Patents by Inventor Edward McKiernan
Edward McKiernan has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 8656524Abstract: A toilet assembly for use in a vehicle includes a toilet, a macerator assembly for receiving material from the toilet, and a holding tank in association with the macerator assembly along a discharge tube. The material is configured to pass from the macerator assembly, through the discharge tube, and to the holding tank. A mounting structure is further included for attaching the discharge tube to a supporting surface. The mounting structure includes a floor flange attached to the supporting surface, an adapter plate assembly, and a seal positioned between the adapter plate assembly and floor flange. The adapter plate assembly is sealingly engaged with the discharge tube, such that the discharge tube is sealed with the supporting surface.Type: GrantFiled: September 14, 2010Date of Patent: February 25, 2014Assignee: Dometic CorporationInventor: Edward McKiernan
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Publication number: 20110061156Abstract: A toilet assembly for use in a vehicle includes a toilet, a macerator assembly for receiving material from the toilet, and a holding tank in association with the macerator assembly along a discharge tube. The material is configured to pass from the macerator assembly, through the discharge tube, and to the holding tank. A mounting structure is further included for attaching the discharge tube to a supporting surface. The mounting structure includes a floor flange attached to the supporting surface, an adapter plate assembly, and a seal positioned between the adapter plate assembly and floor flange. The adapter plate assembly is sealingly engaged with the discharge tube, such that the discharge tube is sealed with the supporting surface.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 14, 2010Publication date: March 17, 2011Applicant: DOMETIC CORPORATIONInventor: Edward McKiernan
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Publication number: 20060191065Abstract: A portable toilet is provided comprising a bowl provided with an outlet and at least one spout. A flush tank is adapted to store a fluid, wherein the flush tank is adapted to be pressurized. A manually-actuated pump is in sealed communication with the flush tank, wherein the pump is adapted to cause the flush tank to become pressurized. A pressure relief valve adapted to release pressure from the flush tank. A manually-actuated flush valve is in sealed communication with the flush tank and is normally biased to a closed position. The flush valve includes a fluid outlet connected to the at least one spout and a fluid inlet. A flush valve actuator is disposed outside of the flush tank and is adapted to actuate the flush valve, wherein actuation of the flush valve actuator causes the flush valve to open to permit pressurized fluid contained within the flush tank to be delivered through the at least one spout.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 8, 2005Publication date: August 31, 2006Applicant: SeaLand Technology, Inc.Inventors: Miguel Martinez, Patrick Curran, Edward McKiernan, Otto Erbacher, Robert Krieder
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Patent number: 6957450Abstract: A sanitary system including a toilet adapted for use in a recreational vehicle, and a recreational vehicle including the toilet and sanitary system.Type: GrantFiled: August 13, 2004Date of Patent: October 25, 2005Assignee: SeaLand Technology, Inc.Inventors: James A. Sigler, Edward McKiernan
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Publication number: 20050010999Abstract: A sanitary system including a toilet adapted for use in a recreational vehicle, and a recreational vehicle including the toilet and sanitary system.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 13, 2004Publication date: January 20, 2005Applicant: SeaLand Technology, Inc.Inventors: James Sigler, Edward McKiernan
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Patent number: 6782561Abstract: A sanitary system including a toilet adapted for use in a recreational vehicle, and a recreational vehicle including the toilet and sanitary system.Type: GrantFiled: February 12, 2003Date of Patent: August 31, 2004Assignee: Sealand Technology, Inc.Inventors: James A. Sigler, Edward McKiernan
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Publication number: 20030154543Abstract: A sanitary system including a toilet adapted for use in a recreational vehicle, and a recreational vehicle including the toilet and sanitary system.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 12, 2003Publication date: August 21, 2003Inventors: James A. Sigler, Edward McKiernan
