Patents Examined by Janie M Loeppke
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Patent number: 11700974Abstract: A bathing wall system including a back wall, an end wall, and a coupler connecting the back wall and the end wall. The coupler includes a U-shaped receiving slot supported by the back wall, and a male connector supported by the end wall and received within the U-shaped receiving slot.Type: GrantFiled: July 16, 2021Date of Patent: July 18, 2023Assignee: Delta Faucet CompanyInventors: Jeffrey David Ferris, David Michael Ringholz
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Patent number: 11697930Abstract: A handwashing station that includes a basin, a liquid dispensing system, and an air dispensing system. The liquid dispensing system is configured to dispense a liquid into the basin to wash a user's hands. The air dispensing system configured to dispense air into the basin to dry the user's hands. The user can wet, wash, rinse, and dry their hands from within the basin.Type: GrantFiled: October 5, 2022Date of Patent: July 11, 2023Assignee: Kohler Co.Inventor: Chanseol Chung
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Patent number: 11686077Abstract: A pipe unclogging device and system are disclosed. The device allows a user to clear a blockage in a pipe downstream from the start of the pipe system quickly and easily. To do so, the device provides a pipe with a branch portion, with a plunger device operably coupled to the branch portion. In use, the plunger device is actuatable to plunge fluid in the pipe, or it can be removed to provide a user direct access to the pipe system for other unclogging tools, such as a plumbing snake.Type: GrantFiled: September 21, 2021Date of Patent: June 27, 2023Inventor: Peihua Yu
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Patent number: 11684194Abstract: A food processing system includes a base unit having a gear housing, a frame arm extending from the gear housing on a first lateral side thereof, a drive screw extending between and operably coupled on respective ends thereof with the gear housing and a support end of the frame arm, and a retention fitting extending from the gear housing. An input hub extends from the gear housing opposite the drive screw and the retention fitting and is operably engaged with both the drive screw and the retention hub to drive synchronized rotational movement thereof with respect to the gear housing. A carrier is slidably coupled with the frame arm and is operably engaged with the drive screw. The system further includes a first cutting implement and a second cutting implement, each being alternately coupleable with the carrier.Type: GrantFiled: July 6, 2022Date of Patent: June 27, 2023Assignee: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATIONInventors: Kaitlyn M. Benoit, Michael P. Conti, John Dykhouse, Timothy J. Hicks, Mitchell L. Robertson
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Patent number: 11680397Abstract: A drain stopper and strainer for a kitchen sink has a cap, a cap seal, an open-close mechanism, a strainer connected to a lower end of the open-close mechanism with an easy-connect mechanism, and an annular seal engaged with the strainer that seals an annular space between the strainer and a drain fitting. The cap seal preferably seals against the strainer. The stopper/strainer can be pushed into and pulled out of the drain fitting without assembly or disassembly. The strainer can be easily disconnected for cleaning and can be easily reconnected afterwards. For a drain fitted with a garbage disposal unit, the strainer has a hub-and-spoke structure for preventing eating and cooking utensils from falling into the garbage disposal unit.Type: GrantFiled: June 23, 2021Date of Patent: June 20, 2023Assignee: PF Waterworks LPInventor: Sanjay Ahuja
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Patent number: 11674294Abstract: A bathtub drain connection system includes a first drain pipe configured to couple to a drain opening of a bathtub and a second drain pipe configured to mount to a floor structure. A drain connector is extends between the first drain pipe and the second drain pipe so that the first drain pipe and the second drain pipe are coupled in fluid communication. The drain connector is configured to allow the first drain pipe to be disposed offset relative to the second drain pipe and in a direction that is substantially parallel to a plane defined by the floor structure.Type: GrantFiled: August 11, 2020Date of Patent: June 13, 2023Assignee: WCM Industries, Inc.Inventor: Eric Pilarczyk
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Patent number: 11668085Abstract: A toilet assembly includes a toilet body and a nozzle system. The toilet body defines a toilet bowl and a rim area disposed along an upper edge of the toilet bowl. The rim area includes a flange defining an opening. The nozzle system includes a nozzle having a first end configured to be fluidly coupled to a water supply conduit and a second end fluidly coupled to the rim area. The second end defines an outlet formed at a compound angle. The connector assembly detachably couples the nozzle to the flange such that the nozzle extends through the opening.Type: GrantFiled: February 19, 2020Date of Patent: June 6, 2023Assignee: Kohler Co.Inventors: Daniel N. Halloran, Tony L. Lambert, Randy O. Mesun, Rahul Bose, Keith E. Muellenbach, Sudip Mukerji, Jessica A. Grev
