Rotary Patents (Class 15/230)
  • Patent number: 11231085
    Abstract: A low tension belt drive system, comprising a first pulley driven by a drive mechanism; a drive belt connected between a second pulley and the first pulley, the drive belt having an inner surface in contact with the first and second pulleys; a load belt connected between the drive belt and a driven load, a portion of the load belt having an inner surface contacting an outer surface of the drive belt; and an idler belt having a surface a portion of which is in contact with an outer surface of the load belt, whereby the idler belt is biased against the load belt. Increased friction reduces or eliminates slippage between the load belt and the drive belt while removing the need for a tensioned or toothed load belt in order to move accurately and repeatedly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Inventor: Eric Straily
  • Patent number: 11085323
    Abstract: A tool for a slot in a gas turbine engine, according to an example of the present disclosure, includes a head configured to be received in the slot, a first pad removably bonded to the head with an adhesive, and a second pad removably bonded to the head with an adhesive and disposed opposite from the first pad.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: Raytheon Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: John Harner, Nathan C. Campagna
  • Patent number: 10786130
    Abstract: A floor cleaning machine is provided, in particular a hand-guided and/or hand-held floor cleaning machine, including a support device, at least one cleaning roller arranged on the support device, capable of being driven in rotation and provided with a cleaning substrate, said cleaning substrate being made of a textile material; and at least one mouth towards the at least one cleaning roller that includes a first and a spaced second mouth wall having a mouth opening therebetween, wherein the first mouth wall is positioned above the second mouth wall relative to the direction of gravity, wherein the first and/or second mouth wall protrude(s) into the cleaning substrate of the at least one cleaning roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: Alfred Kärcher SE & Co. KG
    Inventors: Alexander Braendle, Manuel Schulze, Fabian Moser, Moritz Irion, Swen Sorgenfrei
  • Patent number: 10758452
    Abstract: A massage attachment assembly that includes a base portion having a proximal end and a distal end, and a contact portion having a proximal end and a distal end. The base portion includes an attachment member on the proximal end that is configured to secure the base portion to a percussive massage device. The proximal end of the contact portion is removably secured to the distal end of the base portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: THREAGUN, INC.
    Inventors: Jason Wersland, Benjamin Nazarian, Jaime Sanchez Solana, Eduardo Merino
  • Patent number: 10717419
    Abstract: A treatment element for attachment to a wash media element includes a tab portion for engaging and effecting attachment to the wash media element. A treatment head is connected to the tab portion and is configured to engage a vehicle exterior. The treatment head including a plurality of individual finger portions that are moveable with respect to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Assignee: Piston OPW, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael J. Belanger, Barry S. Turner
  • Patent number: 10639764
    Abstract: A grinding apparatus includes a holding table for holding a wafer, a support table for supporting the holding table, a motor for rotating the support table, a frame member supporting the support table for rotation, and at least three support poles for supporting the frame member from the base. Each of the support poles has formed in the inside thereof a through-hole, a supply port which communicates the through-hole and an air supply source with each other, and an exhaust port which exhausts air having flowed through the through-hole toward the support table. Air is supplied into the through-hole to cool the support pole, and the air having flowed through the through-hole is exhausted toward the support table.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2020
    Assignee: DISCO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Mamoru Kawana
  • Patent number: 10636665
    Abstract: A dressing device including: a disk that has an opening on an inside, the disk dressing a polishing surface for polishing a substrate; a rotatable holder, the disk being coupled to a lower surface side of the holder, the holder being provided with a first flow passage that passes from a lower surface to an upper surface, the lower surface being inside an outer edge of the opening of the disk; and a housing that is provided with a distance from the upper surface of the holder, the housing being provided with a second flow passage in an interior, the housing being fixed such that an opening of the second flow passage faces the upper surface of the holder, the second flow passage being connected with a supply source and a suction source of process liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: EBARA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Shinozaki
  • Patent number: 10603760
    Abstract: A handheld multifunction power tool includes a driveshaft, a hub assembly, and a stem. The hub assembly includes an outer hub and an inner hub that is rotatably coupled with the inner hub and rotatable with respect to the outer hub. Rotation of the inner hub relative to the outer hub facilitates selection from among a rotary mode and a random orbital mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: Campbell Hausfeld, LLC
    Inventors: Nicholas Steven Hafele, Brandon Lee Cross
  • Patent number: 10414014
    Abstract: A handheld multifunction power tool includes a driveshaft, a hub assembly, and a stem. The hub assembly includes an outer hub and an inner hub that is rotatably coupled with the inner hub and rotatable with respect to the outer hub. Rotation of the inner hub relative to the outer hub facilitates selection from among a rotary mode and a random orbital mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignee: Campbell Hausfeld, LLC
    Inventors: Nicholas Steven Hafele, Brandon Lee Cross
  • Patent number: 10388994
    Abstract: A battery state detection device (1) includes a shunt resistor (7) and a battery post terminal (4). The shunt resistor (7) includes a second conductor part (12) in the shape of a flat plate. The battery post terminal (4) includes a battery post connecting part (20) for connection to a battery post, and a shunt resistor connecting part (22) for connection to the second conductor part (12) of the shunt resistor (7). The shunt resistor connecting part (22) is in the shape of a flat plate. The second conductor part (12) of the shunt resistor (7) and the shunt resistor connecting part (22) of the battery post terminal (4) are connected to each other by welding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignees: FURUKAWA ELECTRIC CO., LTD., FURUKAWA AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS INC.