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Patent number: 6234197Abstract: A plastic sewage holding tank in a boat, associated with a toilet, includes a vent check valve for providing vacuum relief. By mounting the vent check valve in the top of the tank, when the tank is being emptied by rapid pumpout implosion or other damage to the tank is prevented. The vent check valve may include a valve body with an interior surface mounting a quad sealing ring, with a valve element guided for reciprocal movement between a sealing position where an axially elongated substantially cylindrical peripheral surface of the valve element engages the quad ring, to an open position where the valve element is moved against spring bias away from the valve body. A spider, with a collar for guiding a shaft portion of the valve element, may mount a coil spring to provide a biasing action.Type: GrantFiled: September 23, 1996Date of Patent: May 22, 2001Assignee: Sealand Technology, Inc.Inventors: Edward McKiernan, James A. Sigler, William J. Friedman
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Patent number: 6065493Abstract: A plastic sewage holding tank in a boat, associated with a toilet, includes a vent check valve assembly for providing vacuum relief. By mounting the vent check valve in the top of the tank, when the tank is being emptied by rapid pumpout implosion or other damage to the tank is prevented. The vent check valve assembly may include a valve body surface operatively connected to the tank and having a plurality of openings formed in it, and a flexible material diaphragm covering the openings adjacent the inside of the tank, and uncovering openings to allow air flow through the openings substantially only when a vacuum condition exists inside the tank. A plastic disk biases the diaphragm into its opening-covering position, but a partial vacuum of at least about 2-5 inches of water allows air to flow through the openings past the diaphragm.Type: GrantFiled: May 22, 1998Date of Patent: May 23, 2000Assignee: Sealand Technology, Inc.Inventors: William J. Friedman, Edward McKiernan, James A. Sigler
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Patent number: 5971005Abstract: A conventional recreation vehicle or caravan toilet, which normally is connected by a simple slide valve to a holding tank mounted below it, can be easily converted to a vacuum toilet at a campground or like stationary site. The holding tank is slid out of the compartment in which it is mounted below the toilet of the recreation vehicle or caravan, and a vacuum adaptor is slid into its place, making a substantially airtight connection with the toilet. The vacuum adaptor is connected up to a substantially stationary vacuum source, such as a below ground vacuum tank at a campground. The vacuum adaptor is preferably connected by a dripless connection to the vacuum source, and includes an arcuately shaped movable valve element that is rotatable about a substantially horizontal axis from a substantially airtight closed position, to an open position, when the toilet is flushed.Type: GrantFiled: March 25, 1998Date of Patent: October 26, 1999Assignee: Sealand Technology, Inc.Inventors: Edward McKiernan, James A. Sigler
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Patent number: 5931642Abstract: A vacuum sewage handling assembly particularly for boats and recreational vehicles or caravans has a minimum of components because the conventional vacuum and holding tanks have been combined into a single substantially unreinforced, non-cylindrical, all plastic tank. The tank has a contoured, convoluted, discontinuous surface (e.g. formed by grooves, channels, and other discontinuities) so that it has no continuous flat surface area of more than about 80 square inches. The combined vacuum and holding tank may mount a vacuum pump, and optionally mounts a sewage discharge pump. The tank preferably has a generally parallelepiped configuration, and an interior volume of between about 45-65 liters, has a maximum vacuum level of about 26 cm of mercury, and is connected to other conventional portions of a vehicle toilet system, including outlets penetrating the exterior of the vehicle. The tank may have wheels and a handle.Type: GrantFiled: April 17, 1997Date of Patent: August 3, 1999Assignee: Sealand Technology, Inc.Inventors: William J. Friedman, James A. Sigler, Edward McKiernan
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Patent number: 5806454Abstract: A discharge hose adapter adapts a standard marine thru hull fitting to a standard sanitation hose enabling discharge of a boat holding tank into a dump station. The adapter preferably includes a first component and a second component. The first end of the first component is frictionally engageable with the standard marine thru hull fitting, a first end of the second component is engageable with the second end of the first component, and a second end of the second component is engageable with the sanitation hose. The first component is preferably PVC injection molded plastic, and the second component is preferably compression molded rubber derived from vinyl monomers.Type: GrantFiled: August 22, 1996Date of Patent: September 15, 1998Assignee: Sealand Technology, Inc.Inventors: Edward McKiernan, James A. Sigler, William J. Friedman
