Off-the-floor Support (e.g., Operator Supported) Patents (Class 15/327.5)
  • Patent number: 12108921
    Abstract: A vacuum cleaner includes a vacuum body assembly. The vacuum body assembly includes a housing having a base end, a mount hook connected to the housing, a debris container removably coupled to the housing, and a suction source. The suction source is able to draw air into the debris container. A harness assembly is removably connected to the vacuum body assembly. The vacuum cleaner is convertible between a carry mode, a stand mode, and a hang mode. The harness assembly is connected to the vacuum body assembly in the carry mode, and the harness assembly is to be worn by a user. The base end of the vacuum body assembly may rest on a support surface in the stand mode. The hook of the vacuum body assembly may hang the body assembly from a mount structure in the hang mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2024
    Assignee: MILWAUKEE ELECTRIC TOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: David Mobarak, Justin D. Dorman, Tauhira Hoossainy
  • Patent number: 12089540
    Abstract: Implementations of a backpack blower converter attachment are provided. In some implementations, the backpack blower converter attachment comprises a converter tube and may further comprise one or more tube couplings, securing straps, and/or a replacement tube elbow. In some implementations, a method of using the backpack blower converter attachment comprises disconnecting the blower tube from the blower tube elbow of a backpack blower and connecting the converter tube to the blower tube elbow and the blower tube of the backpack blower.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2024
    Inventor: Justin Misenheimer
  • Patent number: 12043969
    Abstract: A blower appliance includes: a carrying harness, at least one blower fastener, a blower having an air outlet, and a nozzle, connected downstream of the air outlet by way of an elastic bellows having a return effect. The blower fastener having an articulation having a return effect, which tends to return the axis of the air outlet of the fan body towards a rest position, the articulation having a return component, parallel to the spinal axis, with a second spinal return stiffness, the second spinal return stiffness being greater than the first spinal return stiffness of the elastic bellows. The blower appliance finds applications in the maintenance of parks and gardens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2024
    Inventor: Thibault Remy
  • Patent number: 11992170
    Abstract: A wearable vacuum cleaner includes a harness configured to support the wearable vacuum cleaner on a user's back, a housing connected to the harness, a suction motor assembly disposed within the housing and operable to create a working airflow, and a collection bin configured to receive debris separated from the working airflow. The collection bin includes an opening adjacent a bottom portion of the collection bin and a lid moveably coupled to the collection bin to selectively cover the opening in a closed position and uncover the opening in an open position. The lid is movable to the open position to empty the contents of the collection bin through the opening while the collection bin remains attached to the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2024
    Assignee: Techtronic Cordless GP
    Inventors: Clinton C. Thackery, Jacob F. Creasman
  • Patent number: 11980139
    Abstract: A backpack tool apparatus including a backpack assembly and at least one tool. The backpack assembly includes a casing and at least one battery pack received in the casing. The at least one tool is connected to the casing and electrically connected to the battery pack. The backpack tool apparatus may be provided with multiple tools to simultaneously realize different operations and functions. Moreover, the tools may be configured to be detachably connected to the backpack assembly, and may be replaced with different tools to realize different operations and functions according to needs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2023
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: Greenworks (Jiangsu) Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Daoyin Zhou, Yunjie Shangguan
  • Patent number: 11950672
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a diaper bag vacuum apparatus. The diaper bag is integrated on a vacuum system for cleaning up the mess such as food waste that is often created by the small infants. The vacuum system comprises one or more vacuum components include, an air handling tube, a solid separator assembly, a container, a motor, a blower or fan, a rechargeable battery and an exhaust tube, which are vacuum mounted in the cavity of a pull-out drawer beneath the diaper bag. A detachable hose is attached to the vacuum system via intake port to pick up debris from the floor. A filter in the solid separator allow only air and captures the debris inside the container. Further, the apparatus is battery operable, which enables the fan pulls the air into the center of the fan and ejects it into the exhaust tubing and released to the environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Inventor: Roy Franklin Partin, II
  • Patent number: 11839342
    Abstract: An upright surface cleaning apparatus comprises a floor cleaning head and an upright section moveably mounted to the surface cleaning head. A portable cleaning unit is removably mounted to the support structure and comprises an auxiliary cleaning tool mount. The auxiliary cleaning tool mount is provided on one lateral side of a portion of the rigid air flow conduit that is positioned above the portable cleaning unit when the upright surface cleaning apparatus is in the upright cleaning mode and the upflow duct is in the upright storage position wherein the auxiliary tool mount remains spaced from the portable cleaning unit during all use of the upright surface cleaning apparatus in the upright cleaning mode and the auxiliary cleaning tool mount remains mounted to the rigid air flow conduit when the upright surface cleaning apparatus is in the portable cleaning mode. A cord wind member is provided on an opposed lateral side of the rigid air flow conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: Omachron Intellectual Property Inc.
