Patents Assigned to Fluidmaster, Inc.
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Patent number: 11939206Abstract: Some embodiments include a fluid control system with an outlet valve assembly, an inlet valve assembly including a venturi inlet valve, and an actuator coupled to the inlet valve assembly. In some embodiments, the actuator can enable a user to control a flush volume of fluid control system. Some embodiments include a moveable float positioned in a chamber of the outlet valve assembly, where the chamber includes a variably-sized upper portion with a volume that is based at least in part on a variable position of the moveable float in the chamber. Some embodiments include a adjustable control valves coupled to an outer surface of the outlet valve assembly and the inlet valve assembly. Some embodiments also include a bellows positioned in and coupled to the variably-sized upper portion. In some embodiments, the bellows are fluidly coupled to the venturi inlet valve and at least one of the control valves.Type: GrantFiled: January 22, 2021Date of Patent: March 26, 2024Assignee: FLUIDMASTER, INC.Inventors: Tuan Le, Adam Sampson
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Patent number: 11746922Abstract: Some embodiments include an assembly with an inlet housing enclosing an outlet housing that includes an inlet. The outlet housing includes an outlet port and a channel or aperture coupled to an outlet and apertures coupled to atmosphere. A moveable or flexible member is positioned in the inlet housing coupled to the outlet housing, and can deform, flex and/or move based on a flow and/or pressure of fluid from the inlet. Based on the flow and/or pressure of fluid from the inlet, the moveable or flexible member can reversibly move from a first position to a second position and/or from a second position to a first position. The first position is characterized by the moveable or flexible member being coupled to, proximate to, sealed to the aperture, and the second position is characterized by the moveable or flexible member being moved away from the aperture.Type: GrantFiled: April 30, 2021Date of Patent: September 5, 2023Assignee: FLUIDMASTER, INC.Inventors: Tuan Le, Joseph Han
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Patent number: 11713817Abstract: Some embodiments include a valve assembly with a metering seal including a main channel including regions with a first diameter and regions with a second diameter, where the first diameter is smaller than the second diameter. Some embodiments include a stem positioned in the metering seal extending from at least a first end of the metering seal to a second end of the metering seal. In some embodiments, the stem has a fluted section positioned between two non-fluted sections, where the diameter of stem in the fluted section is smaller than the diameter of the stem in the non-fluted sections. Some embodiments include a first and second flow channel extending across at least a partial width of the metering seal, where the first flow channel is positioned at the first end of the metering seal, and the second flow channel is positioned at the second end of the metering seal.Type: GrantFiled: June 7, 2021Date of Patent: August 1, 2023Assignee: FLUIDMASTER, INC.Inventors: Tuan Le, Joseph Han
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Patent number: 11643798Abstract: The system includes a fluid valve with a modular and/or replaceable fluid control assembly that requires maintenance over a product life of the fluid valve. The modular and/or replaceable fluid control assembly includes at least one portion including a setting or presetting configured and arranged to control fluid flow behavior in the fluid valve. The setting or presetting is useable to control fluid flow in the modular and/or replaceable fluid control assembly after an upgrade or replacement of at least a portion of the modular and/or replaceable fluid control assembly. Further, the setting or presetting enables the modular and/or replaceable fluid control assembly to retain the fluid flow behavior following one or more upgrades or replacements of one or more portions of the modular and/or replaceable fluid control assembly.Type: GrantFiled: May 27, 2021Date of Patent: May 9, 2023Assignee: FLUIDMASTER, INC.Inventors: Tuan Van Le, Joseph Unkyung Han, Salvador Pena
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Patent number: 11613881Abstract: This disclosure describes a kit comprising component for removing, replacing, and/or sealing toilet parts. In some embodiments, the kit comprises a flush valve assembly, fill valve assembly, a handle assembly, two tools, two gaskets, and packaging that also serves as one or more water containers. In some embodiments, the two gaskets are two conventional gaskets that can be combined to make a third gasket. In some embodiments, the combination of the two gaskets allows the creation of a synergistic gasket for sealing a tank-to-bowl interface than neither gasket could seal individually.Type: GrantFiled: February 18, 2020Date of Patent: March 28, 2023Assignee: FLUIDMASTER, INC.Inventors: Jack Nguyen, Justin Storm, Michael Lagasse, Corinne AndersonSchoepe, William Martin, Mike Robbins, David McFarland, Christopher Podolak
