Patents by Inventor Randy L. Buss
Randy L. Buss 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: 10631695Abstract: A squeegee accessory for a wet/dry vacuum may include a housing and a squeegee assembly removably attached to a front end of the housing. The housing may include a front end including a fluid inlet, a back end including a fluid outlet, and a fluid flow path connecting the inlet and the outlet. The squeegee assembly may include a bracket, a squeegee removably disposed between first and second plates of the bracket, and an insert removably disposed between first and second blades of the squeegee. The insert may have an elongated body and a rib disposed on the elongated body, the rib touching the inner surface of the squeegee to define a barrier of an airflow path formed between the insert and the squeegee.Type: GrantFiled: October 3, 2017Date of Patent: April 28, 2020Assignee: SHOP VAC CORPORATIONInventors: Randy L. Buss, Melvin E. Wolfe, Jr.
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Patent number: 10292551Abstract: A switch assembly for a wet/dry vacuum cleaner is disclosed. The switch assembly includes a switch movable by a user between an ON position and an OFF position. An automatic shutoff assembly is operable in conjunction with the switch assembly to turn the switch to the OFF position in the event that a level of liquid within a tank of the wet/dry vacuum cleaner rises above a predetermined level. When triggered, the automatic shutoff assembly exerts a biasing force urging the switch toward the OFF position. A user can manually override the automatic shutoff assembly by providing a force sufficient to overcome the biasing force.Type: GrantFiled: February 16, 2017Date of Patent: May 21, 2019Assignee: SHOP VAC CORPORATIONInventors: Craig A. Seasholtz, Robert Lent Crevling, Jr., Randy L. Buss, Kevin D. Fry
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Patent number: 10136785Abstract: A vacuum cleaner having a filter cleaning mechanism that is manually actuable while the vacuum cleaner is fully assembled is disclosed. A housing of the vacuum cleaner has an exterior side and an interior side, and a channel extends through the housing from the exterior side to the interior side. A filter brush is in contact with a side of the vacuum filter, and a rod extends slidably through the channel in the housing and is coupled to the filter brush. A handle is coupled to the rod, and movement of the handle slides the rod through the channel and moves the filter brush along the side of the vacuum filter to remove debris from the filter. The handle may be rotatable, and the filter cleaning mechanism may include a bellows or a sealing member.Type: GrantFiled: August 24, 2016Date of Patent: November 27, 2018Assignee: SHOP VAC CORPORATIONInventors: Jason Gottschall, Kurt Westbrook, Randy L. Buss
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Publication number: 20180110385Abstract: A squeegee accessory for a wet/dry vacuum may include a housing and a squeegee assembly removably attached to a front end of the housing. The housing may include a front end including a fluid inlet, a back end including a fluid outlet, and a fluid flow path connecting the inlet and the outlet. The squeegee assembly may include a bracket, a squeegee removably disposed between first and second plates of the bracket, and an insert removably disposed between first and second blades of the squeegee. The insert may have an elongated body and a rib disposed on the elongated body, the rib touching the inner surface of the squeegee to define a barrier of an airflow path formed between the insert and the squeegee.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 3, 2017Publication date: April 26, 2018Inventors: Randy L. Buss, Melvin E. Wolfe, JR.
