Patents Examined by Charles R. Eloshway
  • Patent number: 6625824
    Abstract: The electronically controlled system of the present invention includes a regulator for regulating the flow of water through selected conduits of a filtration system associated with the swimming pool. The regulator includes a rotatable selector (32) arranged in association with a valve housing (11) having a number of inlet and outlet ports; biasing member (37) for biasing the rotatable selector (32) into a seated position in the valve housing (11); and motor (39) operatively associated with the rotatable selector (32) and adapted to rotate the rotatable selector while it is in the seated position in the valve housing (11). The system further includes a control member (50) for automatically controlling the regulator in a predetermined manner wherein the control member includes a microprocessor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2003
    Assignee: APMI Holdings Limited
    Inventors: Peter Gustav Lutz, Maynard Leslie La Cock, Stephanus Hendrik Petrus Boshoff, Barend Jacobus De Lange
  • Patent number: 6604250
    Abstract: A prefabricated swimming pool including a pool frame having a plurality of vertical frames and horizontal frames connected between the vertical frames, and a pool body fabricated from a synthetic resin sheet having a base unit and a circumferential side wall and supported by the pod frame. Storing and carrying of the swimming pool is simple and handy, and thane is no possibility that the circumferential side wall is inclined or collapses, ensuring a safe and stable use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2003
    Assignee: Portable Pools Incorporated
    Inventor: Jae Hyong Lee
  • Patent number: 6598242
    Abstract: A low profile transportable holding tank for accepting waste from portable toilets. The holding tank is carried on a flatbed vehicle and has a flat deck for cargo, thus effectively increasing the cargo-carrying capacity of the vehicle compared with that available if the vehicle were carrying a conventional holding tank. Internal reinforcement enables the holding tank to withstand a partial vacuum imposed for pumping waste into the tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2003
    Inventor: Robert P. Denome
  • Patent number: 6594831
    Abstract: An anti-splash guard to enclose the open upper portion of a toilet bowl to shield and contain liquid and matter splashing from the interior thereof when attempting to unclog or dislodge debris from the plumbing when using a plunger including an upper elongated handle and a lower plunger member, the anti-splash guard comprising a cover with or without an upper opening to receive a portion of the upper elongated handle therethrough and a lower opening to receive a portion of the toilet bowl such that when the anti-splash guard is operatively mounted on the toilet with the lower plunger member disposed therein liquid and matter is shielded and contained when splashed therefrom when the plunger is used to dislodge debris from the plumbing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2003
    Inventors: Gerardo R. Pardo, Alberto J. Pardo
  • Patent number: 6591432
    Abstract: A shower curtain having one or more pockets formed near the lower edge and on the side facing the shower nozzle is disclosed. The pockets are designed to collect water while the shower is in use. The pockets have drain holes that allow the water to slowly drain, such that while the shower is in use, the pockets will fill, but when the shower is shut off, the pockets will slowly drain until they are empty. The pockets are in fluid communication with one another by way of openings extending between the pockets. The bottom edge of the pocket is sloped with the highest point of the bottom wall at or near the center of the shower curtain encouraging water to flow toward the edges. Below the pockets, the shower curtain is formed of an air permeable material such as nylon mesh.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2003
    Inventors: Matthew J. M. Feinstein, Steven B. Feinstein
  • Patent number: 6592280
    Abstract: A container and applicator assembly includes an applicator with a handle and a dispensing tip, and a container with a chamber that detachably receives at least part of the applicator. The container has an inner surface with a plurality of protrusions that extend in the chamber along side portions of the tip. The protrusions facilitate distribution of the composition across the tip and also help to prevent unintentional movement of the composition to other areas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2003
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Robert W. Petrich, Larry D. Fleisher
  • Patent number: 6584625
    Abstract: A fluid flow control device is provided as an integral component of a drainage system for sinks in a commercial environment. This fluid flow control device includes a housing that is disposed beneath a waste valve and configured to define a flow control insert that is configured and disposed to interrupt the flow of fluid leaving the waste valve and before that flow reaches a grease interceptor. Both the housing and flow control insert are desirably made as a unitary structure from cast metal. Alternatively, the housing can define a ledge that receives a removable disk forming the flow control insert. In both embodiments, the flow control insert that has an opening through the insert that is sized for a flow area according to the needs of the fluid flows that are anticipated in the drainage system in question.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2003
    Assignee: T&S Brass and Bronze Works, Inc.
