Patents by Inventor Kenneth A. Hair

Kenneth A. Hair 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: 20120021374
    Abstract: An oral irrigator tip defines a main fluid passage and first and second side fluid passages on a opposite sides of the main fluid passage. Each side fluid passage has an inlet and an outlet both in fluid communication with the main fluid passage. First and second island structures may be formed between the main fluid passage and respective side fluid passages. Fluid flow through the main fluid passage is drawn to sidewalls of the islands due to the Coanda effect. At least a portion of the fluid stream entering the main fluid passage is diverted through the first and second side fluid passages to create feedback loops that push the fluid flow through the main fluid passage alternately from side to side. An oscillating fluid stream is thereby delivered from the oral irrigator tip.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2011
    Publication date: January 26, 2012
    Applicant: Water Pik, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph W. Cacka, Kenneth A. Hair
  • Publication number: 20110319840
    Abstract: A nozzle for a nasal rinse device includes a collar that forms a conduit. The collar is configured to attach the nozzle to the nasal rinse device. An outlet aperture defined by the collar is on a top portion of the nozzle. The nozzle also includes a skirt extending outwards and downwards from the collar, and an outer surface of the skirt is faceted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2010
    Publication date: December 29, 2011
    Applicant: Water Pik, Inc.
    Inventor: Kenneth A. Hair
  • Publication number: 20110139824
    Abstract: A vessel for use in rinsing a user's nasal cavities includes a main body, a spout extending from the main body, a nozzle attached to the spout, and a handle forming an aperture in communication with the main body. The aperture is sealable by a user to control a flow of a fluid held in the main body out of the nozzle. The nozzle defines an outer skirt deflectable upon engagement with the walls of the user's nasal cavity. A lid is removably engageable with the main body, provides fluid ingress when removed, and creates a watertight seal between the lid and the main body when engaged with the main body. An annular raised periphery may surround the aperture for facilitating sealing of the aperture with the user's finger.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2010
    Publication date: June 16, 2011
    Applicant: Water Pik, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph W. Cacka, Kurt M. Taylor, Kenneth A. Hair, Brian R. Williams
  • Publication number: 20110139826
    Abstract: A vessel for use in rinsing a user's nasal cavity provides a resiliently collapsible main body, a self-sealing nozzle that increases in internal pressure when the vessel is squeezed, and a check valve in the nozzle to reduce back-wash into the vessel. A collar connects the nozzle and check valve to the main body. The check valve includes a first opening that provides fluid communication between the main body and a void formed in an interior of the nozzle and may allow pressure within the nozzle to increase upon deforming the main body. A second opening may provide fluid communication between an exterior of the main body and a fluid reservoir formed in the main body. The second opening may cooperate with a valve that allows selective fluid communication between the exterior of the main body and the reservoir formed in the main body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2010
    Publication date: June 16, 2011
    Applicant: Water Pik, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth A. Hair, Kurt M. Taylor
  • Publication number: 20110139149
    Abstract: A vessel for use in rinsing a user's nasal cavities includes a main body, a spout, a self-sealing nozzle, and a flow control valve actuable by the user. The spout extends off of the main body and the elastomeric nozzle attached to the spout defines an outer skirt having a deflectable free end upon contact with the walls of the user's nasal cavity. A vacuum breaker valve is formed in a top portion of the main body for actuation by the user to control the flow of a fluid positioned in the vessel out of the nozzle. The main body may include gripping indentations along opposing sidewalls thereof. The spout may be integrally formed with the main body, and the spout and the nozzle may be detachably connected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2010
    Publication date: June 16, 2011
    Applicant: WATER PIK, INC.
    Inventors: JOSEPH W. CACKA, KURT M. TAYLOR, KENNETH A. HAIR, BRIAN R. WILLIAMS
  • Publication number: 20110144588
    Abstract: A powered irrigator for use in rinsing nasal cavities has a main body including a handle and a fluid reservoir detachably coupled to one another, an outlet nozzle extending from a top end of the handle, a pump mechanism operably coupled to a power source, and a switch operably coupled to the power source for turning the pump mechanism on and off. When the switch turns on the pump mechanism, fluid flows from the fluid reservoir into a first fluid coupling between the reservoir and the pump mechanism and into a second fluid coupling between the pump mechanism to the outlet nozzle. The top of the handle can be angled relative to a longitudinal axis of the main body. The nozzle is removable from the top end and has a self-sealing structure to provide an enhanced fit within a user's nostril.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2010
    Publication date: June 16, 2011
    Applicant: Water Pik, Inc.
