Patents by Inventor Nancy GAO WENXIU

Nancy GAO WENXIU 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).

  • Publication number: 20230240492
    Abstract: A cleaning apparatus includes a combing unit including a series of spaced protrusions or teeth extending into a cleaning roller for preventing build up and removing debris (such as hair, string, and the like). The protrusions extend along a substantial portion of the cleaning roller and extend partially into the cleaning roller to intercept the debris as it passes around the roller. The protrusions have angled leading edges that are not aligned with a rotation center of the cleaning roller and are directed into or against a direction of rotation of the cleaning roller. The combing unit and protrusions have a shape and configuration designed to facilitate debris removal from the cleaning roller with minimal impact on the operation of the cleaning apparatus. The cleaning apparatus may include a surface cleaning head of an upright vacuum cleaner or sweeper or a robotic vacuum cleaner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2023
    Publication date: August 3, 2023
    Inventors: Jason B. THORNE, Yao MING, Daniel R. DER MARDEROSIAN, Daniel MEYER, Patrick CLEARY, Gordon HOWES, David WU, Nancy GAO WENXIU
  • Patent number: 11647881
    Abstract: A cleaning apparatus includes a combing unit including a series of spaced protrusions or teeth extending into a cleaning roller for preventing build up and removing debris (such as hair, string, and the like). The protrusions extend along a substantial portion of the cleaning roller and extend partially into the cleaning roller to intercept the debris as it passes around the roller. The protrusions have angled leading edges that are not aligned with a rotation center of the cleaning roller and are directed into or against a direction of rotation of the cleaning roller. The combing unit and protrusions have a shape and configuration designed to facilitate debris removal from the cleaning roller with minimal impact on the operation of the cleaning apparatus. The cleaning apparatus may include a surface cleaning head of an upright vacuum cleaner or sweeper or a robotic vacuum cleaner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: SharkNinja Operating LLC
    Inventors: Jason B. Thorne, Yao Ming, Daniel R. Der Marderosian, Daniel Meyer, Patrick Cleary, Gordon Howes, David Wu, Nancy Gao Wenxiu
  • Publication number: 20230090575
    Abstract: A surface cleaning head with dual rotating agitators (e.g., a leading roller and a brush roll) may be used to facilitate capturing of debris in the air flow into a suction conduit on the underside of the surface cleaning head. The leading roller is generally positioned adjacent to and in advance of the opening of the suction conduit. The rotating brush roll may be located in the suction conduit with the leading roller located in front of and spaced from the brush roll, forming an inter-roller air passageway therebetween. The leading roller may provide a softer cleaning element than the brush roll and may also have an outside diameter that is less than the outside diameter of the brush roll. The surface cleaning head may also include debriding protrusions contacting the leading roller and/or a leading bumper that extends in front of the leading roller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2022
    Publication date: March 23, 2023
    Inventors: Steven Paul CARTER, Adam UDY, Catriona A. SUTTER, Christopher PINCHES, David S. CLARE, Andre David BROWN, John FREESE, Patrick CLEARY, Alexander CALVINO, Lee COTTRELL, Daniel MEYER, Daniel John INNES, David JALBERT, Jason THORNE, Peter HUTCHINSON, Gordon HOWES, Nancy GAO WENXIU, David WU, David W. POIRER
  • Patent number: 11278171
    Abstract: A surface cleaning head with dual rotating agitators (e.g., a leading roller and a brush roll) may be used to facilitate capturing of debris in the air flow into a suction conduit on the underside of the surface cleaning head. The leading roller is generally positioned adjacent to and in advance of the opening of the suction conduit. The rotating brush roll may be located in the suction conduit with the leading roller located in front of and spaced from the brush roll, forming an inter-roller air passageway therebetween. The leading roller may provide a softer cleaning element than the brush roll and may also have an outside diameter that is less than the outside diameter of the brush roll. The surface cleaning head may also include debriding protrusions contacting the leading roller and/or a leading bumper that extends in front of the leading roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: SharkNinja Operating LLC
    Inventors: Steven Paul Carter, Adam Udy, Catriona A. Sutter, Christopher Pinches, David S. Clare, Andre David Brown, John Freese, Patrick Cleary, Alexander Calvino, Lee Cottrell, Daniel Meyer, Daniel John Innes, David Jalbert, Jason Thorne, Peter Hutchinson, Gordon Howes, Nancy Gao Wenxiu, David Wu, David W. Poirier
  • Publication number: 20180255991
