Patents by Inventor Stephen Benjamin Courtney
Stephen Benjamin Courtney 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: 7828866Abstract: A cyclonic separating apparatus includes a first cyclonic separating unit including at least one first cyclone, a second cyclonic separating unit located downstream of the first cyclonic separating unit and including at least one second cyclone, and a third cyclonic separating unit located downstream of the second cyclonic separating unit and including at least one third cyclone. The separation efficiency of the second cyclonic separating unit is substantially the same as the separation efficiency of either the first cyclonic separating unit or the third separating unit, providing an apparatus which achieves a higher separation efficiency than known separation apparatus.Type: GrantFiled: May 9, 2006Date of Patent: November 9, 2010Assignee: Dyson Technology LimitedInventors: Stephen Benjamin Courtney, James Dyson, Ricardo Gomiciaga-Pereda
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Patent number: 7823251Abstract: A surface-treating appliance in the form of a vacuum cleaner has a main body, a surface-treating head and a support assembly. The support assembly is moveable between a supporting position, in which it supports the main body, and a stored position, in which it lies substantially against the main body. The provision of a support assembly that lies substantially against the main body of the appliance when not needed improves the maneuverability and range of motion achievable by the appliance in use. The support assembly may be brought out of its supporting position by a user-depressible pedal, which makes the appliance user-friendly.Type: GrantFiled: January 13, 2006Date of Patent: November 2, 2010Assignee: Dyson Technology LimitedInventors: James Dyson, Stephen Benjamin Courtney, Peter David Gammack, William Robert James White
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Patent number: 7757343Abstract: A surface treating appliance, such as a vacuum cleaner, includes a main body, a surface treating head and a support assembly. The support assembly is rotatably mounted to the main body for allowing the main body to be rolled along a surface. The support assembly also houses a component of the appliance, such as a motor for driving a surface-agitating device. Alternatively, or additionally, the support assembly may accommodate a fluid inlet for receiving fluid flow, a fluid outlet for exhausting fluid and a device for acting on the fluid flow received by the inlet such as a filter or suction apparatus.Type: GrantFiled: July 31, 2009Date of Patent: July 20, 2010Assignee: Dyson Technology LimitedInventor: Stephen Benjamin Courtney
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Publication number: 20090300875Abstract: A support assembly for a surface treating appliance includes a central roller arranged to engage a surface and outer rollers at either end of the central roller. The rollers together define a rolling support surface, and the outer rollers rotate about an axis spaced from the rotational axis of the central roller. This arrangement of rollers provides a rolling support surface over a wide range of motions, and spacing the rotational axes of the rollers permits the rollers to be arranged relative to one another to define a region into which components of the appliance are mountable.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 23, 2007Publication date: December 10, 2009Applicant: Dyson Technology LimitedInventors: Douglas Andrew Inge, Stephen Benjamin Courtney
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Publication number: 20090288268Abstract: A surface treating appliance, such as a vacuum cleaner, includes a main body, a surface treating head and a support assembly. The support assembly is rotatably mounted to the main body for allowing the main body to be rolled along a surface. The support assembly also houses a component of the appliance, such as a motor for driving a surface-agitating device. Alternatively, or additionally, the support assembly may accommodate a fluid inlet for receiving fluid flow, a fluid outlet for exhausting fluid and a device for acting on the fluid flow received by the inlet such as a filter or suction apparatus.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 31, 2009Publication date: November 26, 2009Applicant: Dyson Technology LimitedInventor: Stephen Benjamin Courtney
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Patent number: 7610653Abstract: A surface treating appliance, such as a vacuum cleaner, includes a main body, a surface treating head and a support assembly. The support assembly is rollably mounted to the main body for allowing the main body to be rolled along a surface. The support assembly also houses a component of the appliance, such as a motor for driving a surface-agitating device. Alternatively, or additionally, the support assembly may accommodate a fluid inlet for receiving fluid flow, a fluid outlet for exhausting fluid and a device for acting on the fluid flow received by the inlet such as a filter or suction apparatus.Type: GrantFiled: July 18, 2003Date of Patent: November 3, 2009Assignee: Dyson Technology LimitedInventor: Stephen Benjamin Courtney
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Patent number: 7600292Abstract: A surface treating appliance, such as a vacuum cleaner, includes a handle, a surface treating head and a support assembly. The support assembly is rollably mounted to the main body for allowing the main body to be rolled along a surface. A linkage is provided between the main body and the surface treating head and arranged such that rotating the main body about its longitudinal axis causes the surface treating head to turn in a new direction. The support assembly may house a component of the appliance, such as a motor, and may accommodate a fluid inlet for receiving fluid flow and a fluid outlet for exhausting fluid. The handle may carry the main body of the appliance.Type: GrantFiled: July 18, 2003Date of Patent: October 13, 2009Assignee: Dyson Technology LimitedInventor: Stephen Benjamin Courtney
