Combined, E.g., With Signal Or Indicator Patents (Class 15/339)
  • Patent number: 10307842
    Abstract: A dust collector in one aspect of the present invention comprises a dust collection portion, a communication portion, and an interlock operation control portion. When the communication portion receives an interlock command transmitted from an electric working machine, the interlock operation control portion makes the dust collection portion operate interlocking with the electric working machine. The interlock operation control portion includes a storage portion, in which identification information specific to the electric working machine with which the dust collection portion is to be made to perform the interlock operation is stored.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Assignee: MAKITA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hitoshi Suzuki
  • Patent number: 10299654
    Abstract: A fluid suction device includes an elongate handle having a suction head at its distal end. The suction head extends in opposing directions substantially perpendicularly to the handle. The suction head includes an elongate longitudinal aperture in its outer wall in fluid communication with a suction pump. An absorbent panel covers the longitudinal aperture. When the suction head is applied to a spilled fluid, the wicking action of the absorbent panel and the negative air pressure from the suction pump allows rapid and efficient cleaning of an area affected by a fluid spill. The device also allows for safe and efficient removal of potentially dangerous objects such as broken glass. The device collects fluid in a waste reservoir so that it is easily disposed of.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Inventor: Eric Rawet
  • Patent number: 10286295
    Abstract: The present invention is a lottery ticket scratching tool for scraping off the lottery tickets. The lottery ticket scratching tool includes a main body having an electric motor to generate vacuum therein. The lottery ticket scratching tool also includes a scraping blade provided at one end of the main body. As the scraping blade is used to scrape the lottery ticket, the resulting scraped off debris material is sucked into the main body to be discarded later. The lottery ticket scratching tool includes a fine mesh to prevent debris material from impinging on the electric motor, and also a one-way valve to keep the collected debris material within the main body. The lottery ticket scratching tool is battery operated to be portable and for easier handling thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Inventor: Thomas J. Wilcox
  • Patent number: 10213077
    Abstract: A cleaner head that includes a main body having an agitator chamber, an axle that extends into the chamber, a bearing assembly mounted on the axle, a biasing member, and an agitator mounted on the bearing assembly. The bearing assembly is moveable along the axle between a first position and a second position. The biasing member then biases the bearing assembly towards the first position, and the agitator pushes the bearing assembly against the biasing member towards the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: DYSON TECHNOLOGY LIMITED
    Inventors: Stuart Lloyd Genn, James White
  • Patent number: 10172342
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for pest control; and to the use of said apparatus for pest control. The apparatus comprises a hollow station forming at least one entrance for the pests to be controlled; a pheromone of a pest to be controlled; and a contact pesticide for the pests to be controlled, said contact pesticide being provided inside said hollow station, and the hollow station being designed to prevent the pests from remaining within said hollow station without expenditure of energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: BASF SE
    Inventor: David G. Bolin
  • Patent number: 10165920
    Abstract: A handle assembly for a vacuum cleaner that includes a handle, a duct, a valve assembly, and a cover. The handle is attached to the duct, which has an inlet end, an outlet end, and a bleed aperture between. The valve assembly includes a valve and an actuator. The valve is moveable between closed and open positions by the actuator to close and open the bleed aperture. The cover surrounds the duct such that an upper part overlies the bleed aperture and valve. Holes are formed in a lower part of the cover. Suction at the outlet causes a primary airflow to be drawn into the duct via the inlet. When the valve is in the open position, the suction causes a secondary airflow to be drawn in through the holes, around the space between the duct and the cover, and into the duct via the bleed aperture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: Dyson Technology Limited
    Inventors: Oliver Stanton Blanchard, Paul Andrew McLuckie
  • Patent number: 10148213
    Abstract: An electronic power equipment, which is configured to be connected to both an AC power source and a DC power source, has a motor 14 configured to be driven by both AC power and DC power, an AC circuit 30 for supplying AC electric power to the motor 14, a DC circuit 40 for supplying DC electric power to the motor 14, switching parts RL1-RL12 for switching between the AC circuit 30 and the DC circuit 40 wherein the AC and DC circuits are insulated relative to each other, and a controller A1 configured to control the switching parts RL1-RL12, the AC circuit 30, and the DC circuit 40.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: MAKITA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takuya Kusakawa, Katsuna Hayashi
  • Patent number: 10058344
    Abstract: A medical device may include a housing. The housing may include an outer wall, an inner wall spaced from the outer wall, and a cavity between the outer wall and the inner wall. The cavity may be in fluid communication with a lumen configured to adjust pressure within the cavity. The medical device may also include a cutting tool configured to move from extending around an outer surface of the housing to entering the cavity of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc.
