Patents Examined by Lauren Crane
  • Toilet bowl overflow prevention
    Patent number: 10145095
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed towards preventing an overflow of a toilet bowl in the event of, for example, a clogged toilet. A toilet flush handle may be in communication with a toilet flush valve. The toilet flush handle may be configured to rotate in a first direction and in a second direction. By rotating in the first direction, the toilet flush handle may initiate a toilet flush. By rotating in the second direction, the toilet flush handle may interrupt the toilet flush.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: DANCO, INC.
    Inventors: Michael J. Schuster, Duston E. A. Stutzman, Douglas C. Saunders
  • Disposable bedpan with lid
    Patent number: 10137046
    Abstract: A disposable bedpan with lid, having a bedpan with a base and a sidewall having at least one lateral support. The bedpan further has a top ridge and a front ridge. The bedpan further has a front top cavity defined between the top ridge and the front ridge. A cover has a cover base and a u-shaped cover base ridge. The u-shaped cover base ridge is inserted into the front top cavity when the cover mounts upon the bedpan. The cover is connected to the bedpan by a hinge. A lid has a lid panel and is connected to the bedpan by a lid hinge. The bedpan having the cover and lid are for a single use and are disposable. A plurality of the bedpan having the cover and the lid are stackable upon one another. The bedpan having the cover and the lid collects waste.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Inventor: Gustavo Guillermo Pinus
  • Shower bench seat
    Patent number: 10136766
    Abstract: A shower bench seat configured for use in a shower area is provided. The shower bench seat including an inboard assembly configured for placement within the shower area and an outboard assembly configured for placement adjacent the shower area. An intermediate assembly is configured to connect the inboard assembly to the outboard assembly. The intermediate assembly is further configured to retain a shower curtain within the shower area thereby facilitating use of the shower bench seat by a user in a seated position and simultaneously facilitating retention of water within the shower area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Inventor: Christopher J. Fortman
  • Biotechnology toilet provided with decomposing process device, and ready-to-assemble lavatory provided with same
    Patent number: 10130222
    Abstract: A biotechnology toilet provided with a decomposing process device and a non-flush toilet bowl attached to a toilet bowl attachment plate that covers the toilet bowl opening of the decomposing process device, in which: the conveying blades are disposed at both ends of the rotation shaft; a circumferential stirring member that stirs an organic waste and a sawdust in a circumferential direction is fastened to each of the rotation shaft between the conveying blade and the internal side face of the process tank; two drive mechanisms are provided on an outer side face of the process tank, the two rotation shafts are driven and rotated by the respective drive mechanisms connected one by one to the respective rotation shafts; the two drive mechanisms are controlled by a single control device of the decomposing process device via different control circuits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: Seiwa Denko Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Toshihiro Kitsui
  • Flexible sink caddy
    Patent number: 10117547
    Abstract: A sink accessory, comprising a flexible outer rim including a central area and a flexible webbing connected to the outer rim, the flexible webbing comprising a plurality of holes and an opening, wherein the flexible webbing at least partially occupies the central area of the flexible outer rim.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: Umbra, LLC
    Inventor: Eugenie De Loynes
  • Universal height absorbing toilet seal
    Patent number: 10119263
    Abstract: A toilet seal for sealing between a plumbing fixture discharge and a waste drainpipe outlet is described. The toilet seal comprises a flange member having an inwardly extending flexible lip and one or more raised ridges defining an annular seal extending upwardly from an upper surface of the flange member. The toilet seal further includes a radiused wall extending downwardly from the flange member, which cooperates with the flange member to define a cavity for receiving a compressible member. The toilet seal further comprises a flexible sleeve extending downwardly from the radiused wall. Related methods are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: Coflex S.A. de C.V.
    Inventors: Eduardo Coronado, Pedro Gonzalez, Adam Robert Sampson, Tuan Van Le, Krishnaditya Arkalgud
  • Flow diverter with antisiphon
    Patent number: 10119259
    Abstract: A flow diverter for diverting flow between a toilet bowl and a toilet tank, having: a body having an inlet, a first outlet and a second outlet; and a flow adjustment mechanism rotatable within the body to selectively divert different percentages of flow between the first outlet and the second outlet; and an air vent and diaphragm in the body to prevent a siphon flow from the first or second outlet back to the inlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: FLUIDMASTER, INC.
