Patents by Inventor Eric C. Huffman
Eric C. Huffman 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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Publication number: 20090183335Abstract: A vacuum accessory tool comprises a nozzle body that forms a suction nozzle and that has an electrical element comprising one or a combination of an illumination element adapted to illuminate a surface to be cleaned, an ion generator or ozone generator to purify a surface to be cleaned and eliminate odors. The tool can further include a power generator for supplying power to the electrical element. The illumination element can further emit light in the ultraviolet spectrum to illuminate stains on the surface to the cleaned.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 30, 2008Publication date: July 23, 2009Applicant: BISSELL Homecare, Inc.Inventors: Aaron P. Griffith, Eric R. Metzger, Eric C. Huffman, Douglas A. Jackson
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Publication number: 20090090021Abstract: A method of drying a surface using a portable cleaning apparatus by removing a mixture of air and liquid from the surface through the application of suction to the surface through a suction nozzle while moving the suction nozzle along a first direction, separating the air and liquid, pressurizing the separated air and passing the pressurized air in a second direction transverse to the first direction and along the surface laterally of the suction nozzle. The pressurized air is directed along the surface from a location spaced from the suction nozzle.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 16, 2008Publication date: April 9, 2009Applicant: BISSELL HOMECARE, INC.Inventors: Eric C. Huffman, Kenneth M. Lenkiewicz
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Publication number: 20090078284Abstract: A portable extraction surface cleaner apparatus wherein a surface to be cleaned is heated to an elevated temperature and a cleaning fluid is applied to the surface to be cleaned sequentially or simultaneously. The cleaning fluid is removed from the surface by suction from a vacuum source. Power is applied alternatively or simultaneously to a heating element and to the vacuum source for recovering the deposited cleaning fluid.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 4, 2008Publication date: March 26, 2009Applicant: BISSELL Homecare, Inc.Inventors: David E. McDowell, Eric C. Huffman
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Publication number: 20080196193Abstract: A surface cleaning apparatus comprising an extractor has a primary fluid delivery system and an auxiliary fluid delivery system. A first button on a handle of the extractor controls the delivery of cleaning fluid from the primary fluid delivery system. A second button on the handle of the extractor controls the delivery of cleaning fluid from the auxiliary fluid delivery system, which includes a spot sprayer mounted to the base assembly through which cleaning fluid is delivered. The handle is provided with an interlock between the first and second buttons so that cleaning fluid cannot simultaneously be delivered by both the primary and auxiliary fluid delivery systems.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 21, 2007Publication date: August 21, 2008Applicant: BISSELL HOMECARE, INC.Inventors: Eric C. Huffman, Kenneth M. Lenkiewicz
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Patent number: 7346428Abstract: An autonomously movable home cleaning robot that incorporates a sweeper and dust bin as well as a dusting assembly in tandem in the direction of movement of the robot.Type: GrantFiled: November 21, 2003Date of Patent: March 18, 2008Assignee: Bissell Homecare, Inc.Inventors: Eric C. Huffman, Jonathon L. Miner
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Patent number: 7320149Abstract: An vacuum cleaning robot has a drive system adapted to autonomously move a base housing along a horizontal surface and is controlled by a computer processing unit. A dusting assembly is mounted to the base housing and is adapted to selectively rest on a surface to be cleaned. A suction source draws dirt and debris through a suction nozzle and deposits the same in the recovery tank. A power source is connected to the drive system and to the computer processing unit. The computer processing unit is adapted to direct horizontal movement of the base housing within boundaries of the surface to be cleaned based upon input data defining said boundaries.Type: GrantFiled: November 21, 2003Date of Patent: January 22, 2008Assignee: Bissell Homecare, Inc.Inventors: Eric C. Huffman, Jonathan L. Miner
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Patent number: 7228589Abstract: A spot cleaning apparatus comprises a housing, a fluid distribution system, a fluid recovery system, an agitation system, and a controller system to automatically monitor and control inputs and outputs to said systems for removal of spots and stains from a surface without attendance by a user. A suction nozzle and agitation device are mounted to the housing for movement over the surface to be cleaned relative to a stationary housing. Optionally, the spot cleaning apparatus can be operated in a manual mode.Type: GrantFiled: March 31, 2004Date of Patent: June 12, 2007Assignee: Bissell Homecare, Inc.Inventors: Jonathan L. Miner, Eric C. Huffman, Eric C. Sugalski, Kevin J. Ehrenreich, Mark P. Slaven, Tomas A. Matusaitis, Randall S. Koplin, Jeff R. Condon, Phong Hoang Tran, David Seal, Jeremy Moog
