Patents by Inventor Gordon HOWES
Gordon HOWES 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: 20240090721Abstract: A robotic cleaner includes a housing, a suction conduit with an opening, and a leading roller mounted in front of a brush roll. An inter-roller air passageway may be defined between the leading roller and the brush roll wherein the lower portion of the leading roller is exposed to a flow path to the suction conduit and an upper portion of the leading roller is outside of the flow path. Optionally, a combing unit includes a plurality of combing protrusions extending into the leading roller and having leading edges not aligned with a center of the leading roller. Optionally, a sealing strip is located along a rear side of the opening and along a portion of left and right sides of the opening. The underside may define side edge vacuum passageways extending from the sides of the housing partially between the leading roller and the sealing strip towards the opening.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 27, 2023Publication date: March 21, 2024Inventors: Steven Paul CARTER, Adam Udy, Catriona A. Sutter, Christopher Pinches, David S. Clare, Andre David Brown, John Freese, Patrick Cleary, Alexander J. Calvino, Lee Cottrell, Daniel Meyer, Daniel John Innes, David Jalbert, Jason B. Thorne, Peter Hutchinson, Gordon Howes, Wenxiu Gao, David Wu, David W. Poirier, Daniel R. Der Marderosian
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Patent number: 11925303Abstract: A surface cleaning apparatus including a body defining an agitation chamber, an agitator partially disposed within the agitation chamber and configured to rotate about a pivot axis, and a debrider at least partially disposed within the agitation chamber. The agitator includes an elongated body having a first and a second end, a sidewall extending radially outward from the elongated body extending between the first and the second ends, and a plurality of bristles extending radially outward from the elongated body. The plurality of bristles are arranged in at least one row adjacent to the sidewall. The debrider includes a plurality of teeth configured to contact a portion of the sidewall as the agitator rotates about the pivot axis.Type: GrantFiled: February 22, 2021Date of Patent: March 12, 2024Assignee: SharkNinja Operating LLCInventors: Daniel R. Der Marderosian, John Freese, Gordon Howes, Wenxiu Gao, David S. Clare, Nathan Herrmann, Hugh Jamie Croggon, Nicholas Sardar, Tyler Smith, Ian Liu, Jiancheng Wang
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Patent number: 11839346Abstract: A robotic cleaner includes a housing, a suction conduit with an opening, and a leading roller mounted in front of a brush roll. An inter-roller air passageway may be defined between the leading roller and the brush roll wherein the lower portion of the leading roller is exposed to a flow path to the suction conduit and an upper portion of the leading roller is outside of the flow path. Optionally, a combing unit includes a plurality of combing protrusions extending into the leading roller and having leading edges not aligned with a center of the leading roller. Optionally, a sealing strip is located along a rear side of the opening and along a portion of left and right sides of the opening. The underside may define side edge vacuum passageways extending from the sides of the housing partially between the leading roller and the sealing strip towards the opening.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2021Date of Patent: December 12, 2023Assignee: SharkNinja Operating LLCInventors: Steven Paul Carter, Adam Udy, Catriona A Sutter, Christopher Pinches, David S. Clare, Andre David Brown, John Freese, Patrick Cleary, Alexander J. Calvino, Lee Cottrell, Daniel Meyer, Daniel John Innes, David Jalbert, Jason B. Thorne, Peter Hutchinson, Gordon Howes, Wenxiu Gao, David Wu, David W. Poirier, Daniel R. Der Marderosian
