Patents Examined by Lauren A Crane
  • Electronic plumbing fixture fittings with shaped and limited sensor detection zones
    Patent number: 10557254
    Abstract: The present application discloses electronic plumbing fixture fittings, such as electronic faucets, with a shaped and limited sensor detection zone. Exemplary embodiments include devices with a plurality of overlapping sensors and devices with a single time-of-flight (TOF) sensor capable of detecting the presence or absence of an object whether or not water is flowing out of a discharge outlet in the in a TOF detection zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2020
    Assignee: MOEN INCORPORATED
    Inventor: Inho Song
  • Intelligent health monitoring toilet system with wand sensors
    Patent number: 10542937
    Abstract: The health monitoring toilet system includes an extendable, retractable, and rotatable wand with sensors on the head section. The sensors may include a variety of cameras and gas sensors for inspecting a user's urogenital, perineal, and anal region for health assessment. The wand may comprise a bidet wand. The bidet wand may also dispense cleansing and therapeutic substances. The toilet system may include a controller which may store the sensor readings as well as protocols for moving the wand to acquire optimal sensor readings. The controller may be accessible by a healthcare provider for diagnostic and treatment purposes. The toilet system may identify each user to store sensor reading acquired for different users in the controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2020
    Assignee: Hall Labs LLC
    Inventors: David R. Hall, Joe Fox
  • Pipeless water jet assembly
    Patent number: 10517795
    Abstract: A device and method for producing pulsating waves of energy for the massaging effect normally associated with high pressure jet systems in whirlpools, pedicure spas, bathtubs and other medical and non-medical devices. The jet assembly includes no external pipes and unlike “pipeless” jet assembly systems in use today, does not require disassembly or circulation of chemical cleaning agents to maintain a sanitary condition of the jet assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: Brooks Stevens, Inc.
    Inventors: George C. Konstantakis, Roberto Berritta, Ryan M. Damm, Steven M. Lippincott
  • Emergency wash system
    Patent number: 10517796
    Abstract: An emergency wash system configured to dispense a fluid is disclosed. The system comprises a receptacle and a dispenser assembly disposed at least partially over the receptacle. The dispenser assembly comprises a fluid inlet portion configured to extend in a substantially horizontal direction when in use and configured to be in fluid communication with a fluid supply. The dispenser assembly also comprises a first outlet portion defining at least one first discharge opening, a second outlet portion defining at least one second discharge opening, a first fluid riser extending upwardly and outwardly from the inlet portion towards the at least one first discharge opening and a second fluid riser extending upwardly and outwardly from the inlet the first fluid riser towards the at least one second discharge opening on a side of the fluid inlet portion opposite the first fluid riser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: Bradley Fixtures Corporation
    Inventors: Timothy E. Perrin, Theodore E. Dhein, Scott M. Kluck
  • Connector for bridging disposable flexible liner installed in a spa basin and the spa basin for overflow drainage through aperture in wall of the spa basin
    Patent number: 10513840
    Abstract: A connector for use with a disposable flexible liner installed in a spa basin is provided to bridge between an overflow opening provided in the liner and an overflow aperture provided in an upright wall of the basin, so that when the soaking solution containable in an interior volume of the basin exceeds a prescribed height, the soaking solution is enabled to drain out of the interior volume through the liner at the communicated openings/apertures. A conduit formed by the connector for insertion into the basin to bridge between the communicated openings/apertures is arranged for a friction fit in an overflow throat extending from the overflow aperture defined in the basin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2019
    Inventor: Jeff Ta
  • Bubble generation system
    Patent number: 10512589
    Abstract: Disclosed is a disposable for use with a structure having a vessel surface that defines a vessel for receiving liquid. The disposable includes a pad and a layer. The pad has a pair of surfaces spaced apart from one another by a tubular sidewall. The pad is permeable to air flow. One of the pair of surfaces is positioned, in use, against the vessel surface. The layer overlies the other of the pair of surfaces and is at least substantially impermeable to air flow. In use, gas is introduced into the pad and issues through the sidewall in the form of bubbles. The disposable is useful in association with foot spas and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2019
    Assignee: Gulfstream Inc.
