Charles A Lang

US Patent:

6266845, Jul 31, 2001

Filed:

May 5, 2000

Appl. No.:

9/565797

Inventors:

Charles A. Lang - Hartville OH

Assignee:

The Hoover Company - North Canton OH

International Classification:

A47L 910

US Classification:

15352

Abstract:

A dirt cup latching mechanism that secures a lid onto a dirt receptacle of vacuum cleaner and simultaneously secures the dirt cup in place on the vacuum cleaner. The latching mechanism presses the lid down onto an open top of the dirt receptacle and presses the dirt receptacle down into a dirt cup retaining recess provided in a generally horizontal wall of the vacuum cleaner housing. The latching mechanism may press down on the top of an open topped dirt receptacle, with or without a lid, while simultaneously pulling the dirt cup horizontally against a generally vertical wall of the vacuum cleaner housing. Thus, the latching mechanism simultaneously presses the dirt receptacle down against one of an inlet and outlet seal located on the horizontal wall of the housing and horizontally against the other one of inlet and outlet seal on the vertical wall of the housing, thereby sealing both the receptacle inlet and outlet.

US Patent:

6629332, Oct 7, 2003

Filed:

Sep 18, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/957711

Inventors:

Jeffery A. Morgan - Cuyahoga Falls OH
Charles A. Lang - Hartville OH
David G. Mueller - North Canton OH
Kenneth H. Cooper - Akron OH
Richard F. Spinelli - Cuyahoga Falls OH
Hung-kit Kwong - Shatin, CN
Kam Hoi Ma - SunShine, CN

Assignee:

The Hoover Company - North Canton OH

International Classification:

A47L 918

US Classification:

15320, 15353, 55DIG 3, 55423

Abstract:

A recovery tank is provided for a floor cleaning unit. The recovery tank includes an inlet opening and a duct fluidly connected to the inlet. The duct extends horizontally within the tank adjacent a side wall the recovery tank for directing air and liquid from the inlet opening in two opposing directions. A lid covers the tank and has an outlet opening for directing air out of the recovery tank. A pair of shields depends downwardly from the lid and extends from the duct to the side wall of the recovery tank. The outlet opening of the lid is located between the shields such that the shields prevent liquid from coming out of the duct and entering the outlet opening of the lid.

US Patent:

6640386, Nov 4, 2003

Filed:

Sep 18, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/955725

Inventors:

Jeffery A. Morgan - Cuyahoga Falls OH
Douglas E. Gerber - North Canton OH
Robert W. Hecht - Canton OH
Charles A. Lang - Hartville OH
Adam C. Sclafani - North Canton OH
Kevin L. Thomas - North Canton OH
Vincent L. Weber - North Lawrence OH
Robert S. Wilson - New Philadelphia OH
Christopher J. Fawcett - Tallmadge OH
Kam Hoi Ma - SunShine, CN
Tak On Yip - Kwai Chung, CN

Assignee:

The Hoover Company - North Canton OH

International Classification:

A47L 500

US Classification:

15373, 15355, 15385

Abstract:

A floor cleaning device includes a base portion for movement along a surface. The base portion further includes a suction nozzle and a brush assembly driven by a brush motor for agitating the surface. The brush assembly includes a lifting mechanism for moving the brush assembly from a first position wherein the brush is off the surface to a second position wherein the brush assembly is on the surface. A switching assembly is responsive to the brush lifting mechanism to energize the brush motor when the brush assembly is in the second position.

US Patent:

6842942, Jan 18, 2005

Filed:

Sep 18, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/955713

Inventors:

Jeffery A. Morgan - Cuyahoga Falls OH, US
Charles A. Lang - Hartville OH, US
Adam C. Sclafani - North Canton OH, US
Kevin L. Thomas - North Canton OH, US
Jeffrey S. Louis - Akron OH, US
David L. O'Neal - Louisville OH, US
Siu Wai Hui - Kowloon, CN

Assignee:

The Hoover Company - North Canton OH

International Classification:

A47L 902

US Classification:

15414, 15322, 15338

Abstract:

A floor cleaning unit is provided. The floor cleaning unit includes a base for movement along the surface. A nozzle assembly is removably attached to the base for pick up and removal of liquid and dirt. Such attachment is accomplished by providing the nozzle assembly with a slide latch that slidably engages a channel formed in the base.

