Patents by Inventor Shawn D. Bush

Shawn D. Bush 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: 10087609
    Abstract: A tamper-resistant aerator including an aerator cartridge, an insert defining at least one removal slot, and a locking ring defining at least one removal slot at least partially disposed within a housing is disclosed. The locking ring rotates with respect to the housing to allow alignment of the removal slot of the locking ring with the removal slot of the insert. Alignment of the slots form a continuous passageway through the locking ring and into the insert. Alternatively, a plurality of removal slots may be provided. A mating engagement between the locking ring and the housing secures the locking ring within the housing while still allowing it to rotate with respect to the housing. An aerator system is also provided comprising an aerator as described above and a tool adapted to be received in the continuous passageway formed by the alignment of the slots and engage the insert.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: SDB IP Holdings, LLC
    Inventor: Shawn D. Bush
  • Patent number: 9963867
    Abstract: A fence valve to catch material introduced into a pipe includes a housing defining a chamber and a catch plate disposed within the chamber that is movable with respect to the housing. The catch plate includes at least one magnetic region. The valve further includes a magnetic body in communication with at least a portion of the chamber, an indicator in communication with the catch plate, and a cable having a first end secured to the catch plate and a second end secured to a hook. The catch plate is transitionable from a first position in which the catch plate is disposed at a first location within the chamber, to a second position in which the catch plate is displaced from the first location. The catch plate is detachably held in the first position by interaction between the at least one magnetic region and the magnetic body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: SDB IP Holdings, LLC
    Inventors: Shawn D. Bush, Ryan W. Nottage
  • Patent number: 9951505
    Abstract: A flush toilet is disclosed. The flush toilet includes a bowl having a waste receiving surface, a drainage channel having an inlet connected to a bottom portion of the bowl for discharging waste, and a throat adjacent the waste receiving surface and aligned with the drainage channel The flush toilet also includes a first water cleansing jet for supplying cleansing water onto the waste receiving surface. The first water cleansing jet is disposed within the throat. The flush toilet also includes a second water cleansing jet for supplying cleansing water onto the waste receiving surface. The second water cleansing jet is also disposed within the throat, with the second water cleansing jet being offset from the first water cleansing jet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: SDP IP Holdings, LLC
    Inventor: Shawn D. Bush
  • Publication number: 20180058599
    Abstract: A rigid piston assembly for use in a conventional flush valve includes a rigid piston and a solenoid configured to fixedly engage within the valve body. A flush valve for a plumbing fixture as well as a method of retrofitting a piston valve into a diaphragm flush valve body which includes a rigid piston and solenoid configuration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2017
    Publication date: March 1, 2018
    Inventors: Shawn D. Bush, Ryan W. Nottage
  • Patent number: 9890526
    Abstract: A flush valve system is provided having an inlet and an outlet, and a main valve element adapted for transition between a closed position and an open position is disclosed. The flush valve further includes a control chamber in communication with the inlet, and a vent outlet in communication with the outlet. The system includes a solenoid for establishing communication between the control chamber and the vent outlet to establish a pressure differential across a portion of the main valve element. The system also includes a power supply for energizing the solenoid, a deployable actuator in communication with the power supply, and a microprocessor in electrical communication with the main valve element. The microprocessor is adapted to determine a valve opening time, calculate fluid pressure based on the valve opening time, and deliver a predetermined quantity of fluid through the valve based on fluid pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: SDB IP Holdings, LLC
    Inventor: Shawn D. Bush
  • Patent number: 9822896
    Abstract: A rigid piston assembly for use in a conventional flush valve includes a rigid piston and a solenoid configured to fixedly engage within the valve body. A flush valve for a plumbing fixture as well as a method of retrofitting a piston valve into a diaphragm flush valve body which includes a rigid piston and solenoid configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: SDB IP Holdings, LLC
    Inventors: Shawn D. Bush, Ryan W. Nottage
  • Patent number: 9816636
    Abstract: A rigid piston assembly for use in a conventional flush valve includes a rigid piston configured to fixedly engage within the valve body. The present invention is also directed to a flush valve for a plumbing fixture as well as a method of retrofitting a rigid piston into a diaphragm flush valve body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: SDB IP Holdings, LLC
