Patents Assigned to Fluidmaster, Inc.
  • Publication number: 20220170251
    Abstract: A modular poppet assembly system for a toilet tank flush valve assembly, the modular system comprising a first float portion; and two or more second float portions; wherein, the first float portion is configured to removably attach to each of the two or more second float portions to form two or more poppet assemblies, each of the two or more poppet assemblies comprise a different buoyancy, each of the two or more poppet assemblies allow the toilet tank to fill to substantially a same water volume, and as the poppet assembly buoyancy increases, an increase in flush volume is provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2022
    Publication date: June 2, 2022
    Applicants: Fluidmaster, Inc., AS America, Inc.
    Inventors: Ken Nguyen, Robert Jensen, James Johnson
  • Patent number: 9428897
    Abstract: A toilet sensor and actuator assembly, having: (a) an infrared sensor configured to detect the presence of an object at a far distance from a toilet; (b) an ultrasonic sensor configured to detect the presence of the object at a near distance from the toilet, wherein the ultrasonic sensor remains in a sleep mode until awakened by a signal from the infrared sensor that the infrared sensor has detected the presence of the object at the far distance; and (c) an actuator mechanism that flushes the toilet in response to a signal from the ultrasonic sensor that the ultrasonic sensor has detected the presence of the object at the near distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: Fluidmaster, Inc.
    Inventors: Tuan Le, Adam Sampson, Derres Catalano, Stewart Walton, Scott Valoff, Robb Milley
  • Patent number: 9359752
    Abstract: A toilet flush valve that has a moveable buoyant float therein, wherein the float has an open bottom end to trap air therein and wherein the housing includes controls to selectively release air to allow the float to move upwardly therein to permit flushing. By timing when one or two air vents on the housing are open, the duration and volume of the flush can be controlled, with the buoyancy provided by the water lifting the float to open the flush valve. This provides a flushing system with minimal activation energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: Fluidmaster, Inc.
    Inventors: Tuan Le, Steve Cook, Adam Sampson
  • Patent number: 9348344
    Abstract: A flow valve that maintains a constant flow valve despite varying pressures at its inlet, comprising: (a) an elongated cage with alternating axially-extending pockets and ridges on its inner surface; and (b) an elongated generally conical shaped elastomeric sleeve received within the elongated cage; wherein the sleeve flexes outwardly at higher pressures, thereby decreasing the size of the flow channel between the sleeve and cage, thereby restricting flow to maintain constant flow valve despite varying inlet pressures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: Fluidmaster, Inc.
    Inventors: Tuan Le, Jaime Berndt, Adam Sampson
  • Patent number: 9303800
    Abstract: A torque limiting fluid connector system which can be hand screwed to a maximum tightening torque and be hand loosened, including: an outer member having a front opening, a back opening, and a plurality of outwardly flexible portions separated by axially extending slots; an inner member having a front opening, a back opening, an interior threaded surface and a plurality of outwardly extending projections dimensioned to be received within the axially extending slots when the inner member is received within the outer member; a connector having one end received within the inner member and an opposite end extending out of the back end of the inner member; and a washer mounted onto the end of the connector that is received within the inner member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: Fluidmaster, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Collin, Dale Carruthers, Patrick McGrath
  • Patent number: 9181688
    Abstract: A toilet valve float adjustment assembly, including: a dual flush valve; a pair of floats disposed within the dual flush valve, wherein the vertical position of one of the floats determines the flush volume for a full flush and the vertical position of the other float determines the flush volume for a partial flush; a pair of adjustment mechanisms, wherein each adjustment mechanism adjusts the vertical height of one of the floats; and a pair of locking mechanisms, wherein each locking mechanism inhibits movement of one of the adjustment mechanisms, thereby keeping its float at a preferred vertical height when locked, and wherein the adjustment and locking mechanisms are controlled at the top of the dual flush valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Assignee: Fluidmaster, Inc.
    Inventors: Matt Vargas, Zaafir Kherani, Tom Stout
  • Publication number: 20150026875
    Abstract: A dual flush toilet assembly including a locking mechanism that prevents over travel of a piston, thereby preventing inadvertent full flushing when only a partial flush has been selected, yet permits full flushing when so desired. Specifically, a rotatable locking mechanism that prevents the piston from moving fully upwards into the second latched position when a partial flush is desired, yet rotates to an unlocked position to permit the piston to move fully upwards into the second latched position when full flushing is desired.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2014
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Applicant: Fluidmaster, Inc.
    Inventor: Matt VARGAS
  • Patent number: 8881320
    Abstract: A dual flush toilet assembly including a locking mechanism that prevents over travel of a piston, thereby preventing inadvertent full flushing when only a partial flush has been selected, yet permits full flushing when so desired. Specifically, a rotatable locking mechanism that prevents the piston from moving fully upwards into the second latched position when a partial flush is desired, yet rotates to an unlocked position to permit the piston to move fully upwards into the second latched position when full flushing is desired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Fluidmaster, Inc.