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Patent number: 11723498Abstract: An example of a vacuum pod may include a handle, a vacuum pod body, a dust cup removably coupled to the vacuum pod body, and a fluid conduit fluidly coupled to the dust cup. The fluid conduit may include a flexible hose configured to transition between an expanded and a retracted position and a coupling configured to be removably coupled to the vacuum pod body. A first end of the flexible hose may be coupled to the vacuum pod body and a second end of the flexible hose may be coupled to the coupling. When the coupling is coupled to the vacuum pod body, the flexible hose may be in the retracted position.Type: GrantFiled: June 20, 2019Date of Patent: August 15, 2023Assignee: SharkNinja Operating LLCInventors: Andre D. Brown, Jason B. Thorne, Kai Xu, Lee M. Cottrell, Alexander Calvino, Gordon Howes, AiMing Xu, Wenxiu Gao, Oliver Chambers
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Publication number: 20230240492Abstract: A cleaning apparatus includes a combing unit including a series of spaced protrusions or teeth extending into a cleaning roller for preventing build up and removing debris (such as hair, string, and the like). The protrusions extend along a substantial portion of the cleaning roller and extend partially into the cleaning roller to intercept the debris as it passes around the roller. The protrusions have angled leading edges that are not aligned with a rotation center of the cleaning roller and are directed into or against a direction of rotation of the cleaning roller. The combing unit and protrusions have a shape and configuration designed to facilitate debris removal from the cleaning roller with minimal impact on the operation of the cleaning apparatus. The cleaning apparatus may include a surface cleaning head of an upright vacuum cleaner or sweeper or a robotic vacuum cleaner.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 5, 2023Publication date: August 3, 2023Inventors: Jason B. THORNE, Yao MING, Daniel R. DER MARDEROSIAN, Daniel MEYER, Patrick CLEARY, Gordon HOWES, David WU, Nancy GAO WENXIU
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Patent number: 11647881Abstract: A cleaning apparatus includes a combing unit including a series of spaced protrusions or teeth extending into a cleaning roller for preventing build up and removing debris (such as hair, string, and the like). The protrusions extend along a substantial portion of the cleaning roller and extend partially into the cleaning roller to intercept the debris as it passes around the roller. The protrusions have angled leading edges that are not aligned with a rotation center of the cleaning roller and are directed into or against a direction of rotation of the cleaning roller. The combing unit and protrusions have a shape and configuration designed to facilitate debris removal from the cleaning roller with minimal impact on the operation of the cleaning apparatus. The cleaning apparatus may include a surface cleaning head of an upright vacuum cleaner or sweeper or a robotic vacuum cleaner.Type: GrantFiled: April 20, 2017Date of Patent: May 16, 2023Assignee: SharkNinja Operating LLCInventors: Jason B. Thorne, Yao Ming, Daniel R. Der Marderosian, Daniel Meyer, Patrick Cleary, Gordon Howes, David Wu, Nancy Gao Wenxiu
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Publication number: 20230090575Abstract: A surface cleaning head with dual rotating agitators (e.g., a leading roller and a brush roll) may be used to facilitate capturing of debris in the air flow into a suction conduit on the underside of the surface cleaning head. The leading roller is generally positioned adjacent to and in advance of the opening of the suction conduit. The rotating brush roll may be located in the suction conduit with the leading roller located in front of and spaced from the brush roll, forming an inter-roller air passageway therebetween. The leading roller may provide a softer cleaning element than the brush roll and may also have an outside diameter that is less than the outside diameter of the brush roll. The surface cleaning head may also include debriding protrusions contacting the leading roller and/or a leading bumper that extends in front of the leading roller.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 21, 2022Publication date: March 23, 2023Inventors: Steven Paul CARTER, Adam UDY, Catriona A. SUTTER, Christopher PINCHES, David S. CLARE, Andre David BROWN, John FREESE, Patrick CLEARY, Alexander CALVINO, Lee COTTRELL, Daniel MEYER, Daniel John INNES, David JALBERT, Jason THORNE, Peter HUTCHINSON, Gordon HOWES, Nancy GAO WENXIU, David WU, David W. POIRER
