Patents Issued in June 23, 2016
  • Publication number: 20160174752
    Abstract: A horizontal unit for making beverages using capsules comprises at least a first part (4) and a second part (6) which are mobile between an operating position in which between them they form a chamber (8) for a capsule (2), and a capsule (2) insertion position in which they are distanced, as well as water injection means (13) and beverage collection means (14) which are associated with the chamber (8). The beverage collection means (14) comprise at least one perforating element (44) mobile between an active position in which it perforates a capsule (2) inserted in the housing (5), and an inactive position in which it is distanced from the bottom of the capsule (2), hooking means (46) associated with the first part (4) and switchable between a hooking configuration in which they retain the perforating element (44) in the active position and an unhooking configuration, and first elastic means (47) acting on the perforating element (44) for pushing it towards the inactive position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2014
    Publication date: June 23, 2016
    Inventor: Franco CASIDDU
  • Publication number: 20160174753
    Abstract: A horizontal unit for making beverages using capsules containing powdered food substances comprises a first part (4) and a second part (6) which are mobile between an operating position in which they form an extraction chamber (8) for a capsule (2), and a capsule (2) insertion position in which they are distanced, and movement means (17) for reciprocal movement of the two parts (4), (6) comprising a connecting rod (21)—crank (19) mechanism connected to the mobile part (4), (6). In the operating position the crank (19) rests on a part of the unit supporting structure (3).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2014
    Publication date: June 23, 2016
    Inventor: Franco CASIDDU
  • Publication number: 20160174754
    Abstract: A combination of a capsule extraction unit (1) and a capsule (20) includes a piercing device (10) for piercing the capsule. The piercing device has a plurality of piercing elements (11a, 11b, 11c, 11d). Each element has am extremity (12a, 12b, 12c1, 12c2, 12c3, 12c, 12d) arranged to pierce the capsule in a piercing direction (10?), such as a direction (10?) generally parallel to a longitudinal axis (12a?, 12b?, 12c?, 12d?) of the piercing elements (11a, 11b, 11c, 11d). The extremities format corresponding locations (22?, 22c1?, 22c2?, 22c3?, 22c?, 22d?) of the capsule either a series of corresponding inlet openings or a series of corresponding outlet openings. The piercing extremities are spatially arranged relatively to the piercing locations to contact and penetrate the capsule at the piercing locations at different respective moments in time when the capsule and the piercing device are urged together in the piercing direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2014
    Publication date: June 23, 2016
    Applicant: NESTEC S.A.
    Inventors: Jean-Marc Flick, Jean-Luc Colantonio
  • Publication number: 20160174755
    Abstract: The brewing system disclosed herein includes a moving inlet nozzle for use in intermixing hot water and coffee in a coffee cartridge. The inlet nozzle may include one or more flow ports that inject hot water into an inner chamber of the coffee cartridge at select angles, locations and pressures to create the desired fluidized mixture of hot water and beverage medium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 29, 2016
    Publication date: June 23, 2016
    Inventor: Bruce D. Burrows
  • Publication number: 20160174756
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for forming both carafe quantities and smaller (e.g., cup) quantities of a beverage using a cartridge-based beverage machine. A beverage forming machine accommodates cartridges having different sizes and/or shapes, including different rim sizes/shapes. The outlet used for receiving a beverage from a standard cartridge differs from the outlet used for receiving the beverage from a carafe cartridge inserted in a same cartridge holder. Beverage may exit the cartridge in an upward direction in some embodiments.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 29, 2016
    Publication date: June 23, 2016
    Applicant: Keurig Green Mountain, Inc.
