The Scott-fetzer Company

Formtech Enterprises, Inc.

Merit Plastics, Inc.

Werner W Kochte

Susan K Nimon

Paul K Meeker

Joseph M Prahl

Edward F Trombly

David R Bryant

Donald D Bartholomew

Joseph A Rinaldi

The invention relates to a thermoplastic panel or piece having a resilient welded portion. The panel or piece of the present invention may be used in a variety of applications such as to provide sealing ends on thermoplastic panels or to create resiliently closable passages in thermoplastic panels through which wires and other objects may be passed while maintaining an even surface appearance of the baseboard panel. Other uses include attaching one or more thermoplastic pieces together. The invention also includes a method for making the subject thermoplastic panel or piece.

Thermoplastic structural piece containing welded portion

Three-way opener

An opener for tab-top, screw-top and crimped top beverage containers is disclosed. The opener comprises: an injection-molded, substantially flat, elongated handle of an essentially constant wall thickness having a central portion and two ends; a cavity molded in one end of the handle; a serrate frustoconical receptacle molded in the central portion of the handle; an opening molded in the other end of the handle; a passage also molded in the other end and communicating with the opening; and a steel insert frictionally retained in the passage, a portion of the insert protruding into the opening. In use, the cavity receives a tab-top tab, the receptacle engages a screw-top cap, or the opening receives a crimped-top cap, the insert engaging the edge of the cap. The ergonomic handle is then used as a lever to open the container. A permanent magnet may be attached to the opener to allow easy storage on a magnetic surface. The opener may be provided with holes for attaching a cord or tether.

A fluid power system comprising a fluid pump and an impulse turbine operating in the incompressible domain wherein the pump is characterized by a pressure versus flow curve that is inversely interdependent and by a predetermined pump optimum flow area that is associated with maximum pump output power and the turbine includes an inlet flow path to the turbine rotor the effective area of which is substantially matched to the pump optimum flow area to constrain pump operation to the region of maximum output power.

Fluid power train for small appliances

The vacuum generating system for a hand-held vacuum cleaner comprises a fan or impeller having backwardly curved arcuate blades extending between preferably frusto-conical wall portions of front and rear fan shrouds. The front fan shroud is associated with the fan housing to provide a slip seal against vacuum loss around the sides of the fan. The centers of curvature of the arcuate blades are parallel to the central axis of the fan. Although the air flow passages defined by the blades and front and rear shrouds are of complex shapes, the fan may be manufactured economically. The air watts performance curve of the fan is desirably blunted or flattened without significant reduction of altitude or maximum height as compared to prior cleaners.

Vacuum generating system for hand-held vacuum cleaner

A rotary brush vacuum sweeper having a directly coupled disc brush and turbine wheel. The disc brush floats axially within the sweeper housing to control brush force and is in telescopic relation with rearward motor components to promote favorable air flow characteristics. Hollow space between the disc brush and turbine wheel is continuously purged of dirt and debris by ambient air passing through an associated internal circuit.

Vacuum driven tool

A hand held vacuum cleaner of the type having a detachable dust cup is provided with a tiltable nozzle at the intake or forward end of the dust cup.

Hand vacuum with tilting intake

A battery-operated dust cup type, hand-held vacuum cleaner is provided with wall-mounted store-and-charge means that supports the cleaner in upwardly pointed position. The cleaner is also rechargeable independently of the storage bracket, using the same charging means. The flap valve associated with the vacuum nozzle of the cleaner is backwardly slanted from the intake mouth in closed position. The flap valve seals on a lip extending around the inner periphery of the nose end of the dust cup. The intake mouth is provided with a serration or comb forming a re-entrant lip at the bottom side of the mouth. The dust bag is mounted independently of the dust cup but also without use of special brackets forward of the vacuum intake. Latch means for the dust cup is mounted immediately adjacent the power switch, and is mechanically arranged to be 'forgiving' of variations in manufacturing tolerance. The latch surfaces are hidden from sight and the latch mechanism is protected from dirt and dust within the dust cup by being isolated therefrom by sealing means. A novel sealing means is provided. The thin-walled plastic body forming the housing for the power components comprises two molded halves each of which has stiffening ribs partially penetrating the other in engaging relation. Pairs of posts extend transversely from the outer side walls of the two housing halves into mating and end-abutting relation with each other, and are fastened together in such relation.

Hand-held vacuum cleaner

Vacuum cleaner

A carpet or rug cleaner forms a bead of water or other cleaning fluid across the width of a cleaning head. The bead of fluid is applied on the pile of a carpet or rug, and the fluid is violently pulled, by the force of the applied vacuum, from the bead or from the region of the bead through the pile of the carpet or rug to a vacuum uptake with only limited downward penetration of the fluid into the pile. Cleaning action is vigorous, fluid recovery is enhanced, and drying time reduced.

Surface cleaning machine

A holder for supporting a rod for rotation or longitudinal movement is molded from a plastic material. The holder is T-shaped having a central elongated portion through which the rod extends and transverse wings with apertures therethrough by which the holder is supported on a member. The cavity in the mold has a rod extending therethrough with a ring of elastomeric material thereon about which the plastic material is injected to mold the holder as a unit element with the elastomeric ring retained therein when the supporting rod is pulled therefrom. It is only necessary to insert the operating rod within the holder through the elastomeric ring which will be compressed so that it will apply a predetermined drag on the rod to restrict its longitudinal and rotational movement.

Growing community of inventors

Ravenna, OH, United States of America

Werner W Kochte