Mops And Heads Patents (Class 15/228)
  • Patent number: 12274407
    Abstract: A frame system for a modular construction of flat mop cleaning device frames including a first carrier plate having a first length in a longitudinal direction and a first width in a transverse direction, and a second carrier plate having a second length in the longitudinal direction different from the first length and a second width in the transverse direction corresponding to the first width. The frame system includes a third carrier plate having a third length in the longitudinal direction different from the first and second length, and a third width in the transverse direction corresponding to the first and second width. The frame system further includes a first clamp forming longitudinal delimitations of the first, second and third carrier plates and a second clamp forming longitudinal delimitations of the third carrier plate. The second clamp has a greater length than the first clamp.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2025
    Assignee: CARL FREUDENBERG KG
    Inventors: Carlo Messineo, Felix Fallenstein, Nikolai Sand, Maik Bieganski, Ralf Juergens
  • Patent number: 12256878
    Abstract: This cleaning tool has a shape that includes an angle, a flat bottom surface and rounded front protuberances, and can be attached to any pole, either directly at the cleaning tool's receiving opening, or using the provided adaptor between the cleaning tool and pole. The cleaning tool is covered with a washable and removable microfiber sock, or a sanding or scrubbing pad is attached to hook material on the flat side of the tool. When the cleaning tool is attached to the opposite end of a painter's pole from the paint roller, a painter can seamlessly paint and clean errant drips without switching tools, by reversing the assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2025
    Inventor: Frank Passafiume
  • Patent number: 12226990
    Abstract: A wipe structure of stitch bonded construction incorporating at least one inner layer of cellulose tissue disposed in sandwiched relation between a first discontinuous cover layer of spunbonded polypropylene fleece and a second discontinuous cover layer of spunbonded polypropylene fleece such that the inner layer, the first discontinuous cover layer and the second discontinuous cover layer form a stacked composite and a plurality of stitching yarns extending in stitched relation through the stacked composite.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2025
    Assignee: TIETEX INTERNATIONAL, LTD.
    Inventor: Martin Wildeman
  • Patent number: 12128802
    Abstract: Disclosed are a vehicle seat cover made of an artificial suede. The vehicle seat cover includes a top layer provided in the top portion, a bottom layer provided in the bottom portion, and a intermediate layer positioned between the top layer and the bottom layer. Each of the layers has a tricot texture, and the top layer includes the first yarn having a configuration in which the dope dyed microfiber yarn and the first high shrinkage yarn are interlaced. Thus, the suede material may have superior friction fastness and the light fastness and the vehicle seat cover is manufactured at less cost than a vehicle seat cover made of a conventional artificial suede.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2024
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Corporation, LX HAUSYS, Ltd.
    Inventors: Gun Kang, Won Jin Seo, Hye Min Lee, Myoung Ryoul Lee, Yong Bae Jung, Chang Hoon Lee, Kyung Hak Kang, De Eun Park, Gyu Suk Lee
  • Patent number: 12048404
    Abstract: A mop pad, a flat headed mop, and a surface cleaning system is provided. The mop pad comprising a cleaning layer configured to remove contaminants from a surface being cleaned. A backing layer is coupled to the cleaning layer, the backing layer having a fastener configured to couple the backing layer to a mop head. At least one insert member coupled between at least one of the backing layer and the cleaning layer, the at least one insert being arranged adjacent an end of the mop pad.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2024
    Assignee: Unger Marketing International, LLC
    Inventors: Robert F. Smith, Joseph K. Patterson
  • Patent number: 12029363
    Abstract: A floor cleaning head body includes: a cleaning head body having at least one suction port at the bottom; a base plate; a water supply tank mounted to the cleaning head body and located above the base plate; a water distributor mounted to the base plate; and a communicating tube. The water supply tank includes a venting hole in communication with the exterior. A first chamber is provided inside the water supply tank, and a water outlet is provided at the bottom of the water supply tank. The water distributor includes a housing, a water inlet provided at the top of the housing, a second chamber formed inside the housing, and a water outlet hole provided at the bottom of the housing. The first chamber, the water outlet, the water inlet, and the second chamber are in communication sequentially.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2024
    Assignee: SEB S.A.
