Patents by Inventor Kenneth L. Roberts

Kenneth L. Roberts 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: 7233015
    Abstract: A system for detecting liquid flow from a nozzle in a semiconductor processing device includes a first fiber optic sensor, a second fiber optic sensor, and an amp. The first fiber optic sensor and second fiber optic sensor are located on opposite sides of at least one nozzle. The first fiber optic sensor transmits light, and the second fiber optic sensor receives more of the light when the nozzle is not dispensing liquid than when the nozzle is dispensing liquid. The amp is coupled to the first fiber optic sensor and second fiber optic sensor. The amp indicates whether the nozzle is dispensing liquid according to an amount of the light received at the second fiber optic sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2007
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventor: Kenneth L. Roberts
  • Patent number: 6550098
    Abstract: A liquid extraction cleaner includes a recovery tank mounted to the forward end of a cleaner housing with a suction nozzle and conduit on a front face of the recovery tank connected to an inlet opening in the recovery tank. A vacuum source is connected to the recovery tank through a working conduit integrally formed in the recovery tank, the recovery tank removably received in a cavity on a front portion of the cleaner housing, and including a pivotal connection and latch for securing the tank to the housing. A removable cleaning fluid supply tank is mounted to a rear portion of the cleaner housing, having depressions formed thereon to aid removal, and retained thereon by the seal between the supply tank and the housing. A recharging base for the cleaner has a guide pin and electrical connector for aligning to form an electrical connection with a battery charging circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2003
    Assignee: Bissell Homecare, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth L. Roberts, Jeffrey A. Hall, Eric R. Metzger, Charles A. Reed, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6334233
    Abstract: A vacuum cleaner having an improved structural handle/support assembly for supporting a vacuum cleaner module. The handle/support assembly has a primary support member, a secondary support member and a snap-in handle section. The primary and secondary support member cooperate to form an integrated support structure that reduces torquing of the vacuum cleaner module relative to the handle/support assembly during use. Further, the primary and secondary support members define an aperture to accommodate rearwardly extending vacuum hose. The handle section includes an open base portion that includes one or more slots therein. A handle mounting portion of the primary support member having one or more integral tabs formed therein is telescopically received within the base portion of the handle section. The one or more slots in the handle section receive the one or more tabs of the handle mounting portion in snap-fit engagement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2002
    Assignee: Bissell Homecare, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth L. Roberts, Gary L. Steinberg
  • Patent number: 6189178
    Abstract: A handheld liquid extraction cleaner according to the invention comprises a cleaner housing including a forward end, a rearward end, and a top portion and a bottom portion extending between the forward and rearward ends, and a handle for manually manipulating the extraction cleaner. A handheld cleaner and storage base according to the invention include a handheld cleaner comprising a cleaner housing including a forward end, a rearward end, a top portion and a bottom portion extending between the forward and rearward ends, sides extending between the top and bottom portions, and a handle for manually manipulating the extraction cleaner; and a storage base including a base portion and a holding portion disposed generally at a right angle to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2001
    Assignee: Bissell Homecare, Inc.
    Inventor: Kenneth L. Roberts
  • Patent number: 6125498
    Abstract: A handheld liquid extraction cleaner includes a recovery tank mounted to the forward end of a cleaner housing with a suction nozzle and conduit on a front face of the recovery tank connected to an inlet opening in the recovery tank. A vacuum source is connected to the recovery tank through an exhaust conduit, integrally formed in the recovery tank, for drawing liquid and debris through the suction nozzle and the suction conduit and into the recovery tank A removable cleaning fluid supply tank is mounted to a rear portion of the cleaner housing, an adjustable spray nozzle is mounted to the suction conduit and a pump is positioned in a supply conduit between the spray nozzle and the cleaning fluid supply tank for supplying pressurized cleaning fluid from the cleaning fluid supply tank to the spray nozzle The pump includes an impeller which is positioned in an outlet opening of a reservoir in which the cleaning fluid is deposited from the cleaning fluid supply tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2000
    Assignee: Bissell Homecare, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth L. Roberts, Diane M. Simek, Jeffrey A. Hall, Eric C. Huffman, Charles A. Reed, Jr., Steven K. Meek, Lau Wai Keung, Ng Tat Shing
  • Patent number: 5544385
    Abstract: A vacuum cleaner filter bag mounting assembly comprises a bag mounting member having a fixed plate which is secured to a housing of a vacuum cleaner and a hinge plate which is pivotally mounted to the fixed plate through a living hinge. A channel is formed on the outside surface of the hinge plate for a receipt of the vacuum bag collar and an air deflector extends outwardly from the fixed plate for insertion into the filter bag. The bag mounting member is preferably integrally molded from a single injection-molding operation. An outlet tube is integrally molded to the fixed plate and has bag-retaining projections on an outer surface and a deflector at the end to deflect particles downwardly into the filter bag. The filter bag is retained in the operating condition by the bag-retaining projections on the outlet tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 13, 1996
    Assignee: Bissell Inc.
    Inventors: John Jailor, William H. Frederick, Steven R. Umbach, Scott R. Graham, Kenneth L. Roberts, Eric R. Metzger
  • Patent number: D441154
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Assignee: Bissell Homecare, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth L. Roberts, Anthony L. Monetta, Kenneth J. Orr
  • Patent number: D451655
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2001
    Assignee: Bissell Homecare, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth L. Roberts, Douglas J. Medema
  • Patent number: D462489
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2002
    Assignee: Bissell Homecare, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth L. Roberts, Douglas J. Medema
  • Patent number: D462815
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2002
    Assignee: Bissell Homecare, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth L. Roberts, Kevin T. Downey
  • Patent number: D467812
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2002
    Assignee: BISSELL Homecare, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth L. Roberts, Samuel N. Hansen
  • Patent number: D468069
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2002
    Assignee: Bissell Homecare, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth L. Roberts, Douglas J. Medema
  • Patent number: D477698
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2003
    Assignee: Bissell Homecare, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth L. Roberts, Kevin T. Downey
  • Patent number: D487602
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2004
    Assignee: Bissell Homecare, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth L. Roberts, Kevin T. Downey
  • Patent number: D375821
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 19, 1996
    Assignee: Bissell Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth L. Roberts, Steven R. Umbach, Michael D. Luyckx
  • Patent number: D379254
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 13, 1997
    Assignee: Bissell Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth L. Roberts, Steven R. Umbach, Michael D. Luyckx
  • Patent number: D422388
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2000
    Assignee: Bissell Homecare, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth L. Roberts, Michael D. Luyckx, Steven R. Umbach
  • Patent number: D425271
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2000
    Assignee: Bissell Homecare, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth L. Roberts, Michael D. Luyckx, Steven R. Umbach
  • Patent number: D426037
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2000
    Assignee: Bissell Homecare, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth L. Roberts, Douglas J. Medema
  • Patent number: D430365
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2000
    Assignee: Bissell Homecare, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth L. Roberts, Douglas J. Medema