Patents by Inventor Alan J. Krebs

Alan J. Krebs has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • VACUUM CLEANER WITH SMALL AREA EXTRACTION
    Publication number: 20210330149
    Abstract: A vacuum cleaner includes a vacuum collection system for sucking up debris from a surface to be cleaned, a fluid delivery system for delivering a cleaning fluid to the surface to be cleaned, and a recovery system for removing spent cleaning fluid and debris from the surface to be cleaned. The fluid delivery and recovery systems can be particularly configured for small area extraction, such as in treating spots and stains on a carpet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2019
    Publication date: October 28, 2021
    Inventors: Alan J. Krebs, Alan Finnie
  • Motorized floor mop
    Patent number: 11122954
    Abstract: A floor cleaning apparatus in the form of a motorized floor mop that can deliver liquid to a surface to be cleaned is provided with a handle, a base, a fluid delivery system, a motorized agitation system and a multi-axis swivel joint coupling the handle with the base for movement of the handle. A lock-out mechanism selectively locks out one of the axes of rotation of the multi-axis swivel joint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: BISSELL Inc.
    Inventors: Junfeng Ding, Jianjun Ge, Alan J. Krebs
  • Agitator with disks
    Patent number: 10973379
    Abstract: An agitator is provided for a surface cleaning apparatus, the agitator including a dowel. The dowel defines an axis of rotation. A plurality of disks extends radially from the dowel to a scalloped peripheral edge. The scalloped peripheral edge includes a series of curved recesses, the series of curved recesses extending inwardly toward the dowel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: BISSELL Inc.
    Inventor: Alan J. Krebs
  • VACUUM CLEANER
    Publication number: 20210045603
    Abstract: A vacuum cleaner includes an odor neutralizer and dust plume abatement system. The odor neutralizer and dust plume abatement system delivers a mist to a working air path of the vacuum cleaner, such as at or upstream of a working air treatment assembly defining a portion of the working air path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2020
    Publication date: February 18, 2021
    Inventors: Alan J. Krebs, Thomas K. Ankney
  • VACUUM CLEANER
    Publication number: 20210045598
    Abstract: A vacuum cleaner includes a foot assembly having a suction inlet thereon, a suction source in fluid communication with the suction inlet to produce a working airflow there through, and a dirt container in fluid communication with the suction inlet and suction source. The foot assembly further includes a body defined by a central portion and a pair of extension arms, a rotatable agitator on each extension arm, and a drive assembly configured to counter-rotate the agitators. The counter-rotating agitators are operable to cooperate with the suction source to direct dust and debris towards the suction inlet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2020
    Publication date: February 18, 2021
    Inventor: Alan J. Krebs
  • HANDHELD VACUUM CLEANER
    Publication number: 20210038043
    Abstract: A handheld vacuum cleaner is provided with a hand-carriable body housing the components of a vacuum collection system, which can include a working air path through the body from an air inlet to an air outlet. An air deflector is positioned in opposition to the air inlet and directs a working airstream from the air inlet downwardly within a debris removal assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2020
    Publication date: February 11, 2021
    Inventors: Alan J. Krebs, Thomas K. Ankney
  • STEAM CLEANING APPARATUS
    Publication number: 20210038048
    Abstract: A steam cleaning apparatus for delivering steam of a surface to be cleaned is provided with a steam unit, a handle tube and an indexable base. The base can be indexed between a wide orientation where a long edge of the base is orthogonal to the direction of travel and a narrow orientation where a short edge of the base is orthogonal to the direction of travel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2020
    Publication date: February 11, 2021
    Inventors: Alan J. Krebs, Chi Keung Li, Jing Yang, Ming Luo, Jason W. Pruiett
  • Vacuum cleaner
    Patent number: 10827892
    Abstract: A vacuum cleaner includes an odor neutralizer and dust plume abatement system. The odor neutralizer and dust plume abatement system delivers a mist to a working air path of the vacuum cleaner, such as at or upstream of a working air treatment assembly defining a portion of the working air path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: BISSELL Inc.
    Inventors: Alan J. Krebs, Thomas K. Ankney
  • Handheld vacuum cleaner
    Patent number: 10820767
    Abstract: A handheld vacuum cleaner is provided with a hand-carriable body housing the components of a vacuum collection system, which can include a working air path through the body from an air inlet to an air outlet. An air deflector is positioned in opposition to the air inlet and directs a working airstream from the air inlet downwardly within a debris removal assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: BISSELL Inc.
    Inventors: Alan J. Krebs, Thomas K. Ankney
  • Vacuum cleaner
    Patent number: 10820764
    Abstract: A vacuum cleaner includes a foot assembly having a suction inlet thereon, a suction source in fluid communication with the suction inlet to produce a working airflow there through, and a dirt container in fluid communication with the suction inlet and suction source. The foot assembly further comprises a body defined by a central portion and a pair of extension arms, a rotatable agitator on each extension arm, and a drive assembly configured to counter-rotate the agitators. The counter-rotating agitators are operable to cooperate with the suction source to direct dust and debris towards the suction inlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: BISSELL Inc.
