Patents Examined by Cody Lieuwen
  • Patent number: 9832922
    Abstract: A discharge device includes a plurality of material conveying components, an adjustable shear ledge, and an adjustable shroud to convey materials from a container of a material spreader out onto an open area. The adjustable shear ledge includes at least one longitudinal mounting member such that the adjustable shear ledge may be translated towards or away from the plurality of material conveying components to maintain a predetermined gap distance. The adjustable shroud may also be pivotably connected to the adjustable shear ledge such that the adjustable shroud can be pivoted towards or away from the plurality of material conveying components. The adjustable shear ledge and the adjustable shroud may be moved accordingly to maintain a preferred gap distance and to maintain concentricity with a swing of the material conveying components in order to reduce wear on components and promote spread performance of the material spreader.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: KUHN NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Thomas Hoffman, Todd Gibson, Patrick Henry, Claude McFarlane
  • Patent number: 9795125
    Abstract: The direct-injection spraying device, in particular for an agricultural vehicle, according to the invention includes a main tank, at least one spray boom, and a circuit connecting the tank to the boom. comprises: The circuit includes a main pump and a bypass for controlling the flow rate in the boom in accordance with the traveling speed of the vehicle. At least one active substance store is connected to the circuit by a metering pump. The device further includes a cyclone mixer capable of receiving, as input, the liquid from the main tank, and the pressurized liquids coming from the active substance store, and capable of eliminating the boom as output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: EXEL INDUSTRIES
    Inventor: Patrick Jean Marie Ballu
  • Patent number: 9751095
    Abstract: A shower head (10C) has at least one mixing chamber (24) having an air inlet (18) for connection to a supply of pressurized air and a water inlet (22) for connection to a supply of pressurized water so that, in use, the air breaks the water up into droplets in the mixing chamber. The mixing chamber further has at least one outlet (32) so that, in use, the water droplets and air exit the shower head to form a shower of water droplets having a mean trajectory. The or each outlet is arranged so that, in use, at least a substantial proportion of the water droplets exit the shower head so that their individual trajectories on leaving the shower head are offset from the mean trajectory of the shower head and converge towards the mean trajectory of the shower head. This can result in a more uniform distribution of water droplets in the shower pattern. A single annular outlet may be provided, or a plurality of separate outlets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: Kelda Showers Limited
    Inventors: Peter James Honeyands, Christopher Honeyands
  • Patent number: 9717937
    Abstract: A sprinkler assembly including a fluid deflecting structure including a plurality of spaced apart tines defining a plurality of slots. The tines include a first pair of symmetric tines and a second pair of symmetric tines disposed orthogonally to the first pair of symmetric tines. The plurality of slots includes a group of asymmetric slots each having a first portion with a constant width and a second portion with a variable width radially outward of the first portion of the asymmetric slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Tyco Fire Products LP
    Inventors: Lyle Miller, Mathew R. Ancone
  • Patent number: 9713815
    Abstract: A marker airbrush device for transferring marking solution from a marking device onto a writing surface using air is provided. The airbrush device includes a housing with an air outlet, a trigger for controlling an amount of air travelling through the air outlet, and a marker positioner coupled to the housing. The marker positioner positions a marking device relative to the air outlet such that air traveling through the air outlet contacts at least one surface of the marking device to transfer marking solution onto a writing surface. In embodiments, rotation of a portion of the marker positioner advances and/or retracts the marking device with respect to the flow of air through the air outlet, thereby altering the angle and/or amount of air that contacts the marking device during spraying. In another embodiment, the marker positioner includes a locking lever for engaging against the marker device nib and/or housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2017
    Assignee: Crayola, LLC
    Inventors: Douglas Brand, Adam Scott Sharp, Thomas R. Rau, Adam Sandt, John D. McBride, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9694222
    Abstract: A firefighting medium is allowed to escape from a nozzle through apertures, the nozzle being provided with an internally arranged valve in sealing contact with a valve seat until the valve is released from its sealing position. The release is caused by a heat sensible release mechanism acting on the valve, whereby the sealing effect of the valve is relieved. A locking force required for maintaining the sealing effect by a removable cap or cover is provided, attached to the nozzle front, the locking force being established between at least two interacting surfaces. By releasing the sealing effect of the valve by removing the locking effect between the two interacting surfaces, the cap or cover is allowed to drop off its seat on the nozzle, relieving the press causing the sealing effect on the valve of the nozzle, the removal of the cap or cover caused by releasing mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: PREVENT SYSTEMS AS
    Inventor: Bjørn R. Hansen
  • Patent number: 9687859
    Abstract: A multi-mode shower device. The shower device may provide an aerated spray mode and a non-aerated spray mode. The spray engine may include an elastomeric layer providing a spray face and defining an outlet and a support layer defining an opening, material of the elastomeric layer extending from the spray face and through the opening to provide an integrated seal on the opposite surface of the support layer. A conduit to one shower mode outlet may pass through a plenum for another shower mode, the conduit being completely surrounded by the plenum as the conduit passes through the plenum. The shower device may include a valve having a valve body defining a valve port in fluid communication with the inlet and a mode isolator adjacent the valve port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: Kohler Co.
