To:
`
`Subject:
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`Sent:
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`Sent As:
`
`Panasonic Corporation of North America (ptodocket@arelaw.com)
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`U.S. TRADEMARK APPLICATION NO. 86230485 - PLUSH PRO - 55210/825
`
`5/19/2014 6:16:33 PM
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`ECOM108@USPTO.GOV
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`Attachments:
`
`Attachment - 1
`Attachment - 2
`
`UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE (USPTO)
`OFFICE ACTION (OFFICIAL LETTER) ABOUT APPLICANT’S TRADEMARK APPLICATION
`
`(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160) CORRESPONDENT ADDRESS:
`(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)
`(cid:160)(cid:160) (cid:160)(cid:160) HOLLY PEKOWSKY, ESQ.
`(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)
`(cid:160)(cid:160) (cid:160)(cid:160) AMSTER, ROTHSTEIN & EBENSTEIN LLP
`(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)
`90 PARK AVE
`(cid:160)(cid:160) (cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)
`(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)
`(cid:160)(cid:160) (cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160) NEW YORK, NY 10016-1301
`
`*86230485*
`
`CLICK HERE TO RESPOND TO THIS LETTER:
`http://www.uspto.gov/trademarks/teas/response_forms.jsp
`
`(cid:160) (cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160) U.S. APPLICATION SERIAL NO. 86230485
`(cid:160) (cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)
`(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160) MARK: PLUSH PRO
`(cid:160) (cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160) (cid:160)(cid:160) (cid:160)(cid:160) (cid:160)
`(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160) APPLICANT: Panasonic Corporation of North America
`(cid:160) (cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160) CORRESPONDENT’S REFERENCE/DOCKET NO :(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)
`(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)
`
`(cid:160) (cid:160) 55210/825
`
`(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160) CORRESPONDENT E-MAIL ADDRESS:(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)
`
`(cid:160) (cid:160) ptodocket@arelaw.com
`
`OFFICE ACTION
`
`STRICT DEADLINE TO RESPOND TO THIS LETTER
`TO AVOID ABANDONMENT OF APPLICANT’S TRADEMARK APPLICATION, THE USPTO MUST RECEIVE APPLICANT’S
`COMPLETE RESPONSE TO THIS LETTER WITHIN 6 MONTHS OF THE ISSUE/MAILING DATE BELOW.
`
`(cid:160)I
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`SSUE/MAILING DATE: 5/19/2014
`
`The referenced application has been reviewed by the assigned trademark examining attorney.(cid:160) Applicant must respond timely and completely to
`the issue below.(cid:160) 15 U.S.C. §1062(b); 37 C.F.R. §§2.62(a), 2.65(a); TMEP §§711, 718.03.
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`(cid:160)S
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`earch
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`The trademark examining attorney has searched the Office’s database of registered and pending marks and has found no conflicting marks that
`would bar registration under Trademark Act Section 2(d).(cid:160) TMEP §704.02; see 15 U.S.C. §1052(d).
`
`(cid:160) P
`
`roposed Mark is Descriptive
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`(cid:160)T
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`he examining attorney refuses registration on the Principal Register because the proposed mark is merely descriptive of the identified goods.(cid:160)
`Trademark Act Section 2(e)(1), 15 U.S.C. §1052(e)(1); see TMEP §§1209.01(b), 1209.03 et seq.(cid:160) The applicant’s proposed mark is “PLUSH
`PRO” for a feature of a vacuum cleaner.
