Patents Examined by Janie Christiansen
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Patent number: 9194111Abstract: A sink or similar fluid retaining vessel drain system employs a unique linkage assembly to control the opening and closing of a ball type valve mechanism. The system is to be utilized in a small section of pipe as a tailpiece add-on which is connected to the bottom of any standard basket drain, configured to replace the existing straight section of tailpiece pipe below the drain. The system can also be utilized as an originally installed assembly connected directly beneath the drain.Type: GrantFiled: November 6, 2013Date of Patent: November 24, 2015Inventors: Richard Bohacik, Robert Petner
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Patent number: 9188232Abstract: A valve mechanism for controlling release of pressurized fluid includes a fluid chamber, a plunger and a plunger driver. The plunger is received in an aperture in the fluid chamber, and is movable between a fluid retention position in which fluid is substantially trapped in the fluid chamber and a fluid release position in which fluid can escape from the fluid chamber through passages in the plunger. The plunger is biased into the fluid retention position. The plunger driver engages the plunger to cause the plunger driver and the plunger to move in unison and move the plunger into the fluid release position during a first portion of a stroke of the driver towards the fluid chamber, and the plunger driver is further guided to permit the plunger to return to the fluid retention position during a second portion of the stroke.Type: GrantFiled: January 10, 2014Date of Patent: November 17, 2015Inventor: Josef Karl Kihs
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Patent number: 9169628Abstract: An apparatus for controlling overflows is provided. The apparatus for controlling overflows may comprise an interior bowl including a waste receptacle and one or more water outlets connected to a water tank. The one or more water outlets may be configured to flush the interior bowl through a primary drain. Additionally, the apparatus for controlling overflows may include an exterior bowl, which may surround the interior bowl. The exterior bowl and the interior bowl may be separated by a gap. The gap may be configured to capture overflow water from the interior bowl when the primary drain malfunctions. Once the overflow water is captured by the gap, it may then be emptied into one or more containers configured to collect the overflow water.Type: GrantFiled: April 26, 2013Date of Patent: October 27, 2015Inventor: Paul A Komorita
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Patent number: 9169627Abstract: A toilet lever system includes a body for extending through a toilet wall, a stem extending through the body for movement relative to the body, a decorative flange covering the stem and removeably attaching to the body, and a handle attaching to the stem.Type: GrantFiled: August 10, 2011Date of Patent: October 27, 2015Assignee: Liberty Hardware Mfg. Corp.Inventors: James Leroy Daniels, William Spencer
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Patent number: 9149163Abstract: A toilet, wherein: the toilet has an aperture (110), which, in use, would be located in an upper part of the toilet; the toilet comprising or adapted to receive a dispensing means arranged beneath the aperture for dispensing a tube (12) of collection bag material in a downward direction; wherein the toilet is adapted such that, in operation, while the tube is moved downward, the toilet creates a divide in the tube by pressing the sides of the tube together.Type: GrantFiled: May 23, 2011Date of Patent: October 6, 2015Assignee: LOOWATT LTDInventors: Christopher David Natt, Christopher James Holden, Virginia Summerfield Gardiner, Darren Mark Brown, Iain James Purves
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Patent number: 9151024Abstract: Improvements to shower panels and, more particularly to the lower part of such a panel, connected to the upper one by a metallic protective sleeve (3), characterized in that said lower part comprises a casing in two parts, one of which forming a base (6) and comprising means to allow it being fixated against the usual membrane and to maintain a priming valve (1), while the other (11), which totally covers the first part, and the lower part of the sleeve forms a metallic protecting shell and comprises means for operating the usual pusher (2) of said priming valve and to evacuate the water resulting of the discharging of said priming valve and of the main valve disposed at the upper part of the panel.Type: GrantFiled: March 31, 2011Date of Patent: October 6, 2015Assignee: Les Robinets PrestoInventor: Daniel Dutheil
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Patent number: 9151031Abstract: A foot-activated toilet flushing system is a device that can be retrofitted to an existing toilet to transform the flush valve from a hand operated flush valve to a foot operated flush valve to allow hands-free flushing for limiting the spread of pathogens.Type: GrantFiled: January 21, 2014Date of Patent: October 6, 2015Inventor: Daryl Roby
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Patent number: 9145668Abstract: The invention is for a toilet and drainage assembly comprising a bowl having an outlet pipe having an axis, and a waste depository pipe coaxial with the axis with an inlet opening. A water trap is located between the outlet pipe and the inlet opening of the waste depository pipe, and comprises a bowl connector section connectable to the outlet pipe, a waste depository connector section connectable to the inlet opening of the waste depository pipe, and an intermediate section having a nonlinear component between the bowl connector section and the waste depository section. A mechanism moves the water trap between a first position in which the nonlinear component of the intermediate section is above the axis and a second position in which the nonlinear component of the intermediate section is substantially at the axis.Type: GrantFiled: September 9, 2011Date of Patent: September 29, 2015Inventor: Arnold Molina