    Inventor: Wayne Ernest Conrad
  • Patent number: 11806464
    Abstract: A hand-held suction system includes: a hand-held suction device, a tube unit and a bag unit, wherein the tube unit has a suction tube and a tube connecting part, and wherein the bag unit has a collecting bag and a bag connecting part. The tube connecting part and the bag connecting part are designed to form a mechanical connection to one another in order to hold the bag unit by way of the tube unit. The tube connecting part is arranged in such a way on a circumference of the suction tube, in an upper half of the circumference in a circumferential direction, in a correct operating position of the suction system, and the suction system is designed in such a way that the bag unit held by the tube unit extends downwards in the circumferential direction along the suction tube, on the upper half of the circumference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: Andreas Stihl AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Markus Pfeifer, Jonathan Seiz, Alexander Fuchs, Markus Oesterle
  • Patent number: 11771018
    Abstract: A blower may include: a volute case defining a suction port, a volute chamber, and a discharge port; an impeller rotatably supported within the volute chamber; a motor connected to the impeller and configured to drive the impeller; and an outer case accommodating the suction port of the volute case and the motor. The outer case may include an external suction port and define an air passage extending from the external suction port to the suction port of the volute case. When the blower is held or worn in a predetermined posture by a user, the external suction port of the outer ease may be configured to be located so as to be open vertically downward.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: MAKITA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yuki Koide, Makoto Takahashi
  • Patent number: 11744428
    Abstract: A vacuum cleaner includes a driving wheel, a cleaning part, a dust-collecting unit, a dust collection amount detection part, and a travel control part. The dust collection amount detection part detects the amount of the dust and dirt accumulated in the dust-collecting unit. The travel control part controls the driving of the driving wheel to make the vacuum cleaner travel autonomously. The travel control part makes the vacuum cleaner travel to a dust station in the case the amount of the dust and dirt detected by the dust collection amount detection part is equal to or more than a specified amount while the cleaning part performs cleaning. The travel control part further makes the vacuum cleaner undock from the dust station to restart the cleaning after the dust and dirt accumulated in the dust-collecting unit is transferred to a dust-collecting container at the dust station. The vacuum cleaning apparatus can adopt a downsized vacuum cleaner while ensuring convenience.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: TOSHIBA LIFESTYLE PRODUCTS & SERVICES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yuuki Marutani, Kota Watanabe
  • Patent number: 11689081
    Abstract: A method for expanding features of a gas engine replacement device that drives power equipment including controlling, by an electronic processor of the gas engine replacement device, a power switching network to selectively provide power from a battery pack to rotate a motor of the gas engine replacement device. A module interface of the gas engine replacement device receives an external electronics module. A type of the external electronics module received by the module interface is detected by the electronic processor of the gas engine replacement device. The gas engine replacement device is configured by the electronic processor based on the type of the received external electronics module. The electronic processor communicates with the external electronics module via the module interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation
    Inventors: Patrick Dennis Gallagher, Timothy James Bartlett, Timothy Ryan Obermann, Alex Huber, William Chapman, III
  • Patent number: 11623173
    Abstract: A handheld air purifier may include a suction body provided with a fan to suction air and a filter to filter foreign matter from the sucked air, a handle extending from the suction body, and an agitator provided in the suction body to loosen or scatter dust from a garment. The handheld air purifier may be configured to be attached to and detached from a main air purifier, and the main air purifier may suction dust off the handheld air purifier and sterilize the handheld air purifier when the handheld air purifier is mounted on the main air purifier. The agitator of the handheld air purifier may have a striking member exposed through a lower surface of the suction body, and may move out of and into the suction body to strike the garment so that the dust may be loosened and suctioned into the suction body and filtered by the filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignees: LG ELECTRONICS INC., CHUNGANG UNIVERSITY INDUSTRY ACADEMIC COOPERATION FOUNDATION
    Inventors: Jongkeon Jeon, Haeyoong Chung, Jiyoung Kang, David Kangseong Lee, Daeyoung Kwak, Sohee Park