    Inventor: Mark Weaver
  • Patent number: 6574803
    Abstract: A system is for flushing material, including a tank for containing flushing fluid, and a tube for transporting flushing fluid from the tank, wherein the tube is located in the tank and includes a first opening located at a low volume level and a second opening located directly adjacent to a bottom surface of the tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2003
    Inventor: John Idone
  • Patent number: 6571407
    Abstract: Spring biased retainers that are secured to a faucet base and provide gripping surfaces to engage and draw the faucet into engagement with a sink. Resilient retainer members flex to permit mounting and are normally biased to return to a retention position. In one retainer, tapered gripper and retractor pieces are axially biased for reciprocating movement in a housing. Springs fitted to the gripper and retractor pieces direct movement along cooperating inclined surfaces. Another retainer provides pivoting gripper pieces that are biased in repelling relation and have contoured gripping surfaces. Another retainer provides at least one deformable, resilient leaf spring arm that is biased in repulsion to another arm. Each arm has a contoured gripping surface that engages the sink and secures the faucet. Tapered wedging posts can be mounted to a faucet to cooperate with the spring-biased retainers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2003
    Inventor: Loren Skarie
  • Patent number: 6571406
    Abstract: Supporting body (1) being part of a shower tub made of stone, tiles or artificial stone and comprising at least one landing (2) that is surrounded by a margin (6), a channel (3) discharging into a drain (4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2003
    Inventor: Michael Gerloff
  • Patent number: 6567998
    Abstract: An improved shower apparatus is provided where a two-way selector valve is placed between a pre-existing shower head and a pipe to selectively allow water to flow between the shower head and a flexible rubber hose connected to a substantially cylindrical member. The member has a plurality of holes disposed along its length to create a horizontal triangular water spray. The bottom end of the member is removably attached to a wall of the shower and the rubber hose is looped around a retainer housing to provide vertical height adjustment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2003
    Inventor: Carl D'Ugo
  • Patent number: 6560791
    Abstract: A kitchen sink has at least one main basin and an additional basin, wherein both basins have their own drains. The additional basin is formed as a protrusion in a side wall of the main basin and projects into the main basin. The additional basin may be provided with accessories, such as a basin insert or sieve, and the sink may be provided with preparation board(s), which are adapted to the additional basin and/or the basin insert.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2003
    Assignee: Niro-Plan AG
    Inventor: Bruno Perucchi
  • Patent number: 6546572
    Abstract: A unitary U-shaped safety enclosure or barrier formed of a resilient and heat and water-resistant material is removably positionable in a bathtub in enclosing relation about the water faucet and valve thereof to prevent access thereto and minimize injuries to a bather, such as arising from a slip or fall, or a child inappropriately adjusting the temperature or water being supplied to the tub, possibly resulting in scalding or the tub to overflow. The safety enclosure includes a central wall that extends above and shields the bather from the water delivery faucet, and a pair of sidewalls that space the central wall from the faucet and have slotted portions for hanging the enclosure. A net-like basket is removably mounted within the U-shaped enclosure for storing bath apparatus and permitting water to drain from the bath apparatus when the enclosure is hung or otherwise removed from the water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2003
    Inventor: Roger R. Demonet
  • Patent number: 6543064
    Abstract: A urination device including a collecting container, which has a cylindrical inlet connector projecting upward at an angle form a first end and an end wall at a second end with an outlet connector at a bottom edge, and a urine bag. An inlet hose, which opens into the urine bag, is connected in a detachable manner to the outlet connector, the collecting container has an essentially cylindrical hollow body with an inlet-side end wall and an outlet-side end wall essentially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the container and with relatively small dimensions. The cylindrical inlet connector in the inlet-side end wall is arranged to project upward from an off-center point on the wall, diagonally opposite a point where the outlet connector is installed in the outlet-side end wall. The inlet connector is no more than ⅓ a length of the collecting container and forms an angle of about 20° to the axis of the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2003