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Patent number: 11434631Abstract: A fill valve system with a float nested in a container connected to the fill valve and a siphon device passing water out of the container into the toilet tank, with the siphon device having an air vent dimensioned such that: (i) tank refilling is delayed until after the flush valve closes; (ii) the fill valve is not turned on by small leaks in the tank; and (iii) the fill valve turns off when it encounters large leaks in the tank.Type: GrantFiled: September 14, 2020Date of Patent: September 6, 2022Assignee: FLUIDMASTER, INC.Inventor: Tuan Le
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Patent number: 11391391Abstract: Some embodiments include a fluid valve assembly with an outlet base dimensioned to be positioned through a drain in a fluid tank, and a float assembly including a moveable float. The moveable float can form a fluid-tight seal at a first end when the moveable float is coupled to the outlet base, and a flow opening when the moveable float is at least partially decoupled from the outlet base. Some embodiments include a housing positioned with the moveable float, where the housing encloses a suction device coupled to a moveable piston. Some embodiments include an actuable diaphragm positioned in the outlet base, and a compressed air tube or passageway coupled to one side the actuable diaphragm. In some embodiments, the actuable diaphragm is configured and arranged to be actuated by compressed air to move the moveable piston.Type: GrantFiled: September 4, 2020Date of Patent: July 19, 2022Assignee: FLUIDMASTER, INC.Inventors: Tuan Le, Joseph Han
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Publication number: 20220170251Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: February 9, 2022Publication date: June 2, 2022Applicants: Fluidmaster, Inc., AS America, Inc.Inventors: Ken Nguyen, Robert Jensen, James Johnson
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Patent number: 11142898Abstract: A fluid valve with a modular and/or replaceable fluid control assembly is disclosed, and is configured and arranged to require maintenance over a product life of the fluid valve. The modular and/or replaceable fluid control assembly includes at least one portion including a setting or presetting configured and arranged to control fluid flow behavior in the fluid valve. The setting or presetting is useable to control fluid flow in the modular and/or replaceable fluid control assembly after an upgrade or replacement of at least a portion of the modular and/or replaceable fluid control assembly. Further, the setting or presetting enables the modular and/or replaceable fluid control assembly to retain the fluid flow behavior following one or more upgrades or replacements of one or more portions of the modular and/or replaceable fluid control assembly.Type: GrantFiled: April 18, 2019Date of Patent: October 12, 2021Assignee: FLUIDMASTER, INC.Inventors: Tuan Van Le, Joseph Unkyung Han, Salvador Pena
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Patent number: 11125353Abstract: Some embodiments include an assembly with an inlet housing enclosing an outlet housing that includes an inlet. The outlet housing includes an outlet port and a channel or aperture coupled to an outlet and apertures coupled to atmosphere. A moveable or flexible member is positioned in the inlet housing coupled to the outlet housing, and can deform, flex and/or move based on a flow and/or pressure of fluid from the inlet. Based on the flow and/or pressure of fluid from the inlet, the moveable or flexible member can reversibly move from a first position to a second position and/or from a second position to a first position. The first position is characterized by the moveable or flexible member being coupled to, proximate to, sealed to the aperture, and the second position is characterized by the moveable or flexible member being moved away from the aperture.Type: GrantFiled: October 3, 2018Date of Patent: September 21, 2021Assignee: FLUIDMASTER, INC.Inventors: Tuan Le, Joseph Han
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Patent number: 10899598Abstract: Some embodiments include a fluid control system with an outlet valve assembly, an inlet valve assembly including a venturi inlet valve, and an actuator coupled to the inlet valve assembly. In some embodiments, the actuator can enable a user to control a flush volume of fluid control system. Some embodiments include a moveable float positioned in a chamber of the outlet valve assembly, where the chamber includes a variably-sized upper portion with a volume that is based at least in part on a variable position of the moveable float in the chamber. Some embodiments include a adjustable control valves coupled to an outer surface of the outlet valve assembly and the inlet valve assembly. Some embodiments also include a bellows positioned in and coupled to the variably-sized upper portion. In some embodiments, the bellows are fluidly coupled to the venturi inlet valve and at least one of the control valves.Type: GrantFiled: August 7, 2018Date of Patent: January 26, 2021Assignee: FLUIDMASTER, INC.Inventors: Tuan Le, Adam Sampson
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Patent number: 10774512Abstract: A fill valve system with a float nested in a container connected to the fill valve and a siphon device passing water out of the container into the toilet tank, with the siphon device having an air vent dimensioned such that: (i) tank refilling is delayed until after the flush valve closes; (ii) the fill valve is not turned on by small leaks in the tank; and (iii) the fill valve turns off when it encounters large leaks in the tank.Type: GrantFiled: March 14, 2016Date of Patent: September 15, 2020Assignee: FLUIDMASTER, INC.Inventor: Tuan Le