    Inventor: Tuan Le
  • Shower fall prevention device
    Patent number: 10111795
    Abstract: A device may be provided for preventing fatal bathroom accidents relating to falls. Such a shower fall prevention device may be attached to a fixing point on a ceiling of a shower and may have two arm pit hooks pivotably connected to the fixing point. It may further comprise a rod connected between the fixing point and a bar, where arm pit hooks may be connected on right and left ends of the bar. The device may further comprise a strong rubber band or an extendable and retractable belt, connected between the fixing point and the rod. The device may further comprise a handle next to the rod and connected to the bar via an extension of a free end of one of the arm pit hooks, and may further comprise a cushion formed on an extension of a free end of one of the arm pit hooks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2018
    Inventor: Rudolf C. King
  • Portable water and energy saving bathtub
    Patent number: 10105016
    Abstract: A portable water and energy saving bathtub used in a shower room or a bathtub comprises a body liking an opened container, a step on the bottom is located beside the end wall. The other end is a flashboard gate, which includes a groove on inner faces of the container, the flashboard capable of moving is inserted into the groove until to a bottom of the groove, a water seal ring is set between the groove and the flashboard. A reducing-volume-chunk likes a cuboid has two legs sitting on the side walls of container, therefore, the reducing-volume-chunk is hanged in the container. A locking-releasing-device locks or releases the rock for the reducing-volume-chunk with the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Inventors: Davy Zide Qian, Benyu Qian, Lequn Lu
  • Portable sink with removable water plate
    Patent number: 10106968
    Abstract: A work table is converted to a portable sink by joining the work table to a faucet spigot for connection to a water source. A removable water plate has a rear wall that extends upwardly from the upper surface of the water plate. The water plate further defines an opening that directs liquid(s) (e.g., water) to a drain. The rear wall of the water plate is removably insertable into a space or gap in a back wall of the table or work surface to mount the water plate between the faucet spigot and the work surface. A cassette defining an internal compartment that leads to a drain may be mounted to a back surface of the back wall of the work table. When a cassette is so mounted, the rear wall of the water plate then may be held inside the cassette, slidably engaged between a rod support inside the cassette and an internal wall of the cassette.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: Metal Masters Foodservice Equipment Co., Inc.
    Inventor: Kenneth E. Reese
  • Inflatable toilet seat adapter for child
    Patent number: 10105021
    Abstract: A toilet seat adapter for use by infants and children who are unable to use conventional bathroom facilities. The invention includes a tubular inflatable plastic body, with a tubular seat portion having a front segment, side segments and rear segment that join to define a central opening. Connecting with a bottom side of seat portion side segments and seat portion rear segment is a downward extending tubular positioning ring. Sidewalls of the positioning ring are formed with respective sets of vertical, spaced apart stiffening ribs. Connecting respectively to the seat portion side segments is a pair of handles. Attached to the seat portion rear segment is an upstanding, tubular backrest while a flap covers the inflation device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Inventor: Michael McGuire
  • Resettable breakaway shower rod system
    Patent number: 10098508
    Abstract: A resettable breakaway shower rod system includes a pair of mounting brackets suitable for mounting a curved shower curtain rod having ends on the wall of a shower between the brackets; the mounting brackets each includes a stationary portion, and a rotatable portion which is rotatably coupled to the stationary portion; the stationary portion and the rotatable portion have a releasable engaging device that engages the rod at a horizontal position and releases the rod to a downward breakaway position when excessive downward force is applied; both ends of the rod remain in the bracket, and the rod resets upward to a horizontal position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Inventor: Tracy Switzer
  • Faucet assembly
    Patent number: 10072400
    Abstract: A faucet assembly includes a bushing defining a cutout at a portion of a first end, and a control handle received on the first end of the bushing. The control handle includes an inner wall defining a set screw bore therein, and an outer wall spaced apart from the inner wall, the outer wall defining a visible bore therethrough. The control handle further includes a cavity at least partially defined between the inner wall and the outer wall. The cavity is configured to receive at least a portion of the cutout.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: KOHLER CO.