    Inventors: Zhuang Bian, Pierre-Louis Bodin
  • Patent number: 11975366
    Abstract: A pre-loaded cleaning substrate, and related systems and methods for picking up particles with an aspect ratio (L/D) greater than 300 (e.g., hair), or greater than 1200 (e.g., particularly long hairs). The substrate (e.g., a nonwoven) may include only a single layer of material. The pre-loaded substrate is loaded (e.g., during manufacture) with a cleaning composition. The fibers of the substrate may have an average diameter less than 15 ?m, the substrate may have an air permeability of 35 ft3/min to 75 ft3/min, and the liquid cleaning composition may have a surface tension of less than about 50 dynes/cm. Together, the combination of the particular substrate and cleaning composition may facilitate markedly improved ability to pick up high L/D aspect ratio particle debris (e.g., such as hair), while retaining such particles (e.g., providing hair retention index values of at least 20).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: THE CLOROX COMPANY
    Inventors: Ashish K. Jha, Nikhil P. Dani, David R. Scheuing, Nancy A. Falk, Bryan K. Parrish
  • Patent number: 11930976
    Abstract: An autonomous floor cleaning robot includes a robot body, a drive supporting the robot body to maneuver the robot across a floor surface, a pad holder attached to an underside of the robot body and configured to receive a removable cleaning pad, and a pad sensor configured to sense a pad type identifier on a central region of the cleaning pad. The pad type identifier includes a marker on the central region of the cleaning pad. The cleaning pad has a mounting card affixed thereto, and the pad type identifier includes an array of apertures that expose selected portions of the marker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: iRobot Corporation
    Inventors: John Reimels, Marcus R. Williams, Adam Goss, Isaac Fowler, Lucile Driscoll
  • Patent number: 11871885
    Abstract: A mop head with a structural base and a resilient, compressible cover defining an internal void volume forming a reservoir that can be at least partially filled with a cleaning liquid through a surface opening in the cover. The structural base includes one or more liquid discharge channels which are normally closed off by spring-biased stopper members to prevent discharge of the cleaning liquid. The cleaning liquid may be selectively discharged by application of compressing force against the cover during use. The application of such compressing force displaces the stopper members thereby opening the liquid discharge channels and permitting the cleaning liquid to flow outwardly through the discharge channels and away from the mop head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: CONTEC INC.
    Inventors: Layne Ross, Preston Roe
  • Patent number: 11864703
    Abstract: A method of cleaning a floor includes providing a floor cleaning apparatus with a cleaning pad having at least two parallel strips of material including at least one strip of relatively lower absorbency material, and at least one strip of relatively higher absorbency material. All of the strips of relatively lower absorbency material and relatively higher absorbency material are substantially equal height and form a substantially coplanar floor engaging surface. The floor engaging surface has a total surface area formed by the strips of relatively lower absorbency material and relatively higher absorbency material that comprise most of the total surface area of the floor engaging surface. A cleaning pad displacement apparatus is also provided. The method of cleaning the floor further incudes displacing the cleaning pad across the floor with the cleaning pad displacement apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: Bonakemi USA, Incorporated
    Inventor: Todd Weyhmiller
  • Patent number: 11825933
    Abstract: A liquid-permeable brush roll may include a main body having a radial surface, a cavity having an open end, a stopper removably coupled to the main body at the open end of the cavity, and one or more weep holes defined in the radial surface of the main body and fluidly coupled to the cavity. The cavity extends within the main body and is configured to store a cleaning fluid therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: SharkNinja Operating LLC
    Inventors: Marian Heman-Ackah, Douglas Petro
  • Patent number: 11800962
    Abstract: A mop base that is particularly practical in its use, above all when releasing a cloth retained along its transverse edges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Inventor: Marco Zorzo
  • Patent number: 11791028
    Abstract: A system enables management of dispensable units by supporting functions such as retrieval, scheduled distribution, analysis, and notifications. To this end, a dispensable retrieval mechanism may be programmed to carry out blind retrievals of dispensable units using a retrieval strategy with a predetermined sequence of retrieval attempts (e.g., fixed or varying two-dimensional retrieval patterns), which may be open loop or closed loop. Techniques may also include the identification of dispensable units through optical sensors and weight measurement devices that can detect, e.g., a texture, a shape, and a size of dispensable units. Such identification can be used to program retrieval attempts by a retrieval robot and in the formulation of the retrieval pattern. Additionally, networked notification systems for dispensable units can be used for updating rules or schedules related to the dispensable units, or alerting users and remote resources of any potential misuse or hazards of the dispensable units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: Hero Health Inc.
