Convertible Patents (Class 15/328)
  • Patent number: 11969135
    Abstract: A cordless wet and dry stick vacuum cleaner system has a portable power module, which includes an airflow generator, a battery, and control circuitry. This may be used with either a wet dirt management system and a wet vacuum nozzle or it may be used with a dry dirt management system and a dry vacuum nozzle. The shared power module enables power savings, whereas the other parts remain optimized for their specific function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: VERSUNI HOLDING B.V.
    Inventors: Matthijs Hendrikus Lubbers, Bernardus Lubbertus Kuiper
  • Patent number: 11930971
    Abstract: A floor cleaner including a base movable over a surface to be cleaned, a suction nozzle provided on the base having a suction inlet, a body portion having a fluid dispensing member selectively removable from the body portion, the body portion being pivotally mounted to the base movable between an upright storage position and an inclined floor cleaning position, a suction source in fluid communication with the suction nozzle, and a reservoir configured to provide solution. The fluid dispensing member includes a grip, a dispensing nozzle in fluid communication with the reservoir, and an actuator. The fluid dispensing member is configured to deliver solution from the reservoir through the dispensing nozzle upon user actuation of the actuator, independent of function of the base and body of the floor cleaner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: Techtronic Floor Care Technology Limited
    Inventors: Douglas M. Rukavina, Donovan Bode, Juan Aviles Quintero, Gregory Clark, Tyler Clas, Mohammed Irfan
  • Patent number: 11871889
    Abstract: Disclosed is a cleaning robot. The cleaning robot includes a body, a traveling assembly, a rolling brush assembly and a dust suction assembly. The traveling assembly, the rolling brush assembly and the dust suction assembly are arranged on the body. The dust suction assembly includes a dust box arranged in front of the rolling brush assembly in the advancing direction of the cleaning robot. The rolling brush assembly is configured for sweeping garbage on a ground. The dust box is configured for receiving garbage swept by the rolling brush assembly. The present application is beneficial to increasing the volume and storage space of the dust box, reducing the number of times of cleaning the dust box by the user, and improving the user experience.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignees: YUNJING INTELLIGENCE INNOVATION (SHENZHEN) CO., LTD., YUNJING INTELLIGENCE (SHENZHEN) CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Junbin Zhang, Weijing Lin, Minzhao Xie, Minhua Sheng, Yun Chen, Zhaoqun Zhu, Yu Ai, Xingyan Li
  • Patent number: 11826006
    Abstract: A cleaner including: a main body having a first connection flow path which is formed in an outside thereof; and a nozzle having a suction port through which air is introduced: wherein the nozzle comprises: a case in which the suction port and a second connection flow path are formed, the second connection flow path which is hooked to the first connection flow path, a push button able to linearly move through one surface of the case in a predetermined pressing direction; and a detachment unit mounted in the case to be rotated about a rotating shaft positioned in a direction parallel to the pressing direction, and interlocked with the push button to release hook coupling of the first connection flow path and the second connection flow path when rotating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Hyemin Kang, Sangik Lee
  • Patent number: 11786089
    Abstract: A vacuum cleaner includes a canister defining a debris chamber, a powerhead connected to a top of the canister, a hose, and a hose retainer removably connected to the canister. The canister includes a base and at least one sidewall extending therefrom. The powerhead includes a suction unit operable to generate airflow through the canister. The hose retainer includes a back plate defining an aperture therethrough, at least one hose retention clip defining a channel shaped and sized to receive the hose therein, and a dustpan defining a debris intake opening and including a hose end mount. When an inlet end of the hose is connected to the hose end mount, the inlet end of the hose is connected in fluid communication with the debris intake opening to generate airflow therethrough.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: Emerson Electric Co.