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Patent number: 10767766Abstract: Some embodiments include a fluid valve assembly with an outlet base dimensioned to be positioned through a drain in a fluid tank, and a float assembly including a moveable float. The moveable float can form a fluid-tight seal at a first end when the moveable float is coupled to the outlet base, and a flow opening when the moveable float is at least partially decoupled from the outlet base. Some embodiments include a housing positioned with the moveable float, where the housing encloses a suction device coupled to a moveable piston. Some embodiments include an actuable diaphragm positioned in the outlet base, and a compressed air tube or passageway coupled to one side the actuable diaphragm. In some embodiments, the actuable diaphragm is configured and arranged to be actuated by compressed air to move the moveable piston.Type: GrantFiled: October 3, 2018Date of Patent: September 8, 2020Assignee: FLUIDMASTER, INC.Inventors: Tuan Le, Joseph Han
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Patent number: 10704244Abstract: A fill valve with pressure chamber having an open bottom end and a diaphragm at a top end such that falling water level in the toilet tank causes the diaphragm to flex in a first direction, thereby moving a sealing member to an open position, with a venturi in the fill valve keeping the sealing member in the open position until water refilling the tank causes the diaphragm to flex in a second direction, thereby moving the sealing member back to the closed position.Type: GrantFiled: March 14, 2016Date of Patent: July 7, 2020Assignee: FLUIDMASTER, INC.Inventor: Tuan Le
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Patent number: 10676905Abstract: A flow diverter for diverting flow between a toilet bowl and a toilet tank, having: a body having an inlet, a first outlet and a second outlet; and a flow adjustment mechanism rotatable within the body to selectively divert different percentages of flow between the first outlet and the second outlet; and an air vent and diaphragm in the body to prevent a siphon flow from the first or second outlet back to the inlet.Type: GrantFiled: November 6, 2018Date of Patent: June 9, 2020Assignee: FLUIDMASTER, INC.Inventor: Tuan Le
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Patent number: 10577786Abstract: Some embodiments include a fluid control assembly with a flapper canister, a linkage rotatably coupled to the flapper canister and to a support of a mount. In some embodiments, the flapper canister can be angled with respect to the mount to enable the flapper canister to be coupled to various sizes, types and orientations of flush valves. In some embodiments, by rotating the linkage about pivots coupled to the flapper canister and the support and pivoting or rotating about a motion-enabling element coupling the mount and a support, the flapper canister can be raised, lowered, and/or rotated or pivoted enabling the flapper canister to be sealed against a flush valve orifice. In some embodiments, the flapper canister includes a buoyancy control tube providing fluid coupling between one side of the flapper canister to an opposite side and enabling buoyancy-assist to the position or motion of the flapper canister.Type: GrantFiled: February 6, 2018Date of Patent: March 3, 2020Assignee: FLUIDMASTER, INC.Inventor: Tuan Le
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Patent number: 10557560Abstract: Some embodiments include a flow regulator with a main body dimensioned to be received within a flow passageway that includes an inlet and an outer surface, and an inner volume positioned within the main body and extending from the inlet along at least a partial length of the main body. Some embodiments includes two separate spiral structures positioned spiraled around the main body where one spiral extends further from the outer surface than the other. Some embodiments include a fluid flow space extending between the spirals. Based on a fluid pressure, the spirals can expand and contract to control the fluid flow space and affect downstream, fluid flow rate as a function of upstream fluid pressure.Type: GrantFiled: February 23, 2018Date of Patent: February 11, 2020Assignee: FLUIDMASTER, INC.Inventors: Varadaraju Gandikota, Venkat Mallela, Andres Quiroga, Adam Sampson
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Patent number: 10415221Abstract: A toilet flush lever assembly having an adjustable length internal lever arm with a variable angle of connection to a short arm that passes through the wall of the toilet tank such that the angle of mounting of the adjustable length internal lever arm to an external flush lever arm is adjustable.Type: GrantFiled: May 27, 2016Date of Patent: September 17, 2019Assignee: FLUIDMASTER, INC.Inventors: Venkat Mallela, Shijin Komath, Jithin Karukasseril Vijayan, Manivannan Venkatachalam
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Patent number: D1014235Type: GrantFiled: March 31, 2022Date of Patent: February 13, 2024Assignee: FLUIDMASTER, INC.Inventors: James Toshima, Po Han Chiang, Tuan Le, Krishna Arkalgud
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Patent number: D1015864Type: GrantFiled: March 31, 2022Date of Patent: February 27, 2024Assignee: FLUIDMASTER, INC.Inventors: Jack Nguyen, Addel Ai, Michael Lee, Daniel McAuley