Patents by Inventor Kevin L. Thomas

Kevin L. Thomas 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: 12167826
    Abstract: An automated cleaning device includes a chassis, a controller operably connected to a drive assembly and configured to move the chassis within an area to be cleaned in repeated cleaning cycles, a cleaning unit carried by the chassis, a sensor configured to detect material drawn into the cleaning unit and provide a debris signal corresponding to an amount of material drawn into the cleaning unit, the controller being operably connected to the sensor and configured to generate a high-material indicator in response to the debris signal exceeding a predetermined debris threshold, and determining whether the autonomous cleaner is in a high traffic area when the chassis moves within the area to be cleaned based on locations of high-material indicators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2024
    Assignee: TECHTRONIC FLOOR CARE TECHNOLOGY LIMITED
    Inventor: Kevin L. Thomas
  • Patent number: 11690488
    Abstract: A handheld vacuum cleaner includes a housing, a motor, and a dirt cup. The housing defines a top, a bottom, a motor chamber, a dirty air inlet at a front of the housing, a handle at the rear of the housing, a clean air outlet, and an airflow path from the dirty air inlet to the clean air outlet. The handle has a grip portion. The housing further includes a continuous elongate structural member extending from the dirty air inlet into the grip portion of the handle. The motor is disposed in the motor chamber. The dirt cup is coupled to the elongate structural member. The dirt cup is in fluid communication with the dirty air inlet and the motor. The elongate structural member defines a portion of the airflow path extending from the dirty air inlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: Techtronic Floor Care Technology Limited
    Inventors: Kevin L. Thomas, Kevin Terry, Jeffrey D. Accursi
  • Patent number: 11672389
    Abstract: A handheld vacuum cleaner includes a housing, motor, filter access door, filter, and dirt cup movably coupled to the housing. The housing defines a top, bottom, motor chamber, dirty air inlet, handle, clean air outlet, and air flow path. The air flow path is routed from the dirty air inlet to the clean air outlet. The motor is disposed in the motor chamber and defines a motor axis. The filter access defines a filter chamber with the housing. The filter is disposed in the filter chamber and defines a filter axis. The dirt cup defines a dirt cup axis extending parallel to the motor axis and filter axis. The filter access door is located below the filter axis. When the filter axis door is removed, the filter is removable in a downward direction from the filter chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: Techtronic Floor Care Technology Limited
    Inventors: Kevin Terry, Roderick Burgess, Jacob W. Connelly, Kevin L. Thomas, Garry Fee, Jeffrey D. Accursi
  • Patent number: 11653800
    Abstract: A handheld vacuum cleaner including a housing having a front end, a back end, a first side, and a second side, the housing further including a handle along a handle axis. A suction nozzle is along a suction nozzle axis that extends in a direction from the front end toward the back end. The handheld vacuum further includes a suction source operable to generate an airflow through the vacuum cleaner from the suction nozzle through a cyclonic separator to a clean air exhaust. A battery that supplies power to the suction source and the battery is coupled to the housing adjacent an end of the handle. The handle extends between the battery and the cyclonic separator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: Techtronic Industries Co. Ltd.