    Inventors: Taylor M. Fauss, Christopher Burch, Timothy Richard Quagliata
  • Patent number: 11771276
    Abstract: A surface cleaning apparatus has a surface cleaning head and an upper portion moveably mounted to the surface cleaning head between a storage position and a floor cleaning position, the upper portion has upper portion laterally extending members. An above floor cleaning wand is removably receivable in air flow communication with the upper portion. The wand has wand laterally extending members, wherein, when the wand is received in air flow communication with the upper portion and the upper portion is in the storage position, the wand has a lower end and an upper end spaced from the lower end along a wand axis and the wand laterally extending members are positioned above the upper portion laterally extending members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: Omachron Intellectual Property Inc.
    Inventors: Wayne Ernest Conrad, Jason Thorne
  • Patent number: 11751734
    Abstract: A floor cleaner including a recovery tank. The recovery tank includes a tank body having a lower end wall, an open upper end, and a sidewall that extend upwardly from the lower end wall. A cover that includes a suction air outlet in fluid communication with a vacuum source. An inlet duct extends upwardly from the lower end wall. The recover tank includes a shutoff float including a float body and a closure. The float body is configured to float on a surface of cleaning fluid and the closure is received in the suction air outlet to close the suction air outlet. The float body moves along the inlet duct as the float body floats on the surface of the cleaning fluid. The float body includes an aperture extending through the float body and the inlet duct extends through the aperture of the float body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: Techtronic Floor Care Technology Limited
    Inventors: Kirti Kant Paulla, Michael Paul Dawson, Don Lydic, Rafael Davila
  • Patent number: 11737626
    Abstract: A cleaning robot having an improved structure capable of improving a user convenience and method for controlling the same are disclosed herein. A cleaning robot includes a main body to form an outer appearance and having an inlet port provided to suck a foreign matter present in a cleaning area, an operation unit detachably coupled to the main body and provided to be gripped, at least one motion sensor provided to detect a motion of the operation unit, and a control unit electrically connected to the at least one motion sensor to drive a driving motor of the main body based on the motion of the operation unit detected by the at least one motion sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Dong Hun Lee, Heum Yong Park, Chang Yeong Kim, Jae Youl Jeong, Young Do Kwon, Jin Wook Yoon
  • Patent number: 11723504
    Abstract: A cleaner includes: a suction unit; a main body that is connected with the suction unit and separates dust from air sucked through the suction unit; and a handle unit that is connected to the main body, wherein the main body includes: a first body and a second body; a sealing member for sealing a boundary between the first body and the second body; and a support body that supports the sealing member and has an opening that communicates with the suction unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Philjae Hwang, Eunji Sung, Taekgi Lee, Mantae Hwang, Jungbae Hwang
  • Patent number: 11684225
    Abstract: Provided is a portable blower including a portable main body in which a pipe base portion of a blowout pipe is connected to an outlet port of a fan case, wherein, the fan case is formed of a fiber-reinforced resin of low specific gravity, the pipe base portion has a bent shape and is connected slidably to a pipe connecting portion of the outlet port, and a slide-contact-receiving member that is formed of a wear-resistant material is attached to the pipe connecting portion at a slide-contact point of the pipe base portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: Yamabiko Corporation
    Inventors: Tetsuya Kawamoto, Shota Nishihara, Tomohiro Miyanishi
  • Patent number: 11673168
    Abstract: A blower includes a motor mounted to a frame. The frame includes wheels mounted to the frame. The blower includes a fan powered by the motor and a blower outlet. The fan is configured to expel air from the fan through the blower outlet. The blower outlet is movable in a horizontal direction and a vertical direction. The blower includes a horizontal control for controlling a horizontal position of the blower outlet. The blower includes a vertical control for controlling a vertical position of the blower outlet. Both the horizontal and vertical controls are positioned remote from the blower outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: Generac Power Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: William D. Wooden, Anthony Orgain, Seth Joubert
  • Patent number: 11653810
    Abstract: Self-cleaning features for extraction cleaners and attachments for extraction cleaners, such as accessory tools, wands, and/or hoses, are provided. The self-cleaning features are configured redirect cleaning fluid from a fluid supply system of the extraction cleaner into a working air or fluid recovery path of the extraction cleaner, including, but not limited to into the working air or fluid recovery path of a tool, wand, and/or hose of the extraction cleaner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: BISSELL Inc.
