Patents by Inventor Frank Nonnenmann

Frank Nonnenmann 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: 11109729
    Abstract: The invention relates to a floor treatment system, comprising a mobile floor treatment apparatus and a docking station therefor, wherein the floor treatment apparatus has at least one liquid container with a container wall and a container interior, as well as at least one liquid conduit for providing a liquid for the container interior; wherein the docking station comprises a supply conduit which, in a docked position of the floor treatment apparatus on the docking station, is in fluidic connection with the at least one liquid conduit; wherein the floor treatment system comprises an opening device by way of which a wall portion of the container wall is movable, for clearing at least one container opening of the at least one liquid container, into an open position, and in the docked position of the floor treatment apparatus the liquid can exit from the container interior through the container opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: ALFRED KÄRCHER SE & CO. KG
    Inventors: Steffen Juettner, Patrick Prasser, Heiko Blumhardt, Barbara Pfister, Christoph Waller, Frank Nonnenmann
  • Patent number: 11033166
    Abstract: The invention relates to a floor treatment system, comprising a mobile floor treatment apparatus and a docking station therefor, wherein the floor treatment apparatus has at least one liquid container with a container wall and a container interior, wherein the docking station comprises at least one supply conduit through which, in a docked position of the floor treatment apparatus on the docking station, a liquid is suppliable to the container interior, wherein the floor treatment system comprises an opening device by way of which a wall portion of the container wall is movable into an open position, for clearing at least one container opening of the at least one liquid container, and in the docked position of the floor treatment apparatus the liquid can exit from the container interior through the container opening, and wherein the wall portion is transferable into the open position by the opening device by moving the floor treatment apparatus from a non-docked position into the docked position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: ALFRED KÄRCHER SE & CO. KG
    Inventors: Steffen Juettner, Patrick Prasser, Heiko Blumhardt, Barbara Pfister, Christoph Waller, Frank Nonnenmann
  • Publication number: 20210137341
    Abstract: The invention relates to a cleaning apparatus. The cleaning apparatus includes at least one cleaning tool for cleaning an object to be cleaned, an operating unit for a user, which includes at least one operating element for operating the cleaning apparatus, a control unit for processing operating instructions, a receptacle, arranged on the operating unit, for an external accessory that can be associated with the cleaning apparatus and that has a display device with an image display, wherein the accessory is removably positionable in the receptacle in a defined position, as well as a communication unit by way of which display information for being displayed on the image display are transmittable from the cleaning apparatus to the accessory positioned in the receptacle. The invention also relates to a cleaning system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2021
    Publication date: May 13, 2021
    Inventors: Denis Dammkoehler, Glenn Schmierer, Marc Rottmann, Simon Himmler, Frank Nonnenmann, Christoph Waller, Alexander Braendle, Lukas Sobotta, Andreas Friederich, Tobias Masek, Jochen Burchard, Marten Jahn
  • Patent number: 11000170
    Abstract: The invention relates to a floor cleaning system, having a mobile floor cleaning apparatus that comprises at least one cleaning unit for cleaning a floor surface, a reservoir for receiving a cleaning liquid, a dirt receiving device for taking up dirty liquid from the floor surface, and a dirty liquid container into which the dirty liquid is transferable; and further having a docking station for the floor cleaning apparatus, which is docked thereto in a docked position; wherein the docking station has at least one supply conduit with a connection element arranged thereon, the floor cleaning apparatus having at least one liquid conduit with a connection element arranged thereon; wherein the floor cleaning apparatus comprises a rinsing device on or in the dirty liquid container; and wherein, when the floor cleaning apparatus is in the docked position, the connection elements are coupled to one another such that the reservoir is fillable with the cleaning liquid via the at least one liquid conduit and a rinsing l
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: ALFRED KÄRCHER SE & CO. KG
    Inventors: Heiko Blumhardt, Barbara Pfister, Frank Nonnenmann, Patrick Prasser, Christoph Waller
  • Patent number: 10357139
    Abstract: A traveling floor cleaning machine is provided, including a chassis, a cleaning tool apparatus which is arranged on the chassis with at least one cleaning tool and a holder for the at least one cleaning tool, and a suction apparatus which includes a suction unit and an aspiration apparatus, wherein the suction unit is arranged on the holder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2019
    Assignee: Alfred Kärcher SE & Co. KG
    Inventors: Philipp Werner, Christian Egler, Frank Nonnenmann
  • Publication number: 20190069745
    Abstract: The invention relates to a floor treatment system, comprising a mobile floor treatment apparatus and a docking station therefor, wherein the floor treatment apparatus has at least one liquid container with a container wall and a container interior, as well as at least one liquid conduit for providing a liquid for the container interior; wherein the docking station comprises a supply conduit which, in a docked position of the floor treatment apparatus on the docking station, is in fluidic connection with the at least one liquid conduit; wherein the floor treatment system comprises an opening device by way of which a wall portion of the container wall is movable, for clearing at least one container opening of the at least one liquid container, into an open position, and in the docked position of the floor treatment apparatus the liquid can exit from the container interior through the container opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2018
    Publication date: March 7, 2019
    Inventors: Steffen JUETTNER, Patrick PRASSER, Heiko BLUMHARDT, Barbara PFISTER, Christoph WALLER, Frank NONNENMANN
  • Publication number: 20190069748
