Patents Examined by Lauren Heitzer
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Patent number: 8407829Abstract: A drain assembly for use with a faucet including a lift rod, a lever arm, and a coupler operably coupling the lift rod and the lever arm.Type: GrantFiled: November 30, 2007Date of Patent: April 2, 2013Assignee: Masco Corporation of IndianaInventor: John David Vogel
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Patent number: 8402572Abstract: Toilet armrest support system comprises a removable armrest platform having a centrally disposed opening that conforms to the opening over an existing toilet bowl rim. The removable armrest platform supports detachable armrests configured to provide a wider area under the armrests for larger individuals requiring more space. The relatively thin and rigid platform slides underneath an existing toilet seat and engages a docking sub-system fastened to existing hinge openings with toilet seat fasteners on the rear of the toilet. The docking sub-system is of unitary construction comprising docking bar, docking ports at each end of the docking bar, and an anchor block between the docking ports. The removable platform easily slides into the docking ports and under the elevated anchor block. A locking mechanism on the anchor block locks the removable platform securely in place which can then be removed just as easily and quickly.Type: GrantFiled: July 9, 2009Date of Patent: March 26, 2013Inventor: Michael Herasimtschuk
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Patent number: 8402571Abstract: A handle mechanism for lifting a toilet seat and its cover. The handle mechanism is affixed to the toilet seat cover, and selectively engages the toilet seat to lift the cover and the seat individually or together. Because the handle mechanism is affixed to the front of the cover, when the toilet is being used, with the seat up or down, the handle mechanism is well away from the toilet, such that the handle mechanism remains clean and sanitary.Type: GrantFiled: June 19, 2012Date of Patent: March 26, 2013Inventor: Patrick Pagett
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Patent number: 8393019Abstract: A spa system featuring an immersion tank for holding a therapeutic liquid, the immersion tank may feature multiple sectors, a hot reservoir, a cold reservoir, and a mixer reservoir. The mixer reservoir is fluidly connected to each the hot reservoir, the cold reservoir, and the immersion tank via pipes. The hot reservoir has a heating element, and the cold reservoir has a cooling element. Pipes and pumps connect the immersion tank to the mixer reservoir and to the hot and cold reservoirs and the hot and cold reservoirs to the mixer reservoir. Temperature sensors are disposed in the immersion tank and the mixer reservoir. A control unit having a microprocessor functions to change temperature of the therapeutic liquid in the immersion tank by activating various pumps such that the temperature of the immersion tank matches a pre-programmed temperature.Type: GrantFiled: April 14, 2011Date of Patent: March 12, 2013Inventor: Victor V. Cavuoti
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Patent number: 8387175Abstract: A soaking basin is provided having a base unit, a disposable liner, and a frame nested therebetween to enable removal of the liner from the base unit, even when filled with liquid. In this manner, a user can remove the liner filled with liquid to pour out the liquid and discard the liner, after a treatment has been completed. Thus, the user need not lift the entire soaking basin to pour out liquid. In addition, the user can use the frame to support the new liner while filling it with liquid, and to transport the filled liner to the base unit to service clients.Type: GrantFiled: April 14, 2008Date of Patent: March 5, 2013Assignee: Footsiebath LLCInventors: Genya Vinokur, Sasha Vinokur, Michael Vinokur
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Patent number: 8375479Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for recycling wasted heat using waste hot water that includes: a tub that charges and discharges waste hot water; a heat exchange unit that transfers the heat of waste hot water to cold water supplied to a shower bat; and an upper cover that the open upper portion of the tub, and is friendly to the environment by reducing the amount of fuel consumed to supply hot water and it is possible to reduce the fuel cost by the reduced amount of fuel consumption.Type: GrantFiled: October 20, 2009Date of Patent: February 19, 2013Assignee: Gomyung-Enertech Co., Ltd.Inventor: Yong Il Kim
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Patent number: 8341774Abstract: A vertical sliding enclosure for a bathtub, including three vertically slidable glass panel assemblies, wherein each assembly contains a slidable glass panel attached by the left and right glass connectors serving as the transverse position limiters which limit the panel in the transverse movement, a pair of left and right housings having the respective longitudinal tracks for the panel in the vertical movement, and room for a counterbalancing weight system containing left and right pulleys and weight combination so that a weight of the glass panel can be balanced. The enclosure provides a sufficient height for a user to access the bathtub when the three panels are raised to their maximum heights. When in their lowered position, the three panels prevent shower water from entering the bathroom floor.Type: GrantFiled: November 9, 2011Date of Patent: January 1, 2013Inventor: Roy Norris