    Inventors: Victoria J. Royale, Aaron P. Griffith, David M. Miller, Michael Luyckx, Brian C. Wolfe, Justin Benacquisto
  • Patent number: 11540691
    Abstract: A surface cleaning apparatus is provided with a dispensing system for applying a treating agent stored on the surface cleaning apparatus to the surface to be cleaned. The dispensing system can include at least one container for storing a supply of treating agent and a dispenser for dispensing the treating agent to the surface to be cleaned. The dispensing system uses filtered working exhaust air to blow treating agent off the treating agent dispenser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: BISSELL INC.
    Inventors: Victor Vito Caro, Jr., Alexander Joseph Reed
  • Patent number: 11540683
    Abstract: Described and shown is an article of manufacture, system and process for the collection and capture of a desired substance, either solid or liquid, such as debris or residue. The present invention is particularly useful for the cleanup of glue or other substance (e.g. excess caulking or silicone sealant) employed during fabrication or construction where one or more components are assembled and affixed together using a fluid adhesive or are sealed together, etc. Additionally, the present invention concerns a vacuum tool comprising a substance capture reservoir in communication with a substance collection conduit and attachable to a vacuum source for the collection and capture of various substances, both liquid and solid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Inventor: Habib Jose Fadel
  • Patent number: 11363923
    Abstract: A floor cleaner including a recovery tank. The recovery tank includes a tank body having a lower end wall, an open upper end, and a sidewall that extend upwardly from the lower end wall. A cover that includes a suction air outlet in fluid communication with a vacuum source. An inlet duct extends upwardly from the lower end wall. The recover tank includes a shutoff float including a float body and a closure. The float body is configured to float on a surface of cleaning fluid and the closure is received in the suction air outlet to close the suction air outlet. The float body moves along the inlet duct as the float body floats on the surface of the cleaning fluid. The float body includes an aperture extending through the float body and the inlet duct extends through the aperture of the float body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Assignee: Techtronic Floor Care Technology Limited
    Inventors: Kirti Kant Paulla, Michael Paul Dawson, Don Lydic, Rafael Davila
  • Patent number: 11039722
    Abstract: In general, the present disclosure is directed to a force-sensing arrangement for use in surface cleaning devices, such as a vacuum device, that allows a user-supplied force to be translated into a command signal to cause the surface cleaning device to accelerate forward, reverse or to veer/turn in a desired direction. In an embodiment, the surface cleaning device includes a nozzle, wheels, motor(s) to drive the wheels, and an upright handle portion. The surface cleaning device includes a force-sensing arrangement with load cells coupled at a position where user force is transferred from the upright portion to the nozzle. The force-sensing arrangement detects the user supplying a relatively small amount of force and translates the same into measurement signals. A controller coupled to the load cells utilizes the measurement signals to determine or “infer” a desired direction of travel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Assignee: SharkNinja Operating LLC
    Inventors: Andre D. Brown, David S. Clare, Nicholas Sardar, Christopher P. Pinches, Samuel Emrys James, Michael James Douglas, Jason B. Thorne
  • Patent number: 11033164
    Abstract: A stick vacuum cleaner has a floor cleaning configuration and a hand vac portion useable in an above floor cleaning configuration, wherein in the above floor cleaning configuration, the hand vac portion is self-powered by a capacitor. The stick vacuum cleaner is operable to continuously clean a household by rapidly charging the capacitor when the stick vacuum cleaner is in the floor cleaning configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: Omachron Intellectual Property Inc.