  • Patent number: 11617312
    Abstract: A backpack tool kit including a backpack assembly with a casing and a battery pack received in the casing; and at least one tool connected to the casing of the backpack assembly and electrically connected to the battery pack. The backpack tool apparatus can be provided with multiple tools to simultaneously realize different operations and functions. Moreover, the tools are configured to be detachably connected to the backpack assembly, and can be replaced with different tools to realize different operations and functions according to needs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: Globe (Jiangsu) Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Daoyin Zhou, Yunjie Shangguan
  • Patent number: 11606917
    Abstract: The battery-powered backpack blower includes a back support assembly including a back plate configured to permit a user to mount the blower to the user's back, and a volute assembly including a first volute portion and a second volute portion. The backpack blower further includes a housing assembly including a battery assembly and a motor assembly therein, the housing assembly is provided intermediate to the back assembly and the volute assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: Black & Decker, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Poole, Joshua M Sheffer, Wong Kun Ng, Keith D. Flaharty, Joseph B. Cooper, Philip Martinez, David Keith Wheeler, Christopher Wade Shook
  • Patent number: 11160430
    Abstract: A vacuum may include a cleaner body including a suction motor for generating suction force, a suction part communicating with the cleaner body and suctioning air and dust, and a battery assembly for supplying a power to the suction motor. The battery assembly may include a battery unit, a battery terminal, a switch for connecting or disconnecting the battery unit and the battery terminal, and a battery case for accommodating the battery unit. The cleaner body may include a body supporting the battery assembly and a switching operation part for operating the switch when the battery assembly is mounted on the cleaner body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Changhoon Lee, Gunho Ha, Seonghoon Han
  • Patent number: 11109725
    Abstract: A dust collector includes a dust-collector main body, a coupling-hose part, an operation unit, and a belt or harness. The dust-collector main body serves to collect dust by generating a suction draft (partial vacuum). The dust-collector main body includes a housing, a motor, a dust-collection chamber, and at least one battery pack mount. The belt or harness is attached to the dust-collector main body and is designed for the user to carry the dust-collector main body on his or her back. The operation unit is connected to the dust-collector main body via an external, flexible cord. The operation unit includes one or more LEDs for illuminating the area to be cleaned and an ON/OFF switch for controlling operation of the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: MAKITA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Takayuki Tahara
  • Patent number: 11089925
    Abstract: Industrial vacuum cleaner configured for servicing at least one construction tool (2), said vacuum cleaner (1) comprising a vacuum inlet (3), wherein said vacuum cleaner (1) further comprises a controller (8) and connected to said controller (8) a wireless transceiver (10), a memory (12), and at least one location and/or orientation sensor (11) configured for detection of vacuum cleaner location and/or localization of other objects in relation to the vacuum cleaner (1) and wherein the vacuum cleaner (1) further comprises means for propulsion (13) controlled by said controller (8).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: HUSQVARNA AB
    Inventors: Joakim Ed, Lars Gustafsson, Simon Andersson, Rajinder Mehra, Tommy Olsson, Ulf Petersson, Richard Bälter
  • Patent number: 11051668
    Abstract: A vacuum assembly having a hand vacuum configuration and a wand vacuum configuration may include a dust cup, a suction motor fluidly coupled to the dust cup, and a power source. The suction motor and the power source may be transitionable between a wand vacuum position and a hand vacuum position. When the suction motor and the power source are in the wand vacuum position, the dust cup, the suction motor, and the power source may be arranged serially. When the suction motor and the power source are in the hand vacuum position, the suction motor and the power source may be arranged in parallel with the dust cup.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: SharkNinja Operating LLC
    Inventors: Jason B. Thorne, Kai Xu, Sam Liu, Adam Udy, Daniel J. Innes, Nikola Petrov, Andre D. Brown
  • Patent number: 11013379
    Abstract: Disclosed is a vacuum cleaner assembly (10) including a harness assembly having a support bracket (11) and a vacuum cleaner (12) supported by the brackets (11). The brackets (11) are intended to be worn by a user so that the vacuum cleaner (12) is positioned adjacent the back of the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: Electrical Home-Aids Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Hiep Duong, David Kim Scott, Daniel Mark Starkey, Shanon Matthew Martin