    Inventors: Samuel Raybin, Paul Smith, Naroun Suon, Daniel Lang
  • Patent number: 9988788
    Abstract: The present disclosure describes a vacuum-excavation apparatus that is connectible to a vehicle. The vacuum-excavation apparatus comprises a vacuum tube with an input end; a vacuum assembly for generating a suction force at the input end and drawing a stream of fluidized debris-material into the vacuum tube. The apparatus also includes a boom assembly for supporting the vacuum tube and a tank for receiving the stream of fluidized debris-material from the vacuum tube. The tank provides a boom mount for pivotally connecting the boom assembly and for providing fluid communication between the vacuum tube and the tank. The apparatus also includes an evacuation tube for providing fluid communication between the tank and the vacuum assembly and for distributing at least a portion of stress-loads that are generated by the boom assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: TKS Industries Ltd.
    Inventors: Tim Holt, Theresa Stec, Joshua Rosvold, Joshua Abbott
  • Patent number: 9949605
    Abstract: A cleaner head for a cleaning appliance, the cleaner head including a main body having an air inlet and an air outlet, an agitator supported for rotation with respect to the main body about a rotational axis, and a collector for collecting strands of hair. The collector is supported by the main body and arranged such that strands of hair drawn through the air inlet wrap around at least part of the collector. The collector is movable with respect to the main body between a hair collecting position in which the agitator is rotatable with respect to the collector and a hair removal position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: Dyson Technology Limited
    Inventors: David Andrew Isley, Gerard Matthew Shevlin
  • Patent number: 9924699
    Abstract: A system for performing an animal-related action includes a self-propelled vehicle with a regulating unit including a transmitting and receiving device. The regulating unit is connected to a drive and control system of the vehicle, including an electric drive motor and a battery system. The system includes a central operating system provided with a transmitting and receiving device designed to communicate with the transmitting and receiving device of the vehicle. The central operating system includes a memory in which data are stored comprising navigation data, on the basis of which the vehicle is able to travel a predetermined route from a charging station, through at least a part of the operating area, and then back to the charging station. The central operating system transmits a packet of data including these navigation data to the regulating unit of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: LELY PATENT N.V.
    Inventors: Dik-Jan Wisse, Jan Martinus Van Kuilenburg, Karel Van Den Berg, Pieter Jacob Kik
  • Patent number: 9883783
    Abstract: A piezoelectric debris sensor and associated signal processor responsive to debris strikes enable an autonomous or non-autonomous cleaning device to detect the presence of debris and in response, to select a behavioral mode, operational condition or pattern of movement, such as spot coverage or the like. Multiple sensor channels (e.g., left and right) can be used to enable the detection or generation of differential left/right debris signals and thereby enable an autonomous device to steer in the direction of debris.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignee: iRobot Corporation
    Inventors: Gregg W. Landry, David A. Cohen, Daniel N. Ozick
  • Patent number: 9872431
    Abstract: A cutter blade for a mower is driven to rotate about a vertical axis inside a housing. The cutter blade includes a blade body, a blade portion formed in the blade body and a wind generating portion formed in the blade body on its side opposite in a width direction thereof to the side where the blade portion is formed, the wind generating portion being formed by being raised and bent from the blade body over a predetermined area from an end in a longitudinal direction thereof. At an outer end portion of the wind generating portion in the longitudinal direction of the blade body, there is formed at least one recessed portion recessed more inwards than the remaining portion of the outer end portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: Kubota Corporation
    Inventors: Hironobu Nishihara, Masayuki Akita
  • Patent number: 9871370
