Patents Examined by Christine J Skubinna
  • Patent number: 11950731
    Abstract: A urinal integrated lid system is provided which may utilize a toilet seat, a lower lid and an upper lid such that one or more hinges couple the toilet seat, the lower lid and the upper lid together. The system may further utilize a first coupling mechanism securing the lower lid to the upper lid and a second coupling mechanism secures the upper lid to a toilet water tank such that, after the second coupling mechanism secures the upper lid to the toilet water tank, a separation force may separate the lower lid from the upper lid. After separation of the lower lid from the upper lid, the lower lid may rotate via the one or more hinges through an angle range of 0 degrees to 75 degrees with respect to the upper lid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Inventor: Joseph Henry Alrutz
  • Patent number: 11952765
    Abstract: A water reuse device for reusing waste water discharged from a bathroom or a kitchen as toilet flushing water, including: a water collecting tank (10); a storage tank (20) receiving the used water stored in the water collecting tank (10) and having a water level sensor (21); a toilet water tank (32) located at a lower level than the storage tank (20) and having a first water level sensor (36) and a second water level sensor (35); a first pipe (22) connecting the storage tank (20) and the toilet water tank (32); a first solenoid valve (40) installed in the first pipe (22); a second pump (38) installed in the toilet water tank (32); a backflow prevention valve (34) provided between the second pipe (33-2) and the third pipe (33-3); and a water shutoff valve (41) provided between a water supply pipe (31) and the water pressure control valve (41-1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Inventor: Kab Young Han
  • Patent number: 11952762
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a lower position water suction assembly, including a jet flow element configured to convey water in a water tank and outside tap water together into a bowl part of a toilet. The lower position water suction assembly also includes a lower position water suction pipe connected to the jet flow element and configured to convey the water in a lower portion of the water tank into the jet flow element. The lower position water suction pipe includes a water suction pipe port comprising a plurality of projections configured to contact an inner bottom surface of the water tank and draw the water from the lower portion of the water tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: Shanghai Kohler Electronics, Ltd.
    Inventors: Junfeng Sun, Yunqing Zang, Minggao Xu
  • Patent number: 11939206
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: FLUIDMASTER, INC.
    Inventors: Tuan Le, Adam Sampson
  • Patent number: 11937745
    Abstract: A folding bathtub includes a tub body; and a supporting ring. The supporting ring is arranged on the tub body. The supporting ring comprises a left ring part, a right ring part and an upper folding part, the left ring part and the right ring part are respectively arranged on two sides of an upper end of the tub body, and the upper folding part is arranged between the left ring part and the right ring part. The upper folding part is made of a soft material. The supporting ring achieves rotatable folding between the left ring part and the right ring part by means of deformation of the upper folding part, and the supporting ring is folded to drive the tub body to deform and be folded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Inventor: Yuzhao Jin
  • Patent number: 11939751
    Abstract: A faucet spout mounting system including a faucet spout tube, an inner adapter, and a bushing. The bushing is positioned radially intermediate the outer spout tube and the inner adapter. The inner adapter and the bushing engage to push flexible arms on the bushing against the outer spout tube, thus holding the bushing in place and compensating for tolerances in the spout mounting system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: Delta Faucet Company
    Inventors: Gerald Robert Hayes, Scott Ellis Sorrell
  • Patent number: 11937744
    Abstract: A toilet shield comprises a tube, a first arm, a second arm, and a raised collar. The first arm is coupled to a first side edge of a lumen of the tube. The second arm is coupled to a second side edge of the lumen of the tube. The tube is configured such that the lumen of the tube opens in response to the first arm and the second arm being extended in generally opposite directions. The raised collar is disposed between and rises above the first arm and the second arm and is configured to deflect liquid feces expelled from a defecating human toward a rear portion of a toilet. An expandable pleat is disposed on each side of the raised collar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: BETTER TRICK, INC.
    Inventor: James William Kramer
  • Patent number: 11927588
    Abstract: An intelligent toilet that includes a toilet base having a bowl, a seat assembly comprising a seat, and a urine collection system integrated with the seat assembly, wherein the urine collection system includes an analyzer that is configured to test urine from a user and provide output health data of the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: Kohler Co.
