Patents Examined by Tom Rodgers
  • Patent number: 11873201
    Abstract: A portable aerator comprising: a main aeration body; a base portion; an internal cavity; at least one ventilation shaft; a spout portion; an aeration opening; and an aeration inlet. The internal cavity comprises a threaded channel and cavity extends from a base portion opening to a spout portion opening. The internal cavity is configured to pass a liquid, such as wine that enters the internal cavity body at the base opening out through the spout portion opening. The threaded channel is threaded on an interior surface, such that the threaded channel is configured to matingly engage and disengage with a worm of a corkscrew bottle opening device, such as a waiter's wine key, via twisting and untwisting, respectively. The aerator device may have at least one ventilation shaft, an aeration shaft, and/or an extension tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Inventor: Felix B. Martin
  • Patent number: 11865681
    Abstract: A system and a method are disclosed for disconnecting clips. A clip separation tool includes two arms, the arms having jaws to receive connected clips at a distal end of the arms and handle portions on a proximal end for a user to engage the tool with his hand. A pivot mechanism is coupled to the arms, where, responsive to a force applied to the handle portions, the arms rotate relative to each other around the pivot mechanism such that the distal ends of the arms pivot away from one another and the proximal ends of the arms pivot towards one another. A spring biases the arms to rotate to an equilibrium position that is attained automatically under spring loading once the proximal ends of the arms are relieved of loading. The clip separation tool disconnects connected clips as the force causes the arms to rotate around the pivot mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC
    Inventor: Derrick Matthew Smith
  • Patent number: 11849895
    Abstract: A wringing assembly may include a plurality of spaced apart pressure applicators, such as may be used for applying pressure to a mop element having a cleaning, absorbent or wiping material supported on the mop element. The pressure applicators may be supported so as to be centered or symmetrical on each side of a center of a wringing surface. The wringing assembly may include a substantially centered actuation element such as a handle. An actuation element on a wringing assembly may also include a receptacle for an element of a mop or other cleaning tool, such as a handle A bucket positioning device includes a spring-loaded assembly having a hook for a bucket rim and a base for engaging a bottom of a bucket or a wheel unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: MICRONOVA MANUFACTURING, INC.
    Inventors: Phillip LeCompte, Kristin Stewart
  • Patent number: 11848216
    Abstract: As an aspect of the present invention, a cleaning apparatus for cleaning member has a holding part holding a cleaning member assembly having a cleaning member; an inner cleaning liquid supply part; an outer cleaning liquid supply part; and a control part controlling the substrate cleaning apparatus to perform a first process in which the cleaning member is pressed against a dummy substrate at a first pressure and the outer cleaning liquid supply part supplies the cleaning liquid to the dummy substrate, and to perform a second process in which the cleaning member is separated from the dummy substrate or is pressed against the dummy substrate at a second pressure which is equal to or less than the first pressure and the inner cleaning liquid supply part supplies the cleaning liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: Ebara Corporation
    Inventors: Takayuki Kajikawa, Takeshi Iizumi, Masayoshi Imai
  • Patent number: 11840204
    Abstract: A cleaner for a lidar sensor may include: a blast pipe unit through which wind generated from a fan of an engine passes; and a lidar sensor installed in the blast pipe unit, wherein foreign matter adhering to the surface of the lidar sensor are removed by wind discharged from the blast pipe unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: Hyundai Mobis Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kyung Rin Kim, Sung Eun Jo, Won Gyum Kim, Young Shin Kim, Min Jae Cho
  • Patent number: 11840839
    Abstract: A tool for cleaning gutters includes a specialized nozzle that may be attached to a leaf blower via a set of rigid tubing. The nozzle transitions from a tubular shape into a mouth-like opening with a first projection in opposed, spaced relation to a second projection. The tool is particularly well suited to removing debris from gutters with the nozzle in contact with a gutter and made to expel high-velocity air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Inventor: James R. Lindl
  • Patent number: 11832775
    Abstract: A bucket assembly for use with a mop includes inner and outer bucket assemblies including first and second reservoirs, respectively. The inner bucket assembly includes a rinse bucket, fluid connection and closure element between the rinse bucket and the first reservoir. The first reservoir is optionally otherwise sealed when the at least one closure element is in the open position. The inner bucket is disposed at least partially within the second reservoir. A drainage channel fluidly connected to the second reservoir is formed by at least one of the inner bucket assembly and/or the outer bucket assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: Carl Freudenberg KG
    Inventor: Doug Metzel
  • Patent number: 11821221
    Abstract: A metal hand tool including a handle attached to a blade piece and method of construction. The blade piece includes a blade opposite an elongated tang. The handle is made up of two, welded, symmetrical handle halves, each handle half having an opening for receiving a hang hole piece and a notched distal end for forming a handle opening to receive the blade piece elongated tang. In an embodiment, the handle includes a curved distal end accommodating a curved welded connection between the blade piece and the handle. The hand tool further includes a hang hole piece configured for placement through the hang hole openings in the handle and for welded connection to the handle. In an embodiment, the elongated tang includes a hang hole opening through which the hang hole extends. Some embodiments further include one or more tang guide pieces welded to the interior of the handle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: LEVEL 5 TOOLS, LLC
    Inventor: Scott A. Murray
  • Patent number: 11806856
    Abstract: A motorized multi-function tool including a handle assembly, a cover assembly, a rod assembly and an interchangeable tool assembly is disclosed. The handle assembly includes a handle that allows a user to operate the motorized multi-function tool. Within the handle is a battery to power a motor located in the cover assembly. The handle assembly and the cover assembly have the rod assembly therebetween connecting them to one another. The rod assembly includes a shaft which allows the user to set the motorized multi-function tool at different lengths to accomplish distinct tasks. Importantly, the cover assembly has the interchange tool assembly which allow for changing of tool heads for different functions to accomplish different tasks. The different tool heads may be used for manual labor work or for health and beauty purposes as well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Inventor: Rafael Velez
  • Patent number: 11802387
    Abstract: A vacuum and container assembly is provided for collecting and disposing of dog poop. The vacuum includes a housing with an inlet tube or nozzle. The container assembly includes an outer sleeve and an inner flexible, air permeable bag. The sleeve is open at the rear end so as to fit over the vacuum nozzle, with the bag residing in the nozzle. The front end of the container assembly is temporary closed by flexible fingers. When the vacuum is turned on, the dog poop is suctioned past the fingers into the bag, without touching the vacuum housing or nozzle. The container assembly can then be removed from the nozzle and deposited in a waste receptacle for disposal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: CURBICUS, INC.
    Inventors: Casey John Schwichtenberg, Anna Gannon
  • Patent number: 11802034
    Abstract: An automated cork extractor includes a housing for enclosing a motor, a corkscrew, and a cork sleeve, the cork sleeve for receiving a cork during operation of the cork extractor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Inventor: William Huckestein
  • Patent number: 11759083
    Abstract: A utensil for cleaning a cooking surface has cleaning head affixed to a distal end of an elongate handle. The head has a base and a porous cover. Submerging the head in a liquid enables the liquid to flow through the porous cover and perforations in the base into chambers within the base. Applying the head having the liquid-filled chambers against the cooking surface enables the liquid to flow from the chambers and through the perforations and continuously dampen the porous cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Inventor: Mark Sousa