    Abstract: An adaptor for connecting a power source to a power tool includes a housing having a first end that is configured to connect to a power source and a second end that is configured to connect to a power tool. The adaptor includes a control circuit disposed within the housing. The control circuit is configured to detect an overstress condition in the power tool and to control the power tool responsive to detecting the overstress condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: Black & Decker, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian E. Friedman, Bhanuprasad V. Gorti, Christopher R. Held, Abhisheka Moturu, Michael Varipatis, Paul J. Wisniewski, Michael W. Roberts
  • Patent number: 9863698
    Abstract: A heated air moving device for drying wet surfaces and materials includes a housing. A controller, a first power module and plurality of sockets are coupled to the housing. The first power module is operationally coupled to the controller. The sockets are operationally coupled to the first power module and are configured to couple electrically powered equipment to the first power module. An intake is positioned in a respective opposing side of the housing. A nozzle, fluidically coupled to the internal space, is coupled to the housing. A fan and a heater are coupled to the housing and is positioned in an internal space defined by the housing. The fan is configured to draw air through the intake and expel the air through the nozzle. The heater is configured to heat the air such that air expelled from the housing dries an area proximate to the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Inventor: Bradley Turner
  • Patent number: 9775479
    Abstract: An all in the head surface cleaning apparatus may include a surface cleaning head having an air flow path extending from a dirty air inlet to a clean air outlet. The surface cleaning head may include a cyclone including a cyclone chamber and a longitudinal cyclone axis. The surface cleaning head may include a pre-motor filter chamber housing a pre-motor filter. The pre-motor filter may have an upstream face, a downstream face and a pre-motor filter axis that is generally parallel to the upstream and/or downstream face. The surface cleaning apparatus may have a suction motor having a first end, a second end, a suction motor inlet and a suction motor axis extending between the first and second ends. The cyclone axis may be oriented generally transverse to a forward direction of travel and the pre-motor filter axis may be generally parallel to the forward direction of travel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: Omachron Intellectual Property Inc.
    Inventor: Wayne Ernest Conrad
  • Patent number: 9776296
    Abstract: A power tool assembly includes a hand-held power tool, a dust collector removably coupled to the power tool, and first and second power tool battery packs each of which is interchangeably coupled with the power tool and the dust collector for separately powering the power tool and the dust collector, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation
    Inventors: Michael R. Brewster, Tsz Kin Wong, Chin Hung Lam, Brian P. Wattenbach, Brandon L. Verbrugge, Ming Cong Chen
  • Patent number: 9751482
    Abstract: A magnetic vehicle tire protector, for picking up magnetically attractable road hazard elements, by including a substantially parallelepiped magnetic body attached to a vehicle underside in front of each tire. A bottom side of each magnetic body has a width at least approximately equal to a width of a treaded surface of the tire. A substantially parallelepiped bracket, disposed on a top side of each magnetic body, has parallel internal and external sections and a parallelepiped center section therebetween at a 45-degree angle relative the internal section. The internal section is more proximal the top side than the internal section. The center and external sections extend outwardly from the internal section and the top side. Fasteners on the internal section permanently affix the bracket to the top side. Round apertures on the external section receive fastening elements to affix the respective bracket and magnetic body to the vehicle underside.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Inventor: Kek Brew
  • Patent number: 9717383
    Abstract: An all in the head surface cleaning apparatus can include a surface cleaning head having a brush motor that can be drivingly connected to a moveable brushing member. The brush motor may have a brush motor axis. The surface cleaning head can include a cyclone comprising a cyclone chamber. The cyclone may have a longitudinal cyclone axis. The surface cleaning head can include a suction motor having a first end, a second end. A suction motor axis may extend between the first and second ends. At least a portion of the brush motor may be located between the first and second ends of the suction motor. An upper portion may be moveably mounted to the surface cleaning head between a storage position and a floor cleaning position, the upper portion comprising a drive handle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Omachron Intellectual Property Inc.
