Patents Represented by Attorney Ann M. Knab
  • Patent number: 5369868
    Abstract: A molded article having an embedded bracket, such as a whirlpool tub, the mold and a method of molding the article. The article includes a rigid shell having a non-finish side and a finish side. The non-finish side is coated with a polymeric material. The polymeric material encloses a bracket and distributes the weight of an attached object, such as a whirlpool motor, over adjacent polymeric material. The bracket is affixed to the rigid shell in a spaced relationship and includes a surface for attaching to an object by attachment means such as a blind bolt. The bracket may also be affixed to the rigid shell by supports which are welded to the rigid shell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 1993
    Date of Patent: December 6, 1994
    Assignee: American Standard Inc.
    Inventor: Karl G. Ohaus
  • Patent number: 5341527
    Abstract: A molded article and the mold for making molded articles are disclosed. The molded article is a sanitary fixture, such as a whirlpool bathtub. The molded article comprises a rigid shell having a finish side and a non-finish side. A rigid material is coated on the rigid shell and integrally forms a leveling base on the bottom side of the rigid shell. Mounting pockets for attaching an apron and mounting areas for attaching a whirlpool motor may also be integrally formed in the rigid material coated on the rigid shell. The mold for manufacturing includes a plurality of cavities for forming leveling runners on the bottom side of the molded article. Additional cavities may be included in the mold for forming mounting areas and mounting pockets on the molded article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 30, 1994
    Assignee: American Standard Inc.
    Inventors: A. Robert Schmidt, Drew J. Yuhas, Ronald D. Barndt
  • Patent number: 5333791
    Abstract: An improved nozzle for emission of a mixture of water and air for hydromassage capable of being fixed to the wall of a tub which comprises an inner housing with the possibility of rotation lodged within an outer housing fixed to an opening in the tub. On the housing is fixed an inner duct facing the tub, the inner housing being united to a tubular member that communicates with a first chamber and having its own anterior mouth arranged inside of the inner duct. To the mouth is applied a one-way valve capable of closing the passage through the mouth when the pressure in the space anterior to the mouth is greater than the pressure in the posterior space. In the inner duct is placed a tubular obturator having an axial cavity within which is placed the anterior mouth of the tubular member, and having an intermediate section capable, after contact with the outer surface of the intermediate portion, of closing off communication between the second chamber and the anterior mouth of the inner duct.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 2, 1994
    Assignee: American Standard Inc.
    Inventor: Leoni Carlo
  • Patent number: 5333325
    Abstract: A bathtub apron system for use with either one of two differently shaped bathtubs. The bathtub apron system includes an apron having an essentially planar central section with first and second ends, and inwardly rounded sections extending respectively from the first and second ends of the central section. Outwardly rounded sections extend from the ends of the inwardly rounded sections to form the opposing outer edges of the apron. The outwardly rounded sections are removable at a predetermined position from the inwardly rounded sections to form a second shaped apron sized to fit a second shaped bathtub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 2, 1994
    Assignee: American Standard Inc.
    Inventors: Robin H. Levien, Adam R. Schmidt
  • Patent number: 5303737
    Abstract: A sanitary fitting comprises a fitting body that can be fixed in place and is provided with an inlet, an outflow channel and an outlet channel. A sleeve with a discharge arm provided with a discharge spout is disposed on the fitting body and connected with the outlet in order to ensure flow therethrough. A valve unit is mounted on the body. Packing rings are disposed adjacent the outlet. In order to technically simplify the use of such a fitting, a flow stabilizer is arranged on the water outlet side of the valve unit in the flow channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 19, 1994
    Assignee: American Standard Inc.
    Inventor: Wilhelm Koch
  • Patent number: 5301715
    Abstract: In a sanitary fitting with a cylindrical fitting body that can be mounted in a fixed position and has inlet and outlet channels and an outflow channel, with a cylindrical fitting sleeve that has a pivot arm with an outlet mouthpiece connected at the side and is pushed onto the body of the fitting, with a valve unit mounted on the body of the fitting and with a cap that covers the valve unit and is connected to the fitting sleeve, whereby sealing rings are provided between the fitting body and the fitting sleeve in the area of the outflow channel and in addition a lower bearing ring and an upper bearing ring are also provided, and whereby the bearing rings are preferably made of a plastic, especially a low-friction, low-wear plastic, and the lower bearing ring has an L-shaped cross section with a cylindrical section that forms a radial bearing and a projecting flange-like section that forms an axial bearing, and the upper bearing ring also has a cylindrical section that forms a radial bearing, the design of th
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 1992
    Date of Patent: April 12, 1994
    Assignee: American Standard Inc.
    Inventor: Albert Becker
  • Patent number: D346648
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 1991
    Date of Patent: May 3, 1994
    Assignee: American Standard Inc.
    Inventor: Robin H. Levien
  • Patent number: D346725
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 10, 1994
    Assignee: American Standard Inc.
    Inventor: Paul P. Kolada
  • Patent number: D348308
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 1991
    Date of Patent: June 28, 1994
    Assignee: American Standard Inc.
    Inventors: Karl G. Ohaus, Jeannette M. Long, David A. Boncher, Gordon E. Eitel
  • Patent number: D350818
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 20, 1994
    Assignee: American Standard Inc.
    Inventor: Robin H. Levien
  • Patent number: D351221
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 4, 1994
    Assignee: American Standard Inc.
    Inventors: David R. Berge, Jeff P. Walz
  • Patent number: D355023
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 31, 1995
    Assignee: American Standard Inc.
    Inventor: Paul P. Kolada
  • Patent number: D355480
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1992
    Date of Patent: February 14, 1995
    Assignee: American Standard Inc.
    Inventors: Peter E. Leonard, Andrew Barrass, Carolyn L. Wode, Melvin T. Forman
  • Patent number: D355713
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 1993
    Date of Patent: February 21, 1995
    Assignee: American Standard Inc.
    Inventor: Gordon D. Kelly
  • Patent number: D355949
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 1993
    Date of Patent: February 28, 1995
    Assignee: American Standard Inc.
    Inventor: John Laughton
  • Patent number: D356631
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 21, 1995
    Assignee: American Standard Inc.
    Inventor: Paul P. Kolada
  • Patent number: D357305
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 11, 1995
    Assignee: American Standard Inc.
    Inventor: Wolfgang Fabian
  • Patent number: D357308
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 11, 1995
    Assignee: American Standard Inc.
    Inventor: Jack N. Kaiser
  • Patent number: D357525
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 18, 1995
    Assignee: American Standard Inc.
    Inventor: Wolfgang Fabian
  • Patent number: D358733
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 30, 1995
    Assignee: American Standard Inc.
    Inventor: Stanley M. Paul