Patents by Inventor Peter Hutchinson

Peter Hutchinson 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: 20240122424
    Abstract: A removable rotatable driven agitator is used in a surface cleaning head and is driven by a drive mechanism that axially engages a driven end of the agitator. The removable rotatable driven agitator may be located in an openable agitator chamber for purposes of removing debris and/or removing the agitator. The openable agitator chamber may be covered by an external cover that is movable between an open position and a closed position. The removable agitator may be secured in the agitator chamber by the external cover. The removable rotatable agitator may have an end cap mounted on a rotatable bushing at a non-driven end and may have a splined driven member at the driven end to engage a splined drive member on the drive mechanism.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2023
    Publication date: April 18, 2024
    Inventors: Kai XU, AiMing XU, Michael D'AMICO, Peter HUTCHINSON
  • Publication number: 20240090721
    Abstract: A robotic cleaner includes a housing, a suction conduit with an opening, and a leading roller mounted in front of a brush roll. An inter-roller air passageway may be defined between the leading roller and the brush roll wherein the lower portion of the leading roller is exposed to a flow path to the suction conduit and an upper portion of the leading roller is outside of the flow path. Optionally, a combing unit includes a plurality of combing protrusions extending into the leading roller and having leading edges not aligned with a center of the leading roller. Optionally, a sealing strip is located along a rear side of the opening and along a portion of left and right sides of the opening. The underside may define side edge vacuum passageways extending from the sides of the housing partially between the leading roller and the sealing strip towards the opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 27, 2023
    Publication date: March 21, 2024
    Inventors: Steven Paul CARTER, Adam Udy, Catriona A. Sutter, Christopher Pinches, David S. Clare, Andre David Brown, John Freese, Patrick Cleary, Alexander J. Calvino, Lee Cottrell, Daniel Meyer, Daniel John Innes, David Jalbert, Jason B. Thorne, Peter Hutchinson, Gordon Howes, Wenxiu Gao, David Wu, David W. Poirier, Daniel R. Der Marderosian
  • Patent number: 11859857
    Abstract: An air treatment system is disclosed that includes a modular configuration whereby a fan module, filter module, and humidifier module may couple together to provide a plurality of air treatment solutions. In more detail, the modules can stack end-to-end in a vertical configuration. The modules may electrically couple to each other via a common electrical bus and enable a controller disposed in the fan module (or other module) to control fan flow rates, direction, and humidity. The fan module can include an articulating nozzle capable of directing airflow in virtually any direction and angle about an environment. The fan module can further include an inlet arrangement that can selectively restrict external air from entering the fan module housing when the fan module is fluidly coupled to the filter module. Thus, the fan module may generate air flow from exclusively filtered air to minimize or otherwise reduce bacterial/mold growth within the fan module housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: SharkNinja Operating LLC
    Inventors: Andre D. Brown, Jason B. Thorne, Peter Hutchinson, Gary Palladino, Alden Kelsey, Daniel J. Innes, Zach Hellman
  • Patent number: 11839346
    Abstract: A robotic cleaner includes a housing, a suction conduit with an opening, and a leading roller mounted in front of a brush roll. An inter-roller air passageway may be defined between the leading roller and the brush roll wherein the lower portion of the leading roller is exposed to a flow path to the suction conduit and an upper portion of the leading roller is outside of the flow path. Optionally, a combing unit includes a plurality of combing protrusions extending into the leading roller and having leading edges not aligned with a center of the leading roller. Optionally, a sealing strip is located along a rear side of the opening and along a portion of left and right sides of the opening. The underside may define side edge vacuum passageways extending from the sides of the housing partially between the leading roller and the sealing strip towards the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    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 J. Calvino, Lee Cottrell, Daniel Meyer, Daniel John Innes, David Jalbert, Jason B. Thorne, Peter Hutchinson, Gordon Howes, Wenxiu Gao, David Wu, David W. Poirier, Daniel R. Der Marderosian
  • Patent number: 11759068
    Abstract: A removable rotatable driven agitator is used in a surface cleaning head and is driven by a drive mechanism that axially engages a driven end of the agitator. The removable rotatable driven agitator may be located in an openable agitator chamber for purposes of removing debris and/or removing the agitator. The openable agitator chamber may be covered by an external cover that is movable between an open position and a closed position. The removable agitator may be secured in the agitator chamber by the external cover. The removable rotatable agitator may have an end cap mounted on a rotatable bushing at a non-driven end and may have a splined driven member at the driven end to engage a splined drive member on the drive mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2023
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: SharkNinja Operating LLC
    Inventors: Kai Xu, AiMing Xu, Michael D'Amico, Peter Hutchinson
  • Publication number: 20230210327
