Patents Assigned to Clack Corporation
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Patent number: 6051144Abstract: A filter cartridge is capable of at least one-way communication with the base of a filtration system so as to confirm that the filter cartridge is properly configured for installation and use in the filtration system. Transmission and receipt of a filter presence confirmation signal can enhance the effectiveness of the filtration system, e.g., by disabling one or more operational characteristics of the system in the absence of a confirmation signal, and/or by automatically resetting one or more counters of a capacity indicator of the system upon receipt of the confirmation signal. The filter cartridge is particularly well-adapted for use in a filtration system having a flow meter which monitors the flow of liquid through the system.Type: GrantFiled: February 26, 1998Date of Patent: April 18, 2000Assignee: Clack CorporationInventors: Robert A. Clack, Melvin R. Hemp, Richard E. Clack, W. Roger McPherson
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Patent number: 5876610Abstract: A liquid flow meter is designed to monitor the flow of a liquid through an enclosed stream such as through the tubes or internal passageways of a device such as a filtration system. The liquid flow meter includes an axial-flow magnetic turbine and a detector such as a reed switch that monitors turbine rotation by counting pulses. The counted pulses are then used to determine the aggregate volume of liquid that has flowed through the flow meter. When the liquid flow meter is used in a domestic potable water filtration system or in a similar application, the counted pulses can also be used in conjunction with a timer to determine liquid flow rate as well as the remaining useful life of a filter cartridge of the filtration system and/or of the remaining volumetric filtration capacity of the filter cartridge. The liquid flow meter exhibits high linearity or consistency of flow measurement over a wide range of liquid flow rates--even at very low pressures and low flow rates.Type: GrantFiled: March 19, 1997Date of Patent: March 2, 1999Assignee: Clack CorporationInventors: Robert A. Clack, Melvin R. Hemp, W. Roger McPherson
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Patent number: 5672232Abstract: A system produces segmented tubular products such as filters from nonwoven fibers and includes a die assembly, a collector assembly including a rotating mandrel, a withdrawer assembly, and a post-treatment assembly. The withdrawer assembly utilizes at least one threaded roller contacting either the inner or outer periphery of a tube formed on the mandrel to withdraw the tube from the mandrel in a controlled manner. The post-treatment assembly smoothes the outer surface of the tube prior to cutting by melting loose fiber strand strands extending therefrom. The properties of the finished product can be varied by altering the operation of the collector assembly and/or the withdrawer assembly.Type: GrantFiled: September 27, 1994Date of Patent: September 30, 1997Assignee: Clack CorporationInventor: Robert A. Clack
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Patent number: 5560393Abstract: A new and improved self-contained, portable, treated drinking water, refrigerator storage jug assembly is provided. The jug assembly includes a storage jug configured to be placed in a refrigerator. A water treating subassembly is mounted to the back of the storage jug and is placed in the refrigerator together with the jug. A fluid connector for connecting the portable jug and water treating subassembly to a kitchen sink for refilling is provided. In a preferred embodiment, the water treating subassembly includes a plurality of water treating modules interconnected to each other. Also in the preferred embodiment, a modular, leak-free flow block connector and a treatment module monitoring device form a part of the overall jug apparatus.Type: GrantFiled: June 6, 1995Date of Patent: October 1, 1996Assignee: Clack CorporationInventor: Robert A. Clack
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Patent number: 5460719Abstract: A flat filter assembly may be installed in relatively narrow spaces which would otherwise be wasted such as the space beside a kitchen cabinet and the basin of a kitchen sink, inside a freezer door or on a countertop. The filter assembly includes a housing, preferably U-shaped, having a plurality of transversely extending ribs, formed in the opposed side walls of the housing, which reinforce the housing and which cause a generally serpentine flow of water through the housing during operation of the filter. Protrusions preferably are formed in the housing in addition to the ribs to strengthen further the housing and to aid in preventing the formation of channels through the granulated filter medium contained within the housing. The filter housing is preferably manufactured via a blow molding process.Type: GrantFiled: October 29, 1993Date of Patent: October 24, 1995Assignee: Clack CorporationInventors: Robert A. Clack, Richard E. Clack, Paul M. Pedersen