  • Patent number: 10869585
    Abstract: Disclosed is a vacuum cleaner assembly (10) including a harness assembly having a support bracket (11) and a vacuum cleaner (12) supported by the brackets (11). The brackets (11) are intended to be worn by a user so that the vacuum cleaner (12) is positioned adjacent the back of the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2020
    Assignee: Electrical Home-Aids Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Hiep Duong, David Kim Scott, Daniel Mark Starkey, Shanon Matthew Martin
  • Patent number: 10750917
    Abstract: A cleaner includes: a suction motor that generates suction force; a dust separation unit that separates dust from air sucked by the suction force; a motor housing that covers the suction motor; a flow guide that surrounds an outer side of the motor housing and guides air discharged from the dust separation unit to the suction motor; and a body that forms an external appearance by surrounding the flow guide and guides air discharged from the suction motor together with the flow guide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Bohyun Nam, Namhee Kim, Jinju Kim, Hyeonjeong An, Jungbae Hwang, Philjae Hwang, Mantae Hwang, Eunji Sung, Taekgi Lee
  • Patent number: 10645884
    Abstract: The battery-powered backpack blower includes a back support assembly including a back plate configured to permit a user to mount the blower to the user's back, and a volute assembly including a first volute portion and a second volute portion. The backpack blower further includes a housing assembly including a battery assembly and a motor assembly therein, the housing assembly is provided intermediate to the back assembly and the volute assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: Black & Decker, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Poole, Joshua M. Sheffer, Wong Kun Ng, Keith D. Flaharty, Joseph B. Cooper, Philip Martinez, David Keith Wheeler
  • Patent number: 10631698
    Abstract: A cleaner includes: a suction motor that generates suction force; a dust separation unit that separates dust from air sucked by the suction force; a motor housing that covers the suction motor; a flow guide that surrounds an outer side of the motor housing and guides air discharged from the dust separation unit to the suction motor; and a body that forms an external appearance by surrounding the flow guide and guides air discharged from the suction motor together with the flow guide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Bohyun Nam, Namhee Kim, Jinju Kim, Hyeonjeong An, Jungbae Hwang, Philjae Hwang, Mantae Hwang, Eunji Sung, Taekgi Lee
  • Patent number: 10617270
    Abstract: A cleaner includes: a suction motor that generates suction force; a dust separation unit that separates dust from air sucked by the suction force; a motor housing that covers the suction motor; a flow guide that surrounds an outer side of the motor housing and guides air discharged from the dust separation unit to the suction motor; and a body that forms an external appearance by surrounding the flow guide and guides air discharged from the suction motor together with the flow guide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Bohyun Nam, Namhee Kim, Jinju Kim, Hyeonjeong An, Jungbae Hwang, Philjae Hwang, Mantae Hwang, Eunji Sung, Taekgi Lee
  • Patent number: 10561287
    Abstract: A cleaner includes: a suction unit; a suction motor that generates suction force for sucking air through the suction unit and includes an impeller; a dust separation unit that includes one or more cyclone units generating cyclonic flow to separate dust from air flowing inside through the suction unit; a dust container that stores dust separated by the dust separation unit and is disposed under the suction motor; a battery disposed behind the dust container to supply power to the suction motor; and a handle disposed behind the suction motor, wherein a rotational axis of the impeller and an axis of the cyclonic flow vertically extend and an extension line from the rotational axis of the impeller passes through the one or more cyclone units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Bohyun Nam, Namhee Kim, Jinju Kim, Hyeonjeong An, Jungbae Hwang
  • Patent number: 10548267
    Abstract: A debris collection system utilizing a vacuum to collect debris in a container. The system includes a bottom-mounted motor and an airflow pathway containing the vacuum generated by the motor for collecting the debris. A portion of the airflow pathway passes through a top into the container for depositing the debris and another portion of the airflow pathway after depositing the debris then passes to the exterior of the container to the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Inventor: Randy Streetman
  • Patent number: 10542856
    Abstract: A hand vacuum cleaner has a pre-motor filter, a suction motor and a post motor filter that are arranged linearly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2020
    Assignee: Omachron Intellectual Property Inc.
