Patents Examined by Lauren A Crane
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Patent number: 11124956Abstract: The water conduit has: a first water-guiding portion extending from a water supply portion, where the flush water is supplied to the water conduit, to a first spout port located on one of right and left sides of the bowl portion; and a second water-guiding portion extending from the water supply portion to a second spout port located on the other side. The water supply portion is located at a position on the one side. The flush water is supplied to the water supply portion in a direction from the water supply portion toward the first water-guiding portion. A collision wall is provided on a way of the first water-guiding portion such that at least a part of the supplied flush water collides with the collision wall. The at least part of the flush water having collided with the collision wall is supplied to the second water-guiding portion.Type: GrantFiled: March 18, 2020Date of Patent: September 21, 2021Assignee: TOTO LTD.Inventors: Masaaki Momoe, Shu Kashirajima, Satoshi Takano, Masaki Mori
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Patent number: 11124955Abstract: A flush toilet includes a first rim spout port provided in a rim on one side in a left-right direction of a bowl and a second rim spout port provided in the rim on the other side in the left-right direction of the bowl. The first rim spout port is disposed further in the front than the front end of a well portion. The second rim spout port causes the second rim spout to traverse a swirling direction of a swirling flow of the first rim spout and guide the flush water interfering with the swirling flow of the first rim spout to a rear region of the bowl further on the rear side than the well portion.Type: GrantFiled: September 23, 2019Date of Patent: September 21, 2021Assignee: TOTO LTD.Inventors: Eiji Shiohara, Satoshi Takano, Hideyuki Nakatsu, Yuki Kubota
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Patent number: 11124957Abstract: A siphonic flush toilet system and method of priming the same having a toilet bowl assembly comprising at least one jet flush valve assembly and at least one rim valve; and bowl having a rim and a jet defining at least one jet channel, the at least one jet channel having an inlet port and a jet outlet port configured for discharging fluid to a sump area, wherein the sump area is in fluid communication with a trapway. The bowl has a closed jet pathway including the jet channel and extending from the jet flush valve assembly outlet to the jet channel outlet port to maintain the jet channel in a primed state with fluid from the jet flush valve assembly so as to assist in preventing air from entering the closed jet pathway. Flush valves are also disclosed having back-flow preventer mechanisms and/or at least partly flexible valve covers for use with the toilet systems and methods herein.Type: GrantFiled: November 2, 2018Date of Patent: September 21, 2021Assignee: AS America, Inc.Inventors: James McHale, Christophe Bucher, David Grover
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Patent number: 11111663Abstract: A urinal includes a bowl assembly and a trapway assembly. The bowl assembly includes a body. The body defines a bowl and a cavity. The cavity includes a receiver configured to receive a bracket. The trapway assembly is configured to be located in the cavity. The trapway assembly is configured to fluidly couple the bowl to a drain. The trapway assembly is configured to be coupled to the drain separate from the bowl assembly. The bowl assembly is configured to be coupled to a wall separate from the trapway assembly.Type: GrantFiled: September 4, 2018Date of Patent: September 7, 2021Assignee: Kohler Co.Inventors: Jeremiah J. Rauwerdink, Keith E. Muellenbach
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Patent number: 11083341Abstract: A bathing leg restraint includes a pair of base members and a connector member connecting the base members. A support extends upwardly from an upper surface of each base member. A leg restraint member is affixed to an upper end of each support, such that each leg restraint member is rotatably secured to its respective support. The lower surface of each base member is securable to the inner surface of a bathing enclosure, such as a bathtub. The base members contact and support the inner thighs of the user when the user is seated upright within the bathtub. The leg restraint members can be rotated overtop of the user's legs to prevent their legs from rising out of the water. The base members and the leg restraint members maintain the user's legs in a submerged state and prevent the user from sliding downwardly toward the opposite end of the bathtub.Type: GrantFiled: December 18, 2019Date of Patent: August 10, 2021Inventor: Deborah Belback
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Patent number: 11083345Abstract: Shower curtains and shower curtain liners routinely get sucked into the occupant of a showering space due to the “shower-curtain effect,” which is the phenomenon in which a shower curtain or shower curtain liner gets drawn inward with a running shower. The present invention counteracts the shower curtain effect. In certain an embodiments of the invention, an outside unit and inside unit incorporate attachment mechanisms to draw both units into each other while trapping the shower curtain between both units. Attached to the outside unit of certain embodiments of the invention is a connector that also attaches a bottom unit. The bottom unit of certain embodiments of the present invention incorporates weight sufficient to utilize gravity to pull the attached shower curtain downward. The bottom unit places pressure on the external side of a bathtub to additionally force the entire apparatus and shower curtain outward.Type: GrantFiled: February 9, 2015Date of Patent: August 10, 2021Inventor: Charles Mason
