Patents by Inventor Todd Richard VanTongeren

Todd Richard VanTongeren 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: 20230329505
    Abstract: An autonomous floor cleaner includes a tank adapted to hold liquid and/or debris, a brushroll to agitate a surface to be cleaned, and a position setting mechanism for the brushroll. The position setting mechanism can include a height setting feature on the tank to set the height of the brushroll within a brush chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2023
    Publication date: October 19, 2023
    Inventors: Todd Richard VanTongeren, Andrew James Brouwers
  • Patent number: 11751742
    Abstract: A vacuum cleaner includes an upright body mounted to a base that moves over a surface to be cleaned. A rotational coupling can be provided between the upright body and the base for coupling the upright body to the base for movement about at least one rotational axis. The rotational coupling can include at least a swivel joint. A cord rewinder can be provided above the swivel joint for storing and dispensing a power cord.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: BISSELL Inc.
    Inventors: Phong Hoang Tran, Todd Richard VanTongeren
  • Patent number: 11395569
    Abstract: A brushroll for a surface cleaning apparatus includes a brush dowel defining an axis and having opposing bristle supports and a shroud surface between the opposing bristle supports, and a plurality of bristles protruding from the bristle supports. The shroud surface includes opposing convex curved surfaces extending between the bristle supports which intersect the shroud surface at outside corners.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2022
    Assignee: BISSELL Inc.
    Inventors: Gary A. Kasper, Todd Richard VanTongeren, Jeffrey A. Scholten, Jake Andrew Mohan
  • Publication number: 20210007568
    Abstract: A vacuum cleaner includes an upright body mounted to a base that moves over a surface to be cleaned. A rotational coupling can be provided between the upright body and the base for coupling the upright body to the base for movement about at least one rotational axis. The rotational coupling can include at least a swivel joint. A cord rewinder can be provided above the swivel joint for storing and dispensing a power cord.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2020
    Publication date: January 14, 2021
    Inventors: Phong Hoang Tran, Todd Richard VanTongeren
  • Patent number: 10791900
    Abstract: A vacuum cleaner includes an upright body mounted to a base that moves over a surface to be cleaned. A rotational coupling can be provided between the upright body and the base for coupling the upright body to the base for movement about at least one rotational axis. The rotational coupling can include at least a swivel joint. A cord rewinder can be provided above the swivel joint for storing and dispensing a power cord.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: BISSELL Inc.
    Inventors: Phong Hoang Tran, Todd Richard VanTongeren
  • Publication number: 20200214519
    Abstract: A brushroll for a surface cleaning apparatus includes a brush dowel defining an axis and having opposing bristle supports and a shroud surface between the opposing bristle supports, and a plurality of bristles protruding from the bristle supports. The shroud surface includes opposing convex curved surfaces extending between the bristle supports which intersect the shroud surface at outside corners.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2020
    Publication date: July 9, 2020
    Inventors: Gary A. Kasper, Todd Richard VanTongeren, Jeffrey A. Scholten, Jake Andrew Mohan
  • Patent number: 10602895
    Abstract: A brushroll for a surface cleaning apparatus includes a brush dowel defining an axis and having opposing bristle supports and a shroud surface between the opposing bristle supports, and a plurality of bristles protruding from the bristle supports. The shroud surface includes opposing convex curved surfaces extending between the bristle supports which intersect the shroud surface at outside corners.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: BISSELL Homecare, Inc.
    Inventors: Gary A. Kasper, Jr., Todd Richard VanTongeren, Jeffrey A. Scholten, Jake Andrew Mohan
  • Patent number: 10238251
    Abstract: A vacuum cleaner includes a suction nozzle defining a nozzle inlet, a manual nozzle height adjustment assembly for adjusting the height of the nozzle inlet relative to a surface to be cleaned, and a bleed valve fluidly connected to a working air path of the vacuum cleaner to selectively open to reduce suction at the nozzle inlet. The bleed valve is incorporated with the nozzle height adjustment assembly such that movement of the nozzle height adjustment assembly between different height settings will automatically open or close the bleed valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: BISSELL Homecare, Inc.