    Inventors: Ian Tinkler, James E. Shepard, Geoffrey Y. Smith, Peter Thomas Launie, JR., Jonathan Alexander Brodie, Stuart Jay Foster, Stoyan Plamenov Hristov, Jianming Huang
  • Publication number: 20160174757
    Abstract: Inserts provide machine readable visual indicia, allowing use of brewing cartridges which do not include the required machine readable indicia, in brewing machines requiring the required machine readable visual indicia for operation. The insert may include features for attachment to the brewing machine, or to the brewing cartridge. The machine readable indicia may be a color, an image, a bar code, a texture, a shape, a reflective surface, a readable magnetic strip, a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID), or a combination of one or more of a color, image, a bar code, a texture, a shape, and a reflective surface, a readable magnetic strip, a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) or any machine readable visual indicia.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2015
    Publication date: June 23, 2016
    Inventor: Adrian Rivera
  • Publication number: 20160174758
    Abstract: The present invention is to provide a brewing vessel having a flexible assembly ring, which includes a vessel body having a brewing space therein and upper and lower openings in communication with the brewing space respectively, a base having a through hole passed therethrough and a ring wall upwardly and protrudingly disposed at a top thereof corresponding to the through hole, a flexible assembly ring capable of being deformed to sleeve onto the ring wall and having a plurality of abutting members disposed along the periphery of the outer surface thereof for watertightly abutting against the inner surface of the lower opening when the bottom of the vessel body is mounted on the top of the base. Thus, the vessel body and the base can be watertightly combined together by the flexible assembly ring, so gaps between the vessel body and the base can be fully filled with precision.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2014
    Publication date: June 23, 2016
    Inventor: Ming-Tung LIU
  • Publication number: 20160174759
    Abstract: The present invention concerns a food or beverage preparation machine (M) comprising a casing, a mineralized fluid source (1), a receptacle (10) adapted for functionally enclosing at least one food or beverage ingredient container (C), means (3) for conducting said mineralized fluid (13) from said source (1) to the interior of said capsule (C), optionally a heating and/or chilling device (4), and a fluid pipe system (2, 20, 21, 22) that fluidly connects said source (1), said conducting means (3), said receptacle (10), and said heating and/or chilling device (4), characterized in that at least one portion of the fluid pipe system (2, 20, 21, 22) and/or conducting means (3), and/or heating/chilling device (4) is made of a smart memory alloy (SMA), or smart memory polymer (SMP) designed to reversibly expand or contract above a defined temperature threshold in order to negate the buildup of scale or other deposits on the surfaces in contact with the mineralized fluid (13) by mechanical action, during operation of
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2014
    Publication date: June 23, 2016
    Inventors: John Patrick CAVANAGH, Akos SPIEGEL
  • Publication number: 20160174760
    Abstract: A cooking utensil (100) having a bipartite shaft (14) slideably and rotatably affixed to a vertical support (24) by a shaft connector (18). The shaft (14) features a fork (26) at a fork end (14bb) and an opposed handle (22). A vertical position of the support is maintained by a stabilizer (20) having a flattened body extending outwards from a thickened central portion having a through bore (20a) receiving the support. The stabilizer is positioned on a ground surface when the cooking tool is in use. The fork is easily positioned and repositioned by rotating the opposed handle, swiveling the handle in a horizontal arc, or tilting the handle in a vertical arc, and its chosen position maintained by a spring loaded device (18c) engaging a spring engaging means (18b) formed in the shaft connector (18).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2015
    Publication date: June 23, 2016
    Inventor: Robert A. Criner
  • Publication number: 20160174761
    Abstract: An improved bacon cooking system and method of use is presented which includes a container that houses a rack having a pair of sidewalls with a curved member that extends between the sidewalls. The curved member includes a plurality of vanes and a plurality of perforations. A plurality of inserts are sized and shaped to be placed over the curved member in overlapping stacked relation to one another. Bacon slices are placed over the curved member and in-between the inserts. When the system is placed in an oven or a microwave oven, the bacon is generally held in place by the curved member and the inserts thereby producing crispy, generally flat and straight bacon without the mess or inconvenience of cooking bacon conventionally in a pan.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2015
    Publication date: June 23, 2016
    Inventors: Heath Paulsen, Blair Paulsen, Mark Paulsen
  • Publication number: 20160174762
