IP Library Granted Patent US 11,458,771
Granted Patent B2
US 11,458,771 · App. 16/117,934 · Granted Oct 4, 2022

Wheels having shock absorbing characteristics and a surface treatment apparatus using the same

Inventors: Jason B. Thorne (Dover, MA); Pu Zhou (Bedford, MA); Ming Yao (Suzhou, CN); Gordon Howes (Suzhou, CN)
Assignee: SharkNinja Operating LLC
B60C7/14A47L5/28A47L9/009B60B9/04
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,458,771
App. No.
16/117,934
Granted
Oct 4, 2022
Kind
B2
Abstract

A vacuum cleaner can include an upright section, a surface cleaning head coupled to the upright section, and at least one wheel coupled to the surface cleaning head. The at least one wheel can include a hub, a rim, and an absorber. The absorber can extend between the hub and the rim. The absorber can be configured to deform before the rim experiences substantial deformation. A deformation limiter can be provided that is configured to limit the deformation in the absorber.

Claims (11)

1. A surface cleaning head for a vacuum cleaner comprising:

a main body; and

a plurality of wheels coupled to opposing sides of the main body, the plurality of wheels including:

a hub;

a rim; and

a plurality of spokes extending from the hub at a substantially perpendicular angle towards the rim, the plurality of spokes configured to deform before the rim experiences substantial deformation, wherein the main body includes a deformation limiter to limit a deformation of the plurality of spokes.

2. The surface cleaning head of claim 1 , wherein the spokes have an arcuate shape.

3. The surface cleaning head of claim 2 , wherein a radius of curvature of the spokes increases as the spokes extend around a rotation axis of the hub.

4. The surface cleaning head of claim 3 , wherein a width of the spokes decreases as the radius of curvature increases.

5. The surface cleaning head of claim 3 , wherein at least a portion of one or more of the spokes is substantially tangent with an inner surface of the rim.

6. The surface cleaning head of claim 1 , wherein the deformation limiter is configured to prevent substantial permanent deformation in the spokes.

Assignments (2)
NOTICE OF GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded Jul 20, 2023
From: SHARKNINJA OPERATING LLC
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 064600/0098 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 27, 2022
From: THORNE, JASON B.; ZHOU, PU; YAO, MING; HOWES, GORDON
To: SHARKNINJA OPERATING LLC
Reel/Frame 058793/0134 →
Cited By (2)
US 12,263,698 US 12,339,324