    Inventors: Luncheak Tan, Chinghua Chen
  • Patent number: 11927201
    Abstract: An integrated water fitting assembly includes a housing, a drainage mechanism, a dual-outlet micro-pump, and a drainage base. The drainage mechanism and the dual-outlet micro-pump are disposed in the housing, the drainage base is disposed below the housing, a water inlet, a washing water outlet, and a drainage control water outlet communicated with each other are formed in the dual-outlet micro-pump, moreover, the water inlet is communicated with a water source, the washing water outlet extends out of the housing, and the drainage control water outlet is connected inside the drainage mechanism. An integrated water fitting assembly further includes a housing, a drainage mechanism, a dual-head flow distribution assembly, a micro-pump, and a drainage base. A water inlet of the micro-pump is communicated with a water source. A flow water inlet, a washing water outlet, and a drainage control water outlet are formed in the dual-head flow distribution assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: Xiamen Huierjie Sanitary Ware Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Xiangji Zheng
  • Patent number: 11920368
    Abstract: A pool skimmer guard assembly for keeping a pool skimmer free from obstructions includes a rod that is comprised of a resiliently bendable material. In this way the rod can be bent into a U-shape. Thus, the rod can be positioned in an intake of a pool skimmer having the rod curving outwardly from the intake. A pair of grips is each coupled to the rod such that each of the grips is positioned in the intake of the pool skimmer when the rod is bent into the U-shape. Each of the grips has a gripping edge that is perpendicularly oriented with the rod. In this way the gripping edge of each of the grips can engage a respective edge of the intake thereby inhibiting the rod from being dislodged from the intake.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Inventors: Michael Franklin, Chevone Franklin
  • Patent number: 11920328
    Abstract: A diverter for a spout includes a housing defining a compartment with an opening and one or more passageways positioned around the compartment to allow passage of a water flow. An actuator extends into the compartment. The actuator is slidable in a first direction from a resting position to a diverting position and is slidable in a second direction from the diverting position to the resting position. The first and second directions are opposite directions parallel to a central axis of the housing. The actuator being configured to block the water flow when in the diverting position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: ASSA ABLOY Americas Residential Inc.
    Inventors: Oscar Romero, Haibo Cai
  • Patent number: 11920334
    Abstract: A urine splash guard for the rear of a toilet including a protecting assembly and a removing assembly. The protecting assembly includes an absorbing pad. The absorbing pad is made of and absorbent and flushable material. The absorbing pad is fixed between a rear portion of a toilet seat and the bowl rim of the toilet to prevent splashing urine therein. The absorbing pad is fixed through an adhesive element located in a bottom face of the absorbing pad. The removing assembly includes an opening, the opening goes through the said absorbing pad, the opening is used to hold the absorbing pad.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Inventor: Darius Archibald
  • Patent number: 11910967
    Abstract: An apparatus configured to lift and lower a toilet seat on a toilet without the need to touch the toilet seat. The toilet seat lifting and lowering apparatus attaches directly to the bathroom floor and the toilet seat. A foot lever is pivotally attached to a base component that is securable to the floor next to the toilet. The foot lever is pivotally connected to a lifting lever that extends upward toward the toilet seat. A toilet seat attachment component is pivotally attached to a distal end of the lifting lever extending perpendicularly where it engages the toilet seat. The user steps on a foot pedal of the foot lever pushing up the lifting lever to raise the toilet seat. To lower the toilet seat, the user removed their foot from the foot pedal allowing the lifting lever to return the toilet seat to the down position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Inventor: Damien Petersen
  • Patent number: 11913208
    Abstract: A flush toilet includes a toilet main body made of ceramics, a control unit, a supply source that enables water supply or power supply to the control unit, and a flexible elongated member connecting the supply source and the control unit. The toilet main body includes a rear storage configured to store at least a part of the control unit. The rear storage includes an upper storage region, a lower region, and a lower communication region. The flexible elongated member extends from an upper connecting end portion toward a lower connecting end portion, to be inserted from the upper storage region into the lower communication region, and then extends from inside of the lower communication region to outside of the toilet main body, without extending through the lower region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: TOTO LTD.