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Patent number: 9138112Abstract: A toilet seat assembly has a user operated cleaning feature in the form of a mechanism that includes a plurality of discharge ports formed within a toilet seat cover and being open along the bottom surface of the toilet seat cover. The mechanism also includes a manually operated actuator that is accessible along one surface of the toilet seat cover and a reservoir for containing a sanitizing agent. The actuator is operably coupled to the reservoir and operable to drive the sanitizing agent from the reservoir and out of the discharge ports so as to allow sanitizing agent to be delivered to the top surface of the toilet seat when the actuator is operated with the seat cover in the closed position.Type: GrantFiled: October 10, 2012Date of Patent: September 22, 2015Inventor: Michael Ferro
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Patent number: 9131809Abstract: A bathtub insert is configured for retrofit installation into a bathtub. The bathtub insert includes a frame and a door. The frame includes a step-plate and a pair of end pillars. The door is movably coupled with the frame and movable with respect to the frame between an opened position and a closed position.Type: GrantFiled: January 31, 2012Date of Patent: September 15, 2015Assignee: Safeway Safety Step LLCInventors: Christopher Brian Stafford, Michael Anthony Serraino
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Patent number: 9126548Abstract: A motor vehicle such as an automobile includes a passenger seat and toilet system that includes a metal frame, a seat portion, a seat back and console adjacent to and slightly above the seat portion with a plurality of switches disposed in the console for activating a toilet system. The toilet system includes a privacy curtain and track way extendable around the seat and is integral with the passenger seat. The toilet system includes a toilet bowl, a waste disposal opening in a bottom portion thereof and is activatable by a number of push button switches. The system includes a remote water tank separate from the vehicle cooling system and an electric pump and hose for connecting the water tank to a nozzle for spraying water onto the toilet bowl and individuals sitting on the toilet. The system also includes a waste disposal drawer, a container positioned below the toilet bowl for receiving waste and a heavy duty plastic bag with a closure cord for receiving the waste and water.Type: GrantFiled: November 10, 2014Date of Patent: September 8, 2015Inventor: Abeer E. M. Alneaimi
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Patent number: 9115486Abstract: A pump assembly for connection with a water source inlet (4), a sewer outlet (5) and a toilet (1), said toilet (1) comprising a toilet flush water inlet (2) and a toilet waste outlet (3), said pump assembly comprising: a pump housing with a pump flush water inlet (27), a pump flush water outlet (28), a pump waste inlet (25) and a pump waste outlet (26), and with means arranged to selectively allow water to flow from said pump flush water inlet (27) to said pump flush water outlet (28), and with means arranged to selectively pump waste from said pump waste inlet (25) to said pump waste outlet (26), characterized in that said pump assembly further comprises a connection system comprising two connection members (6, 7) that can be connected to each other: said first connection member (6) comprising a toilet waste outlet port (21) arranged to be connected to said toilet waste outlet (3), and a sewer outlet port (20) arranged to be connected to said sewer outlet (5), said second connection member (7) comprising saiType: GrantFiled: February 14, 2011Date of Patent: August 25, 2015Assignee: Almos Technologies Pty. Ltd.Inventors: Steve Rakoczy, Steven Thomas McGuinness
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Patent number: 9107545Abstract: A one piece shower drain pan, encapsulated in a water proof membrane, and the method of fabricating the one piece open drain shower pan, the method which includes providing extruded polystyrene (XPS) foam of the type which absorbs very little water; shaping the section of extruded polystyrene foam with a CNC router to obtain the desired slope in the floor; cutting a hole in the foam to produce the drain hole; cutting a curb from the XPS foam and gluing the foam to a pan base on the open sides. Splash walls are then cut from concrete wall board and glued to the sides having no curb, so that the glue serves as a bonding agent and provides a waterproof seal between the parts; after the glue has cured, spraying the entire pan assembly with a polyurethane or polyurea coating to completely encapsulate the entire pan with a waterproof membrane, which provides strength and rigidity and defines a one piece drain pan ready for installation.Type: GrantFiled: January 14, 2010Date of Patent: August 18, 2015Inventor: Avery S. Herring
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Patent number: 9107544Abstract: A hookless shower liner fastener for suspending a liner and a curtain from a rod mounted in a shower. The hookless shower liner includes a base, a top portion having a thickness and a projection. The base includes a front surface. The top portion has a generally frusta-circular shape and defines a central cavity and a gap. The central cavity is configured to receive at least a portion of a shower rod therein in an installed configuration. The gap is defined between a butt end of the top portion and a butt portion of one of the base and the top portion. The projection extends generally perpendicularly from the front surface. The projection is configured to support the shower curtain to suspend the shower curtain from the rod.Type: GrantFiled: December 9, 2011Date of Patent: August 18, 2015Assignee: Zenith Products CorporationInventors: Kyle Cittadino, Joseph Vaccaro