    Inventor: Wayne Ernest Conrad
  • Patent number: 9711986
    Abstract: A battery pack suitable for handheld appliance, the battery pack including a plurality of cells and a circuit board associated with the cells, wherein a power terminal is associated with the circuit board and configured to transmit power to an appliance, in use, the battery pack further including a momentary switch operatively connected to the circuit board and movable between closed and open positions by an actuator wherein, when in the open position the power terminal is configured by the circuit to a power delivery state and, when in the closed position, the power terminal is configured by the circuit to a power disabled state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: DYSON TECHNOLOGY LIMITED
    Inventors: David Robert Sunderland, David John Taylor-Pockett, James Douglas Chisholm
  • Patent number: 9668427
    Abstract: The battery-powered blower includes a housing assembly including a first housing portion having a first inner surface, a second housing portion having a second inner surface, and connected to the first housing portion, and a third housing portion connected to the second portion. The third housing portion has a side outer surface configured to receive a battery. The battery is mountable to the side outer surface of the third housing portion. The second housing portion in connection with to the first housing portion forms an inner chamber therebetween. A fan is provided in the inner chamber to facilitate airflow through the housing assembly and out an outlet, and a motor is provided intermediate to the second housing portion and the third housing portion. The center of gravity with respect to the overall blower is provided proximate to a handle portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: Black & Decker Inc.
    Inventors: Tylan A. Tschopp, Brian Poole, Joshua M. Sheffer
  • Patent number: 9668624
    Abstract: An all in the head surface cleaning apparatus may include a surface cleaning head having a brush positioned in a brush chamber. The brush chamber may have a dirty air inlet and a brush chamber outlet. The surface cleaning head may include a cyclone assembly comprising a cyclone chamber, the cyclone having a longitudinal cyclone axis, a cyclone air inlet and a cyclone air outlet. The surface cleaning head may include a first air flow path extending rearwardly from the brush chamber outlet to the cyclone chamber, and a suction motor having a suction motor air inlet, and a suction motor axis. The surface cleaning head may include a second air flow path extending laterally from the cyclone air outlet to the suction motor air inlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: Omachron Intellectual Property Inc.
    Inventor: Wayne Ernest Conrad
  • Patent number: 9615707
    Abstract: A floor care appliance having a height-adjustable brush set. A pushbutton of the brush set is actuatable for height adjustment via a manual suction tube of the floor care appliance. The pushbutton has a receptacle for receiving an edge region of a manual suction tube and/or for foot actuation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: STEIN & CO. GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Stein, Achim Liffers
  • Patent number: 9591959
    Abstract: A piezoelectric debris sensor and associated signal processor responsive to debris strikes enable an autonomous or non-autonomous cleaning device to detect the presence of debris and in response, to select a behavioral mode, operational condition or pattern of movement, such as spot coverage or the like. Multiple sensor channels (e.g., left and right) can be used to enable the detection or generation of differential left/right debris signals and thereby enable an autonomous device to steer in the direction of debris.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: iRobot Corporation
    Inventors: Gregg W. Landry, David A. Cohen, Daniel N. Ozick
  • Patent number: 9585533
    Abstract: A vacuum cleaner is provided, including a suction inlet, a dirt collection container, a filter device, a suction conduit, a suction unit, wherein the dirt collection container is in flow communication with the suction unit via the filter device and the suction conduit and wherein the filter device has a negative pressure applied to it by the suction unit, and including an external air valve device, wherein the filter device is capable of having external air applied thereto on the clean side thereof via the external air valve device and wherein for cleaning the filter device the external air valve device is capable of being brought from a closed valve position to an open valve position and back again from the open valve position to a closed valve position, characterized by a battery device for supplying energy to the external air valve device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: Alfred Kärcher GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Maic Hensel, Frank Fuchs, Julien Scholl
  • Patent number: 9532689
