Patents by Inventor Thierry Michelon

Thierry Michelon 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: 20240052663
    Abstract: The invention relates to a pool cleaning apparatus including: a cleaning unit (100), at least one hydraulic system for circulating a liquid between at least one liquid inlet (103) and at least one liquid outlet (104) and through a filtration device of the cleaning unit (100), a pump suitable for forcing the circulation of water between the liquid inlet (103) and the liquid outlet (104) and through the filtration device, drive and guide means for moving the cleaning unit, and means for controlling said drive and guide means. The pool cleaning apparatus includes at least one debris detection means placed in the hydraulic system of the cleaning unit (100).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2023
    Publication date: February 15, 2024
    Applicant: ZODIAC POOL CARE EUROPE
    Inventors: Thierry Michelon, Philippe Pichon
  • Patent number: 11828082
    Abstract: The invention relates to a pool cleaning apparatus including: a cleaning unit (100), at least one hydraulic system for circulating a liquid between at least one liquid inlet (103) and at least one liquid outlet (104) and through a filtration device of the cleaning unit (100), a pump suitable for forcing the circulation of water between the liquid inlet (103) and the liquid outlet (104) and through the filtration device, drive and guide means for moving the cleaning unit, and means for controlling said drive and guide means. The pool cleaning apparatus includes at least one debris detection means placed in the hydraulic system of the cleaning unit (100).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: ZODIAC POOL CARE EUROPE
    Inventors: Thierry Michelon, Philippe Pichon
  • Patent number: 11505959
    Abstract: The invention relates to a swimming-pool cleaning apparatus which comprises: a body; at least one hydraulic circuit for circulating liquid between at least one liquid intake and at least one liquid outlet, and through a filtering device of the cleaning apparatus; a fluid-circulation pump installed in the hydraulic circuit downstream from the filtering device; means for adjusting the pressure inside the hydraulic circuit upstream from the circulation pump, in response to a detected variation of said pressure, said pressure-adjustment means comprising: at least one secondary liquid intake (21) connected to the hydraulic circuit, upstream from the circulation pump, said at least one secondary liquid intake (21) being provided with a valve (22) mounted rotatably movable about an axis of rotation, and with means for driving the valve from an open position to a closed position, said means for driving the valve comprising a float (26), the orientation and/or the force of which depend on the orientation of the cleani
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: ZODIAC POOL CARE EUROPE
    Inventors: Philippe Blanc Tailleur, Louis Favie, Thierry Michelon, Philippe Pichon
  • Publication number: 20210198913
    Abstract: The invention relates to a pool cleaning apparatus including: a cleaning unit (100), at least one hydraulic system for circulating a liquid between at least one liquid inlet (103) and at least one liquid outlet (104) and through a filtration device of the cleaning unit (100), a pump suitable for forcing the circulation of water between the liquid inlet (103) and the liquid outlet (104) and through the filtration device, drive and guide means for moving the cleaning unit, and means for controlling said drive and guide means. The pool cleaning apparatus includes at least one debris detection means placed in the hydraulic system of the cleaning unit (100).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2021
    Publication date: July 1, 2021
    Inventors: Thierry Michelon, Philippe Pichon
  • Patent number: 10961738
    Abstract: The invention relates to a pool cleaning apparatus including: a cleaning unit (100), at least one hydraulic system for circulating a liquid between at least one liquid inlet (103) and at least one liquid outlet (104) and through a filtration device of the cleaning unit (100), a pump suitable for forcing the circulation of water between the liquid inlet (103) and the liquid outlet (104) and through the filtration device, drive and guide means for moving the cleaning unit, and means for controlling said drive and guide means. The pool cleaning apparatus includes at least one debris detection means placed in the hydraulic system of the cleaning unit (100).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: ZODIAC POOL CARE EUROPE
    Inventors: Thierry Michelon, Philippe Pichon
  • Publication number: 20200165832
    Abstract: The invention relates to a swimming-pool cleaning apparatus which comprises: a body; at least one hydraulic circuit for circulating liquid between at least one liquid intake and at least one liquid outlet, and through a filtering device of the cleaning apparatus; a fluid-circulation pump installed in the hydraulic circuit downstream from the filtering device; means for adjusting the pressure inside the hydraulic circuit upstream from the circulation pump, in response to a detected variation of said pressure, said pressure-adjustment means comprising: at least one secondary liquid intake (21) connected to the hydraulic circuit, upstream from the circulation pump, said at least one secondary liquid intake (21) being provided with a valve (22) mounted rotatably movable about an axis of rotation, and with means for driving the valve from an open position to a closed position, said means for driving the valve comprising a float (26), the orientation and/or the force of which depend on the orientation of the cleani
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2020
    Publication date: May 28, 2020
    Applicant: ZODIAC POOL CARE EUROPE
    Inventors: Philippe Blanc Tailleur, Louis Favie, Thierry Michelon, Philippe Pichon
  • Patent number: 10597887
