Patents by Inventor Kai Buller

Kai Buller 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: 7874041
    Abstract: A suction hose for vacuum cleaner includes a tubular inner part, a jacket part and a locking device. The inner part is variable in length and includes a hose wall having a coil spring integrated therein, the coil spring being configured to automatically return the inner part from an extended position to a shortened position. The jacket part is configured to completely receive the inner part when the inner part is in the shortened position, the jacket part including a tubular shape. The locking device is configured to fix the inner part, in the shortened position, in the jacket part. The locking device includes a tubular member configured to surround the inner part, the tubular member including a first part of a first snap-fit device configured to cooperate with the jacket part so as to connect the tubular member and the jacket part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2011
    Assignee: Miele & Cie. KG
    Inventors: Kai Buller, Dirk Wegener
  • Patent number: 7740707
    Abstract: A method for operating a vacuum cleaner having a fan, an electronic control system for the fan and/or another load, and a dust chamber for receiving an air-permeable dust bag, includes providing the dust bag with an identifier, and providing the vacuum cleaner with an identifying device associated with the electronic control system and configured to identify the identifier. When the identifier fails to be identified, at least one of the fan and the other load is controlled using the electronic control system so as to reduce at least one parameter associated with an intake of dust into the dust bag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2010
    Assignee: Miele & Cie. KG
    Inventors: Andre Bertram, Kai Buller, Markus Druecker, Guenther Ennen, Seyfettin Kara, Stephan Koch, Martin Kornberger, Stefan Tiekoetter, Dirk Wegener, Cornelius Wolf
  • Publication number: 20100018001
    Abstract: A suction hose for vacuum cleaner includes a tubular inner part, a jacket part and a locking device. The inner part is variable in length and includes a hose wall having a coil spring integrated therein, the coil spring being configured to automatically return the inner part from an extended position to a shortened position. The jacket part is configured to completely receive the inner part when the inner part is in the shortened position, the jacket part including a tubular shape. The locking device is configured to fix the inner part, in the shortened position, in the jacket part. The locking device includes a tubular member configured to surround the inner part, the tubular member including a first part of a first snap-fit device configured to cooperate with the jacket part so as to connect the tubular member and the jacket part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2005
    Publication date: January 28, 2010
    Applicant: MIELE & CIE. KG
    Inventors: Kai Buller, Dirk Wegener
  • Publication number: 20080276976
    Abstract: A dishwasher includes a washing container, which can be closed by a pivotable door and a control panel. The control panel is disposed on the pivotable door and includes a glazed surface and at least one of a control clement and a display element disposed behind the glazed surface and activatable by touching the glazed surface. The glazed surface is optically switchable so as to change its optical properties between transparent and opaque.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2006
    Publication date: November 13, 2008
    Applicant: Miele & Cie. KG
    Inventors: Kai Buller, Guenther Ennen, Seyfettin Kara, Martin Kornberger, Monika Seifert
  • Publication number: 20080163451
    Abstract: A suction hose for a vacuum cleaner includes a first hose part, a second hose part, and a jacket part. The first hose part is variable in length and includes a hose wall having a coil spring integrated therein, the coil spring being configured to automatically return the first hose part from an extended position to a shortened position. The second hose part is operably connected to the first hose part. The jacket part is configured to receive the first hose part. The jacket part has a length at least equal to a maximum extended length of the first hose part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2005
    Publication date: July 10, 2008
    Applicant: MIELE & CIE. KG
    Inventors: Kai Buller, Dirk Wegener
  • Patent number: 7344393
    Abstract: An electric plug includes a plug housing, at least two incorporated plug-in contacts that are to be inserted into corresponding jacks of an outlet, and a cable feeder. A manually actuated ejection mechanism encompassing a push-out device is disposed in the plug housing. The push-out device cooperates with a spring in such a way that the spring is biased in the plugged-in state of the plug in order to allow the plug to be automatically removed from the outlet by means of the push-out device when the ejection mechanism is actuated. In order to actuate the ejection mechanism, the same is automatically triggered by pulling on the cable, the tensile force being effective on a strain relief device for the cable, which is located in the plug housing and cooperates with triggering device for actuating the spring-biased push-out device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2008
    Assignee: Miele & Cie. KG
    Inventors: Kai Buller, Andreas Schmedt, Dirk Wegener
  • Publication number: 20070155191
    Abstract: An electric plug includes a plug housing, at least two incorporated plug-in contacts that are to be inserted into corresponding jacks of an outlet, and a cable feeder. A manually actuated ejection mechanism encompassing a push-out device is disposed in the plug housing. The push-out device cooperates with a spring in such a way that the spring is biased in the plugged-in state of the plug in order to allow the plug to be automatically removed from the outlet by means of the push-out device when the ejection mechanism is actuated. In order to actuate the ejection mechanism, the same is automatically triggered by pulling on the cable, the tensile force being effective on a strain relief device for the cable, which is located in the plug housing and cooperates with triggering device for actuating the spring-biased push-out device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2005
    Publication date: July 5, 2007
    Inventors: Kai Buller, Andreas Schmedt, Dirk Wegener
  • Publication number: 20070044821
    Abstract: A method for operating a vacuum cleaner having a fan, an electronic control system for the fan and/or another load, and a dust chamber for receiving an air-permeable dust bag, includes providing the dust bag with an identifier, and providing the vacuum cleaner with an identifying device associated with the electronic control system and configured to identify the identifier. When the identifier fails to be identified, at least one of the fan and the other load is controlled using the electronic control system so as to reduce at least one parameter associated with an intake of dust into the dust bag.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2006
    Publication date: March 1, 2007
    Applicant: Miele & Cie. KG
    Inventors: Andre Bertram, Kai Buller, Markus Druecker, Guenther Ennen, Seyfettin Kara, Stephan Koch, Martin Kornberger, Stefan Tiekoetter, Dirk Wegener, Cornelius Wolf