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Patent number: 7581285Abstract: A surface treating appliance, such as a vacuum cleaner, includes a main body, a surface treating head and a support assembly. The support assembly is rollably mounted to the main body for allowing the main body to be rolled along a surface. The support assembly also houses a component of the appliance, such as a motor for driving a surface-agitating device. Alternatively, or additionally, the support assembly may accommodate a fluid inlet for receiving fluid flow, a fluid outlet for exhausting fluid and a device for acting on the fluid flow received by the inlet such as a filter or suction apparatus.Type: GrantFiled: October 8, 2007Date of Patent: September 1, 2009Assignee: Dyson Technology LimitedInventor: Stephen Benjamin Courtney
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Patent number: 7581284Abstract: A surface treating appliance, such as a vacuum cleaner, includes a main body, a surface treating head and a support assembly. The support assembly is rollably mounted to the main body for allowing the main body to be rolled along a surface. The support assembly includes a substantially continuous rolling support surface that extends in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the main body and is symmetrical about the longitudinal axis. The arrangement of the support surface and support assembly assists maneuverability of the appliance. The support assembly may house a component of the appliance, such as a motor, and may accommodate a fluid inlet for receiving fluid flow and a fluid outlet for exhausting fluid.Type: GrantFiled: July 18, 2003Date of Patent: September 1, 2009Assignee: Dyson Technology LimitedInventor: Stephen Benjamin Courtney
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Publication number: 20090106932Abstract: A cleaning appliance includes a main body, including a motor and fan unit for generating an airflow, a separating apparatus for separating dirt and dust from the airflow and a passageway for receiving a filter. The passageway and a filter may be located downstream of the separating apparatus and upstream of the motor, and the filter may have an at least partially curved filter surface. The filter is arranged around at least a part of the motor and fan unit. The filter is removable through a side, and through a wheel, of the appliance. The arrangement facilitates ease of removal of the filter from the cleaning appliance.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 13, 2008Publication date: April 30, 2009Applicant: Dyson Technology LimitedInventor: Stephen Benjamin Courtney
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Publication number: 20090031524Abstract: A cyclonic separating apparatus includes a first cyclonic separating unit including at least one first cyclone, a second cyclonic separating unit located downstream of the first cyclonic separating unit and including a plurality of second cyclones arranged in parallel, and a third cyclonic separating unit located downstream of the second cyclonic separating unit and including a plurality of third cyclones arranged in parallel. The number of second cyclones is higher than the number of first cyclones and the number of third cyclones is higher than the number of second cyclones, providing an apparatus which achieves a higher separation efficiency than known separation apparatus.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 9, 2006Publication date: February 5, 2009Applicant: DYSON TECHNOLOGY LIMITEDInventors: Stephen Benjamin Courtney, James Dyson, Ricardo Comiciaga-Pereda
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Publication number: 20080289140Abstract: A cyclonic separating apparatus includes a first cyclonic separating unit including at least one first cyclone, a second cyclonic separating unit located downstream of the first cyclonic separating unit and including at least one second cyclone, and a third cyclonic separating unit located downstream of the second cyclonic separating unit and including a plurality of third cyclones arranged in parallel. The separation efficiency of the first cyclonic separating unit is lower than the separation efficiency of the second cyclonic separating unit and the separation efficiency of the second cyclonic separating unit is lower than the separation efficiency of the third separating unit, thus achieving a higher separation efficiency than known separation apparatus.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 8, 2006Publication date: November 27, 2008Applicant: DYSON TECHNOLOGY LIMITEDInventors: Stephen Benjamin Courtney, James Dyson, Ricardo Gomiciaga-Pereda
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Publication number: 20080178419Abstract: A tool for a surface treating appliance, such as a vacuum cleaner, includes a housing having a suction opening. An agitator, such as a brush bar, is rotatably located in the suction opening of the housing. The interior of such a tool can get blocked due to large objects being drawn in through the suction opening, or else by threads and fibres becoming tangled in the brush bar. The brush bar may be removed through the suction opening for replacement or repair. A portion of the housing may also be removable to clear the way for the user to access a narrow opening in the neck of the tool which may be prone to blockage.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 25, 2005Publication date: July 31, 2008Applicant: DYSON TECHNOLOGY LIMITEDInventors: Stephen Benjamin Courtney, Nicholas George Byatt, James Elliott Cameron
