Patents by Inventor Andre D. BROWN
Andre D. BROWN 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).
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Patent number: 11607097Abstract: A vacuum cleaner attachment generally includes a cleaning element that floats relative to a suction conduit of the vacuum cleaner attachment. The cleaning element is supported on a support structure that is movably coupled to a housing and is biased towards a floor, for example, as a result of the weight of the cleaning element support structure. The cleaning element may be permanently attached to the support structure or may be a removable or disposable pad or sheet attached to the support structure. The floating cleaning element may be supported between the suction conduit and one or more wheels of the vacuum cleaner attachment. The vacuum cleaner attachment may be removably attached to a vacuum cleaner, for example, to be used interchangeably with other surface cleaning heads.Type: GrantFiled: September 16, 2019Date of Patent: March 21, 2023Assignee: SharkNinja Operating LLCInventors: Brian Burke, William Liberis, Jason B. Thorne, Charlie Cai, Peter Hutchinson, Andre D. Brown, Kai Xu, Brian M. Bond
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Patent number: 11596286Abstract: A wheel assembly for a robotic cleaner may include a frame, a moveable arm pivotally coupled to the frame, a driven wheel rotatably coupled to the moveable arm such that the driven wheel pivots with the moveable arm, and a biasing mechanism configured to urge the driven wheel towards an extended position, the biasing mechanism being coupled to the frame and spaced apart from the moveable arm.Type: GrantFiled: December 27, 2019Date of Patent: March 7, 2023Assignee: SharkNinja Operating LLCInventors: Catriona C. A. Sutter, Ming Yao, William Wang, Andre D. Brown
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Patent number: 11497366Abstract: A vacuum cleaner may include a suction motor and a cyclonic separator fluidly coupled to the suction motor. The cyclonic separator may include a chamber and a first and a second vortex finder extending within the chamber. The first and second vortex finders may extend from opposing sides of the chamber.Type: GrantFiled: January 24, 2020Date of Patent: November 15, 2022Assignee: SharkNinja Operating LLCInventors: Kai Xu, Andre D. Brown
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Patent number: 11464381Abstract: A vacuum cleaner includes a vacuum body defining an agitation chamber, an agitator, and an illumination system. The agitator is rotatably disposed at least partially within the agitation chamber and includes an agitator body defining an illumination chamber. The illumination system is at least partially disposed within the illumination chamber and includes at least one light source. Alternatively, a vacuum cleaner includes a vacuum body defining an agitation chamber, an agitator rotatably disposed at least partially within the agitation chamber, an illumination coupled to the vacuum body and including at least one light source, and a light guide configured to redirect light emitted in a first direction from the at least one light source to a second direction.Type: GrantFiled: October 2, 2019Date of Patent: October 11, 2022Assignee: SharkNinja Operating LLCInventors: Jason B. Thorne, Andre D. Brown, Kai Xu
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Publication number: 20220316752Abstract: An air treatment system is disclosed that includes a modular configuration whereby a fan module, filter module, and humidifier module may couple together to provide a plurality of air treatment solutions. In more detail, the modules can stack end-to-end in a vertical configuration. The modules may electrically couple to each other via a common electrical bus and enable a controller disposed in the fan module (or other module) to control fan flow rates, direction, and humidity. The fan module can include an articulating nozzle capable of directing airflow in virtually any direction and angle about an environment. The fan module can further include an inlet arrangement that can selectively restrict external air from entering the fan module housing when the fan module is fluidly coupled to the filter module. Thus, the fan module may generate air flow from exclusively filtered air to minimize or otherwise reduce bacterial/mold growth within the fan module housing.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 9, 2022Publication date: October 6, 2022Inventors: Andre D. Brown, Jason B. Thorne, Peter Hutchinson, Gary Palladino, Alden Kelsey, Daniel J. Innes, Zach Hellman
