Patents Examined by Lauren Crane
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Patent number: 10458137Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: September 11, 2017Date of Patent: October 29, 2019Inventor: Jerry Hodak
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Patent number: 10449341Abstract: Face soaking devices (devices) and methods of use are described and disclosed. In some embodiments the device may comprise a vessel and a vessel neck gasket. The vessel may be configured to hold a liquid to submerge a face of a user or a portion thereof. The vessel neck gasket may be (removably) joined to the vessel. The vessel neck gasket may be configured to comfortably accommodate a portion of the user's neck. In some embodiments, the device may comprise a breathing apparatus that may be in removable contact with: the vessel, with a head rest subassembly, and/or with the user. The breathing apparatus may be configured to permit the user to breathe while the user's face may be submerged within the liquid. When the vessel may be filled with the liquid to at least a sufficient level, the user may soak the face or the portion thereof, such that the skin being soaked receives a benefit.Type: GrantFiled: April 28, 2017Date of Patent: October 22, 2019Inventor: John Richard Taylor
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Patent number: 10448791Abstract: The toilet apparatus includes a main part and a toilet seat. The main part includes a function part, and a case cover covering the function part. The main part is attached on a toilet bowl. The toilet seat is attached rotatably to the case cover. The toilet seat has a closed state and an open state. The case cover includes an extending portion, a height of the extending portion becoming low toward forward, and a toilet seat pivot support portion provided backward the extending portion, and pivotally supporting the toilet seat. The toilet seat includes a first portion positioned forward the case cover in the closed state, and a second portion rising backward from the first portion in the closed state, overlapping the extending portion, and being pivotally supported to the toilet seat pivot support portion.Type: GrantFiled: August 15, 2017Date of Patent: October 22, 2019Assignee: TOTO LTD.Inventors: Megumi Takeshita, Mihoko Sato, Tomomi Rokuta, Akihiro Ashihara, Ayaka Shigeta, Minoru Tani, Hirotaka Nakabayashi
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Patent number: 10441118Abstract: Provided is a method of manufacturing a toilet seat that is formed by joining together a seat front member and a seat rear member. The method includes a cutting step of forming a processed surface of a joint part between the seat front member and the seat rear member by cutting the joint part between the seat front member and the seat rear member with a cutting tool having a curved cutting blade part such that the shape of the processed surface is formed in a curved shape in which the seat rear member side thereof protrudes outward in a cross section perpendicular to the direction in which the joint part extends.Type: GrantFiled: August 23, 2016Date of Patent: October 15, 2019Assignee: LIXIL CorporationInventors: Akitaka Hamajima, Yudai Morikawa, Motoki Kagawa, Toshiaki Ikeda, Ryuichi Yokoi, Kouta Higuchi, Ryosuke Nakamura, Ryosuke Suzuki
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Patent number: 10434524Abstract: A ball joint connector is provided for linking a showerhead to a water supply pipe. The connector has an internal venturi that draws air into the connector to aerate water being provided to the showerhead. A flow control member is disposed in a fluid pathway connected to the venturi, preventing spraying or leaking out of the air inlet, while reducing noise associated with the air induction.Type: GrantFiled: October 25, 2017Date of Patent: October 8, 2019Assignee: KOHLER CO.Inventors: Peter Kajuch, Todd W. Leonhard
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Patent number: 10405702Abstract: Exemplary embodiments provide a prefabricated modular shower enclosure, including a base with a plurality of engagement feature along a peripheral surface of the base, a plurality of alignment supports, and a surround panel. In some embodiments, at least one alignment support is positionable in a preselected relationship relative to the engagement features of the base, and the alignment supports are configured to be independently made square relative to the base. Additional exemplary embodiments provide a prefabricated shower enclosure, including a base with a plurality of engagement feature along a peripheral surface of the base, and a plurality of surround panels that engage the base. The modular shower enclosure reduces installation time and complexity by using components that are fabricated and cut to size offsite prior to installation at a job site.Type: GrantFiled: December 14, 2017Date of Patent: September 10, 2019Assignee: BRUSKIN INTERNATIONAL, LLCInventors: Albert Barry Smith, Conrad Saks, Mark E. Dannettel
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Patent number: 10407890Abstract: 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 and guides flush water that is spouted from the rim nozzle 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. The rim nozzle spouts flush water upward in the rim water guide channel.Type: GrantFiled: December 4, 2017Date of Patent: September 10, 2019Assignee: TOTO LTD.Inventors: Shu Kashirajima, Yukihiro Sawayama