    Inventor: Wayne Ernest Conrad
  • Patent number: 10492651
    Abstract: A canister vacuum cleaner is disclosed, which includes an exterior casing that has a top half and a bottom half. An interior area of the bottom half of the casing houses a motor that is configured to generate a suction force, which is ultimately transmitted through a tube and an appended flexible hose. By positioning the motor at the bottom half of the casing, the vacuum cleaner exhibits a more preferred and ergonomic center of gravity. The canister vacuum cleaner is bagless—and does not require the use of a disposable bag to capture and retain dirt and debris that the vacuum cleaner extracts from the environment. In some cases, the vacuum cleaner utilizes a first, second, and third means for cyclonic separation of dirt and debris.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Inventor: Dustin Chaffin
  • Patent number: 10327392
    Abstract: A debris blower, having a fan frame, with a back plate and a motor plate, the back plate and motor plate being connected to and separated by a side wall. A fan assembly is positioned within the fan frame, and is rotated by a motor. A controller is electrically connected to the motor and to a battery pack, to energize the motor. A vehicle mounting plate is connected to a vehicle, and a blower mounting plate is connected to the fan frame, so as to removably connect the blower to the vehicle. A mounting tube is connected to the vehicle mounting plate. The blower mounting plate includes at least one hook for connecting with the mounting tube. The blower mounting plate may further include flange extensions to contact the vehicle mounting plate. The direction of the outlet of the blower can be remotely controlled by the operator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: Mean Green Products, LLC
    Inventors: Joseph C. Conrad, Matthew C. Conrad
  • Patent number: 10315627
    Abstract: A method of cleaning an underside of wheeled outdoor equipment includes attaching a blower extension pipe assembly to a power blower and positioning the extension pipe across the ground and under the equipment to be cleaned. The blower extension pipe includes an elbow end fitting with a blow-off opening that is directed to the underside of the equipment. The blower is operated to direct air through the blower extension pipe and against the underlying surface of the equipment to remove debris therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Inventors: Bryan Richard Chambers, Bryan Richard Chambers, Jr.
