Patents by Inventor Steve M. Johnson

Steve M. Johnson 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).

  • Patent number: 11910977
    Abstract: A surface cleaning apparatus adapted for wet cleaning includes a heated fluid delivery system having a dual-phase distributor that dispenses heated liquid and steam vapor. The dual-phase distributor can include a phase separator that separates a vapor phase of a heated fluid from a liquid phase of the heated fluid, a heated liquid outlet, and a steam vapor outlet. The apparatus can further include a liquid delivery system, and/or a recovery system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: BISSELL Inc.
    Inventors: Mitchell J. DeJonge, Ryan J. Alt, Steve M. Johnson
  • Publication number: 20230240501
    Abstract: An extraction cleaner includes a steam delivery system, a liquid delivery system, and a recovery system, and includes multiple cleaning modes, including a first cleaning mode in which components of the steam delivery system, liquid delivery system, and recovery system are active, a second cleaning mode in which components of the delivery system and recovery system are active, and a third cleaning mode in which components of the steam delivery system are active. Methods for operating an extraction cleaner are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2023
    Publication date: August 3, 2023
    Inventors: Mitchell J. DeJonge, Ryan J. Alt, Steve M. Johnson
  • Publication number: 20230225578
    Abstract: A surface cleaning apparatus includes a cleaning head adapted to move over a surface to be cleaned, a housing coupled with the cleaning head, a first user interface on the housing, and a second user interface on the cleaning head. The first user interface includes at least one user input control. The second user interface includes a plurality of status indicia.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2023
    Publication date: July 20, 2023
    Inventors: Colin J. Bloemendaal, Jacob Resch, Jeremy W. Hoffmann, Steve M. Johnson, Mitchell J. DeJonge, Isaac Busken-Jovanovich, Tyler L. DeBeck, David M. Miller, Sang Hoon Chung
  • Publication number: 20230218135
    Abstract: A surface cleaning apparatus adapted for wet cleaning includes a heated fluid delivery system having a dual-phase distributor that dispenses heated liquid and steam vapor. The dual-phase distributor can include a phase separator that separates a vapor phase of a heated fluid from a liquid phase of the heated fluid, a heated liquid outlet, and a steam vapor outlet. The apparatus can further include a liquid delivery system, and/or a recovery system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2023
    Publication date: July 13, 2023
    Inventors: Mitchell J. DeJonge, Ryan J. Alt, Steve M. Johnson
  • Patent number: 11641996
    Abstract: An autonomous floor cleaner or floor cleaning robot can include an autonomously moveable housing and a drive system for autonomously moving the autonomously moveable housing over a surface to be cleaned based on inputs from a controller. A brush chamber and a debris receptacle can be formed as a unitary assembly removable from the autonomously moveable housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: BISSELL Inc.
    Inventors: Steve M. Johnson, Todd Vantongeren
  • Patent number: 11612297
    Abstract: An autonomous floor cleaner can include a housing, a drive system for autonomously moving the housing over the surface to be cleaned, a controller for controlling the operation of the autonomous floor cleaner, a tank adapted to hold liquid, and a carry handle joined with the tank and/or the housing. The carry handle is movable between different positions, including a position in which the autonomous floor cleaner can be lifted via the carry handle while an inlet and/or outlet of the tank is blocked.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignee: BISSELL Inc.
    Inventors: Nicholas Weigel, Steve M. Johnson, Todd R. VanTongeren, Matthew Haverkamp
  • Patent number: 11419473
    Abstract: A surface cleaning apparatus, such as a fluid delivery or steam mop, comprises a handle assembly comprising a steam distributor and a foot assembly pivotally attached to the handle assembly and comprising a base housing. The foot assembly can be used in two positions, whereby opposing sides of a cleaning pad on the base housing can selectively engage a surface to be cleaned. The foot assembly is further swivelable relative to the steam distributor, such that fluid can be delivered to the surface to be cleaned in both of the two use positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: BISSELL Inc.
    Inventor: Steve M. Johnson
  • Publication number: 20220225854
    Abstract: An autonomous floor cleaner can include a brush chamber, a brushroll rotatably mounted in the brush chamber, a controller adapted to control the operation of the autonomous floor cleaner, and a fluid delivery system with a supply tank and at least one fluid distributor configured to deposit cleaning fluid onto a surface to be cleaned.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2022
    Publication date: July 21, 2022
    Inventors: Steve M. Johnson, Todd Vantongeren, Jake Andrew Mohan, Adam Brown, Eric Daniel Buehler
  • Patent number: 11317779
    Abstract: An autonomous floor cleaner can include a brush chamber, a brushroll rotatably mounted in the brush chamber, a controller for controlling the operation of the autonomous floor cleaner; and a fluid delivery system with a supply tank and at least one fluid distributor configured to deposit cleaning fluid onto a surface to be cleaned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: BISSELL Inc.
    Inventors: Steve M. Johnson, Todd Vantongeren, Jake Andrew Mohan, Adam Brown, Eric Daniel Buehler
  • Publication number: 20220087497
    Abstract: An autonomous floor cleaner or floor cleaning robot can include an autonomously moveable housing and a drive system for autonomously moving the autonomously moveable housing over a surface to be cleaned based on inputs from a controller. A brush chamber and a debris receptacle can be formed as a unitary assembly removable from the autonomously moveable housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2021
    Publication date: March 24, 2022
    Inventors: Steve M. Johnson, Todd Vantongeren
  • Patent number: 11219347
    Abstract: An autonomous floor cleaner or floor cleaning robot can include an autonomously moveable housing and a drive system for autonomously moving the autonomously moveable housing over a surface to be cleaned based on inputs from a controller. A brush chamber, a debris receptacle, and a supply tank can be formed as a unitary assembly removable from the autonomously moveable housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2022
    Assignee: BISSELL Inc.