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Patent number: 5454944Abstract: A new and improved self-contained, portable, treated drinking water, refrigerator storage jug assembly is provided. The jug assembly includes a storage jug configured to be placed in a refrigerator. A water treating subassembly is mounted to the back of the storage jug and is placed in the refrigerator together with the jug. A fluid connector for connecting the portable jug and water treating subassembly to a kitchen sink for refilling is provided. In a preferred embodiment, the water treating subassembly includes a plurality of water treating modules interconnected to each other. Also in the preferred embodiment, a modular, leak-free flow block connector and a treatment module monitoring device form a part of the overall jug apparatus.Type: GrantFiled: December 9, 1993Date of Patent: October 3, 1995Assignee: Clack CorporationInventor: Robert A. Clack
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Patent number: 5389260Abstract: A filter assembly is provided for a manifolded water filtration system and includes a filter element, a brine seal located at the top of the filter element and engaging a boss depending from the system manifold. The brine seal isolates a rinse water discharge port, communicating with a an outlet of the filter element, from an untreated water inlet port formed in the boss so as to ensure that the water to be treated passes through the filter membrane as opposed to directly out of the rinse water discharge port. This configuration eliminates the need for an exterior feed line, thus simplifying the system and preventing vibration during system start-up. The brine seal also structurally reenforces the filter element, facilitates assembly of the filter, increases the capacity of the assembly, and reduces the chances of failure and leakage.Type: GrantFiled: April 2, 1993Date of Patent: February 14, 1995Assignee: Clack CorporationInventors: Melvin R. Hemp, Daniel A. Klein
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Patent number: 5366576Abstract: A system and method are provided for producing segmented tubular products such as filters from nonwoven fibers. The system includes a die assembly, a collector assembly including a rotating mandrel, a withdrawer assembly, and a post-treatment assembly. The withdrawer assembly utilizes at least one threaded roller contacting either the inner or outer periphery of a tube formed on the mandrel to withdraw the tube from the mandrel in a controlled manner. The post-treatment assembly smoothes the outer surface of the tube prior to cutting by melting loose fiber strand strands extending therefrom. The properties of the finished product can be varied by altering the operation of the collector assembly and/or the withdrawer assembly.Type: GrantFiled: April 14, 1993Date of Patent: November 22, 1994Assignee: Clack CorporationInventor: Robert A. Clack
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Patent number: 5320752Abstract: A drinking water purification system includes a flat filter assembly which may be installed in relatively narrow spaces which would otherwise be wasted such as the space beside a kitchen cabinet and the basin of a kitchen sink, inside a freezer door or on a countertop. The filter assembly includes a housing, preferably U-shaped, having a plurality of transversely extending ribs, formed in the opposed side walls of the housing, which reinforce the housing and which cause a generally serpentine flow of water through the housing during operation of the filter. Protrusions preferably are formed in the housing in addition to the ribs to strengthen further the housing and to aid in preventing the formation of channels through the granulated filter medium contained within the housing. Internal or external quick connect couplers preferably connect the filter assembly to a source of untreated water and to a dispenser.Type: GrantFiled: November 3, 1992Date of Patent: June 14, 1994Assignee: Clack CorporationInventors: Robert A. Clack, Richard E. Clack
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Patent number: 5290442Abstract: A new and improved self-contained, portable, treated drinking water, refrigerator storage jug assembly is provided. The jug assembly includes a storage jug configured to be placed in a refrigerator. A water treating subassembly is mounted to the back of the storage jug and is placed in the refrigerator together with the jug. A fluid connector for connecting the portable jug and water treating subassembly to a kitchen sink for refilling is provided. In a preferred embodiment, the water treating subassembly includes a plurality of water treating modules interconnected to each other. Also in the preferred embodiment, a modular, leak-free flow block connector and a treatment module monitoring device form a part of the overall jug apparatus.Type: GrantFiled: September 24, 1991Date of Patent: March 1, 1994Assignee: Clack CorporationInventor: Robert A. Clack
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Patent number: 5128035Abstract: New and improved filtration purification or water treatment systems for providing improved purified drinking water at a point of use are provided in a substantially leak-free fluid flow control device to which the other filtration purification system elements may be matedly engaged. Other system elements may include various filters or filter modules, as well as, system leads for conveying incoming tap water in, outgoing waste water out to drain and purified water from the filter section to a storage tank until desired for use. The fluid flow control device is preferably a unitary thermoplastic body having a number of discrete fluid flow passages extending therein. In a preferred embodiment, the fluid flow control device includes integrally formed input/output connector features, filter-receiving socket portions and an automatic shut off valve disposed in fluid flow communication with certain ones of the passages.Type: GrantFiled: February 8, 1991Date of Patent: July 7, 1992Assignee: Clack CorporationInventors: Robert A. Clack, Richard E. Clack, Melvin R. Hemp
