Patents Examined by J. Casimer Jacyna
  • Trench drain
    Patent number: 9617723
    Abstract: A trench drain with a trench body and a grate for use with a flush-threshold or low-threshold shower. The trench body is rectangular, with a drain hole positioned in the bottom. Front and back flanges extend from the bottom of the front and back sides for an absolute flush installation of the trench drain to the shower body and the bathroom flooring. The trench body may extend under the shower walls on each side. A grate fits into the top of the trench body onto a lip or edge on the interior of the front and back sides. Protrusions may extend inward to help provide support and stability for the grate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: Midwest Industrial Leasing, LLC
    Inventors: Scott Stonecipher, Will Rice, Richard Millard
  • Urinal with hand washing functionality
    Patent number: 9615700
    Abstract: The urinal incorporates hand washing functionality. Clean water is supplied from an array of holes or nozzles located in an overhang so that a user can wash their hands, and then the waste water is used to flush a urinal located below. The combination of these two functions in a single unit provides an inexpensive means for conserving water and efficiently using bathroom facilities while requiring less physical space than that needed for a separate urinal and hand washing station. The overhang can be retrofitted onto existing urinals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Inventors: Jungmok John Woo, John J. Kwak
  • Pliable-wall air ducts with internal expanding structures
    Patent number: 9612033
    Abstract: Pliable-wall air ducts with internal expanding structures are disclosed. An example air duct system includes a shaft to be disposed within an air duct, to extend in a longitudinal direction, and to be in longitudinal compression. The air duct system also includes a plurality of ribs to be coupled to the shaft and to engage an inner surface of the air duct and a spring to be disposed within the air duct, the spring to be coupled to the shaft. The spring under stress being a contributing factor in both the shaft being in longitudinal compression and the air duct being in longitudinal tension.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: RITE-HITE HOLDING CORPORATION
    Inventors: Cary Pinkalla, Frank Heim, Kevin J. Gebke, Nicholas L. Kaufmann, William A. Niehaus
  • Toilet controls
    Patent number: 9611632
    Abstract: Controls for use in association with the main tank of a toilet include a container which is disposed in the main tank and holds a body of water. A float is movable in the container to expel water from the container and effect operation of an inlet valve from a closed condition to an open condition. Water flows into an inlet compartment and into the main tank when the inlet valve is in the open condition. Water flows into an outlet compartment after a predetermined quantity of water has accumulated in the inlet compartment. Water flows from the outlet compartment into the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: Aqua Mizer, Inc.
    Inventor: Jonathan S. Kim
  • Drain catch with cross bars repair insert
    Patent number: 9611630
    Abstract: A replacement drain catch with internal cross bars to replace defective, damaged or missing pop-up stoppers or other missing partially occluding drain protective devices used in drains for sinks or tubs. The drain catch has a flange which sits atop the plumbing drain of the sink, and includes a pair of perpendicular bars to catch objects that may fall within the plumbing drain or that may be in the fluid passing through the drain catch. The bars are attached to a cylindrical wall. A plurality of deformable seating elements are located about the cylindrical wall to adjust the fit of the drain catch within the plumbing drain and a plurality of lift openings within the cylindrical wall are provided to help remove the drain catch from the plumbing drain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Inventor: Martin G. Danhi
  • Pliable-wall air ducts with internal expanding structures
    Patent number: 9605865
    Abstract: Example air ducts comprising pliable tubular sidewalls are provided with example internal frameworks that hold the duct in a generally expanded shape even when the duct is depressurized. The framework tensions the pliable sidewall material along the length of the ducts to keep the material taut. In some examples, the framework is restrained within the duct such that the duct's sidewall, being in tension, holds the framework in compression longitudinally. Thus, in the longitudinal direction, the duct is in tension and the framework is in compression. To prevent the framework from buckling under the compressive force, some example frameworks comprise a central longitudinal shaft with a plurality of radial spokes and rings that help hold the shaft straight. In some examples, the rings also help hold the duct radially expanded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: RITE-HITE HOLDING CORPORATION
    Inventors: Cary Pinkalla, Frank Heim, Kevin J. Gebke, Nicholas L. Kaufmann, William A. Niehaus
  • Portable urinal systems and methods of collecting urine
    Patent number: 9603737