    Abstract: A warmable pad and method for mounting the same to a ware, such as a dinner plate, are described. The pad has a first border and a first contact surface which can be removably applied to a surface of the ware. The pad also has a depression recessed from the first border and which contains air. The pad also has a second contact surface which is compressed by the user when the first border is placed against the surface of the ware. The compression of the second contact surface forces air out of the depression and pushes the first contact surface toward the surface of the ware. This lowers the pressure between the first contact surface and surface of the ware, creating a suction effect maintaining the pad against the ware. The pad can be warmed before being removably mounted to the ware so as to warm the ware, and any food or beverage it may contain.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2013
    Publication date: June 23, 2016
    Inventor: Julius S. CSABAI
  • Publication number: 20160174763
    Abstract: A container holder and a method of using the container holder to prepare a food product are provided. The container holder includes a body having an outer wall and an inner wall joined to the outer wall at an upper portion of the body, the inner wall defining a space, a spout formed at the upper portion of the body and a handle provided opposite the spout on the body. The food product is provided in a container having a removable lid. The method includes adding liquid to the space in the container holder, heating the liquid in the container holder by using a microwave, removing the lid from the container, pouring the liquid from the container holder into the container and placing the container in the space of the container holder.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2014
    Publication date: June 23, 2016
    Applicant: BRADSHAW INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventor: Christopher W. GLUPKER
  • Publication number: 20160174764
    Abstract: The present invention relates to manufacturing of kitchen appliances, and particularly to air fryer, comprising fryer body, liner, frying basket provided within the liner, electrical heating tube arranged above the frying basket and fan located above the heating tube. Side wall of the frying basket is thin plate and bottom of the frying basket is grid. Air channel is provided between the liner and the frying basket. Swirl guide cylinder is provided externally at the bottom of the frying basket and is connected with the side wall of the frying basket. Air inlets for forming rotary air flow are opened on the bottom of the swirl guide cylinder. The air inlets divert the air flow in a same direction and form a swirl. With such configuration, the frying basket is simple in structure, the liner is easy to manufacture and clean, and the frying basket is better supported.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2015
    Publication date: June 23, 2016
    Inventor: Shaoji Yan
  • Publication number: 20160174765
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a top heating type cooking apparatus comprising: a support unit 102 which has a coupling fixed groove 14 on the top surface of a support plate 10 in the form of a flat panel; a pillar unit 104 which includes a fixing pillar 16 fixed to a back of the support unit 102, and a connection pillar body 22 upwardly extended and installed in the fixing pillar 16, and which has hinge units 103 and 105 so that the top and bottom of the fixing pillar 16 and the connection pillar body 22 are hinged and rotatably moved; a heating unit 106 which is connected to the hinge unit 105 of the pillar unit 104 to be rotatably moved up and down and which provide heat to broil cooking materials from the top; a position adjustment link unit 110 which is inserted and rotated into a coupling fixing groove 14 formed in the top surface of the support unit 102 and which is installed to fix the position of the cooking materials and to move up and down so that the cooking materials become close to the heater unit 106; and
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2015
    Publication date: June 23, 2016
    Inventor: Yoon Jae CHO
  • Publication number: 20160174766
    Abstract: A fuel efficient grill that permits effective direct and indirect cooking, permits movement of the fuel grate and has uniquely shaped air intake slots is provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2014
    Publication date: June 23, 2016
    Applicant: WEBER-STEPHEN PRODUCTS LLC
    Inventors: Erich J. Schlosser, James Michael Sunich, Hollice Childress, Romualdo Sonny Siazon, Aman Sharma
  • Publication number: 20160174767
    Abstract: A fuel efficient grill that permits effective direct and indirect cooking, permits movement of the fuel grate and has uniquely shaped air intake slots is provided. Also provided is a hinged deflector or diffuser plate and an adjustable top vent assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2015
    Publication date: June 23, 2016
    Applicant: WEBER-STEPHEN PRODUCTS LLC
    Inventors: Erich J. Schlosser, James Michael Sunich, Hollice Childress, Romualdo Sonny Siazon, Aman Sharma
  • Publication number: 20160174768
    Abstract: A toasting device includes a housing, a plurality of heating spikes extending outwardly from an upper surface of the housing, and a controller electrically coupled to infrared heating sources in the plurality of heating spikes. The controller is configured to control electrical power to the plurality of heating spikes to thereby control temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2015
    Publication date: June 23, 2016
    Inventor: Richard A. DeVerse
  • Publication number: 20160174769
