Patents by Inventor Douglas L. Blocker

Douglas L. Blocker 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: 8393052
    Abstract: An upright vacuum cleaner having dual cleaning motor and fan units is provided having a cleaning head engagable with a floor and a suction nozzle and a brush roller rotatably mounted therein. A first motor and fan unit is mounted in the vacuum cleaner for producing suction in the suction nozzle and is operatively connected to the brush roller for rotating it. An upright housing is connected to the cleaning head, the housing having a handle for moving the vacuum cleaner along the floor during floor cleaning use. Contained in the housing are a dirt storage container, a passageway leading from the suction nozzle in the cleaning head to the storage container and a second motor and fan unit operatively associated with the storage container for drawing dirt laden air from the cleaning head through the passageway and into the storage container simultaneously with operation of the first motor and fan unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: Tacony Corporation
    Inventors: Douglas L. Blocker, John F. Kaido
  • Publication number: 20110296647
    Abstract: An upright vacuum cleaner having dual cleaning motor and fan units is provided having a cleaning head engagable with a floor and a suction nozzle and a brush roller rotatably mounted therein. A first motor and fan unit is mounted in the vacuum cleaner for producing suction in the suction nozzle and is operatively connected to the brush roller for rotating it. An upright housing is connected to the cleaning head, the housing having a handle for moving the vacuum cleaner along the floor during floor cleaning use. Contained in the housing are a dirt storage container, a passageway leading from the suction nozzle in the cleaning head to the storage container and a second motor and fan unit operatively associated with the storage container for drawing dirt laden air from the cleaning head through the passageway and into the storage container simultaneously with operation of the first motor and fan unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2011
    Publication date: December 8, 2011
    Applicant: TACONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Douglas L. Blocker, John F. Kaido
  • Patent number: 8020252
    Abstract: An upright vacuum cleaner having dual cleaning motor and fan units is provided having a cleaning head engagable with a floor and a suction nozzle and a brush roller rotatably mounted therein. A first motor and fan unit is mounted in the vacuum cleaner for producing suction in the suction nozzle and is operatively connected to the brush roller for rotating it. An upright housing is connected to the cleaning head, the housing having a handle for moving the vacuum cleaner along the floor during floor cleaning use. Contained in the housing are a dirt storage container, a passageway leading from the suction nozzle in the cleaning head to the storage container and a second motor and fan unit operatively associated with the storage container for drawing dirt laden air from the cleaning head through the passageway and into the storage container simultaneously with operation of the first motor and fan unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignee: Tacony Corporation
    Inventors: Douglas L. Blocker, John F. Kaido
  • Publication number: 20100299864
    Abstract: An upright vacuum cleaner having dual cleaning motor and fan units is provided having a cleaning head engagable with a floor and a suction nozzle and a brush roller rotatably mounted therein. A first motor and fan unit is mounted in the vacuum cleaner for producing suction in the suction nozzle and is operatively connected to the brush roller for rotating it. An upright housing is connected to the cleaning head, the housing having a handle for moving the vacuum cleaner along the floor during floor cleaning use. Contained in the housing are a dirt storage container, a passageway leading from the suction nozzle in the cleaning head to the storage container and a second motor and fan unit operatively associated with the storage container for drawing dirt laden air from the cleaning head through the passageway and into the storage container simultaneously with operation of the first motor and fan unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2010
    Publication date: December 2, 2010
    Applicant: TACONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Douglas L. Blocker, John F. Kaido
  • Patent number: 7805807
    Abstract: An upright vacuum cleaner having dual cleaning motor and fan units is provided having a cleaning head engagable with a floor and a suction nozzle and a brush roller rotatably mounted therein. A first motor and fan unit is mounted in the vacuum cleaner for producing suction in the suction nozzle and is operatively connected to the brush roller for rotating it. An upright housing is connected to the cleaning head, the housing having a handle for moving the vacuum cleaner along the floor during floor cleaning use. Contained in the housing are a dirt storage container, a passageway leading from the suction nozzle in the cleaning head to the storage container and a second motor and fan unit operatively associate with the storage container for drawing dirt laden air from the cleaning head through the passageway and into the storage container simultaneously with operation of the first motor and fan unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2010
    Assignee: Tacony Corporation
    Inventors: Douglas L. Blocker, John F. Kaido
  • Patent number: 7627927
    Abstract: A vacuum cleaner having a floor nozzle movable by a user of the vacuum cleaner over a floor to suction dirt from the floor. A sensing system is provided for sensing a condition relating to the vacuum cleaner and for generating a signal in response to the condition. A sensor-responsive light system on the floor nozzle is responsive to the signal for projecting light onto the floor for observance by the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2009
    Assignee: Tacony Corporation
    Inventors: Douglas L. Blocker, John F. Kaido, T. Joy H. Petty
  • Publication number: 20080301899
    Abstract: A vacuum cleaner having a floor nozzle movable by a user of the vacuum cleaner over a floor to suction dirt from the floor. A sensing system is provided for sensing a condition relating to the vacuum cleaner and for generating a signal in response to the condition. A sensor-responsive light system on the floor nozzle is responsive to the signal for projecting light onto the floor for observance by the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2007
    Publication date: December 11, 2008
    Applicant: TACONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Douglas L. Blocker, John F. Kaido, T. Joy H. Petty
  • Publication number: 20080222838