  • Patent number: 10244912
    Abstract: A vacuum cleaner having a main body and a dirt separator that is removably attached to the main body. The dirt separator includes a first dirt-separation stage, a second dirt-separation stage, and a vacuum motor for moving air through the first dirt-separation stage and the second dirt-separation stage. The vacuum motor has an impeller driven by an electric motor. The first dirt-separation stage is then located upstream of the impeller, and the second dirt-separation stage is located downstream of the impeller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: Dyson Technology Limited
    Inventors: Charles Geoffrey Box, Mark Andrew Johnson
  • Patent number: 10165738
    Abstract: To reduce fatigue in the arm of an operator of a blow operation device driven by an electric motor and to realize a blow operation of blowing and gathering generated compressed air from both the right and left with a small operational burden. A blow operation device includes a backpack type frame, a battery attached to the frame, a blower body having an electric motor to which power is fed from the battery and having an axial fan driven by the electric motor, and a blower tube connected to a blow side of the blower body, the frame including a back contact surface, and the blower body being attached to the frame such that axial directions of the electric motor and the axial fan are along the back contact surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: Yamabiko Corporation
    Inventors: Kunihiko Haramoto, Kenji Suzuki
  • Patent number: 10085390
    Abstract: A backpack type blowing apparatus includes an intake pipe that connects an air cleaner fixed to a fan case of an air blower to a carburetor that supplies an evaporated fuel to an engine body, and a top cover fixed to the fan case to cover at least the intake pipe by interposing the intake pipe between the top cover and the fan case. The top cover has a plurality of cover fixing portions fixed to the fan case. An outer circumferential-side fixed portion positioned on an outer circumferential side of the intake pipe in the fan case is included in the plurality of cover fixing portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: MARUYAMA MFG. CO., INC.
    Inventor: Yoichi Ishikawa
  • Patent number: 9955831
    Abstract: A reconfigurable upright surface cleaning apparatus may include a cleaning unit including an air treatment member, a suction motor and a clean air outlet. The cleaning unit may be detachably connected to the surface cleaning apparatus. A reconfigurable air flow passage may include at least one portion that is alternatively configurable between a surface cleaning mode and an auxiliary cleaning mode. An adjustable handle may be provided on the cleaning unit and may be drivingly connected to the surface cleaning head. The handle may include a grip portion having at least one grip member and may be moveable between an extended position, in which the grip portion is spaced apart from the cleaning unit, and a retracted position, in which the grip portion is positioned proximate the cleaning unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: SharkNinja Operating LLC
    Inventor: Dan Bilger
  • Patent number: 9861242
    Abstract: A vacuum cleaner is described that includes an elongated vacuum body, an optional battery-pack attached to the bottom end of the elongated vacuum body, and a removable backpack assembly with shoulder and waist straps attachable directly to the elongated vacuum body. The shape of the elongated vacuum body is such that the center of gravity of the body is shifted close to the body of the vacuum appliance user, allowing for greater freedom of movement during use. The vacuum appliance also includes exhaust air vents positioned to reduce the noise output of the vacuum appliance as perceived by the user during use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: EMERSON ELECTRIC CO.
    Inventors: Mark Tomasiak, Douglas K. Ritterling, Shane Glasgow
  • Patent number: 9675219
    Abstract: A canister vacuum cleaner is disclosed, which includes an exterior casing that has a top half and a bottom half. An interior area of the bottom half of the casing houses a motor that is configured to generate a suction force, which is ultimately transmitted through a tube and an appended flexible hose. By positioning the motor at the bottom half of the casing, the vacuum cleaner exhibits a more preferred and ergonomic center of gravity. The canister vacuum cleaner is bagless—and does not require the use of a disposable bag to capture and retain dirt and debris that the vacuum cleaner extracts from the environment. In some cases, the vacuum cleaner utilizes a first, second, and third means for cyclonic separation of dirt and debris.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Inventor: Dustin Chaffin
  • Patent number: 9486120
    Abstract: A backpack vacuum has a body made up of an upper cannister and a lower motor compartment. The vacuum body is supported on a wearer's back by a harness. A vacuum motor draws air from an opening in the upper cannister through a primary air flow path out an exhaust outlet from the lower motor compartment. An adjustable air flow opening in the cannister sidewalls creates a secondary air flow path through the vacuum body which creates a cooling air region adjacent the wearer's back in use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2016
    Inventor: Alan Steven Day
  • Patent number: 9457135