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Publication number: 20180055318Abstract: A vacuum cleaner having a filter cleaning mechanism that is manually actuable while the vacuum cleaner is fully assembled is disclosed. A housing of the vacuum cleaner has an exterior side and an interior side, and a channel extends through the housing from the exterior side to the interior side. A filter brush is in contact with a side of the vacuum filter, and a rod extends slidably through the channel in the housing and is coupled to the filter brush. A handle is coupled to the rod, and movement of the handle slides the rod through the channel and moves the filter brush along the side of the vacuum filter to remove debris from the filter. The handle may be rotatable, and the filter cleaning mechanism may include a bellows or a sealing member.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 24, 2016Publication date: March 1, 2018Applicant: SHOP VAC CORPORATIONInventors: Jason Gottschall, Kurt Westbrook, Randy L. Buss
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Patent number: 9826688Abstract: In a device that uses the tank from a conventional vacuum cleaner, the tank is under positive pressure. A cap fits over a tubular element inside the tank and closes the conventional air inlet. The cap has a peripheral wall that extends between a solid back and a front radial rim, and interior axial ribs. The lid is held by a latch that has an element that pivots with respect to the tank and the lid, and a clasp that has a bent arm. A tensioner pulls the bent arm. The tensioner has a threaded rod that extends from a handgrip though a hole in the pivoting element. A nut on the clasp receives a threaded end of the threaded rod, enabling the handgrip to be used to tighten the clasp. An outer wall of the latch is disposed outwardly of the threaded rod and the bent arm.Type: GrantFiled: November 6, 2009Date of Patent: November 28, 2017Assignee: SHOP VAC CORPORATIONInventors: Robert L. Crevling, Jr., Jason Gottschall, Randy L. Buss
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Publication number: 20170156556Abstract: A switch assembly for a wet/dry vacuum cleaner is disclosed. The switch assembly includes a switch movable by a user between an ON position and an OFF position. An automatic shutoff assembly is operable in conjunction with the switch assembly to turn the switch to the OFF position in the event that a level of liquid within a tank of the wet/dry vacuum cleaner rises above a predetermined level. When triggered, the automatic shutoff assembly exerts a biasing force urging the switch toward the OFF position. A user can manually override the automatic shutoff assembly by providing a force sufficient to overcome the biasing force.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 16, 2017Publication date: June 8, 2017Inventors: Craig A. Seasholtz, Robert Lent Crevling, JR., Randy L. Buss, Kevin D. Fry
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Patent number: 9591954Abstract: A switch assembly for a wet/dry vacuum cleaner is disclosed. The switch assembly includes a switch movable by a user between an ON position and an OFF position. An automatic shutoff assembly is operable in conjunction with the switch assembly to turn the switch to the OFF position in the event that a level of liquid within a tank of the wet/dry vacuum cleaner rises above a predetermined level. When triggered, the automatic shutoff assembly exerts a biasing force urging the switch toward the OFF position. A user can manually override the automatic shutoff assembly by providing a force sufficient to overcome the biasing force.Type: GrantFiled: August 19, 2015Date of Patent: March 14, 2017Assignee: SHOP VAC CORPORATIONInventors: Craig A. Seasholtz, Robert Lent Crevling, Jr., Randy L. Buss, Kevin D. Fry
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Publication number: 20170049282Abstract: A switch assembly for a wet/dry vacuum cleaner is disclosed. The switch assembly includes a switch movable by a user between an ON position and an OFF position. An automatic shutoff assembly is operable in conjunction with the switch assembly to turn the switch to the OFF position in the event that a level of liquid within a tank of the wet/dry vacuum cleaner rises above a predetermined level. When triggered, the automatic shutoff assembly exerts a biasing force urging the switch toward the OFF position. A user can manually override the automatic shutoff assembly by providing a force sufficient to overcome the biasing force.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 19, 2015Publication date: February 23, 2017Inventors: Craig A. Seasholtz, Robert Lent Crevling, JR., Randy L. Buss, Kevin D. Fry
