Patents Assigned to Chicago Faucet Company
  • Patent number: 6770869
    Abstract: A method for calibrating automatic infrared sensing devices having control modules, an IR detector, and an IR emitter by using a select infrared emitter/detector pair to calibrate a plurality of control modules wherein an appropriate infrared emitter input value to the select infrared emitter is obtained to provide a given output from the select infrared detector in response to infrared radiation reflected from a known test object, and the appropriate infrared emitter input value is then determined and stored permanently in one or more control modules as a calibration standard.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2004
    Assignee: The Chicago Faucet Company
    Inventors: Wade C. Patterson, Thomas J. Watson
  • Patent number: 6768103
    Abstract: A method for dynamically calibrating automatic infrared sensing devices in commercial use having an IR detector. Randomly reflected emitted IR radiation is detected by the IR detector which sends as IR detector output to a control module. The control module measures whether the detector output is too high or too low compared to a standard range of output values stored in the control module. An IR emitter value is then determined to maintain IR detector output within the standard range of values. This IR emitter input value is stored in the control module as a calibration standard until the calibration cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2004
    Assignee: The Chicago Faucet Company
    Inventor: Thomas J. Watson
  • Patent number: 6732997
    Abstract: An improved control valve for a pressurized water closet, having a housing, a spool rotatable within the housing, a valve stem threading engaging the spool but fixed from rotating relative to the housing and a needle valve extending from the valve stem and into the housing orifice, creating a self cleaning valve adjustable by rotating the spool, which adjusts the depth of the needle valve in the orifice, and thus adjusting the effective opening of the orifice.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2004
    Assignee: The Chicago Faucet Company
    Inventors: Thomas P. Beh, Raymond Bruce Martin
  • Patent number: 5316039
    Abstract: A cartridge-type faucet valve is provided which includes a housing with an inlet, an outlet and an insert assembly (or cartridge) seat interposed between the inlet and outlet and for cooperating with a portion of an insert assembly or cartridge to provide a seal between the inlet and outlet. The insert assembly or cartridge includes a stationary elongated sleeve and a stem mounted within the sleeve which is longitudinally movable over a range of travel between a closed position and a fully open position. One section of the stem co-acts with the sleeve to control the longitudinal position of the stem. Another section of the stem cooperates with an internal surface portion of the sleeve to provide a longitudinally extending flow passage for communicating from the inlet to the outlet. A seal piece is mounted on the stem and is adapted for engagement with a stationary seating surface adjacent one end of the sleeve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 31, 1994
    Assignee: The Chicago Faucet Company
    Inventors: William D. Haag, A. Richard Emmerson, Daniel J. Laube
  • Patent number: 5295654
    Abstract: A metering valve for controlling fluid flow is provided which includes a piston assembly disposed between a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet and mounted for relative movement within a tubular unit between a first open mode, a second open mode connecting the fluid inlet and outlet and a close mode. The assembly is biased to assume the close mode and assumes the first open mode when a predetermined first external form is applied to a valve actuating element forming a component of the metering valve. The assembly assumes the second open mode when the first external force is enhanced by a predetermined second external force applied to the valve actuating element. When the external forces are released, the piston assembly automatically returns to the close mode upon successively moving through first and second segments of travel relative to the tubular unit. The rate of travel during the first segment is substantially less than the rate of travel during the second segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 22, 1994
    Assignee: The Chicago Faucet Company
    Inventor: Daniel J. Laube
  • Patent number: 4991819
    Abstract: A metering valve is provided having a piston assembly mounted for movement between open and close modes. The piston assembly is biased to assume a close mode. The piston assembly assumes an open mode only when a predetermined external force is applied to a valve actuating element forming a component of the metering valve. When the external force is removed, the piston assembly automatically returns to the close mode. The rate of movement of the piston assembly during a first segment of travel from the open mode to the close mode is substantially slower than the rate of movement during a second segment of the travel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 1990
    Date of Patent: February 12, 1991
    Assignee: Chicago Faucet Company
    Inventor: Daniel J. Laube
  • Patent number: 4899778
    Abstract: A metering valve is provided having a piston assembly mounted for movement between open and close modes. The piston assembly is biased to assume a close mode. The piston assembly assumes an open mode only when a predetermined external force is applied to a valve actuating element forming a component of the metering valve. When the external force is removed, the piston assembly automatically returns to the close mode. The rate of movement of the piston assembly during a first segment of travel from the open mode to the close mode is substantially slower than the rate of movement during a second segment of the travel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 1989
    Date of Patent: February 13, 1990
    Assignee: Chicago Faucet Company
    Inventor: Daniel J. Laube
  • Patent number: 4156519
    Abstract: A valve assembly is provided for use in controlling the maximum flow of a pressurized fluid through a hollow body. The hollow body includes a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet separated from one another by a partition having an aperture formed therein. The valve assembly includes a sleeve member which is disposed within the hollow body so that one end of the sleeve member is disposed adjacent to and in substantial alignment with the partition aperture. The sleeve member is provided with a discharge port which is spaced from the one end and is in communication with the fluid outlet. Sealingly engaging the portion of the partition defining the aperture is an adjustable seating piece. An elongated valve stem is mounted within the sleeve member for axial movement between open and closed positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 1977
    Date of Patent: May 29, 1979
    Assignee: Chicago Faucet Company
    Inventors: Erich E. Janz, John S. Cook
  • Patent number: D446843
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2001
    Assignee: The Chicago Faucet Company
    Inventor: Anthony Martinez
  • Patent number: D342777
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 1992
    Date of Patent: December 28, 1993
    Assignee: Chicago Faucet Company
    Inventor: Stanley M. Paul
  • Patent number: D347268
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 24, 1994
    Assignee: Chicago Faucet Company
    Inventor: Stanley M. Paul
  • Patent number: D380036
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 17, 1997
    Assignee: The Chicago Faucet Company
    Inventors: Kevin Short, Scott C. Baker, John C. Watson
  • Patent number: D387131
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 2, 1997
    Assignee: The Chicago Faucet Company
    Inventors: Kevin Short, Scott C. Baker, John C. Watson
  • Patent number: D397423
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 25, 1998
    Assignee: The Chicago Faucet Company
    Inventors: Kevin Short, Scott C. Baker, John C. Watson
  • Patent number: D755940
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: The Chicago Faucet Company
    Inventor: Michael Schulze