Patents by Inventor J. Erik Hitzelberger
J. Erik Hitzelberger 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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Patent number: 7676884Abstract: A vacuum cleaner includes a housing, a suction generator carried by the housing, a bag compartment and a bag cage. The bag compartment is defined by a bag compartment wall including an airflow inlet and an airflow outlet. The bag cage is received in the bag compartment. The bag cage defines a bag cavity that hold a filter bag in a position spaced from the bag compartment wall so as to maintain a clear airflow passage.Type: GrantFiled: July 28, 2005Date of Patent: March 16, 2010Assignee: Panasonic Corporation of North AmericaInventors: R. Michael Mayes, Ronald E. Davis, Kerry L. Dever, J. Erik Hitzelberger
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Patent number: 7251858Abstract: A floor care apparatus has a nozzle assembly housing an agitator. A motor couples to the agitator to drive it at two or more speeds and constant suction power. A user indicates their mode-of-operation preference by positioning a switch. An agitator motor control circuit, responsive to the switch, effectuates motor control by supplying either a fixed duty cycle signal or a substantially constant voltage signal. The fixed duty cycle signal includes a waveform with a substantially constant voltage value that is on for a first or first and second of four quarters of the waveform period. Thereafter, it repeats for additional periods. The switch preferably embodies a resistor network and a fixed current source that creates a voltage input to an A/D converter that falls within a specified range. Other apparatus embodiments contemplate multiple agitators with one or more agitator motors. A suction fan motor, separate from the agitator motor(s), may also exist.Type: GrantFiled: January 23, 2004Date of Patent: August 7, 2007Assignee: Panasonic Corporation of North AmericaInventors: J. Erik Hitzelberger, George N. Woolcott
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Patent number: 7222392Abstract: A bagless vacuum cleaner (10) includes a nozzle assembly (16) having a suction nozzle for picking up dirt and debris from a surface to be cleaned and a canister assembly (18) including a cavity (32). A dust collection assembly (12) is received and held in that cavity (32). The dust collection assembly (12) includes a filtering subassembly (100) and a dust container (102). The dust container (102) has an open top (104), a bottom wall (106), a first cylindrical sidewall (108), an inlet (110), and a downwardly directed outlet (112) extending through the bottom wall. An airstream conduit is provided for conveying a vacuum airstream between the suction nozzle and the inlet. A suction fan (34) and suction fan drive motor (35) carried on either the nozzle assembly (16) or the canister assembly (18) generates the vacuum airstream for drawing dirt and debris through the suction nozzle, the airstream conduit and the dust container (102).Type: GrantFiled: October 3, 2001Date of Patent: May 29, 2007Assignee: Panasonic Corporation of North AmericaInventors: Michael J. McCormick, Henry Marcussen, J. Erik Hitzelberger, Tamaki Nishikori, Hiroshi Nishimura, Eric J. Streciwilk
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Patent number: 7152275Abstract: A vacuum cleaner has a housing including a nozzle assembly and a canister assembly. A dirt container is connected to the housing. The dirt container includes a collection chamber and a combined handle and inlet flow passageway. An airstream conduit conveys a vacuum airstream from the nozzle to the inlet flow passageway. A fan and motor assembly generates the vacuum airstream.Type: GrantFiled: July 9, 2003Date of Patent: December 26, 2006Assignee: Panasonic Corporation of North AmericaInventors: J. Erik Hitzelberger, Danielle M. Hafling, Amy N. Mudd
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Patent number: 7124467Abstract: A vacuum cleaner is provided with a canister assembly and a nozzle assembly. The nozzle assembly includes both a main inlet and an edge cleaning inlet. A dirt container and a fan and motor assembly/suction generator are carried on either the nozzle assembly or the canister assembly. An airflow system conveys a vacuum airstream from the nozzle assembly to the dirt container. The airflow system includes a control valve, a first conduit between the main inlet and the control valve, a second conduit between the edge cleaning inlet and the control valve and a third conduit between the control valve and the dirt container.Type: GrantFiled: March 28, 2003Date of Patent: October 24, 2006Assignee: Panasonic Corporation of North AmericaInventors: J. Erik Hitzelberger, Eric J. Streciwilk
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Patent number: 7070636Abstract: A bagless vacuum cleaner (10) includes a nozzle assembly (16) having a suction nozzle for picking up dirt and debris from a surface to be cleaned and a canister assembly (18) including a cavity (32). A dust collection assembly (12) is received and held in that cavity (32). The dust collection assembly (12) includes a filtering subassembly (100) and a dust container (102). The dust container (102) has an open top (104), a bottom wall (106), a first cylindrical sidewall (108), an inlet (110), and a downwardly directed outlet (112) extending through the bottom wall. An airstream conduit is provided for conveying a vacuum airstream between the suction nozzle and the inlet. A filter (124, 138) is carried on the filtering subassembly (100). A sweeper (200) rotates relative to the filtering subassembly (100) to clean dirt and debris from at least a portion of the filter (138).Type: GrantFiled: November 13, 2001Date of Patent: July 4, 2006Assignee: Panasonic Corporation of North AmericaInventors: Michael J. McCormick, Henry Marcussen, J. Erik Hitzelberger, Tamaki Nishikori, Richard Eric Downey