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Patent number: 9198552Abstract: A vacuum cleaner has a screen cage that is permanently attached to a lid that fits on a receptacle. The screen cage has multiple layers of screens with different screen sizes, including an inner support that has greater rigidity and larger apertures that the primary screen, and an outer screen that also has greater rigidity and larger apertures than the primary screen, and is made of a different material than the support. A replaceable filter mounts to a power head that can be removed from the lid while the lid remains attached to the receptacle, and nests in the screen cage. A thermal cutoff shuts the vacuum cleaner off when the temperature of air in a part of the flowpath exceeds a limit.Type: GrantFiled: April 24, 2012Date of Patent: December 1, 2015Assignee: SHOP VAC CORPORATIONInventors: Melvin E. Wolfe, Randy L. Buss, Li H. Liu
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Patent number: 9038236Abstract: A filter shaker for a filter assembly disposed in a vacuum includes a housing that removably mounts to the filter and/or a support for the filter and a vibrator assembly carried by the housing. When actuated, the vibrator assembly vibrates the filter to clean particulate matter from the filter. The vibrator assembly includes a motor that drives an eccentric and an actuator that periodically impacts against a portion of the housing to cause the vibrations. The housing includes a mounting assembly for mounting the filter shaker to the cage and/or filter in an operative position and a locking assembly for locking and unlocking the filter shaker in the operative position to prevent the filter shaker from vibrating off. In the operative position, the filter shaker covers an open end of a tubular filter and thereby forces air to be directed through filter material of the tubular filter.Type: GrantFiled: April 25, 2012Date of Patent: May 26, 2015Assignee: SHOP VAC CORPORATIONInventors: Kevin D. Fry, Robert L. Crevling, Jr., Randy L. Buss
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Publication number: 20130283563Abstract: A filter shaker for a filter assembly disposed in a vacuum includes a housing that removably mounts to the filter and/or a support for the filter and a vibrator assembly carried by the housing. When actuated, the vibrator assembly vibrates the filter to clean particulate matter from the filter. The vibrator assembly includes a motor that drives an eccentric and an actuator that periodically impacts against a portion of the housing to cause the vibrations. The housing includes a mounting assembly for mounting the filter shaker to the cage and/or filter in an operative position and a locking assembly for locking and unlocking the filter shaker in the operative position to prevent the filter shaker from vibrating off. In the operative position, the filter shaker covers an open end of a tubular filter and thereby forces air to be directed through filter material of the tubular filter.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 25, 2012Publication date: October 31, 2013Applicant: SHOP VAC CORPORATIONInventors: Kevin D. Fry, Robert L. Crevling, JR., Randy L. Buss
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Publication number: 20130276262Abstract: A vacuum cleaner has a screen cage that is permanently attached to a lid that fits on a receptacle. The screen cage has multiple layers of screens with different screen sizes, including an inner support that has greater rigidity and larger apertures that the primary screen, and an outer screen that also has greater rigidity and larger apertures than the primary screen, and is made of a different material than the support. A replaceable filter mounts to a power head that can be removed from the lid while the lid remains attached to the receptacle, and nests in the screen cage. A thermal cutoff shuts the vacuum cleaner off when the temperature of air in a part of the flowpath exceeds a limit.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 24, 2012Publication date: October 24, 2013Applicant: SHOP VAC CORPORATIONInventors: Melvin E. Wolfe, Randy L. Buss, Li H. Liu
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Publication number: 20110107549Abstract: In a device that uses the tank from a conventional vacuum cleaner, the tank is under positive pressure. A cap fits over a tubular element inside the tank and closes the conventional air inlet. The cap has a peripheral wall that extends between a solid back and a front radial rim, and interior axial ribs. The lid is held by a latch that has an element that pivots with respect to the tank and the lid, and a clasp that has a bent arm. A tensioner pulls the bent arm. The tensioner has a threaded rod that extends from a handgrip though a hole in the pivoting element. A nut on the clasp receives a threaded end of the threaded rod, enabling the handgrip to be used to tighten the clasp. An outer wall of the latch is disposed outwardly of the threaded rod and the bent arm.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 6, 2009Publication date: May 12, 2011Applicant: SHOP-VAC CORPORATIONInventors: Robert L. Crevling, JR., Jason Gottschall, Randy L. Buss
