Patents Examined by Karen L Younkins
  • Patent number: 8056153
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is an apparatus for advertising a product or service and for sanitizing, deodorizing, and preventing splatter of fluids discharged in a urinal. The apparatus comprises a fluid permeable receptacle herein referred to as “receptacle” suspended along its longitudinal axis for absorbing discharged fluids and releasing the absorbed fluids into a drain of the urinal, an advertisement layer, and fasteners for fastening the receptacle to the urinal. The receptacle comprises particulate material embedded within compartments of the receptacle. The particulate material comprises an anti-splatter material for preventing splatter of fluids, an odor removal material for removing undesired odor from the fluids, and a sanitizing material for cleaning and disinfecting the fluids. Grommets along with the fasteners may be used for fastening the receptacle to the urinal. Advertisements may be printed on the surface of the receptacle or the advertisement layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Inventor: Javier Fernando Ruedas
  • Patent number: 8037557
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a sink access device which is utilized to facilitate a child or a diminutive person to wash their hands at a lavatory located in a public restroom. The sink access device includes a step support mount having a base and an upwardly extending arm. The step support mount is fixedly attached to a portion of a public restroom. A step is pivotally mounted to the upwardly extending arm of the step support mount. The step has a first position wherein the step is in a vertical position and a second position wherein the step is in a horizontal position providing a platform for a diminutive person to step onto. The step is positioned either at or behind a vertical plane defined by the front profile of a sink when the step is in the first position and the step breaks the plane when in the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Inventors: Paul Sumpton, Joi Sumpton, John Evans
  • Patent number: 8015632
    Abstract: A wall mounting for a shower is mounted such as to pivot about a horizontal axis at the end thereof against the wall (1). The arm (5) has a fork at the separation from the fixing end. A clamp holder is provided in the region of the front end thereof in which a shower head (8) can be introduced. The fixing between the shower head (8) and the mounting is made by a friction connection, whereby the housing of the shower head is embodied such that it cannot be recognized from the form thereof that said housing serves for fixing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: Hansgrohe AG
    Inventors: Andreas Haug, Fabian Kollmann, Tom Schoenherr
  • Patent number: 8011032
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for circulating water in a bathing installation with a water circulation flow path and a tub for holding bathing water is described. A pump is submerged in a chamber in the circulation flow path so that the pump when operated provides a positive pump pressure to pump water through the circulation flow path from an inlet opening to an outlet opening. Thermal contact is provided between a pump housing surface and water in the chamber to allow heat transfer between the pump housing surface and water in the chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: Balboa Instruments, Inc.
    Inventors: David J. Cline, Loren R. Perry