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Patent number: 10390684Abstract: A drain device includes a first tank body, a second tank body, a third tank body and a drain rack, a bottom surface of the first tank body being mounted and fixed to a top surface of the second tank body, a bottom surface of the second tank body being mounted and fixed to a top surface of the third tank body, the first tank body, the second tank body and the third tank body being in communication with one another to form a washing cavity, a bottom inner side wall of the first tank body being provided with two steps in a lengthwise direction of the first tank body, an inner side wall of the third tank body being provided with two receiving portions in a lengthwise direction of the third tank body, the cross-sectional area of the second tank body gradually increasing from top to bottom.Type: GrantFiled: December 28, 2017Date of Patent: August 27, 2019Assignee: GUANGDONG YINGAO KITCHEN UTENSILS CO., LTD.Inventors: Jiazhi Chen, Huakun Liang
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Patent number: 10378707Abstract: 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: October 15, 2018Date of Patent: August 13, 2019Assignee: B&S PLASTICS, INC.Inventors: Jason W. Hillyard, Luis D. Fuentes
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Patent number: 10378226Abstract: A pool cover winding system has first and second end supports rotatably supporting a shaft for receiving a pool cover wound around it. A bidirectional piston motor operates under control of a valve arrangement connecting a source of water pressure to a first inlet to generate rotation in a first direction for winding a pool cover around the shaft, and to a second inlet to generate rotation in a second direction for unwinding a pool cover from the shaft.Type: GrantFiled: October 18, 2011Date of Patent: August 13, 2019Assignee: MAYTRONICS LTDInventors: Jacob Shpringer, Jean-Paul Villacampa, Ehud Nagler
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Patent number: 10370835Abstract: A seamless undermount sink system includes a countertop having a sink mounting aperture disposed therethrough. The system also includes a sink having a sidewall with a rimless upper edge therearound. A mounting assembly includes a mounting bracket attached to a portion of the sink and a mounting gasket which is secured to a bottom surface of the countertop. An interface is formed between the rimless upper edge of the sink and the sink mounting aperture through the countertop. A sealant is disposed in the interface between the rimless upper edge of the sink and the sink mounting aperture though the countertop to prevent water, food, or other debris from getting in between the sink and the countertop.Type: GrantFiled: January 4, 2018Date of Patent: August 6, 2019Assignee: UKINOXUSA KITCHEN SYSTEMS, INC.Inventors: Mehmet Hocaoglu, Yavuz Hocaoglu
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Patent number: 10352030Abstract: A toilet having a tank to receive water and a bowl connected with the tank. Water travels from the tank to the bowl to discharge waste in the bowl through a manifold connected to the bowl and into a drain line. The toilet has a jet trapway portion having a jet inlet with a nozzle connected with the tank. The nozzle directs water from the jet inlet to overcome an upward bend in the jet trapway portion until received by the manifold at an inlet below the upward bend. A waste trapway portion extends from the manifold opposite the jet trapway portion and connects with the drain line. Waste is discharged from the bowl through the manifold over a bend in the waste trapway portion by combining water flowing from the jet trapway portion into the manifold with waste flowing from the manifold into the waste trapway portion.Type: GrantFiled: March 7, 2016Date of Patent: July 16, 2019Assignee: FLUIDMASTER, INC.Inventor: Tuan Le
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Patent number: 10352027Abstract: A flushing toilet has a manually operable main discharge valve with a main flushing outlet connected to a flushing outlet below the normal water level in a toilet bowl water trap. The flushing outlet is directed toward the water trap. A generally tangential swirling outlet in an upper region of the toilet bowl is controlled by a separate valve and directed generally horizontally to cause water leaving it to follow a swirling path on the inside of the toilet bowl in a cleansing flush. The water trap has a passage that follows a path of generally squat U-shape with an inlet end opening into the lower end of the toilet bowl, a central region that is lowermost and a water trap outlet the lowermost part of which defines a depth to the water trap. The cross-sectional shape of the passage has a longer vertical axis than its horizontal axis.Type: GrantFiled: October 23, 2015Date of Patent: July 16, 2019Inventor: Deborah Sheila Harris