    Inventors: Shawn D. Bush, Ryan W. Nottage
  • Publication number: 20170301219
    Abstract: A system, device, and method for communicating distress signals through a plumbing control system is provided. The system includes a plumbing controller configured to operate at least one plumbing appliance, at least one distress indicator in communication with the plumbing controller, and at least one distress sensor in communication with the plumbing controller. Activation of the at least one distress sensor causes activation of the at least one distress indicator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2017
    Publication date: October 19, 2017
    Inventors: Shawn D. Bush, Donald Ray Elliott
  • Patent number: 9728073
    Abstract: A system, device, and method for communicating distress signals through a plumbing control system is provided. The system includes a plumbing controller configured to operate at least one plumbing appliance, at least one distress indicator in communication with the plumbing controller, and at least one distress sensor in communication with the plumbing controller. Activation of the at least one distress sensor causes activation of the at least one distress indicator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: SDB IP Holdings, LLC
    Inventors: Shawn D. Bush, Donald Ray Elliott
  • Publication number: 20170167631
    Abstract: A system for monitoring flush valves is provided, including a plurality of flush valves arranged in at least one restroom of a building, each flush valve of the plurality of flush valves including a communication device configured to transmit flush valve data, and at least one controller in communication with each flush valve of the plurality of flush valves. The at least one controller is programmed or configured to receive the flush valve data from each flush valve of the plurality of flush valves and determine if a first flush valve of the plurality of flush valves is in need of servicing or replacement based at least partially by comparing flush valve data for the first flush with flush valve data for at least one other flush valve of the plurality of flush valves. A method and apparatus are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2016
    Publication date: June 15, 2017
    Inventors: Shawn D. Bush, Rock R. Allard, III, Blaine Andersen, Christopher R. Harrison
  • Publication number: 20170168508
    Abstract: A system for optimizing a timing of a flush valve is provided. The system includes a flush valve comprising a flow area and a solenoid configured to open the flush valve, at least one pressure sensor configured to measure a pressure in the flush valve, and at least one controller in communication with the at least one pressure sensor and the solenoid. The at least one controller is programmed or configured to control the solenoid to open the flush valve for a flush time in response to a flush request, measure a pressure in the flush valve to obtain at least one flush valve pressure, adjust the flush time based at least partially on the at least one flush valve pressure, resulting in an adjusted flush time, and control the solenoid to open the flush valve for the adjusted flush time in response to a flush request.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2016
    Publication date: June 15, 2017
    Inventors: Shawn D. Bush, Rock R. Allard, III, Blaine Andersen, Christopher R. Harrison
  • Publication number: 20170009903
    Abstract: A rigid piston assembly for use in a conventional flush valve includes a rigid piston and a solenoid configured to fixedly engage within the valve body. A flush valve for a plumbing fixture as well as a method of retrofitting a piston valve into a diaphragm flush valve body which includes a rigid piston and solenoid configuration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2016
    Publication date: January 12, 2017
    Inventors: Shawn D. Bush, Ryan W. Nottage
  • Publication number: 20170009902
    Abstract: A rigid piston assembly for use in a conventional flush valve includes a rigid piston configured to fixedly engage within the valve body. The present invention is also directed to a flush valve for a plumbing fixture as well as a method of retrofitting a rigid piston into a diaphragm flush valve body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2016
    Publication date: January 12, 2017
    Inventors: Shawn D. Bush, Ryan W. Nottage
  • Publication number: 20160340881
    Abstract: A flush valve system is provided having an inlet and an outlet, and a main valve element adapted for transition between a closed position and an open position is disclosed. The flush valve further includes a control chamber in communication with the inlet, and a vent outlet in communication with the outlet. The system includes a solenoid for establishing communication between the control chamber and the vent outlet to establish a pressure differential across a portion of the main valve element. The system also includes a power supply for energizing the solenoid, a deployable actuator in communication with the power supply, and a microprocessor in electrical communication with the main valve element. The microprocessor is adapted to determine a valve opening time, calculate fluid pressure based on the valve opening time, and deliver a predetermined quantity of fluid through the valve based on fluid pressure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2016