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Patent number: 11661728Abstract: A faucet having a pressure-sensitive surface for dynamically adjusting the faucet's water flow rate and/or temperature based on an amount of pressure applied to the surface of the faucet is disclosed. A pressure sensor may be electronically connected to one or more electronic valves of the faucet to control the flow of water through either the cold or hot water lines, thereby controlling the flow rate and/or temperature of water coming from the faucet.Type: GrantFiled: December 15, 2020Date of Patent: May 30, 2023Assignee: Spectrum Brands, Inc.Inventors: Jerome F. Czerwinski, Jr., Chasen Scott Beck, Stephen Paul Blizzard
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Patent number: 11659914Abstract: A neck cushioning device (or a “shampoo roll”) that relieves neck pain of a first user during the washing of the first user's hair and also relieves back pain of a second user who is washing the first user's hair is described herein. The device includes a unitary elongated piece having a first side disposed opposite a second side and a first end disposed opposite a second end and a portion affixed to the first end of the unitary elongated piece. The second side of the neck cushioning device rests on a horizontal surface. A body of the user rests on the first side of the unitary elongated piece, a neck of a user is rested on the portion, and hair of the user is received in a sink.Type: GrantFiled: April 26, 2021Date of Patent: May 30, 2023Inventor: LaTresha M. Ellis
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Patent number: 11655624Abstract: A urinal module for installation in public toilets or private bathrooms, with the purpose of avoiding or reducing bad odors through the cooling of the contact surface of the urinal, where it impacts with the urine by the use of a cooling closed-circuit by direct expansion that includes a condensing unit and an electronic system of temperature control that are located in an external cabinet, separated from the urinal module. A centrally arranged water reservoir feeds the urinal module, each of which comprises a cooling streamer that leaves the condenser, enters through the back of the urinal closest to the cabinet and makes a journey through the inner back of the urinal to the point of contact with the lower reservoir of the same, resuming to the same point of entry of the urinal, from where it leaves, containing heated gas and returns to the compressor to achieve the closed-loop cooling effect.Type: GrantFiled: May 5, 2021Date of Patent: May 23, 2023Inventors: Federico Catanese, Esteban Rovello
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Patent number: 11653797Abstract: A composting toilet assembly has a composting bin with an agitator, a toilet bowl, and a urine bottle. The agitator has an agitator handle configured to actuate the agitator. The agitator may have a ratchet assembly including a hub, a clutch bearing disposed in the hub, and a pair of brass bushings disposed in the hub. The toilet bowl is disposed on the composting bin. The toilet bowl has a main body with a recess. The recess may have a first portion and a second portion with a partition wall. Each of the first portion and the second portion has an opening. The urine bottle is in fluid communication with the bowl. The urine bottle is configured to receive urine. The urine bottle has a drain, a handle, and a sensor. The sensor may have a light and be configured to detect a predetermined urine level in the urine bottle.Type: GrantFiled: June 30, 2021Date of Patent: May 23, 2023Assignee: MEDAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Larry Stearns, Michael Stearns, Kevin A. Bartchlett
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Patent number: 11649617Abstract: Disclosed is a method for water saving by retrofitting an institutional plumbing fixture having a combination of an integral lavatory basin and a toilet bowel integrally attached thereto by inserting into the fixture a urinal-type collection receptacle having a water inlet opening on its top side and a water outlet opening on its bottom side; and fluidly interposing the receptacle via the inlet and outlet openings between the lavatory drain pipe and the drain trap provided for the plumbing fixture. Also disclosed is an institutional plumbing fixture retrofit for water saving, and a retrofit urinal-type receptacle.Type: GrantFiled: November 6, 2020Date of Patent: May 16, 2023Inventor: William G. Pendleton
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Patent number: 11617476Abstract: A pre-installation method for a shower base includes obtaining a combination of layers forming the shower base where the combination of layers includes a waterproof membrane mounting surface and a subfloor facing surface opposite the waterproof membrane mounting surface. The method also includes adhering, in a remote location from an installation site, a waterproof membrane to the combination of layers forming the shower base. The method further includes water testing, in the remote location, the shower base with the adhered waterproof membrane.Type: GrantFiled: September 11, 2020Date of Patent: April 4, 2023Inventor: Daniel J. Welch
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Patent number: 11608620Abstract: The present disclosure relates to popup drain stopper and popup drain stopper assemblies. The popup drain stopper includes a debris trap having a plurality of bristle arranged to trap debris flowing into a drainpipe in which the stopper is positioned. Popup drain stopper assemblies include the popup drain stopper with the debris trap and the ability to remove the drain stopper from the drainpipe without disassembly. The stopper includes a cylindrical shaped bristle body having the bristles and which is removable from the stopper assembly.Type: GrantFiled: December 29, 2021Date of Patent: March 21, 2023Inventor: Israel Rosario