    Inventor: Matt Vargas
  • Publication number: 20140109996
    Abstract: A flow valve that maintains a constant flow valve despite varying pressures at its inlet, comprising: (a) an elongated cage with alternating axially-extending pockets and ridges on its inner surface; and (b) an elongated generally conical shaped elastomeric sleeve received within the elongated cage; wherein the sleeve flexes outwardly at higher pressures, thereby decreasing the size of the flow channel between the sleeve and cage, thereby restricting flow to maintain constant flow valve despite varying inlet pressures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2012
    Publication date: April 24, 2014
    Applicant: Fluidmaster, Inc.
    Inventors: Tuan LE, Jaime Berndt, Adam Sampson
  • Patent number: 8701220
    Abstract: A jet powered toilet flushing system, including: a toilet bowl; a reservoir; a fluid conduit between the reservoir and the toilet bowl; a jet inside the reservoir, the jet having a nozzle directed toward an entrance of the fluid conduit; a fill valve that supplies water to the jet; and a flow diverter in the reservoir, the flow diverter positioned to divert water flow: (a) from the jet nozzle into the entrance of the fluid conduit when the reservoir is full, or (b) from the jet nozzle away from the entrance of the fluid conduit and into the reservoir when the reservoir is empty.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Fluidmaster, Inc.
    Inventors: Matt Vargas, Tom Stout, Anurupa Rao
  • Patent number: 8615822
    Abstract: An air activated toilet flush system, including: a toilet bowl; a reservoir; a fluid conduit between the reservoir and the toilet bowl; a system for supplying water into the reservoir; and a system for supplying air into the reservoir, wherein a supply of air into the reservoir causes fluid to flow from the reservoir through the fluid conduit and into the toilet bowl.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Fluidmaster, Inc.
    Inventors: Matt Vargas, Brian Lamb, Tom Stout, Eric Bennett, Tuan Le
  • Publication number: 20130099480
    Abstract: A fluid connector, having: (a) a flexible tube; (b) an outwardly expandable barbed fitting receivable into a distal end of the flexible tube, wherein the outwardly expandable barbed fitting can be deformed outwardly against an inner surface of the flexible tube; (c) a collar received around the flexible tube; and (d) a hose end connector receivable onto the collar.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2012
    Publication date: April 25, 2013
    Applicant: Fluidmaster, Inc.
    Inventor: FLUIDMASTER, INC.
  • Publication number: 20120261003
    Abstract: A toilet valve adapter, including: a hollow body having a lower end dimensioned to be received into an outlet and an upper end dimensioned to support a flush valve thereon; a flange extending radially outwards from the hollow circular body; a gasket on the underside of the flange; and prongs projecting radially outwards from the lower end of the hollow circular body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2012
    Publication date: October 18, 2012
    Applicant: Fluidmaster, Inc.
    Inventors: Tom Stout, Tuan Le
  • Publication number: 20120260412
    Abstract: A toilet valve float adjustment assembly, including: a dual flush valve; a pair of floats disposed within the dual flush valve, wherein the vertical position of one of the floats determines the flush volume for a full flush and the vertical position of the other float determines the flush volume for a partial flush; a pair of adjustment mechanisms, wherein each adjustment mechanism adjusts the vertical height of one of the floats; and a pair of locking mechanisms, wherein each locking mechanism inhibits movement of one of the adjustment mechanisms, thereby keeping its float at a preferred vertical height when locked, and wherein the adjustment and locking mechanisms are controlled at the top of the dual flush valve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2012
    Publication date: October 18, 2012
    Applicant: Fluidmaster, Inc.
    Inventors: Matt Vargas, Zaafir Kherani, Tom Stout
  • Publication number: 20120216872
    Abstract: A flush valve is provided for discharging fluid from a tank. The flush valve includes a flapper. The flapper includes a frame portion and a hollow float portion rotatably connected to the frame portion. A relative rotational position between the frame portion and the float portion adjusts at least one opening formed between the frame portion and the float portion, and controls an amount of fluid discharged from the tank by variably adjusting buoyancy of the flapper.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2012
    Publication date: August 30, 2012
    Applicant: Fluidmaster Inc.
    Inventor: JOSEPH HAN
  • Patent number: 8250681
    Abstract: A flush valve is provided for discharging fluid from a tank. The flush valve includes a flapper. The flapper includes a frame portion and a hollow float portion rotatably connected to the frame portion. A relative rotational position between the frame portion and the float portion adjusts at least one opening formed between the frame portion and the float portion, and controls an amount of fluid discharged from the tank by variably adjusting buoyancy of the flapper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: Fluidmaster, Inc.
    Inventor: Joseph Han
  • Patent number: D669558
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Fluidmaster, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Collin, Dale Carruthers, Patrick McGrath
  • Patent number: D678982
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: Fluidmaster Inc.
    Inventors: Adam Sampson, Tuan Le, Tom Stout, John Whaley, David Peschel, Zaafir Kherani, Matt Vargas
  • Patent number: D707334
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: Fluidmaster, Inc.
    Inventors: Francisco Hernandez, Jeremy Wilkens, Andrew Au, Chevy Ho, Venkat Mallela
  • Patent number: D716419
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: Fluidmaster, Inc.
    Inventors: Francisco Hernandez, Jeremy Wilkens, Andrew Au, Chevy Ho