: 11712138
    Abstract: In one aspect, an autonomous cleaning robot includes a drive configured to propel the robot along the floor surface and a tank assembly. The tank assembly includes a reservoir, left and right receptacles, and a handle extending across a cover of the tank assembly, the handle being moveable between a first position and a second position, wherein when the handle is in the second position, the tank assembly is locked in position. The tank assembly also includes left and right latch assemblies receivable by the left and right receptacles, respectively. Each latch assembly includes a moveable assembly configured to lock the tank assembly in position when the handle is in the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: iRobot Corporation
    Inventors: Jason Jeffrey Suchman, William Farmer, Johnson Hsu
  • Patent number: 11707820
    Abstract: A wrench, connectable to a standard square shaped extension, has a wrench head with opposed jaw faces which together define a plane that lies perpendicular to the respective jaw faces. A standard square shaped extension socket is affixed to the wrench head, where a standard square shaped extension can be inserted into the standard extension socket, along a direction that is non-orthogonal to the transverse plane. The standard extension socket can be attached to a frame of the wrench head, or to a rotatable guide which controls movement the opposed jaw face which is movable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: Southern Handling and Delivery, LLC
    Inventor: Yuji Nammoto
  • Patent number: 11708052
    Abstract: A vehicle cleaning system is provided including a foreign object detection section configured to detect a foreign object present on a windshield, a foreign object removal device configured to clean the windshield to remove the foreign object, an actuation notification section configured to notify a user of actuation of the foreign object removal device, and a control section that, when the foreign object detection section has detected the foreign object, controls the actuation notification section so as to notify of actuation of the foreign object removal device before controlling the foreign object removal device so as to clean the windshield.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yuusuke Yamauchi, Masaaki Kiyama, Yasuhiro Harita