`
`(cid:160)T
`
`he proposed mark consists of the terms “plush” and “pro.” (cid:160) “Plush” is defined as abundantly rich; lush; luxuriant.[1](cid:160) “Pro” is defined as
`professional.[2](cid:160)(cid:160) Taken as a whole the proposed mark can be interpreted as a professional grade designed for plush carpets.(cid:160)(cid:160) This is considered
`merely descriptive of the identified goods, namely, a feature of a professional grade vacuum designed for plush carpets.(cid:160) A mark is merely
`descriptive if it describes an ingredient, quality, characteristic, function, feature, purpose or use of the specified goods.(cid:160) TMEP §1209.01(b); see
`In re Steelbuilding.com, 415 F.3d 1293, 1297, 75 USPQ2d 1420, 1421 (Fed. Cir. 2005); In re Gyulay, 820 F.2d 1216, 1217-18, 3 USPQ2d 1009,
`1010 (Fed. Cir. 1987).(cid:160)
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`(cid:160)
`(cid:160)
`(cid:160)
`

`

`(cid:160)A
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`Lexis/Nexis search illustrates the descriptive nature of the proposed mark.(cid:160) A search of U.S. news articles for the term “vacuum” within five
`terms of “pro” or “plush” found over two hundred stories.(cid:160) Articles found within this search illustrate the descriptive nature of the term as
`
`applied to the identified goods (See attached for random examples).(cid:160)(cid:160)
`
`A mark that merely combines descriptive words is not registrable if the individual components retain their descriptive meaning in relation to the
`goods and the combination results in a composite mark that is itself descriptive.(cid:160) TMEP §1209.03(d); see, e.g., In re King Koil Licensing Co. Inc.,
`79 USPQ2d 1048 (TTAB 2006) (holding THE BREATHABLE MATTRESS merely descriptive of “beds, mattresses, box springs and pillows”);
`In re Associated Theatre Clubs Co., 9 USPQ2d 1660, 1662 (TTAB 1988) (holding GROUP SALES BOX OFFICE merely descriptive of theater
`ticket sales services).(cid:160) Such a mark is registrable only if the composite creates a unitary mark with a unique, incongruous, or otherwise
`nondescriptive meaning in relation to the goods.(cid:160) See, e.g., In re Colonial Stores, Inc., 394 F.2d 549, 551, 157 USPQ 382, 384 (C.C.P.A. 1968).
`
`(cid:160)I
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`n this case, both the individual components and the composite result are descriptive of applicant’s goods and do not create a unique,
`incongruous or nondescriptive meaning in relation to the goods.(cid:160) Specifically, the vacuum cleaners are professional quality for plush carpets.(cid:160)
`Based on the above, the mark cannot be registered on the Principal Register.
`
`(cid:160)O
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`ther Considerations
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`(cid:160)A
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`lthough the examining attorney has refused registration, the applicant may respond to the refusal to register by submitting evidence and
`arguments in support of registration.(cid:160) If applicant chooses to respond to the refusal to register, the following issues must also be addressed.
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`(cid:160) R
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`equest For Information
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`(cid:160)T
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`he nature of the goods is not clear from the present record.(cid:160) The examining attorney requires information about the nature of the goods to
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`determine whether all or part of the wording in the mark is merely descriptive as applied to the goods.(cid:160)(cid:160)
`
`To permit proper examination of the application, applicant must submit additional product information about the goods.(cid:160) See 37 C.F.R. §2.61(b);
`In re DTI P’ship LLP, 67 USPQ2d 1699, 1701-02 (TTAB 2003); TMEP §814.(cid:160) In particular, the applicant should indicate whether or not the
`goods concern or have any other connection with professional quality or grade and/or plush carpeting.
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`(cid:160)T
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`he requested product information should include fact sheets, instruction manuals, and/or advertisements.(cid:160) If these materials are unavailable,
`applicant should submit similar documentation for goods of the same type, explaining how its own product will differ.(cid:160) If the goods feature new
`technology and no competing goods are available, applicant must provide a detailed description of the goods.
`
`(cid:160)T
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`he submitted factual information must make clear how the goods operate, their salient features, and their prospective customers and channels of
`trade.(cid:160) Conclusory statements regarding the goods will not satisfy this requirement.
`
`(cid:160)F
`
`ailure to respond to a request for information is an additional ground for refusing registration.(cid:160) See In re Cheezwhse.com, Inc., 85 USPQ2d 1917,
`1919 (TTAB 2008); In re DTI, 67 USPQ2d at 1701-02.(cid:160) Merely stating that information about the goods is available on applicant’s website is an
`inappropriate response to a request for additional information and is insufficient to make the relevant information of record.(cid:160) See In re
`Planalytics, Inc., 70 USPQ2d 1453, 1457-58 (TTAB 2004).