    Inventors: Tomoaki Tanigawa, Fumitaka Iwasaki, Norihito Motosugi, Yoshikazu Tanaka
  • Patent number: 10189139
    Abstract: A surfacing tool for optical purposes, includes a body (30) for mounting the tool (10) on a surfacing machine, an elastically compressible interface (12), a flexible buff (13), and a connecting structure between the mounting body (30) and the elastically compressible interface (12). The connecting structure includes a bell (11), and a supporting body (14) between the peripheral wall (17) of the bell (11) and the periphery of the interface (12), the body (30) for mounting the tool (10) on a surfacing machine (32, 33) being connected to the main body (16) on the side opposite the side facing the interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: ESSILOR INTERNATIONAL
    Inventors: Eric Gacoin, Jonathan Saulny, Jean Stephane
  • Patent number: 10160097
    Abstract: Provided are buffing pads that have intertwined seams such that any hard or unyielding edges are covered and not exposed during a buffing or polishing process. A double-sided buffing pad for polishing surfaces comprises a backing plate; two fibrous buffing media with filaments of textiles extending therefrom that are affixed one media to each face of the backing plate; and a seam that is intertwined by a portion of the filaments from each media are intertwined. The filaments may be intertwined by needle-tacking, air entanglement, or hydro-entanglement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Aaron C. Krause, Aleksandrs Titovs
  • Patent number: 10029349
    Abstract: A retaining body for a grinding structure, in particular a grinding wheel, includes a fixing layer with a fixing surface. The fixing surface has a fixing structure configured to fix a flexible grinding structure, and includes a support body with a support surface. The support surface supports a fixing layer retaining surface that lies opposite the fixing surface, and is connected to the retaining surface. The support body is air- and dust-permeable, and includes an air- and dust-permeable material. The fixing layer is configured such that the fixing surface is substantially air- and dust-permeable in a direction that runs substantially perpendicular to the fixing surface, and such that an air flow can pass from the fixing surface through the fixing layer in a substantially perpendicular manner relative to the fixing surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Stefan Christen, Juerg Schnyder, Thomas Mathys
  • Patent number: 9750387
    Abstract: A selectively attachable buffer pad for using as an attachment to a conventional drill to buff or polish surfaces includes an attachment member which defines an elongated, rigid shank which is sized and shaped to be secured in the chuck of a conventional drill, a padded layer defining a planar body with a circular shape which is constructed out of a deformable material, and a buffer layer defining a conventional soft fiber buffing pad. Advantageously, the deformable nature of the padded layer enables selectively attachable buffer pad to transfer rotation from the attachment member to the buffer layer while also providing shock absorption. Thus, a conventional drill which is not otherwise suit for buffing or polishing is configured to accomplish the same through its attachment to the selectively attachable buffer pad.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Inventors: Darby Taylor, Monte Langley
  • Patent number: 9597776
    Abstract: A grinding disk is provided with a support plate with anchoring projections. A drive connector is connected to the support plate. An elastically deformable pad in the form of an injection molded part of un-foamed elastomeric thermoplastic synthetic material is provided and has a first face and an opposite second face. The pad has a chamber structure provided on the first face. The chamber structure has chambers laterally delimited by intermediate walls. The chambers have a top side that is open and is facing in a direction of the first side. The pad has a substantially closed support surface provided on the second face and facing away from the chamber structure. A working element is to be attached to the support surface. The support plate is connected to the first face of the pad to support the pad. The anchoring projections of the support plate are embedded within the pad.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: Kolthoff Gabrovo EOOD