    Abstract: The invention relates to a swimming-pool cleaning apparatus which comprises: a body; at least one hydraulic circuit for circulating liquid between at least one liquid intake and at least one liquid outlet, and through a filtering device of the cleaning apparatus; a fluid-circulation pump installed in the hydraulic circuit downstream from the filtering device; means for adjusting the pressure inside the hydraulic circuit upstream from the circulation pump, in response to a detected variation of said pressure, said pressure-adjustment means comprising: at least one secondary liquid intake (21) connected to the hydraulic circuit, upstream from the circulation pump, said at least one secondary liquid intake (21) being provided with a valve (22) mounted rotatably movable about an axis of rotation, and with means for driving the valve from an open position to a closed position, said means for driving the valve comprising a float (26), the orientation and/or the force of which depend on the orientation of the cleani
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: Zodiac Pool Care Europe
    Inventors: Philippe Blanc Tailleur, Louis Favie, Thierry Michelon, Philippe Pichon
  • Patent number: 10316534
    Abstract: The invention relates to swimming pool cleaning robot (10) comprising: a body (11); at least one hydraulic circuit through which a liquid flows between at least one liquid inlet (13) and at least one liquid outlet (14), said hydraulic circuit including at least one means for separating debris suspended in the liquid; pumping means for driving the liquid through the hydraulic circuit; means for driving and guiding the cleaning robot on a surface; and means for controlling the operating parameters of the means for driving and guiding the cleaning robot (10). The control means comprise a pressure sensor (21) that can be used to determine the immersion depth of the cleaning robot in a swimming pool, and means for automatically controlling the measured pressure on the basis of a set value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: ZODIAC POOL CARE EUROPE
    Inventors: Thierry Michelon, Philippe Pichon, Jerome Bonnin, Philippe Blanc Tailleur, Hendrikus Johannes Van der Meijden, Philip John Newman
  • Publication number: 20190040642
    Abstract: The invention relates to swimming pool cleaning robot (10) comprising: a body (11); at least one hydraulic circuit through which a liquid flows between at least one liquid inlet (13) and at least one liquid outlet (14), said hydraulic circuit including at least one means for separating debris suspended in the liquid; pumping means for driving the liquid through the hydraulic circuit; means for driving and guiding the cleaning robot on a surface; and means for controlling the operating parameters of the means for driving and guiding the cleaning robot (10). The control means comprise a pressure sensor (21) that can be used to determine the immersion depth of the cleaning robot in a swimming pool, and means for automatically controlling the measured pressure on the basis of a set value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2017
    Publication date: February 7, 2019
    Inventors: Thierry Michelon, Philippe Pichon, Jerome Bonnin, Philippe Blanc Tailleur, Hendrikus Johannes Van der Mejiden, Philip John Newman
  • Patent number: 10191483
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and device for modifying a device for cleaning a submerged surface, the device including a cleaning appliance, a control unit suitable for sending control signals to the appliance, characterized in that a modification device is inserted onto the link between the control unit and the appliance, which modification device includes an antenna for receiving wireless request signals and a signal-processing unit for transmitting signals from the control unit to the appliance and, upon receipt of wireless request signals in the receiving antenna, for ignoring signals from the control unit, and producing and transmitting priority control signals to the cleaning appliance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: Zodiac Pool Care Europe
    Inventor: Thierry Michelon
  • Patent number: 10144660
    Abstract: Equipment and methods facilitating suitable orientation of salt-water chlorinators (SWCs) relative to the gravitational field of the Earth are detailed. So orienting an SWC in this manner reduces risk that the volume defined by its gas trap would not be accessible to hydrogen gas generated by the SWC in use. An accelerometer may be employed in connection with the SWC to assist in assessing orientation of the SWC relative to the gravitational field of the Earth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: ZODIAC POOL SYSTEMS LLC
    Inventors: Remi Deloche, Thierry Michelon, Hwa Heng, Mark Bauckman, Ricky Lo
  • Publication number: 20180283029
    Abstract: The invention relates to a swimming-pool cleaning apparatus which comprises: a body; at least one hydraulic circuit for circulating liquid between at least one liquid intake and at least one liquid outlet, and through a filtering device of the cleaning apparatus; a fluid-circulation pump installed in the hydraulic circuit downstream from the filtering device; means for adjusting the pressure inside the hydraulic circuit upstream from the circulation pump, in response to a detected variation of said pressure, said pressure-adjustment means comprising: at least one secondary liquid intake (21) connected to the hydraulic circuit, upstream from the circulation pump, said at least one secondary liquid intake (21) being provided with a valve (22) mounted rotatably movable about an axis of rotation, and with means for driving the valve from an open position to a closed position, said means for driving the valve comprising a float (26), the orientation and/or the force of which depend on the orientation of the cleani
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2016
    Publication date: October 4, 2018
    Inventors: Philippe Blanc Tailleur, Louis Favie, Thierry Michelon
  • Publication number: 20180150963
    Abstract: The invention relates to a pool cleaning apparatus including: a cleaning unit (100), at least one hydraulic system for circulating a liquid between at least one liquid inlet (103) and at least one liquid outlet (104) and through a filtration device of the cleaning unit (100), a pump suitable for forcing the circulation of water between the liquid inlet (103) and the liquid outlet (104) and through the filtration device, drive and guide means for moving the cleaning unit, and means for controlling said drive and guide means. The pool cleaning apparatus includes at least one debris detection means placed in the hydraulic system of the cleaning unit (100).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2016