    Inventor: Wayne Ernest Conrad
  • Patent number: 10918248
    Abstract: A vacuum cleaner that can quickly be configured in various operating modes, including a standard-style upright vacuum, upright vacuum capable of cleaning under furniture, stick vacuum, handheld vacuum, and pod vacuum. An example embodiment is a surface cleaning apparatus that includes an elongated support member, a handle coupled to an upper end of the elongated support member, a vacuum module slidably and detachably coupled to the elongated support member, and a hose coupled to the vacuum module and expandable to accommodate lower and upper positions of the vacuum module along the elongated support member. The surface cleaning apparatus can further include a floor nozzle detachably coupled to a lower end of the elongated support member and the hose.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Inventors: Thomas D. R. Ford, Meng Sum, Wai Jun Ho
  • Patent number: 10918249
    Abstract: A cleaning apparatus is provided. The cleaning apparatus includes a cleaning unit including a power consumption unit and a stick unit with which the cleaning unit is coupled and which allows the cleaning unit to move in a state of being gripped by a user. The cleaning unit includes a first coupling portion, and the stick unit includes a second coupling portion separably coupled with the first coupling portion, an operation portion operable to separate the second coupling portion from the first coupling portion, and a power transfer portion for transferring an operation force of the operation portion to the second coupling portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Jaewon Jang, Jeongyun Kim
  • Patent number: 10797637
    Abstract: A system and method for removing debris from solar modules in a solar module array. The system includes an air supply for providing pressurized air to a debris removal wing, a support art configured to support the debris removal wing proximate a solar module, and a support base fixing the support arm to a vehicle, the vehicle operable to advance the debris removal wing along the solar module array. The debris removal wing includes a first air outlet for directed pressurized air to remove debris from the solar modules. The debris removal wing may include a second air outlet for directing pressurized air to at least partly hovering the debris removal wing proximate the solar modules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: Snolar Technologies Ltd.
    Inventors: Peter R. Novotny, Layne Kulchecki
  • Patent number: 10743513
    Abstract: A manure-removal vehicle and an assembly thereof having a manure-discharging location. The vehicle comprises a pump and a tank having an air discharge. The vehicle collects manure by means of a scraper and this is subsequently suctioned up via a manure extraction opening in the tank. The pump works at low power and in particular at low pressure, due to the fact that a constant stream of manure is collected in front of the opening, in particular if a sealing plate is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: Lely Patent N.V.
    Inventors: Mikael Hillforth, Huibrecht Johannes Arjen Van Den Beukel, Peter Henry Clements
  • Patent number: 10682031
    Abstract: A dust collector for filtering dust suspended in air, comprising: a vacuum unit for drawing the air; a cyclone body defining a cyclone body peripheral wall delimiting a plenum, a cyclone air inlet provided in the cyclone body peripheral wall for admitting the air, a cyclone body vacuum inlet in fluid communication with the vacuum unit for drawing the air from the plenum and a cyclone body dust outlet provided at the bottom of the plenum for evacuating the dust from the cyclone body; and baffles extending in the plenum from the cyclone body peripheral wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2020
    Inventor: Michel Lavoie
  • Patent number: 10624511
    Abstract: A reconfigurable upright vacuum cleaner has a surface cleaning head with a pedestal member pivotally mounted thereto. An upper portion, which comprises a portable surface cleaning unit removably mounted thereto, is mounted to the pedestal member. An above floor cleaning wand is removably mounted to the pedestal member. The portable surface cleaning unit is securable to the pedestal member by a portable surface cleaning unit lock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: Omachron Intellectual Property Inc.