    Inventor: Pete Kajuch
  • Patent number: 9675061
    Abstract: A portable backpack feeder apparatus including a granular-material container having a filling opening and a gravity-flow opening and flow sleeve extending from the gravity-flow opening of the container to an outflow opening, the flow sleeve being flexible along its length for manual flow control and for positioning and aiming the outflow opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Inventor: James Mauer
  • Patent number: 9656283
    Abstract: A sprinkler protector including a housing which engages with a sprinkler or sprinkler pipe and a plurality of circumferentially disposed fingers forming a cage-like shroud over the sprinkler head. The protector shields the sprinkler from impact with foreign material but does not prevent the efficient spraying of water from the sprinkler for the purposes of irrigation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Inventor: Damien Croser
  • Patent number: 9643196
    Abstract: In a method of controlling a rotary sprinkler, a first angular position and a first watering distance are accessed from memory using a controller. A first electric motor is driven using the controller based on the first angular position. A head comprising at least one nozzle is rotated to the first angular position responsive to driving a first electric motor. A second electric motor is driven using the controller based on the first watering distance. A valve is positioned in a first valve position responsive to driving a second electric motor. Water is discharged through the valve and the at least one nozzle. The head is held at the first angular position for a first time period based on the first watering distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: Irrigreen, Inc.
    Inventor: Gary Klinefelter
  • Patent number: 9615697
    Abstract: A combined pilot valve mechanism and a shower system are applied with the combined pilot valve mechanism. By switching to close the control hole, the first water diversion hole or the second water diversion hole to control the pressures of the pressure cavity, the valve spool is driven to move to alternately close the first outlet or the second outlet, so that the inlet waterway is switched to connect to the first outlet waterway, the first water diversion hole or the second water diversion hole. As the shower system is applied with a combined pilot valve mechanism, which utilizes the control hole to switch the waterways, thus preventing the main pipe from great water pressure. The diameter of the control hole can be smaller, so that the water pressure of the button mechanism can be ignored, only friction and light elastic force of the spring exist.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignees: XIAMEN SOLEX HIGH-TECH INDUSTRIES CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yulin Wu, Mingfu Zhang, Bin Cao, Huasong Zhou
  • Patent number: 9617700
    Abstract: A Large Area Liquid Solution Application includes a boom equipped with a series of easily removable spray nozzles, for easier cleaning and maintenance, attached to a standard truck trailer hitch receiver with a pump assembly attached onto a reservoir loaded onto a truck bed. This invention presents an effective deicing apparatus and method to spray brine evenly on the pavement. The reservoir is easily secured manually with standard ratchet straps and the boom connects to any standard truck tow hitch without the use of tools. The equipment panel with attached pump is easily removable and the pump fittings and corresponding output hoses manually snap in and out of place to allow easier maintenance and cleaning. Communicating wirelessly, the present invention is activated by a wireless key enabling a truck driver to control the system without needing to exit the vehicle and manually shut of the sprayer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Inventor: Ron Eckman
  • Patent number: 9597694
    Abstract: Systems, methods and apparatus are provided through which in some implementations a pneumatic ported atomizing fluid delivery manifold includes a fluid delivery housing, the fluid delivery housing having a frustum geometry, the fluid delivery housing has a first end and a second end, the first end has a first plane and the second end having a second plane, the fluid delivery housing has at least one chamber through which cleaning solution is operable to pass from the first end to the second end, and a free-floating pneumatic rotating exit tube positioned along a longitudinal center axis of the fluid delivery housing, the free-floating pneumatic rotating exit tube have only air passing through the free-floating pneumatic rotating exit tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: Tornadatech LLC
    Inventor: Christopher Bosua
  • Patent number: 9587383