    Inventors: Kutadgu Akdogan, Christian Von Heifner, Maya Kelley, Greggory Paul Hagopian, Kalyan C. Vepuri
  • Patent number: 11779166
    Abstract: A bath scrubber includes an elongated handle, a scrubbing member, and a tightening member. The handle has a positioning structure at one end thereof, a first side and a second side opposite to the first side. The positioning structure includes a first position-limiting hole and a second position-limiting hole run through the first side and the second side, and a first anti-slip portion located between the first and second position-limiting holes. The first and second position-limiting holes and the first anti-slip portion are arranged on an axis. The tightening member is fastened to the scrubbing member and inserted through the first and second position-limiting holes to fix the scrubbing member on the handle and to make the scrubbing member engage in the first anti-slip portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: OLIVETTE INDUSTRIES CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Che-Yuan Chang
  • Patent number: 11759084
    Abstract: A hard surface cleaning and conditioning assembly is provided that includes a pole having a lower section and an upper section; an adjusting device securing the upper and lower sections to one another in a telescoping manner; a tool depending from the lower section; a conditioning agent dispensing device depending from the lower section; a trigger depending from the upper section; and a telescoping trigger assembly operatively connecting the dispensing device to the trigger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: Unger Marketing International, LLC
    Inventors: William Harrington, John A. Triunfo, Jr., Paul H. Adams, Robert F. Smith, Joseph K. Patterson
  • Patent number: 11589724
    Abstract: An autonomous floor cleaning robot includes a robot body, a drive supporting the robot body to maneuver the robot across a floor surface, a pad holder attached to an underside of the robot body and configured to receive a removable cleaning pad, and a pad sensor configured to sense a pad type identifier on a central region of the cleaning pad. The pad type identifier includes a marker on the central region of the cleaning pad. The cleaning pad has a mounting card affixed thereto, and the pad type identifier includes an array of apertures that expose selected portions of the marker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: iRobot Corporation
    Inventors: John Reimels, Marcus R. Williams, Adam Goss, Isaac Fowler, Lucile Driscoll
  • Patent number: 11577281
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for cleaning press rolls for electrodes, comprising two or more cleaning units provided with cleaning members having grains. According to the present invention, the apparatus for cleaning press rolls for electrodes comprises a plurality of, i.e., two or more, cleaning units, wherein the cleaning units respectively comprise cleaning members having grains with different directions, thus allowing a residual cleaning solution and contaminants to be effectively removed. In addition, when press rolls are cleaned using the apparatus for cleaning press rolls according to the present invention, an aqueous cleaning solution and an alcoholic cleaning solution, which have different properties, can be used together, and after cleaning, the cleaning solutions do not remain on the press rolls, and thus subsequently, secondary contamination of electrodes is prevented, and accordingly, when electrodes are manufactured, the occurrence of defects in the electrodes can be reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Inventors: Seung Gi Yang, Kun Ha Park, Ung Ju Lee
  • Patent number: 11564547
    Abstract: A cleaning pad includes a mounting surface disposed on a top side of the cleaning pad. The mounting surface is configured to provide a mechanical connection to an autonomous cleaning robot. The cleaning pad includes a first outer layer disposed on a bottom side of the cleaning pad, the first outer layer having a first coefficient of friction; and a second outer layer disposed on the bottom side of the cleaning pad, the second outer layer having a second coefficient of friction less than the first coefficient of friction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: iRobot Corporation
    Inventor: Brian Lucas
  • Patent number: 11541431
