Patents Examined by Charles Phillips
  • Patent number: 8316474
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a drainage apparatus for a sink, in which it is possible to drain wash water rapidly without having residue substances such as foreign substances and the like caught thereon, and prevent leakage of malodor in advance, thereby achieving excellent cleanliness, facilitating an operation and maintenance of the drainage apparatus due to its simple configuration and structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Inventor: Young Boung Kang
  • Patent number: 8230534
    Abstract: A bathtub system, including a tub with a bather access opening in one sidewall and a door mounted on that sidewall. In the closed position, the door is adjacent the access opening, and in the open position the door is substantially clear of the access opening. The system includes a gray water reservoir under the tub of approximately the capacity of the tub and which can be connected to a sewer system. A high capacity tub drain conducts water from the tub into the reservoir by gravity alone very quickly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: Aquatic Co.
    Inventors: Raymond C. Torres, Jason Slepicka
  • Patent number: 8220084
    Abstract: A shower head securing device has a shower head, a casing and a securing device. The securing device has a base, a ball tube, a securing screw, a shaft, the plurality of elastic pieces, the plurality of engaging pieces, a securing member and an adjusting screw.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: Shong I Copper Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Chin-Tang Chung
  • Patent number: 8214933
    Abstract: A toilet actuating system includes a flush pedal, at least one seat/lid pedal, a control unit interfacing with the flush pedal and the at least one seat/lid pedal, a toilet flush mechanism engaged by the control unit and at least one of a toilet seat and a toilet lid engaged by the control unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Inventor: Jean N. Gaudin
  • Patent number: 8201281
    Abstract: A trapping device for trapping non-dispersing cloths in a toilet bowl is disclosed. The trapping device comprises a strap, a plurality of hooks, and an adjustment buckle. The trapping device may be installed in a trapway of the toilet bowl. The strap has a first end, a second end, and a middle portion, wherein the second end includes a plurality of adjustment holes, and the middle portion is rounded. The plurality of hooks is attached to an inner wall of the strap, wherein the hooks extend at approximately 45-60 degrees away from the strap. The adjustment buckle is attached to the first end of the strap, wherein the second end of the strap slides through the adjustment buckle to adjust the diameter of the strap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2012
    Assignee: Sage Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Hanifl, Jeff Steffens, Tim Moran
  • Patent number: 8201280
    Abstract: An arrangement for protecting a waste water line from plugging due to debris includes a pipe with spikes projecting upstream toward the oncoming waste water flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2012
    Inventor: Harry Barnett Nally, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8196228
    Abstract: A protective toilet seat cover comprising in combination a sheet of foldable flexible material having an overall size to cover the toilet, the sheet having a top panel defining a through opening to register with and overlie the toilet bowl, the sheet having opposite side panels configured to hang downwardly at opposite sides of the toilet, the side panels having upright front edges, the sheet having a front panel configured to hang downwardly at the front of the toilet, the front panel having spaced edges that extend upwardly and sidewardly to define front panel upper portions separate from the side panels, and that hang in protective overlying relation to front edges of the side panels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Inventor: Garik Gyurjyan
  • Patent number: 8196235
    Abstract: An emergency eye wash valve which can be connected to an IV fluid bag or other reservoir of fluid easily controllable flow of liquid to two eye wash arms which are independently positionable to dispense the liquid into the eyes of a patient in need of emergency eye wash. In addition, the valve has a base member which can be affixed via a biocompatible adhesive to the patient (for example on the forehead or bridge of the nose) to hold the valve in position so that it does not have to held in place by a person during the eye washing process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Inventor: Gary Dudley
  • Patent number: 8171579
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for mounting a glass or glass-ceramic vessel-style washbasin (1). The inventive device is characterised in that it essentially takes the form of an adapter (3) which is disposed between the lower face of the glass or glass-ceramic vessel-style washbasin and a support (2) at the drain hole (1?), said adapter (3) being connected to the lower face of the washbasin (1) with a layer of glue (6) or an adhesive and fixed to the support (2) by means of a flow element (4). The invention is particularly suitable for household equipment, in particular vessel-style washbasins and vessel-style washbasins that are made from glass or glass-ceramic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: Schott VTF
    Inventor: Bertrand Epp
  • Patent number: 8166579
    Abstract: The commode-urinal prevents urine-splatters around the commode, and stores extra toilet rolls and flushable funnels. In power-driven commode-urinal, a user activates a sensor; a jaw clamps a flushable funnel to an arm. The arm moves out of dispenser dispensing and suspending the funnel above the commode-bowl. The user urinates through the funnel, which channels urine into the bowl preventing urine-splatters around the commode. After urinating, the user activates the sensor; the jaw retracts releasing used funnel into the bowl. The arm retracts into the dispenser clearing the commode to function unimpeded. Flushing drains away the funnel. In manually-operated commode-urinal, when ready to urinate, the user pulls a funnel from the dispenser. Keeping bottom end of the funnel in middle of the bowl, the user urinates through it. After urinating, the user drops the funnel into the bowl and flushes. The funnels have wet strength, water repellency, but degrade in drains.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Inventor: Mahendra Nagindas Mehta
  • Patent number: 8166581
    Abstract: A toilet device includes a seat (2) with a pair of side walls (14 & 16) pivotally connected thereto. The side walls are capable of three configurations with respect to the seat portion (2). In a first folded configuration they extend towards one another for compact storage of the device. In a second configuration they extend downwardly in right angles to the seat for use as a chamber pot when supplied with a suitable liner. In a third configuration the side walls extend outwardly away from one another so that the device can be placed on a conventional toilet seat and adapt that seat to the user of the device. Locking and locating means are provided for locking and/or locating the device in the three configurations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Inventor: Christopher Lovatt