    Abstract: A vacuum cleaner having an airflow outlet and an airflow indicator assembly removably disposed at the outlet. The airflow indicator assembly includes a pair of fins attached to a spine and a needle disposed between the pair of fins. During operation of the vacuum cleaner, exhaust air is directed through the outlet and towards the needle, pushing the needle thereby indicating whether service is needed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: SHOP VAC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kurt Westbrook, Seth A. Bartley, Kevin D. Fry
  • Patent number: 9526386
    Abstract: A vacuum cleaner of protection class II is provided with a connection for a suction hose; a drive motor; at least one electrically non-conductive part; a feed line configured to feed static voltage; and a capacitor device provided with a capacitor group with at least one capacitor. For discharging static voltage, the electrically non-conductive part is electrically conductively connected via at least one contact element to the capacitor device. The feed line is connected to the at least one capacitor. The at least one capacitor outputs the voltage to an electrical power network when a certain charge quantity is exceeded. The at least one contact element can be the motor shaft of the drive motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: PROAIR GmbH Gerätebau
    Inventor: Paul Roth
  • Patent number: 9526387
    Abstract: The present disclosure illustrates an mite-removing vacuum cleaner including a cleaner body and a mite-removing device. The mite-removing device is detachably combined with a front section of the cleaner body and includes a circuit board, a vibrator and a UV sterilization lamp. The circuit board is electrically connected to a power source, and the vibrator is electrically connected to the circuit board. The UV sterilization lamp is located at the bottom surface of the mite-removing device and electrically connected to the circuit board. When the cleaner body is assembled with the mite-removing device, the mite-removing vacuum cleaner can perform mite-removing and dust-sucking functions both; when the cleaner body is disassembled from the mite-removing device, the cleaner body can perform the dust-sucking function independently. Therefore, the mite-removing vacuum cleaner of the present disclosure can provide the mite-removing and dust-sucking functions both, or provide the dust-sucking function independently.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: EGENPOWER INC.
    Inventors: Gary Li, Yao-Hsi Chiu
  • Patent number: 9499134
    Abstract: A hand-held cleaning device for vacuuming debris is provided. The hand-held cleaning device a housing, a motor and a vacuum generator. The motor and vacuum generator are both disposed within the inner space of the housing. An intake is in fluid communication with the vacuum generator. The vacuum generator draws air through the intake so as to collect debris. A filter is disposed between the intake and an outtake so as to catch debris. The housing has an outer surface configured to be gripped by a single hand of a user and is dimensioned so as to fit within a purse or diaper bag of a user so as to be easily carried. A vehicle having a storage compartment configured to hold the hand-held device is also provided. The storage compartment may be disposed on the center console of the vehicle or the door of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Inventor: Amber Camiller
  • Patent number: 9498098
    Abstract: A toy item cleaning device includes a toy item container, an inlet pipe, a filtering member and a vacuum hose connector. The toy item container has a first side and a second side such that the first and second sides face each other. The inlet pipe is attached to the first side and the filtering member is directly or indirectly attached to the second side. The filtering member has a plurality of vent holes and the vacuum hose connector is attached to the second side. In addition, the vacuum hose connector is adapted to be detachably connected to a vacuum cleaner hose. The toy item cleaning device further includes a vacuum hose adapter which has concentric tubular sections each section of which is adapted to be connected to a specific size of the vacuum cleaner hose. The tubular sections may be telescopic and designed to slide into one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Inventor: June Noh
  • Patent number: 9475059
    Abstract: A cutting blade assembly establishes a bidirectional and/or multifaceted scissor-type cutting action to efficiently and effectively process various types of debris encountered by the cutting blade assembly. The assembly includes a cutting plate and a cutting hub configured for relative rotation. A cutting slot is formed in the cutting plate and intersects the axial face to define a cutting edge at the intersection of the cutting slot and the axial face. The cutting hub has a cutting arm positioned adjacent to the axial face. When the cutting plate and the cutting hub undergo relative rotation, the cutting arm passes adjacent to the cutting edge to perform a scissor-type cutting action.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: Pentair Flow Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Shane Robert Vallen, Douglas Richard Rogers
  • Patent number: 9369811