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Patent number: 9096996Abstract: A water-saving system for the management and disposal of liquid, semi-solid and solid wastes is described that comprises an open-rim toilet bowl for allowing the flow of greywater containing food residues, small pieces of soap, soapy water, toothpaste residues, shaving residues, hair and the like, without allowing the formation of obstructions throughout the length of the open rim; an anti-sedimentation tank placed above and connected to the toilet bowl, said anti-sedimentation tank being capable of receiving and storing greywater that will be reused to flush the toilet to clean the toilet bowl and flush the wastes contained therein; a washbasin-shaped tank lid located above and closing the upper part of the anti-sedimentation tank; and mixer valve installed in the washbasin-shaped lid and connected to cold and hot water supplies, where the mixer valve includes a third water supply intake which is also connected to a water outlet of the intake valve of the anti-sedimentation tank by means of a flexible hose.Type: GrantFiled: January 11, 2010Date of Patent: August 4, 2015Assignee: Marcelo Gerardo Garza Lagüera GarzaInventor: Marcelo Gerardo Garza Lagüera Garza
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Patent number: 9095239Abstract: A pop-up drain plug insert comprising: a base formed for secure placement within a drain bowl in a sink which includes a bottom having a solid center and a plurality of apertures, a side emanating upwardly from the perimeter of the bottom, a flange emanating outwardly from the side, a gasket operatively associated with the side and the flange and a wall emanating upwardly near the center of the bottom to form a cup, the wall being substantially parallel to the side; a stopper formed for secure placement within the base which includes a top, a stem having a spring mechanism which permits the extension and retraction of the stem emanating downwardly from the top, a gasket surrounding the stem and being operatively associated with the top, wherein the stem being operatively associated with the cup in order to raise and lower the stopper from the base in order to permit or restrict the flow of liquids through the base.Type: GrantFiled: August 10, 2010Date of Patent: August 4, 2015Inventor: Vito Laera
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Patent number: 9095241Abstract: An offset bracket device for adjusting the attachment point of a toilet seat to a toilet bowl allows a user to move the pivot point of the toilet seat forwardly away from a toilet water tank in order to prevent the toilet seat from accidentally closing when in an open state. A pair of devices attaches the toilet seat to the toilet; each including bracket having a downwardly extending threaded attachment and an upwardly extending forwardly offset threaded attachment. Each device is installed by orienting the offset threaded attachments with a receiving aperture of the toilet bowl and a receiving aperture of the toilet seat.Type: GrantFiled: January 13, 2012Date of Patent: August 4, 2015Inventor: John E. Abbuhl
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Patent number: 9096995Abstract: The water/soap dispenser includes a housing configured to be mounted to existing faucets. An internal pipe assembly within the housing directs water from the faucet and a cleaning product from a pump assembly coupled to the pipe assembly to the outlet of the dispenser. A valve assembly is also coupled to the pipe assembly to selectively open and close passage of water through the pipe assembly. A universal actuator is pivotally mounted to the valve assembly, and selective operation of the universal actuator facilitates substantially concurrent activation of the valve assembly to open water flow and the pump assembly to dispense a certain amount of cleaning product into the water flow. A dial assembly is rotatably mounted to the housing and includes one or more outlet ports facilitating a different flow character to the liquid being dispensed, as determined by the user.Type: GrantFiled: February 18, 2015Date of Patent: August 4, 2015Inventor: Jassem M. Al-Jasem Al-Qaneei
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Patent number: 9097028Abstract: An automatic system for locking and unlocking a pool cover having a leading edge at an edge of a pool, the pool having a water surface, the pool cover deployable by a pool cover deployment system, the automatic system comprising: at least one leading edge slot piece having a rectangular slot therein, the leading edge slot piece integratable into the leading edge; at least one float locker subassembly configurable floatably on the water surface and constrained at the edge of the pool, the float locker subassembly having a space defined therein in which the at least one leading edge slot piece is adapted to be received, locked, and unlocked; and an autolock control unit adapted to communicate with the at least one float locker subassembly and the pool cover deployment system, wherein the control unit is further adapted to command and verify locking and unlocking.Type: GrantFiled: July 3, 2012Date of Patent: August 4, 2015Assignee: MAYTRONICS LTD.Inventors: Jacob Shpringer, Oliver Chareyron, Amir Armoza
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Patent number: 9080323Abstract: A flush toilet includes a base and a bowl assembly defining a bowl. The bowl assembly is mounted to the base and defines a discharge opening at a lower end of the bowl. A waste ball valve assembly is mounted to the flush toilet for selectively opening and closing the discharge opening of the bowl assembly. A common sealing member operates to seal the bowl to the base and to wipe a ball of the waste ball valve assembly as the waste ball valve assembly is selectively opened and closed. The common sealing member has a generally horizontal portion for wiping the ball of the ball valve assembly and a compressible cylindrical portion upwardly extending from the generally horizontal portion. The cylindrical portion is compressed between the base and the bowl to define a seal therebetween.Type: GrantFiled: January 4, 2011Date of Patent: July 14, 2015Assignee: Thetford CorporationInventors: George Grech, Michael Fritz, Michael Harris, Jason Smith, Steve Meyer, Craig Karagitz, Eric Krupp, Brian Kelly