Patents by Inventor Darwin T. McKnight

Darwin T. McKnight 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).

  • Patent number: 6401296
    Abstract: A removable suction nozzle inlet adapter is taught for converting the suction inlet of a vacuuming nozzle from a straight line inlet to one having either a convex or concave suction inlet whereby curved carpet and/or upholstery surfaces may be vacuumed. The adapters are particularly useful for use with hand held hot water extractor nozzles upon the curved carpet surface between the step and risers of carpeted stairs and/or the curved carpet transition from the riser to the horizontal step. Further, the invention described and taught may be used to vacuum curved upholstery or carpet surfaces found in the typical household and/or automobile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2002
    Assignee: The Hoover Company
    Inventors: Darwin T. McKnight, John D. Essex, Kenneth L. Symensma
  • Patent number: 6374452
    Abstract: A tool storage door for a floor care appliance encloses a tool storage compartment formed on the floor care appliance for storing various floor care accessory tools. The tool storage door receives and supports at least one of the accessory tools. A cutout area is formed in the tool storage door for providing direct and unobstructed visibility to the accessory tool and for allowing a portion of the accessory tool to extend therethrough. A recess which is substantially complementary to the shape of the accessory tool is formed in an underside of the tool storage door for receiving the accessory tool on the tool storage door. A pair of latching tabs extends downwardly from the underside of the tool storage door for releasably retaining the accessory tool within the recess.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2002
    Assignee: The Hoover Company
    Inventors: John D. Essex, Gad Shaanan, Ivan Brousseau, Walter Francovich, Luc Mion, Darwin T. McKnight
  • Patent number: 6038732
    Abstract: A removable suction nozzle inlet adapter is taught for converting the suction inlet of a vacuuming nozzle from a straight line inlet to one having either a convex or concave suction inlet whereby curved carpet and/or upholstery surfaces may be vacuumed. The adapters are particularly useful for use with hand held hot water extractor nozzles upon the curved carpet surface between the step and risers of carpeted stairs and/or the curved carpet transition from the riser to the horizontal step. Further, the invention described and taught may be used to vacuum curved upholstery or carpet surfaces found in the typical household and/or automobile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2000
    Assignee: The Hoover Company
    Inventors: Darwin T. McKnight, John D. Essex, Kenneth L. Symensma
  • Patent number: 5331714
    Abstract: A stacked looped hose rack for upright vacuum cleaners provides a top hose receptacle, a bottom hose receptacle, and an intermediate hose receptacle, all three attached to the handle assembly of the upright cleaner. The top hose receptacle is rotatable to provide for a quick dump or release of the hose spirally wrapped around the top and bottom receptacles, and through the intermediate one. The bottom receptacle is in the form of a spool, the top receptacle is in the form of a generally elliptical spool, and the middle receptacle is provided with a pair of channels in H-type configuration to receive the hose as it passes therethrough.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 1992
    Date of Patent: July 26, 1994
    Assignee: The Hoover Company
    Inventors: John D. Essex, Darwin T. McKnight
  • Patent number: 5303447
    Abstract: A rear mounted hose and tool rack is provided for an upright vacuum cleaner. The hose and tool rack receives and maintains various tools and attachments within a confined envelope and maintained rearwardly of the lower handle assembly of the vacuum cleaner. The rack is formed of a flexible plastic material to accommodate ease of attachment thereto. A central opening in the rack may be passed over the upper handle assembly such that a pocket at the top of the opening may engage an upper surface of the lower handle assembly while spaced apart tabs extending into the opening engage opposite surfaces of the lower handle assembly to complete the secured engagement. Attachment of the rack to the upright cleaner is further facilitated by the flexible and deflectable nature of the rack itself which allows the tabs to be deflected while being positioned for ultimate secured engagement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 1992
    Date of Patent: April 19, 1994
    Assignee: The Hoover Company
    Inventor: Darwin T. McKnight
  • Patent number: D509933
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2005
    Assignee: The Hoover Company
    Inventors: Richard S. Parr, Darwin T. McKnight
  • Patent number: D450896
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2001
    Assignee: The Hoover Company
    Inventors: John D. Essex, Darwin T. McKnight
  • Patent number: D546510
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2007
    Assignee: The Hoover Company
    Inventors: Richard S. Parr, William G. Alford, Darwin T. McKnight, Matthew J. Archer
  • Patent number: D473986
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2003
    Assignee: The Hoover Company
    Inventors: Richard S. Parr, William G. Alford, Darwin T. McKnight, Matthew J. Archer
  • Patent number: D485028
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: The Hoover Company
    Inventors: Richard S. Parr, William G. Alford, Darwin T. McKnight
  • Patent number: D344821
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 1, 1994
    Assignee: The Hoover Company
    Inventor: Darwin T. McKnight
  • Patent number: D354378
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 10, 1995
    Assignee: The Hoover Company
    Inventors: Darwin T. McKnight, Richard A. Wareham
  • Patent number: D358242
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 9, 1995
    Assignee: The Hoover Company
    Inventor: Darwin T. McKnight
  • Patent number: D361179
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 8, 1995
    Assignee: The Hoover Company
    Inventors: David W. Moine, Darwin T. McKnight, Ronald J. Stephens, Richard A. Wareham
  • Patent number: D372567
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 6, 1996
    Assignee: The Hoover Company
    Inventors: David W. Moine, Darwin T. McKnight, Ronald J. Stephens, Richard A. Wareham
  • Patent number: D381142
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 15, 1997
    Assignee: The Hoover Company
    Inventors: Darwin T. McKnight, David W. Moine
  • Patent number: D393113
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 31, 1998
    Assignee: The Hoover Company
    Inventors: John D. Essex, Darwin T. McKnight
  • Patent number: D398100
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 8, 1998
    Assignee: The Hoover Company
    Inventors: Ronald J. Stephens, Douglas C. Barker, Darwin S. Crouser, Darwin T. McKnight, Edgar A. Maurer
  • Patent number: D403482
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 29, 1998
    Assignee: The Hoover Company
    Inventors: John D. Essex, Darwin T. McKnight, David M. J. Allgeier, Kevin S. Waltz
  • Patent number: D415596
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 19, 1999
    Assignee: The Hoover Company
    Inventors: John D. Essex, Darwin T. McKnight