Patents by Inventor Mark Fritze

Mark Fritze 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).

  • Patent number: 6468052
    Abstract: A safety device for use in a fluid transfer and/or circulation system of the type which uses a pump to draw water from a reservoir through one or more intake lines each extending from an open end at the reservoir to the pump intake. The safety device connects to the fluid transfer/circulation system and includes a sensor, a triggering mechanism, and a vacuum breaker. When the pump is operating, the sensor monitors one or more conditions of the system. When one or more of the monitored conditions deviates outside of a normal operational range, as a result of an obstruction of any one or more of the open ends of the intake lines, the triggering mechanism triggers the vacuum breaker to eliminate negative pressure in the system by introducing air from atmosphere into the intake lines, thereby removing suction at the open ends of the intake lines. The safety device may further activate warning devices including audible and visible alarms to indicate that the system has been deactivated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2002
    Inventors: Paul C. McKain, Mark Fritze
  • Publication number: 20010002238
    Abstract: A safety device for use in a fluid transfer and/or circulation system of the type which uses a pump to draw water from a reservoir through one or more intake lines each extending from an open end at the reservoir to the pump intake. The safety device connects to the fluid transfer/circulation system and includes a sensor, a triggering mechanism, and a vacuum breaker. When the pump is operating, the sensor monitors one or more conditions of the system. When one or more of the monitored conditions deviates outside of a normal operational range, as a result of an obstruction of any one or more of the open ends of the intake lines, the triggering mechanism triggers the vacuum breaker to eliminate negative pressure in the system by introducing air from atmosphere into the intake lines, thereby removing suction at the open ends of the intake lines. The safety device may further activate warning devices including audible and visible alarms to indicate that the system has been deactivated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2001
    Publication date: May 31, 2001
    Inventors: Paul C. McKain, Mark Fritze
  • Patent number: 6171073
    Abstract: A safety device for use in a fluid transfer and/or circulation system of the type which uses a pump to draw water from a reservoir through one or more intake lines each extending from an open end at the reservoir to the pump intake. The safety device connects in-line with the fluid transfer/circulation system, between the open ends of the intake lines and the pump and includes a vacuum pressure sensor, an analyzer and controller, a relay, and a vacuum breaker. Each time the pump is activated, the device analyzes negative pressure levels throughout a start-up period to establish a normal operating pressure window for the particular system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Inventors: Paul C. McKain, David Rizzi, Mark Fritze
  • Patent number: 5947700
    Abstract: A safety device for use in a fluid transfer system for a swimming pool or similiar application, having a pump which draws water from a reservoir through one or more intake lines each extending from an open end at the reservoir to the pump intake. The device analyzes negative pressure levels in the system and, upon detecting a negative pressure level being outside of a selected operational range, the device deactivates the pump and triggers a vacuum breaker device to eliminate negative pressure in the system, by introducing air from atmosphere into the intake lines thereby removing suction at the open ends of the intake lines. The safety device may further activate warning devices including audible and visible alarms to indicate that the system has been deactivated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 7, 1999
    Inventors: Paul C. McKain, David Rizzi, Mark Fritze
  • Patent number: 5369555
    Abstract: A screwdriver includes a solid core handle formed of a light conductive material, a light source and a power source encapsulated within the solid core handle and a shaft attached to and extending outwardly from a first end of the handle and terminating at a free distal end. Operation of a switch on the handle to an on position serves to complete a circuit, activating the light bulb and, thereby directing light through an upper portion and out from the first end of the handle towards the distal end of the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 29, 1994
    Inventors: Paul C. McKain, Mark Fritze