    Abstract: A portable urinal system including a handheld urinal and a reservoir. The handheld urinal has a neck assembly, with a user operated neck valve assembly permitting urine to flow through the neck assembly, and a urinal cup coupled to the neck assembly so that upon use of the urinal and operation of the neck valve assembly by the user, urine flows through the neck assembly into the urinal cup. The reservoir has a larger volume than the urinal cup and includes a lid assembly with a substantially rigid spout assembly and a reservoir cup. Urine is transferred from the urinal to the reservoir when the user couples the urinal cup to the spout assembly and opens the spout assembly such that urine collected in the urinal cup drains into the reservoir cup.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Inventor: Brian Jenkin
  • Pliable-wall air ducts with internal expanding structures
    Patent number: 9605864
    Abstract: Pliable-wall air ducts with internal expanding structures are disclosed. An example air duct system includes a shaft to be disposed within an air duct, to extend in a longitudinal direction, and to be in longitudinal compression. The air duct system also includes a plurality of ribs to be coupled to the shaft and to engage an inner surface of the air duct and a spring to be disposed within the air duct, the spring to be coupled to the shaft. The spring under stress being a contributing factor in both the shaft being in longitudinal compression and the air duct being in longitudinal tension.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: RITE-HITE HOLDING CORPORATION
    Inventors: Cary Pinkalla, Frank Heim, Kevin J. Gebke, Nicholas L. Kaufmann, William A. Niehaus
  • Adhesive dispenser
    Patent number: 9604243
    Abstract: An adhesive dispenser includes: a vessel has an open top and a closed bottom, and defines an interior cavity; a handle is affixed on one side of the vessel; a lid with an adhesive charge port closes the open top; a pour spout opens through the lid and is positioned on a side of the cavity opposite the handle, the pour spout includes a channel formed in the cavity and the channel extends from the pour spout to adjacent the bottom of the cavity; and a heater including a heating element for melting adhesive placed in the cavity, and a fin extending axially from the bottom of the cavity. The method for dispensing includes pouring a liquid adhesive from the dispenser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: GLS Products, LLC
    Inventor: Gordon Lee Stegall
  • Potty with liquid management system
    Patent number: 9596965
    Abstract: A potty for use by young children includes a waste collector and a seat adapted to rest on the waste collector. The potty can be placed in an aperture formed in a base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: Dorel Juvenile Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian C Sundberg, Joseph D Langley
  • Removable weight system and method for pool steps
    Patent number: 9593501
    Abstract: A weighting system for a swimming pool step assembly includes a pair of weights, a removable cap for each of the weights, and means for removably mounting the weights to the exterior sides of a swimming pool step assembly. The weighting system described herein is easily installed and removed by the user without having to remove the weights from underneath the pool step assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: ASIA CONNECTION LLC
    Inventors: Mitch Saccoccio, Jonathan Bonelli
  • Combination of vacuum toilet and grey water system functions
    Patent number: 9593476
    Abstract: A combined toilet grey water system for passenger transportation vehicles such as aircrafts includes a toilet bowl for receiving waste water and a basin for receiving grey water. Moreover, the system includes a flushing line and a flushing valve with an inlet and an outlet. The outlet of the flushing valve is connectable to a vacuum waste water system. The inlet of the flushing valve is connected via the flushing line to the toilet bowl. Therein, the basin is connected to the flushing line in such a way that the basin is connectable to the vacuum waste water system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: Airbus Operations GmbH
    Inventors: Ulrich Rieger, Marc Scheel, Frank Schneider, Matthias Mueller, Sascha Koenigsfeld, Holger Brilsky, Michael Rempe
  • Geotextile sheeting stabilized fiberglass swimming pool body
    Patent number: 9593455
    Abstract: A preformed swimming pool assembly, including a preformed swimming pool body outer surface and a plurality of stabilizing sheets connected to the preformed swimming pool body outer surface. The stabilizing sheets may be extended away from the preformed swimming pool body for anchoring underground.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Inventors: William Khamis, Phillip Paul
  • Urine specimen capture and analysis device
    Patent number: 9592034
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a urine specimen capture device comprising a capture bowl for collecting a urine specimen, a mounting frame for supporting the capture bowl within a toilet bowl, and an analytic device connected to the capture bowl to analyze a property of the urine specimen in the capture bowl.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Inventors: David R. Hall, Stephen C. Davis, Joshua D. Larsen, Jared M. Reynolds
  • Decorative attachment device