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Publication number: 20220266310Abstract: A cleaning apparatus includes an end cap assembly for use with an agitator. The end cap assembly includes a stationary end cap, a rotating end cap, and a fragmentor. The stationary end cap is secured to and stationary with respect to a housing of the cleaning apparatus. The rotating end cap is coupled to the agitator and rotates with the agitator relative to the housing. The stationary and rotating end caps define a gap extending radially inward therebetween. The fragmentor is disposed within the gap and is configured to break debris which enters the gap into smaller pieces. The fragmentor may be disposed on a surface of the stationary end cap facing towards the rotating end cap and/or on a surface of the rotating end cap facing towards the stationary end cap. The fragmentor may include a cutting blade and/or an abrasive surface.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 10, 2022Publication date: August 25, 2022Inventors: Andre D. BROWN, Charles S. BRUNNER, Tyler S. SMITH
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Patent number: 11408430Abstract: In accordance with the present disclosure a modular air treatment system is disclosed. The modular air treatment system includes a fan apparatus having a base to removably couple to at least one of an air filter and/or a humidifier, wherein the fan apparatus includes a fan body with at least one convex surface and a nozzle to output air along the at least one convex surface.Type: GrantFiled: September 20, 2018Date of Patent: August 9, 2022Assignee: SharkNinja Operating LLCInventors: Andre D. Brown, Jason B. Thorne, Peter Hutchinson, Gary Palladino, Alden Kelsey, Daniel J. Innes, Zach Hellman, Josh Anthony, Sunil Moda, Lloyd Olson, Ramiro Henriquez Porras, Da Deng
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Patent number: 11399675Abstract: A reconfigurable surface treatment apparatus may include a wand and a pod removably coupled to the wand. The wand may have a first distal end that is configured to couple to a surface cleaning head and a second distal end that is configured to couple to a handle. The pod may include a suction motor assembly cavity, a battery cavity, and a dust cup cavity. The suction motor assembly cavity and the battery cavity may be disposed on opposing sides of a vertical plane, wherein the vertical plane extends along a central longitudinal axis of the pod. The dust cup cavity may be disposed between the suction motor assembly cavity and the battery cavity such that at least a portion of the dust cup cavity is disposed on each side of the vertical plane.Type: GrantFiled: July 31, 2019Date of Patent: August 2, 2022Assignee: SharkNinja Operating LLCInventors: Scott B Niedzwecki, Andre D. Brown, Mingshun (Aaron) Su, Robert Yang, Lee M. Cottrell, Patrick Cleary
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Patent number: 11384956Abstract: An air treatment system is disclosed that includes a modular configuration whereby a fan module, filter module, and humidifier module may couple together to provide a plurality of air treatment solutions. In more detail, the modules can stack end-to-end in a vertical configuration. The modules may electrically couple to each other via a common electrical bus and enable a controller disposed in the fan module (or other module) to control fan flow rates, direction, and humidity. The fan module can include an articulating nozzle capable of directing airflow in virtually any direction and angle about an environment. The fan module can further include an inlet arrangement that can selectively restrict external air from entering the fan module housing when the fan module is fluidly coupled to the filter module. Thus, the fan module may generate air flow from exclusively filtered air to minimize or otherwise reduce bacterial/mold growth within the fan module housing.Type: GrantFiled: May 22, 2018Date of Patent: July 12, 2022Assignee: SharkNinja Operating LLCInventors: Andre D. Brown, Jason B. Thorne, Peter Hutchinson, Gary Palladino, Alden Kelsey, Daniel J. Innes, Zach Hellman
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Patent number: 11330949Abstract: A cordless surface cleaning apparatus is disclosed that includes a compact storage configuration to allow the surface cleaning apparatus to have a small, compact footprint relative to an in-use configuration. The storage configuration therefore allows for storage in locations otherwise unsuitable for other surface cleaning apparatuses, e.g., upright vacuum cleaners, and so on. For instance, a surface cleaning apparatus configured in accordance with aspects disclosed herein may have a footprint with an overall width that allows the same to be hidden between an open door and an adjacent wall or other similarly narrow space such as a small closet. Moreover, the surface cleaning apparatus may include an aesthetically pleasing, minimalist design in addition to a small footprint, which allows the surface cleaning apparatus to be placed at a conspicuous location, such as against a wall, without becoming obtrusive or otherwise disruptive to the surrounding environment.Type: GrantFiled: June 12, 2018Date of Patent: May 17, 2022Assignee: SharkNinja Operating LLCInventors: Andre D. Brown, Daniel J. Innes