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Patent number: 11591785Abstract: A flush toilet includes a rear storage configured to store a control unit of a toilet main body. The rear storage includes a supporting wall configured to support the control unit so as to divide a storage region of the rear storage into upper and lower regions. In a rear supporting region of the rear storage, a first distance in a horizontal left-right direction from an outer joining portion to an inner joining portion in the supporting wall is shorter than a second distance in the horizontal left-right direction from an outer wall in the double wall of the skirt to an inner joining portion of the supporting wall. The second distance is set to a maximum width dimension in the left-right direction in an internal space of the double wall of the skirt.Type: GrantFiled: February 25, 2022Date of Patent: February 28, 2023Assignee: Toto Ltd.Inventors: Takahiro Maruyama, Wataru Ishimi
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Patent number: 11591786Abstract: A skirted toilet assembly, comprising a toilet bowl having a sump outlet; and a wall extending around the bowl from a first rear edge to a second rear edge; wherein the wall, the first rear edge, and the second rear edge define a space within the wall, the sump outlet is configured to couple to a trapway, the trapway is configured to fluidly couple the sump outlet with a sewer outlet, and the trapway is configured to be disposed within the space. A trapway may be a thermoplastic and the sump outlet a ceramic.Type: GrantFiled: August 30, 2019Date of Patent: February 28, 2023Assignee: AS America, Inc.Inventors: Christopher Helmstetter, David Grover, Yasuhiro Kondo, Douglas Leavitt, Ronald D. Barndt
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Patent number: 11585078Abstract: A urinal screen can include a frame having: a first face; a second face opposite the first face; and a plurality of apertures extending through the first and second faces. The urinal screen can include a plurality of first posts extending from the first face of the frame and configured to at least partially dissipate splashing of urine that impacts the urinal screen; and a plurality of second posts extending from the second face of the frame and configured to at least partially dissipate splashing of urine that impacts the urinal screen; wherein: at least ? majority of the plurality of first and second posts are parallel to each other; at least ? of the plurality of second posts are parallel to each other; and the at least ? majority of the plurality of firsts posts extend at a non-perpendicular angle from with respect to the first face of the frame.Type: GrantFiled: December 18, 2018Date of Patent: February 21, 2023Assignee: Fresh Products, Inc.Inventors: Douglas S. Brown, Jeffrey A. Smith
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Patent number: 11576540Abstract: A composting toilet assembly can include a housing. The housing can form an enclosed cavity. A toilet bowl can have a main body disposed in the housing. A drain pan can be disposed under the toilet bowl and in fluid communication with the toilet bowl. A diversion plate can be disposed in the housing under the toilet bowl. A liquid waste bottle can be removably disposed in the housing. The liquid waste bottle in fluid can be in communication with the drain pan and configured to receive liquid waste from the drain pan. A composting bin can be disposed in the enclosed cavity of the housing. The composting bin can be adjacent to and in communication with the diversion plate.Type: GrantFiled: February 5, 2021Date of Patent: February 14, 2023Assignee: MEDAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventor: Kevin A. Bartchlett
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Patent number: 11572679Abstract: A toilet includes a tank, a pedestal, and a mounting assembly. The tank includes a bottom wall. The bottom wall includes an opening and a bottom surface. The pedestal includes an opening and a top surface. The opening of the pedestal is aligned with the opening of the bottom wall. The mounting assembly includes a mounting plate, a nut, and a gasket. The mounting plate is configured to be coupled to the pedestal and includes an opening aligned with the opening of the pedestal. The nut holds the mounting plate against the bottom surface of the bottom wall and includes a rounded portion. The gasket is disposed about the opening of the pedestal and along the top surface of the pedestal and includes a concave surface that is configured for receiving the rounded portion of the nut.Type: GrantFiled: February 17, 2021Date of Patent: February 7, 2023Assignee: Kohler Co.Inventors: Daniel N. Halloran, Tony L. Lambert
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Patent number: 11572682Abstract: A flush toilet apparatus includes a toilet body that includes a rim water spout port, a tank that stores washing water, a rim side water supply channel that supplies washing water to the rim water spout port, a tank side water supply channel that supplies washing water to the tank, a flow channel switching part that adjusts an amount of washing water that is supplied to one or both of the rim side water supply channel and the tank side water supply channel, and an electrical power failure detection part that detects electrical power failure, wherein, in a case where electrical power failure is caused when washing water is supplied to the tank side water supply channel, the flow channel switching part decreases washing water that is supplied to the tank side water supply channel and increases washing water that is supplied to the rim side water supply channel.Type: GrantFiled: February 11, 2022Date of Patent: February 7, 2023Assignee: TOTO LTD.Inventors: Hideaki Kashimura, Hiroki Tanaka, Kenji Watanabe, Satoshi Takano, Yoshikatsu Adachi, Koichi Motooka, Yuki Hayashi