    Inventors: Paul Prall, Elke Petra, Gert Gottsmann
  • Patent number: 6543065
    Abstract: A toilet bowl cover including a main body made of wooden material. The main body is enclosed by a cover layer. The cover layer is made of fabric or paper material with natural fibers. The cover layer is further enclosed by an outer layer. The cover layer serves to fill up the irregular portions of the outer face of the main body. Also, the cover layer serves as a lining of the outer layer to highlight the colors of the outer layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2003
    Inventor: Elvis Hsieh
  • Patent number: 6543068
    Abstract: Disclosed is a portable bed-bath and shower device. The device provides an oblong, inflatable bath tub unit 12 used to assist in the bathing of bed ridden patients. The bath tub or housing 12 of the device is a rubber material consisting of an electric air compressor 20, water valve 22, dirty water discharge pump 24 and hose 26, shower head 28, hook and loop straps 18, a swivel head hanger 46, storage pockets 30 for soap and wash cloths and tote cart 70. A patient can be easily placed upon the bath unit prior to the inflation thereof. The bath unit is then inflated by the electric compressor 20 and a hose 44 is connected to the water valve of the unit and at the other distal end, to a sink. Hook and loop fasteners 18 are supplied to secure the patient 14 within the bath device and to lift the limbs of a patient for easy cleaning of the limbs. A water valve 22 is also provided consisting of a control valve 38 and separate drain valve 40.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2003
    Inventor: Alisa Penninger
  • Patent number: 6530094
    Abstract: A flowable material dispensing system is disclosed which includes a container (5) for holding the flowable material, the container (5) having a downwardly directed lower outlet opening (510) which can be located within an outer container being either a cistern of a flushing system or within a cabinet (40,41) that is connectable to a flushing flow path of sanitation apparatus, the container (5) being so located that a portion of flowable material within said container (5) is discharged therefrom during each flushing operation of the sanitation system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2003
    Assignee: Calfarme Pte. Ltd.
    Inventor: Boon Lye Paul Neo
  • Patent number: 6527019
    Abstract: Leaktight confinement appliance (1), intended to cooperate with an independent receptacle (3) containing a substance (4), having its own means (8) for transfer into and/or out of the receptacle, and with an independent means (71) for delivery of a material. The appliance includes a handling chamber (2) defined by a wall (13) of flexible material substantially leaktight with respect to the external environment. A pouch is formed within the wall of the handling chamber (2) for retaining an interconnection device. The handling chamber (2) is arranged to connect at least the transfer means (8) of the receptacle (3) to the delivery means (71) through the interconnection device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2003
    Assignee: Becton Dickinson France, S.A.
    Inventors: Philippe Laurent, Jean-Pierre Grimard
  • Patent number: 6526600
    Abstract: Apparatus to displace a raised toilet seat or cover member, comprising, in combination a carrier to be supported on a toilet water tank, structure pivotally supported on that carrier, a pusher associated with said structure positioned to displace said member as the structure pivots, and an actuator associated with said structure and positioned to pivot said structure in response to lowering of the surface level of water in the tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2003
    Inventor: Roland Hernandez
  • Patent number: RE38016
    Abstract: An application unit (1) includes a first compartment (4) intended to form a housing for an application (6) containing a product capable of solubilizing or gelling on its surface in contact with a liquid composition, and mounted in a detachable manner in the first compartment (4) through a first opening (11); and a second compartment (5) separated from the first compartment and including an element (14) impregnated with the liquid composition, and capable of restoring a quantity of the liquid composition to the applicator (6) when the applicator is introduced into the second compartment (5) through a second opening (18) and caused to bear on a restoring surface (50) of the element (14). A detachable closure (3, 8, 9, 20) is provided for respectively obturating the first opening (11) and the second opening (18).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2003
    Assignee: L'Oreal
    Inventor: Jean-Louis H. Gueret