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Patent number: 11067295Abstract: A heat emitting radiator for use in a fluid circuit containing coolant therein, and which can generate substantial amounts of heat to heat larger spaces, such as in a home or business, while utilizing minimal power to run, and which can be utilized in various implementations and configurations. The radiator can be selectively activated or de-activated by, for example, a cell phone or the like whereby the fluid circuit in the radiator can be monitored for time of use, temperature and cost of use.Type: GrantFiled: January 10, 2018Date of Patent: July 20, 2021Inventor: Ray King
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Patent number: 11064849Abstract: Technology associated with automatically raising a toilet seat is described. In an example embodiment, a device for automatically raising a toilet seat includes a fluid-based movement source that generates a force upon actuation and a movement transmission mechanism configured to transfer the force to the toilet seat to raise the toilet seat from a lowered position to a raised position. The fluid-based movement source is fixable to a toilet having a toilet seat and a toilet bowl and the movement transmission mechanism is connected to the fluid-based movement source to receive the force and coupleable to the toilet seat.Type: GrantFiled: October 8, 2019Date of Patent: July 20, 2021Assignee: Gmat Ventures, LLCInventors: Troy A. Holbrook, Scott A. Holbrook, Steven R. Hutchinson, Christopher J. Knapp
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Patent number: 11066818Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to flexible drainage trap assemblies and methods for constructing and installing such drainage traps. In one exemplary embodiment, a flexible drainage trap assembly includes a plumbing fixture connector, a discharge joint, and a trap portion connecting the plumbing fixture connector and discharge joint. The trap portion is shaped in such a way that it is operable to retain a pool of water inside the trap portion. The disclosed flexible drainage assemblies include a flexible portion that has a substantially smooth inner surface.Type: GrantFiled: December 10, 2018Date of Patent: July 20, 2021Assignee: COFLEX S.A. DE C.V.Inventors: Eduardo Coronado, Mauricio Coronado, Jorge Sada, Humberto Flores-Villarreal, Javier Canales
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Patent number: 11058604Abstract: A combination emergency wash and faucet unit includes a base configured to be coupled to a sink, an emergency wash arm pivotally coupled to the base and including an emergency wash unit configured to dispense a first fluid, and a spout pivotally coupled to the base and configured to dispense a second fluid. The emergency wash arm is repositionable relative to the base between a stored position and an active position. The spout is repositionable relative to the base and the emergency wash arm. The spout is configured to move away from the active position of the emergency wash arm when the emergency wash arm is moved from the stored position toward the active position.Type: GrantFiled: June 11, 2018Date of Patent: July 13, 2021Assignee: Bradley Fixtures CorporationInventors: Timothy E. Perrin, Ryan Pfund, Douglas J. Carpiaux, Scott H. Micoley
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Patent number: 11028562Abstract: A faucet may include a shell, a control sleeve, a connecting sleeve, a water-stop unit, a locating unit, and a locking tube. The shell has an axial connecting hole, and the control sleeve secured with the connecting hole has an axle hole. The connecting sleeve comprises a tube portion having an axial rod hole formed at a central portion thereof. The water-stop unit comprises a front rod, a water-stop plug, and a rear rod, and the front rod penetrates through the axle hole and the rod hole to locate the water-stop plug in the connecting sleeve. The front rod is engaged with a nut at a front end after penetrating through the axle hole. A first spring and a second spring, which are disposed on the front rod, are respectively coupled between the nut and the control sleeve and between the water-stop plug and the connecting sleeve.Type: GrantFiled: November 13, 2019Date of Patent: June 8, 2021Inventor: Ta-Yu Yeh
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Patent number: 11028566Abstract: A bathroom cleaning assembly for cleaning a bathroom includes a housing. A handle is slidably coupled to the housing for gripping. A pair of wheels is each rotatably coupled to the housing for rolling along a support surface. A plurality of dispensing units is provided and each of the dispensing units is positioned in the housing. Moreover, each of the dispensing units contains a fluid. A plurality of brushes is provided and a selected one of the brushes is selectively and fluidly coupled to a selected one of the dispensing units. The selected brush dispenses the fluid from the selected dispensing unit for cleaning the bathroom. A vacuum unit is positioned in the housing for vacuuming debris from the bathroom.Type: GrantFiled: November 28, 2017Date of Patent: June 8, 2021Inventor: Odigaise Theus
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Patent number: 11014111Abstract: A sanitary equipment and a control method thereof are provided. The sanitary equipment includes a main body having an opining, a cover body movably disposed at the main body, an electric motor driving the cover body to move, an auxiliary apparatus disposed at the main body and a control circuit coupled to the electric motor and the auxiliary apparatus. In response to operation or wireless remote control, the control circuit controls the electric motor to drive the cover body to open the opening and turn on the auxiliary apparatus in a first process. In a second process, the control circuit controls the electric motor to drive the cover body to close the opening, and turns off the auxiliary apparatus at the same time. Sequences, numbers of steps of the first process and the second process are different. Accordingly, the sanitary equipment with multiple functions and convenient use is provided.Type: GrantFiled: September 25, 2018Date of Patent: May 25, 2021Assignee: COMPAL ELECTRONICS, INC.Inventors: Wei-Jun Wang, Ruei-Hong Hong, Wen-Yi Chiu, Po-Chun Liu, Chia-Shin Weng, Shi-Kuan Chen