`
`(cid:160) T
`
`he Identification of Goods is Indefinite
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`(cid:160)T
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`he identification of goods is indefinite and must be clarified because it is unclear from the current wording exactly what goods are used in
`conjunction with the mark.(cid:160) See TMEP §1402.01In particular, the specific function of the feature must be identified.(cid:160) Applicant may adopt the
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`following identification, if accurate (suggested wording appears italicized print):(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)
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`A feature of a vacuum cleaner, namely, a dial to adjust the height and control the agitator, sold as an integral component of a vacuum
`cleaner in Class 7.(cid:160) TMEP Section 1402.01.
`
`(cid:160)A
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`n applicant may amend an identification of goods only to clarify or limit the goods; adding to or broadening the scope of the goods is not
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`permitted.(cid:160) 37 C.F.R. §2.71(a); see TMEP §§1402.06 et seq., 1402.07 et seq.(cid:160)(cid:160)
`
`For assistance with identifying and classifying goods and/or services in trademark applications, please see the online searchable Manual of
`Acceptable Identifications of Goods and Services at http://tess2.uspto.gov/netahtml/tidm.html.(cid:160) See TMEP §1402.04.
`
`(cid:160)I
`
`f applicant has questions regarding this Office action, please telephone or e-mail the assigned trademark examining attorney.(cid:160) All relevant e-
`mail communications will be placed in the official application record; however, an e-mail communication will not be accepted as a response to
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`

`

`this Office action and will not extend the deadline for filing a proper response.(cid:160) See 37 C.F.R. §2.191; TMEP §§304.01-.02, 709.04-.05.(cid:160) Further,
`although the trademark examining attorney may provide additional explanation pertaining to the refusal and/or requirement in this Office action,
`the trademark examining attorney may not provide legal advice or statements about applicant’s rights. (cid:160) See TMEP §§705.02, 709.06.
`
`(cid:160)(cid:160)
`
`/Jason F. Turner/
`Jason F. Turner
`Law Office 108
`(571) 272-9353
`jason.turner@uspto.gov
`
`(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)
`
`TO RESPOND TO THIS LETTER: (cid:160) Go to http://www.uspto.gov/trademarks/teas/response_forms.jsp. (cid:160) Please wait 48-72 hours from the
`issue/mailing date before using the Trademark Electronic Application System (TEAS), to allow for necessary system updates of the application.(cid:160)
`For technical assistance with online forms, e-mail TEAS@uspto.gov.(cid:160) For questions about the Office action itself, please contact the assigned
`trademark examining attorney.(cid:160) E-mail communications will not be accepted as responses to Office actions; therefore, do not respond to
`this Office action by e-mail.
`
`(cid:160)A
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`ll informal e-mail communications relevant to this application will be placed in the official application record.
`
`(cid:160)W
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`HO MUST SIGN THE RESPONSE:(cid:160) It must be personally signed by an individual applicant or someone with legal authority to bind an
`applicant (i.e., a corporate officer, a general partner, all joint applicants).(cid:160) If an applicant is represented by an attorney, the attorney must sign the
`
`response.(cid:160)(cid:160)
`PERIODICALLY CHECK THE STATUS OF THE APPLICATION: (cid:160) To ensure that applicant does not miss crucial deadlines or official
`notices, check the status of the application every three to four months using the Trademark Status and Document Retrieval (TSDR) system at
`http://tsdr.uspto.gov/. (cid:160) Please keep a copy of the TSDR status screen. (cid:160) If the status shows no change for more than six months, contact the
`Trademark Assistance Center by e-mail at TrademarkAssistanceCenter@uspto.gov or call 1-800-786-9199. (cid:160) For more information on checking
`status, see http://www.uspto.gov/trademarks/process/status/.
`
`(cid:160)T
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`O UPDATE CORRESPONDENCE/E-MAIL ADDRESS:(cid:160) Use the TEAS form at http://www.uspto.gov/trademarks/teas/correspondence.jsp.