    Inventors: Steve M. Johnson, Todd Vantongeren
  • Publication number: 20210378479
    Abstract: An autonomous floor cleaner can include a housing, a drive system for autonomously moving the housing over the surface to be cleaned, a controller for controlling the operation of the autonomous floor cleaner, a tank adapted to hold liquid, and a carry handle joined with the tank and/or the housing. The carry handle is movable between different positions, including a position in which the autonomous floor cleaner can be lifted via the carry handle while an inlet and/or outlet of the tank is blocked.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2021
    Publication date: December 9, 2021
    Inventors: Nicholas Weigel, Steve M. Johnson, Todd R. VanTongeren, Matthew Haverkamp
  • Patent number: 11129512
    Abstract: An autonomous floor cleaner can include a housing, a drive system for autonomously moving the housing over the surface to be cleaned, a controller for controlling the operation of the autonomous floor cleaner, a tank adapted to hold liquid, and a carry handle joined with the tank and/or the housing. The carry handle is movable between a stowed position and a carry position. The carry handle can include one or more capturing assemblies such that the carry handle can be selectively rotated between different orientations allowing for one or more of: locking/securing the tank to the housing, activating/deactivating the floor cleaner based on handle position; carrying the entire floor cleaner; ejecting the tank from the housing; carrying the tank separately; and emptying the tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: BISSELL Inc.
    Inventors: Nicholas Weigel, Steve M. Johnson, Todd R. VanTongeren, Matthew Haverkamp
  • Publication number: 20210169300
    Abstract: A surface cleaning apparatus, such as a fluid delivery or steam mop, comprises a handle assembly comprising a steam distributor and a foot assembly pivotally attached to the handle assembly and comprising a base housing. The foot assembly can be used in two positions, whereby opposing sides of a cleaning pad on the base housing can selectively engage a surface to be cleaned. The foot assembly is further swivelable relative to the steam distributor, such that fluid can be delivered to the surface to be cleaned in both of the two use positions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2021
    Publication date: June 10, 2021
    Inventor: Steve M. Johnson
  • Patent number: 10932645
    Abstract: A surface cleaning apparatus, such as a fluid delivery or steam mop, comprises a handle assembly comprising a steam distributor and a foot assembly pivotally attached to the handle assembly and comprising a base housing. The foot assembly can be used in two positions, whereby opposing sides of a cleaning pad on the base housing can selectively engage a surface to be cleaned. The foot assembly is further swivelable relative to the steam distributor, such that fluid can be delivered to the surface to be cleaned in both of the two use positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: BISSELL Inc.
    Inventor: Steve M. Johnson
  • Publication number: 20200383549
    Abstract: An autonomous floor cleaner can include a housing, a drive system for autonomously moving the housing over the surface to be cleaned, a controller for controlling the operation of the autonomous floor cleaner, a tank adapted to hold liquid, and a carry handle joined with the tank and/or the housing. The carry handle is movable between a stowed position and a carry position. The carry handle can include one or more capturing assemblies such that the carry handle can be selectively rotated between different orientations allowing for one or more of: locking/securing the tank to the housing, activating/deactivating the floor cleaner based on handle position; carrying the entire floor cleaner; ejecting the tank from the housing; carrying the tank separately; and emptying the tank.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2020
    Publication date: December 10, 2020
    Inventors: Nicholas Weigel, Steve M. Johnson, Todd R. VanTongeren, Matthew Haverkamp
  • Publication number: 20200008642
    Abstract: A surface cleaning apparatus, such as a fluid delivery or steam mop, comprises a handle assembly comprising a steam distributor and a foot assembly pivotally attached to the handle assembly and comprising a base housing. The foot assembly can be used in two positions, whereby opposing sides of a cleaning pad on the base housing can selectively engage a surface to be cleaned. The foot assembly is further swivelable relative to the steam distributor, such that fluid can be delivered to the surface to be cleaned in both of the two use positions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2019
    Publication date: January 9, 2020
    Inventor: Steve M. Johnson
  • Publication number: 20190290089
    Abstract: An autonomous floor cleaner or floor cleaning robot can include an autonomously moveable housing and a drive system for autonomously moving the autonomously moveable housing over a surface to be cleaned based on inputs from a controller. A brush chamber, a debris receptacle, and a supply tank can be formed as a unitary assembly removable from the autonomously moveable housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2019
    Publication date: September 26, 2019
    Inventors: Steve M. Johnson, Todd Vantongeren
  • Patent number: 10413149
    Abstract: A surface cleaning apparatus, such as a fluid delivery or steam mop, comprises a handle assembly comprising a steam distributor and a foot assembly pivotally attached to the handle assembly and comprising a base housing. The foot assembly can be used in two positions, whereby opposing sides of a cleaning pad on the base housing can selectively engage a surface to be cleaned. The foot assembly is further swivelable relative to the steam distributor, such that fluid can be delivered to the surface to be cleaned in both of the two use positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignee: BISSELL HOMECARE, Inc.
    Inventor: Steve M. Johnson
  • Publication number: 20190191952
    Abstract: An autonomous floor cleaner can include a brush chamber, a brushroll rotatably mounted in the brush chamber, a controller for controlling the operation of the autonomous floor cleaner; and a fluid delivery system with a supply tank and at least one fluid distributor configured to deposit cleaning fluid onto a surface to be cleaned.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2018
    Publication date: June 27, 2019
    Inventors: Steve M. Johnson, Todd Vantongeren, Jake Andrew Mohan, Adam Brown, Eric Daniel Buehler