Patents by Inventor Doug Metzel

Doug Metzel 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: 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
  • Publication number: 20230104177
    Abstract: A cleaning article includes: a first panel having: a first fiber layer; and a first substrate attached to the first fiber layer by a first connection type; and a second panel having: a second fiber layer; and a second substrate attached to the second fiber layer by the first connection type. The first connection type includes a first connection line in parallel with a second connection line, the first and second connection lines together straddling a center line of a respective panel that extends in an axial direction. The first panel is attached to the second panel by a plurality of spot connections so as to create a pocket between the first panel and the second panel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2022
    Publication date: April 6, 2023
    Applicant: Carl Freudenberg KG
    Inventors: Friedel Winterling, Norbert Weis, Stephen Dickel, Robert G Challman, Sabine Boroyevich, Robert Ancheta, Doug Metzel, Eric Martin
  • Patent number: 11564549
    Abstract: A dusting tool having a flexible skeletal element including a base, from which four elongated arms extend. The elongated arms have a base end and a distal end. The base ends extend from the base and being spaced apart from one another at the base. The arms being flexible and resilient. A plurality of cross-members extend between the elongated arms, a plurality of living hinges being disposed between the plurality of cross-members and the elongated arms. A force applied to at least one of the elongated arms is transmitted to the other of the elongated arm by the plurality of cross-members and the plurality of living hinges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: Carl Freudenberg KG
    Inventors: Robert Ancheta, Doug Metzel, Eric Martin, Robert G. Challman
  • Publication number: 20220346540
    Abstract: A beveled broom and step-on dustpan cleaning system including a step-on dustpan having a step-on portion configured to allow a user to collect debris in a receptacle of the dustpan when a force is applied on the step-on portion. The dustpan includes a lip portion which is configured to seal against a floor surface upon a user stepping on the step-on portion to collect debris. A beveled broom having a broom head configured with a beveled or chamfered shape at a functional angle to provide an effective and efficient contact surface to a floor surface to collect debris during use.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2022
    Publication date: November 3, 2022
    Applicant: Carl Freudenberg KG
    Inventors: Doug Metzel, Robert Ancheta
  • Patent number: 11425990
    Abstract: A beveled broom and step-on dustpan cleaning system including a step-on dustpan having a step-on portion configured to allow a user to collect debris in a receptacle of the dustpan when a force is applied on the step-on portion. The dustpan includes a lip portion which is configured to seal against a floor surface upon a user stepping on the step-on portion to collect debris. A beveled broom having a broom head configured with a beveled or chamfered shape at a functional angle to provide an effective and efficient contact surface to a floor surface to collect debris during use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: Carl Freudenberg KG
    Inventors: Doug Metzel, Robert Ancheta
  • Publication number: 20220211242
    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: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2021
    Publication date: July 7, 2022
    Applicant: Carl Freudenberg KG
    Inventor: Doug Metzel
  • Patent number: 11297996
    Abstract: A floor mop including a handle, a shaft coupled to the handle, a multidirectional joint coupled to the shaft opposite the handle, and a mop plate. The mop plate is unitarily formed and includes an upper plate including an upper surface, a substantially parallel lower plate including a lower surface, lateral faces extending between the upper and lower plate, and at least one internal web extending between the upper and lower plates. The upper plate, lower plate, lateral faces and at least one internal web are unitarily formed. The mop plate and the multidirectional joint further include complementary coupling structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: Carl Freudenberg KG
    Inventors: Doug Metzel, Eric Wehrli
  • Patent number: 11147428
    Abstract: An actuable shaft assembly for a spray mop assembly includes first and second hollow elongated outer shaft segments in which first and second elongated actuating rod segments are telescopingly disposed, respectively. The first and second outer shaft segments include respective first and second shaft retaining elements extending into their hollow interiors. The first and second rod segments include respective first and second rod retaining elements extending radially outward from their outer peripheral surfaces. The rod retaining elements and shaft retaining elements are sized and disposed to limit telescoping movement of the associated rod segments outward from the shaft segment ends.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: Carl Freudenberg KG
    Inventors: Doug Metzel, Eric Wehrli
  • Publication number: 20210289933
    Abstract: A beveled broom and step-on dustpan cleaning system including a step-on dustpan having a step-on portion configured to allow a user to collect debris in a receptacle of the dustpan when a force is applied on the step-on portion. The dustpan includes a lip portion which is configured to seal against a floor surface upon a user stepping on the step-on portion to collect debris. A beveled broom having a broom head configured with a beveled or chamfered shape at a functional angle to provide an effective and efficient contact surface to a floor surface to collect debris during use.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2020