    Abstract: An upright vacuum cleaner having dual cleaning motor and fan units is provided having a cleaning head engagable with a floor and a suction nozzle and a brush roller rotatably mounted therein. A first motor and fan unit is mounted in the vacuum cleaner for producing suction in the suction nozzle and is operatively connected to the brush roller for rotating it. An upright housing is connected to the cleaning head, the housing having a handle for moving the vacuum cleaner along the floor during floor cleaning use. Contained in the housing are a dirt storage container, a passageway leading from the suction nozzle in the cleaning head to the storage container and a second motor and fan unit operatively associated with the storage container for drawing dirt laden air from the cleaning head through the passageway and into the storage container simultaneously with operation of the first motor and fan unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2008
    Publication date: September 18, 2008
    Applicant: Tacony Corporation
    Inventors: Douglas L. Blocker, John F. Kaido
  • Patent number: 7386915
    Abstract: An upright vacuum cleaner having dual cleaning motor and fan units is provided having a cleaning head engagable with a floor and a suction nozzle and a brush roller rotatably mounted therein. A first motor and fan unit is mounted in the vacuum cleaner for producing suction in the suction nozzle and is operatively connected to the brush roller for rotating it. An upright housing is connected to the cleaning head, the housing having a handle for moving the vacuum cleaner along the floor during floor cleaning use. Contained in the housing are a dirt storage container, a passageway leading from the suction nozzle in the cleaning head to the storage container and a second motor and fan unit operatively associated with the storage container for drawing dirt laden air from the cleaning head through the passageway and into the storage container simultaneously with operation of the first motor and fan unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2008
    Assignee: Tacony Corporation
    Inventors: Douglas L. Blocker, John F. Kaido
  • Patent number: 7353563
    Abstract: A vacuum cleaner height adjustment mechanism including a cleaning head having a pair of laterally spaced front wheels and a pair of laterally spaced rear wheels mounted for rotation within the cleaning head for supporting the cleaning head on a floor during vacuum cleaning operations, the front wheels being mounted to a common axle mounted in the cleaning head for pivotal movement around a fixed axis, the wheels being mounted to the axle offset from the pivotal axis of the axle, an arm extending from the axle, a shaft mounted substantially horizontally in the cleaning head for rotation about a central axis disposed in a plane perpendicular to a plane containing the axis of the axle, one end of the shaft having spiral threads thereon and an opposite end having an adjustment knob fixed thereto for manually rotating the shaft, and a guide member having internal threads matching and engaged with the spiral threads on the shaft for movement along the shaft, the guide member being coupled to the arm extending from
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2008
    Assignee: Tacony Corporation
    Inventors: Douglas L. Blocker, Keith R. Green, Richard J. Reis
  • Patent number: 7310855
    Abstract: A vacuum cleaner is provided having a cleaning head and a main body pivotally mounted to the cleaning head which includes a counter-balance mechanism having at least one torsion spring with a first end thereof mounted for pivotal movement about a fixed axis in either the cleaning head or the main body and a second end thereof mounted for pivotal movement about a fixed axis in the other of the cleaning head or the main body, with the at least one torsion spring having a main body portion which is free to move as the main body of the vacuum cleaner is pivoted relative to the cleaning head, the counter-balancing force of the at least one torsion spring increasing as the main body of the vacuum cleaner is pivoted from a generally vertical position to a generally horizontal position while the cleaning head remains generally horizontal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2007
    Assignee: Tacony Corporation
    Inventors: Douglas L. Blocker, John F. Kaido, Keith R. Green
  • Patent number: 6022075
    Abstract: A portable cushion to use with a chair having a seat with upwardly extending elements which may be hip supports or arm rests on each side of the seat having a material thickness sufficient to raise the seating area above the plane of the arm rests or hip supports so as to effectively increase the seating area of the seat. The cushion includes a top wall, a bottom wall, a forward wall, a rearward wall, a first side wall and a second side wall, the respective wall defining a material thickness. The first side wall and the second side wall each have an indentation formed therein to accommodate the upwardly extending arm rest or hip support when the cushion is placed upon the seat of the chair. The material thickness of the cushion is such that the upper wall of the cushion extends at least to the height of the upwardly extending elements thereby effectively creating a wider seat, unencumbered by the upwardly extending elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2000
    Assignee: Angeles Group Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas L. Blocker, Ray G. Kelly, Sharon A. Turnbough, Francois Seve
  • Patent number: 5605389
    Abstract: A storage unit, in the category of a cabinet, bookcase, locker and cubby, as provided which includes a frame defining top, bottom, and side walls to the storage unit. At least one shelf member and at least one shelf supporting member are received in the frame to divide the frame into separate storage cubicles or lockers. The frame is made from two blanks. A first blank forms the top and at least a part of the sides. The second blank forms at least a part of the bottom and may form a part of the sides. Each blank, as well as the shelves and shelf supports, are made from a core having upper and lower surfaces which are covered with a coating. The coating extends beyond edges of the blanks to define a channel which receives a finishing piece. Grooves are formed in the top blank to define bending points and separate the what will be the top of the frame from the sides of the frame. Shallower grooves are formed in the first and second blanks and define one guide channels for the shelves and shelf supports.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 25, 1997
    Assignee: Angeles Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Ray G. Kelly, Sharon A. Turnbough, Allan Flowers, Douglas L. Blocker
  • Patent number: 5483904
    Abstract: A table includes a table top made of a light weight core covered with a washable coating or liner. The liner extends beyond the edges of the core to define a channel which receives finishing pieces which provide the table edge with a curved surface. A metal framework is received in channels in the bottom of the table surface. Leg receiving bosses are fixed to the framework. The table's legs are threadably secured to the table top via the bosses. This provides a table which is light weight and which may be shipped flat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 16, 1996
    Assignee: Angeles Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Ray G. Kelly, Sharon A. Turnbough, Diane Taraskavage, Douglas L. Blocker
  • Patent number: D518258
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2006
    Assignee: Tacony Corporation
    Inventors: David T. Hamm, Douglas L. Blocker