    Inventor: Wayne Ernest Conrad
  • Patent number: 10568481
    Abstract: A cordless, battery-powered system of cleaning products. The system of cleaning products includes devices such as upright vacuums (e.g., a stick vacuum, a lightweight upright vacuum, etc.), a hand-held vacuum, a carpet-cleaner, a canister vacuum, and the like. Each of the devices is powered by a battery pack which is interchangeable among the devices. The battery pack includes a combination of hardware and software for connecting to, identifying, and communicating with the cleaning products to ensure that each of the products receives the power necessary to ensure optimal performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: Techtronic Floor Care Technology Limited
    Inventors: Brett Reed, Markus Allemann, Doug Rukavina, Mark Reindle, Norm Siegel, Jack W. Gee, Jamie Horvath, Mark Butts
  • Patent number: 10542857
    Abstract: An upright cleaner removes dust from a drum brush. The upright cleaner includes a case having a suction port, a drum brush rotatably provided in the case to sweep and guide foreign matter to the suction port, a dust removal unit provided in the case so that the dust removal unit is moved between a first position where one side of the dust removal unit contacts the drum brush and a second position where the side of the dust removal unit is separated from the drum brush, and a lever connected to the dust removal unit to actuate the dust removal unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2020
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Min Ro Yun
  • Patent number: 10433497
    Abstract: A portable leaf blower comprises a housing having an air inlet and an air outlet port and defines an air outlet port axis. A handle is attached to the housing. A motor is mounted within the housing, with the motor mount having a rotatable drive shaft. A rotatable impeller is mounted on the drive shaft for rotation therewith, and to draw air into the air inlet and to blow the air out of the air outlet port in generally parallel relation to the air outlet port axis. A blower tube has a tube ingress port and a tube egress port, and defines a tube ingress port axis. The blower tube is connectable in supported relation to one of the housing and the handle, such that the tube ingress port is positioned in spaced relation to the air outlet port, with the air outlet port axis being coincident with the tube ingress port axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: Canadian Tire Corporation, Limited
    Inventors: Bruce Matthew T. Cooper, Anthony Wolf
  • Patent number: 10327606
    Abstract: A blower unit having a frame and at least one wheel on the frame through which the frame can be supported upon and moved over a subjacent support surface. A handle assembly has at least one gripping region that is configured to be engaged by a user situated at the rear of the blower unit. A source of pressurized air has an outlet at which a volume of pressurized air is discharged. A pressurized air handling system on the frame has a conduit assembly defining first and second flow paths through which pressurized air from the outlet of the source of pressurized air is selectively delivered respectively to first and second outlets. The pressurized air handling system further has an air control with at least first and second states in which different volumes of pressurized air are delivered to the first and second outlets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: Crary Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Arran Restall, Wayne Spier
  • Patent number: 10244916
    Abstract: The present application discloses a cleaning robot including a primary robot having a first controller configured to control a plurality of first sensors, a first communication module, a first moving apparatus, and a first cleaning assembly; and at least one secondary robot having a second controller configured to control a plurality of second sensors, a second communication module, a second moving apparatus, and a second cleaning assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: BOE TECHNOLOGY GROUP CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yu Gu, Kai Zhao, Yifei Zhang, Hongli Ding, Ying Zhang
  • Patent number: 10244907
    Abstract: A cleaning apparatus is provided. The cleaning apparatus includes a cleaning unit including a power consumption unit and a stick unit with which the cleaning unit is coupled and which allows the cleaning unit to move in a state of being gripped by a user. The cleaning unit includes a first coupling portion, and the stick unit includes a second coupling portion separably coupled with the first coupling portion, an operation portion operable to separate the second coupling portion from the first coupling portion, and a power transfer portion for transferring an operation force of the operation portion to the second coupling portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Jaewon Jang, Jeongyun Kim
  • Patent number: 10213888
    Abstract: There is provided a chip sweeping robot which is capable of possessing adaptability to various machine tools and automatically sweeping a wide range efficiently. To this end, a chip sweeping robot configured to sweep chips, which are scattered on an upper surface of a table of a machine tool at the time of machining a workpiece attached to the table, by traveling in accordance with a travel route set on the upper surface, includes: a robot body which autonomously travels on the upper surface; a rotating brush which sweeps the chips out forward in a traveling direction by being rotated from a lower side to an upper side forward in the traveling direction; and a blade which scoops out the chips, which pass through the rotating brush, forward in the traveling direction and sends the chips to a rotating region of the rotating brush.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES MACHINE TOOL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shigeru Matsumoto, Junichi Okatani
  • Patent number: 10136778
    Abstract: A surface cleaning apparatus comprises a surface cleaning head, an upright section moveably mounted to the surface cleaning head between a plurality of reclined floor cleaning positions and an upright storage position and a portable vacuum cleaner unit detachably mounted to the upright section. The portable vacuum cleaner unit has a suction motor and the remainder of the surface cleaning apparatus from which the portable vacuum cleaner unit is detached also has a suction motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: Omachron Intellectual Property Inc.