    Abstract: A removable rotatable driven agitator is used in a surface cleaning head and is driven by a drive mechanism that axially engages a driven end of the agitator. The removable rotatable driven agitator may be located in an openable agitator chamber for purposes of removing debris and/or removing the agitator. The openable agitator chamber may be covered by an external cover that is movable between an open position and a closed position. The removable agitator may be secured in the agitator chamber by the external cover. The removable rotatable agitator may have an end cap mounted on a rotatable bushing at a non-driven end and may have a splined driven member at the driven end to engage a splined drive member on the drive mechanism.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2023
    Publication date: July 6, 2023
    Inventors: Kai XU, AiMing XU, Michael D'AMICO, Peter HUTCHINSON
  • 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: 11607097
    Abstract: A vacuum cleaner attachment generally includes a cleaning element that floats relative to a suction conduit of the vacuum cleaner attachment. The cleaning element is supported on a support structure that is movably coupled to a housing and is biased towards a floor, for example, as a result of the weight of the cleaning element support structure. The cleaning element may be permanently attached to the support structure or may be a removable or disposable pad or sheet attached to the support structure. The floating cleaning element may be supported between the suction conduit and one or more wheels of the vacuum cleaner attachment. The vacuum cleaner attachment may be removably attached to a vacuum cleaner, for example, to be used interchangeably with other surface cleaning heads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: SharkNinja Operating LLC
    Inventors: Brian Burke, William Liberis, Jason B. Thorne, Charlie Cai, Peter Hutchinson, Andre D. Brown, Kai Xu, Brian M. Bond
  • Patent number: 11607095
    Abstract: A removable rotatable driven agitator is used in a surface cleaning head and is driven by a drive mechanism that axially engages a driven end of the agitator. The removable rotatable driven agitator may be located in an openable agitator chamber for purposes of removing debris and/or removing the agitator. The openable agitator chamber may be covered by an external cover that is movable between an open position and a closed position. The removable agitator may be secured in the agitator chamber by the external cover. The removable rotatable agitator may have an end cap mounted on a rotatable bushing at a non-driven end and may have a splined driven member at the driven end to engage a splined drive member on the drive mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: SharkNinja Operating LLC
    Inventors: Kai Xu, AiMing Xu, Michael D'Amico, Peter Hutchinson
  • Patent number: 11602251
    Abstract: A removable rotatable driven agitator is used in a surface cleaning head and is driven by a drive mechanism that axially engages a driven end of the agitator. The removable rotatable driven agitator may be located in an openable agitator chamber for purposes of removing debris and/or removing the agitator. The openable agitator chamber may be covered by an external cover that is movable between an open position and a closed position. The removable agitator may be secured in the agitator chamber by the external cover. The removable rotatable agitator may have an end cap mounted on a rotatable bushing at a non-driven end and may have a splined driven member at the driven end to engage a splined drive member on the drive mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignee: SharkNinja Operating LLC
    Inventors: Kai Xu, AiMing Xu, Michael D'Amico, Peter Hutchinson
  • Publication number: 20230025335
    Abstract: An allergen reduction device may include a body, a dust cup removably coupled to the body, a plurality of agitators rotatably coupled to the body and disposed within respective agitator cavities defined in the body, a suction motor disposed within the body and configured to cause air to flow along corresponding cleaning airflow paths from the agitator cavities into the dust cup, a hot air outlet fluidly coupled to the suction motor, the suction motor being configured to urge the air through the hot air outlet along a heated exhaust airflow path, and a heater positioned within the heated exhaust airflow path between the suction motor and the hot air outlet, the heater being configured to heat the air that is urged from the hot air outlet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2022
    Publication date: January 26, 2023
    Inventors: Kai XU, Peter HUTCHINSON
  • Publication number: 20220387680
    Abstract: Provided is a detector assembly for determining a ratio of lactate to pyruvate from dialysis, said detector assembly comprising: a first pump, a dialysis probe, a first tube fluidically coupling the first pump to an inlet of the dialysis probe, an infrared (IR) detector, a second tube fluidically coupling an outlet of the dialysis probe to the IR detector, and a controller. The first pump pumps a perfusate at a first flow rate to the dialysis probe, via the first tube, and to, in turn, pump a dialysate at a second flow from the dialysis probe to the IR detector, via the second tube. The IR detector detects respective absorbances due to lactate and pyruvate in the dialysate, and the controller determines the ratio of lactate to pyruvate in the dialysate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2020
    Publication date: December 8, 2022
    Applicant: CAMBRIDGE ENTERPRISE LIMITED
    Inventors: Tanya HUTTER, Farah ALIMAGHAM, Keri CARPENTER, Peter HUTCHINSON
  • Patent number: 11498870
    Abstract: The invention generally relates to a method of making a plastic aggregate, and its use to make concrete products. The aggregate is formed by providing a granulated waste plastic material, introducing the granulated waste plastic material into an extruder having a die, the die having a ratio of die nozzle open area to die land area of about 1:10 to about 1:40, and extruding the granulated waste plastic material through the extruder to generate an extruded plastic aggregate. The method can include the presence of controlled cooling, the addition of additives and treatment of the surface of the aggregate to produce a desired aggregate that can be used to make a concrete product with desired properties, such as compressive strength and weight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: ENVIROPLAZ INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS LIMITED