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Patent number: 5002664Abstract: Provided in a reverse osmosis system (R.O.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 1990Date of Patent: March 26, 1991Assignee: Clack CorporationInventors: Robert A. Clack, Richard E. Clack, Melvin R. Hemp
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Patent number: 4997553Abstract: A new and improved reverse osmosis (R.O.) water filtration purification apparatus is described including a three-way faucet and a low cost blow molded storage tank. The storage tank includes a bladder which defines an outer drive fluid chamber and an inner purified water chamber for expandably receiving and storing purified water from an R.O. filter purification subassembly. The three-way faucet includes an actuator for simultaneously opening a pair of mechanical valves within the faucet. Simultaneously opening the faucet valves causes incoming tap water at line pressure to enter the drive fluid chamber of the tank which dispenses purified R.O. water from the purified water chamber at line pressure from the faucet. In accordance with the arrangement, a buildup of pressure on the storage tank is avoided so that a less expensive blow molded storage tank container may be employed to significantly reduce the overall cost of the apparatus.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 1990Date of Patent: March 5, 1991Assignee: Clack CorporationInventor: Robert A. Clack
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Patent number: 4496906Abstract: A liquid conductivity monitoring device includes an elongated cylindrical housing having parallel-spaced electrodes at one end for insertion into a liquid carrying conduit, and a transparent user-viewable lens at its other end. The electrodes are connected within the housing to a differential amplifier which provides a change in output signal level when the liquid conductivity exceeds a predetermined threshold level. A pair of oppositely-poled LED's of different colors connected between respective unidirectional current sources and the output of the differential amplifier and viewable through the lens indicate acceptable and unacceptable conductivity levels to the user.Type: GrantFiled: October 28, 1981Date of Patent: January 29, 1985Assignee: Clack CorporationInventor: Robert A. Clack
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Patent number: 4235340Abstract: A unitary, one-piece salt grid, not subject to disassembly during shipment or installation in a brine tank, which is nestable into other grids for convenient shipment or storage prior to placement into the brine tank. The unitary salt grid includes a generally planar platform suitable for supporting and elevating granular salt above at least a portion of a concentrate brine in the bottom of the brine tank by spanning the interior area of the brine tank at a spaced position above the bottom of the tank, reinforcing ribs forming an integral part of a lower side of the platform to maintain the shape of the platform under the weight of the salt on an upper surface of the platform, and a plurality of supporting feet also forming an integral part of the platform and adapted to engage the bottom of the brine tank and support the platform at the spaced position above the brine tank bottom. The supporting feet include hollow frusto-conical sections such that the salt grids are nestable into one another.Type: GrantFiled: June 21, 1979Date of Patent: November 25, 1980Assignee: Clack CorporationInventors: Richard E. Clack, Jack E. Wies
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Patent number: D296460Type: GrantFiled: December 23, 1985Date of Patent: June 28, 1988Assignee: Clack CorporationInventor: Richard E. Clack
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Patent number: RE35252Abstract: New and improved filtration purification or water treatment systems for providing improved purified drinking water at a point of use are provided in a substantially leak-free fluid flow control device to which the other filtration purification system elements may be matedly engaged. Other system elements may include various filters or filter modules, as well as.[.,.]. system leads for conveying incoming tap water in, outgoing waste water out to drain and purified water from the filter section to a storage tank until desired for use. The fluid flow control device is preferably a unitary thermoplastic body having a number of discrete fluid flow passages extending therein. In a preferred embodiment, the fluid flow control device includes integrally formed input/output connector features, filter-receiving socket portions and an automatic shut off valve disposed in fluid flow communication with certain ones of the passages.Type: GrantFiled: December 16, 1993Date of Patent: May 28, 1996Assignee: Clack CorporationInventors: Robert A. Clack, Richard E. Clack, Melvin R. Hemp
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Patent number: D386242Type: GrantFiled: August 30, 1996Date of Patent: November 11, 1997Assignee: Clack CorporationInventors: Robert A. Clack, Daniel A. Klein, Leigh A. Fieldstad, Mark Gilbertson