    Inventor: Wayne Ernest Conrad
  • Patent number: 10076217
    Abstract: Several embodiments of an upright surface cleaning apparatus are disclosed. The surface cleaning apparatus has a first cyclonic cleaning stage and comprises a surface cleaning head having a dirty fluid inlet. A fluid flow path extends from the dirty fluid inlet to a clean air outlet of the upright surface cleaning apparatus. A support member is mounted to the surface cleaning head. A portable cleaning unit is removably mounted to the surface cleaning apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2018
    Assignee: Omachron Intellectual Property Inc.
    Inventor: Wayne Ernest Conrad
  • Patent number: 9943199
    Abstract: This invention relates to a hand-held vacuum cleaner (10). The vacuum cleaner is expected to have particular utility for cleaning locations which are difficult to reach with a conventional vacuum cleaner. The vacuum cleaner (10) has a body (12) with a substantially planar base (22) upon which the vacuum cleaner can rest when not in use, the body having a carrying handle (20), a motor (14) and an impeller (16) located within the body, the vacuum cleaner also having a collector (26, 126) and a battery pack (18), the battery pack providing at least a part of the base (22). The motor and the battery pack are located between the base and the collector so as to lower the center of gravity and make the vacuum cleaner more comfortable for use, especially over long periods. Ideally, the center of gravity is close to the carrying handle, and between the carrying handle and the nozzle so that the vacuum cleaner is slightly “nose heavy”.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Inventors: Nicholas Gerald Grey, Christopher Vagges
  • Patent number: 9931005
    Abstract: A reconfigurable upright vacuum cleaner has a portable surface cleaning unit removably mounted to an upper portion and is securable thereto by a portable surface cleaning unit lock. The portable surface cleaning unit has the operable members of the portable surface cleaning unit lock provided on the portable surface cleaning unit and removable with the portable surface cleaning unit from the upper portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: Omachron lntellectual Property Inc.
    Inventor: Wayne Ernest Conrad
  • Patent number: 9931744
    Abstract: A carrying unit for a source of pressurized air having a frame and at least one wheel on the frame through which the frame can be supported upon and moved over a subj support surface. A conduit assembly is part of a pressurized air handling system on the frame and has an inlet for receiving pressurized air from a source and first and second spaced outlets for discharging pressurized air directed through the inlet. The pressurized air handling system further has an air control system that is changeable selectively into different states. By reason of changing states, the air control system causes at least one of: a) a different volume of air from the inlet to be directed to the first and second outlets; and b) a change in a direction of air discharging from one of the outlets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: Crary Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Arran Restall, Wayne Spier
  • Patent number: 9888817
    Abstract: A multimode surface cleaning apparatus comprises a surface cleaning head, an upright section moveably mounted to the surface cleaning head between a plurality of reclined floor cleaning positions and an upright storage position, a hand vacuum cleaner removably mounted to the upright section and an auxiliary dirt collection assembly removably mounted to the upright section wherein the auxiliary dirt collection assembly comprises a dirt collection region and optionally a pre-motor filter, one or more cyclones and a suction motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: Omachron Intellectual Property Inc.
    Inventor: Wayne Ernest Conrad
  • Patent number: 9808135
    Abstract: A hand held vacuum cleaner unit and docking assembly for a central vacuum system is shown. The hand held vacuum cleaner has a handle, a suction nozzle, a trigger switch to turn on a battery powered suction motor and an outlet port. The docking assembly fits into a central vacuum cleaner mounting plate, and provides a cradle to store the hand held vacuum cleaner. Recharging contacts, a latch mechanism, seals and an intake port are provided on the docking assembly. When the hand held unit is in the docking assembly it may be electrically charged, and emptied of dirt and debris by activation of the central vacuum system. The docking assembly also includes an access port for a conventional central vacuum hose.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: CANPLAS INDUSTRIES LTD.