    Inventor: Dieter Kolthoff
  • Patent number: 9314903
    Abstract: An abrasive article useful for finishing painted or clear coated surfaces is disclosed. The abrasive article included a structured abrasive layer disposed on a backing that is adhesively attached to nonwoven layer useful for providing conformability and attachment to a hook layer. The structured abrasive layer includes a central aperture and a plurality of surrounding apertures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Edward J. Woo, Juan A. Munoz, Nataliya V. Fedorova, Mark W. Orlando, Charles J. Studiner, IV, Nicholas B. Manor
  • Patent number: 9119461
    Abstract: In one aspect, a scrubber brush assembly is provided. The scrubber brush assembly includes a scrubber brush having a body of open-cell foam including an interior surface, a sleeve received in contact with the scrubber brush, the sleeve including peripherally-spaced, longitudinal walls and reinforcing segments interconnecting adjacent ones of the longitudinal walls and forming elongated pockets along the length, the sleeve having raised ribs extending along the length, and a mandrel having recesses formed on an outer surface, the mandrel being coupled to the sleeve by receiving the raised ribs within the recesses. Scrubber brush subassemblies, high stiffness mandrels, and methods of assembly are provided, as are numerous other aspects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2015
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Hui Chen, Hung Chen, Jim Atkinson, David D. Huo
  • Patent number: 8978190
    Abstract: A floor care machine is provided that includes a replaceable floor care element that is quickly and easily attached and detached. To attach the floor care element, an operator positions the floor care element under a motor and lifts the element up to a motor interface. The motor interface aligns with a complementary interface of the floor care element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Karcher North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Todd Leifheit, Steven Tucker
  • Publication number: 20150067976
    Abstract: A panel cleaning roller assembly capable of comprehensively wiping a panel has an axle serving as a rotating body, and a roller serving as a wiping body. The roller is wound around and rotated synchronously with the axle. The roller has a wiping surface having longitudinally curved grooves, transversally curved grooves and wiping grains formed between the longitudinally and transversally curved grooves. The wiping grains are arranged in a curved matrix. Thus, the axle may be utilized to rotate the roller relatively to the panel to perform the rotating wiping and absorb the foreign object or debris to the longitudinally and transversally curved grooves of the roller, thereby preventing the surface of the panel from being scratched. Thus, the comprehensive wiping can be performed without forming any gap, thereby significantly enhancing the cleaning efficiency and quality and effectively enhancing the utility.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2013
    Publication date: March 12, 2015
    Applicant: Ta Chou Rubber Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Chun-Lin Liao
  • Patent number: 8950032
    Abstract: A novel cleaning tool is provided. A net-like carrier is twined on an inner cylinder. Protrusions of the inner cylinder are butted again a cleaning unit. With the net-like carrier and the protrusions, a bond between the cleaning unit and the inner cylinder is enhanced to strengthen the whole structure. Thus, stability of high-speed rotation of the cleaning unit is further improved to avoid separating the cleaning unit and the inner cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Tung An Development Ltd.