    Abstract: A surface cleaning apparatus including a body defining an agitation chamber, an agitator partially disposed within the agitation chamber and configured to rotate about a pivot axis, and a debrider at least partially disposed within the agitation chamber. The agitator includes an elongated body having a first and a second end, a sidewall extending radially outward from the elongated body extending between the first and the second ends, and a plurality of bristles extending radially outward from the elongated body. The plurality of bristles are arranged in at least one row adjacent to the sidewall. The debrider includes a plurality of teeth configured to contact a portion of the sidewall as the agitator rotates about the pivot axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2018
    Publication date: September 13, 2018
    Inventors: Daniel R. DER MARDEROSIAN, John FREESE, Gordon HOWES, Nancy GAO WENXIU, David S. CLARE, Nathan HERRMANN, Hugh Jamie CROGGON, Nicholas SARDAR, Tyler SMITH, Ian LIU
  • Publication number: 20170347848
    Abstract: A surface cleaning head includes dual rotating agitators (e.g., a leading roller and a brush roll) and a removable cover for covering a top of the agitators and allowing access to the agitators from a top of the surface cleaning head. The dual agitators may be used to facilitate capturing of debris in the air flow into a suction conduit on the underside of the surface cleaning head. The brush roll may be located in a brush roll chamber and at least partially in an opening to the suction conduit. The leading roller may be positioned adjacent to and in advance of the suction conduit opening such that the leading roller engages debris and moves the debris toward the brush roll and the opening. The leading roller may be removable from the housing and held in place by the removable cover. The cover may be coupled using isolated latching mechanisms.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2017
    Publication date: December 7, 2017
    Inventors: Steven Paul CARTER, Adam UDY, Catriona A. SUTTER, Christopher PINCHES, David S. CLARE, Andre David BROWN, John FREESE, Patrick CLEARY, Alexander CALVINO, Lee COTTRELL, Daniel MEYER, Daniel John INNES, David JALBERT, Jason THORNE, Peter HUTCHINSON, Gordon HOWE, Nancy GAO WENXIU, David WU, David W. POIRIER, Daniel R. DER MARDEROSIAN
  • Publication number: 20170215667
    Abstract: A cleaning apparatus includes a combing unit including a series of spaced protrusions or teeth extending into a cleaning roller for preventing build up and removing debris (such as hair, string, and the like). The protrusions extend along a substantial portion of the cleaning roller and extend partially into the cleaning roller to intercept the debris as it passes around the roller. The protrusions have angled leading edges that are not aligned with a rotation center of the cleaning roller and are directed into or against a direction of rotation of the cleaning roller. The combing unit and protrusions have a shape and configuration designed to facilitate debris removal from the cleaning roller with minimal impact on the operation of the cleaning apparatus. The cleaning apparatus may include a surface cleaning head of an upright vacuum cleaner or sweeper or a robotic vacuum cleaner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2017
    Publication date: August 3, 2017
    Inventors: Jason B. THORNE, Yao MING, Daniel R. DER MARDEROSIAN, Daniel MEYER, Patrick CLEARY, Gordon HOWE, David WU, Nancy GAO WENXIU
  • Publication number: 20170127896
    Abstract: A surface cleaning head with dual rotating agitators (e.g., a leading roller and a brush roll) may be used to facilitate capturing of debris in the air flow into a suction conduit on the underside of the surface cleaning head. The leading roller is generally positioned adjacent to and in advance of the opening of the suction conduit. The rotating brush roll may be located in the suction conduit with the leading roller located in front of and spaced from the brush roll, forming an inter-roller air passageway therebetween. The leading roller may provide a softer cleaning element than the brush roll and may also have an outside diameter that is less than the outside diameter of the brush roll. The surface cleaning head may also include debriding protrusions contacting the leading roller and/or a leading bumper that extends in front of the leading roller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2016
    Publication date: May 11, 2017
    Inventors: Steven Paul CARTER, Adam UDY, Catriona A. SUTTER, Christopher PINCHES, David S. CLARE, Andre David BROWN, John FREESE, Patrick CLEARY, Alexander CALVINO, Lee COTTRELL, Daniel MEYER, Daniel John INNES, David JALBERT, Jason THORNE, Peter HUTCHINSON, Gordon HOWE, Nancy GAO WENXIU, David WU, David W. POIRIER
  • Patent number: D849345
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: SharkNinja Operating LLC
    Inventors: Jason B. Thorne, Yao Ming, Daniel R. Der Marderosian, Daniel Meyer, Patrick Clearly, Gordon Howes, David Wu, Nancy Gao Wenxiu
  • Patent number: D872955
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: SharkNinja Operating LLC
    Inventors: Jason B. Thorne, Yao Ming, Daniel R. Der Marderosian, Daniel Meyer, Patrick Cleary, Gordon Howes, David Wu, Nancy Gao Wenxiu