    Abstract: A microphone unit includes a first connection terminal abutting on a terminal on a microphone body side, a second connection terminal connected on a fixed electrode side, and a coil spring provided between the first connection terminal and the second connection terminal, compressed upon coupling of the microphone unit and the microphone body, and urging the first connection terminal toward the microphone body. When the microphone unit and the microphone body are coupled, the first connection terminal and the second connection terminal are connected, and the first connection terminal is connected to the terminal on the microphone body side. When the microphone unit and the microphone body are separated from each other, the first connection terminal and the second connection terminal are separated from each other by an urging force of the coil spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA AUDIO-TECHNICA
    Inventor: Hiroshi Akino
  • Patent number: 9320408
    Abstract: A surface cleaning apparatus has a steam distribution manifold located along the leading edge of a foot assembly and configured to apply steam to a surface to be cleaned, in front of the cleaning pad. The cleaning pad trailing the manifold can absorb soil, stains and residual moisture from the cleaning process as the steam appliance is moved across the surface to be cleaned. The cleaning pad can comprise a superabsorbent material. In another embodiment, the cleaning pad can comprise a melamine foam with abrasive particles interspersed therein and configured to agitate the surface to be cleaned in conjunction with steam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: BISSELL Homecare, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric J. Hansen, Kevin Haley, Jay M. Kellis
  • Patent number: 9247690
    Abstract: The combined leaf blower/vacuum includes a nozzle affixed to a housing. A secondary hose extends between the housing and a collection bag. The housing includes a motor and impeller that is in fluid communication with the nozzle and an outlet. The impeller is able to create wind that is expelled via the nozzle. The wind created via the impeller is adapted to blow leaves and lawn debris via the nozzle. Conversely, the motor is able to reverse the direction of the impeller, and upon which shall form a vacuum at the nozzle. A mulching member is located adjacent the motor, and is responsible for mulching up the leaves and lawn debris immediately before exiting the housing, and transferring via the secondary hose to the collection bag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Inventor: Rimon Awad
  • Patent number: 9232881
    Abstract: A surface cleaning apparatus comprises an air flow path extending from a dirty air inlet to a clean air outlet and a main body comprising a suction motor. The suction motor provided in the air flow path. The surface cleaning apparatus also includes an air treatment member (preferably a cyclone bin assembly) provided in the air flow path. The air treatment member may be removably mounted to the main body. The air treatment member may include a power switch. A circuit may connect the suction motor to an electrical source. The circuit may be open and closed by operation of the power switch, and the circuit may be interrupted when the air treatment member is removed from the main body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: Omachron Intellectual Property Inc.
    Inventor: Wayne Ernest Conrad
  • Patent number: 9138115
    Abstract: A cleaning system includes a housing with a reservoir for holding waste, with the reservoir in fluid communication with a suction line, a pumping station for receiving waste from the reservoir, and a cleaning component for cleaning one or more surfaces on the housing or the station either automatically or based on an actuation signal input by a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: Stryker Corporation
    Inventors: Martin W. Stryker, Thomas William Granzow, Michael Nellenbach
  • Patent number: 9095244
    Abstract: This invention relates to a dust indicator in a vacuum cleaner, which dust indicator (200) is arranged in a wall (102) at least partly defining a space of the vacuum cleaner that is set under negative pressure with respect to the outside of the wall during operation of the vacuum cleaner. The dust indicator comprises an air channel (211) having an air inlet (212) arranged at an outer side of the wall, and an air outlet (213) arranged at an inner side of the wall, such that an airflow is directed into the space during operation of the vacuum cleaner due to the negative pressure. The dust indicator further comprises a sensor (220) arranged for detecting dust by means of sending and/or receiving an electromagnetic signal which is transmitted through the space. The air channel is arranged such that the airflow prevents dust from sticking in an area of the path of the electromagnetic signal of the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Assignee: Aktiebolaget Electrolux
    Inventors: Stefan Jonsson, Fredrik Sjöberg, Henrik Troberg
  • Patent number: 9089250