    Inventors: Tung-Chung Cheng, Chih-An Ku, Hung-Chia Chen, Jung-Pin Mao
  • Patent number: 8898845
    Abstract: A cleaning device for cleaning substrates is provided. The cleaning device includes a generally cylindrically-shaped brush mandrel and a cylindrical brush. The brush mandrel has a body section with an outer surface positioned about a central axis. The outer surface is interrupted by an engagement member having primary features adjacent secondary features. The brush has a hollow bore formed around the brush mandrel with an inner surface interrupted by a second engagement member which mates the first engagement member. The primary features flow in a direction generally perpendicular to a rotational direction of the brush mandrel around the central axis and include a first surface which is generally perpendicular to the outer surface. The secondary features include a second surface which flows in a direction generally perpendicular to the first surface and along the central axis. No primary feature includes a radially obstructing feature formed over any secondary feature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Llinois Tool Works, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Willis, Bradley S. Withers
  • Patent number: 8882957
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing paint roller covers is disclosed in which the paint roller covers are manufactured from a seamless segment of tubular paint roller cover fabric that is placed onto a cylindrical forming tube having a segment of bonding material temporarily secured on its outer surface under the segment of tubular paint roller cover fabric. The cylindrical forming tube is placed on a heated mandrel to apply heat thereto to cause the bonding material to bond to the interior of the segment of tubular paint roller cover fabric. The cylindrical forming tube is removed from the mandrel and cooled, and the segment of tubular paint roller cover fabric becomes secured to the bonding material to produce a semi-rigid paint roller cover segment. The semi-rigid paint roller cover segment may be finished into paint roller covers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Seamless Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Daniel L. Sinykin, Randy Smith, Scot Smith
  • Patent number: 8858750
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing paint roller covers is disclosed in which the paint roller covers are manufactured from a seamless, tubular knitted pile fabric sleeve that is installed onto a core member. To facilitate the manufacture of the paint roller covers, the outside of the core member is provided with an adhesive bonding material on the exterior surface thereof that has a relatively non-tacky outer surface. The knitted pile fabric sleeve is installed onto the exterior surface of the core member over the adhesive bonding material. The adhesive bonding material is then rendered tacky, whereupon the knitted pile fabric sleeve becomes adhesively secured by the adhesive bonding material to the exterior surface of the core member. The pile fabric covered core member may be finished into paint roller covers by combing and shearing the pile fabric to a desired length, beveling the edges of the paint roller covers, and vacuuming stray fibers from the paint roller covers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Seamless Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Daniel L. Sinykin
  • Patent number: 8857001
    Abstract: A cleaning device for cleaning substrates is provided. The cleaning device includes a generally cylindrically-shaped brush mandrel and a cylindrical brush. The brush mandrel has a body section with an outer surface positioned about a central axis. The outer surface is interrupted by an engagement member having primary features adjacent secondary features. The brush has a hollow bore formed around the brush mandrel with an inner surface interrupted by a second engagement member which mates the first engagement member. The primary features flow in a direction generally perpendicular to a rotational direction of the brush mandrel around the central axis and include a first surface which is generally perpendicular to the outer surface. The secondary features include a second surface which flows in a direction generally perpendicular to the first surface and along the central axis. No primary feature includes a radially obstructing feature formed over any secondary feature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Llinois Tool Works, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Willis, Bradley S. Withers
  • Publication number: 20140289981
    Abstract: Disclosed is a paint roller device comprising an inner hub and an outer hub spaced by a cage of wires and adapted for supporting a paint roll sleeve. A cylindrical retainer extends axially outwardly from the outer hub and is adapted to retain a ball therein, the cylindrical retainer being spaced radially inwardly from the periphery of the outer hub to define a gap between an inside surface of the paint roll sleeve when on the roller. The end of the paint roll sleeve on the paint roller device and an end of the retainer define a plane perpendicular to an axis of the roller, and at least a portion of the ball extends a predetermined distance axially outwardly from the plane. The gap between the sleeve and the cylindrical extension prevents paint from interfering with the ball.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2013
    Publication date: October 2, 2014
    Inventor: Evgueni Denissov
  • Patent number: 8840533
    Abstract: A rubbing apparatus including a rubbing roller including an opening portion at a region of a circumferential surface of the rubbing roller, an outlet portion connected to the opening portion and open to an outside of the rubbing roller, and a groove portion connected to the opening portion and penetrating into the rubbing roller along the opening portion; and a rubbing cloth substantially surrounding the circumferential surface of the rubbing roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Valeriy Prushinskiy, Len Kaplan, Se-Ho Cheong, Won-Sik Hyun, Heung-Yeol Na, Kyong-Tae Park, Min-Soo Kim, Seon-Hong Ahn
  • Publication number: 20140259497
    Abstract: A paint roller sleeve assembly and a method for washing it for reuse. The sleeve assembly includes a core of a size to fit a conventional paint roller handle. The core is compressible by hand radially, to allow a tubular flexible outer cover including a backing layer and a layer of paint-carrying fiber pile to be removed for washing and thereafter be replaced on the core for reuse.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: Affordable Countertop Solutions, Inc.