    Patent number: 9585523
    Abstract: A stopper has an elongated body and a cap that detaches from one end. The body has a seal proximate the cap for engaging a drain ring. The cap can have various decorations upon its upper surface such as logos, team mascots, and patterns applied by painting or waterproof durable adhesive label. The decorative attachment device has a cap that separates from the body with a male button within a chamber at the end of the body. The cap has a cooperating female button on its lower surface. Another embodiment has the cap separate from the body, hook and loop fastener, and a centered aperture. The cap has female loop fastener and a centered pin depending beneath the cap. The pin engages the aperture to align the cap to the body. Alternatively, the cap has a magnetic link to the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Inventor: Ann B. Brannan
  • Flush type toilet bowl and developed portable toilet thereof
    Patent number: 9587388
    Abstract: The invention claims a flush type toilet bowl, comprising a toilet bowl provided with a toilet inlay therein, wherein an elastic ring, a clamping ring and a J-shaped sealing ring are arranged under the toilet bowl drainage hose in sequence, and a nut is further equipped for sealing the end faces of the toilet bowl and the toilet inlay; the toilet bowl is provided with a cavity for containing the clean water and a double water spray jets extended out from the water-jet nozzle; the cavity is provided with a hose connected with the four-way valve, the water-jet nozzle and the hand-pressed air pump, next to the air pump is a button with which you can flush the toilets by pressing it easily. The invention is developed as the gravity flush portable toilet and the cassette portable toilet by using the flush type toilet bowl as the basic universal part, thereby being used on the caravans.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: QINGDAO CHUANGHUI INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Limin Ding, Jinning Ding, Jinghe Wang, Guifen Bai
  • Dispensing container
    Patent number: 9579670
    Abstract: A dispensing container that dispenses a liquid contained therein in foam includes: a container body storing therein a liquid; and a base cap mounted to a mouth of the container body. The container body is flexible so that a squeeze operation may be performed on the container body. The base cap is provided, on a top wall, with a nozzle forming a tubular passage communicating with a front end orifice. The nozzle is provided with a foaming mechanism for the liquid at an upstream end portion and with a through-hole in a predetermined position on a circumferential wall of the nozzle that is downstream of the foaming mechanism. The through-hole is provided with a check valve, and the front end orifice communicates with an inside of the container body through the through-hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: YOSHINO KOGYOSHO CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Sasaki, Takefumi Kuriyama, Shigeo Iizuka, Hiroshi Mizushima
  • Transmission line for drill pipes and downhole tools
    Patent number: 9581016
    Abstract: A method of forming a wired pipe transmission line includes: providing an assembly that includes an inner conductor surrounded by an insulating material; attaching a fixation element to the assembly at or near an end thereof; providing a tubular outer conductor; disposing the assembly and the fixation element within the outer conductor; and fixedly attaching the fixation element to the inner portion of the tubular outer conductor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: BAKER HUGHES INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Volker Peters, Detlev Benedict, Robert Buda, Stephan Mueller, Henning Rahn, Rene Schulz
  • Antiseptic bracelet
    Patent number: 9578935
    Abstract: A wearable bracelet containing an antiseptic solution that can be selectively dispensed by a user as desired to assist in disinfecting the user's hands or other surface. The antiseptic bracelet is to be worn on and around user's wrist near the base of the user's palm and comprises a bracelet band that is connected to opposing sides of a dispensing pod, forming a loop which can be placed around a user's wrist. The dispensing pod includes a hollow interior forming an internal reservoir and a dispensing tip positioned in an outlet channel. The internal reservoir enables the dispensing pod to hold an antiseptic solution and dispensing tip enables a user to selectively dispense a portion of the solution in the dispensing pod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Inventor: Jason Horgan
  • Sink system
    Patent number: 9574333
    Abstract: A sink system includes a sink basin. The sink basin includes a bottom surface having a drain; one or more walls extending upward from the bottom surface; one or more ledges formed on at least one wall; and one or more sink accessories configured to be removably and slidably positioned on at least one of the one or more ledges, each of the one or more sink accessories being sized and shaped to fit within the sink basin. The one or more sink accessories are configured to assist with one or more tasks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: KOHLER CO.
    Inventors: Sarah O'Brien, Terrence K. Mahon, Ryan R. Detlaff