    Abstract: A canister assembly for use with a medical suction or aspiration device having a ball float assembly defined in the lid. The lid accepts a replaceable filter cartridge containing a filter element. The ball float engages the replaceable filter cartridge when the canister is near full.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: DeVilbiss Healthcare LLC
    Inventors: Joel David Neatrour, Matt Smith
  • Patent number: 9364125
    Abstract: A backpack power apparatus is comprised of a back carrier frame for being piggybacked by a user, a blower unit including a fan driven by a drive motor for sucking in or blowing out air through an airflow duct, and an airflow tube fluidically communicating with the airflow duct of the blower unit for sucking in or blowing out air through the airflow tube. The blower unit is mounted on the back carrier frame via a vibration isolating means, and the airflow tube is supported on the back carrier frame and adapted for being held and operated by the user when in use. The airflow tube is floatingly coupled to the airflow duct of the blower unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: MAKITA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yuji Takahashi
  • Patent number: 9332694
    Abstract: A blower apparatus has a drive motor and a blower device operatively connected to the drive motor. A blower tube is connected to the blower device and has an outlet opening remote from the blower device. A blower air stream conveyed by the blower device passes through the blower tube in the direction of a longitudinal center axis of the blower tube and exits through the outlet opening in an outflow direction. A pivoting device that pivots the blower tube is provided. A nozzle is supported to be freely pivotable on the blower tube about at least one pivot axis, wherein the outlet opening is formed on the nozzle. The nozzle forms the pivot device for pivoting the blower tube and utilizes a transverse force that is generated by the blower air stream in the nozzle for pivoting the blower tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: Andreas Stihl AG & Co. KG
    Inventor: Andre Prager
  • Patent number: 9282860
    Abstract: Described is a vacuum cleaning device for charcoal grills. The present invention includes a portable vacuum cleaning device having a vacuum source used to draw air and debris through a collection hose and into a vacuum bag. The vacuum bag and the collection hose are composed of flame-retardant material that will not melt or burn from having hot ash and embers from a grill drawn therethrough. The end of the collection hose that is secured to the vacuum cleaning device includes a fan that is used to break-up and extinguish embers drawn through the collection hose. The vacuum bag is enclosed between a housing and a lid secured thereto, and the lid is removable to allow access to the vacuum bag. The vacuum cleaning device also includes one or more straps thereon that can be adjustably secured together such that a user can wear the device over the user's shoulder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Inventor: Sabrina Brison
  • Patent number: 9277844
    Abstract: A new and useful vacuum apparatus is provided, for sweeping and cleaning a residential and commercial spaces, in a manner that is efficient and effective and a manner that minimize effort and time. The apparatus includes a flexible container that encloses some of the vacuum, sweeping and cleaning components that are part of a vacuum system, the flexible container configured to be worn by a person operating the apparatus, and having a flexibility that enables it to conform to the contour of the back of a person wearing the flexible container, and the flexible container is also configured to enable certain components of the vacuum system to be located outside of the container when the container is being worn by a person operating the vacuum system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Inventor: Luis A. Millan
  • Patent number: 9192222
    Abstract: A backpack work machine is provided and may include a backpack frame, a motor mounted on the backpack frame, a driven device driven by the motor, and an arm provided at a lower portion of the backpack frame. The arm is rotatable around an axis line that extends in a left-right direction of the backpack frame and has in a fore end portion thereof a throttle lever regulating output of the motor. The backpack frame also has in the lower portion thereof a support axis having an axis line, and the arm is supported by the support axis so as to be rotatable around the axis line of the support axis within a rotation range that extends between an up-down direction of the backpack frame and a front-rear direction of the backpack frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: MAKITA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tomonobu Nashimoto, Takuro Konishi, Ryouichi Shimooka, Motonobu Ishikawa
  • Patent number: 9167751
    Abstract: A leaf blower to be worn by a user. The leaf blower including a frame having a back plate defining a back plate plane and a blower system coupled to the frame. The blower system includes a motor having drive shaft, the drive shaft defining an axis, and the axis forms an angle with respect to the back plate plane between about 5 degrees and about 35 degrees.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: Techtronic Outdoor Products Technology Limited
    Inventors: Clinton C. Thackery, Charles K. Long
  • Patent number: 9072342