    Inventor: Scott Utterback
  • Publication number: 20140259498
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for a deposition system are provided to deposit a thin coating layer on flat substrates, such as semiconductors or panels. In an embodiment, liquid supplied rollers accepting liquid media provide liquid chemicals to the substrates for coating the substrates. The liquid delivery system can control the flow and the pressure of the liquid to achieve optimum process condition with minimum excess waste. In another embodiment, rollers with non-uniform distribution of liquid media provide a non-uniform thickness profile on the substrates, which can be used to compensate for the non-uniformity of subsequent processes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: Dynamic Micro Systems, Semiconductor Equipment GmbH
    Inventors: Lutz Rebstock, Klaus Conrad Wolke
  • Patent number: 8838005
    Abstract: A loop brush includes a shaft and a ribbon having loop-shaped fiber bundles arranged regularly on a base cloth. The ribbon is wound around the shaft at a prescribed angle. An arrangement angle that is an angle of an arrangement line, which is a straight line connecting adjacent fiber bundles, with respect to a longitudinal direction of the ribbon differs from a winding angle that is an angle of the longitudinal direction of the ribbon with respect to a circumferential direction of the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Konica Minolta, Inc.
    Inventors: Kuniaki Kashiwakura, Yoshiki Nakane, Yohei Ito
  • Patent number: 8808065
    Abstract: A surface treating device includes an open lofty non-woven layer (1) and a woven layer (2). The non-woven layer and woven layer have facing sides (5, 6) which are adhered to each other. A plurality of abrasive segments (3) is adhered to the woven layer on the side (7) of the woven layer (2) which faces away from the non-woven layer (1). Thus, the abrasive segments are held in a stable manner so as to better withstand the frictional forces exerted thereon during service.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Design Technologies LLC
    Inventor: James Weder
  • Patent number: 8778087
    Abstract: A cleaning device for cleaning a substrate is provided. In one aspect, the cleaning device includes a brush including a first end, a second end opposed to the first end, an outer surface, and a hollow bore defined in the brush about a central axis of the brush. The brush defines a first cross-sectional area near the first end and a second cross-sectional area near the second end. Both the first and second cross-sectional areas are generally perpendicular to the central axis and the second cross-sectional area is greater than the first cross-sectional area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey J. Tyrrell, Bradley S. Withers
  • Patent number: 8695151
    Abstract: A re-usable, shed-resistant roller cover for use with paint and other heavy liquids is provided. This roller cover includes a non-woven, woven, or knit surface material adapted to be used with paint rollers, wherein the surface material is substantially free of texture, and wherein the surface material further includes a plurality of fibers, wherein the plurality of fibers further comprise natural fibers, synthetic fibers, or a combination thereof; and wherein the plurality of fibers have been interconnected with one another by mechanical means, chemical means, thermal means, solvent means, sonic means, or combinations thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: Wooster Brush Company
    Inventors: Ricky L. Dilyard, Gary L. Leisure
  • Publication number: 20140096334
    Abstract: An applicator includes a cylindrical core having an interior surface and an exterior surface. A backing layer is attached to at least a portion of the exterior surface of the cylindrical core. A fabric material is attached to at least a portion of the backing layer. The fabric material is formed of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2013
    Publication date: April 10, 2014
    Applicant: NOVA WILDCAT SHUR-LINE, LLC
    Inventor: Gary DeCarr
  • Publication number: 20140090193
    Abstract: A cleaning apparatus is provided. The cleaning apparatus includes a rod body, a cleaning portion and a positioning device. Mainly, the cleaning portion is positioned for the cleaning portion being non-rotatable relative to the rod body by the positioning device. Therefore, when a user operates the cleaning apparatus, the cleaning portion would be positioned at a rotation degree between the cleaning portion and the rod body for increasing a stability of said operating.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2013
    Publication date: April 3, 2014
    Inventor: Chih-Hung LIN
  • Publication number: 20140076359
    Abstract: A surface cleaning apparatus includes a cleaning pad and a grout cleaning tape. The grout cleaning tape can be provided as a replaceable grout cleaning cartridge containing a supply reel of grout cleaning tape that can be rolled across grout line grooves with an applicator roller. The grout cleaning tape can include a composition therein that is configured to be activated or enhanced by steam and transferred into the grout line to be cleaned when steam is applied to the tape.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2013
    Publication date: March 20, 2014
    Applicant: BISSELL Homecare, Inc.