    Abstract: Disclosed is an eco-friendly cooking including a lid main body including a hollow body formed of heat-resistant transparent glass, openings formed on the side surface of the body, and hinge coupling units provided adjacent to the openings, inlets, each including a cover provided with one end coupled with the hinge coupling unit by a hinge to open and close the opening and including at least one air vent, and a grasping terminal formed on the upper surface of the cover, a sealing weight provided on the lower surface of the cover, a handle provided at the upper end of the lid main body and including a grasping part and a through hole formed at the grasping part, and an exhaust pipe including an exhaust pipe main body provided with a lower end inserted into the through hole and a tubular connection member combined with the exhaust pipe main body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2014
    Publication date: June 23, 2016
    Inventor: Youn Whan KIM
  • Publication number: 20160174770
    Abstract: A shaft assembly (4) of a blender blade device (3) is provided. The blender blade device (3) is penetrated by the shaft assembly (4) and disposed in a blender container (1) and penetratingly disposed at the bottom of the blender container (1) to operably connect with a blender base (2). The shaft assembly (4) comprises a shaft body (41) and a wear-resistant sleeve (42). A stop ring (411) is disposed at the upper segment of the shaft body (41) and axially protrudes outward from the circumferential wall of the shaft body (41). The wear-resistant sleeve (42) axially fits around the outer wall of the shaft body (41) and has the top rim abutting against the bottom rim of the stop ring (411). The outer circumferential wall of the shaft body (41) is protected against direct contact and friction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2014
    Publication date: June 23, 2016
    Inventor: Ming-Hsien LEE
  • Publication number: 20160174771
    Abstract: A cooking and processing appliance includes a container having a lid and a stirring mechanism for rotating at least one processing attachment of a plurality of processing attachments, a housing having a receptacle for receiving the container and having a motor in communication with the stirring mechanism, a heating structure disposed within the housing and a wall of the container, a heating activation system included within the housing and the container, wherein the heating structure defines a heating-active state when the container is received within the receptacle, a mixing activation system, wherein the motor defines a mixing active state when the container is received within the receptacle and the lid is in a closed position and a control in communication with the heating structure and the stirring mechanism.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2015
    Publication date: June 23, 2016
    Applicant: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Kaitlyn M. Benoit, Michael P. Conti, Wan Liang, Jeffrey Loebig
  • Publication number: 20160174772
    Abstract: A universal pot cover holder with spoon rest 2 is an apparatus capable of placing hot dripping pot covers without having them on the counter top. A unit that sits the pot cover upright and also can accommodate up to two pot covers at same time and two stirring spoons. A unit that will bring organization around the stove, eliminate counter mess, accommodates any pot cover with any knob or handle. Unit is one continuous welded apparatus with the exception of a removable glass bowl.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2014
    Publication date: June 23, 2016
    Inventor: David Wayne Heron
  • Publication number: 20160174773
    Abstract: Shower pan and drain systems are disclosed which accommodate all users. The system includes a removable trench cover which serves to both provide an easy ramp into the shower area, but also covers an internal channel system designed to direct water to a primary drain portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2015
    Publication date: June 23, 2016
    Inventors: Peter Kent Summers, Michael Steven Marcinek
  • Publication number: 20160174774
    Abstract: A combination for plumbing fixtures, particularly tiled floors with drains, is disclosed. An exemplary combination includes a substantially planar shower tray bonding disk on a flooring substrate and surrounded by a prefabricated polymer foam shower tray on the flooring substrate and at the circumference of the bonding disk. The disk includes an interior rim that defines a drain opening and a plurality of slotted openings for permitting mortar to penetrate the disk. The drain opening in the disk can thus be positioned at a drain cut out in the flooring substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2016
    Publication date: June 23, 2016
    Applicant: MGNT Products Group LLC
    Inventors: William M. DeJesus, Peter Nielsen, Larry Meyers
  • Publication number: 20160174775
    Abstract: A liquid-dispensing pad has a perforated generally elastic film forming a front wall, a liquid-impervious plastic rear wall, a weld peripherally securing the front wall to the rear wall, and a liquid-retaining core between the front and rear walls. The perforated film is a coextruded film having an elastic inner layer turned toward the core and an inelastic outer cover layer turned away from the core. This cover layer forms an outer face of the liquid-dispensing pad and is composed of polyolefin. A thickness of the cover layer is less than 15 ?m, and a thickness ratio of the elastic inner layer to the inelastic outer cover layer is at least 10:1.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2015
