Patents by Inventor John R. Tofte

John R. Tofte 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).

  • Publication number: 20240141905
    Abstract: A sump pump system may detect and utilize motion or acceleration of water in sump basins when implementing control of sump pumps. To detect the motion or acceleration, the sump pump system may utilize a sensor that is configured to detect motion or acceleration, such as an accelerometer or gyroscope. The sump pump system may identify a water level in a sump basin based on the detected motion or acceleration, which may be compared to a reading or expected signal from the sump pump system's “typical” sensor (e.g., float switch) that is used to detect one or more water levels. In this manner, the sump pump system may detect a malfunctioning level sensor that is used by the pump to detect high-water and low-water marks at which the sump pump activates and deactivates, respectively.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2023
    Publication date: May 2, 2024
    Inventors: Nathan L. Tofte, Jonathan Christopher Hull, John R. Donovan, Richard Jan Tjaden
  • Patent number: D631163
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2011
    Assignee: A-dec, Inc.
    Inventors: John R. Tofte, Harold Halvorson, Jr.