Patents by Inventor William John Rankin

William John Rankin 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).

  • Estimating the consumption of a fluid by sensing displacement of a coupling device
    Patent number: 7954374
    Abstract: An assembly for estimating consumption of a fluid includes a coupling device enabling fluid flow, a carrier assembly slidingly coupled to the coupling device, a biasing mechanism positioned between the coupling device and the carrier assembly, and a displacement sensing mechanism including a sensor coupled to one of the coupling device and the carrier assembly, and a magnet coupled to the other of the coupling device and the carrier assembly. The displacement sensing mechanism is configured to sense a displacement of the magnet relative to the sensor due to coupling of a fluid source to the coupling device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignee: Colder Products Company
    Inventor: William John Rankin
  • Connection state sensing for coupling device
    Patent number: 7841357
    Abstract: A coupling device includes a main body defining a fluid flow passage, and a valve member moveable between an unconnected state and a connected state. The coupling device also includes a magnet coupled to the valve member, and a sensor coupled to the main body, the sensor being configured to sense a change in a magnetic flux of the magnet as the valve member moves between the unconnected state and the connected state to determine a connection state of the coupling device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2010
    Assignee: Colder Products Company
    Inventor: William John Rankin
  • Coupling Device
    Publication number: 20100006162
    Abstract: An assembly for estimating consumption of a fluid includes a coupling device enabling fluid flow, a carrier assembly slidingly coupled to the coupling device, a biasing mechanism positioned between the coupling device and the carrier assembly, and a displacement sensing mechanism including a sensor coupled to one of the coupling device and the carrier assembly, and a magnet coupled to the other of the coupling device and the carrier assembly. The displacement sensing mechanism is configured to sense a displacement of the magnet relative to the sensor due to coupling of a fluid source to the coupling device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2009
    Publication date: January 14, 2010
    Applicant: COLDER PRODUCTS COMPANY
    Inventor: William John Rankin
  • Connection State Sensing for Coupling Device
    Publication number: 20070209716
    Abstract: A coupling device includes a main body defining a fluid flow passage, and a valve member moveable between an unconnected state and a connected state. The coupling device also includes a magnet coupled to the valve member, and a sensor coupled to the main body, the sensor being configured to sense a change in a magnetic flux of the magnet as the valve member moves between the unconnected state and the connected state to determine a connection state of the coupling device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2007
    Publication date: September 13, 2007
    Applicant: Colder Products Company
    Inventor: William John Rankin