Famous Patents
3M employee and church chorister Art Fry needed something to temporarily mark pages in his hymnal. He was in luck because his colleague, Spencer Silver, accidentally developed a glue that was too weak for other purposes. After initially discouraging consumer response, Post-it Notes became a hit in 1979.
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 7607197 | Vacuum cleaner with operating elements that control power A vacuum cleaner includes a housing, inside of which is a suction chamber with a suction device and control electronics therein. A structural unit on the housing includes operating elements to operate the vacuum cleaner. There is an opening in the housing to the suc... | 10/27/2009 |
| 7475451 | Extraction with air venting An upright deep cleaner including a base housing pivotally connected to an upright handle, the upright handle carrying a liquid supply tank and the base housing including a recovery tank. The liquid supply tank includes an internal siphon tube for ensuring liquid fl... | 01/13/2009 |
| 7406744 | Central vacuum system with secondary airflow path A central vacuum system includes a motor-cooling airflow path that provides sufficient cooling for the motor and its drive components even though the cooling air is partially restricted by a downstream filter that captures airborne carbon dust emitted from the motor... | 08/05/2008 |
| 7383606 | Vacuum cleaner A vacuum cleaner 2 having a housing 4 having an inlet 12 and an outlet 54 is disclosed. Actuation of a motor 46 causes a fan to displace air out of outlet 54, and the resulting suction upstream of the fan draws dirty air thr... | 06/10/2008 |
| 7353565 | Battery-powered vacuum cleaner and method of cooling battery-powered vacuum cleaner A battery-powered vacuum cleaner is provided with a battery pack that generates heat and is capable of efficiently cooling the battery pack. The battery-powered vacuum cleaner comprises a battery pack (3) including a plurality of secondary batteries, a batter... | 04/08/2008 |
| 7302734 | Ground cleaning machine A mobile floor or ground cleaning machine includes a hydraulic motor for propulsion and/or operating a cleaning brush. Airflow produced by a fan is directed through a housing located adjacent the cleaning brush for creating an area of low pressure adjacent the brush... | 12/04/2007 |
| 7287301 | Utility vacuum A utility vacuum that may be configured to employ a disposable bag or removable and reusable container for the collection of dirt and debris that are drawn into the utility vacuum. The utility vacuum may employ one or more movable legs that are movable between an ex... | 10/30/2007 |
| 7278180 | Device for protecting motor in vacuum cleaner A device for protecting a motor in a vacuum cleaner is provided. The device includes a lower casing for forming a lower portion of a main body of the cleaner, a motor housing, which is installed in the lower casing and includes the driving motor therein and an upper... | 10/09/2007 |
| 7272870 | Secondary introduction of fluid into vacuum system An apparatus and method for minimizing the accumulation of soil and debris within a vacuum system of a surface maintenance machine is disclosed. A secondary fluid, such as pressurized cleaning solution, is sprayed into the vacuum system in order to reduce soil and d... | 09/25/2007 |
| 7263743 | Motor mount assembly A motor mounting assembly includes a motor mount member having a first and second generally opposing sides. A generally U-shaped channel is formed in the second side of the motor mount member extending around its periphery to form a lip extending from the first side... | 09/04/2007 |
| 7237620 | Electric garden tiller An electric garden tiller is disclosed. The tiller is light weight, compact and easy to use. The tiller includes a two stage speed reduction transmission and an aluminum transmission housing. Connected to the transmission housing are a main housing and electric moto... | 07/03/2007 |
| 7120965 | Battery-powered vacuum cleaner and method of cooling battery-powered vacuum cleaner A battery-powered vacuum cleaner is provided with a battery pack that generates heat and is capable of efficiently cooling the battery pack. The battery pack of the battery-powered vacuum cleaner is cooled by a vacuum cleaner cooling method. The battery-powered vacu... | 10/17/2006 |
| 7000286 | Water absorbing and drying cleaner A water absorbing and drying cleaner comprises a washing apparatus and a drying apparatus, wherein the washing apparatus and the drying apparatus are mounted in the casing of the water absorbing and drying cleaner, a drying inlet in the drying apparatus and a washin... | 02/21/2006 |
