Patents by Inventor Michael J. Shanor

Michael J. Shanor 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).

  • Dirt collection assembly with volcanic airflow
    Patent number: 7343641
    Abstract: A vacuum cleaner is provided including a housing, a nozzle inlet, a suction generator carried on the housing and a dirt cup carried on the housing. The dirt cup includes a bottom wall, a sidewall, a dirt collection chamber, an air inlet to the dirt collection chamber in the bottom wall and an air outlet from the dirt collection chamber. A method of directing an airstream in a dirt cup is also provided. That method includes directing the airstream upwardly through the dirt cup in an air inlet conduit, discharging the airstream from the air inlet conduit into the dirt cup in a substantially hemihorn torus shape and exhausting the airstream from the dirt cup.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2008
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation of North America
    Inventor: Michael J. Shanor
  • Holder for alternately receiving wand or cleaning tool
    Patent number: 7284297
    Abstract: A tool holder is provided for a floor cleaning apparatus. The tool holder includes a body having both a wand receiver and a cleaning tool receiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2007
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation of North America
    Inventors: Michael J. Shanor, Michael S. Yacobi, Amy N. Mudd
  • Bagless vacuum cleaner and dirt collection assembly
    Patent number: 7210196
    Abstract: A vacuum cleaner includes a housing, a suction generator and a dirt collection assembly. The dirt collection assembly includes an inlet, an outlet and a concave air deflector. Air is delivered into a dirt collection chamber formed in the dirt collection assembly along a substantially parabolic trajectory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2007
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation of North America
    Inventors: Michael J. Shanor, Alan T. Pullins
  • Rotating operating handle for vacuum cleaner
    Patent number: 6941615
    Abstract: A floor cleaning apparatus includes a nozzle assembly and a canister assembly connected to the nozzle assembly. A suction generator and a dirt collection vessel are carried by the nozzle assembly or the canister assembly. In addition, the vacuum cleaner includes a control handle displaceable between operating and storage positions. A stabilizer on the handle is provided adjacent the floor in the storage position. Engagement of the stabilizer with the floor prevents the vacuum cleaner from inadvertently tipping over rearwardly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2005
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation of North America
    Inventors: Michael J. Shanor, Amy N. Mudd
  • Rotating operating handle for vacuum cleaner
    Publication number: 20040211028
    Abstract: A floor cleaning apparatus includes a nozzle assembly and a canister assembly connected to the nozzle assembly. A suction generator and a dirt collection vessel are carried by the nozzle assembly or the canister assembly. In addition, the vacuum cleaner includes a control handle displaceable between operating and storage positions. A stabilizer on the handle is provided adjacent the floor in the storage position. Engagement of the stabilizer with the floor prevents the vacuum cleaner from inadvertently tipping over rearwardly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2004
    Publication date: October 28, 2004
    Inventors: Michael J. Shanor, Amy N. Mudd
  • Holder for alternately receiving wand or cleaning tool
    Publication number: 20040205925
    Abstract: A tool holder is provided for a floor cleaning apparatus. The tool holder includes a body having both a wand receiver and a cleaning tool receiver.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2004
    Publication date: October 21, 2004
    Inventors: Michael J. Shanor, Michael S. Yacobi, Amy N. Mudd
  • Dirt collection assembly with volcanic airflow
    Publication number: 20040083573
    Abstract: A vacuum cleaner is provided including a housing, a nozzle inlet, a suction generator carried on the housing and a dirt cup carried on the housing. The dirt cup includes a bottom wall, a sidewall, a dirt collection chamber, an air inlet to the dirt collection chamber in the bottom wall and an air outlet from the dirt collection chamber. A method of directing an airstream in a dirt cup is also provided. That method includes directing the airstream upwardly through the dirt cup in an air inlet conduit, discharging the airstream from the air inlet conduit into the dirt cup in a substantially hemihorn torus shape and exhausting the airstream from the dirt cup.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2003
    Publication date: May 6, 2004
    Inventor: Michael J. Shanor