    Publication date: November 24, 2016
    Inventor: Shawn D. Bush
  • Patent number: 9493936
    Abstract: An apparatus for detecting wear in a flush valve includes at least one programmed controller. The flush valve comprises at least one pressure sensor and a valve element, and operates when an internal pressure causes the valve element to open. The controller is programmed to record at least one water pressure detected within the flush valve with the at least one pressure sensor after at least one operation of the flush valve, record a water pressure detected within the flush valve after a subsequent operation of the flush valve, and determine if the flush valve is faulty based at least partially on a comparison between the at least one water pressure detected after the at least one operation of the flush valve and the water pressure detected after the subsequent operation of the flush valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: SDB IP Holdings, LLC
    Inventor: Shawn D. Bush
  • Patent number: 9481989
    Abstract: A rigid piston assembly for use in a conventional flush valve includes a rigid piston and a solenoid configured to fixedly engage within the valve body. A flush valve for a plumbing fixture as well as a method of retrofitting a piston valve into a diaphragm flush valve body includes a rigid piston and solenoid configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: SDB IP Holdings, LLC
    Inventors: Shawn D. Bush, Ryan W. Nottage
  • Patent number: 9481988
    Abstract: A rigid piston assembly for use in a conventional flush valve includes a rigid piston configured to fixedly engage within the valve body. The present invention is also directed to a flush valve for a plumbing fixture as well as a method of retrofitting a rigid piston into a diaphragm flush valve body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: SDB IP Holdings, LLC
    Inventors: Shawn D. Bush, Ryan W. Nottage
  • Patent number: 9464422
    Abstract: A flush valve system is provided having an inlet and an outlet, and a main valve element adapted for transition between a closed position and an open position is disclosed. The flush valve further includes a control chamber in communication with the inlet, and a vent outlet in communication with the outlet. The system includes a solenoid for establishing communication between the control chamber and the vent outlet to establish a pressure differential across a portion of the main valve element. The system also includes a power supply for energizing the solenoid, a deployable actuator in communication with the power supply, and a microprocessor in electrical communication with the main valve element. The microprocessor is adapted to determine a valve opening time, calculate fluid pressure based on the valve opening time, and deliver a predetermined quantity of fluid through the valve based on fluid pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: SDB IP Holdings, LLC
    Inventor: Shawn D. Bush
  • Publication number: 20160265211
    Abstract: A fence valve to catch material introduced into a pipe includes a housing defining a chamber and a catch plate disposed within the chamber that is movable with respect to the housing. The catch plate includes at least one magnetic region. The valve further includes a magnetic body in communication with at least a portion of the chamber, an indicator in communication with the catch plate, and a cable having a first end secured to the catch plate and a second end secured to a hook. The catch plate is transitionable from a first position in which the catch plate is disposed at a first location within the chamber, to a second position in which the catch plate is displaced from the first location. The catch plate is detachably held in the first position by interaction between the at least one magnetic region and the magnetic body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2016
    Publication date: September 15, 2016
    Inventors: Shawn D. Bush, Ryan W. Nottage
  • Patent number: 9389157
    Abstract: A system for detecting wear in a flush valve includes at least one pressure sensor adapted to measure a water pressure within the flush valve and at least one microprocessor in communication with the at least one pressure sensor. The at least one microprocessor is configured to determine the water pressure within the flush valve measured by the at least one pressure sensor at or after a predetermined time following operation of the flush valve that is equal to or exceeding a known time required to reseal the flush valve during normal operation, compare the determined water pressure with a pressure value sufficient to reseal the flush valve during normal operation, and determine if the flush valve is worn based at least partially on the comparison. A method and apparatus is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: SDB IP Holdings, LLC
    Inventor: Shawn D. Bush