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Patent number: 6968593Abstract: A liquid extraction cleaner comprises a solution dispensing system, a liquid recovery system, and an agitation brush assembly. The solution dispensing system includes a cleaning solution supply tank affixed to the cleaner and fluidly connected to a solution spray nozzle through a trigger-operated manual solution spray pump. The supply conduit interconnecting the cleaning fluid supply tank and the spray nozzle traverses a passage formed integrally with the air-liquid separator housing, spray nozzle being mounted in the passage at a front portion of the cleaner. The liquid recovery system includes a air-liquid separator fluidly connected with a suction nozzle and a suction source for drawing liquid and debris into the air-liquid separator, and a recovery tank releasably mounted to the air-liquid separator for collecting recovered liquid. The agitation brush assembly is mounted in a lower forward portion of the cleaner for contact with a surface being cleaned.Type: GrantFiled: August 13, 2002Date of Patent: November 29, 2005Assignee: Bissell Homecare, Inc.Inventors: Kenneth M. Lenkiewicz, Alan J. Krebs, Phong Hoang Tran, Jonathan Miner, Gary A. Kasper, Eric C. Huffman, Charles A. Reed, Jr., Eric J. Hansen
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Patent number: 6934993Abstract: An extraction cleaning machine has a solution dispensing system and a recovery system for applying a cleaning solution to a surface and recovering the solution from the surface, and an agitation brush assembly for agitating the surface. The agitation brush assembly can include friction-type or other dampers for reducing brush bounce, and biasing elements for maintaining a constant downward force on the brush. The brush can have multiple helical rows of tufted bristles, preferably at least four rows, or can comprise a continuous helix of bristles in a twisted-wire spindle. The brush can further have a removable fabric cover for mounting over a bristle brush for contacting a surface being cleaned. The brush assembly can function in an upright extraction cleaning machine with or without an above floor cleaning tool, a hand-held extractor, or a hand-held attachment to a canister extractor or an above floor tool in upright extractor.Type: GrantFiled: July 2, 2002Date of Patent: August 30, 2005Assignee: Bissell Homecare, Inc.Inventors: Eric C. Huffman, Gary A. Kasper, Charles A. Reed, Eric J. Hansen, Stefan G. Rider
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Patent number: 6880199Abstract: An upright extraction cleaning machine comprises a base module, an upright handle pivotally mounted to the base module, a cleaning solution dispensing system for depositing a cleaning solution on a surface to be cleaned, and a fluid recovery system for recovering expended cleaning solution from the surface to be cleaned. The cleaning solution dispensing system includes at least one tank for holding solution to be dispensed and the recovery system includes a tank for holding recovered solution. Each of the tanks comprises a flexible bladder that is collapsible when empty and will expand as it is filled by the respective fluid. In one embodiment, the upright extraction cleaning machine further comprises additional tanks for holding detergent and carpet treatment to be dispensed. In a further embodiment, the additional tanks for detergent and carpet treatment each comprise a flexible bladder.Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 2002Date of Patent: April 19, 2005Assignee: BISSELL Homecare, Inc.Inventors: Eric C. Huffman, Thomas K. Ankney, Jonathan L. Miner
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Patent number: 6412141Abstract: A portable surface cleaning apparatus including a base module for movement along a surface, an upright handle pivotally attached to the base module, a liquid dispensing system including a flexible bladder defining a fluid supply chamber for holding a supply of cleaning fluid, a fluid recovery system including a tank on the base module having a fluid recovery chamber for holding recovered fluid and housing the flexible bladder, and a fluid passageway between the fluid supply chamber and the recovery chamber, whereby the recovery chamber is in fluid communication with the fluid supply chamber and the pressure in the flexible bladder is equalized with the pressure in the tank as the cleaning fluid is dispensed from the supply chamber and the dirty liquid is collected in the recovery chamber. In a further embodiment the tank has an outlet opening in a bottom portion thereof and a drain plug is removably mounted in the outlet opening.Type: GrantFiled: January 2, 2001Date of Patent: July 2, 2002Assignee: Bissell Homecare, Inc.Inventors: Gary A. Kasper, Jonathan A. Miner, Timothy E. Kasen, Kenneth M. Lenkiewicz, Eric C. Huffman, Luke E. Kelly