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Patent number: 5681148Abstract: A sewage handling assembly particularly for boats and recreational vehicles with a minimum of components. The waste discharge of a toilet is connected to an inlet for a combined vacuum and holding tank which mounts a vacuum pump, and optionally mounts a sewage discharge pump. A sewage discharge conduit, which may be connected to the optional sewage discharge pump, is connected to a first outlet from the tank, in turn connected to a dip tube terminating in an open end just above the tank bottom. A second outlet from the tank is connected to the vacuum pump (in turn connected to a gas conduit with an end termination penetrating an exterior partition of the boat or RV), and an upwardly extending gas tube inside the tank, having an opening near the interior top of the tank, is connected to the second outlet. The tank is controlled so that a gas volume of about 2 and 1/2-4 gallons is always maintained in the tank, with a vacuum level of between about 8-10 inches of mercury.Type: GrantFiled: October 31, 1995Date of Patent: October 28, 1997Assignee: Sealand Technology, Inc.Inventors: William J. Friedman, James A. Sigler, Edward McKiernan
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Patent number: 5345618Abstract: A vacuum toilet system for a vehicle (such as a boat) has numerous advantages. A single pump with valves on opposite sides of it may be used as both the vacuum source and for discharging sewage from a holding tank. Two sets of multiple heads may be selectively connected to two pumps for emergency purposes. The vacuum toilet includes a sealing element with an integral movable valve engaging element including polytetrylflouroethylene and synthetic rubber, and at the same durometer (55-65). The initial passageway provided by movement of the valve with respect to the seal is disposed directly above the center line of an orifice. An an anti-siphon valve assembly has a simple construction of a housing with parallel legs and anti-siphon air passage in alignment with one of the legs. A spray nozzle extends from the other legs of the anti-siphon valve assembly. The toilet funnel/orifice is universally connected to conduits.Type: GrantFiled: September 19, 1991Date of Patent: September 13, 1994Assignee: Sealand Technology, Inc.Inventors: James Sigler, Richard W. Sprang, Edward McKiernan, Ronald J. Bailey
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Patent number: 5079950Abstract: A level indicating assembly for use in a tank mounted in a vehicle, such as an RV or boat, includes a fitting body for mounting the assembly in the top of the tank, and probes extending through the body into the tank. At least one of the probes has a hollow probe shaft which is of a flexible material such as flexible pvc. One of the probes provides an "empty" indication for the tank, while the other probes provide a "full" indication, and a mid-level indication. A socket or like element with a knock-out plug optionally provides a vent in the fitting body. During installation the position of the probe shafts with respect to the fitting body are adjusted, and any unneeded portion of the probe shaft above the shaft fitting is cut off.Type: GrantFiled: May 3, 1990Date of Patent: January 14, 1992Assignee: Sealand Technology, Inc.Inventors: Edward McKiernan, Ronald J. Bailey, James A. Sigler
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Patent number: 4819279Abstract: A vacuum toilet system for a vehicle (such as a boat) has numerous advantages. A single pump with valves on opposite sides of it may be used as both the vacuum source and for discharging sewage from a holding tank. Two sets of multiple heads may be selectively connected to two pumps for emergency purposes. The vacuum toilet includes a sealing element with an integral movable valve engaging element including polytetrylflouroethylene and synthetic rubber, and at the same durometer (55-65). The initial passageway provided by movement of the valve with respect to the seal is disposed directly above the center line of an orifice. An anti-siphon valve assembly has a simple construction of a housing with parallel legs and anti-siphon air passage in alignment with one of the legs. A spray nozzle extends from the other legs of the anti-siphon valve assembly. The toilet funnel/orifice is universally connected to conduits.Type: GrantFiled: September 28, 1987Date of Patent: April 11, 1989Assignee: Sealand Technology, Inc.Inventors: James Sigler, Richard W. Sprang, Ronald J. Bailey, Edward McKiernan
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Patent number: D668567Type: GrantFiled: May 9, 2011Date of Patent: October 9, 2012Assignee: Emerson Electric Co.Inventors: Jon R. Dunkin, Edward A. McKiernan, Sarah A. Golish, Christopher L. Lane