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Patent number: 11458771Abstract: A vacuum cleaner can include an upright section, a surface cleaning head coupled to the upright section, and at least one wheel coupled to the surface cleaning head. The at least one wheel can include a hub, a rim, and an absorber. The absorber can extend between the hub and the rim. The absorber can be configured to deform before the rim experiences substantial deformation. A deformation limiter can be provided that is configured to limit the deformation in the absorber.Type: GrantFiled: August 30, 2018Date of Patent: October 4, 2022Assignee: SharkNinja Operating LLCInventors: Jason B. Thorne, Pu Zhou, Ming Yao, Gordon Howes
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Publication number: 20220110495Abstract: A robotic cleaner includes a housing, a suction conduit with an opening, and a leading roller mounted in front of a brush roll. An inter-roller air passageway may be defined between the leading roller and the brush roll wherein the lower portion of the leading roller is exposed to a flow path to the suction conduit and an upper portion of the leading roller is outside of the flow path. Optionally, a combing unit includes a plurality of combing protrusions extending into the leading roller and having leading edges not aligned with a center of the leading roller. Optionally, a sealing strip is located along a rear side of the opening and along a portion of left and right sides of the opening. The underside may define side edge vacuum passageways extending from the sides of the housing partially between the leading roller and the sealing strip towards the opening.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 20, 2021Publication date: April 14, 2022Inventors: Steven Paul CARTER, Adam UDY, Catriona A. SUTTER, Christopher PINCHES, David S. CLARE, Andre David BROWN, John FREESE, Patrick CLEARY, Alexander J. CALVINO, Lee COTTRELL, Daniel MEYER, Daniel John INNES, David JALBERT, Jason B. THORNE, Peter HUTCHINSON, Gordon HOWES, Wenxiu GAO, David WU, David W. POIRIER, Daniel R. DER MARDEROSIAN
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Patent number: 11278171Abstract: A surface cleaning head with dual rotating agitators (e.g., a leading roller and a brush roll) may be used to facilitate capturing of debris in the air flow into a suction conduit on the underside of the surface cleaning head. The leading roller is generally positioned adjacent to and in advance of the opening of the suction conduit. The rotating brush roll may be located in the suction conduit with the leading roller located in front of and spaced from the brush roll, forming an inter-roller air passageway therebetween. The leading roller may provide a softer cleaning element than the brush roll and may also have an outside diameter that is less than the outside diameter of the brush roll. The surface cleaning head may also include debriding protrusions contacting the leading roller and/or a leading bumper that extends in front of the leading roller.Type: GrantFiled: October 21, 2016Date of Patent: March 22, 2022Assignee: SharkNinja Operating LLCInventors: Steven Paul Carter, Adam Udy, Catriona A. Sutter, Christopher Pinches, David S. Clare, Andre David Brown, John Freese, Patrick Cleary, Alexander Calvino, Lee Cottrell, Daniel Meyer, Daniel John Innes, David Jalbert, Jason Thorne, Peter Hutchinson, Gordon Howes, Nancy Gao Wenxiu, David Wu, David W. Poirier
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Patent number: 11234567Abstract: A vacuum cleaner tool having a brush head, a rotatable duct, and a hinge. The rotatable duct is configured to receive a hose or wand and rotates about the hinge relative to the brush head, between a use position and storage position. In a storage position, the rotatable duct extends generally parallel, or in-line with the brush head and, in a use position, the rotatable duct extends generally perpendicular to the brush head. The vacuum cleaner tool may removably attach to the vacuum cleaner via a release on one end of the brush head interacting with a fixed catch on the vacuum cleaner.Type: GrantFiled: August 30, 2018Date of Patent: February 1, 2022Assignee: SharkNinja Operating LLCInventors: Jason B. Thorne, Alexander Calvino, Mingshun Su, Robert Yang, Charlie Cai, Gordon Howes, Brian M. Bond, Leanna Cornelius