`
`108B8C
`
`Time of Request: Monday, May 19, 2014(cid:160) 18:09:46 EST
`Client ID/Project Name:
`Number of Lines: 894
`Job Number:(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)
`1825:464121119
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`(cid:160) R
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`esearch Information
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`(cid:160) S
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`ervice: (cid:160)(cid:160)
`Terms and Connectors Search
`Print Request: Selected Document(s): 3,8,58,62,63,67,91,98,108,129,136,137
`Source: US Newspapers
`Search Terms: vacuum! w/5 (plush! or pro)
`
`(cid:160)(cid:160)
`(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)
`

`

`Send to:(cid:160) TURNER, JASON
`(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)
`TRADEMARK LAW LIBRARY
`(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)
`600 DULANY ST
`(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)
`ALEXANDRIA, VA 22314-5790
`
`(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)
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`3 of 291 DOCUMENTS
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`Copyright 2014 The New York Times Company: Abstracts
`All Rights Reserved
`Wall Street Journal Abstracts
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`April 30, 2014 Wednesday
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`(cid:160)S
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`ECTION: D; Pg. 1
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`(cid:160)L
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`ENGTH: 26 words
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`(cid:160)H
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`EADLINE: ROBOT VACUUM CAGE MATCH: THERE'S NO CLEAN SWEEP
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`(cid:160)B
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`(cid:160)B
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`YLINE: GOFFREY A FOWLER
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`ODY:
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`(cid:160)A
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`BSTRACT
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`Goffrey Fowler Personal Technology column evaluates iRobot Roomba, Neato BotVac 85 and Moneual Rydis H68 Pro robot vacuum cleaners; photos; chart
`
`(M)
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`(cid:160)G
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`RAPHIC: Combination
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`(cid:160)L
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`OAD-DATE: April 30, 2014
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`(cid:160)
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`8 of 291 DOCUMENTS
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`Copyright 2014 American City Business Journal, Inc.
`All Rights Reserved
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`Boston Business Journal
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`March 18, 2014 Tuesday
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`(cid:160)L
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`ENGTH: 581(cid:160) words
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`(cid:160)H
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`EADLINE: Newton firm quietly emerges as one of this area's biggest consumer products companies
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`(cid:160)B
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`(cid:160)B
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`YLINE: Jon Chesto
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`ODY:
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`As Euro-Pro cleaned up in the vacuum aisles of your local hardware store or big-box retailer, the Newton firm has quietly emerged as of the largest consumer
`goods companies in the Boston area.
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`President Mark Barrocas tells me he wants to add 75 new positions locally within the next year, as part of a hiring push that would add 125 jobs overall to the
`company's work force. That would represent a 30 percent increase from the 250 people in Boston-area offices, and an 18 percent overall increase. There are at
`least  70 job openings listed on Euro-Pro's website today, with roughly half of those based here. The employment growth is aimed at keeping pace with surging
`revenue: Euro-Pro says it generated $1.2 billion in sales last year, an increase of more than 25 percent from 2012.
`
`To accommodate all this hiring, Barrocas is hunting for new space in the Newton or Needham area. Euro-Pro, the company behind the Shark vacuum cleaners
`and Ninja kitchen appliances, currently occupies about 90,000 square feet among two offices in Newton and one in Needham, all within a half a mile of each other.
`Ideally, he would like to have everyone in a single space, one as large as 150,000 square feet.
`
`Euro-Pro has largely remained under the radar locally, in part because it's a relatively recent arrival. CEO Mark Rosenzweig moved the headquarters to Newton in
`2003 from Montreal, according to Barrocas.
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`But the bigger change took place in 2008, when the privately owned company's management decided to reshape the product portfolio. At the time,
`Barrocas says there were about 25 employees in Newton, and the firm had annual revenue of about $250 million.
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`Cheaper items - "opening price products," in Barrocas' words - were dumped in favor of appliances whose innovative features would attract a devoted following
`among consumers. Before 2008, much of the design work was done by outside contractors. Nearly all of that work was moved in house, allowing the company more
`flexibility. (Barrocas says the company directly employs more than 200 people in China, and all its manufacturing is still done by contractors there.)