US Patent:

7178196, Feb 20, 2007

Filed:

Jan 11, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/032969

Inventors:

Jeffery A. Morgan - Cuyahoga Falls OH, US
Charles A. Lang - Hartville OH, US
Adam C. Sclafani - North Canton OH, US
Kevin L. Thomas - North Canton OH, US
Jeffrey S. Louis - Akron OH, US
David L. O'Neal - Louisville OH, US
Siu Wai Hui - Kowloon, CN

Assignee:

The Hoover Company - North Canton OH

International Classification:

A47L 7/32

US Classification:

15320, 15383

Abstract:

A floor care appliance is provided. The floor care appliance includes a base for movement along the surface attached to a housing. The floor care appliance has two liquid storage tanks located in the housing wherein one of the liquid storage tanks generally overlies the other liquid storage tank. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the liquid storage tank located above the other liquid storage tank is a cleaning solution storage tank and the other liquid storage tank is a liquid recovery tank.

US Patent:

7222389, May 29, 2007

Filed:

Oct 5, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/244208

Inventors:

Jeffery A. Morgan - Cuyahoga Falls OH, US
Charles A. Lang - Hartville OH, US
Adam C. Sclafani - North Canton OH, US

Assignee:

The Hoover Company - North Canton OH

International Classification:

A47L 7/00

US Classification:

15320, 15347, 15353

Abstract:

A recovery tank is provided for a floor cleaning unit. The recovery tank comprises an inlet opening and a duct fluidly connected to the inlet. The duct extends horizontally within the tank adjacent a side wall the recovery tank for directing air and liquid from the inlet opening in two opposing directions. A lid covers the tank and has an outlet opening for directing air out of the recovery tank. A pair of shields depends downwardly from the lid and extends from the duct to the side wall of the recovery tank. The outlet opening of the lid is located between the shields such that the shields prevent liquid from coming out of the duct and entering the outlet opening of the lid.

US Patent:

7331082, Feb 19, 2008

Filed:

Jun 25, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/877668

Inventors:

Timothy T. Hertrick - Canton OH, US
David J. Boles - Barberton OH, US
Michael A. Durbin - Massillon OH, US
Jonathan E. Fawcett - Tallmadge OH, US
Gary M. Johns - Canton OH, US
Charles A. Lang - Hartville OH, US
Richard S. Parr - Uniontown OH, US
Ryan S. Steiner - Dalton OH, US
Donald R. Wright - Barberton OH, US
Paul E. Volkmann - El Paso TX, US

Assignee:

The Hoover Company - North Canton OH

International Classification:

A47L 11/30

US Classification:

15320, 15410

Abstract:

A cleaning apparatus for cleaning a surface in which cleaning solution is dispensed to the surface and substantially simultaneously extracted along with the dirt on the surface in a continuous operation is provided. The cleaning apparatus includes a base portion for movement along the surface and a handle pivotally connected to the base portion. A solution tank for supplying a flow of cleaning solution to the surface is removably mounted to a side of the handle. A recovery tank is removably mounted to the opposite side of the handle. A suction nozzle is secured to the base portion. A suction source is in fluid communication with the suction nozzle for generating suction to draw dirt and liquid through the suction nozzle and into the recovery tank.

US Patent:

7363681, Apr 29, 2008

Filed:

Jun 25, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/877907

Inventors:

Michael A. Durbin - Massillon OH, US
Andrew C. Budd - Uniontown OH, US
Timothy T. Hertrick - Canton OH, US
Charles A. Lang - Hartville OH, US
Bruce C. Straslicka - Medina OH, US

Assignee:

Healthy Gain Investments Ltd. - Road Town

International Classification:

A47L 7/00

US Classification:

15320, 15410

Abstract:

A cleaning apparatus for cleaning a surface in which cleaning solution is dispensed to the surface and substantially simultaneously extracted along with the dirt on the surface in a continuous operation is provided. The cleaning apparatus includes a base portion for movement along the surface and a handle pivotally connected to the base portion. A solution tank for supplying a flow of cleaning solution to the surface is removably mounted to one of the base portion and handle. A recovery tank is removably mounted to the handle. A suction nozzle is secured to the base portion. A suction source is located downstream of the recovery tank in fluid communication with the suction nozzle for generating suction to draw dirt and liquid through the suction nozzle and into the recovery tank. A suction conduit is fluidly connected between the recovery tank and the suction source. A suction shut off device is operatively connected to the suction source to shut shutoff suction through at least a portion of the suction conduit upon the handle being pivoted down a predetermined distance to a first position.