| 6971137 | Floor maintenance machine with air-cooled motor A burnishing machine having a burnishing motor in a motor compartment covered with a hood defining an air plenum having at least one air inlet positioned near the top of the hood spaced from the floor. The plenum includes a discharge outlet immediately adjacent the ... | 12/06/2005 |
| 6968594 | Liquid extraction machine with tow assembly An extraction machine for cleaning a floor surface has a front and a rear and is movable by an operator relative to the floor surface in a forward direction of travel to clean the floor surface. The extraction machine also has a cleaning solution dispenser capable o... | 11/29/2005 |
| 6880201 | Motor-fan cooling air directed into filter bag A vacuum cleaner having a main body and a handle, the main body being formed with a nozzle which delivers a stream of dirt-laden air through a dirt duct through a motor-fan inlet, the handle being supported on the motor-fan assembly and housing a filter bag which co... | 04/19/2005 |
| 6807709 | Vacuum cleaner cooling system A cooling system for providing cooling air for a motor having a shaft extending through an opening within the motor, the motor being contained within a vacuum cleaner housing having a top and a bottom, the cooling system including a cooling-air inlet located in a si... | 10/26/2004 |
| 6757935 | Installation of a motor in a vacuum cleaner In a vacuum cleaner with a motor suction assembly (8) comprising a motor part and a suction part (6) providing a carrier air stream and a cooling air stream, respectively, the motor suction assembly (8) is built into a cover (7, 12, 13) w... | 07/06/2004 |
| 6668421 | Motor brush dust removing filter for use in vacuum cleaner A motor brush dust removing filter for use in a vacuum cleaner in which the vacuum cleaner includes a cylinder-shaped canister, a supporting portion having wheels and attached to a lower portion of the canister, an air outlet formed in a cover so as to di... | 12/30/2003 |
| 6581241 | Vacuum cleaner having airflow recirculation path for cooling beater brush motor A vacuum cleaner system incorporating a closed loop airflow recirculation path for cooling a beater brush motor. A portion of clean, exhaust airflow created by a fan is diverted away from an exhaust port of the housing and directed into a flow path runnin... | 06/24/2003 |
| 6490755 | Low-profile and highly-maneuverable vacuum cleaner having a headlight and a sidelight A low-profile and highly-maneuverable vacuum cleaner having improved functionality including, alone or in combination, a headlight, a sidelight, anti-ingestion bars, side brushes, a squeegee, and a scent cartridge for use in cleaning floors, floor coverin... | 12/10/2002 |
| 6481050 | Motor-fan cooling air directed into filter bag A vacuum cleaner having a main body and a handle, the main body being formed with a nozzle which delivers a stream of dirt-laden air through a dirt duct through a motor-fan inlet, the handle being supported on the motor-fan assembly and housing a filter b... | 11/19/2002 |
| 6408481 | Vacuum cleaner The present invention relates to a vacuum cleaner (1) comprising a first casing (10) housing dust separation apparatus, a second casing (11) housing at least one filter (21, 23) or other component of the vacuum cleaner (1), a central spine (13) housing at... | 06/25/2002 |
| 6400048 | Rotary brush device and vacuum cleaner using the same A motor is incorporated in a cylindrical body which is a rotary brush. Rotation of a rotor of the motor, directly or via a speed reduction mechanism, drives the rotary brush. Cooling air runs through the cylindrical body so that the motor is cooled and pr... | 06/04/2002 |
| 6363574 | Vacuum cleaner A vacuum cleaner includes a tank assembly having an open end, a cap assembly removably connected to and generally closing off the open end, an inlet assembly disposed on one of the tank and cap assemblies, an exit opening disposed on one of the tank and c... | 04/02/2002 |
| 6347428 | Hand-held wet/dry vacuum A hand-held portable wet/dry vacuum comprising a cleaning fluid tank, a motor housing and a dirty fluid tank. The cleaning fluid tank is selectively mounted on the motor housing. A siphon, which is controlled by an actuator, is located in the cleaning flu... | 02/19/2002 |