`
`"We reserve the right to get smarter as we develop products," Barrocas says. "That meandering approach lends itself more to having people in house than working
`with outside companies."
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`The growth has been particularly pronounced in Euro-Pro's vacuum cleaner business. The company had a 1-percent share of the U.S. market in 2008, Barrocas
`says, and it now controls about 20 percent of the market today.
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`At least some of that growth can be attributed to aggressive marketing: Barrocas says Euro-Pro spent more than $130 million on TV advertising last year. Much
`of that was in the form of 30-minute informercials, although the company also runs more traditional, shorter spots.
`
`Barrocas knows that the growth trajectory his firm has enjoyed will be tough to continue without a broader mix of products. So his firm's developers and
`engineers are already at work on new products within existing categories and on a potential expansion into new categories.
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`"We've done some great work over the last few years," Barrocas says. "But we're going up against some well entrenched brands with 100 years of history. We
`still have a lot of work to do to continue to invest in our brands and make them household names."
`
`Did you find this article useful? Why not subscribe to Boston Business Journal for more articles and leads? Visit bizjournals.com/subscribe or call
`1-866-853-3661.
`
`(cid:160)L
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`OAD-DATE: March 19, 2014
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`(cid:160)
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`58 of 291 DOCUMENTS
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`Copyright 2011 The New York Times Company
`The New York Times
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`June 2, 2011 Thursday(cid:160)
`Late Edition - Final
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`(cid:160)S
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`ECTION: Section D; Column 0; House & Home/Style Desk; HOME TECH; Pg. 4
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`(cid:160)L
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`ENGTH: 1281 words
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`(cid:160)H
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`EADLINE: Using Gadgets To Zap Germs
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`(cid:160)B
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`(cid:160)B
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`YLINE: By FARHAD MANJOO
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`ODY:
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`TOILET SEATS get a bad rap, says Charles Gerba, an environmental microbiologist at the University of Arizona. Indeed, because of what goes on there, we tend
`to consider bathrooms -- even the most respectable bathrooms -- as generally less than sterile. That view, it turns out, is unfair.
`
`In numerous studies, Dr. Gerba and his colleagues have found that toilet seats are often one of the least germ-infested areas in your house. Much of the rest of the
`bathroom, too, isn't especially toxic. If you're really worried about germs, look to the kitchen.
`
`''Cutting boards are just terrible,'' Dr. Gerba said, by way of example. ''There's 200 times more bacteria on a cutting board than a toilet seat.''
`
`I got to talking to Dr. Gerba -- who has been studying the spread of bacteria, viruses and other pathogens in households for so long that many of his colleagues
`call him Dr. Germ -- because lately I've had cleanliness on the brain. I've been testing several gadgets that promise to reduce or eliminate many household pathogens:
`devices to sanitize your cellphone, your toothbrush, your bedding, your floors, your countertops, and even the very air circulating through your home.
`
`One by one, I put these gadgets through their paces. But then what? Germs' power derives from their invisibility. And that's the trouble with fully evaluating these
`high-tech germ destroyers -- how would I know that they were working well? To find out, I asked Dr. Gerba, who is not paid to endorse any of the products I tested,
`and he said I'd more or less have to take it on faith. The good news is that we know a lot about sanitizing, but as to claims of a specific product's effectiveness, firm
`answers are hard to get without your own lab.
`
`Consider the VIOlight UV Cell Phone Sanitizer, a $40 device that promises to eliminate 99.9 percent of the bacteria and other nasties sitting on your phone. It
`purports to do so by using a beam of ultraviolet light, which is a specific wavelength of light that, when focused precisely, penetrates and damages the DNA of
`microorganisms. Dr. Gerba said that ultraviolet-based systems have been used in commercial and industrial sanitizing applications for many years. The technology is
`now getting small and inexpensive enough to be found in many consumer devices, too. In fact, most of the devices I tested used UV light as their primary cleaning
`agent.