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Patent number: 6286180Abstract: A portable surface cleaning apparatus has a base for movement along a surface to be cleaned and an upright handle pivotally attached to a rearward portion of the base. A fluid dispensing nozzle for applying fluid to the surface and a suction nozzle for picking up fluid and debris from the surface are associated with the base. A clean water holding tank and a detergent holding tank are removably mounted to the handle while a recovery tank is removably mounted to the base. A mixing valve is fluidly connected between the holding tanks and the spray nozzle for changing the mixing ratio of the detergent with respect to the water. The fluid recovery tank includes an integrally molded conduit that extends from the suction nozzle and a mounting for an accessory hose that interrupts the fluid path from the suction nozzle in the conduit and redirects fluid flow through the hose.Type: GrantFiled: March 27, 2000Date of Patent: September 11, 2001Assignee: Bissell Homecare, Inc.Inventors: Gary Kasper, Eric C. Huffman, Gary L. Smith, Timothy E. Kasen, Luke E. Kelly, Charles A. Reed
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Patent number: 6286181Abstract: A portable surface cleaning apparatus including a base module for movement along a surface, an upright handle pivotally attached to the base module, a liquid dispensing system including a flexible bladder defining a fluid supply chamber for holding a supply of cleaning fluid, a fluid recovery system including a tank on the base module having a fluid recovery chamber for holding recovered fluid and housing the flexible bladder, and a fluid passageway between the fluid supply chamber and the recovery chamber, whereby the recovery chamber is in fluid communication with the fluid supply chamber and the pressure in the flexible bladder is equalized with the pressure in the tank as the cleaning fluid is dispensed from the supply chamber and the dirty liquid is collected in the recovery chamber. In a further embodiment the tank has an outlet opening in a bottom portion thereof and a drain plug is removably mounted in the outlet opening.Type: GrantFiled: May 23, 2000Date of Patent: September 11, 2001Assignee: Bissell Homecare, Inc.Inventors: Gary A. Kasper, Jonathan A. Miner, Timothy E. Kasen, Kenneth M. Lenkiewicz, Eric C. Huffman, Luke E. Kelly
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Publication number: 20010000830Abstract: A portable surface cleaning apparatus including a base module for movement along a surface, an upright handle pivotally attached to the base module, a liquid dispensing system including a flexible bladder defining a fluid supply chamber for holding a supply of cleaning fluid, a fluid recovery system including a tank on the base module having a fluid recovery chamber for holding recovered fluid and housing the flexible bladder, and a fluid passageway between the fluid supply chamber and the recovery chamber, whereby the recovery chamber is in fluid communication with the fluid supply chamber and the pressure in the flexible bladder is equalized with the pressure in the tank as the cleaning fluid is dispensed from the supply chamber and the dirty liquid is collected in the recovery chamber. In a further embodiment the tank has an outlet opening in a bottom portion thereof and a drain plug is removably mounted in the outlet opening.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 2, 2001Publication date: May 10, 2001Inventors: Gary A. Kasper, Jonathan L. Miner, Timothy E. Kasen, Kenneth M. Lenkiewicz, Eric C. Huffman, Luke E. Kelly
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Patent number: 6192548Abstract: A portable surface cleaning apparatus including a base module for movement along a surface, an upright handle pivotally attached to the base module, a liquid dispensing system including a flexible bladder defining a fluid supply chamber for holding a supply of cleaning fluid, a fluid recovery system including a tank on the base module having a fluid recovery chamber for holding recovered fluid and housing the flexible bladder, and a fluid passageway between the fluid supply chamber and the recovery chamber, whereby the recovery chamber is in fluid communication with the fluid supply chamber and the pressure in the flexible bladder is equalized with the pressure in the tank as the cleaning fluid is dispensed from the supply chamber and the dirty liquid is collected in the recovery chamber.Type: GrantFiled: March 10, 2000Date of Patent: February 27, 2001Assignee: Bissell Homecare, Inc.Inventor: Eric C. Huffman
