Patents Examined by Steven J. Ganey
  • Patent number: 11406994
    Abstract: A shower device includes an elongated hollow waterway, a spray head configured to emit water, and a valve. The elongated hollow waterway extends in a longitudinal direction and has a first end configured to receive water, a second end, and an internal fluid passage extending from the first end to the second end. The second end has a port extending in a radial direction from the internal fluid passage through the waterway. The valve is configured to control a water flow rate from the internal fluid passage of the waterway to the spray head. The valve includes a valve body that surrounds the port and a control member operatively coupled to the valve body and surrounding at least a portion of the valve body. Rotation of the control member and valve body relative to the waterway provides a variable adjustment of the water flow rate to the spray head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: KOHLER CO.
    Inventor: Matthew Ball
  • Patent number: 11400324
    Abstract: A method of protecting life, property, homes and businesses from wild fire by applying environmentally-clean anti-fire (AF) liquid spray using a wireless system network supported by GPS-tracking techniques. Intelligence is collected and GPS-specified maps and reports are generated on the wireless system network informing when environmentally-clean anti-fire (AF) chemical liquid should be spray applied to GPS-specified property parcels, prior to the arrival of wild fires, using GPS-tracking AF chemical liquid spraying systems. The preferred clean anti-fire chemical liquid does not depend on water to inhibit the ignition of fire and flame spread, so that, even after a month or two after spray application on buildings and dry brush around homes and the neighborhood, the clean anti-fire chemical continues to work by inhibiting fire ignition and flame spread, and the ability of a wild fire to advance and consume property and homes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: MIGHTY FIRE BREAKER LLC
    Inventor: Stephen Conboy
  • Patent number: 11395931
    Abstract: A method of and wireless mobile information network for managing the application of a clean fire and smoke inhibiting slurry composition containing clean fire inhibiting chemicals, and cellulose or wood fiber, mixed with water and other additives, on surfaces including ground surfaces in advance of wild fire, to blanket grounds from wildfire ignition, and also application over smoldering ambers and ashes to prevent re-ignition while reducing (i) the use of significant amounts of water, (ii) the production of toxic run off water, and (iii) toxic smoke.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2022
    Assignee: MIGHTY FIRE BREAKER LLC
    Inventor: Stephen Conboy
  • Patent number: 11396027
    Abstract: Rotational speed of a spray arm is regulated based on centrifugal force and a liquid jet to create a variable angle corner spray nozzle. The regulator includes a weight on a pivot and a fluid jet, the weight having a curved surface to produce a variable angle corner spray nozzle depending on the weight angle. Centrifugal force created during rotation pushes the weight outward, which increases as the spray arm rotation speed increases. The liquid jet is located out from a pivot point and tends to push the weight inward. The pushing force of the liquid jet is maximum when the weight is most inward and minimum when the weight is most outward. The regulator stabilizes the arm speed at a specific speed independent from center pivot friction and the spray arm nozzle's orientation tolerance. Speed stabilizes when centrifugal force on the weight is equal to the pushing force of the fluid jet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2022
    Assignee: STERIS INC.
    Inventors: Maxime Robert, Alain Chouinard
  • Patent number: 11396029
    Abstract: A valve including a body having an inner central orifice and a chamber, a piston formed by a rod and by a head mounted in the chamber, the rod extending outside the body and moving in a bore of an application system. The valve includes a first sealing device around the rod on one side of the valve where the rod extends outside the body, part of the chamber being filled with a pressurized control fluid to obtain movement of the piston against the force of a spring housed in the body. The valve includes a second sealing device around the rod, between the first sealing device and the chamber. The valve includes a vent duct in the rod that communicates with the inner central orifice between the first and second sealing devices and emerges in the open air or in part of the chamber communicating with the open air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2022
    Assignee: EXEL INDUSTRIES
    Inventors: Denis Vanzetto, Didier Faure, Olivier Gourbat
  • Patent number: 11389601
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a method for manufacturing an aperture plate includes depositing a releasable seed layer above a substrate, applying a first patterned photolithography mask above the releasable seed layer, the first patterned photolithography mask having a negative pattern to a desired aperture pattern, electroplating a first material above the exposed portions of the releasable seed layer and defined by the first mask, applying a second photolithography mask above the first material, the second photolithography mask having a negative pattern to a first cavity, electroplating a second material above the exposed portions of the first material and defined by the second mask, removing both masks, and etching the releasable seed layer to release the first material and the second material. The first and second material form an aperture plate for use in aerosolizing a liquid. Other aperture plates and methods of producing aperture plates are described according to other embodiments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: Stamford Devices Limited