    Abstract: A portable work apparatus has a main unit and a work tool. The main unit is carried by the user via a strap. The strap has a fastening section which is secured to the main unit via a fastening element. The fastening section is held between a pressure surface of the fastening element and a fastening surface formed on the main unit. To prevent twisting of the strap when the fastening element is secured, provision is made for the fastening surface to be formed with a structure that increases the friction coefficient. The structure interacts with a bearing surface, facing the fastening surface, of the fastening section such that the fastening section, which is held in a clamped manner between the pressure surface of the fastening element and the fastening surface of the main unit, is prevented from rotating relative to the main unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: Andreas Stihl AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Joachim Kolb, Volker Reber, Alexander Maier
  • Publication number: 20150113758
    Abstract: A backpack work machine is provided and may include a backpack frame, a motor mounted on the backpack frame, a driven device driven by the motor, and an arm provided at a lower portion of the backpack frame. The arm is rotatable around an axis line that extends in a left-right direction of the backpack frame and has in a fore end portion thereof a throttle lever regulating output of the motor. The backpack frame also has in the lower portion thereof a support axis having an axis line, and the arm is supported by the support axis so as to be rotatable around the axis line of the support axis within a rotation range that extends between an up-down direction of the backpack frame and a front-rear direction of the backpack frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2014
    Publication date: April 30, 2015
    Inventors: Tomonobu NASHIMOTO, Takuro KONISHI, Ryouichi SHIMOOKA, Motonobu ISHIKAWA
  • Publication number: 20150113759
    Abstract: A backpack work apparatus comprises a back carrier frame; a drive motor mounted on the back carrier frame; a work tool driven by the drive motor; a right and left shoulder straps; a chest strap linking the intermediate points of the right and left shoulder straps; and an emergency release buckle device provided at the point where the chest strap is coupled to the intermediate point of the left shoulder strap, which is divided by the buckle device into two parts, an upper strap and a lower strap. The buckle device normally buckles the chest strap, the upper strap and the lower strap, and is capable of releasing the lower strap and the chest strap from the upper strap via a one part motion in an emergency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2014
    Publication date: April 30, 2015
    Applicant: MAKITA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ko FUKUNAGA, Yoshinori SHIBATA, Takuro KONISHI, Ryoichi SHIMOOKA
  • Patent number: 8984710
    Abstract: A blower apparatus includes: a housing has a discharge port for discharging an air current generated by a fan; and an air conveying tube which includes a plurality of tubular members including first and second tubular members which are connected to each other and which guides the air current discharged from the discharge port in a predetermined direction. The first tubular member includes an outer circumferential surface which is formed so as to gradually decrease in diameter. The second tubular member includes an inner circumferential surface which is formed so as to gradually increase in diameter. The first and second tubular members are connected to each other through the outer circumferential surface and the inner circumferential surface. One of the tubular members which is connected to the housing is configured to be connected to the housing at a plurality of rotational positions about an axis of the tubular member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Hitachi Koki Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yoshikazu Yokoyama
  • Patent number: 8875341
    Abstract: A cleaning device having a handheld housing engageable to one or both of a portable vacuum motor or the distal end of a hose for a conventional vacuum cleaner. The cleaning device employs a dusting head engageable to an extension that may be change to increase or decrease length to allow a user the position the dusting head further or closer to the housing to reach different areas in need of cleaning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Inventors: Luke Gooden, Janice Gooden
  • Patent number: 8866336
    Abstract: A line voltage device with an auxiliary power connection for a bathing installation. An exemplary embodiment of the device includes a housing structure, and a primary electrical power connection connected to the housing structure and including a primary wiring cable for connection to a line voltage source. A load system is disposed within or adjacent the housing and configured for powered operation by electrical power from the primary electrical power connection. An auxiliary power connection is provided for electrical connection to a separate bathing installation device to provide power to the separate device. A wiring circuit is disposed within or adjacent the housing structure and electrically couples the primary electrical power connection and the auxiliary power connection so that line voltage power is shared between the load system and the separate bathing installation device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Balboa Water Group, Inc.
    Inventor: Graham J. Campbell