    Publication date: May 31, 2018
    Inventors: Thierry Michelon, Philippe Pichon
  • Publication number: 20180134587
    Abstract: Equipment and methods facilitating suitable orientation of salt-water chlorinators (SWCs) relative to the gravitational field of the Earth are detailed. So orienting an SWC in this manner reduces risk that the volume defined by its gas trap would not be accessible to hydrogen gas generated by the SWC in use. An accelerometer may be employed in connection with the SWC to assist in assessing orientation of the SWC relative to the gravitational field of the Earth.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2017
    Publication date: May 17, 2018
    Inventors: Remi Deloche, Thierry Michelon, Hwa Heng, Mark Bauckman, Ricky Lo
  • Publication number: 20180081333
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and device for modifying a device for cleaning a submerged surface, the device including a cleaning appliance, a control unit suitable for sending control signals to the appliance, characterized in that a modification device is inserted onto the link between the control unit and the appliance, which modification device includes an antenna for receiving wireless request signals and a signal-processing unit for transmitting signals from the control unit to the appliance and, upon receipt of wireless request signals in the receiving antenna, for ignoring signals from the control unit, and producing and transmitting priority control signals to the cleaning appliance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2017
    Publication date: March 22, 2018
    Inventor: Thierry Michelon
  • Patent number: 9791840
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and device for modifying a device for cleaning a submerged surface, the device including a cleaning appliance, a control unit suitable control signals to the appliance, characterized in that a modification device is inserted onto the link between the control unit and the appliance, which modification device includes an antenna for receiving wireless request signals and a signal-processing unit for transmitting signals from the control unit to the appliance and, upon receipt of wireless request signals in the receiving antenna, for ignoring signals from the control unit, and producing and transmitting priority control signals to the cleaning appliance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: ZODIAC POOL CARE EUROPE
    Inventor: Thierry Michelon
  • Patent number: 9740199
    Abstract: The invention concerns a device and a method of remotely controlling a motorized submerged surface cleaning apparatus (1) comprising a body and a drive device, said remote control device comprising a control terminal (15) having a housing, a device (16) for transmitting control signals for the drive device, characterized in that the housing comprises an orientation detector furnishing at least one orientation parameter of the housing, and in that said device comprises a unit for processing orientation parameters, producing a first command for the drive device for an orientation parameter that is within a first interval of values, and a second command for the drive device for an orientation parameter that is within a second predetermined interval of values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: ZODIAC POOL CARE EUROPE
    Inventor: Thierry Michelon
  • Patent number: 9708826
    Abstract: The invention relates to a pool cleaning apparatus and a method for controlling such an apparatus comprising a body, a liquid inlet, a liquid outlet, a drive device, a pumping device, a hydraulic circuit between a liquid inlet and a pumping outlet and via a cleaning device, a monitoring device providing electronic signals which are representative of a state of the apparatus, an electronic signal processing unit receiving and analyzing the signals of the monitoring device and controlling the pumping device, wherein, on detection of a removal event of the body from the liquid, the processing unit stops the pumping device after a predetermined emptying time in order to allow active emptying of the hydraulic circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: ZODIAC POOL CARE EUROPE
    Inventors: Thierry Michelon, Louis Favie
  • Patent number: 9631389
    Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for cleaning an immersed surface, comprising a hollow body, guiding and driving members, a filtration chamber which is provided in the hollow body and which has at least one liquid inlet, at least one liquid outlet and a hydraulic circuit for circulation of liquid through a filtering device. An accelerometer device is fixedly joined to the hollow body and which is adapted to provide instantaneous measurements of at least one acceleration component of the terrestrial gravity in at least one fixed direction which is fixed relative to the hollow body, and a processing unit for processing the acceleration measurements supplied by the accelerometer device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: Zodiac Pool Care Europe
    Inventors: Emmanuel Mastio, Thierry Michelon, E. Keith McQueen, Tawny Jean Cothran
  • Patent number: 9487963
    Abstract: The invention relates to an automobile apparatus (1) for cleaning surfaces submerged in a basin (2) comprising a driving mechanism, a programmed controlling device for the driving mechanism, a man-machine interface consisting of an input device, and a filter chamber, characterized in that, on activation of a return command button (12), a return setpoint is emitted to the programmed controlling device, which is adapted to inhibit a cleaning program and control the driving mechanism such that it drives the apparatus up to the surface of the water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2016
    Assignee: ZODIAC POOL CARE EUROPE
    Inventor: Thierry Michelon