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Patent number: 11015774Abstract: A spa fixture lighting system assembly includes a wall-fitting nut having a threaded inner circumferential portion and an interior radial seat, and a light source disposed on a light source seat selected from the group consisting of the interior radial seat, an exterior radial sidewall of the wall-fitting nut, or an exterior circumferential sidewall of the wall-fitting nut.Type: GrantFiled: June 25, 2019Date of Patent: May 25, 2021Assignee: B&S PLASTICS, INC.Inventors: Jason W. Hillyard, Luis D. Fuentes
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Patent number: 11001996Abstract: A bath waste and overflow drain system of the present disclosure may comprise both drain and overflow assemblies. The drain assembly generally includes a drain elbow, drain gasket, drain spud, drain trim, and drain stopper. The drain trim may possess weep channels that urge stagnated water from a periphery of the drain spud and into the drain. The overflow assembly generally includes an overflow elbow, overflow gasket, retaining nut, and overflow faceplate. The overflow faceplate may have bayonet channels that engage with a protrusion of the overflow elbow so as to accommodate variances in tub design when effecting an installation. The system according to an embodiment may also comprise test plugs of the overflow and drain varieties which are, together, operable to permit pressure-related tests of the system prior to completing an installation. The overflow and drain test plugs are simple to manipulate and install/remove with quick-engaging, complementary locking features.Type: GrantFiled: April 23, 2018Date of Patent: May 11, 2021Assignee: OATEY CO.Inventors: Shawn Heipp, Kenneth Brown, Douglas Buchan, Joshua Funk, Aaron Lorkowski, Kai Zhang
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Patent number: 10988917Abstract: A toilet flushing device includes a first rim water pipe within which is formed a first water passage through which water flows to a first rim discharge hole, through which water is discharged to a rim part of a toilet bowl. The first rim water pipe extends from the first rim discharge hole toward a rear part of the toilet bowl, and the rear part side of the first rim water pipe is positioned lower than the first rim discharge hole.Type: GrantFiled: January 24, 2017Date of Patent: April 27, 2021Assignee: LIXIL CorporationInventors: Ken Higuchi, Takeya Ichiyanagi, Yasuhiro Kondo
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Patent number: 10974630Abstract: An electrical heating element (1) comprises a core string (2) and an electrically conductive wire (4), which is wrapped about the core string (2), follows the core string (2) and is electrically insulated with respect to the core string (2). A path (10) defined by the core string (2) includes a sequence of alternating first (11) and second (12) sections, wherein the wire (4) is wrapped in a pitch which, in the first sections (11), is generally smaller than in the second sections (12). The electrical heating element (1) can be used, e.g., in a heatable seat assembly.Type: GrantFiled: July 1, 2015Date of Patent: April 13, 2021Assignee: Kongsberg Automotive ABInventors: Mattias Persson, Daniel Josefsson
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Patent number: 10941581Abstract: A hot tub cover consists of an impermeable exterior shell and at least one multilayered insulative and structural core. Each multilayered insulative and structural core may further have multiple core layers layered adjacent to each other in various configurations, providing superior protection from heat losses from within the hot tub as well as structural strength and durability.Type: GrantFiled: September 25, 2018Date of Patent: March 9, 2021Inventor: Jeffrey Allen Jensen
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Patent number: 10940811Abstract: A hand hygiene on board of a vehicle includes a washing device including a water supply device, a basin device with a hand receiving device and a water collecting region with a discharge opening, and a drying device including an air discharge device for generating an air stream in the hand receiving region The air discharge device is connected to the hand receiving region and a negative pressure device connected to the air discharge device. The stream of air for the hand drying process is generatable by the negative pressure device. The air discharge device is connected to the discharge opening of the basin device such that air and fluids are discharged via the discharge opening, which forms a common disposal opening. The negative pressure device is additionally designed for suctioning solids thrown into the water collecting region, besides fluids, for disposal over the common disposal opening.Type: GrantFiled: May 31, 2017Date of Patent: March 9, 2021Inventor: Christian Seibt
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Patent number: 10940562Abstract: A visible light laser system and operation for welding materials together. A blue laser system that forms essentially perfect welds for copper based materials. A blue laser system and operation for welding conductive elements, and in particular thin conductive elements, together for use in energy storage devices, such as battery packs.Type: GrantFiled: January 31, 2018Date of Patent: March 9, 2021Assignee: Nuburu, Inc.Inventors: Mathew Finuf, William C. Gray, Mark S. Zediker, Robert D Fritz