    Abstract: A pre-loaded cleaning substrate, and related systems and methods for picking up particles with an aspect ratio (L/D) greater than 300 (e.g., hair), or greater than 1200 (e.g., particularly long hairs). The substrate (e.g., a nonwoven) may include only a single layer of material. The pre-loaded substrate is loaded (e.g., during manufacture) with a cleaning composition. The fibers of the substrate may have an average diameter less than 15 ?m, the substrate may have an air permeability of 35 ft3/min to 75 ft3/min, and the liquid cleaning composition may have a surface tension of less than about 50 dynes/cm. Together, the combination of the particular substrate and cleaning composition may facilitate markedly improved ability to pick up high L/D aspect ratio particle debris (e.g., such as hair), while retaining such particles (e.g., providing hair retention index values of at least 20).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: The Clorox Company
    Inventors: Ashish K. Jha, Nikhil P. Dani, David R. Scheuing, Nancy A. Falk, Bryan K. Parrish
  • Patent number: 11517169
    Abstract: A surface cleaning device comprises a cleaning head having a housing, a fluid tank configured to store fluid and be in fluid communication with the cleaning head, a cleaning pad coupled to the cleaning head and configured to remove debris from a surface, and a plurality of nozzles distributed along the cleaning pad, wherein the fluid tank is configured to release at least some of the fluid such that the released fluid flows through the plurality of nozzles onto the cleaning pad.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: ONTEL PRODUCTS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Ashok Khubani
  • Patent number: 11503977
    Abstract: Pre-moistened cleaning pads, for example floor cleaning pads, that are suitable for attachment to an implement, such as a cleaning pad holder and handle, wherein the pre-moistened cleaning pads have an attachment portion comprising pulp fibers and a liquid composition, and methods for making same are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company LLC
    Inventors: Cunming Song, Hailing Bao, Antonius Lambertus DeBeer
  • Patent number: 11471021
    Abstract: An anti-detachment device for the tabs for a cleaning cloth is associated with the relative base which is able to ensure they remain in place during the relative cleaning operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Inventor: Marco Zorzo
  • Patent number: 11433431
    Abstract: A pre-loaded cleaning substrate, and related systems and methods for picking up particles with an aspect ratio (L/D) greater than 300 (e.g., hair), or greater than 1200 (e.g., particularly long hairs). The substrate (e.g., a nonwoven) may include only a single layer of material. The pre-loaded substrate is loaded (e.g., during manufacture) with a cleaning composition. The fibers of the substrate may have an average diameter less than 15 ?m, the substrate may have an air permeability of 35 ft3/min to 75 ft3/min, and the liquid cleaning composition may have a surface tension of less than about 50 dynes/cm. Together, the combination of the particular substrate and cleaning composition may facilitate markedly improved ability to pick up high L/D aspect ratio particle debris (e.g., such as hair), while retaining such particles (e.g., providing hair retention index values of at least 20).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: The Clorox Company
    Inventors: Ashish K. Jha, Nikhil P. Dani, David R. Scheuing, Nancy A. Falk, Bryan K. Parrish
  • Patent number: 11406241
    Abstract: A disposable cleaning pad having a grout cleaning brush includes a bristle attachment for use with a disposable pad. The bristle attachment is molded into a rectangular base piece forming a stand-alone removable brush that can be removably attached to a disposable pad. A top rectangular piece of similar dimensions to the base is connected to the end portion of the base by way of a hinge. The ends opposite the hinge have mating clasps that allow for the brush assembly to be securely yet removably fastened to an existing cleaning pad which is then mounted in the normal manner to the cleaning system. The brush assembly enjoys a longer life than that expected from a disposable cleaning pad thus the brush assembly may be reused many times before it needs to be replaced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Inventor: Leonard Pellegrino
  • Patent number: 11311166
    Abstract: A surface cleaning apparatus has a fluid distribution system for storing and delivering fluid to a surface to be cleaned, and includes a steam nozzle in fluid communication with a steam generator. A pad mounting plate is adapted to mount a cleaning pad to the apparatus, and has a steam orifice in fluid communication with the steam nozzle. A flexible seal is provided between the steam nozzle and the pad mounting plate to seals a space between the steam nozzle and the steam orifice to prevent steam leaks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: BISSELL Inc.