    Inventors: Minh Sang Tran, Chris Alexander
  • Urinal screens
    Patent number: 10501924
    Abstract: A urinal assembly having a frame and a plurality of posts or posts extending from the frame. The frame can include a plurality of openings. The openings can be defined by a plurality of sides and corners. The posts can extend from the corners and/or from the sides of the openings. In some embodiments, posts extend from a first face and a second face of the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: Fresh Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas S. Brown, Jeffrey A. Smith
  • Method of making the aquaplane, the aquaplane and the inflatable pool
    Patent number: 10500815
    Abstract: A method of making an aquaplane is provided. The method includes flattening a fabric layer and a bottom layer with a waterproof characteristic, where the pull-string layer has a first pull-string layer, a second pull-string layer and multiple pull lines, one end of the pull line holds the first pull-string layer, and the other end of the pull line holds the second pull-string layer; using a roller laminates the fabric layer, the pull-string layer and the bottom layer, where a portion surface of the fabric layer and the bottom layer are melted, and respectively mixed with the surface gluing of the first pull-string layer and the second pull-string layer to produce a fixed microstructure; and cutting a shape of the aquaplane from the lamination of the fabric layer, the pull-string layer, and the bottom layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: BESTWAY INFLATABLES & MATERIAL CORP.
    Inventor: Shuiyong Huang
  • Axial flow pump having a non-circular outlet cross-section
    Patent number: 10501953
    Abstract: The invention relates to a hydraulic pump (10) comprising a pump shaft (52) and a casing (46) delimiting a liquid circulation duct (44) in which the cross-section of the outlet orifice (12) is flattened and is oriented such that the liquid outlet direction (14) is inclined from a longitudinal axis (22) of the pump shaft passing through the casing, the casing comprising a first segment (100a) in which the inside surface (102a) has a circular cross-section centred on said longitudinal axis (22) and surrounding a pump impeller (60) supported on the pump shaft (52). According to the invention, the first segment (100a) has a downstream end starting from which the cross-section of the casing inside surface becomes flattened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Inventor: Clément Courtaigne
  • Bath plug device
    Patent number: 10492647
    Abstract: The present invention relates to devices for preventing fatal bathroom accidents relating to drowning. Accordingly, in a first preferred embodiment, the present invention provides a bath plug device for closing a drain pipe of a bath tub, comprising a bath plug, a cone attached to the top of the bath plug, and at least one pedal-like unit attached to the left and/or to the right of the cone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Inventor: Rudolf C. King
  • Automatic raising and controlled lowering of a toilet seat
    Patent number: 10492650
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: GMAT VENTURES, LLC
    Inventors: Troy A. Holbrook, Scott A. Holbrook, Steven R. Hutchinson, Christopher J. Knapp
  • Remote apparatus for displaying, monitoring and controlling shower, bath or faucet water parameters
    Patent number: 10489038
    Abstract: The present invention is a remote display that communicated with a water parameter sensors engage to or in close proximity to a water supply piping or incorporated within a shower, or bath or faucet head, in an aesthetically pleasing format. The remote water parameter sensors includes power source, microprocessor and/or microcontroller, temperature sensor and/or water flow sensors, timing circuits. The remote display apparatus can communicated with the water parameter sensors by wired or means. The remote display apparatus can be a substantially round housing encircled with an interface ring having a centrally located display, or can be a square, rectangle, circle or other configuration touch-screen display mounted on a housing that has soft button for menu derived operations. Both embodiments have a back portion designed to adhere to various surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Inventor: Michael Edward Klicpera
  • Flush toilet bowl
    Patent number: 10487489
    Abstract: A flush toilet bowl includes a bowl part, a rim nozzle, and a rim water spout part. The bowl part has a rim part on an upper edge of a receiving surface with a bowl shape. The rim nozzle is provided on a rear part of the bowl part and spouts flush water. The rim water spout part is provided on the rim part and spouts flush water that is spouted from the rim nozzle toward the receiving surface. The rim water spout part includes a rim water guide channel that is formed inside the rim part in such a manner that a cross-sectional area of a lower half part of the rim water guide channel is less than a cross-sectional area of an upper half part and a rim water spout port that is formed to be continuous with the rim water guide channel and in a front side region of the bowl part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: TOTO LTD.