    Inventors: James Mantyla, Scott Baldwin, Lawrence William Stagg, Robert Allan Cooke
  • Patent number: 9795261
    Abstract: A vacuum cleaner for cleaning a surface is convertible between an upright mode and a canister mode. The vacuum cleaner includes a diverter assembly to selectively divert a working air flow through different working air flow paths which correspond to the upright mode and the canister mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: BISSELL Homecare, Inc.
    Inventor: Alan J. Krebs
  • Patent number: 9770151
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the technical field of cleaning, in particular to a cleaning appliance, which comprises a cleaning appliance body. The cleaning appliance body includes a housing, two brush rollers disposed at the bottom of the housing, a drive mechanism disposed in the housing and configured to drive the two brush rollers to rotate, and a dust collector disposed on the housing; a suction port of the dust collector is disposed between the two brush rollers; and both rotation directions of the two brush rollers direct towards the suction port. The cleaning appliance provided by the present invention adopts a combined structure of the two brush rollers and the dust collector; both rotation directions of the two brush rollers direct towards the suction port; dust, particulate waste or flocks are gathered; the waste is sucked into the dust collector through the suction port between the two brush rollers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignee: DONGGUAN PHEATON ELECTRONIC TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yungming Sun, Shunqing Ye, Linwen Yang, Lanhua Tian
  • Patent number: 9757001
    Abstract: A vacuum cleaner is provided. The vacuum cleaner includes: a cleaner main body including a nozzle assembly into which air including foreign substances is suctioned, a collecting portion that collects the suctioned foreign substances, a suction device that generates a suction force, and a battery for supplying power to the suction device; and a charging stand including support portions on which the cleaner main body is seated, and a battery charging portion for performing charging of a replacement battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Mantae Hwang, Philjae Hwang, Jaeheon Jeong
  • Patent number: 9700189
    Abstract: A cleaning system including a body; a motor; a switch; an unit removable from the body; and a power reset device. The switch configured to provide power to the motor upon receiving a first input, and prohibit power to the motor upon receiving a second input. The power reset device configured to prohibit power to the motor upon removal of the removable unit from the body, and provide power to the motor upon replacement of the removable unit onto the body and the switch receiving a third input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: Techtronic Industries Co. Ltd.
    Inventors: Alan Pilch, Jamie Horvath
  • Patent number: 9663159
    Abstract: The disclosed technology relate to a device and system that include an outdoor power equipment power unit or cart configured to releasably couple a number of different interchangeable attachments or work implements to a common power unit, where some attachments include and/or require operator presence control, while other attachments do not include and/or require operator presence control. The outdoor power equipment power unit includes a power transfer coupling member operatively coupled to the drive shaft and configured to transfer rotational power to the associated attachment; and an operator presence actuation member operatively coupled to the operator presence control member, the operator presence actuation member configured to rotate in response to user actuation of the operator presence control member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: MTD PRODUCTS INC
    Inventors: Jason R. Ertel, Paul Stephens, Robert Allen, Bill Rabbitt
  • Patent number: 9579007
    Abstract: A dusting device to be rotatably connected to the bottom of a cleaning machine or vacuum cleaner includes a rotary disc and a dusting element. The rotary disc includes a base and a connecting portion below the base. The connecting portion extends outward from the periphery of the base and has a bottom surface forming a pressing plate. The dusting element is detachably assembled to the connecting portion of the rotary disc in order to be pressed by the pressing plate. The dusting element includes at least one cleaning layer for contact with a surface to be cleaned so as to carry out dusting and cleaning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Inventors: YA-Ching Yang, Yi-Jun Pan, Pai-Yung Lin
  • Patent number: 9480373
    Abstract: A surface cleaning apparatus is disclosed having an upper portion mounted to a surface cleaning head, a portable surface cleaning unit mounted to the upper portion, an above floor cleaning wand removably receivable in the upper portion, and a wand lock having a locked position in which the wand is secured to the upper portion and an unlocked position in which the wand is removable from the upper portion. The upper portion may stabilize the wand when the wand is drivingly connected to the cleaning head. An electrified flexible air flow conduit may electrically connect the surface cleaning head to the cleaning unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: Omachron Intellectual Property Inc.