    Inventors: Kan Yuk Yiu, Jian Yun Pi
  • Patent number: 11297996
    Abstract: A floor mop including a handle, a shaft coupled to the handle, a multidirectional joint coupled to the shaft opposite the handle, and a mop plate. The mop plate is unitarily formed and includes an upper plate including an upper surface, a substantially parallel lower plate including a lower surface, lateral faces extending between the upper and lower plate, and at least one internal web extending between the upper and lower plates. The upper plate, lower plate, lateral faces and at least one internal web are unitarily formed. The mop plate and the multidirectional joint further include complementary coupling structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: Carl Freudenberg KG
    Inventors: Doug Metzel, Eric Wehrli
  • Patent number: 11272822
    Abstract: A pad particularly adapted for surface cleaning. The pad includes an absorbent core having the ability to absorb and retain liquid material, and a liner layer in contact with and covering at least one side of the absorbent core. The liner layer has the ability to retain and wick liquid material through the liner layer. Cleaning apparatus containing such pads and methods of using such pads are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2022
    Assignee: iRobot Corporation
    Inventors: Michael J. Dooley, Nikolai Romanov, Marcus Williams, Joseph M. Johnson
  • Patent number: 11071433
    Abstract: A self-wringing foam cotton mop includes a mop rod and a foam cotton head connected to a bottom end of the mop rod. A wringing frame is disposed on the mop rod. During mopping, the foam cotton head is separated from the wringing frame. A squeezing mechanism capable is disposed on the wringing frame. The position of the squeezing mechanism when the foam cotton head is moved up relative to the wringing frame is different from the position of the squeezing mechanism when the foam cotton head is moved down relative to the wringing frame, and a first amount of deformation generated by the foam cotton head during an upward movement of the foam cotton head relative to the wringing frame is greater than the second amount of deformation generated by the foam cotton head during a downward movement of the foam cotton head relative to the wringing frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Assignee: Ningbo Blue Fish Home Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Min He, Jian Wu
  • Patent number: 11027580
    Abstract: A wheel for an autonomous cleaning robot that maneuvers the robot on a floor surface includes a tire having first and second opposing outer edges and a middle portion having a tread pattern between the first and second outer edges, the tread pattern comprising a plurality of raised tread having trenches therebetween. Each of the plurality of raised tread includes a first raised tread portion extending from the first outer edge to the middle portion and substantially perpendicular to the first and second outer edges; a second raised tread portion extending at an angle away from the first raised tread portion; and a third raised tread portion extending from the second raised tread portion to the second outer edge and substantially perpendicular to the first and second outer edges, the third raised tread portion being laterally offset from the first raised tread portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: iRobot Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher Robin Grace, Lindsay Louise Wright, Timothy James Haughton, Marcus R. Williams, John Reimels, Timothy William Fleck
  • Patent number: 11019977
    Abstract: The invention relates to a cleaning head, comprising: —a base part with a central axis; and —a number of arms extending radially with respect to the central axis each having a first end that is connected to said base part, and a second free end, wherein said second end is displaceable between a starting position in which the second end of the arms is near the central axis, and a use mode wherein the second end of the arms is at a position remote from the central axis, and wherein the second ends of the arms in the use mode are in a same plane as said base part. The cleaning head is characterized in that the arms in de use mode are bendable in tangential direction with respect to each other around said base part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Inventor: Boudali Bahri
  • Patent number: 10842343
    Abstract: A cleaning tool incorporating a resilient mop head having an attachment assembly extending away from the mop head for operative connection to an elongated handle structure. An adjustable force applicator is disposed in substantially coaxial relation to the elongated handle structure between the handle structure and the attachment assembly. Adjustment of the force applicator by a user permits the application of variable compressive force against the attachment assembly thereby controlling the degree of permitted mop head movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: CONTEC INC.