    Inventors: Jamie Horvath, Kevin L. Thomas, Ambreese Hill, Joseph Saunders, Justin C. Andrikanich, William Nabors
  • Publication number: 20230113195
    Abstract: A robotic vacuum cleaner is provided having a suction source, a dirt collector, a floor sensor, a primary brush, and an auxiliary brush. The floor sensor includes an emitter and a detector having an intersecting region. The auxiliary brush includes microfiber fingers that are spaced around a perimeter of the brush, or the auxiliary brush includes a pad having apertures, the apertures allow the emitter and detector to sense whether a floor surface is present.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2022
    Publication date: April 13, 2023
    Inventors: Kevin L. Thomas, David Khalil, James Materdo, Todd Zimmerman
  • Publication number: 20220355237
    Abstract: Deleterious gas is captured from atmospheric air using capture units dispersed across a geographic region. Each unit has a filter that is capable of capturing compounds from the gas from air when air is passed through the filter by fans. The units additionally include a sensor for sensing a level of the gas in the air. An electronic processor controls the fan, and communicates data from the sensor to other units and/or a central electronic processor. The electronic processors of the units or the central processor controls the fan speed of units in areas of higher concentration of the gas, selecting which units to become active based upon a proximity of each unit to the gas concentration, as well as a direction of movement of the concentration. A communicated presence of errors or a low battery state of a unit, is used by the processor to select other units nearby for operation instead of the affected unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2022
    Publication date: November 10, 2022
    Applicant: Kevin L. Thomas Capital LLC
    Inventor: Kevin L. Thomas
  • Publication number: 20220296056
    Abstract: A handheld vacuum cleaner includes a housing, motor, filter access door, filter, and dirt cup movably coupled to the housing. The housing defines a top, bottom, motor chamber, dirty air inlet, handle, clean air outlet, and air flow path. The air flow path is routed from the dirty air inlet to the clean air outlet. The motor is disposed in the motor chamber and defines a motor axis. The filter access defines a filter chamber with the housing. The filter is disposed in the filter chamber and defines a filter axis. The dirt cup defines a dirt cup axis extending parallel to the motor axis and filter axis. The filter access door is located below the filter axis. When the filter axis door is removed, the filter is removable in a downward direction from the filter chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2022
    Publication date: September 22, 2022
    Inventors: Kevin Terry, Roderick Burgess, Jacob W. Connelly, Kevin L. Thomas, Garry Fee, Jeffrey D. Accursi
  • Patent number: 11350806
    Abstract: A handheld vacuum cleaner includes a housing, motor, filter access door, filter, and dirt cup movably coupled to the housing. The housing defines a top, bottom, motor chamber, dirty air inlet, handle, clean air outlet, and air flow path. The air flow path is routed from the dirty air inlet to the clean air outlet. The motor is disposed in the motor chamber and defines a motor axis. The filter access defines a filter chamber with the housing. The filter is disposed in the filter chamber and defines a filter axis. The dirt cup defines a dirt cup axis extending parallel to the motor axis and filter axis. The filter access door is located below the filter axis. When the filter axis door is removed, the filter is removable in a downward direction from the filter chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: Techtronic Cordless GP
    Inventors: Kevin Terry, Roderick Burgess, Jacob W. Connelly, Kevin L. Thomas, Garry Fee, Jeffrey D. Accursi
  • Publication number: 20220039623
    Abstract: An automated cleaning device includes a chassis, a controller operably connected to a drive assembly and configured to move the chassis within an area to be cleaned in repeated cleaning cycles, a cleaning unit carried by the chassis, a sensor configured to detect material drawn into the cleaning unit and provide a debris signal corresponding to an amount of material drawn into the cleaning unit, the controller being operably connected to the sensor and configured to generate a high-material indicator in response to the debris signal exceeding a predetermined debris threshold, and determining whether the autonomous cleaner is in a high traffic area when the chassis moves within the area to be cleaned based on locations of high-material indicators.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2021
    Publication date: February 10, 2022
    Inventor: Kevin L. Thomas
  • Patent number: 11154170