    Inventors: Wayne Ernest Conrad, Jason Boyd Thorne
  • Patent number: 9456721
    Abstract: An upright surface cleaning apparatus with a portable surface cleaning unit wherein a lock which secures the portable surface cleaning unit in position is automatically moved to the unlocked position when an upper portion is moved to the floor cleaning position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: Omachron Intellectual Property Inc.
    Inventor: Wayne Ernest Conrad
  • Patent number: 9427122
    Abstract: A surface cleaning apparatus is disclosed having an upper portion moveably mounted to a surface cleaning head between a storage position and a floor cleaning position, an above floor cleaning wand removably receivable in the upper portion, a flexible air flow conduit, a lower mounting member provided on an outer surface of the upper portion, an upper mounting member provided on at least one of the outer surface of the upper portion and the wand, and a portable surface cleaning unit comprising a suction motor and an air treatment member removably mounted to the upper portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: Omachron Intellectual Property Inc.
    Inventors: Wayne Ernest Conrad, Jason Boyd Thorne
  • Patent number: 9392916
    Abstract: A portable surface cleaning unit is disclosed. The surface cleaning apparatus includes a surface cleaning head having a dirty air inlet, an upper portion moveably mounted to the surface cleaning head between a storage position and a floor cleaning position, a portable surface cleaning unit comprising a suction motor and an air treatment member removably mounted to the upper portion, a cleaning wand removably mounted to the upper portion, a flexible air flow conduit forming at least part of an air flow path from the wand to the surface cleaning unit, and a wand lock having a locked position in which the wand is secured to the upper portion and an unlocked position in which the wand is removable from the upper portion. The wand lock may include a wand release actuator which is provided on the wand and is removable with the wand from the upper portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignee: Omachron Intellectual Property Inc.
    Inventors: Wayne Ernest Conrad, Jason Boyd Thorne
  • Patent number: 9301663
    Abstract: An upright surface cleaning apparatus comprises a surface cleaning head having a dirty air inlet. A support structure is moveably mounted to the surface cleaning head and a portable cleaning unit is removably mounted to the support structure. An above floor cleaning wand is provided. The wand is removable from the support structure without removal of the cleaning unit from the support structure and the cleaning unit is removable from the support structure without disconnecting the wand from the support structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: Omachron Intellectual Property Inc.
    Inventor: Wayne Ernest Conrad
  • Patent number: 9301662
    Abstract: Several embodiments of an upright surface cleaning apparatus are disclosed. The surface cleaning apparatus has a first cyclonic cleaning stage and comprises a surface cleaning head having a dirty fluid inlet. A fluid flow path extends from the dirty fluid inlet to a clean air outlet of the upright surface cleaning apparatus. A support member is mounted to the surface cleaning head. A portable cleaning unit is removably mounted to the surface cleaning apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: Omachron Intellectual Property Inc.
    Inventor: Wayne Ernest Conrad
  • Patent number: 9192269
    Abstract: A surface cleaning apparatus comprises a base comprising an AC suction motor and a portable cleaning unit removably mounted on the wheeled base and comprising an energy storage member and a portable cleaning unit suction motor that is operable on DC power. The AC suction motor provides motive power when the surface cleaning unit is switched on and when the portable cleaning unit is mounted on the base. The portable cleaning unit suction motor provides motive power when the portable cleaning unit is switched on and when the portable cleaning unit is removed from the base. Alternately, the portable cleaning unit suction motor may be operable on DC power when removed from the wheeled base and may be operable on power provided by the wheeled base when mounted on the wheeled base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: Omachron Intellectual Property Inc.
    Inventor: Wayne Ernest Conrad