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Publication number: 20220142427Abstract: A rotatable agitator is used in a surface clearing head of a surface cleaning apparatus. The agitator is coupled to the cleaning head at least partially within an agitator chamber and is rotated about a pivot axis. The agitator includes an elongated agitator body and a hair migration portion. The hair migration portion includes a continuous row of bristles and a sidewall. The continuous row of bristles and sidewall are at least partially revolved around and extend along at least a portion of the pivot axis from one of a collection area or a first end region of the agitator and either another collection area or a second end region of the agitator. The sidewall extends substantially parallel to the continuous row of bristles within the hair migration portion. The continuous row of bristles and sidewall are configured to reduce hair from becoming entangled in the bristles and to migrate hair towards the collection area or the first end region of the agitator.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 28, 2022Publication date: May 12, 2022Inventors: Adam UDY, Andre D. BROWN, Steven P. CARTER
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Publication number: 20220071459Abstract: A surface cleaning head includes a housing having a front side and back side, a brush roll rotatably mounted to the housing within a suction conduit and having at least a portion proximate the opening of the suction conduit, a leading roller mounted to the housing in front of the brush roll, and a drive mechanism operatively coupled to the brush roll and the leading roller for driving the brush roll and the leading roller at same time. The brush roll includes an agitator body and a first bristle/flap arrangement comprising a first deformable flap extending from the agitator body and a first bristle strip and/or row of tufts extending from the agitator body and disposed adjacent to the first deformable flap. The first deformable flap is disposed at an aggressive angle and the first bristle strip and/or row of tufts is arranged at a passive angle.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 3, 2021Publication date: March 10, 2022Inventors: Steven GACIN, Jason B. THORNE, Adam UDY, Charles S. BRUNNER, Xavier F. CULLERE, Nicholas Sardar, Ognjen VRDOLJAK, Daniel R. DER MARDEROSIAN, Andre D. BROWN, Daniel J. INNES
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Patent number: 11247245Abstract: A cleaning apparatus includes an end cap assembly for use with an agitator. The end cap assembly includes a stationary end cap, a rotating end cap, and a fragmentor. The stationary end cap is secured to and stationary with respect to a housing of the cleaning apparatus. The rotating end cap is coupled to the agitator and rotates with the agitator relative to the housing. The stationary and rotating end caps define a gap extending radially inward therebetween. The fragmentor is disposed within the gap and is configured to break debris which enters the gap into smaller pieces. The fragmentor may be disposed on a surface of the stationary end cap facing towards the rotating end cap and/or on a surface of the rotating end cap facing towards the stationary end cap. The fragmentor may include a cutting blade and/or an abrasive surface.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 2018Date of Patent: February 15, 2022Assignee: SharkNinja Operating LLCInventors: Andre D. Brown, Charles S. Brunner, Tyler S. Smith
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Patent number: 11234568Abstract: A rotatable agitator is used in a surface clearing head of a surface cleaning apparatus. The agitator is coupled to the cleaning head at least partially within an agitator chamber and is rotated about a pivot axis. The agitator includes an elongated agitator body and a hair migration portion. The hair migration portion includes a continuous row of bristles and a sidewall. The continuous row of bristles and sidewall are at least partially revolved around and extend along at least a portion of the pivot axis from one of a collection area or a first end region of the agitator and either another collection area or a second end region of the agitator. The sidewall extends substantially parallel to the continuous row of bristles within the hair migration portion. The continuous row of bristles and sidewall are configured to reduce hair from becoming entangled in the bristles and to migrate hair towards the collection area or the first end region of the agitator.Type: GrantFiled: September 8, 2017Date of Patent: February 1, 2022Assignee: SharkNinja Operating LLCInventors: Adam Udy, Andre D. Brown, Steven P. Carter