    Inventors: Peter Barrow, Andrew Ferrier, Peter Hutchinson
  • Publication number: 20220338703
    Abstract: A steam cleaning apparatus may include a wand, a cleaning assembly coupled to the wand, the cleaning assembly including a steam generator, and a cleaning head pivotally coupled to the wand. The cleaning head may include a plurality of cleaning pads, a pad motor having a motor driveshaft, a drivetrain configured to transfer rotational motion of the motor driveshaft to each of the plurality of cleaning pads such that a rotation of the motor driveshaft causes a corresponding rotation in each of the plurality of cleaning pads, and a temperature sensor positioned proximate to the drivetrain, the temperature sensor being configured to measure a temperature of the drivetrain.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2022
    Publication date: October 27, 2022
    Inventors: Fariha AHMED, Joshua REDMAN, Peter HUTCHINSON, Dmitry LAYEVSKY, Andrew KEENE, Kai XU, Ognjen VRDOLJAK, Queena Tan, Devin FENG, Junping Li, Ming YAO, Tao Wang, Hui Zou, Yonggang Li, David T. BARKER, Heliang CHEN, Jibing Gu, Mingliang Qin, Zhengzhou Lu, Lei Liu
  • Publication number: 20220330771
    Abstract: A removable rotatable driven agitator is used in a surface cleaning head and is driven by a drive mechanism that axially engages a driven end of the agitator. The removable rotatable driven agitator may be located in an openable agitator chamber for purposes of removing debris and/or removing the agitator. The openable agitator chamber may be covered by an external cover that is movable between an open position and a closed position. The removable agitator may be secured in the agitator chamber by the external cover. The removable rotatable agitator may have an end cap mounted on a rotatable bushing at a non-driven end and may have a splined driven member at the driven end to engage a splined drive member on the drive mechanism.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2022
    Publication date: October 20, 2022
    Inventors: Kai XU, AiMing XU, Michael D'AMICO, Peter HUTCHINSON
  • Publication number: 20220316752
    Abstract: An air treatment system is disclosed that includes a modular configuration whereby a fan module, filter module, and humidifier module may couple together to provide a plurality of air treatment solutions. In more detail, the modules can stack end-to-end in a vertical configuration. The modules may electrically couple to each other via a common electrical bus and enable a controller disposed in the fan module (or other module) to control fan flow rates, direction, and humidity. The fan module can include an articulating nozzle capable of directing airflow in virtually any direction and angle about an environment. The fan module can further include an inlet arrangement that can selectively restrict external air from entering the fan module housing when the fan module is fluidly coupled to the filter module. Thus, the fan module may generate air flow from exclusively filtered air to minimize or otherwise reduce bacterial/mold growth within the fan module housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2022
    Publication date: October 6, 2022
    Inventors: Andre D. Brown, Jason B. Thorne, Peter Hutchinson, Gary Palladino, Alden Kelsey, Daniel J. Innes, Zach Hellman
  • Patent number: 11408430
    Abstract: In accordance with the present disclosure a modular air treatment system is disclosed. The modular air treatment system includes a fan apparatus having a base to removably couple to at least one of an air filter and/or a humidifier, wherein the fan apparatus includes a fan body with at least one convex surface and a nozzle to output air along the at least one convex surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: SharkNinja Operating LLC
    Inventors: Andre D. Brown, Jason B. Thorne, Peter Hutchinson, Gary Palladino, Alden Kelsey, Daniel J. Innes, Zach Hellman, Josh Anthony, Sunil Moda, Lloyd Olson, Ramiro Henriquez Porras, Da Deng
  • Patent number: 11384956
    Abstract: An air treatment system is disclosed that includes a modular configuration whereby a fan module, filter module, and humidifier module may couple together to provide a plurality of air treatment solutions. In more detail, the modules can stack end-to-end in a vertical configuration. The modules may electrically couple to each other via a common electrical bus and enable a controller disposed in the fan module (or other module) to control fan flow rates, direction, and humidity. The fan module can include an articulating nozzle capable of directing airflow in virtually any direction and angle about an environment. The fan module can further include an inlet arrangement that can selectively restrict external air from entering the fan module housing when the fan module is fluidly coupled to the filter module. Thus, the fan module may generate air flow from exclusively filtered air to minimize or otherwise reduce bacterial/mold growth within the fan module housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: SharkNinja Operating LLC
    Inventors: Andre D. Brown, Jason B. Thorne, Peter Hutchinson, Gary Palladino, Alden Kelsey, Daniel J. Innes, Zach Hellman
  • Patent number: D974551
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Limited
    Inventors: Rachel Nicole Mosen, Christopher Peter Hutchinson, Emeric Henri Michel Belleux, Hugo Max Treherne James
  • Patent number: D1005818
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: SharkNinja Operating LLC
    Inventors: Eric Arthur Miller, Jr., Nicholas Varjabedian, Peter Hutchinson, Xuguang He