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Patent number: 11202542Abstract: A robotic cleaner includes a housing, a suction conduit with an opening, and a leading roller mounted in front of a brush roll. An inter-roller air passageway may be defined between the leading roller and the brush roll wherein the lower portion of the leading roller is exposed to a flow path to the suction conduit and an upper portion of the leading roller is outside of the flow path. Optionally, a combing unit includes a plurality of combing protrusions extending into the leading roller and having leading edges not aligned with a center of the leading roller. Optionally, a sealing strip is located along a rear side of the opening and along a portion of left and right sides of the opening. The underside may define side edge vacuum passageways extending from the sides of the housing partially between the leading roller and the sealing strip towards the opening.Type: GrantFiled: May 23, 2018Date of Patent: December 21, 2021Assignee: SharkNinja Operating LLCInventors: Steven Paul Carter, Adam Udy, Catriona A. Sutter, Christopher Pinches, David S. Clare, Andre David Brown, John Freese, Patrick Cleary, Alexander J. Calvino, Lee Cottrell, Daniel Meyer, Daniel John Innes, David Jalbert, Jason B. Thorne, Peter Hutchinson, Gordon Howes, Wenxiu Gao, David Wu, David W. Poirier, Daniel R. Der Marderosian
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Publication number: 20210169287Abstract: A surface cleaning apparatus including a body defining an agitation chamber, an agitator partially disposed within the agitation chamber and configured to rotate about a pivot axis, and a debrider at least partially disposed within the agitation chamber. The agitator includes an elongated body having a first and a second end, a sidewall extending radially outward from the elongated body extending between the first and the second ends, and a plurality of bristles extending radially outward from the elongated body. The plurality of bristles are arranged in at least one row adjacent to the sidewall. The debrider includes a plurality of teeth configured to contact a portion of the sidewall as the agitator rotates about the pivot axis.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 22, 2021Publication date: June 10, 2021Inventors: Daniel R. DER MARDEROSIAN, John FREESE, Gordon HOWES, Wenxiu GAO, David S. CLARE, Nathan HERRMANN, Hugh Jamie CROGGON, Nicholas SARDAR, Tyler SMITH, Ian LIU, Jiancheng WANG
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Patent number: 10925447Abstract: A surface cleaning apparatus including a body defining an agitation chamber, an agitator partially disposed within the agitation chamber and configured to rotate about a pivot axis, and a debrider at least partially disposed within the agitation chamber. The agitator includes an elongated body having a first and a second end, a sidewall extending radially outward from the elongated body extending between the first and the second ends, and a plurality of bristles extending radially outward from the elongated body. The plurality of bristles are arranged in at least one row adjacent to the sidewall. The debrider includes a plurality of teeth configured to contact a portion of the sidewall as the agitator rotates about the pivot axis.Type: GrantFiled: March 10, 2018Date of Patent: February 23, 2021Assignee: SharkNinja Operating LLCInventors: Daniel R. Der Marderosian, John Freese, Gordon Howes, Wenxiu Gao, David S. Clare, Nathan Herrmann, Hugh Jamie Croggon, Nicholas Sardar, Tyler Smith, Ian Liu, Jiancheng Wang
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Publication number: 20200329930Abstract: A surface cleaning head includes dual rotating agitators (e.g., a leading roller and a brush roll) and a removable cover for covering a top of the agitators and allowing access to the agitators from a top of the surface cleaning head. The dual agitators may be used to facilitate capturing of debris in the air flow into a suction conduit on the underside of the surface cleaning head. The brush roll may be located in a brush roll chamber and at least partially in an opening to the suction conduit. The leading roller may be positioned adjacent to and in advance of the suction conduit opening such that the leading roller engages debris and moves the debris toward the brush roll and the opening. The leading roller may be removable from the housing and held in place by the removable cover. The cover may be coupled using isolated latching mechanisms.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 6, 2020Publication date: October 22, 2020Inventors: Adam UDY, Andre David BROWN, John FREESE, Patrick CLEARY, Daniel MEYER, Daniel John INNES, Jason THORNE, Peter HUTCHINSON, Gordon HOWES, Wenxiu GAO, Daniel R. DER MARDEROSIAN, Thomas FORD, Owen R. JOHNSON