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Publication number: 20060026789Abstract: The present invention relates generally to an upright vacuum cleaner including a housing having a canister assembly, a nozzle assembly and a connector for releasably holding the wand assembly. Both a suction generator and a dirt collection vessel are carried on the housing. In addition the upright vacuum cleaner includes a removable wand assembly, a lock and a lock release.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 3, 2005Publication date: February 9, 2006Inventors: Richard Fischer, J. Erik Hitzelberger
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Publication number: 20040025285Abstract: A bagless vacuum cleaner (10) includes a nozzle assembly (16) having a suction nozzle for picking up dirt and debris from a surface to be cleaned and a canister assembly (18) including a cavity (32). A dust collection assembly (12) is received and held in that cavity (32). The dust collection assembly (12) includes a filtering subassembly (100) and a dust container (102). The dust container (102) has an open top (104), a bottom wall (106), a first cylindrical sidewall (108), an inlet (110), and a downwardly directed outlet (112) extending through the bottom wall. An airstream conduit is provided for conveying a vacuum airstream between the suction nozzle and the inlet. A filter (124, 138) is carried on the filtering subassembly (100). A sweeper (200) rotates relative to the filtering subassembly (100) to clean dirt and debris from at least a portion of the filter (138).Type: ApplicationFiled: September 12, 2003Publication date: February 12, 2004Inventors: Michael J. McCormick, Henry Marcussen, J. Erik Hitzelberger, Tamaki Nishikori, Richard Eric Downey
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Publication number: 20040025287Abstract: A bagless vacuum cleaner (10) includes a nozzle assembly (16) having a suction nozzle for picking up dirt and debris from a surface to be cleaned and a canister assembly (18) including a cavity (32). A dust collection assembly (12) is received and held in that cavity (32). The dust collection assembly (12) includes a filtering subassembly (100) and a dust container (102). The dust container (102) has an open top (104), a bottom wall (106), a first cylindrical sidewall (108), an inlet (110), and a downwardly directed outlet (112) extending through the bottom wall. An airstream conduit is provided for conveying a vacuum airstream between the suction nozzle and the inlet. A suction fan (34) and suction fan drive motor (35) carried on either the nozzle assembly (16) or the canister assembly (18) generates the vacuum airstream for drawing dirt and debris through the suction nozzle, the airstream conduit and the dust container (102).Type: ApplicationFiled: September 5, 2003Publication date: February 12, 2004Inventors: Michael J. McCormick, Henry Marcussen, J. Erik Hitzelberger, Tamaki Nishikori, Hiroshi Nishimura, Eric J. Streciwilk
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Publication number: 20040010884Abstract: A floor care apparatus includes a cannister assembly, a nozzle assembly, and a suction generator that draws air, dust, dirt and debris from a carpet or rug to be cleaned through the nozzle assembly to a collection vessel. A rotary agitator carried on the nozzle assembly is driven by a motor in either a rearward bottom-dead-center direction when the floor care apparatus is being pulled rearward or a forward bottom-dead-center direction when the floor care apparatus is being pushed forward by an operator. In this way, the bottom-dead-center portion of the agitator engaging the underlying nap of a carpet or rug being cleaned is moving in the direction of movement of the floor care appliance so that the nap is always brushed from the bottom to the top and dirt and debris is lifted from the nap where it is entrained in the airstream being drawn into the apparatus by the suction generator to provide efficient and effective deep cleaning action.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 15, 2003Publication date: January 22, 2004Inventor: J. Erik Hitzelberger
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Publication number: 20040010885Abstract: A vacuum cleaner has a housing including a nozzle assembly and a canister assembly. A dirt container is connected to the housing. The dirt container includes a collection chamber and a combined handle and inlet flow passageway. An airstream conduit conveys a vacuum airstream from the nozzle to the inlet flow passageway. A fan and motor assembly generates the vacuum airstream.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 9, 2003Publication date: January 22, 2004Inventors: J. Erik Hitzelberger, Danielle M. Hafling, Amy N. Mudd
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Publication number: 20040000023Abstract: A vacuum cleaner includes a cannister assembly, a nozzle assembly, and a suction generator that draws air, dust, dirt and debris from a surface to be cleaned through the nozzle assembly to a collection vessel. A rotary agitator carried on the nozzle assembly is driven by a motor in a forward or a rearward direction. Depending upon the direction of rotation, the rotary agitator propels the nozzle assembly in the forward or rearward direction.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 7, 2003Publication date: January 1, 2004Inventors: J. Erik Hitzelberger, John A. Cloud, Eric J. Streciwilk, Hiroshi Nishimura, Hiroshi Nakao
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Publication number: 20030188396Abstract: A vacuum cleaner is provided with a canister assembly and a nozzle assembly. The nozzle assembly includes both a main inlet and an edge cleaning inlet. A dirt container and a fan and motor assembly/suction generator are carried on either the nozzle assembly or the canister assembly. An airflow system conveys a vacuum airstream from the nozzle assembly to the dirt container. The airflow system includes a control valve, a first conduit between the main inlet and the control valve, a second conduit between the edge cleaning inlet and the control valve and a third conduit between the control valve and the dirt container.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 28, 2003Publication date: October 9, 2003Inventors: J. Erik Hitzelberger, Eric J. Streciwilk