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Patent number: 6167587Abstract: A portable surface cleaning apparatus including a base module for movement along a surface, an upright handle pivotally attached to the base module, a liquid dispensing system including a flexible bladder defining a fluid supply chamber for holding a supply of cleaning fluid, a fluid recovery system including a tank on the base module having a fluid recovery chamber for holding recovered fluid and housing the flexible bladder, and a fluid passageway between the fluid supply chamber and the recovery chamber, whereby the recovery chamber is in fluid communication with the fluid supply chamber and the pressure in the flexible bladder is equalized with the pressure in the tank as the cleaning fluid is dispensed from the supply chamber and the dirty liquid is collected in the recovery chamber. In a further embodiment the tank has an outlet opening in a bottom portion thereof and a drain plug is removably mounted in the outlet opening.Type: GrantFiled: July 8, 1998Date of Patent: January 2, 2001Assignee: Bissell Homecare, Inc.Inventors: Gary A. Kasper, Jonathan A. Miner, Timothy E. Kasen, Kenneth M. Lenkiewicz, Eric C. Huffman, Luke E. Kelly
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Patent number: 6158081Abstract: The invention relates to a water extraction cleaning machine having a variable solution mixing valve adapted to create cleaning solution mixtures of variable constituent ratios. Clean water and detergent are provided from tanks supported on the water extraction cleaning machines. The size of the detergent inlet opening can be altered through rotation of a control knob provided on the outside of the water extraction cleaning machine. The knob is interconnected to at least one member which is adapted to vary the size of one of the detergent fluid inlet and the clean water inlet so that the ratio of constituent elements can be altered depending upon the cleaning application.Type: GrantFiled: August 25, 1998Date of Patent: December 12, 2000Assignee: Bissell Homecare, Inc.Inventors: Timothy E. Kasen, Charles A. Reed, Jr., Eric C. Huffman
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Patent number: 6125498Abstract: A handheld liquid extraction cleaner includes a recovery tank mounted to the forward end of a cleaner housing with a suction nozzle and conduit on a front face of the recovery tank connected to an inlet opening in the recovery tank. A vacuum source is connected to the recovery tank through an exhaust conduit, integrally formed in the recovery tank, for drawing liquid and debris through the suction nozzle and the suction conduit and into the recovery tank A removable cleaning fluid supply tank is mounted to a rear portion of the cleaner housing, an adjustable spray nozzle is mounted to the suction conduit and a pump is positioned in a supply conduit between the spray nozzle and the cleaning fluid supply tank for supplying pressurized cleaning fluid from the cleaning fluid supply tank to the spray nozzle The pump includes an impeller which is positioned in an outlet opening of a reservoir in which the cleaning fluid is deposited from the cleaning fluid supply tank.Type: GrantFiled: December 4, 1998Date of Patent: October 3, 2000Assignee: Bissell Homecare, Inc.Inventors: Kenneth L. Roberts, Diane M. Simek, Jeffrey A. Hall, Eric C. Huffman, Charles A. Reed, Jr., Steven K. Meek, Lau Wai Keung, Ng Tat Shing
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Patent number: 5836046Abstract: A water extraction cleaner comprises a system for delivering clean solution to a surface to be cleaned, a system for extracting dirty solution and air from such a surface, and a housing supporting the delivery system and the extraction system. The housing defines a recess for receiving a pair of tanks, an upright front surface of the recess being complementary to upright rear surfaces of the tanks. The housing is also provided with a pivot surface spaced from the upright surface of the recess and engageable by lower end portions, the pivot surface being formed and disposed to hold the upright surfaces of the tanks in snug engagement with the upright recess surface. Each of the tanks may be mounted on the housing by tilting the tank to insert the lower end portion thereof into the recess and then rotating the tank to an upright position about the pivot surface.Type: GrantFiled: June 27, 1997Date of Patent: November 17, 1998Assignee: Bissell Inc.Inventors: Eric C. Huffman, Robert C. Coon, Douglas J. Medema
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Patent number: 5819365Abstract: A window washing accessory cleaning tool adapted for use with a water extraction cleaning machine has a solution spray nozzle integrated therewith and a combination suction and scrubbing head rotatably mounted with respect to the solution spray nozzle. The cleaning solution spray nozzle is provided on one side of a dual conduit support member and a head is rotatably mounted to the dual conduit support member. A foam applicator/scrub pad is provided along one end of the head and a suction nozzle opening defined by a squeegee blade and a rigid flange are provided one the other side of the head. With this structure, the applicator/scrub pad and suction nozzle can be rotated with respect to the cleaning solution spray nozzles, thereby making the accessory cleaning tool adaptable for a wide variety of cleaning operations. Preferably, the window washing accessory cleaning tool is removably mounted to the end of the flexible hose.Type: GrantFiled: July 15, 1996Date of Patent: October 13, 1998Assignee: Bissell Inc.Inventors: Eric C. Huffman, Kevin Ma Kam Hoi, Ng Tat Shing, Hok Yin Timmy Sin