    Inventor: Donald L. Batts
  • Patent number: 10617273
    Abstract: A cleaning article. The cleaning article has a laminate construction. The cleaning article has a width and comprises a sheet, having an inwardly oriented face and an outwardly oriented face opposed thereto. An absorbent core is joined to one face of the sheet. A hydrophilic gather strip element having strips is joined to the sheet. The core has a core width and the gather strip element has a gather strip width which is greater than the core width. The differential widths provide a construction which allows the strips to advantageously present a dynamically changing area to the target surface during cleaning, under normal usage conditions. By changing the surface area, more liquids, and associated debris, can be cleaned from the target surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventor: Nicola John Policicchio
  • Patent number: 10518291
    Abstract: A device and method for applying a material to a surface to repair, restore or refurbish at least a portion of the surface. The device has a sensor and one or more applicator nozzles. The device further includes a reservoir for containing a material to be deposited, and a CPU. The method includes providing information from the sensor about the surface to the CPU, which uses the information to identify where the material is to be deposited and/or how much to deposit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Stephan Gary Bush, Ted De Castro, Dana Paul Gruenbacher, Kenneth Lee Morand, Thomas Elliot Rabe, Faiz Feisal Sherman, Todd Michael Wernicke
  • Patent number: 10433701
    Abstract: A mop head includes a main body portion and first and second ear portions connected to the main body portion. The ear portions each have flat bottom surface that is coplanar with a flat bottom surface of the main body portion when the ear portion is in an undeflected state. The ear portions are resiliently deflectable relative the main body portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: BONAKEMI USA, INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Kristi Correll, Paul Fair, Jamie Kummerfield
  • Patent number: 10390673
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides cleaning robot, including a cleaning agent mopping device (1), a cleaning agent absorbing device (2), a water wiping (3) and washing device (4), and a water absorbing device arranged in turn along a moving direction of the cleaning robot. Each time when the cleaning robot of the present disclosure works to clean the to-be-cleaned surface, the cleaning robot can perform the four steps including cleaning agent mopping, cleaning agent absorbing, water wiping and washing, and water absorbing, thus, both hydrolysable and non-hydrolysable stains can be effectively cleaned by the cleaning robot. Thus, the cleaning robot is very practical, easy to operate, and simple to use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: SHENZHEN TOPBAND CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Feng Liang, Shilin Liang
  • Patent number: 10327615
    Abstract: A surface cleaning apparatus has a fluid distribution system for storing and delivering fluid to a surface to be cleaned, and includes a steam nozzle in fluid communication with a steam generator. A pad mounting plate is adapted to mount a cleaning pad to the apparatus, and has a steam orifice in fluid communication with the steam nozzle. A flexible seal is provided between the steam nozzle and the pad mounting plate to seals a space between the steam nozzle and the steam orifice to prevent steam leaks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: BISSELL Homecare, Inc.