    Publication date: June 23, 2016
    Inventors: Henner SOLLMANN, Andreas BRUEGGEMANN
  • Publication number: 20160174776
    Abstract: A wiping board apparatus for cleaning the rectal area of a person following defecation includes a generally planar base that is mountable on a toilet seat. The base is adapted for holding an elongate rail that extends longitudinally in a generally front to back orientation relative to the underlying toilet seat. One or more wiping sheets may be attached to at least one of the base and the rail element for covering the rail element. Following defecation, a user sits on the base and slides over the rail to wipe and clean fecal material from the rectal area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2015
    Publication date: June 23, 2016
    Inventor: James R. Seifried
  • Publication number: 20160174777
    Abstract: Scrubby fibrous structures and more particularly scrubby coform fibrous structures and methods for making same are provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2015
    Publication date: June 23, 2016
    Inventors: Fei Wang, Cunming Song, Steven Lee Barnholtz, Michael Donald Suer, Christopher Michael Young, Timothy Duane Smith, Shannon Elizabeth Welsh
  • Publication number: 20160174778
    Abstract: A dispenser includes a backplate mountable to a surface. The backplate has a cover associated with it. An anti-ligature fixture is associated with either the backplate or the cover. The anti-ligature fixture is positioned to cut any ligature positioned between the dispenser and the surface as an anchor point.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2015
    Publication date: June 23, 2016
    Inventors: TOUBY KHAMPHILAPANYO, AARON M. KURCHEV, MICHAEL PREDIGER
  • Publication number: 20160174779
    Abstract: A moist towelette dispenser device adapted for use in combination with a toilet paper holder assembly having a roll spindle engaged by a mount to a wall surface. The device provides for concurrent dispensing of toilet paper and moist towelettes and an air freshener. A housing provides a dispensing site for the towelettes and is engageable to the wall mount whereafter the toilet paper is operatively mounted on the spindle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 29, 2016
    Publication date: June 23, 2016
    Inventor: Andrew Yaros
  • Publication number: 20160174780
    Abstract: A dispenser for rolled sheet products includes a base and a spindle. The base includes a top surface that extends downward from an outer peripheral portion of the base toward a center portion of the base to define a frusto-conical shape. The spindle is coupled to the center portion of the base and is configured to support a rolled sheet product along a longitudinal direction. The top surface of the base is configured to engage a lower edge of an outermost sheet of the rolled sheet product to prevent the outermost sheet from unraveling.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2015
    Publication date: June 23, 2016
    Inventors: Stephen James Bowen, Niels J. Eilmus
  • Publication number: 20160174781
    Abstract: A dual paper roll holder which is formed of a single formed body is disclosed. The body comprises two distal arms fixed together at a central connection point. Each distal arm has a flange extending outward from the distal arm. A toilet paper roll is placed over top of the distal end of the distal arm and rests on the flange. Below the flange the distal arms connect together at a center point. The body may further comprise a means for mounting the dual paper roll holder directly onto a wall. In one embodiment, each distal arm has a lateral member extending outwardly from the distal arm. The lateral member is cylindrical and is configured to mount into the holders utilized by a standard toilet paper roll holder.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2016
    Publication date: June 23, 2016
    Inventor: Scott Engler
  • Publication number: 20160174782
    Abstract: A toilet seat lifting apparatus that is operable to assist a user in transitioning a conventional toilet seat intermediate its up and down position. The toilet seat lifting apparatus further includes a container body having a plurality of walls and a top forming an interior volume and further including an opening. A rotating arm member is secured proximate the top and includes a connection assembly secured thereto wherein the connection assembly is external to the container body. A connection assembly is mounted to the rotating arm member and includes a seat-engaging member operable to couple to a toilet seat. A lever arm is secured to the rotating arm member and includes a cable secured thereto. The cable extends from the lever arm over a upper support rod and terminates at a foot receiving member. An adhesive member is further included to secure the container body to a floor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2014
    Publication date: June 23, 2016
    Inventor: William Dowmont
  • Publication number: 20160174783
    Abstract: A water closet comprising a toilet seat set with a lid element and a seat element, a toilet bowl, a douche device with a housing, wherein a mounting plate detachably mountable on the toilet bowl is provided, and in that either at least one fastening element, by which the housing of the douche device can be fastened to the mounting plate and to which the toilet seat set can be fastened, is provided, or at least one first and one second fastening element are provided, wherein the housing of the douche device can be fastened to the mounting plate by the first fastening element and the toilet seat set can be fastened to the mounting plate by the second fastening element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2015
