Patents by Inventor Richard Eric Downey

Richard Eric Downey 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).

  • Cyclonic vacuum cleaner with filter and filter sweeper
    Patent number: 7070636
    Abstract: A bagless vacuum cleaner (10) includes a nozzle assembly (16) having a suction nozzle for picking up dirt and debris from a surface to be cleaned and a canister assembly (18) including a cavity (32). A dust collection assembly (12) is received and held in that cavity (32). The dust collection assembly (12) includes a filtering subassembly (100) and a dust container (102). The dust container (102) has an open top (104), a bottom wall (106), a first cylindrical sidewall (108), an inlet (110), and a downwardly directed outlet (112) extending through the bottom wall. An airstream conduit is provided for conveying a vacuum airstream between the suction nozzle and the inlet. A filter (124, 138) is carried on the filtering subassembly (100). A sweeper (200) rotates relative to the filtering subassembly (100) to clean dirt and debris from at least a portion of the filter (138).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2006
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation of North America
    Inventors: Michael J. McCormick, Henry Marcussen, J. Erik Hitzelberger, Tamaki Nishikori, Richard Eric Downey
  • Cyclonic vacuum cleaner with filter and filter sweeper
    Publication number: 20040025285
    Abstract: A bagless vacuum cleaner (10) includes a nozzle assembly (16) having a suction nozzle for picking up dirt and debris from a surface to be cleaned and a canister assembly (18) including a cavity (32). A dust collection assembly (12) is received and held in that cavity (32). The dust collection assembly (12) includes a filtering subassembly (100) and a dust container (102). The dust container (102) has an open top (104), a bottom wall (106), a first cylindrical sidewall (108), an inlet (110), and a downwardly directed outlet (112) extending through the bottom wall. An airstream conduit is provided for conveying a vacuum airstream between the suction nozzle and the inlet. A filter (124, 138) is carried on the filtering subassembly (100). A sweeper (200) rotates relative to the filtering subassembly (100) to clean dirt and debris from at least a portion of the filter (138).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2003
    Publication date: February 12, 2004
    Inventors: Michael J. McCormick, Henry Marcussen, J. Erik Hitzelberger, Tamaki Nishikori, Richard Eric Downey