`
`The cellphone cleaner, a hunk of silver plastic as big as a soap dispenser, is simple to use: Just drop your phone inside and shut the lid. A light on the front blinks
`on and off to tell you it's working. After about 5 minutes, the sanitizing is done. When you pull your phone out, it won't look or smell any cleaner -- the sanitizer isn't
`meant to remove smudges or stains -- but presumably the UV light has killed off everything microscopic.
`
`Presumably: On the one hand, UV light is a proven sanitizer. But on the other I honestly have no idea if this particular cleaner did its job well.
`
`Dr. Gerba added that, with cellphones, it may not matter much. Even if you assume that the sanitizer is decimating the phone's microscopic inhabitants, it's
`unlikely that your phone was covered in anything really dangerous. ''Cellphones can get fairly germy, but it's only your germs,'' Dr. Gerba said. ''Unless you're sharing
`your phone with other people, there's nothing to worry about.'' (Dr. Gerba is asked about the necessity of cellphone sanitizing so often that he has a quip at the ready:
`''It keeps you from talking dirty.'')
`
`You're on slightly firmer ground with another VIOlight device -- the $30 toothbrush sanitizer. This looks like a standard toothbrush holder, but when you press a
`button on the front, a UV light shines on the germs on your brushes (the unit holds up to four). According to a 2008 study published in the American Journal of
`Dentistry, toothbrushes treated with the VIOlight had 86 percent fewer ''colony-forming units'' -- a measure of germs -- than toothbrushes that were just rinsed in cold
`water. The study does note, however, that there's no proof that a cleaner toothbrush results in better oral health.
`
`UV light can also help with your cutting board, that epicenter of household filth. For this, I tried the CleanWave Sanitizing Wand, a $70 device made by Verilux.
`The wand looks like a shrunken light saber, and to attack your germs, you can play Luke Skywalker. Turn on the wand, hold one edge against a flat surface -- your
`cutting board, your countertop, your desk -- and slowly move it back and forth over the area you'd like to sanitize.
`
`Ryan Douglas, the chief executive of Verilux, said that when he cleans with the wand, he can tell that it's working. ''As you wand over an area, there's a 'freshness'
`you can smell when the biological material is killed,'' Mr. Douglas said.
`
`I confess I smelled nothing of the sort. Still, of all the applications for UV, Dr. Gerba said studies show that it is most effective on hard, nonporous surfaces like
`cutting boards. Even though I couldn't tell it was working, there's a high likelihood that the wand cleaned my cutting board far better than would most other home
`cleaning products, and it also contained no harmful chemicals. What's more, as Mr. Douglas pointed out, there's no way to know that traditional spray cleaners are
`actually sanitizing, either. I did have one problem with the wand: For safety reasons (UV light can be harmful if you look at it directly), it will work only when you
`wave it horizontally, with the UV beam pointed downward. That means you can't use it to sanitize your kitchen walls or your faucet, and must rely on traditional
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`(cid:160)
`(cid:160)(cid:160)
`(cid:160)
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`cleaners.
`
`There are two other UV gadgets I tested. The Verilux CleanWave Sanitizing Furniture and Bed Vac ($130) will sanitize soft, plush items that you can't attack
`with traditional sanitizing chemicals. Mr. Douglas said that it is especially effective against bedbug and dust-mite eggs. I also ran Honeywell's HEPAClean UV
`Antibacterial Air Purifier (about $200) in my bedroom for a few nights. In addition to several layers of filters -- which are used in many air purifiers -- this unit uses
`UV lights to kill germs passing through the air. It promises to eliminate 99 percent of such pathogens -- but, of course, I had no way to test that.
`
`Besides UV, another high-tech sanitizing method is ''super-oxygenated water,'' which is used in commercial agriculture. The lotus Home Cleaning System ($219)
`comes with an electronic base and two vessels for water -- one big bowl and one spray bottle. You fill one of the vessels with water, insert it into the base, and turn it
`on. The water cycles through the base, where it's hit with an electrical current and forced to take on an extra oxygen molecule. After a few minutes, all the water is
`converted -- and now it's ready to sanitize. You can fill the bowl with items to sanitize -- fruit, vegetables, meat, dishcloths, sponges, baby bottles, pacifiers -- or use
`the spray bottle for general cleaning. It's harmless, and effective even against stains. But how do you know this product harnesses the proven oxygenating process to
`actually work well? Once again: You don't.
