Allergen reduction device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12376717-B2
Application number	US-202217961067-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 6, 2022
Priority date	Apr 6, 2020
Publication date	Aug 5, 2025
Grant date	Aug 5, 2025

Abstract

An allergen reduction device may include a body, a dust cup removably coupled to the body, a plurality of agitators rotatably coupled to the body and disposed within respective agitator cavities defined in the body, a suction motor disposed within the body and configured to cause air to flow along corresponding cleaning airflow paths from the agitator cavities into the dust cup, a hot air outlet fluidly coupled to the suction motor, the suction motor being configured to urge the air through the hot air outlet along a heated exhaust airflow path, and a heater positioned within the heated exhaust airflow path between the suction motor and the hot air outlet, the heater being configured to heat the air that is urged from the hot air outlet.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An allergen reduction device comprising:
a body having a sliding surface that is configured to be moveable along an object;
a dust cup removably coupled to the body;
a first agitator rotatably coupled to the body and disposed within a first agitator cavity defined in the body, the first agitator being configured to contact the object;
a second agitator rotatably coupled to the body and disposed within a second agitator cavity defined in the body, the second agitator being configured to contact the object, wherein the first and second agitators are configured to counter rotate to stretch the object such that a portion of the object extending between the agitators is substantially parallel to the sliding surface of the body;
a suction motor disposed within the body and configured to cause cleaning air to flow along corresponding cleaning airflow paths from the first and second agitator cavities into the dust cup;
a hot air outlet fluidly coupled to the suction motor, the suction motor being configured to urge the cleaning air along a heated exhaust airflow path and through the hot air outlet such that the heated exhaust airflow path intersects the object after exiting the hot air outlet, wherein the hot air outlet is disposed between the first and second agitators such that the cleaning air exiting the hot air outlet urges the sliding surface of the body in a direction away from the object; and
a heater positioned within the heated exhaust airflow path between the suction motor and the hot air outlet, the heater being configured to heat the cleaning air that is urged from the hot air outlet.

2. The allergen reduction device of claim 1 , wherein a filter extends within the dust cup.

3. The allergen reduction device of claim 2 , wherein the filter is a high efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter.

4. The allergen reduction device of claim 3 , wherein the filter is a glass fabric HEPA filter.

5. The allergen reduction device of claim 1 , wherein the suction motor is further configured to cause cooling air to flow along a cooling airflow path, wherein the cooling airflow path extends through the suction motor.

6. The allergen reduction device of claim 5 , wherein the cooling airflow path is separate from the cleaning airflow paths and the heated exhaust airflow path.

7. The allergen reduction device of claim 1 further comprising an agitator motor configured to cause the first and second agitators to rotate.

8. The allergen reduction device of claim 1 , wherein each of the first and second agitators include one or more flaps.

9. The allergen reduction device of claim 1 , wherein the heater is configured to heat the cleaning air passing therethrough to a temperature in a range of 100 degrees Celsius to 140 degrees Celsius.

10. The allergen reduction device of claim 1 , wherein the heater is disposed within a hot air tunnel.

11. The allergen reduction device of claim 10 , wherein the hot air tunnel has a cross-sectional area measuring in a range of 400 square millimeters to 2000 square millimeters.

12. An allergen reduction device comprising:
a body having a sliding surface configured to be moveable along an object;
a first agitator rotatably coupled to the body and disposed within a first agitator cavity defined in the body;
a second agitator rotatably coupled to the body and disposed within a second agitator cavity defined in the body, the second agitator being configured to contact the object, wherein the first and second agitators are configured to counter rotate to stretch the object such that a portion of the object extending between the agitators is substantially parallel to the sliding surface of the body;
a suction motor disposed within the body and configured to cause air to flow along a cleaning airflow path that extends through at least one of the first or second agitator cavities;
a hot air outlet fluidly coupled to the suction motor, the suction motor being configured to urge the air along a heated exhaust airflow path that extends through the hot air outlet; and
a heater positioned within the heated exhaust airflow path between the suction motor and the hot air outlet, the heater being configured to heat the air that is urged from the hot air outlet.

13. The allergen reduction device of claim 12 , wherein the heated exhaust airflow path intersects the object after exiting the hot air outlet and the hot air outlet is disposed between the first and second agitators such that the cleaning air exiting the hot air outlet urges the sliding surface of the body in a direction away from the object.

14. The allergen reduction device of claim 12 , wherein each of the agitators include one or more flaps.

15. The allergen reduction device of claim 12 , wherein the heater is configured to heat the air passing therethrough to a temperature in a range of 100 degrees Celsius to 140 degrees Celsius.

16. The allergen reduction device of claim 12 , wherein the heater is disposed within a hot air tunnel.

17. The allergen reduction device of claim 16 , wherein the hot air tunnel has a cross-sectional area measuring in a range of 400 square millimeters to 2000 square millimeters.

Assignees

• Sharkninja Operating Llc

Inventors

• Xu Kai
• Hutchinson Peter

Classifications

• A61L2103/50

  Textiles, e.g. bedwear or towels · CPC title

• A61L2202/17

  Combination with washing or cleaning means · CPC title

• A61L2/26

  Accessories · CPC title

• A61L2/04

  Heat (radiation A61L2/08) · CPC title

• A47L9/2889

  Safety or protection devices or systems, e.g. for prevention of motor over-heating or for protection of the user · CPC title