    Publication date: June 23, 2016
    Inventors: Ralf MANTEL, Winfried SCHNELL
  • Publication number: 20160174784
    Abstract: Cleaning air knife elements are assembled in a parallel orientation inside a housing enclosing the air knife assembly and in fluid communication with a compressed air source. In certain embodiments, the air knife elements are spaced apart a distance that orients the cleaning air knife discharge slots directly parallel and in line with the slots of the air nozzle or bar to be cleaned. Air discharging from the air knife discharge slots passes through the discharge slots of the air nozzle to be cleaned, dislodging dust and friable solid buildup from the air nozzle slots. Additionally, the cleaning air jet enters the air nozzle body, further dislodging dust and friable solids from the internal passages of the air nozzle inside the air nozzle body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2015
    Publication date: June 23, 2016
    Inventors: Steven Zagar, Andreas Keil
  • Publication number: 20160174785
    Abstract: A surface cleaning apparatus comprises a surface cleaning head, an upright section moveably mounted to the surface cleaning head between a plurality of reclined floor cleaning positions and an upright storage position and a portable vacuum cleaner unit detachably mounted to the upright section. The portable vacuum cleaner unit has a suction motor and the remainder of the surface cleaning apparatus from which the portable vacuum cleaner unit is detached also has a suction motor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2015
    Publication date: June 23, 2016
    Inventor: Wayne Ernest Conrad
  • Publication number: 20160174786
    Abstract: A surface cleaning apparatus comprises a surface cleaning head, an upright section movably mounted to the surface cleaning head between a storage position and a floor cleaning position and a hand vacuum cleaner removably mounted to the upright section wherein the surface cleaning head has a first suction motor and the hand vacuum cleaner has a second suction motor, the first suction motor and second suction motor co-operate to convey air through the surface cleaning apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2016
    Publication date: June 23, 2016
    Inventor: Wayne Ernest Conrad
  • Publication number: 20160174787
    Abstract: A multimode surface cleaning apparatus comprises a surface cleaning head, an upright section moveably mounted to the surface cleaning head between a plurality of reclined floor cleaning positions and an upright storage position, a hand vacuum cleaner removably mounted to the upright section and an auxiliary dirt collection assembly removably mounted to the upright section wherein the auxiliary dirt collection assembly comprises a dirt collection region and optionally a pre-motor filter, one or more cyclones and a suction motor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2015
    Publication date: June 23, 2016
    Inventor: Wayne Ernest Conrad
  • Publication number: 20160174788
    Abstract: An all in the head surface cleaning apparatus may include a surface cleaning head having a brush positioned in a brush chamber. The brush chamber may have a dirty air inlet and a brush chamber outlet. The surface cleaning head may include a cyclone assembly comprising a cyclone chamber, the cyclone having a longitudinal cyclone axis, a cyclone air inlet and a cyclone air outlet. The surface cleaning head may include a first air flow path extending rearwardly from the brush chamber outlet to the cyclone chamber, and a suction motor having a suction motor air inlet, and a suction motor axis. The surface cleaning head may include a second air flow path extending laterally from the cyclone air outlet to the suction motor air inlet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2014
    Publication date: June 23, 2016
    Inventor: Wayne Ernest Conrad
  • Publication number: 20160174789
    Abstract: A cleaning apparatus includes a dust collector detachably installed at a cleaning stick. The dust collector includes a cyclone unit to generate a cyclone stream and a dust collecting unit to collect foreign matter. In this structure, a dust collecting efficiency of the dust collector may be increased, and a load of a cleaning apparatus body may be reduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2015
    Publication date: June 23, 2016
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jung Gyun HAN, Shin KIM, Won Kyu LIM
  • Publication number: 20160174790
    Abstract: A nozzle for a vacuum cleaner and a vacuum cleaner are provided. The nozzle may include a main nozzle; at least one movable nozzle rotatably coupled to the main nozzle; and a rotary cleaner provided inside of the main nozzle and the movable nozzle that cleans a floor surface using a rotary motion. The rotary cleaner may include a main shaft rotatably provided inside of the main nozzle, and at least one auxiliary shaft provided inside of the movable nozzle and connected to the main shaft. The at least one auxiliary shaft may rotate using a rotational force transmitted from the main shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2015
    Publication date: June 23, 2016