    Inventor: Eric J. Hansen
  • Patent number: 8572797
    Abstract: In general, a Buffing Pad Centering System (“BPCS”) for centering a back plate having an edge and a front surface is described. In an example of an implementation of the BPCS, the BPCS may include a centering ring having a top boundary and a bottom boundary and a buffing pad attached to the bottom boundary of the centering ring, where the centering ring is centered on the buffing pad. The centering ring may include a cylindrical vertical member extending between the top boundary and bottom boundary, where the cylindrical vertical member has an inner cylindrical surface and an outer cylindrical surface, and where the inner cylindrical surface is capable of snuggly receiving the back plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: Buff and Shine Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard Umbrell
  • Publication number: 20130239350
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for picking up stickers in grassy or other ground areas. A roller is rotatably mounted on a frame and a stretchable fabric is removably mounted and stretched on an outer surface of the roller. The fabric is of a construction and thickness to pick up stickers as the roller is moved by the frame and rotated in engagement with a grassy or other ground surface. When the fabric is full of stickers, it is removed from the roller and replaced with a new unused stretchable fabric that is removably mounted on the roller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2013
    Publication date: September 19, 2013
    Inventor: Marilyn S. VICE
  • Patent number: 8528232
    Abstract: Described is a system and apparatus for stripping fluids from the surface of a passing vehicle. The apparatus includes an inflatable blower bag for attaching with a duct structure. The inflatable blower bag includes an entrance for receiving air from the support structure and an exit for directing air onto a passing vehicle. A flexible water stripping blade is positioned proximate the exit such that as the bag falls onto a passing vehicle, the flexible blade engages with the passing vehicle and strips water from the passing vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Inventor: G. Thomas Ennis
  • Publication number: 20130206168
    Abstract: One aspect of the present invention includes an apparatus for scrubbing substrates such as a roller scrubber. According to one embodiment, the apparatus comprises a scrubbing medium having an axial bore and a mandrel having a section disposed through the axial bore of the scrubbing medium. The mandrel is configured so that it exerts an adjustable axial compression on the scrubbing medium. According to another embodiment, the apparatus comprises a roller scrubber. The roller scrubber comprises a scrubbing medium comprising a plurality of discrete disks having a center hole. The disks are disposed side by side so that the center holes form an axial bore in the scrubbing medium. The combined outer edges of the plurality of disks form a scrubbing surface of the roller scrubber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2011
    Publication date: August 15, 2013
    Applicant: THOMAS WEST, INC.
    Inventors: Thomas West, Stephen Kirtley, Matt Richardson, Ken Ponder, John Tocchini, Long Nguyen
  • Patent number: 8505145
    Abstract: An approximately cylindrical central core for cleaning sponge roller having an axially extending internal hole and multiple small holes realizing communication from the internal hole to the circumferential external surface. The central core for cleaning sponge roller is characterized in that the external surface of the central core is provided in the circumferential direction with multiple axially slender projections and that the projections each has an axial section viewed from a direction perpendicular to the axial direction that is not flat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: Aion Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Nagayo Oohiro, Tadashi Kawaguchi, Hiroshi Miyaji
  • Patent number: 8449683
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for picking up stickers in grassy or other ground areas. A roller is rotatably mounted on a frame and a stretchable fabric is removably mounted and stretched on an outer surface of the roller. The fabric is of a construction and thickness to pick up stickers as the roller is moved by the frame and rotated in engagement with a grassy or other ground surface. When the fabric is full of stickers, it is removed from the roller and replaced with a new unused stretchable fabric that is removably mounted on the roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Inventor: Marilyn S. Vice
  • Patent number: 8429782
    Abstract: Polishing systems, subsystems and pads adapted for use in conjunction with a polisher. A relatively incompressible backing pad is configured to be attached to a drive system of the polisher. The backing pad includes at least one substantially straight backing pad edge along a perimeter thereof. A relatively compressible polishing pad is configured to be attached to the backing pad, to be driven in contact with a surface to be polished. The polishing pad includes at least one substantially straight polishing pad edge along a perimeter thereof corresponding to the at least one substantially straight backing pad edge when the polishing pad is attached to the backing pad.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Inventor: Timothy M. Russo
  • Publication number: 20130101783