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Patent number: 11224324Abstract: A hand vacuum cleaner wherein a pre-motor filter, the suction motor, the energy storage unit and the pistol grip handle are substantially located within a volume defined by a projection of the air treatment member sidewall.Type: GrantFiled: August 15, 2019Date of Patent: January 18, 2022Assignee: Omachron Intellectual Property Inc.Inventors: Wayne Ernest Conrad, Daniel Innes, Andre D. Brown, Jason Thorne
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Patent number: 11213177Abstract: In general, the present disclosure is directed to a hand-held surface cleaning device that includes a relatively compact form-factor to allow users to store the same in a nearby location (e.g., in a drawer, in an associated charging dock, on a table top) for easy access to perform relatively small cleaning tasks that would otherwise require retrieving a full-size vacuum from storage. A hand-held surface cleaning device consistent with aspects of the present disclosure includes a body (or body portion) with a motor, power source and dust cup disposed therein. The body portion also functions as a handgrip to allow the hand-held surface cleaning device to be operated by one hand, for example.Type: GrantFiled: September 20, 2018Date of Patent: January 4, 2022Assignee: SharkNinja Operating LLCInventors: Daniel Tonderys, Andre D. Brown, Daniel Innes, Bastin Antonisami, Jason B. Thorne, Kai Xu, Heliang Chen, Adam Udy
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Patent number: 11160425Abstract: A hand vacuum cleaner has a main body having an upper end having a dirty air inlet conduit and a handle. The handle has a hand grip portion that extends upwardly and forwardly. An assembly comprising an air treatment member and a pre-motor filter media is removably mounted to the main body.Type: GrantFiled: May 2, 2016Date of Patent: November 2, 2021Assignee: Omachron Intellectual Property Inc.Inventors: Andre D. Brown, Wayne Conrad, Nina Conrad, Lee M. Cottrell, Dave Petersen, Jason B. Thorne, Adam Udy
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Publication number: 20210307581Abstract: A vacuum cleaner includes a vacuum body defining an agitation chamber, an agitator, and an illumination system. The agitator is rotatably disposed at least partially within the agitation chamber and includes an agitator body defining an illumination chamber. The illumination system is at least partially disposed within the illumination chamber and includes at least one light source. Alternatively, a vacuum cleaner includes a vacuum body defining an agitation chamber, an agitator rotatably disposed at least partially within the agitation chamber, an illumination coupled to the vacuum body and including at least one light source, and a light guide configured to redirect light emitted in a first direction from the at least one light source to a second direction.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 2, 2019Publication date: October 7, 2021Inventors: Jason B. THORNE, Andre D. BROWN, Kai XU
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Publication number: 20210290020Abstract: In general, the present disclosure is directed to a hand-held surface cleaning device that includes a relatively compact form-factor to allow users to store the same in a nearby location (e.g., in a drawer, in an associated charging dock, on a table top) for easy access to perform relatively small cleaning tasks that would otherwise require retrieving a full-size vacuum from storage. A hand-held surface cleaning device consistent with aspects of the present disclosure includes a body (or body portion) with a motor, power source and dust cup disposed therein. The body portion also functions as a handgrip to allow the hand-held surface cleaning device to be operated by one hand, for example.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 6, 2021Publication date: September 23, 2021Inventors: Daniel TONDERYS, Andre D. BROWN, Daniel INNES, Bastin ANTONISAMI, Jason B. THORNE, Kai XU, Heliang CHEN
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Patent number: D980561Type: GrantFiled: December 28, 2020Date of Patent: March 7, 2023Assignee: SHARKNINJA OPERATING LLCInventors: Scott Niedzwecki, Andre D. Brown, Lee M. Cottrell, Mingshun Su, Robert Yang