    Inventors: Kurt M. Taylor, Gary L. Sokol, Kenneth A. Hair, Harold A. Luettgen
  • Publication number: 20050255427
    Abstract: An oral hygiene device is disclosed having at least two motors to simultaneously vibrate and impart motion upon the head portion of the oral hygiene device, most beneficially at the tip. A first motor is positioned in the handle portion of the device to impart a first frequency of movement to the tip. A second motor is located in a head portion, generally in a shaft of or an oral hygiene attachment to the device, to impart at least a second frequency of movement onto the tip. When both the first and second motors are activated, the resulting movement of the tip of the device may include complex, substantially random movements, depending in part on the frequencies at which the motors are operating.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 23, 2004
    Publication date: November 17, 2005
    Inventors: Robert Shortt, Kenneth Hair, Kurt Taylor, Daniel Julian, Edmund D'Silva
  • Patent number: 6955539
    Abstract: An oral hygiene device is disclosed having at least two motors to simultaneously vibrate and impart motion upon the head portion of the oral hygiene device, most beneficially at the tip. A first motor is positioned in the handle portion of the device to impart a first frequency of movement to the tip. A second motor is located in a head portion, generally in a shaft of or an oral hygiene attachment to the device, to impart at least a second frequency of movement onto the tip. When both the first and second motors are activated, the resulting movement of the tip of the device may include complex, substantially random movements, depending in part on the frequencies at which the motors are operating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2005
    Assignee: Water Pik, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert A. Shortt, Kenneth A. Hair, Kurt M. Taylor, Danial E. Julian
  • Patent number: 6821119
    Abstract: An oral hygiene device (2) is disclosed having at least two motors (30, 36) to simultaneously vibrate and impart motion upon the head portion of the oral hygiene device (2), most beneficially at the tip (12). A first motor (30) is positioned in the handle housing (3) of the device (2) to impart a first frequency of movement to the tip (12). A second motor (36) is located in a head portion, generally in a shaft (8) of or an oral hygiene attachment to the device (2), to impart at least a second frequency of movement onto the tip (12). When both the first and second motors (30, 36) are activated, the resulting movement of the tip (12) of the device (2) may include complex, substantially random movements, depending in part on the frequencies at which the motors (30, 36) are operating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2004
    Assignee: Water Pik, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert A. Shortt, Kenneth A. Hair, Kurt M. Taylor, Daniel E. Julian, Edmund D. D'Silva
  • Publication number: 20030162146
    Abstract: An oral hygiene device is disclosed having at least two motors to simultaneously vibrate and impart motion upon the head portion of the oral hygiene device, most beneficially at the tip. A first motor is positioned in the handle portion of the device to impart a first frequency of movement to the tip. A second motor is located in a head portion, generally in a shaft of or an oral hygiene attachment to the device, to impart at least a second frequency of movement onto the tip. When both the first and second motors are activated, the resulting movement of the tip of the device may include complex, substantially random movements, depending in part on the frequencies at which the motors are operating.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2003
    Publication date: August 28, 2003
    Inventors: Robert A. Shortt, Kenneth A. Hair, Kurt M. Taylor, Danial E. Julian
  • Publication number: 20030031979
    Abstract: An oral hygiene device (2) is disclosed having at least two motors (30, 36) to simultaneously vibrate and impart motion upon the head portion of the oral hygiene device (2), most beneficially at the tip (12). A first motor (30) is positioned in the handle housing (3) of the device (2) to impart a first frequency of movement to the tip (12). A second motor (36) is located in a head portion, generally in a shaft (8) of or an oral hygiene attachment to the device (2), to impart at least a second frequency of movement onto the tip (12). When both the first and second motors (30, 36) are activated, the resulting movement of the tip (12) of the device (2) may include complex, substantially random movements, depending in part on the frequencies at which the motors (30, 36) are operating.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2002
    Publication date: February 13, 2003
    Applicant: Water Pik, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert A. Shortt, Kenneth A. Hair, Kurt M. Taylor, Danial E. Julian, Edmund D. D'Silva
  • Patent number: 5330225
    Abstract: A low band width passive vehicle suspension system for utilization with land vehicles which includes a shock absorber of the cylinder-piston type suspended between each wheel of the vehicle and its chassis. The piston divides the cylinder into a pair of chambers and the chambers are interconnected with a bypass passageway within which there is mounted a variable orifice controlled by a moveable valve. Sensors are mounted on each wheel to detect movement thereof as well as acceleration roll and pitch sensors being mounted on the vehicle. Fluidic signals are developed by each of the sensors and are applied through a fluidic circuit for application to the valve structure controlling the variable orifice. By control of the orifice, the characteristics thereof are changed to in turn change the damping characteristics of each of the shock absorbing units to thereby stabilize the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 1992
    Date of Patent: July 19, 1994
    Assignee: HR Textron Inc.
    Inventor: Kenneth A. Hair
  • Patent number: 5052441
    Abstract: A direct drive servovalve wherein rotational motion of a drive motor rotor is converted into linear motion of a spool valve. The drive motor is mounted upon the valve housing through utilization of the outer surface of a bearing which supports the rotor shaft of the drive motor. The bearing fits within a recess provided in the surface of the housing and protrudes above the housing to be received within an additional recess defined within the drive motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 1, 1991
    Assignee: HR Textron Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth Hair, Kenneth Laux
  • Patent number: 5040568
    Abstract: Disclosed is a direct drive servovalve which includes a drive motor mounted upon a housing for a reciprocally disposed spool valve wherein the rotor of the drive motor engages the spool valve. The rotational motion of the rotor is converted into linear motion in the spool-valve. The rotor of the drive motor carries a cam shaped flat washer which has surfaces engaging stop means defined by the valve housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 1990
    Date of Patent: August 20, 1991
    Assignee: HR Textron Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth Hair, Kenneth Laux