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Patent number: 7654480Abstract: The disclosed mulcher has a base unit and a shredding blade in a removable assembly. Two different embodiments are disclosed. In both embodiments, shredded material is removed from air exiting the shredding blade before it reaches an exhaust port. In one embodiment, the material is removed by a filter. In the other embodiment, walls are arranged so that debris must double back against high-speed airflow leaving the shredding blade before exiting the unit. The shredding blade can be mounted in front of and on the same shaft as an air impeller, with the back surface of the shredding blade being supported by the impeller. In another embodiment, the air impeller and the shredding blade are carried in assemblies that are separable from each other and are each separately attachable to a base unit. A detachable power module and a detachable blower are also shown. The power module has a safety switch that disables the power module when it is removed.Type: GrantFiled: September 22, 2007Date of Patent: February 2, 2010Assignee: Shop Vac CorporationInventors: Mark E. Baer, Jason Gottschall, Robert Lent Crevling, Jr., Randy L. Buss
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Patent number: 7033259Abstract: A manual sander vacuum attachment, providing edge sanding and multiple positioning capabilities, having a lower sanding backer plate member, which carries a soft sanding pad and secures the sandpaper sheet, and an upper housing portion, having a generally horizontal platform with two vertically-extending stanchion supporting a handle therebetween, with a vacuum fitting for connection to a hose for a vacuum air source, and a peripheral skirt surrounding the backer plate member, whereby all vacuum air flow of sanded debris travels about periphery of sander backing plate up into interior of the housing portion.Type: GrantFiled: April 13, 2005Date of Patent: April 25, 2006Assignee: Shop Vac CorporationInventors: Craig A. Seasholtz, Randy L. Buss, Matthew S. Kepner
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Patent number: 6499182Abstract: A convertible blower port for a vacuum cleaner includes a cylindrical port wall carried by a portion of a vacuum cleaner. The port wall has a first end facing inwardly toward the vacuum cleaner and a second end opposite the first end. The port wall defines a blower passage in communication with the plenum of the vacuum cleaner. A blower port outlet is provided on the second end of the port wall. A removable cap closes off the blower port outlet and has an exterior surface for gripping the cap and has a hub configured to fill the blower passage. The hub has a substantially smooth inner end face that is positioned generally across the first end of the port wall and faces the plenum of the vacuum cleaner.Type: GrantFiled: May 29, 2001Date of Patent: December 31, 2002Assignee: Shop-Vac CorporationInventors: Robert C. Berfield, Ronald Griffin, Kevin Fry, Randy L. Buss
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Publication number: 20020178533Abstract: A convertible blower port for a vacuum cleaner includes a cylindrical port wall carried by a portion of a vacuum cleaner. The port wall has a first end facing inwardly toward the vacuum cleaner and a second end opposite the first end. The port wall defines a blower passage in communication with the plenum of the vacuum cleaner. A blower port outlet is provided on the second end of the port wall. A removable cap closes off the blower port outlet and has an exterior surface for gripping the cap and has a hub configured to fill the blower passage. The hub has a substantially smooth inner end face that is positioned generally across the first end of the port wall and faces the plenum of the vacuum cleaner.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 29, 2001Publication date: December 5, 2002Inventors: Robert C. Berfield, Ronald Griffin, Kevin Fry, Randy L. Buss
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Publication number: 20020108204Abstract: A vacuum cleaner has an electric motor driving an air impeller for creating suction and a pump impeller which is located in the tank and draws liquid material from the bottom of the tank and expels it from the tank. The vacuum cleaner may have an electrical or mechanical shut-off apparatus which turns off the electric motor if the water level in the tank is too high. The shut-off switch may be bypassed by a user to allow the motor to continue driving the pump impeller to remove liquid from the tank.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 19, 2002Publication date: August 15, 2002Applicant: Shop Vac CorporationInventors: Randy L. Buss, Robert L. Crevling, Craig A. Seasholtz, Robert C. Berfield, James M. Robitaille
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Patent number: D606716Type: GrantFiled: June 25, 2008Date of Patent: December 22, 2009Assignee: Shop Vac CorporationInventors: Robert L. Crevling, Jr., Jason Gottschall, Randy L. Buss