    Inventors: Gang Huang, Jian Yun Pi
  • Patent number: 10231593
    Abstract: A cleaning pad including at least one strip of relatively lower absorbency material, at least one strip of relatively higher absorbency material and at least one strip of scrubbing/bristle material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: BONAKEMI USA, INCORPORATED
    Inventor: Todd Weyhmiller
  • Patent number: 10219673
    Abstract: A surface cleaning apparatus, and in particular a steam mop, comprises a steam generator and a steam outlet fluidly connected to the steam generator to deliver steam to a floor surface. Steam from the steam generator can be applied to a cleaning composition applied to a stain on the floor surface. The cleaning composition can be applied directly to the floor surface, or indirectly via a cleaning pad.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: BISSELL Homecare, Inc.
    Inventors: Jay M. Kellis, Kevin Haley, Jeffrey A. Scholten, Joseph Michael White
  • Patent number: 9994198
    Abstract: A cleaning implement has one or more strategically placed brushes, stubs and/or permanent/disposable towels which engage the surfaces of a movable surface (including wheels or tires), and unique mechanical motion assistance means powered by motion, inertia and/or mechanical/electrical batteries to allow for the cleaning of a wheel or tire with a single hand operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Inventor: Eduardo Emanuelli
  • Patent number: 9974381
    Abstract: A device for cleaning debris from a target surface. The device has a sole plate with permanent cleaning material, such as bristles, and a removable/replaceable pad. The device also has a replaceable, on-board supply of cleaning solution. The pad/cleaning solution may be replaced when depleted and replaced with a new pad/cleaning solution or may simply be replaced with a new pad/cleaning solution when that pad/cleaning solution is more suitable for a particular cleaning task.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: The procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Adam Robert-George Shafer, David William Schuller, Igor Ivanovich Zemskov, Rainer Bernhard Teufel, Richard Lee Lane, Sun-Jan Alan Huang
  • Patent number: 9962056
    Abstract: A self-wringing flat mop includes a flat mop head, a mop handle and a holding sleeve. The mop handle includes a connection rod, a holding rod, and a transmission assembly. The holding rod is operated to rotate. The transmission assembly transmits rotation to the connection rod. The connection rod drives the flat mop head to collapse and wring out water. The transmission assembly includes a first engaging member and a second engaging member for undertaking engagement-disengagement actions. The holding rod includes a limiting rib. The holding sleeve sleeves the mop handle and includes a control lever. The control lever is turned pivotally with respect to the holding sleeve to separate the first engaging member from the second engaging member and restore the collapsed flat mop head to the flattened state. The holding sleeve includes a unidirectional limiting ring corresponding to the limiting rib.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: JIAXING JACKSON TRAVEL PRODUCTS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Xue Lin Zhu
  • Patent number: 9955842
    Abstract: A flat wiping cloth for a wiping cloth holder includes an elongated base. The elongated base includes a main cleaning surface and a sheetlike textile material. The sheetlike textile material does not include a base fabric with threads attached to the main cleaning surface. At least one cleaning lip is formed on the elongated base. The at least one cleaning lip is swivelable relative to the elongated base about a swiveling region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: CARL FREUDENBERG KG
    Inventors: Andreas Eisenhut, Ulla Reiman, Ari Saari, Dennis Smeijer
  • Patent number: 9782055
    Abstract: A cleaning device having a frame and an elongated strip of cleaning material wound into a roll rotatably mounted on a roller support. A slave roller having a core and a cylindrical tube disposed over the core is mounted to the frame so that the slave roller is spaced and parallel to the roll. A torsion spring is secured to and between the core and the tube so that, as the tube rotates relative to the core, the spring is wound. The strip of cleaning material is wound in between the roll and slave roller so that, upon rotation of the first roller in a first rotational direction, the cleaning material is unwound from the slave roller onto the roll while simultaneously winding the torsion spring. Upon disengagement of the first roller from the cleaning surface, the torsion spring rotatably drives the slave roller and rewinds the portion of the strip around the tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Inventor: Peter John P. Williamson
