Patents Assigned to Fluidmaster, Inc.
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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: 9428897Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: December 16, 2013Date of Patent: August 30, 2016Assignee: Fluidmaster, Inc.Inventors: Tuan Le, Adam Sampson, Derres Catalano, Stewart Walton, Scott Valoff, Robb Milley
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Patent number: 9359752Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: July 17, 2013Date of Patent: June 7, 2016Assignee: Fluidmaster, Inc.Inventors: Tuan Le, Steve Cook, Adam Sampson
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Patent number: 9348344Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: October 18, 2012Date of Patent: May 24, 2016Assignee: Fluidmaster, Inc.Inventors: Tuan Le, Jaime Berndt, Adam Sampson
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Patent number: 9303800Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: June 13, 2011Date of Patent: April 5, 2016Assignee: Fluidmaster, Inc.Inventors: Robert Collin, Dale Carruthers, Patrick McGrath
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Patent number: 9181688Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: April 16, 2012Date of Patent: November 10, 2015Assignee: Fluidmaster, Inc.Inventors: Matt Vargas, Zaafir Kherani, Tom Stout
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Publication number: 20150026875Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: October 13, 2014Publication date: January 29, 2015Applicant: Fluidmaster, Inc.Inventor: Matt VARGAS
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Patent number: 8881320Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: April 18, 2012Date of Patent: November 11, 2014Assignee: Fluidmaster, Inc.Inventor: Matt Vargas
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Publication number: 20140109996Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: October 18, 2012Publication date: April 24, 2014Applicant: Fluidmaster, Inc.Inventors: Tuan LE, Jaime Berndt, Adam Sampson
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Patent number: 8701220Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: May 25, 2010Date of Patent: April 22, 2014Assignee: Fluidmaster, Inc.Inventors: Matt Vargas, Tom Stout, Anurupa Rao
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Patent number: 8615822Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: January 5, 2010Date of Patent: December 31, 2013Assignee: Fluidmaster, Inc.Inventors: Matt Vargas, Brian Lamb, Tom Stout, Eric Bennett, Tuan Le
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Publication number: 20130099480Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: October 16, 2012Publication date: April 25, 2013Applicant: Fluidmaster, Inc.Inventor: FLUIDMASTER, INC.
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Publication number: 20120261003Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: April 16, 2012Publication date: October 18, 2012Applicant: Fluidmaster, Inc.Inventors: Tom Stout, Tuan Le
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Publication number: 20120260412Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: April 16, 2012Publication date: October 18, 2012Applicant: Fluidmaster, Inc.Inventors: Matt Vargas, Zaafir Kherani, Tom Stout
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Publication number: 20120216872Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: March 27, 2012Publication date: August 30, 2012Applicant: Fluidmaster Inc.Inventor: JOSEPH HAN
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Patent number: 8250681Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: May 1, 2008Date of Patent: August 28, 2012Assignee: Fluidmaster, Inc.Inventor: Joseph Han
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Patent number: D669558Type: GrantFiled: June 13, 2011Date of Patent: October 23, 2012Assignee: Fluidmaster, Inc.Inventors: Robert Collin, Dale Carruthers, Patrick McGrath
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Patent number: D678982Type: GrantFiled: December 5, 2011Date of Patent: March 26, 2013Assignee: Fluidmaster Inc.Inventors: Adam Sampson, Tuan Le, Tom Stout, John Whaley, David Peschel, Zaafir Kherani, Matt Vargas
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Patent number: D707334Type: GrantFiled: February 6, 2013Date of Patent: June 17, 2014Assignee: Fluidmaster, Inc.Inventors: Francisco Hernandez, Jeremy Wilkens, Andrew Au, Chevy Ho, Venkat Mallela
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Patent number: D716419Type: GrantFiled: January 22, 2013Date of Patent: October 28, 2014Assignee: Fluidmaster, Inc.Inventors: Francisco Hernandez, Jeremy Wilkens, Andrew Au, Chevy Ho