    Abstract: A composition comprising at least one of a surfactant, at least one of a nonfluorinated soil resist agent, at least one of a repellent agent, and at least one stain resist agent; a method of imparting surface effects to substrates contacted therewith; and the resulting treated substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2012
    Publication date: April 25, 2013
    Applicant: E I DU PONT DE NEMOURS AND COMPANY
    Inventor: E I DU PONT DE NEMOURS AND COMPANY
  • Patent number: 8407846
    Abstract: In one aspect, a scrubber brush assembly is provided. The scrubber brush assembly includes (1) a cylindrical brush including exterior and interior surfaces; and (2) a sleeve having an exterior surface coupled to the interior surface of the scrubber brush and an interior surface. The exterior surface of the sleeve includes first coupling features adapted to prevent rotation of the sleeve relative to the brush. The scrubber brush assembly also includes a mandrel coupled to the interior surface of the sleeve. Numerous other aspects are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Hui Chen, Sheshraj L. Tulshibagwale, Hideshi Takahashi, Toshikazu Tomita, Takashi Fujikawa
  • Patent number: 8312588
    Abstract: A window-screen-cleaning fabric comprises a base cloth and a plurality of fibers comprising (A) a crimped fiber and (B) a flat fiber. In the fabric, the crimped fibers and the flat fibers are raised from a first surface of the base cloth, and the height of the flat fibers from the first surface of the base cloth is greater than that of the crimped fibers from the first surface of the base cloth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Assignees: Maru-T Ohtsuka Corp., Linzer Products Corp.
    Inventors: Tosirou Yamaguchi, Toshikazu Ohyama
  • Patent number: 8272094
    Abstract: A floor care disk for a floor care machine such as a floor polishing machine includes a floor care pad mounted on a drive plate. The drive plate includes a stiff disk element and tongue-like tabs connected flexibly to a radially outer portion or rim of the disk element, and extending radially inwardly toward a radially inner portion or hub of the disk element. The radially inner free ends of the tongue-like tabs are free to flexibly deflect away from the plane of the disk element. The pad is mounted on the tabs and on the radially outer portion of the disk element. During rotational operation of the floor care disk, due to the arising centrifugal force acting on the center of mass of the rotating pad and tongue-like tabs, the pad and the tongue-like tabs are flexibly deflected away from the disk element and toward the floor surface, thereby deflecting the pad into osculating contact with the floor surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: Stein & Co. GmbH
    Inventors: Klaus Stein, Bernd Falkenstein
  • Publication number: 20120145190
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for picking up stickers in grassy or other ground areas. A roller is rotatably mounted on a frame and a stretchable fabric is removably mounted and stretched on an outer surface of the roller. The fabric is of a construction and thickness to pick up stickers as the roller is moved by the frame and rotated in engagement with a grassy or other ground surface. When the fabric is full of stickers, it is removed from the roller and replaced with a new unused stretchable fabric that is removably mounted on the roller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2011
    Publication date: June 14, 2012
    Inventor: Marilyn S. Vice
  • Patent number: 8146194
    Abstract: The present invention is a buffer device that is designed and configured to successfully and adequately buff and polish any desired surface without causing fatigue for the user, as well as without creating any swirl marks. In order to provide for such a product, the present invention comprises a frame having a cylindrical body secured thereto. A motor is coupled to the cylindrical body to provide for the body to rotate about a normally horizontal axis that is parallel to the desired surface to be buffed, polished, and cleaned or the like. Secured to the cylindrical body is a buffing/cleaning pad fabricated from a conventional material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Inventor: James Farrell
  • Patent number: 8117709
    Abstract: A rotary buffing and finishing system includes a polymeric foam cushioning layer that has a graded compression load deflection which is interposed between a backing plate and a relatively thin performance layer that is removably attached to the foam cushioning layer. The backing plate is flexible but has a compression load deflection greater than the cushioning layer, and the cushioning layer includes two foam layers of graded compression load deflection that decreases from a rear face to a front face. The system provides improved performance over thicker and more expensive performance layers while reducing operator fatigue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: Lake Country Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventor: Scott S. McLain
  • Patent number: 8112839
    Abstract: A cleaning element for washing a vehicle includes a support having a layer of synthetic grass material mounted thereto. The support maybe a rotatable support which forms a rotary brush. The cleaning element also may be a solid curtain of synthetic grass material or a curtain formed into individual strips of synthetic grass material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Inventor: G Thomas Ennis