  • Patent number: 9725012
    Abstract: A robotic cleaner includes a cleaning assembly for cleaning a surface and a main robot body. The main robot body houses a drive system to cause movement of the robotic cleaner and a microcontroller to control the movement of the robotic cleaner. The cleaning assembly is located in front of the drive system and a width of the cleaning assembly is greater than a width of the main robot body. A robotic cleaning system includes a main robot body and a plurality of cleaning assemblies for cleaning a surface. The main robot body houses a drive system to cause movement of the robotic cleaner and a microcontroller to control the movement of the robotic cleaner. The cleaning assembly is located in front of the drive system and each of the cleaning assemblies is detachable from the main robot body and each of the cleaning assemblies has a unique cleaning function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: iRobot Corporation
    Inventors: Nikolai Romanov, Michael Dooley, Paolo Pirjanian
  • Patent number: 9649004
    Abstract: In a first aspect, the present invention provides a steam cleaning device, the device comprising a supply of water for generating steam, and a steam cleaning head for ejecting steam generated from said supply of water in proximity to a surface to be cleaned, wherein the steam cleaning head comprises a portion for receiving a composition adapted to be used in conjunction with such a steam cleaning device, the portion being perfused by steam during ejection by said steam cleaning head of steam generated from said supply of water. This has the advantage that the composition may be changed by a user dependent only on the user's requirements and the rate of consumption of the composition, and independently of both the rate of consumption of water by the steam cleaning device and any need to remove, clean or replace a cleaning cloth mounted on the steam cleaning head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: BLACK & DECKER INC.
    Inventors: Stephen Houghton, Kevin Appleby, Christopher Hussey
  • Patent number: 9474429
    Abstract: A filter bucket and a mop bucket movable between an upstanding use position and a drain position where, when the mop bucket is in the drain position, water in the mop bucket drains into the filter bucket. A fluid flow path connecting the filter bucket to the mop bucket such that water in the filter bucket will flow through the fluid flow path from the filter bucket to the mop bucket. A filter located in the fluid flow path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: Rubbermaid Commercial Products, LLC
    Inventors: Matthew Scott Kepner, Frank Wang, Kevin Fitzpatrick, Kim Chow
  • Patent number: 9433333
    Abstract: A duster including a sleeve and one or more fibrous bundles attached to the sleeve. The sleeve is constructed to include one or more channels within the interior of the sleeve for receiving prongs of a duster handle. The fibrous bundles are attached to the surface of the sleeve or through the sleeve. The channels within the sleeve may include one or more narrowing areas to facilitate retention of the prongs within the sleeve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: EZ PRODUCTS OF SOUTH FLORIDA, L.L.C.
    Inventor: Joseph M Colangelo
  • Patent number: 9339165
    Abstract: A pad for cleaning a hard target surface. The pad may be removably attached to a device for cleaning debris from a target surface. The pad has a predetermined 90 degree peel force to prevent undue removal force from the device and prevent the pad from coming loose during the cleaning task.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Kerry Andrew Vetter, David John Hoying, Roberto Manuel Matos, Mimi Gizaw Daniel, Hirotaka Uchiyama
  • Patent number: 9307883
    Abstract: A mop includes a first section having a first side, a second section having a second side, and an embedded, semi-permeable layer disposed between the first and second sections to manage an amount of liquid flowing from the first side to the second side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: Diversey, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew M. Bober, Alfred A. Widmer, Thomas Tement, Pedro Manuel Esteves Lopes, Mehmet Avci
  • Mop
    Patent number: 9226638
    Abstract: A mop is disclosed. The mop comprises a mop head (1), a mop shank (2) and a joint (3) connecting the mop head (1) and the mop shank (2), wherein the mop head (1) comprises a cleaning face which is disposed to enable at least one part of the cleaning face to be dynamically switched relative to the other parts thereof, for forming a coplanar state or a non-coplanar state with the other parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Feng Zeng, Weilai Jiang, Liang Cheng, Gianmauro Vella