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Patent number: 8336130Abstract: A toilet device that can be raised or lowered comprising a generally flat base atop a floor; a toilet bowl disposed above the base via a hydraulic lift cylinder, wherein the hydraulic lift cylinder can move the toilet bowl between an up position where the toilet bowl is raised upwardly away from the floor and a down position wherein the toilet bowl is lowered toward the floor; one or more telescopic support rods for supporting the toilet bowl above the base; a waste pipe fluidly connecting the toilet bowl to a waste line of the plumbing system; and a control device operatively connected to the hydraulic lift cylinder for causing the hydraulic lift cylinder to move the toilet bowl to the up position or the down position.Type: GrantFiled: May 21, 2009Date of Patent: December 25, 2012Inventor: Mario A. Cardenas
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Patent number: 8286273Abstract: The toilet foot flushing apparatus quickly converts a hand-flushed toilet to a foot-flushed toilet, without the need of tools. The included lever of the apparatus replaces the existing toilet lever, by hand. The pedal is about 1 foot in length, thereby providing sufficient leverage to the lever via the cable. The lever is attached to flush mechanism on the exterior of an existing toilet reservoir. The spring-loaded pedal returns to a position slightly above the base when released, thereby releasing lever pressure. The geared pedal to base action provides sturdy long-lived flush function. The apparatus does not require any form of floor invasion, as the base need not be mounted to the floor. The cable retainer provides length adjustment for the cable so that a plurality of toilet reservoirs and flush mechanisms can be successfully converted to foot flush.Type: GrantFiled: September 9, 2009Date of Patent: October 16, 2012Inventor: Cory M. Toomer
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Patent number: 8256038Abstract: A urinal block for use in a conventional water-based urinal where the water has been shut off, the block includes a first block portion that makes up about forty percent to sixty percent of the urinal block and has a first portion composition substantially similar to a conventional, non-paradichlorobenzene block used in water-based urinals for deodorizing during each flush, a second block portion that makes up about forty to sixty percent of the urinal block and has a second portion composition of a blended mixture of a non-paradichlorobenzene block portion, an odor counteractant gel, and a bacterial culture gel, and a liquid-pervious and liquid-insoluble layer covering at least the second block portion.Type: GrantFiled: March 21, 2011Date of Patent: September 4, 2012Inventor: Jay D. Hunter
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Patent number: 8250684Abstract: A baby bathing apparatus comprising an easily stored, relatively planar expanse of material configurable into a relatively concave configuration for deployment at least partially within a basin, and a method of forming the same. A material and configuration of a deployed bathing apparatus comfortably and securely retain a baby during bathing. One or more fastening means can be employed to securely yet detachably retain the expanse in a deployed configuration, while also allowing the bathing apparatus to resume a non-deployed, relatively planar configuration.Type: GrantFiled: August 26, 2008Date of Patent: August 28, 2012Assignee: Puj, LLCInventors: Benjamin Todd Richardson, Kathryn A. Richardson
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Patent number: 8250681Abstract: A flush valve is provided for discharging fluid from a tank. The flush valve includes a flapper. The flapper includes a frame portion and a hollow float portion rotatably connected to the frame portion. A relative rotational position between the frame portion and the float portion adjusts at least one opening formed between the frame portion and the float portion, and controls an amount of fluid discharged from the tank by variably adjusting buoyancy of the flapper.Type: GrantFiled: May 1, 2008Date of Patent: August 28, 2012Assignee: Fluidmaster, Inc.Inventor: Joseph Han
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Patent number: 8250683Abstract: A baby bathing apparatus comprising an easily stored, relatively planar expanse of material configurable into a relatively concave configuration for deployment at least partially within a basin, and a method of forming the same. A material and configuration of a deployed bathing apparatus comfortably and securely retain a baby during bathing. One or more fastening means can be employed to securely yet detachably retain the expanse in a deployed configuration, while also allowing the bathing apparatus to resume a non-deployed, relatively planar configuration.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 2007Date of Patent: August 28, 2012Assignee: Puj, LLCInventors: Benjamin Todd Richardson, Kathryn A. Richardson