    Inventor: Hong Xu
  • Patent number: 11389812
    Abstract: The invention relates to a measuring and mixing device including a cartridge holder (1) and a cartridge (2), a flat, at least form-fit connection being mounted between the cartridge and the cartridge holder. The invention also relates to a method for coating substrates with two or multi-component coating agents, in which the measuring and mixing device is used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: BASF Coatings GmbH
    Inventor: Roland Meisner
  • Patent number: 11383261
    Abstract: Valve for a system for applying a covering product, including projecting or recessed shapes on a peripheral part, configured to cooperate with projecting or recessed shapes of a dedicated mounting and dismounting tool, these projecting or recessed shapes of the valve being configured to transmit a rotational movement to the valve, and to be secured to the tool. The projecting or hollow shapes of the valve include a first peripheral profile having at least one planar surface, and a second peripheral profile located behind the first profile relative to an outer end of the valve. The second profile has at least one first planar surface aligned with the planar surface of the first profile, and at least one second planar surface angularly offset relative to the planar surface of the first profile, such that the second planar surface of the second profile forms a shoulder relative to the first profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: EXEL INDUSTRIES
    Inventors: Denis Vanzetto, Didier Faure, Olivier Gourbat
  • Patent number: 11384862
    Abstract: A seal structure that keeps a needle from sliding with respect to a seal and is easily detachable, and a device having the seal structure. A needle of a valve device is inserted through a seal. A valve device includes a fluid chamber having an outflow hole and au inflow hole, and the needle of which fore end reciprocates in the fluid chamber. The seal includes a main body made of an elastic body having a needle fitting insertion hole formed for the needle to be inserted and fit into. A flange portion is made of an elastic body annularly extending from the main body in a radial direction outward. One end opening diameter (D3) of the needle fitting insertion hole is smaller than the other end opening diameter (D2) of the needle fitting insertion hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: MUSASHI ENGINEERING, INC.
    Inventor: Kazumasa Ikushima
  • Patent number: 11383262
    Abstract: A connector includes a first member defining a first opening; a second member defining a second opening; and a third member defining a third opening, the first opening, the second opening, and the third opening being centrally connected to define a cavity within the connector. A method for draining a sprinkler assembly includes removing a plug from a third opening of a connector of the sprinkler assembly, a sprinkler body of the sprinkler assembly connected to a first opening of the connector, a flexible conduit of the sprinkler assembly connected to a second opening of the connector; and draining a fluid from the connector and the flexible conduit through the third opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: ASC Engineered Solutions, LLC
    Inventors: Odair Dafonseca, Joseph Beagen
  • Patent number: 11383251
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a nozzle device for atomisation of a liquid, wherein the nozzle device comprises: a substrate, a sieve-side membrane comprising a plurality of sieve-side orifices, the sieve-side membrane being provided on a sieve-side of the substrate, a spray-side membrane comprising a plurality of spray-side orifices, the spray-side membrane being provided on a spray-side of the substrate, wherein the substrate has a first cavity portion extending to the sieve-side membrane, and a second cavity portion extending from the first cavity portion to the spray-side membrane, thereby providing fluid communication, along a fluid communication axis, between the sieve-side orifices and the spray-side orifices, the first cavity portion having a larger cross-sectional area than a cross-sectional area of the second cavity portion, the cross-sections being with respect to the fluid communication axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: SHL MEDICAL AG
    Inventors: Daniel Säll, Johan Midbjer
  • Patent number: 11383255
    Abstract: A guiding pipe for a water sprayer, and the water sprayer has a handle with an intake end configured to connect to a water source and another end connected a spray head through a guiding pipe. The guiding pipe has a spiral main tube provided with a respective circular connecting section at each end, and the circular connecting sections are respectively connected to the handle and the spray head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: SHIN TAI SPURT WATER OF THE GARDEN TOOLS CO., LTD
    Inventor: Chin-Yuan Chen
  • Patent number: 11376458
    Abstract: A fire protection system and method for an enclosure includes an inert agent supply source configured to discharge an inert agent following a discharge of a primary agent in the enclosure, a gas detector configured to determine a gas concentration level in the enclosure, and a controller connected with the inert agent supply source and the gas detector and configured to regulate the discharge of the inert agent into the enclosure based at least partially upon the gas concentration level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: CARRIER CORPORATION
    Inventors: Paul M. Johnson, Joseph Albert Senecal, David VanZandt, Mohammed Ateeq
  • Patent number: 11369978
