Patents by Inventor Larry D. Wydra
Larry D. Wydra 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: 7967914Abstract: An apparatus and method for cleaning fabrics, floor coverings, and bare floor surfaces utilizing a soil transfer cleaning medium is disclosed. A method of mechanically removing soil from a surface intended to be cleaned includes the steps of successively and repeatedly: wetting a portion of a cleaning medium with a cleaning liquid; extracting any soil and at least some of the cleaning liquid from the previously wetted portion of the cleaning medium; and wiping the surface intended to be cleaned with the portion of the cleaning medium so as to transfer soil from the surface intended to be cleaned to the cleaning medium. Portable and vehicle-based devices may be utilized to practice the method of cleaning.Type: GrantFiled: August 12, 2009Date of Patent: June 28, 2011Assignee: Tennant CompanyInventors: Daniel G. Giddings, Frederick A. Hekman, Richard W. Wellens, Larry D. Wydra
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Publication number: 20090293912Abstract: An apparatus and method for cleaning fabrics, floor coverings, and bare floor surfaces utilizing a soil transfer cleaning medium is disclosed. A method of mechanically removing soil from a surface intended to be cleaned includes the steps of successively and repeatedly: wetting a portion of a cleaning medium with a cleaning liquid; extracting any soil and at least some of the cleaning liquid from the previously wetted portion of the cleaning medium; and wiping the surface intended to be cleaned with the portion of the cleaning medium so as to transfer soil from the surface intended to be cleaned to the cleaning medium. Portable and vehicle-based devices may be utilized to practice the method of cleaning.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 12, 2009Publication date: December 3, 2009Applicant: TENNANT COMPANYInventors: Daniel G. Giddings, Frederick A. Hekman, Richard W. Wellens, Larry D. Wydra
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Patent number: 7059013Abstract: An apparatus and method for extracting soiled cleaning solution from carpets and other surfaces utilizing a low-profile pick-up head is disclosed. The apparatus includes a vacuum chamber or enclosed space positioned in a fluid recovery device to provide a uniform vacuum along the entire width of the device. Also disclosed is a low-profile push-pull fluid recovery device which includes a positive pressure chamber and a vacuum chamber in the push-pull head to distribute positive and vacuum pressures, respectively, along the width of the push-pull head. Methods for using such pick-up heads are also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: September 6, 2002Date of Patent: June 13, 2006Assignee: Tennant CompanyInventors: Larry D. Wydra, David E. Bros
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Patent number: 7025834Abstract: A gutter broom assembly for a street sweeper and method of use are disclosed. The invention relates to street sweeper having a vacuum system for moving air through a portion thereof and having a gutter broom assembly. The gutter broom assembly includes housing, a gutter broom being movable between an operational orientation and a transport orientation relative to the housing, and a skirt assembly attached to the housing. A sweeping chamber is defined within the housing and the skirt assembly which substantially encloses the gutter broom. A vacuum connection between the sweeping chamber and the vacuum system is provided for removing dust within the sweeping chamber when the gutter broom frame is in its operational orientation.Type: GrantFiled: September 4, 2002Date of Patent: April 11, 2006Assignee: Tennant CompanyInventors: Daniel L. Joynt, Ronald W. Lehman, Larry D. Wydra
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Publication number: 20040172769Abstract: An apparatus and method for cleaning fabrics, floor coverings, and bare floor surfaces utilizing a soil transfer cleaning medium is disclosed. A method of mechanically removing soil from a surface intended to be cleaned includes the steps of successively and repeatedly: wetting a portion of a cleaning medium with a cleaning liquid; extracting any soil and at least some of the cleaning liquid from the previously wetted portion of the cleaning medium; and wiping the surface intended to be cleaned with the portion of the cleaning medium so as to transfer soil from the surface intended to be cleaned to the cleaning medium. Portable and vehicle-based devices may be utilized to practice the method of cleaning.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 10, 2003Publication date: September 9, 2004Inventors: Daniel G. Giddings, Frederick A. Hekman, Richard W. Wellens, Larry D. Wydra
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Patent number: 6742219Abstract: An air sweeping apparatus having a head assembly, a debris conveyer and a receptacle. The head assembly includes a front skirt which is selectively positionable away from a surface to be cleaned to enable debris of different densities and sizes to be collected. After the front skirting of the head assembly is moved past debris, the debris becomes entrained within a flow of air formed by a line of pressurized air as it traverses the surface and the interior surface of the main chamber of the head assembly. Preferably the air flow in the head assembly is skewed with respect to the direction of travel to urge the entrained debris towards an output end of the main chamber. When debris reaches the output end of the main chamber it is transported to a debris receptacle by a low pressure conduit which discharges entrained debris into a first hopper or bin.Type: GrantFiled: October 29, 2001Date of Patent: June 1, 2004Assignee: Tennant CompanyInventors: Michael H. Lenzmeier, Larry D. Wydra
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Patent number: 6735812Abstract: An apparatus performing multiple different cleaning operations for cleaning fabrics, floor coverings, and bare floor surfaces is disclosed. A device according to the present invention selectively utilizes soil transfer and solution extraction technology. In one embodiment, an apparatus is disclosed having a cleaning implement in selective wiping contact with a surface to be cleaned, a cleaning solution dispenser which selectively wets with a cleaning solution a portion of the cleaning implement or a portion of the surface or both, a first selectively controllable vacuum extractor tool which when operating removes some of the dispensed cleaning solution and soil from the cleaning implement, and a second selectively controllable vacuum extractor tool which when operating removes soil and some of the cleaning solution directly from the surface intended to be cleaned. A method of use of such an apparatus is also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: February 21, 2003Date of Patent: May 18, 2004Assignee: Tennant CompanyInventors: Frederick A. Hekman, Jeffrey D. Fystrom, Larry D. Wydra