    Inventors: Seongjun KIM, Jinwoo LEE, Seogyong Kim
  • Publication number: 20160174791
    Abstract: An all in the head surface cleaning apparatus may include a surface cleaning head having a dirty air inlet and first and second laterally opposed sidewalls. The surface cleaning head may include a brush motor drivingly connected to a moveable brushing member, the brush motor having a brush motor axis. The surface cleaning head may include a cyclone assembly having a cyclone chamber and a dirt collection chamber exterior to the cyclone chamber and positioned forward or rearward of the cyclone chamber. The cyclone may have a longitudinal cyclone axis. The surface cleaning head may include a suction motor having a first end, a second end and a suction motor axis extending between the first and second ends. An upper portion may be mounted to the surface cleaning head between a storage position and a floor cleaning position, and may include drive handle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2014
    Publication date: June 23, 2016
    Inventor: Wayne Ernest Conrad
  • Publication number: 20160174792
    Abstract: A cleaner head for a vacuum cleaner including a housing, a roller and a wheel assembly arranged to support the cleaner head on a surface such that the roller is held out of pressing engagement with the surface. The roller is arranged to rotate with respect to the housing and the wheel assembly includes a first wheel which is arranged to drive the roller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2014
    Publication date: June 23, 2016
    Applicant: Dyson Technology Limited
    Inventors: Heidi WILLIAMSON, Stephen Robert DIMBYLOW, Donald James MCINTOSH, Gerard Matthew SHEVLIN
  • Publication number: 20160174793
    Abstract: A vacuum cleaner attachment generally includes a cleaning element that floats relative to a suction conduit of the vacuum cleaner attachment. The cleaning element is supported on a support structure that is movably coupled to a housing and is biased towards a floor, for example, as a result of the weight of the cleaning element support structure. The cleaning element may be permanently attached to the support structure or may be a removable or disposable pad or sheet attached to the support structure. The floating cleaning element may be supported between the suction conduit and one or more wheels of the vacuum cleaner attachment. The vacuum cleaner attachment may be removably attached to a vacuum cleaner, for example, to be used interchangeably with other surface cleaning heads.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2015
    Publication date: June 23, 2016
    Inventors: Brian Burke, William Liberis, Jason B. Thorne, Charlie Cai, Peter Hutchinson, Andre David Brown, Kai Xu, Brian M. Bond
  • Publication number: 20160174794
    Abstract: An all in the head surface cleaning apparatus may include a surface cleaning head having an air flow path extending from a dirty air inlet to a clean air outlet. The surface cleaning head may include a cyclone including a cyclone chamber and a longitudinal cyclone axis. The surface cleaning head may include a pre-motor filter chamber housing a pre-motor filter. The pre-motor filter may have an upstream face, a downstream face and a pre-motor filter axis that is generally parallel to the upstream and/or downstream face. The surface cleaning apparatus may have a suction motor having a first end, a second end, a suction motor inlet and a suction motor axis extending between the first and second ends. The cyclone axis may be oriented generally transverse to a forward direction of travel and the pre-motor filter axis may be generally parallel to the forward direction of travel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2014
    Publication date: June 23, 2016
    Inventor: Wayne Ernest Conrad
  • Publication number: 20160174795
    Abstract: An all in the head surface cleaning apparatus may have a surface cleaning head including a front end, a rear end, first and second laterally opposed sidewalls. The surface cleaning head may include a cyclone assembly comprising a cyclone chamber and a dirt collection chamber. The cyclone chamber may have a longitudinal cyclone axis, a cyclone assembly air inlet port and a cyclone assembly air outlet port. The cyclone assembly may be moveable from a cleaning position to a cyclone assembly removal position. The surface cleaning head may include a biasing member biasing the cyclone assembly away from the cleaning position, and a suction motor having a suction motor air inlet and a suction motor axis. The apparatus may include an upper portion moveably mounted to the surface cleaning head between a storage position and a floor cleaning position, the upper portion comprising a drive handle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2014
    Publication date: June 23, 2016
    Inventors: Jason B. Thorne, Wayne Ernest Conrad, Barry Xu, Roger Chen, Peter Hutchinson, Robert Xu, Dave Petersen
  • Publication number: 20160174796
    Abstract: An all in the head surface cleaning apparatus may include a surface cleaning head having an air flow path extending from a dirty air inlet to a clean air outlet and a brush motor drivingly connected to a moveable brushing member and the brush motor may have a brush motor axis. The surface cleaning head may include a cyclone comprising a cyclone chamber and a dirt collection chamber external to the cyclone chamber. The cyclone may have a longitudinal cyclone axis. The surface cleaning head may have a suction motor having a first end, a second end and a suction motor axis extending between the first and second ends. The suction, cyclone and brush motor axes may be generally parallel. The cyclone chamber may have an air outlet end that is opposed to and faces an air inlet end of the suction motor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2014