    Inventors: William R. Bares, Perry D. Erickson
  • Shower enclosure door system
    Patent number: 10070757
    Abstract: A shower enclosure door system, having a header with a channel defined between first and second ends. The header further has at least first, second, third, and fourth roller assemblies that travel upon the channel. The first and second brackets receive the first and second ends respectively. The first and second brackets mount onto lateral walls to define a shower enclosure. A base assembly comprises third and fourth ends. First and second base brackets mount upon the third and fourth ends respectively. The base assembly mounts onto a mounting surface for the shower enclosure. The first and second brackets support a weight of shower doors of the shower enclosure without side jambs while the shower doors bypass one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Inventor: Rubens Jacob
  • Urine backsplash device
    Patent number: 10066381
    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: February 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Inventor: Peter Gavin Delaney
  • Adjustable toilet footrest assembly
    Patent number: 10064497
    Abstract: An adjustable toilet footrest assembly has a main footrest and a height-adjusting accessory, wherein the height-adjusting accessory is removably attachable to the top of the main footrest and wherein the height-adjusting accessory is nestable to the underside of the main footrest when not in use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: Squatty Potty, LLC
    Inventors: Robert W. Edwards, Judy M. Edwards, William T. Edwards
  • Rimless toilet
    Patent number: 10060113
    Abstract: A toilet includes a bowl having a vertically-elongated jet orifice near a top of the bowl that is designed to introduce flush water into the bowl from an interior water channel through a surface of an inner wall of the bowl, such that the flush water is directed around the inner wall of the bowl to wash the inner wall. The toilet also includes a shelf for directing the flush water. The toilet is a gravity-fed toilet that does not include an overhanging rim.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: KOHLER CO.
    Inventors: Michael J. Luettgen, Wiliam C. Kuru, Sudip Mukerji, Douglas E. Bogard, Peter W. Swart, Clayton C. Garrels, John F. Emmerling, Kari L. Jaeckels, Michael D. Lindsay
  • Molding material for a household plumbing equipment and a household plumbing equipment fabricated using the same
    Patent number: 10053576
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a thermoplastic resin for a household plumbing equipment includes: reacting an acid component including a terephthalic acid and a glycol component including a trimethylene glycol derived from a plant to form a poly trimethylene terephthalate resin as a condensation polymer of a formed glycol ester; and combining the poly trimethylene terephthalate resin with a polymethyl methacrylate resin in a mass ratio of 90:10-50:50 to form a thermoplastic resin, wherein the thermoplastic resin includes the polymethyl methacrylate resin and the polytrimethylene terephthalate resin in an amount of 80% or more by mass of a total amount of the formed thermoplastic resin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takaya Niu, Kazumasa Rokushima
  • Method and device for providing a composition containing hyaluronic acid
    Patent number: 10046345
    Abstract: The invention relates to methods and to a device for providing a composition containing hyaluronic acid, in particular for cosmetic or medical purposes. This disclosure teaches that hyaluronic acid can be stored in a dose-metering device and that potable water from a potable water network can be mixed with hyaluronic acid using the dose-metering device such that a composition containing hyaluronic acid is formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignee: BWT Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Jürgen Johann
  • Dual flush activation
    Patent number: 10047509
    Abstract: Various methods and systems are provided for dual flush activation. In one embodiment, an assembly includes a handle assembly; and a transfer box configured to detachably connect to an actuation control box of the dual flush toilet system. The transfer box is configured to translate a rotational motion of the handle assembly into a linear motion accepted by the actuation control box to initiate a flush mode of the dual flush toilet system. In another embodiment, an assembly includes a dual-input actuation control box configured to detachably connect to a rotary handle assembly and a push button assembly. The dual-input transfer box is configured to translate a rotational motion of the rotary handle assembly and a liner motion of the push button assembly into a linear motion to initiate a flush mode of the dual flush toilet system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignee: Danco, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael J. Schuster, Douglas C. Saunders, Duston E. A. Stutzman