    Abstract: An automated cleaning device includes a chassis, a controller operably connected to a drive assembly and configured to move the chassis within an area to be cleaned in repeated cleaning cycles, a cleaning unit carried by the chassis, a sensor configured to detect material drawn into the cleaning unit and provide a debris signal corresponding to an amount of material drawn into the cleaning unit, the controller being operably connected to the sensor and configured to generate a high-material indicator in response to the debris signal exceeding a predetermined debris threshold, and determining whether the autonomous cleaner is in a high traffic area when the chassis moves within the area to be cleaned based on locations of high-material indicators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignee: Techtronic Floor Care Technology Limited
    Inventor: Kevin L. Thomas
  • Publication number: 20210235945
    Abstract: A handheld vacuum cleaner including a housing having a front end, a back end, a first side, and a second side, the housing further including a handle along a handle axis. A suction nozzle is along a suction nozzle axis that extends in a direction from the front end toward the back end. The handheld vacuum further includes a suction source operable to generate an airflow through the vacuum cleaner from the suction nozzle through a cyclonic separator to a clean air exhaust. A battery that supplies power to the suction source and the battery is coupled to the housing adjacent an end of the handle. The handle extends between the battery and the cyclonic separator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2021
    Publication date: August 5, 2021
    Inventors: Jamie Horvath, Kevin L. Thomas, Ambreese Hill, Joseph Saunders, Justin C. Andrikanich, William Nabors
  • Publication number: 20210204769
    Abstract: A handheld vacuum cleaner includes a housing, a motor, and a dirt cup. The housing defines a top, a bottom, a motor chamber, a dirty air inlet at a front of the housing, a handle at the rear of the housing, a clean air outlet, and an airflow path from the dirty air inlet to the clean air outlet. The handle has a grip portion. The housing further includes a continuous elongate structural member extending from the dirty air inlet into the grip portion of the handle. The motor is disposed in the motor chamber. The dirt cup is coupled to the elongate structural member. The dirt cup is in fluid communication with the dirty air inlet and the motor. The elongate structural member defines a portion of the airflow path extending from the dirty air inlet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2020
    Publication date: July 8, 2021
    Inventors: Kevin L. Thomas, Kevin Terry, Jeffrey D. Accursi
  • Publication number: 20210204770
    Abstract: A handheld vacuum cleaner includes a housing, motor, filter access door, filter, and dirt cup movably coupled to the housing. The housing defines a top, bottom, motor chamber, dirty air inlet, handle, clean air outlet, and air flow path. The air flow path is routed from the dirty air inlet to the clean air outlet. The motor is disposed in the motor chamber and defines a motor axis. The filter access defines a filter chamber with the housing. The filter is disposed in the filter chamber and defines a filter axis. The dirt cup defines a dirt cup axis extending parallel to the motor axis and filter axis. The filter access door is located below the filter axis. When the filter axis door is removed, the filter is removable in a downward direction from the filter chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2020
    Publication date: July 8, 2021
    Inventors: Kevin Terry, Roderick Burgess, Jacob W. Connelly, Kevin L. Thomas, Garry Fee, Jeffrey D. Accursi
  • Publication number: 20210132609
    Abstract: An autonomous vehicle is configured to move across a floor surface in an environment. The autonomous vehicle includes a proximity sensor that is positionable at different heights on the autonomous vehicle. A location of the autonomous vehicle within the environment is determined. A proximity sensor height is determined based on the location of the autonomous vehicle within the environment. The proximity sensor is positioned at a height on the autonomous vehicle based on the proximity sensor height. A signal is received from the proximity sensor where the signal is indicative of a distance to an object within the environment at the height of the proximity sensor on the autonomous vehicle. An operation of the autonomous vehicle can be controlled based on the signal indicative of the distance to the object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2018
    Publication date: May 6, 2021
    Inventors: Stephen D. Herr, Stephen J. Balas, David M. Knuth, Aurle Y. Gagne, Philip Hennessy, Samuel E. Elzarian, Kevin L. Thomas
  • Patent number: 10980379
    Abstract: A handheld vacuum cleaner including a housing having a front end, a back end, a first side, and a second side, the housing further including a handle along a handle axis the handle axis extends in a direction from the back end toward the front end. A suction nozzle is along a suction nozzle axis that extends in a direction from the front end toward the back end. The handheld vacuum further includes a suction source operable to generate an airflow through the vacuum cleaner from the suction nozzle through a cyclonic separator to a clean air exhaust. The cyclonic separator includes a longitudinal axis that extends in a direction from the first side toward the second side and the handle axis and the suction nozzle axis intersect at an obtuse angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: Techtronic Industries Co. Ltd.