    Publication date: June 23, 2016
    Inventor: Wayne Ernest Conrad
  • Publication number: 20160174797
    Abstract: An all in the head surface cleaning apparatus can include a surface cleaning head having a brush motor that can be drivingly connected to a moveable brushing member. The brush motor may have a brush motor axis. The surface cleaning head can include a cyclone comprising a cyclone chamber. The cyclone may have a longitudinal cyclone axis. The surface cleaning head can include a suction motor having a first end, a second end. A suction motor axis may extend between the first and second ends. At least a portion of the brush motor may be located between the first and second ends of the suction motor. An upper portion may be moveably mounted to the surface cleaning head between a storage position and a floor cleaning position, the upper portion comprising a drive handle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2014
    Publication date: June 23, 2016
    Inventor: Wayne Ernest Conrad
  • Publication number: 20160174798
    Abstract: An all in the head surface cleaning apparatus includes a surface cleaning head having a lower surface having a dirty air inlet. The surface cleaning head may include a brush motor drivingly connected to a movable brushing member having a brush motor axis. The surface cleaning head may include a cyclone comprising a cyclone chamber having a longitudinal cyclone axis. The surface cleaning head may include a suction motor having a first end, a second end and a suction motor axis extending between the first and second ends. The surface cleaning head may include a bleed valve having an inlet end, an outlet end and a body extending between the inlet and outlet ends. The body may have a bleed valve axis. The bleed valve axis may be generally parallel to at least one of the cyclone chamber axis, the suction motor axis and the brush motor axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2014
    Publication date: June 23, 2016
    Inventors: Jason B. Thorne, Wayne Ernest Conrad, Barry Xu, Roger Chen, Peter Hutchinson, Robert Xu, Dave Petersen
  • Publication number: 20160174799
    Abstract: A surface cleaning head has a cyclone assembly with a cyclone assembly air inlet port and a cyclone assembly air outlet port, a first air flow path extending from a dirty air inlet to the cyclone assembly air inlet port, and a second air flow path extending from the cyclone assembly air outlet port to a suction motor air inlet. The cyclone assembly moveable from a cleaning position in which the cyclone assembly air inlet port is in communication with an outlet port of the first air flow path and cyclone assembly air outlet port is in communication with an inlet port of the second air flow path to a removal position in which the cyclone assembly air inlet port is spaced from the outlet port of the first air flow path and cyclone assembly air outlet port is spaced from the inlet port of the second air flow path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2014
    Publication date: June 23, 2016
    Inventors: Jason B. Thorne, Wayne Ernest Conrad, Barry Xu, Roger Chen, Peter Hutchinson, Robert Xu, Dave Petersen
  • Publication number: 20160174800
    Abstract: An all in the head surface cleaning apparatus can include a surface cleaning head having an air flow path extending from a dirty air inlet to a clean air outlet. The surface cleaning head can include a cyclone assembly comprising a cyclone chamber and a dirt collection chamber. The cyclone chamber may have a longitudinal cyclone axis, a cyclone air inlet and a cyclone air outlet. The dirt collection chamber may be moveable between an in use position and an emptying position. The surface cleaning head may include a pre-motor filter chamber and a suction motor. At least one of the pre-motor filter and a pre-motor filter chamber may be visible when the dirt collection chamber is in the emptying position. An upper portion may be mounted to the surface cleaning head between a storage position and a floor cleaning position, and may include a drive handle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2014
    Publication date: June 23, 2016
    Inventor: Wayne Ernest Conrad
  • Publication number: 20160174801
    Abstract: An all in the head surface cleaning apparatus may include a surface cleaning head and a drive handle. The surface cleaning head may include a front end, a rear end, first and second laterally opposed sidewalls and a drive handle mounting hub positioned rearward of the rear end. The drive handle may be moveably mounted to the mounting hub between a storage position and an inclined floor cleaning position. The surface cleaning head may include a brush motor drivingly connected to a moveable brushing member. The brush motor may have a brush motor axis. The surface cleaning head may include a cyclone assembly having a cyclone chamber and a dirt collection chamber. The cyclone may have a longitudinal cyclone axis. The surface cleaning head may include a suction motor having a first end, a second end and a suction motor axis extending between the first and second ends.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2014
    Publication date: June 23, 2016
    Inventor: Wayne Ernest Conrad