    Abstract: A pilot valve switch mechanism and combined shower applied with the pilot valve switch mechanism includes a fixed portion and a valve spool. The fixed portion includes an inlet waterway, a first outlet waterway, a second outlet waterway and a control hole capable to connect to the outlet waterways. The first outlet waterway has a first outlet. The second outlet waterway has a second outlet. The valve spool is slidably assembled inside the fixed portion along the inlet waterway, with a slim hole connected to the inlet waterway. The valve spool and the fixed portion form a pressure cavity, which is connected to the control hole and the slim hole. The control hole controls the water pressure of the pressure cavity to drive the valve spool to close the first or second outlet, connecting the inlet waterway to the first or second outlet waterway. The control hole switches the waterways.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignees: XIAMEN SOLEX HIGH-TECH INDUSTRIES CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yulin Wu, Mingfu Zhang, Yuehua Qiu, Huasong Zhou
  • Patent number: 9585526
    Abstract: A pilot valve switch mechanism of a shower system includes a fixed portion and a valve spool. The fixed portion is has an inlet waterway, a first and second outlet waterway and a control hole that can connect to the outlet waterways. The first outlet waterway has a first outlet and the second outlet waterway has a second outlet. The valve spool is slidably assembled inside the fixed portion vertically to the inlet waterway, and has a slim hole connected to the inlet waterway. The valve spool and the fixed portion form a pressure cavity. The control hole and the slim hole are connected to the pressure cavity. The pressure cavity is controlled by the control hole to drive the valve spool to move along the inlet waterway to close the first or second outlet, switching the inlet waterway to connect to the first or second outlet waterway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignees: XIAMEN SOLEX HIGH-TECH INDUSTRIES CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Mingfu Zhang, Lei Wang, Xiaofeng Yang, Huasong Zhou
  • Patent number: 9545639
    Abstract: A faucet wand assembly including a mode diverter and a rotational spray diverter positioned downstream from the mode diverter. The mode diverter is configured to switch between a spray mode and a stream mode, and the spray diverter is configured to change open water outlets in the spray mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: Delta Faucet Company
    Inventors: Steven Kyle Meehan, Yilin Tang, Junxi Lu
  • Patent number: 9533314
    Abstract: The invention relates to a plug for a display stand for produce, suitable for spraying drops of fluid onto the produce, the plug being suitable for being placed in a section member of such a display stand, and including: at least one central recess; and in a side wall at least one orifice for spraying the fluid, the plug being shaped so as to be capable of having at least one degree of freedom to move relative to the section member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: ARECO FINANCES ET TECHNOLOGIE—ARFITEC
    Inventors: Franck Davranche, Michel Gschwind
  • Patent number: 9506435
    Abstract: In one aspect, a fuel injector includes an injector body that defines a fuel inlet, a drain outlet and a nozzle outlet. A direct operated check valve is positioned in the injector body and includes a needle valve member with an opening hydraulic surface exposed to fluid pressure in a nozzle supply passage, and a closing hydraulic surface exposed to fluid pressure in a needle control chamber. The needle valve member is movable between a first position at which the nozzle supply passage is blocked to the nozzle outlet, and a second position at which the nozzle supply passage is open to the nozzle outlet. A needle control valve is positioned in the injector body and includes a control valve member movable between a first position at which the needle control chamber is fluidly connected to the drain outlet, and a second position at which the needle control chamber is fluidly blocked to the drain outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Jayaraman Venkataraghavan, John McDonnell, Nadeem Bunni, Christopher D. Hanson
  • Patent number: 9463343
    Abstract: There is provided a protecting cap configured to protect a sprinkler, the protecting cap having a bottomed cylindrical shape including a bottom surface and a cylinder, having an inner cylinder with a bottom surface and a head housing portion which is configured to house the sprinkler head body, and an outer cylinder to be fitted in an end portion of the cylindrical member; the outer cylinder circumferentially surrounding an outside of the inner cylinder, a tongue portion extending from the inner cylinder and projecting into an opening provided in an upper portion of the cylindrical member; a fastening tool insertion portion, located between the inner cylinder and the outer cylinder, configured to allow insertion of a fastening tool for mounting the sprinkler on a water supply pipe, and includes a coupling portion configured to connect the inner cylinder and the outer cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: Senju Sprinkler Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yasuaki Koiwa
  • Patent number: 9457213
    Abstract: A sprinkler assembly including a fluid deflecting structure including a plurality of spaced apart tines defining a plurality of slots. The tines include a first pair of symmetric tines and a second pair of symmetric tines disposed orthogonally to the first pair of symmetric tines. The tines includes outer edges of varying configuration to define tine and slot geometries and patterns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: Tyco Fire Products LP
    Inventors: Lyle Miller, Mathew R. Ancone