    Inventor: Todd Richard VanTongeren
  • Publication number: 20190059673
    Abstract: A vacuum cleaner includes an upright body mounted to a base that moves over a surface to be cleaned. A rotational coupling can be provided between the upright body and the base for coupling the upright body to the base for movement about at least one rotational axis. The rotational coupling can include at least a swivel joint. A cord rewinder can be provided above the swivel joint for storing and dispensing a power cord.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2018
    Publication date: February 28, 2019
    Inventors: Phong Hoang Tran, Todd Richard VanTongeren
  • Patent number: 9986881
    Abstract: A vacuum cleaner includes an upright body and a base carrying a suction nozzle that is pivotally coupled with the upright body for movement between at least a storage position and a reclined use position. A motor is in fluid communication with the suction nozzle and is mounted in the upright body in a configuration that partially offsets the weight-in-hand of the upright assembly as perceived by a user of the vacuum cleaner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: BISSELL Homecare, Inc.
    Inventor: Todd Richard VanTongeren
  • Publication number: 20180125315
    Abstract: A brushroll for a surface cleaning apparatus includes a brush dowel defining an axis and having opposing bristle supports and a shroud surface between the opposing bristle supports, and a plurality of bristles protruding from the bristle supports. The shroud surface includes opposing convex curved surfaces extending between the bristle supports which intersect the shroud surface at outside corners.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2018
    Publication date: May 10, 2018
    Inventors: Gary A. Kasper, Jr., Todd Richard VanTongeren, Jeffrey A. Scholten, Jake Andrew Mohan
  • Publication number: 20180078103
    Abstract: A vacuum cleaner includes a suction nozzle defining a nozzle inlet, a manual nozzle height adjustment assembly for adjusting the height of the nozzle inlet relative to a surface to be cleaned, and a bleed valve fluidly connected to a working air path of the vacuum cleaner to selectively open to reduce suction at the nozzle inlet. The bleed valve is incorporated with the nozzle height adjustment assembly such that movement of the nozzle height adjustment assembly between different height settings will automatically open or close the bleed valve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2017
    Publication date: March 22, 2018
    Inventor: Todd Richard VanTongeren
  • Patent number: 9883779
    Abstract: A brushroll for a surface cleaning apparatus includes a brush dowel defining an axis and having opposing bristle supports and a shroud surface between the opposing bristle supports, and a plurality of bristles protruding from the bristle supports. The shroud surface is positioned relative to the bristles to minimize hair wrap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignee: BISSELL Homecare, Inc.
    Inventors: Gary A. Kasper, Todd Richard VanTongeren
  • Patent number: 9867514
    Abstract: A vacuum cleaner includes a suction nozzle defining a nozzle inlet, a manual nozzle height adjustment assembly for adjusting the height of the nozzle inlet relative to a surface to be cleaned, and a bleed valve fluidly connected to a working air path of the vacuum cleaner to selectively open to reduce suction at the nozzle inlet. The bleed valve is incorporated with the nozzle height adjustment assembly such that movement of the nozzle height adjustment assembly between different height settings will automatically open or close the bleed valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: BISSELL Homecare, Inc.
    Inventor: Todd Richard VanTongeren
  • Publication number: 20170215665
    Abstract: A vacuum cleaner includes a suction nozzle defining a nozzle inlet, a manual nozzle height adjustment assembly for adjusting the height of the nozzle inlet relative to a surface to be cleaned, and a bleed valve fluidly connected to a working air path of the vacuum cleaner to selectively open to reduce suction at the nozzle inlet. The bleed valve is incorporated with the nozzle height adjustment assembly such that movement of the nozzle height adjustment assembly between different height settings will automatically open or close the bleed valve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2017
    Publication date: August 3, 2017
    Inventor: Todd Richard VanTongeren
  • Publication number: 20160367093
    Abstract: A vacuum cleaner includes an upright body and a base carrying a suction nozzle that is pivotally coupled with the upright body for movement between at least a storage position and a reclined use position. A motor is in fluid communication with the suction nozzle and is mounted in the upright body in a configuration that partially offsets the weight-in-hand of the upright assembly as perceived by a user of the vacuum cleaner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2016
    Publication date: December 22, 2016
    Inventor: Todd Richard VanTongeren
  • Publication number: 20160166052
    Abstract: A brushroll for a surface cleaning apparatus includes a brush dowel defining an axis and having opposing bristle supports and a shroud surface between the opposing bristle supports, and a plurality of bristles protruding from the bristle supports. The shroud surface is positioned relative to the bristles to minimize hair wrap.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2015
    Publication date: June 16, 2016
    Inventors: Gary A. Kasper, Todd Richard VanTongeren