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Patent number: 10335638Abstract: The invention relates to a turning plate for measuring the pushing-off forces of swimmers in a swimming pool when turning and includes force sensors for determining the pushing-off forces and a stiff plate, which can be secured in a stable position parallel to the pool wall. The turning plate has a stiff rectangular frame on which the stiff plate is secured with pre-tensioning by a clamping screw at four locations, in each case over a force sensor. Moreover, next to each of these force sensors, an adjusting pin is arranged on the frame and can be driven out from the frame in order to support the frame on the pool wall. The frame has at least one, preferably two stiff securing brackets for mounting it on the pool edge, preferably on a starting block.Type: GrantFiled: April 23, 2015Date of Patent: July 2, 2019Assignee: Kistler Holding AGInventors: Reto Gasser, Adrian Hofmann, Florian Ullrich, Marc Wehrli
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Patent number: 10337198Abstract: An insulated spa cover (10) contains a thermal insulating core (30), a top cover (150) with an average permeance of at least 57.2 nanograms/Pascal*seconds*square meters, and a hydrostatic head test value of at least 5,000 Pascals, a vapor barrier (130) and optionally a bottom sheet (140) apart from the vapor barrier. Venting pathways are defined around the thermally insulating core to facilitate escape of water vapor.Type: GrantFiled: November 12, 2015Date of Patent: July 2, 2019Assignee: DOW GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES LLCInventors: W. Scott Young, Jeffrey M. Alcott, Gregory T. Stewart
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Patent number: 10336527Abstract: A shower wall system is mounted to a wall frame having a plurality of vertical studs. The system comprises a plurality of attachment pieces, a lower piece, and an upper piece. Each attachment piece is attached to a stud, and either the lower or upper piece is attached to attachment pieces. The lower piece is aligned to the upper piece by a wall alignment assembly. The wall alignment assembly comprises a first alignment member proximate the top portion of the lower piece that mates with a second alignment member near the bottom portion of the one upper piece. The alignment members are configured to mate together in at least a partially interlocking manner, and the plurality of attachment pieces are positioned relative to the wall frame so that the upper piece is aligned with the lower piece regardless of whether the wall frame studs are co-planar and plumb.Type: GrantFiled: July 10, 2018Date of Patent: July 2, 2019Inventor: Danny Wallis
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Patent number: 10337182Abstract: Toilet splash guard systems for preventing splashing of fluids from a toilet bowl to a surrounding floor area. The systems can be used with any common or pre-existing toilet seats, or to replace said toilet seats. Splash guards are disposed on a toilet seat such that a toilet bowl is disposed between panels of the splash guards. The panels capture the splashing fluids from the toilet bowl, thereby preventing the fluids from contaminating the floor area near the toilet.Type: GrantFiled: August 4, 2017Date of Patent: July 2, 2019Inventor: Duane R. Bender
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Patent number: 10337199Abstract: An inflatable pool is includes a floor drain having a drainage conduit and two sealing plug. The drainage conduit includes a midsection pipe having an oblong cross section, an inlet cap having a truncated profile, and an outlet cap that transitions from the oblong profile of the midsection to a cylindrical profile.Type: GrantFiled: February 3, 2017Date of Patent: July 2, 2019Assignee: Intex Marketing Ltd.Inventors: Hua Hsiang Lin, Yaw Yuan Hsu
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Patent number: 10334992Abstract: A rotary unit selectively adds additives to water in a conventional bathtub automatically without a bather having to touch the additives or leave the conventional bathtub to get the additives. The rotary unit includes a plurality of pressurized canisters and a controller. The plurality of pressurized canisters are configured in a circular configuration and are disposed directly adjacent to, and communicatable with, the conventional bathtub. Each pressurized canister contains a different one of the additives. The controller is in communication with the plurality of pressurized canisters, and as such, the controller is utilized to choose one of the additives to add to the water in the conventional bathtub automatically without the bather having to touch the chosen one of the additives or leave the conventional bathtub to get the chosen one of the additives.Type: GrantFiled: September 11, 2017Date of Patent: July 2, 2019Inventor: Wai Kin Chau
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Patent number: 10335822Abstract: A showerhead directional control assembly for enabling physically challenged persons to easily adjust the direction of water spray emitted from a showerhead while seated on a chair in a shower or tub installation including a handle section which is pivotably secured to a mounting section connected to a showerhead assembly, the handle being securable in an extended use position in close proximity to the user, and in an embodiment having an internal construction for locking the handle section to the mounting section in an extended position, and which arm may be pivoted to an non-use position which does not obstruct use of the shower by non-disabled persons, the apparatus further including an adjustable bracket for supporting the handle assembly on a water supply pipe and enabling more precise adjustment of the location of the handle in an extended position.Type: GrantFiled: July 5, 2017Date of Patent: July 2, 2019Inventor: David P. Shoemaker, Sr.