    Abstract: The invention relates to a floor cleaning system, having a mobile floor cleaning apparatus that comprises at least one cleaning unit for cleaning a floor surface, a reservoir for receiving a cleaning liquid, a dirt receiving device for taking up dirty liquid from the floor surface, and a dirty liquid container into which the dirty liquid is transferable; and further having a docking station for the floor cleaning apparatus, which is docked thereto in a docked position; wherein the docking station has at least one supply conduit with a connection element arranged thereon, the floor cleaning apparatus having at least one liquid conduit with a connection element arranged thereon; wherein the floor cleaning apparatus comprises a rinsing device on or in the dirty liquid container; and wherein, when the floor cleaning apparatus is in the docked position, the connection elements are coupled to one another such that the reservoir is fillable with the cleaning liquid via the at least one liquid conduit and a rinsing l
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2018
    Publication date: March 7, 2019
    Inventors: Heiko BLUMHARDT, Barbara PFISTER, Frank NONNENMANN, Patrick PRASSER, Christoph WALLER
  • Publication number: 20190069746
    Abstract: The invention relates to a floor treatment system, comprising a mobile floor treatment apparatus and a docking station therefor, wherein the floor treatment apparatus has at least one liquid container with a container wall and a container interior, wherein the docking station comprises at least one supply conduit through which, in a docked position of the floor treatment apparatus on the docking station, a liquid is suppliable to the container interior, wherein the floor treatment system comprises an opening device by way of which a wall portion of the container wall is movable into an open position, for clearing at least one container opening of the at least one liquid container, and in the docked position of the floor treatment apparatus the liquid can exit from the container interior through the container opening, and wherein the wall portion is transferable into the open position by the opening device by moving the floor treatment apparatus from a non-docked position into the docked position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2018
    Publication date: March 7, 2019
    Inventors: Steffen JUETTNER, Patrick PRASSER, Heiko BLUMHARDT, Barbara PFISTER, Christoph WALLER, Frank NONNENMANN
  • Patent number: 9955840
    Abstract: A cleaning tool for a floor cleaning appliance is provided, including a main body carrying a cleaning cover which is subject to wear, and including a signal transmitter which provides a wireless signal in dependence upon the degree of wear of the cleaning cover. To be able to detect in a cost-effective manner when a maximum admissible degree of wear of the cleaning cover is reached, the signal transmitter is of rigid construction and fixed to a movable carrying part, the carrying part being held on the main body and being movable from a normal position to an evasive position against a restoring force, the carrying part protruding further from the main body in the normal position than in the evasive position, and the carrying part and/or the signal transmitter contacting the floor surface to be cleaned when a maximum admissible degree of wear of the cleaning cover is reached.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: Alfred Kärcher GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Michael Schuetz, Frank Nonnenmann, Juergen Merz, Christian Egler, Thomas Hausner, Attila Orban
  • Patent number: 9949607
    Abstract: A self-propelled surface cleaning machine is proposed, including a floor cleaning device, a steerable front wheel, a steering device associated with the front wheel, a rear wheel device having at least one left rear wheel and at least one right rear wheel, a first drive device for driving the front wheel, a second drive device for driving the rear wheel device and a differential device for the rear wheel device that allows different speeds of rotation for the at least one left rear wheel and the at least one right rear wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: Alfred Kärcher GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Juergen Merz, Frank Nonnenmann, Michael Oesterle, Bernd Noller
  • Patent number: 9931013
    Abstract: A manually guided floor cleaning machine is provided, including a chassis with a front end and a rear end in relation to a straight ahead forward travel direction, a wheel arrangement, which is arranged on the chassis in the region of the rear end, and a cleaning head, which is pivotably arranged on the chassis in the region of the front end, wherein there is provided a steering rod device, which is articulated on the cleaning head, which is supported on the chassis and which extends upwardly in a direction away from the chassis toward the rear end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: Alfred Kärcher GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Frank Nonnenmann, Melanie Ritscher
  • Patent number: 9456727
    Abstract: A drivable floor cleaning machine is provided, including a chassis, at least one cleaning head, and a holding device capable of holding the cleaning head on the chassis and lifting it relative to the chassis, the holding device including a first rod device rotatably held by a first bearing device on the chassis, a second rod device rotatably held on the chassis by means of a second bearing device, a third bearing device rotatably holding the cleaning head on the first rod device, and including a fourth bearing device rotatably holding the cleaning head on the second rod device, wherein the cleaning head is supported on a stop when a specific lifting position of the cleaning head relative to the chassis is reached, and on which stop the cleaning head can be rotated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: Alfred Kärcher GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Juergen Merz, Frank Nonnenmann
  • Publication number: 20160278598
    Abstract: A traveling floor cleaning machine is provided, including a chassis, a cleaning tool apparatus which is arranged on the chassis with at least one cleaning tool and a holder for the at least one cleaning tool, and a suction apparatus which includes a suction unit and an aspiration apparatus, wherein the suction unit is arranged on the holder.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2016
    Publication date: September 29, 2016
    Inventors: Philipp Werner, Christian Egler, Frank Nonnenmann
  • Patent number: 9420930