| 6324721 | Leaf blower A portable leaf blower having a fan unit (10) with a fan (11) and a combustion engine (12) for driving the fan. The fan unit (10) is arranged in a shell (16,17) provided with a lower inlet opening (23) through which air, during operation, flows to the fan... | 12/04/2001 |
| 6323570 | Rotary brush device and vacuum cleaner using the same A motor is incorporated in a cylindrical body which is a rotary brush. Rotation of a rotor of the motor, directly or via a speed reduction mechanism, drives the rotary brush. Cooling air runs through the cylindrical body so that the motor is cooled and pr... | 11/27/2001 |
| 6308374 | Air filtering self-propelled upright vacuum cleaner Disclosed is a unique and novel air filtering, self-propelled upright vacuum cleaner. The filtration system utilizes a HEPA-rated air filter as a final filtering element. The disclosed vacuum cleaner contains numerous other features including a self-prope... | 10/30/2001 |
| 6305048 | Electric backpack blower and accessory operator An enclosure is constructed as a back pack so that it may be worn. Air is conducted into an air intake chamber, then to an air intake plenum by air impeller. An electric motor is coupled with an air impeller, with motor cooling accomplished by the positio... | 10/23/2001 |
| 6192551 | Wet cleaning apparatus A wet cleaning apparatus having at least one outlet is provided. The apparatus has an intake fitting, for a suction air stream, which opens out into a liquid container. An upper housing part is disposed on the liquid container and has disposed therein a m... | 02/27/2001 |
| 6175988 | Bypass vacuum cleaner with flexible vacuum hose stored over motor cooling air shroud and carrying handle An electric motor driven bypass type vacuum cleaner apparatus, particularly adapted for wet/dry debris collection includes an open top debris collection tank having opposed integrally formed cup-shaped feet for supporting said apparatus in a stable positi... | 01/23/2001 |
| 6052862 | Cord rewinder for a water filter type vacuum cleaner A cord rewinder assembly for a wet filter type vacuum cleaner with a moist air discharge outlet includes a conventional cord rewinder and a deflector plate. The deflector plate not only shields the cord rewinder from direct contact with the moist airflow ... | 04/25/2000 |
| 6003200 | Powerhead housing assembly for vacuum cleaner Vacuum cleaning apparatus, particularly adapted for wet/dry cleaning operations includes a powerhead housing assembly formed by an impeller housing for supporting an electric motor which drives a working air impeller and a motor cooling air fan and a cove... | 12/21/1999 |
| 5974623 | Vacuum cleaner motor housing A motor housing for a vacuum cleaner includes a motor chamber supported within a main housing wall. A first airway defined between the motor chamber and the main housing wall provides a pathway for the working air flow within the vacuum cleaner. A second ... | 11/02/1999 |
| 5797163 | Liquid extraction machine An extraction machine of this invention comprises a main housing. A vacuum pump in the main housing operates to create a vacuum to extract liquid from the surface. A motor in the main housing drives the vacuum pump, the vacuum pump having an exhaust. An e... | 08/25/1998 |
| 5737797 | Central vacuum with acoustical damping A central vacuum unit having an acoustic damping system is provided. The central vacuum unit includes a canister having a sidewall forming a hollow interior and a lid closing an end of the sidewall, a vacuum motor within the canister which emits noise dur... | 04/14/1998 |
| 5737798 | Device for a vacuum cleaner and a method for cooling a motor A vacuum cleaner having a suction nozzle and a dust bag (12) which is connected to the nozzle, for instance, by a tube connection, and a turbo-fan unit (27) driven by an electric motor and placed after the dust bag seen in the flow direction. The impeller... | 04/14/1998 |
| 5701631 | Cooling arrangement for power components in a vacuum cleaner A vacuum cleaner having a housing (10) in which is disposed an electric circuit, a motor-fan unit (14), and a dust container (12). The dust container is received in a chamber (11). The chamber is provided with an opening (16) through which the dust contai... | 12/30/1997 |
| 5638575 | Vacuum cleaners A vacuum cleaner includes an electric motor which drives a suction fan to draw air and debris into the cleaner via an inlet. The air and debris pass along a passageway and creates a suction at a bleed way to draw air through the motor and out of a compart... | 06/17/1997 |