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Patent number: 10702108Abstract: A surface cleaning head includes dual rotating agitators (e.g., a leading roller and a brush roll) and a removable cover for covering a top of the agitators and allowing access to the agitators from a top of the surface cleaning head. The dual agitators may be used to facilitate capturing of debris in the air flow into a suction conduit on the underside of the surface cleaning head. The brush roll may be located in a brush roll chamber and at least partially in an opening to the suction conduit. The leading roller may be positioned adjacent to and in advance of the suction conduit opening such that the leading roller engages debris and moves the debris toward the brush roll and the opening. The leading roller may be removable from the housing and held in place by the removable cover. The cover may be coupled using isolated latching mechanisms.Type: GrantFiled: August 24, 2017Date of Patent: July 7, 2020Assignee: SharkNinja Operating LLCInventors: Adam Udy, Andre David Brown, John Freese, Patrick Cleary, Daniel Meyer, Daniel John Innes, Jason Thorne, Peter Hutchinson, Gordon Howes, Wenxiu Gao, Daniel R. Der Marderosian, Thomas Ford, Owen R. Johnson
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Publication number: 20200000298Abstract: An example of a vacuum pod may include a handle, a vacuum pod body, a dust cup removably coupled to the vacuum pod body, and a fluid conduit fluidly coupled to the dust cup. The fluid conduit may include a flexible hose configured to transition between an expanded and a retracted position and a coupling configured to be removably coupled to the vacuum pod body. A first end of the flexible hose may be coupled to the vacuum pod body and a second end of the flexible hose may be coupled to the coupling. When the coupling is coupled to the vacuum pod body, the flexible hose may be in the retracted position.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 20, 2019Publication date: January 2, 2020Inventors: Andre D. BROWN, Jason B. THORNE, Kai XU, Lee M. COTTRELL, Alexander Calvino, Gordon Howes, AiMing Xu, Wenxiu Gao, Oliver Chambers
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Patent number: 10508429Abstract: A method of forming a threshold drain 31 is disclosed. The drain 31 extends alongside an exterior wall 4 of a building and is formed in an exterior surface 36. The building has an interior floor 21 with the exterior surface 36 and the interior floor 21 being substantially flush to permit traymobile, wheelchair and invalid access. In a single concrete pour, the drain gutter 31, exterior surface 36, interior floor 21 and a gutter 40 are all formed. The gutter has an exterior side wall 39 which supports a plurality of triangular cantilever arms 43. A support frame 42 having two longitudinally extending rims 51,52 is supported by the arms 43 and releasably receives a grate 32 between the rims 51, 52. The inner rim 51 is spaced from the wall 24 of the building, preferably by 10-12 mm (?-½ inch), so as to provide a barrier to moisture in accordance with the Building Code of New Zealand standard set out in Clause E2 External Moisture. The drain 31 is also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: June 14, 2018Date of Patent: December 17, 2019Assignee: ACO SEVERIN AHLMANN GMBH & CO. KGInventors: Paul Casey, Matthew Gordon Howes
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Patent number: D849345Type: GrantFiled: April 19, 2017Date of Patent: May 21, 2019Assignee: SharkNinja Operating LLCInventors: Jason B. Thorne, Yao Ming, Daniel R. Der Marderosian, Daniel Meyer, Patrick Clearly, Gordon Howes, David Wu, Nancy Gao Wenxiu
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Patent number: D872955Type: GrantFiled: May 13, 2019Date of Patent: January 14, 2020Assignee: SharkNinja Operating LLCInventors: Jason B. Thorne, Yao Ming, Daniel R. Der Marderosian, Daniel Meyer, Patrick Cleary, Gordon Howes, David Wu, Nancy Gao Wenxiu