    Abstract: A manually guided floor cleaning machine is provided, including a chassis with a front end and a rear end in relation to a straight ahead forward travel direction, a wheel arrangement, which is arranged on the chassis in the region of the rear end, and a cleaning head, which is pivotably arranged on the chassis in the region of the front end, at least one brush being arranged on the cleaning head and a drive device being arranged for the driven rotation of the at least one brush, a rotational axis of the at least one brush being parallel to a wheel axis of the wheel arrangement in the straight ahead forward travel direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: Alfred Kärcher GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Melanie Ritscher, Frank Nonnenmann
  • Publication number: 20160220087
    Abstract: A cleaning tool for a floor cleaning appliance is provided, including a main body carrying a cleaning cover which is subject to wear, and including a signal transmitter which provides a wireless signal in dependence upon the degree of wear of the cleaning cover. To be able to detect in a cost-effective manner when a maximum admissible degree of wear of the cleaning cover is reached, the signal transmitter is of rigid construction and fixed to a movable carrying part, the carrying part being held on the main body and being movable from a normal position to an evasive position against a restoring force, the carrying part protruding further from the main body in the normal position than in the evasive position, and the carrying part and/or the signal transmitter contacting the floor surface to be cleaned when a maximum admissible degree of wear of the cleaning cover is reached.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2016
    Publication date: August 4, 2016
    Inventors: Michael Schuetz, Frank Nonnenmann, Juergen Merz, Christian Egler, Thomas Hausner, Attila Orban
  • Publication number: 20160192816
    Abstract: A floor cleaning machine is proposed which comprises a handle unit for operating the floor cleaning machine and a dead man's switching device with an actuation unit, wherein the actuation unit is retained on the handle unit by means of a first region, the actuation unit has a second region which is swivelable relative to the first region, and the second region is retained on the first region as a single piece by means of a hinge device, a swivel position of the second region relative to the first region determining whether the dead man's switch is switching or non-switching.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2016
    Publication date: July 7, 2016
    Inventors: Steffen Layer, Frank Nonnenmann, Bernhard Maurer, Jochen Burchard
  • Patent number: 9220388
    Abstract: A method is proposed for operating a cleaning appliance which comprises a control device as well as at least one cleaning element for cleaning a surface which has a memory element. The control device comprises a control memory member and the control device is connected to a reader for reading the memory element. In order to reduce the risk of the user unintentionally using an unsuitable cleaning element, it is suggested that characterizing data distinguishing the type of cleaning element be stored in the memory element, these data being read and evaluated in the period of time from the starting up of the cleaning appliance up to the beginning of the cleaning action of the cleaning element. In addition, a cleaning appliance for implementing the method is suggested.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: Alfred Kaercher GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Juergen Walz, Michael Schuetz, Frank Nonnenmann, Gilles Troff, Samuel Baeuerle, Dieter Schaible
  • Patent number: 9220387
    Abstract: A sweeping machine includes a sweeping brush capable of being driven in rotation, a debris container, a suction fan and at least one filter arranged in the flow path between the sweeping brush and the suction fan, in flow communication with the suction fan via a suction conduit, in flow communication with a pressure vessel via an external air conduit and at least one external air valve and, for filter cleaning, is capable of having external air stored in the pressure vessel applied thereto. In order for the filter to be capable of being cleaned effectively with as little external air as possible and with the external air being at as low a positive pressure as possible, the external air conduit includes a hood which covers the filter on a clean side thereof and forms a first section of the suction conduit which adjoins the clean side of the filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: Alfred Kärcher GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Frank Nonnenmann, Erik Hoernlen, Florian Abt
  • Publication number: 20150257619
    Abstract: A self-propelled surface cleaning machine is proposed, including a floor cleaning device, a steerable front wheel, a steering device associated with the front wheel, a rear wheel device having at least one left rear wheel and at least one right rear wheel, a first drive device for driving the front wheel, a second drive device for driving the rear wheel device and a differential device for the rear wheel device that allows different speeds of rotation for the at least one left rear wheel and the at least one right rear wheel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2015
    Publication date: September 17, 2015
    Inventors: Juergen Merz, Frank Nonnenmann, Michael Oesterle, Bernd Noller
  • Patent number: 8957758
    Abstract: A cleaning appliance is provided including at least one authorization carrier with an access authorization which is provided thereon and is required for accessing the cleaning appliance, just one receptacle in which the at least one authorization carrier is positionable, and a detection unit, situated at the receptacle, for contact-based detection of the access authorization of an authorization carrier positioned in the receptacle, the detection unit having at least one detection contact element which contacts the access authorization. To provide a cleaning appliance of this type which is usable with greater versatility, it is proposed that the cleaning appliance include two or more authorization carriers with access authorizations provided thereon which are linked to different authorization profiles, wherein a range of functions dependent on the authorization profile linked to an access authorization can be provided to an operator by the cleaning appliance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: Alfred Kärcher GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Frank Nonnenmann, Michael Schuetz, Rainer Schaefer