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Publication number: 20040045118Abstract: An apparatus and method for extracting soiled cleaning solution from carpets and other surfaces utilizing a low-profile pick-up head is disclosed. The apparatus includes a vacuum chamber or enclosed space positioned in a fluid recovery device to provide a uniform vacuum along the entire width of the device. Also disclosed is a low-profile push-pull fluid recovery device which includes a positive pressure chamber and a vacuum chamber in the push-pull head to distribute positive and vacuum pressures, respectively, along the width of the push-pull head. Methods for using such pick-up heads are also disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 6, 2002Publication date: March 11, 2004Inventors: Larry D. Wydra, David E. Bros
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Publication number: 20040040104Abstract: A gutter broom assembly for a street sweeper and method of use are disclosed. The invention relates to street sweeper having a vacuum system for moving air through a portion thereof and having a gutter broom assembly. The gutter broom assembly includes housing, a gutter broom being movable between an operational orientation and a transport orientation relative to the housing, and a skirt assembly attached to the housing. A sweeping chamber is defined within the housing and the skirt assembly which substantially encloses the gutter broom. A vacuum connection between the sweeping chamber and the vacuum system is provided for removing dust within the sweeping chamber when the gutter broom frame is in its operational orientation.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 4, 2002Publication date: March 4, 2004Inventors: Daniel L. Joynt, Ronald W. Lehman, Larry D. Wydra
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Patent number: 6662402Abstract: An apparatus and method for cleaning fabrics, floor coverings, and bare floor surfaces utilizing a soil transfer cleaning medium is disclosed. A method of mechanically removing soil from a surface intended to be cleaned includes the steps of successively and repeatedly: wetting a portion of a cleaning medium with a cleaning liquid; extracting any soil and at least some of the cleaning liquid from the previously wetted portion of the cleaning medium; and wiping the surface intended to be cleaned with the portion of the cleaning medium so as to transfer soil from the surface intended to be cleaned to the cleaning medium. Portable and vehicle-based devices may be utilized to practice the method of cleaning.Type: GrantFiled: February 22, 2002Date of Patent: December 16, 2003Assignee: Tennant CompanyInventors: Daniel G. Giddings, Richard W. Wellens, Larry D. Wydra
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Publication number: 20030159232Abstract: An apparatus performing multiple different cleaning operations for cleaning fabrics, floor coverings, and bare floor surfaces is disclosed. A device according to the present invention selectively utilizes soil transfer and solution extraction technology. In one embodiment, an apparatus is disclosed having a cleaning implement in selective wiping contact with a surface to be cleaned, a cleaning solution dispenser which selectively wets with a cleaning solution a portion of the cleaning implement or a portion of the surface or both, a first selectively controllable vacuum extractor tool which when operating removes some of the dispensed cleaning solution and soil from the cleaning implement, and a second selectively controllable vacuum extractor tool which when operating removes soil and some of the cleaning solution directly from the surface intended to be cleaned. A method of use of such an apparatus is also disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 21, 2003Publication date: August 28, 2003Inventors: Frederick A. Hekman, Jeffrey D. Fystrom, Larry D. Wydra
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Publication number: 20030079310Abstract: An air sweeping apparatus having a head assembly, a debris conveyer and a receptacle. The head assembly includes a front skirt which is selectively positionable away from a surface to be cleaned to enable debris of different densities and sizes to be collected. After the front skirting of the head assembly is moved past debris, the debris becomes entrained within a flow of air formed by a line of pressurized air as it traverses the surface and the interior surface of the main chamber of the head assembly. Preferably the air flow in the head assembly is skewed with respect to the direction of travel to urge the entrained debris towards an output end of the main chamber. When debris reaches the output end of the main chamber it is transported to a debris receptacle by a low pressure conduit which discharges entrained debris into a first hopper or bin.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 29, 2001Publication date: May 1, 2003Inventors: Michael H. Lenzmeier, Larry D. Wydra
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Publication number: 20020194692Abstract: An apparatus and method for cleaning fabrics, floor coverings, and bare floor surfaces utilizing a soil transfer cleaning medium is disclosed. A method of mechanically removing soil from a surface intended to be cleaned includes the steps of successively and repeatedly: wetting a portion of a cleaning medium with a cleaning liquid; extracting any soil and at least some of the cleaning liquid from the previously wetted portion of the cleaning medium; and wiping the surface intended to be cleaned with the portion of the cleaning medium so as to transfer soil from the surface intended to be cleaned to the cleaning medium. Portable and vehicle-based devices may be utilized to practice the method of cleaning.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 22, 2002Publication date: December 26, 2002Inventors: Daniel G. Giddings, Richard W. Wellens, Larry D. Wydra