`
`That brings me to my favorite sanitizing gadget, the Shark Lift-Away Professional Steam Pocket Mop (about $200). This device works on floors and countertops,
`and it requires no soaps or other cleaning products. Instead, it uses just water: water in the mop's chamber is heated and converted into steam, which then shoots into
`the mop head to clean your floors. I found the mop to be quick and convenient, and it removed stains and left my kitchen floors gleaming. And how did I know it was
`sanitizing? I saw the steam rising from the tile. That's good enough for me.
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`RL: http://www.nytimes.com
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`RAPHIC: PHOTOS: INVISIBLY CLEAN: Top row, from far right: VIOlight's cellphone sanitizer ($40) uses UV rays, as do Honeywell's air purifier tower ($200)
`and Verilux's sanitizing wand ($70), which is designed for hard surfaces like cutting boards.
`SANITIZING: Bottom row, from far left: a Verilux UV vacuum for plush surfaces ($130)
`(cid:160) Shark's $200 steam mop, and lotus's system using oxygen-rich water ($219).(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)(cid:160)
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`LOAD-DATE: June 2, 2011
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`

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`62 of 291 DOCUMENTS
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`Copyright 2011 SCRIPPS Howard Publications
`All Rights Reserved
`Corpus Christi Caller-Times
`
`January 30, 2011 Sunday
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`(cid:160)S
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`ECTION: LOCAL; Pg. F002
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`(cid:160)L
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`ENGTH: 603 words
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`(cid:160)H
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`EADLINE: Get floored by the options
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`(cid:160)B
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`ODY:
`
`Type of flooring depends on taste, budget, lifestyle
`
`DIANE S. MORALES
`
`Special to Caller-Times
`
`Flooring options and product quality has improved over the years. They're lasting longer, and it's getting harder to tell what's fake and what's real hardwood or
`
`tile.
`
`What most floors have in common though is dependability.
`
`"All hard surface floors are very durable nowadays. You get what you pay for," said Terry Allison, owner of Allison Flooring America.
`
`From low to high-end hard surface floor types and carpeting, a variety of styles, colors, textures, shapes and sizes come with decent warranties for peace of mind.
`
`Allison offers some insight into the world of luxury vinyl tile, ceramic tile, hardwood and other floor products to fit a variety of lifestyles.
`
`LUXURY VINYL TILE (LVT)
`
`Luxury vinyl tile has made converts of many laminate floor users because it's inexpensive to install, long-lasting and easy to maintain. The quality has improved
`over the years with a variety of colors, textures and patterns resembling ceramic tile and hand scraped wood planks, which is a popular pick.
`
`Cost: $1.50-$5 sq. ft.
`
`Maintenance: Damp mop
`
`Kid/pet friendly: Yes
`
`Installation: Glue down or floating
`
`Durable: Yes
`
`CERAMIC TILE
`
`Nothing beats the durability of ceramic tile when it's installed correctly. The forever floor's natural look works wonders in creating casual or sophisticated looks.
`Ceramic tile is available in different sizes, shapes and textures. It's easy to clean, but dirt can build up between the grout.
`
`Cost: $1.50-$5 sq. ft.
`
`Maintenance: Damp mop
`
`Kid/pet friendly: Yes
`
`Installation: Thin-set adhesive
`
`Durable: Yes
`
`LAMINATE
`
`Laminate floors are still going strong with customers wanting the look of wood that holds up to kids, pets, scratches and everyday spills. The floating floor's
`tongue and groove snap together for easy installation. If the slab shifts, laminate floors stay put. A top layer of formica followed by a hardboard then a third layer of
`formica against the concrete helps form a strong moisture barrier. Major spills or water damage can cause the hardboard to crumble though. Some people are finicky
`about the tapping sound of heels on laminate floors or it's echoing effect, but area rugs and furniture can reduce the noise.
`
`Cost: $1.50-$5 sq. ft.