    Inventors: Shu Kashirajima, Masaaki Momoe, Yuuki Shinohara
  • Urine backsplash device
    Patent number: 10487491
    Abstract: A device that mitigates urine backsplash in most types of conventional urinals. The device includes low-impact angled plates (or fins) to facilitate deflection and mitigate splash back from urine streams. In an aspect, a plurality of flexible or rigid plates are angled towards a user (e.g., sixty degrees), which allows for the urine stream to plane or glide across the respective plate surfaces and not splash back on the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Inventor: Peter Gavin Delaney
  • Combination toilet training seat and step stool
    Patent number: 10478024
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention can provide a combination toilet trainer, comprising a base comprising two handles, an underside, a backside, and an open side; a removable seat comprising a backed ring and a hinged ring connected by a hinge point, each having an inner opening; and an internal bowl having an internal bowl lip; wherein the removable seat is configured to be removably mounted atop the open side of the base; and wherein the internal bowl is configured to be removably attachable to the removable seat at the inner opening by the internal bowl lip being secured between the backed ring and the hinged ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: GINSEY INDUSTRIES, INC.
    Inventors: Matthew James Del Duke, Christopher Ernest Greco, Daniel Imberman
  • Lighted inflatable apparatus
    Patent number: 10472841
    Abstract: Aspects of the disclosed technology include a lighted inflatable pool including: a wall including a first inflatable chamber; a base; at least one lighting element disposed within the wall, the at least one lighting element being configured to emit light; and a receiver connected to the at least one lighting element, the receiver being configured to receive a command for controlling the lighting element and to control the at least one lighting element in correspondence with the command.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: POLYGROUP MACAU LIMITED (BVI)
    Inventors: Ricky Tong, Scott Hershock, Yifeng Zhang, Chaolong Lan
  • Accessory rail system for bath or shower walls
    Patent number: 10463200
    Abstract: A bath or shower storage system which offers customizable storage solutions for a bath or shower. The bath or shower storage system includes a bath or shower wall having one or more integrated rails formed on the bath or shower wall, and one or more locking storage accessories which can be attached to the integrated rails. The locking storage accessories include hinge clamp that clamps on the integrated rail when the locking storage accessories are placed in a locked position, and a storage portion to store bath products. The bath or shower storage system may include a variety of storage solutions such as shallow trays, shelves, washcloth holders, and hooks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: AS AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Charles A. Patterson, Alison J. Lyons, Christophe Bucher, Daigo Ishiyama, Jean-Jacques L'Henaff
  • Method and apparatus for producing waves suitable for surfing using wave-forming caissons with floating wave attenuator
    Patent number: 10458136
    Abstract: A wave generator for a wave pool with a floating attenuator housed within a caisson compartment that has mass, density and weight characteristics that enable it to remain substantially in contact with the top surface of the water in the compartment. Additional mechanisms are provided which help to keep the attenuator in a substantially horizontal orientation within the caisson, such that unwanted wave motions and water movements within the caisson compartment can be substantially reduced or eliminated. These mechanisms include the adaptation of a vertical post within the compartment and cable and pulley systems that are designed to help control the up and down movement of the attenuator as it travels up and down within the compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Inventors: Thomas J. Lochtefeld, Dirk Bastenhof
  • Magnetized accessory system for bath or shower walls
    Patent number: 10455988
    Abstract: A bath or shower storage system which offers customizable storage solutions for a bath or shower. The bath or shower storage system includes a bath or shower wall having a magnet-friendly zone formed by an integrated panel within the bath or shower wall, and one or more magnetic shelves which can be attached to the magnet-friendly zone. The magnetic shelves include an attachment member that includes one or more magnets, and a storage member to store bath products. The bath or shower storage system may include a variety of storage solutions such as shallow trays, shelves, washcloth holders, and hooks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: AS AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Alison J. Lyons, Charles A. Patterson, Christophe Bucher, Daigo Ishiyama, Ronald D. Barndt, Jean-Jacques L'Henaff
  • Pool skimmer opening closure device and method
    Patent number: 10458137
    Abstract: A device that selectively closes an inlet opening in a face frame of a throat in a pool skimmer, the throat having an outlet opening in a wall of a chamber of the pool skimmer, the throat being in a water flow communication with the chamber, the chamber accessible through a removable lid, the device comprises a body sized larger than the inlet opening, a support member sized and shaped to be positioned, during use of the device, in a contact with the wall of the chamber and adjacent the outlet opening of the throat, and an elastic member being in a first connection with the body and in a second connection with the support member, the elastic member further being in a tension during use of the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Inventor: Jerry Hodak