    Abstract: A vacuum cleaner includes a variable speed suction motor and an illuminatable motor speed indicator having plural lights arranged in a circular pattern or annular ring pattern, for example around a motor speed control switch. A control unit includes an indicator controller and a motor controller that respectively control the illuminatable indicator and the motor, based on inputs from the motor speed control switch and optionally at least one sensor that senses operating conditions of the vacuum cleaner. The lights are successively activated and deactivated to create a visible light spot that appears to rotate around the circular or annular ring pattern at a light rotation rate related to and indicative of the motor rotation speed. Thereby the indicator allows the vacuum suction power to be visually monitored.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Assignee: Stein & Co. GmbH
    Inventor: Thomas Stein
  • Patent number: 9015900
    Abstract: Collected-dust-amount indicating device (16) includes a pointer tube, at least a part of which is configured with a transparent material. The pointer tube includes a first end portion to which a first pressure is applied, and a second end portion to which a second pressure is applied. In the inside of the pointer tube, a pointer is disposed which is displaced by a differential pressure between the first pressure applied to the first end portion and the second pressure applied to the second end portion. Moreover, a pointer spring is disposed to be accommodated in the pointer tube such that the pointer spring biases the pointer toward larger one of the first pressure and the second pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tooru Iwasa
  • Patent number: 9015897
    Abstract: There is provided a dust detection system for a vacuum cleaner comprising a dust separation chamber (20) of cyclone type and having a separate dustbin (30) for collecting separated dust. The dust separation chamber is adapted to provide a generally cyclonic airflow for separating dust from a dust laden air stream, and is at a bottom (25) of the dust separation chamber connected via an outlet (22) to the dustbin. The dust detection system further comprises an emitter (41) positioned to emit an electromagnetic signal into the dust separation chamber during operation of the vacuum cleaner, and a receiver (42) positioned to receive the electromagnetic signal. The inventive concept is based on an understanding that when the dustbin becomes full, dust accumulates at the bottom of the dust separation chamber, i.e. stays rotating at the bottom, since it cannot enter the dustbin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Aktiebolaget Electrolux
    Inventors: Stefan Jonsson, Fredrik Sjöberg
  • Patent number: 9003601
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a vacuum cleaner A vacuum cleaner of the disclosure includes a body, a dust collecting unit disposed at one side of the body and provided with a dust collecting container storing the dust, a pressurization member compressing the dust stored in the dust collecting container, a driving device operating the pressurization member, and a dust emptying notification unit noticing the dust emptying time by visualizing a storage condition of the dust within the dust collecting container while sliding-moving by operating the pressurization member. In the disclosure, the accommodating condition of the dust for the dust collecting unit can be easily shown.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Geun-Bae Hwang, Kyuchun Choi, Chungook Chong
  • Patent number: 8991003
    Abstract: A vacuum cleaner with a separation module includes an advanceable filter media for filtering a debris-containing working airstream. The filter media can extend over an exhaust grill having openings through which air may pass. The filter media can be mounted on a pair of moveable reels, such that the filter media can periodically be replaced with new filter media.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: BISSELL Homecare, Inc.
    Inventor: Alan J. Krebs
  • Patent number: 8984711
    Abstract: An electric power tool comprises a main body supporting a tool and an electric motor housed in the main body for driving the tool. A plurality of first battery interfaces is configured to removably receive or attach a plurality of first battery packs and to electrically connect the plurality of attached first battery packs in series with the electric motor. A plurality of indicators is configured to communicate information concerning the respective conditions of the plurality of attached first battery packs. The plurality of indicators is arranged such that all of the indicators are simultaneously viewable by a user of the electric power tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Makita Corporation
    Inventors: Tomoyuki Ota, Kiyoshi Nishibe, Hitoshi Suzuki
  • Patent number: 8984709
    Abstract: A tank cleaning system used for cleaning oil storage tanks. The system includes a rail vacuum pipe, an air line and a steam line connected to an air/steam mixing box. The mixing box includes an air nozzle, a steam nozzle and a mixing box vacuum tube connected to a vacuum pipe. The vacuum pipe includes a steering, guide rail for receiving a swivel wheel. The swivel wheel is attached to a door opening bracket. The bracket is attached to sides of a tank door opening. The steering, guide rail pivots on the swivel wheel and allows an operator, standing outside the tank, to move the mixing box back and forth for engaging and vacuuming up sediment in the tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Inventor: John K. Rollins