  • Patent number: 8151382
    Abstract: A bathtub shortener and position stabilizer for maintaining a user in an upright position and inhibiting the motion of sliding out of an upright position while bathing in a bathtub is provided. The bathtub shortener and position stabilizer comprises a main body having at least one side wall, a top wall, and a mounting wall. A combination foot rest and foot pad is securable to one of the side walls of the main body. A securing mechanism secured to the mounting wall of the main body releasably secures the main body to the bathtub in a position contactable by the user wherein the combination foot rest and foot pad are constructed from softer material than the main body and wherein upon releasably securing the main body to the bathtub, the combination foot rest and foot pad face the user allowing the user to contact the combination foot rest and foot pad thereby maintaining the user in an upright position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Inventor: Diana Kennedy
  • Patent number: 8136172
    Abstract: A scent delivery device, the device comprising a standard shaped toilet seat, a hollow inner channel that runs in the body of said toilet seat, a set of holes in fluid communication with said hollow inner channel, and a scent activating component in fluid communication with the hollow inner channel of the toilet seat through a hose. Said scent activating component comprises a scent aerosol and a valve capable of being opened through a timer when a signal is received from weight sensors located on the bottom surface of the toilet seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Inventor: Godfrey O. Edgecombe
  • Patent number: 8132274
    Abstract: A pool cover supporting unit includes a plurality of spokes connected to a central hub. The hub rests floats in the pool and the spokes can be lengthened as needed to accommodate pools of various shapes, such as an oval pool. The unit is easily collapsed for storage and easily assembled for use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Inventor: Percy Peterman
  • Patent number: 8127377
    Abstract: A bathtub transfer bench includes a clamp member having a first arm for engaging an inner wall of a bathtub and a second arm for engaging an outer wall of the bathtub. A support member includes a substantially horizontal bench member and a pair of downwardly extending legs for supporting the bench member adjacent to the outer wall of the bathtub. A coupling mechanism releasably couples the support member to the clamp member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Inventor: Paul Ferrazzani
  • Patent number: 8122530
    Abstract: An adjustable hand rail has a wall-mountable base member and a bar member which mounts to the wall-mountable base member, an axis is defined by the bar member. The bar member is manually rotatable with respect to the wall-mountable base member. The bar member has means for being selectively locked into any one of a plurality of different axial positions with respect to the wall-mountable base member, including a vertical axial position, a horizontal axial position, and various intermediate axial positions between the vertical axial position and the horizontal axial position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Inventors: John W. Bailey, Steven H. Bailey
  • Patent number: 8112825
    Abstract: A toilet seat includes a body with a plurality of massage mechanisms installed in the body, and means for sealing the massage mechanisms. The massage mechanism includes a housing which comprises an upper part and a lower cover part, a motor held between the upper part and the lower cover part, an eccentric weight fixed to the output shaft of the motor, and a resilient suspension device for suspending the assembly of the motor, the eccentric weight and the housing inside the body. The suspension device includes a housing fixing end fixed to the housing, a body fixing end fixed to the body, and a connecting part connected between the two fixing ends. In use, the motor rotates the eccentric weight to thereby produce vibrations which are transmitted to a user sitting on the seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: Johnson Electric S.A.
    Inventors: Yue Li, Jicheng Pan, Fei Li, Yongqiang Song, Gang Peng, Guanlei Jiang, Zongwang Lv
  • Patent number: 8099802
    Abstract: Flush toilet equipment comprises a bowl, a flush mechanism that supplies flush water to the bowl through a flush water passage, and a minute bubble generator. The minute bubble generator generates minute bubbles. The bubbles are 0.1-1000 ?m in bubble diameter and mixed with the flush water. In this construction, since the minute bubbles are fully diffused into the flush water, various effects such as improvement of toilet flush effect, etc. can be further enhanced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Assignee: Panasonic Electric Works Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shigeyuki Yamaguchi, Hitoshi Kitamura, Yasunari Maeda, Takaya Niu, Kazumasa Rokushima, Yoshihiro Ito, Naoki Shibata, Noriyuki Kitachi, Masato Suzuki
  • Patent number: 8087104
    Abstract: A manual toilet seat lifter apparatus is provided for lifting and lowering a toilet seat and includes strap hinge members connected to the toilet seat. A hinge pin is received in the strap hinge members. A riser rod is connected to the hinge pin. A handle is connected to a top end of the riser rod, and a counterweight is connected to a bottom end of the riser rod. Preferably, a horizontal transition portion is connected between the hinge pin and the riser rod. Preferably, a horizontal extension portion is connected to the riser rod at a location on the riser rod which is opposite to the horizontal transition portion. With a second embodiment of the invention, which is a combined toilet seat lifter and toilet seat cover lifter apparatus, toilet seat cover lifting means are provided for lifting and lowering a toilet seat cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Inventor: James W. Reynolds
  • Patent number: 8074304
    Abstract: A combination unit for hydrotherapy and exercise having a rubber dampening pad containing pre-drilled holes for the interchanging of exercise devices such as treadmills, bicycles, and elliptical machines. The unit has stairs for rear entrance and a clear splash guard for safe use indoors. The unit has a seat with shoulder and back jets located behind the seat, stability bars and a control panel. The control panel provides temperature control, aquatic jet flow, exercise equipment control and controls for MP3 players and the like. The unit has a water motor for driving certain exercise equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Inventor: Christa J. Snyder