`
`Maintenance: Damp mop
`
`Kid/pet friendly: Yes
`
`Installation: Tongue and groove
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`Durable: Yes
`
`HARDWOOD
`
`Allison sells a lot of wood floors for high-end homes, especially oak. Wood floors are a pricey material and installation takes time, but the beauty of natural wood
`is worth the effort. Prepare to dust mop regularly and treat it like a fine piece of furniture. Wood absorbs water and isn't scratch resistant, so kids and pets could do
`some damage. Most of Allison's customers ask for oak. The more exotic the wood, the higher the price.
`
`Cost: $6-$10 sq. ft.
`
`Maintenance: Dust mop
`
`Kid/pet friendly: Susceptible to scratches, not water resistant
`
`Installation: Glue or nail down
`
`Durable: Yes, with lots of care
`
`CARPET
`
`Gone are the days of wall-to-wall carpet and topical stain treatments. These days you'll find the warm and fuzzy surface mostly in bedrooms. Topical stain
`treatments have been replaced with stain resistant fibers. The styles, colors and price ranges are endless, but the trick is to get a good nylon fiber. Most carpets have
`warranties, including the low-end styles. If vacuum tracks on the carpet bug you, go for a level loop carpet such as Berber or the twisted loop of Frieze. Plush
`carpeting doesn't hide vacuum tracks.
`
`Cost: $2.50-$5 sq. ft.
`
`Maintenance: Vacuum, shampoo
`
`yearly
`
`Kid/pet friendly: Absorbs moisture
`
`Installation: Stretched over pad
`
`Durable: Yes, with care
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`(cid:160)G
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`RAPHIC: THINKSTOCK.COM Hardwood floors are the trend right now, with options including different woods, textures and shades.
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`(cid:160)L
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`OAD-DATE: February 4, 2011
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`63 of 291 DOCUMENTS
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`Copyright 2011 Sun-Sentinel Company
`All Rights Reserved
`Sun-Sentinel (Fort Lauderdale, Florida)
`
`January 9, 2011 Sunday(cid:160)
`Broward Metro Edition
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`(cid:160)S
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`ECTION: LIFE; Pg. 3G
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`(cid:160)L
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`ENGTH: 315 words
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`(cid:160)H
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`EADLINE: CLEAN REPUTATION;
`BOCA VACUUM IS LOADED WITH TOOLS TO FIGHT DIRT.
`
`(cid:160)B
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`(cid:160)B
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`YLINE: - Jennifer Heit
`
`ODY:
`
`Wow factor: This tidy little shop tucked away in the Garden Shops may be easy to miss. But inside, it's loaded with an arsenal of tools for the war against dirt.
`Owner Joe Campanelli holds court from a desk at the center of the galley-shaped room. Pistachio-colored walls bring Mr. Clean to mind.
`
`"A lot of people come to visit, just to sit down and talk," he says.
`
`Background: Campanelli has racked up 56 years in the vacuum cleaner business, starting as a salesman for Hoover in New Jersey before going into management.
`The store has been in its current site for seven years.
`
`His son, Joe Campanelli, has a line of cleaning supplies bearing his name. The products are sold on the QVC shopping channel, as well as at the store.
`
`The senior Campanelli boosts an inventory of both rebuilt and new vacuums, and he accepts trade-ins. He says he can often add upgrades to a basic model to offer
`clients a more-effective vacuum without their having to invest in a pricier machine. Campanelli is also an authorized Miele dealer.
`
`Editor's picks: Miele canister vacuum ($299); Carpet Pro vacuum with full set of attachments ($149); Joe Campanelli's microfiber Super Scrubbing Sponges
`($19.95 for a dozen).
`
`Personal service: Campanelli says 90 percent of his business is conducted on the spot while customers wait, and it's generally maintenance work, such as cleaning
`and filter changes. Customers bringing in vacuums for repair do not need to haul the machine inside. Just toot the horn and a helper will be at your side.
`
`- Jennifer Heit
`
`INFORMATIONAL BOX:
`
`Do you know of a Divine Find, a local shop or boutique with an especially distinct flair? Send info to mderose@SunSenti