    Abstract: An injection head for liquid fire extinguishing agent that has an injection head including an injection head body connecting with a pipe providing the liquid fire extinguishing agent, an orifice plate arranged in the injection head body and formed with an orifice through which flowing the liquid fire extinguishing agent and, a porous member having a block shape arranged in an exiting part of the orifice and, a baffle plate arranged contacting with an end surface of the porous member opposite side of the exiting part of the orifice; and the baffle plate covers at least a projected area of a circumscribed circle of the orifice of the end surface of the porous member and, the liquid fire extinguishing agent is released via a gap formed between the injection head body and the baffle plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: KOATSU CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yasufumi Inoue, Masahiro Yabushita, Mitsunori Kamo, Keiichiro Watanabe
  • Patent number: 11363766
    Abstract: The present invention provides a system and method for maintaining desired pressure levels in an irrigation system when the flow rate available to the irrigation system is reduced below the system's required flow rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Assignee: Valmont Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Jerry Gerdes, John Kastl
  • Patent number: 11364399
    Abstract: A fire suppression nozzle assembly includes a spray-type nozzle for spraying a fire suppression fluid. The spray-type nozzle includes a body portion defining a passage extending longitudinally through the body portion for conveying the fire suppression fluid. The spray-type nozzle also includes a deflector portion coupled to the body portion and configured to spray the fire suppression fluid onto a fire suppression target area using a radial spray pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Assignee: Minimax Viking Research & Development GmbH
    Inventors: Shawn J. Feenstra, Vinh Bao Hoa
  • Patent number: 11357224
    Abstract: An agricultural product application implement includes a system and method for indicating an amount of fluid stored. A pressure transducer installed at the sump of a fluid tank electronically measures and displays a fluid depth. Instrumentation, such as an instrument cluster unit for the implement, is programmed via software to convert the voltage output of the pressure transducer to a volume measurement displayed in the operator's line of sight. Software within the instrument cluster unit for self-calibrating accounts for varying densities of different chemical solutions. The pressure transducer is used in conjunction with a transfer medium to prevent corrosive chemical solutions from contacting the pressure transducer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Aaron Tollefsrud, Bruce Bastin
  • Patent number: 11353210
    Abstract: Spray heads for use with desuperheaters and desuperheaters including such spray heads. One example of a spray head includes a main body having an exterior surface and defining a central passage, the main body adapted for connection to a source of fluid, at least one entrance port formed in the main body along the central passage, and at least one spray nozzle arranged adjacent the exterior surface of the main body. The spray head also includes a plurality of flow passages, each of the plurality of flow passages providing fluid communication between the entrance port and an exit opening of the spray nozzle. A first one of the plurality of flow passages follows a first non-linear path and has a first distance, and a second one of the plurality of flow passages follows a second non-linear path and has a second distance different from the first distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: FISHER CONTROLS INTERNATIONAL LLC
    Inventors: Marc Huber, Kaspar Loffel, Thomas Duda
  • Patent number: 11346545
    Abstract: Spray heads for use with desuperheaters and desuperheaters including such spray heads. One example of a spray head includes a main body having an exterior surface and defining a central passage, the main body adapted for connection to a source of fluid, at least one entrance port formed in the main body along the central passage, and at least one spray nozzle arranged adjacent the exterior surface of the main body. The spray head also includes a plurality of flow passages, each of the plurality of flow passages providing fluid communication between the entrance port and an exit opening of the spray nozzle. A first one of the plurality of flow passages follows a first non-linear path and has a first distance, and a second one of the plurality of flow passages follows a second non-linear path and has a second distance different from the first distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: FISHER CONTROLS INTERNATIONAL LLC
    Inventors: Marc Huber, Kaspar Löffel, Thomas Duda
  • Patent number: 11344905
    Abstract: A sprinkler enclosure device includes a baseplate having a generally hollow cup extending upward therefrom in a perpendicular manner. The cup includes an inside diameter that is suitable for receiving a sprinkler body, and a height that is suitable for receiving at least a portion of the sprinkler body. Each of the baseplate and the cup include centrally located apertures that are aligned linearly. Each of the aligned apertures include dimensions suitable for receiving an irrigation fitting for connecting the sprinkler body positioned within the cup to an irrigation water supply line. A sealing ring is removably positioned along the top end of the cup and includes a central opening having a diameter that is complementary to the outside diameter of the received sprinkler body. The sealing ring preventing dirt from entering the interior space of the cup.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: Cicada Holdings, LLC
    Inventor: Andrew Wyche McIver