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Patent number: 8225436Abstract: A portable pressurized solar shower which is mounted on the roof of a vehicle using roof rack mounting hardware. The vessel is an elongated shape such as a pipe (20), which is capped on both ends (32) (33). It can be filled by removing a fill cap (36) on top. Water can be sprayed out using an attached hose (60) and nozzle (70). Part of the vessel is a clear tube (41). Sunlight comes through a clear tube and heats a black surface (42) inside of the tube which heats the water. The vessel can be pressurized by a hand air pump via a valve stem (39) installed on the vessel. Privacy while showering is afforded by an attached shower curtain (86) that is easy to set up by using the easy to adjust curtain frame (80).Type: GrantFiled: March 19, 2009Date of Patent: July 24, 2012Inventor: Joel Brian Cotton
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Patent number: 8191185Abstract: A holder device may be attached to a water outlet tube which is extended from a wall, without drilling holes in the wall, and includes a housing having an inlet attached to the water outlet tube, and two or more outlet ports for coupling to a shower head and a sprayer nozzle, a base having a spring-biased latch for clamping the pipe to the base, a seat slidably attached onto the pipe for adjustably and removeably supporting the sprayer nozzle. The housing includes a casing having a chamber for receiving a valve stem, and a spring-biased valve member received in the valve stem to control the water to flow out through the outlet ports of the housing, and a knob secured to the valve stem to rotate the valve stem relative to the casing and the housing.Type: GrantFiled: October 8, 2008Date of Patent: June 5, 2012Inventor: Pi Kuang Tsai
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Patent number: 8151381Abstract: A flexible safety barrier edge material contacts a wall of a poolside raised obstacle with a hollow loop crossection. The loop portion is slit at multiple intervals to permit the individual sections to conform to relatively sharp inside or outside corner contours of the obstruction. A continuous stainless steel cable is guided around the respective portion of the pool cover periphery in the vicinity of the obstruction, by passing it through fabric webbing loops sewn at the edge of the pool cover. This cable is attached to a top surface of the pool wall deck using pool anchors with split loops having a cable receiving slot. The cable is looped thru said turnbuckle and secured via cable clamps and then tightened by the use of turnbuckles at either end of the cable.Type: GrantFiled: April 4, 2008Date of Patent: April 10, 2012Assignee: Pool Cover CorporationInventor: LeeAnn Pesta
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Patent number: 8122531Abstract: A shower curtain assembly is designed to provide users with an apparatus that provides much wide shower space for consumers than traditional one, prevents the curtain from moving inward, eliminate water spilling onto the floor, and even allows the user to sit on a top periphery of a bathtub near the curtain when the shower is in use. It is simply comprised of a shower curtain support rod that bows outward from a shower enclosure along its length, a shower curtain, hooks, and means that secures the shower curtain to achieve the abovementioned goal. The means includes main weights attached to the lower portion of the curtain, wires connected to the lower portion of the curtain and holders fixed to the bottom edges of the sidewalls of the shower enclosure, and wires with magnets attached. Only one of them needs to be chosen for the shower enclosure for the aforementioned functions.Type: GrantFiled: May 27, 2007Date of Patent: February 28, 2012Inventor: Wayne Wenchuan Li
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Patent number: 8117689Abstract: A wheeled cart is configured to removably carry a patient's personal wash basin. The cart includes a lid that covers the personal wash basin when the cart is moved from a bathroom to the patient so that liquid in the wash basin cannot splash out onto the floor if the cart strikes an obstruction. A flexible tube is provided for filling the basin from a sink. A drain pipe is provided to empty the wash basin without the need to lift the wash basin. A disposable thin personal wash basin having a funnel-shaped outlet may be used with the cart to minimize potential contamination.Type: GrantFiled: November 4, 2008Date of Patent: February 21, 2012Inventor: Shamirra Slayton
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Patent number: 8108956Abstract: A grab bar assembly includes tabs which engage respective pockets to position a cap within a grab bar recessed area. The tabs and pockets position the cap while a locking tab secures the cap within the recessed area.Type: GrantFiled: February 25, 2008Date of Patent: February 7, 2012Assignee: Liberty Hardware Mfg. Corp.Inventor: Earl David Forrest
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Patent number: 8104107Abstract: A nozzle structure of a bidet with swirling water current is provided, in which a user controls water spraying angle of water current sprayed from an outlet of a cleaning nozzle, and the water current with swirling force is sprayed in a circular pattern without causing an eccentricity, thereby increasing cleaning power and reducing water consumption.Type: GrantFiled: March 23, 2005Date of Patent: January 31, 2012Assignee: Woongjin Coway Co., Ltd.Inventor: Sung-Worl Jin