    Publication date: September 23, 2021
    Applicant: Carl Freudenberg KG
    Inventors: Doug Metzel, Robert Ancheta
  • Publication number: 20210030252
    Abstract: A floor mop including a handle, a shaft coupled to the handle, a multidirectional joint coupled to the shaft opposite the handle, and a mop plate. The mop plate is unitarily formed and includes an upper plate including an upper surface, a substantially parallel lower plate including a lower surface, lateral faces extending between the upper and lower plate, and at least one internal web extending between the upper and lower plates. The upper plate, lower plate, lateral faces and at least one internal web are unitarily formed. The mop plate and the multidirectional joint further include complementary coupling structures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2019
    Publication date: February 4, 2021
    Inventors: Doug Metzel, Eric Wehrli
  • Publication number: 20210030251
    Abstract: An actuable shaft assembly for a spray mop assembly includes first and second hollow elongated outer shaft segments in which first and second elongated actuating rod segments are telescopingly disposed, respectively. The first and second outer shaft segments include respective first and second shaft retaining elements extending into their hollow interiors. The first and second rod segments include respective first and second rod retaining elements extending radially outward from their outer peripheral surfaces. The rod retaining elements and shaft retaining elements are sized and disposed to limit telescoping movement of the associated rod segments outward from the shaft segment ends.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2019
    Publication date: February 4, 2021
    Applicant: Carl Freudenberg KG
    Inventors: Doug Metzel, Eric Wehrli
  • Patent number: 10881265
    Abstract: A mop includes a mop handle with a grip end and a mopping end. A locking cup is disposed on the mopping end. The locking cup includes a cup portion with interior threads and a locking tooth. A mop head is disposed at the mopping end. The mop head connects to a locking cap. The locking cap includes a locking tab configured to engage with the interior threads of the locking cup to allow for selective removal of the mop head from the mop handle and to engage and be retained by the locking tooth when the locking cap is threaded into the locking cup. A biasing element is disposed in the cup portion and contacts the locking cap and generate a bias between the locking cap and the locking cup and urge the locking tab against the locking tooth when the locking cap is threaded into the cup portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignee: Carl Freudenberg KG
    Inventors: Doug Metzel, Conrad Alfaro
  • Patent number: 10555658
    Abstract: A mop comprising a mop handle with a grip end and a mopping end and includes spline ribs that surround a surface of the mop handle. The mop includes a ratchet sleeve surrounding the mop handle and is rotatable in first and second directions. The ratchet sleeve includes a flexible collar with an inward-facing integral pawl on an interior portion of the flexible collar. The mop includes a mop head at the mopping end of the mop handle. The mop head has a first end connected to the mopping end and a second end connected to the ratchet sleeve. The flexible collar is flexible between a locked position where the pawl engages with the spline ribs preventing rotation of the ratchet sleeve in the first rotational direction, and an unlocked position where the pawl disengages the spline ribs allowing rotation of the ratchet sleeve in first and second rotational directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2020
    Assignee: Freudenberg Household Products LP
    Inventors: Doug Metzel, Conrad Alfaro
  • Patent number: 10548453
    Abstract: A floor mop includes a handle, a shaft coupled to the handle, and a plate attached to the shaft opposite the handle. The plate has a thickness that is minimum in a central portion adjacent an attachment to the shaft and increases in a lateral direction away from the central portion, the plate adapted to accommodate a cleaning pad thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: Freudenberg Household Products LP
    Inventors: Doug Metzel, Eric Wehrli, Scott Munro
  • Patent number: 10443221
    Abstract: A resiliently deformable toilet plunger including a generally cup-shaped bell portion having an interior space. A socket is formed on the bell portion. A flange portion extends from the bell portion opposite the socket and includes an open end. The flange portion defines an arcuate tapering tubular passage wherein the interior space communicates with the open end. An annular skirt is formed at a junction of the bell portion and the flange portion, the skirt including a base portion attached to the bell portion and a terminal end opposite the base portion, the skirt extending outwardly from the junction and at an angle such that the terminal end is below a plane defined by the junction, wherein the angle is from about 20° to about 70°.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: CARL FREUDENBERG KG
    Inventors: Doug Metzel, Conrad Alfaro
  • Patent number: D939172
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2021
    Assignee: Carl Freudenberg KG
    Inventors: Robert Ancheta, Doug Metzel
  • Patent number: D954373
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: Carl Freudenberg KG
    Inventor: Doug Metzel
  • Mop
    Patent number: D974687
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: Carl Freudenberg KG
    Inventor: Doug Metzel
  • Patent number: D986523
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: Carl Freudenberg KG
    Inventors: Doug Metzel, Robert Ancheta
  • Patent number: D1002394
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: Carl Freudenberg KG
    Inventors: Doug Metzel, Eric Wehrli