Patents by Inventor Steve Rhea

Steve Rhea 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: 6458280
    Abstract: A humidifier with an integrated bacteriostat dispenser is disclosed. In one embodiment, a hand-operated bacteriostat pump is mounted on the humidifier housing and dispenses a predetermined amount of bacteriostat into the water tray of the humidifier when operated upon. In another embodiment, the bacteriostat automatically dispenses an amount of bacteriostat appropriate for the amount of water discharged from a water bottle into the water tray. In this embodiment, a chamber is defined for holding bacteriostat. A regulator keeps the amount of bacteriostat in the chamber at a predetermined level. A plunger head is partially disposed in the chamber and is connected to a surface the position of which changes with the water level in the water bottle. The position of the plunger head thus moves as the water level in the water bottle changes, displacing bacteriostat into the water tray. In another embodiment, a method for dispensing bacteriostat into a humidifier is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2002
    Assignee: Emerson Electric Co.
    Inventors: Terrence L. Stanek, Mark J. Tomasiak, Steve Rhea
  • Patent number: D541818
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2007
    Assignee: Emerson Electric Co.
    Inventors: Steve Rhea, Kiyo Hoshino
  • Patent number: D551681
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2007
    Assignee: Emerson Electric Co.
    Inventors: Steve Rhea, Kiyo Hoshino
  • Patent number: D578078
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2008
    Assignee: The Patent Store, LLC
    Inventors: James C. Keeven, Steve Rhea, Lloyd Herbert King, Jr.
  • Patent number: D589458
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2009
    Inventors: James C. Keeven, Lloyd Herbert King, Jr., Steve Rhea