    Inventors: Yusuke Eto, Takahiro Maruyama, Wataru Ishimi, Taketo Okubo, Seiya Nakashima
  • Patent number: 11913207
    Abstract: A plumbing fixture includes an electrical component insert-molded within a portion of the plumbing fixture, the portion formed from an epoxy. The electrical component is offset from and disposed below an outer surface of the plumbing fixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: Kohler Co.
    Inventors: Mark Schibur, Jeremiah Rauwerdink
  • Patent number: 11905695
    Abstract: A waste collection and disposal unit including a tank, a float-switch sensing system, and a grinder pump. The tank contains a contoured and sloping floor, a front section, a back section, two side sections and a one-piece lid, which is securable onto the other sections of the tank. The floor slopes downwardly from below the float-switch sensing system to below the grinder pump at an angle of at least about 5 degrees and is contoured in a downward curved arc between the front and back sections of the tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: Zoeller Pump Company, LLC
    Inventors: Andrew Ulliman, Jerry Banta, David R. Gilbert, Jason Nett, Jason Pyle
  • Patent number: 11905728
    Abstract: A multi-weir door assembly is coupled to a skimmer body near a front entrance of the skimmer body such that a flow of water received in the front entrance is incident on a front side of the multi-weir door assembly. The multi-weir door assembly comprises multiple weir doors that are rotationally coupled to the skimmer body by at least a first hinge assembly. Each of the weir doors has a respective buoyancy, and at least first and second weir doors of the multiple weir doors have first and second buoyancies that are different from one another such that the flow of water incident on the multi-weir door assembly affects the first and second weir doors differently in terms of an angular degree to which the incident flow of water causes the first and second weir doors to rotate about first and second axes of rotation, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: Custom Molded Products, LLC
    Inventors: Angelo V. Pugliese, Zachary T. Vogtner
  • Patent number: 11896172
    Abstract: A joint arrangement for the pivotable mounting of a lid, a seat or a seat/lid fitting about a pivot axis on a ceramic sanitary article, which joint arrangement comprises an elongate fastening element which is intended to be arranged on the sanitary article, a bearing element having a passage bore through which the fastening element is intended to engage, and a damper element which damps the pivoting movement and has a connecting element, which likewise has a passage bore into which the fastening element engages or through which said fastening element engages and which fits on the bearing element in the assembled position, wherein the bearing element has a retaining portion which receives the connecting element in a form-fitting manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: DURAVIT AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Thomas Stammel, RĂ¼diger Demmel
  • Patent number: 11898337
    Abstract: The present disclosure discloses an effort-saving flap-type drain valve, comprising a base with a drain port, a flapper capable of hermetically covering and connecting to the drain port, an actuator connected to the flapper, and a connecting rod rotationally connected to the base and the flapper at two ends respectively, wherein the actuator is capable of causing the flapper to rotate relative to the connecting rod, and the actuator is capable of simultaneously causing the flapper to rotate about a first rotation pivot formed at a position where the flapper is in contact with the base to initially open the drain port; and wherein the actuator is capable of causing the flapper and the connecting rod to rotate together about a second rotation pivot formed at a rotational connection between the connecting rod and the base to further open the drain port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: XIAMEN R&T PLUMBING TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shunxing Zhou, Ruiliang Chen, Rongyu Zhang, Xingdong Wang
  • Patent number: 11891786
    Abstract: A carrier assembly for supporting a water closet having an outlet. The carrier assembly including a faceplate defining an opening therethrough, where the opening includes a first end configured to form a water-tight seal with the outlet of the water closet and a second end opposite the first end, and a fluid coupler defining a fluid pathway therethrough, where the fluid pathway includes an inlet and an outlet opposite the inlet, where the outlet is configured to be coupled to and form a water-tight seal with a wastewater pipe while the fluid pathway is in fluid communication with an internal volume of the wastewater pipe, and where the outlet has at least one degree of adjustability relative to the wastewater pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: ZURN INDUSTRIES, LLC
    Inventors: John Matthew Lawrence, Frank Schaetzke