Patents Assigned to Idea Factory, Inc
  • Patent number: 8157466
    Abstract: A cleaning device having a handle, the handle having a cleaning pad assembly capable of pivoting between a cleaning position and a rinsing position. The handle of the cleaning device may further comprise a conduit for directing the flow of a liquid from a liquid input to a liquid output, the liquid output being capable of direction either though the cleaning pad to wet the cleaning pad or at a surface to rinse a surface. The cleaning device may further comprise a valve, the valve being operable to control the flow of water through the handle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: Idea Factory, Inc.
    Inventors: John Mueller, Patricia Mueller, Garrett Butrym
  • Patent number: 8096488
    Abstract: An improved showerhead provides a fluid diverter valve that allows quick connection and disconnection of a hand held sprayer used for cleaning shower stalls and bathrooms. The diverter valve includes a valve housing having a water inlet, a first water outlet and a second water outlet. A valve runner moves between a first position wherein the valve runner seats to permit fluid communication between the inlet and the first outlet and a second position wherein the valve runner seats to permit fluid communication between the inlet and the second outlet. The valve runner is moved from the first position to the second position substantially by gravity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Assignee: Idea Factory, Inc.
    Inventor: John Mueller
  • Patent number: 7819340
    Abstract: A spray nozzle (10) has a nozzle body (20) with an inlet (24) and an outlet (26). The inlet (24) is attachable to a hose (2). The outlet (26) is configured to receive a chemically-containing cartridge (70). A forwardly-disposed trigger (30) is finger-actuated and operates the valve (52) of a first valve assembly (50) to control water flow through the nozzle (10). An inlet conduit (56) connects the first valve assembly (50) to a second valve assembly (60). The second valve assembly (60) is thumb-actuated by a toggle (40) to pass water through the nozzle (10) as clean water supplied to the nozzle (10) via the hose (2) or through the nozzle (10) as chemical-added water that is created by a venturi-induced assembly (80) contained within the cartridge (70).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2010
    Assignee: Idea Factory, Inc.
    Inventors: John R. Mueller, Patricia M. Mueller
  • Patent number: 7490783
    Abstract: A spray nozzle (10) includes a nozzle body (12) and a chemical containing cartridge (28) releasably attached to the nozzle body (12). The cartridge (28) can be adapted to be releasably secured to the nozzle body (12) at the outlet end (16), the inlet end (14), or on the nozzle body (12) itself, in order to dispense a chemical contained within the cartridge into a water stream flowing through the nozzle. The nozzle (10) also includes a dispensing mechanism utilized to control the amount of the chemical dispensed into the water stream. The dispensing mechanism can be disposed on the nozzle body (12), or directly on the cartridge (28) itself.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2009
    Assignee: Idea Factory, Inc.
    Inventors: John R. Mueller, Patricia M. Mueller
  • Publication number: 20090032074
    Abstract: A cleaning device having a handle, the handle having a cleaning pad assembly capable of pivoting between a cleaning position and a rinsing position. The handle of the cleaning device may further comprise a conduit for directing the flow of a liquid from a liquid input to a liquid output, the liquid output being capable of direction either though the cleaning pad to wet the cleaning pad or at a surface to rinse a surface. The cleaning device may further comprise a valve, the valve being operable to control the flow of water through the handle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2006
    Publication date: February 5, 2009
    Applicant: IDEA FACTORY, INC.
    Inventors: John Mueller, Patricia Mueller, Garrett Butrym
  • Patent number: 7264180
    Abstract: The present invention provides for a sleeve that screws into the same opening in a faucet that a typical aerator screws into. This sleeve replaces the aerator and includes a smaller aerator that is inserted within the sleeve. In this fashion, water aeration can still occur when aeration is desired. However, when a hose attachment is inserted into the sleeve, one of the hose attachment moves up and into the sleeve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2007
    Assignee: Idea Factory, Inc.
    Inventor: John R. Mueller
  • Patent number: 6704946
    Abstract: A sprayer assembly adapted for releasable attachment to a water supply line, such as for a conventional toilet, is provided. The sprayer includes a three-way valve housing connected to the water supply line for the toilet, the valve housing including a supply conduit and a diverting conduit. A plunger is slidably disposed within the diverting conduit and is biased to a closed position by a biasing means extending between the supply conduit and the plunger. An attachment member is releasably engageable with the diverting conduit and operates to slide the plunger with respect to the diverting conduit in order to allow fluid flow through both the supply conduit and the diverting conduit. The attachment member is secured to one end of a hose that is attached to a sprayer head opposite the attachment member that enables an individual to manually dispense water flowing from the valve housing and through the attachment member and hose to the sprayer head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2004
    Assignee: Idea Factory, Inc.
    Inventors: John R. Mueller, Patricia M. Mueller, Henry M. Anderson, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5560548
    Abstract: The present invention provides a fluid diverter valve (10) that allows quick connection/disconnection of a hand held sprayer used for cleaning shower stalls and bathrooms. The diverter valve (10) is comprised of a valve housing (20) having a water inlet (21), a first water outlet (22) where a standard shower may be attached, a second water outlet (23) and an annular cavity (24) therebetween; a valve member (40) and an attachment housing (30) for constraining the valve runner (40) within the cavity (24). At the second outlet (23), the attachment housing (30) is fastened to the valve (10) for fluid communication. A spring (50) urges the valve runner (40) into a first position wherein the valve runner (40) seats adjacent the attachment housing, permitting fluid communication only between the inlet (21) and the first outlet (22).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 1, 1996
    Assignee: Idea Factory, Inc.
    Inventors: John R. Mueller, Henry M. Anderson, Jr.
  • Patent number: D472301
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2003
    Assignee: Idea Factory, Inc
    Inventors: John R. Mueller, Henry M. Anderson, Jr.