Patents by Inventor Joseph M. Wilen

Joseph M. Wilen 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: 6212728
    Abstract: A self-wringing ratchet mop is disclosed to comprise an elongate handle including at least one channel provided along a discrete length thereof, a tubular member slidably and rotatably disposed on the handle, and a mop swab connected to the handle and the tubular member. The tubular member has a wall including at least one pawl formed therein. The at least one pawl is engageable with the at least one channel to resist rotation of the tubular member in a first direction about the handle, and the at least one pawl is further flexibly moveable out of engagement with the at least one channel when the tubular member is rotated in a second direction about the handle. And when the at least one pawl is positioned along a length of the mop handle other than the discrete length, the tubular member is freely rotatable in both the first and second directions about the mop handle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2001
    Assignee: Multi-Reach, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew G. Facca, Joseph M. Wilen, James LaBelle
  • Patent number: 5974621
    Abstract: A commercial wringer assembly for attachment to a mop bucket is formed with a flange that projects outwardly over the mop bucket and has a contoured forwardly open recess sized to receive and releasibly support or hold the handle of a mop located in the bucket. The recess has forward edges that are contoured to guide the mop handle into the recess and is positioned to support or hold the handle in an upright orientation extending over the mop bucket while the mop is unattended in the bucket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 2, 1999
    Assignee: Wilen Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Joseph M. Wilen
  • Patent number: 5915435
    Abstract: An improved dusting device includes a handle, a bristle head, bristles extending transversely from the bristle head, and a cover for radially collapsing the bristles during shipping and retail display. The bristle head receives and supports a plurality of bristles, wherein each bristle includes a first end attached to the handle first end and a terminal second end for engaging particles. Each bristle is capable of retaining its original shape after prolonged deformation, as they are comprised of elongated strands of polyvinyl chloride. The invention includes a bristle cover adapted for use with the dust mop during storage, shipping and retail display. After assembly of the mop, the cover slides over the bristle head and bristles, and compresses the bristles into a compact formation, which reduces the effective shipping and storage volume of the device, and allows a greater number of dusting devices to be stored in a standard sized shipping box than prior art dusting devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 29, 1999
    Assignee: Wilen Acquisition Corporation
    Inventors: Joseph M. Wilen, James F. Sloan
  • Patent number: 5913347
    Abstract: A dual-purpose mop head assembly comprising a housing having a threaded recess for threadably engaging a handle on one end thereof, mopping yarns secured within and extending from the opposite end of the housing, and an array of closely packed, brush bristles fused to and projecting laterally from a side of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 22, 1999
    Assignee: Wilen Acquisition Corporation
    Inventor: Joseph M. Wilen
  • Patent number: 5522648
    Abstract: An improved reversible dust mop cover comprises overlying sections of mop cover material having tufted yarns or other mopping medium exposed on both sides thereof. The cover is open on one end, closed along two sides, and its other end is formed by an integral fold line that connects the overlying sections. The cover is made by folding an elongated strip of mop cover material onto itself and securing the two aligned edges of the folded strip together while leaving the end detached. Access openings are formed in the top and bottom sections of the pouch to provide access to the handle receiving bar of a mop frame inserted into the pouch. In use, the mop cover is installed on a mop frame and used until one side becomes soiled whereupon the mop cover is removed and reversed so that the unsoiled side can be used to continue mopping.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 4, 1996
    Assignee: The Wilen Companies, Incorporated
    Inventor: Joseph M. Wilen
  • Patent number: 5249325
    Abstract: A rotary clutch shaft of a floor machine removeably receives and rotates a brush block having downwardly protruding circumferentially arranged brushes protruding from the periphery of the brush block. Hooks which protrude from the bottom of the block, removeably retains a reversible, tufted, resilient, absorbent bonnet confined within the brushes and a frictional drive on the brush block engages the upper surface of the bonnet and rotates the bonnet as the block is rotated. The bonnet is readily removeable and can be laundered and reinstalled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1992
    Date of Patent: October 5, 1993
    Assignee: Wilen Manufacturing Co., Inc.
    Inventor: Joseph M. Wilen
  • Patent number: 5010723
    Abstract: A yarn produced from two or more twisted cellulosic fibers, such as cotton or cotton rayon fibers, the plies being helically wound around a thermoplastic filament core which is subsequently melted to bind the inner portions of the yarn together so that it does not untwist or shed lint readily. The yarn is employed in a dust mop or floor mat for a shampoo bonnett for stain resistant treated carpet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 1989
    Date of Patent: April 30, 1991
    Assignee: Wilen Manufacturing
    Inventor: Joseph M. Wilen