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Publication number: 20080172994Abstract: A cyclonic separating apparatus includes a first cyclonic separating unit including at least one first cyclone, a second cyclonic separating unit located downstream of the first cyclonic separating unit and including at least one second clone, and a third cyclonic separating unit located downstream of the second cyclonic separating unit and including at least one third cyclone. The separation efficiency of the second cyclonic separating unit is substantially the same as the separation efficiency of either the first cyclonic separating unit or the third separating unit, providing an apparatus which achieves a higher separation efficiency than known separation apparatus.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 9, 2006Publication date: July 24, 2008Applicant: DYSON TECHNOLOGY LIMITEDInventors: Stephen Benjamin Courtney, James Dyson, Ricardo Gomiciaga-Pereda
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Publication number: 20080115313Abstract: A surface-treating appliance in the form of a vacuum cleaner has a main body, a surface-treating head and a support assembly. The support assembly is moveable between a supporting position, in which it supports the main body, and a stored position, in which it lies substantially against the main body. The provision of a support assembly that lies substantially against the main body of the appliance when not needed improves the maneuverability and range of motion achievable by the appliance in use. The support assembly may be brought out of its supporting position by a user-depressible pedal, which makes the appliance user-friendly.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 13, 2006Publication date: May 22, 2008Applicant: DYSON TECHNOLOGY LIMITEDInventors: James Dyson, Stephen Benjamin Courtney, Peter David Gammack, William Robert James White
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Patent number: 7152273Abstract: Floor cleaning apparatus (10) comprises a dispenser (50) for dispensing particulate cleaning material onto a floor surface. Particulate material is held in a hopper (52). Movable part (70, 71) is movable with respect to the hopper (52) to define a dispensing aperture (75) and for imparting movement to particulate material in the hopper towards the dispensing aperture (75). Adjustment means (80) are provided for adjusting the operational width of the dispensing aperture (75) so as to provide a range of dispensing settings. Adjustment means (80) is pivotally mounted to the movable part (70, 71) about a rotational axis (82) and has an outer surface which acts as a camming surface. The radius of the outer surface varies in value in different angular directions about the rotational axis (82). Adjustment means (82) provides a discrete set of different spacings between the cam (40) and movable part (71).Type: GrantFiled: April 25, 2001Date of Patent: December 26, 2006Assignee: Dyson LimitedInventor: Stephen Benjamin Courtney
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Patent number: 7111356Abstract: A dispenser for dispensing particulate cleaning material onto a floor surface includes a hopper holding the particulate material and having a dispensing aperture defined by a part that is movable with respect to the hopper itself. This moving part also imparts movement toward the dispensing aperture of particulate cleaning material in the hopper. The dispenser may be attached to a floor cleaning apparatus and includes a biasing device that that biases the movable part into a position which closes the dispensing aperture when the dispenser is removed from the floor cleaning apparatus.Type: GrantFiled: April 25, 2001Date of Patent: September 26, 2006Assignee: Dyson Technology LimitedInventors: Stephen Benjamin Courtney, Matthew James Roger Allard, Peter David Gammack
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Patent number: 6993807Abstract: A dispenser for dispensing particulate cleaning material onto a floor surface includes a hopper holding the particulate material and a dispensing aperture extending across the hopper through which the material may be dispensed. A separator, which may for example be a wire, is located adjacent the dispensing aperture for separating the particulate cleaning material at the aperture. The wire helps to break up clumps of particulate cleaning material which may form. In use, a plate is vibrated to impart motion to the particulate material in the hopper. The wire can be carried by the plate or by the hopper and is preferably held under tension.Type: GrantFiled: April 25, 2001Date of Patent: February 7, 2006Assignee: Dyson Technology LimitedInventor: Stephen Benjamin Courtney
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Publication number: 20040025284Abstract: A dispenser (50) for dispensing particulate cleaning material onto a floor surface comprises a hopper (52) for holding the particulate material. A part of the hopper (70, 71) is movable with respect to the hopper (52) to define a dispensing aperture (75) and to impart movement to particulate material in the hopper towards the dispensing aperture (75). The dispenser (50) is attachable to a floor cleaning apparatus (10). Biasing means (56) bias the movable part (70, 71) into a position which closes the aperture (75) when the dispenser (50) is removed from the floor cleaning apparatus. Thus, the dispenser (50) is self-closing.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 4, 2003Publication date: February 12, 2004Inventors: Stephen Benjamin Courtney, Matthew James Roger Allard, Peter David Gammack
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Patent number: D518933Type: GrantFiled: September 9, 2004Date of Patent: April 11, 2006Assignee: Dyson LimitedInventor: Stephen Benjamin Courtney