    Inventors: Jamie Horvath, Kevin L. Thomas, Ambreese Hill, Joseph Saunders, Justin C. Andrikanich, William Nabors
  • Publication number: 20200060487
    Abstract: A robotic vacuum cleaner is provided having a suction source, a dirt collector, a floor sensor, a primary brush, and an auxiliary brush. The floor sensor includes an emitter and a detector having an intersecting region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2018
    Publication date: February 27, 2020
    Inventors: Kevin L. Thomas, David Khalil, James Materdo, Todd Zimmerman
  • Publication number: 20190239709
    Abstract: An automated cleaning device includes a chassis, a controller operably connected to a drive assembly and configured to move the chassis within an area to be cleaned in repeated cleaning cycles, a cleaning unit carried by the chassis, a sensor configured to detect material drawn into the cleaning unit and provide a debris signal corresponding to an amount of material drawn into the cleaning unit, the controller being operably connected to the sensor and configured to generate a high-material indicator in response to the debris signal exceeding a predetermined debris threshold, and determining whether the autonomous cleaner is in a high traffic area when the chassis moves within the area to be cleaned based on locations of high-material indicators.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2019
    Publication date: August 8, 2019
    Inventor: Kevin L. Thomas
  • Publication number: 20190069738
    Abstract: A handheld vacuum cleaner including a housing having a front end, a back end, a first side, and a second side, the housing further including a handle along a handle axis the handle axis extends in a direction from the back end toward the front end. A suction nozzle is along a suction nozzle axis that extends in a direction from the front end toward the back end. The handheld vacuum further includes a suction source operable to generate an airflow through the vacuum cleaner from the suction nozzle through a cyclonic separator to a clean air exhaust. The cyclonic separator includes a longitudinal axis that extends in a direction from the first side toward the second side and the handle axis and the suction nozzle axis intersect at an obtuse angle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2018
    Publication date: March 7, 2019
    Inventors: Jamie Horvath, Kevin L. Thomas, Ambreese Hill, Joseph Saunders, Justin C. Andrikanich, William Nabors
  • Publication number: 20180325342
    Abstract: A cleaning device may include a solution tank configured to store cleaning solution. The device delivers the cleaning solution from a pump discharge of the cleaning device to a flow meter. The device initiates a priming mode by opening a first valve associated with a bypass line of the device, closing a second valve associated with a cleaning head of the cleaning device, and delivering the cleaning solution from a discharge of the flow meter to the inlet of the solution tank through the bypass line. When the device is primed, it initiates cleaning by closing the first valve associated with the bypass line, opening the second valve associated with the cleaning head, and delivering the cleaning solution to the cleaning head.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2018
    Publication date: November 15, 2018
    Inventors: Stephen J. Balas, Stephen D. Herr, Henry L. Hillman, JR., Victor C. Huang, Ralph McCann, Kevin L. Thomas
  • Patent number: 10117551
    Abstract: A handheld vacuum cleaner including a housing having a front end, a back end, a first side, and a second side, a handle having a longitudinal axis that extends in a direction toward the front and back ends of the housing, a suction source, and a cyclonic separator. The cyclonic separator includes a cylindrical wall having a first end and a second end, a first end wall located at the first end of the cylindrical wall, a dirty air inlet, a clean air outlet, a debris outlet adjacent the second end of the cylindrical wall, and a longitudinal axis surrounded by the cylindrical wall and the longitudinal axis of the cyclonic separator extends in a direction toward the first and second sides of the housing. The housing includes an aperture that extends through the first side, and the first end wall of the cyclonic separator is removable through the aperture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: Techtronic Industries Co. Ltd.
    Inventors: Jamie Horvath, Kevin L. Thomas, Ambreese Hill, Joseph Saunders, Justin C. Andrikanich, William Nabors