    Inventor: Alan J. Krebs
  • Steam cleaning apparatus
    Patent number: 10791903
    Abstract: A steam cleaning apparatus for delivering steam of a surface to be cleaned is provided with a steam unit, a handle tube and an indexable base. The base can be indexed between a wide orientation where a long edge of the base is orthogonal to the direction of travel and a narrow orientation where a short edge of the base is orthogonal to the direction of travel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: BISSELL Inc.
    Inventors: Alan J. Krebs, Chi Keung Li, Jing Yang, Ming Luo
  • MOTORIZED FLOOR MOP
    Publication number: 20200205635
    Abstract: A floor cleaning apparatus in the form of a motorized floor mop that can deliver liquid to a surface to be cleaned is provided with a handle, a base, a fluid delivery system, a motorized agitation system and a multi-axis swivel joint coupling the handle with the base for movement of the handle. A lock-out mechanism selectively locks out one of the axes of rotation of the multi-axis swivel joint.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2020
    Publication date: July 2, 2020
    Inventors: Junfeng Ding, Jianjun Ge, Alan J. Krebs
  • AUTONOMOUS FLOOR CLEANING SYSTEM
    Publication number: 20200178747
    Abstract: A floor cleaning system includes multiple autonomous floor cleaners or robots. The robots are configured to share a mapping, navigation, and/or stain sensing system. A first robot carries the mapping, navigation, and/or stain sensing system, and a second robot receives information from the mapping, navigation, and/or stain sensing system of the first robot. The system can include at least one dry vacuuming robot and at least one deep cleaning robot.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2020
    Publication date: June 11, 2020
    Inventors: Jeffrey A. Scholten, Alan J. Krebs
  • STEAM CLEANING APPARATUS
    Publication number: 20200129034
    Abstract: A steam cleaning apparatus includes a cleaning head, a handle operably coupled with the cleaning head, a supply tank, a steam generator in fluid communication with the supply tank, and a steam outlet in fluid communication with the steam generator. A diverter is provided in a steam distribution path between the steam generator and the steam outlet and is configured to selectively divert steam away from the steam outlet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2018
    Publication date: April 30, 2020
    Inventor: Alan J. Krebs, JR.
  • Motorized floor mop
    Patent number: 10602902
    Abstract: A motorized floor mop that can deliver liquid to a surface to be cleaned is provided with a handle, a base, a fluid delivery system, a motorized agitation system and a multi-axis swivel joint coupling the handle with the base for movement of the handle. A lock-out mechanism selectively locks out one of the axes of rotation of the multi-axis swivel joint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: BISSELL Homecare, Inc.
    Inventors: Junfeng Ding, Jianjun Ge, Alan J. Krebs
  • Autonomous floor cleaning system
    Patent number: 10602898
    Abstract: A floor cleaning system includes multiple autonomous floor cleaners or robots. The robots are configured to share a mapping, navigation, and/or stain sensing system. A first robot carries the mapping, navigation, and/or stain sensing system, and a second robot receives information from the mapping, navigation, and/or stain sensing system of the first robot. The system can include at least one dry vacuuming robot and at least one deep cleaning robot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: BISSELL Homecare, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey A. Scholten, Alan J. Krebs
  • SURFACE CLEANING APPARATUS
    Publication number: 20190380557
    Abstract: A surface cleaning apparatus, such as a steam mop, includes a steam delivery system having a steam delivery pathway. A fragrance dispenser for receiving a fragrant material is provided on the apparatus, and a portion of the steam delivery pathway is in heat exchange relationship with the fragrance dispenser to heat the fragrant material in the fragrance dispenser by heat transfer from the steam in the pathway. Fragrance is dispensed from apparatus via heat transfer utilizing the steam pathway as a thermal radiation source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2019
    Publication date: December 19, 2019
    Inventors: Alan J. Krebs, Ming Luo, Jin Yang
  • Vacuum cleaner
    Patent number: 10398268
    Abstract: A vacuum cleaner includes a suction nozzle and a dirt separating and collecting system. The dirt separating and collecting system can include a bagless filter module and a bagged filter module that can be interchanged to convert the dirt separating and collecting system between a bagless configuration and a bagged configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: BISSELL Homecare, Inc.
    Inventors: Alan J. Krebs, Joseph A. Fester
  • Surface cleaning apparatus
    Patent number: 10398280
    Abstract: A surface cleaning apparatus, such as a steam mop, includes a steam delivery system having a steam delivery pathway. A fragrance dispenser for receiving a fragrant material is provided on the apparatus, and a portion of the steam delivery pathway is in in heat exchange relationship with the fragrance dispenser to heat the fragrant material in the fragrance dispenser by heat transfer from the steam in the pathway. Fragrance is dispensed from apparatus via heat transfer utilizing the steam pathway as a thermal radiation source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: BISSELL Homecare, Inc.
    Inventors: Alan J. Krebs, Ming Luo, Jin Yang
  • UPRIGHT STEAM MOP WITH AUXILIARY HOSE
    Publication number: 20190261827
    Abstract: A steam mop with an upright handle assembly pivotally mounted to a foot includes a fluid distribution system. The fluid distribution system includes a steam generator, a fluid distributor in the foot that applies steam to a floor surface and an auxiliary hose that applies steam to above-floor surfaces.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2019
    Publication date: August 29, 2019
    Inventors: Alan J. Krebs, Kurt E. Ashbaugh