  • Patent number: 8984705
    Abstract: The present invention provides a fragrance dispenser assembly in the inside of an outer shell. The dispenser includes a bracket, a shelf and a fragrance dispensing unit located within an outer shell. The shelf may have a releasable attachment mechanism for the fragrance dispenser unit. The invention also includes the fragrance dispenser unit and a fragrance source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Zenith Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Mark D. Bosses
  • Patent number: 8978195
    Abstract: A vacuum cleaner to perform a plurality of cleaning functions includes a main body including a suction motor, a nozzle to suction air and foreign material by using a suction power generated by the suction motor, and a handle disposed between the nozzle and the main body to be gripped by a user. A communication unit receives power information from an external, and a power management unit receives the power information from the communication unit. The power management unit determines a number of cleaning functions available to the vacuum cleaner among the plurality of cleaning functions based on the received power information, and a display unit displays the number of the cleaning functions determined by the power management unit to be available to the vacuum cleaner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Daehwan Park
  • Patent number: 8978196
    Abstract: An autonomous coverage robot includes a body having at least one outer wall, a drive system disposed on the body and configured to maneuver the robot over a work surface, and a cleaning assembly carried by the body. The cleaning assembly includes first and second cleaning rollers rotatably coupled to the body, a suction assembly having a channel disposed adjacent at least one of the cleaning rollers, and a container in fluid communication with the channel. The container is configured to collect debris drawn into the channel. The suction assembly is configured to draw debris removed from the work surface by at least one of the cleaning rollers into the channel, and the container has a wall common with the at least one outer wall of the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: iRobot Corporation
    Inventors: Selma Svendsen, Daniel N. Ozick, Christopher M. Casey, Deepak Ramesh Kapoor, Tony L. Campbell, Chikyung Won, Christopher John Morse, Scott Thomas Burnett
  • Patent number: 8973210
    Abstract: Provided is a robot cleaner. In an embodiment, the robot cleaner for avoiding obstacles and sucking foreign materials using a plurality of sensors and a suction motor is characterized in that a drive suppression unit for detecting obstacles having a corresponding height is integrated with a base for forming a lower portion of a main body in order to not climb obstacles of a constant height during a driving period of the robot cleaner. The present disclosure according to the embodiment improves drive stability of the robot cleaner by sensing a threshold in erroneous state of the sensor for sensing the threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Sung-Guen Kim, In-Bo Shim, Byung-Doo Yim, Ji-Hoon Sung, Bong-Ju Kim
  • Publication number: 20150059119
    Abstract: The subject of the invention is to easily detect whether the dust collection amount is full. The present invention provide a charging-type electric vacuum cleaner comprising: a ventilator for suctioning air containing dust through a suction port; a motor for driving the ventilator; a dust collection section for filtering the suctioned air and capturing the dust; a storage battery; a switching element for connecting the storage battery to the motor; a current detecting section for detecting an electric current Ia flowing to the motor; a warning section for warning when a dust collection amount in a dust collection section is full; and a control section for operating the switching element to drive the motor, and for detecting a terminal voltage Vb of the storage battery and the electric current Ia to operate the warning section when Vb?V1 and Ia?I1 (V1 and I1 are preset values) are established.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2013
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Inventor: Yuki Yato
  • Patent number: 8950038
    Abstract: A coverage robot including a chassis, multiple drive wheel assemblies disposed on the chassis, and a cleaning assembly carried by the chassis. Each drive wheel assembly including a drive wheel assembly housing, a wheel rotatably coupled to the housing, and a wheel drive motor carried by the drive wheel assembly housing and operable to drive the wheel. The cleaning assembly including a cleaning assembly housing, a cleaning head rotatably coupled to the cleaning assembly housing, and a cleaning drive motor carried by cleaning assembly housing and operable to drive the cleaning head. The wheel assemblies and the cleaning assembly are each separately and independently removable from respective receptacles of the chassis as complete units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: iRobot Corporation
    Inventors: Chikyung Won, Paul E. Sandin, Scott Thomas Burnett, Deepak Ramesh Kapoor, Stephen A. Hickey, Robert Rizzari, Zivthan A. Dubrovsky, Selma Svendsen