Patents Examined by Nicholas A Ros
  • Pool filter guard method and apparatus
    Patent number: 11072935
    Abstract: The embodiments disclose a method including fabricating a pool filter guard apparatus including a pool filter guard debris screen and spreader anchor apparatus installation device for coupling to the pool filter guard apparatus for installing into a pool skimmer to prevent debris from clogging a pool skimmer basket, fabricating a pool filter guard angular safety module with infrared detection sensors, chemical testing devices, temperature sensors, WIFI and cellular connectivity, a digital processor, digital memory device, panoramic camera for reporting pool conditions to a pool owner and for transmitting alerts on potential unintentional drowning, and creating a pool filter guard digital app for installation in a user digital device for receiving real-time pool condition reports and alerts transmitted from the pool filter guard angular safety module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Inventors: John Yu, Richard Yu
  • Apparatus and method for controlling wafer uniformity
    Patent number: 11062886
    Abstract: An apparatus for controlling wafer uniformity is disclosed. In one example, the apparatus includes: a plurality of temperature control elements and a processor. Each of the temperature control elements corresponds to a different portion of a wafer respectively such that the temperature control elements correspond to different portions of the wafer. Each of the temperature control elements is configured to individually control temperature of a corresponding portion of the wafer. The processor determines at least one portion of the wafer for temperature uniformity control, and instruct at least one of the temperature control elements, corresponding to the at least one portion, to adjust temperature of the at least one portion for controlling temperature uniformity of the wafer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hsiao-Hua Peng, Hann-Ru Chen
  • Pausing handshower cradle
    Patent number: 11028564
    Abstract: A handshower cradle assembly includes a waterway body, a handshower cradle, and an actuator. The handshower cradle is coupled to the waterway body. The actuator is configured to reduce a flow rate of water through the waterway body in response to a handshower being received within the handshower cradle. In some embodiments, the handshower cradle is configured to engage with the actuator under the weight of the handshower to adjust a position of the actuator with respect to the waterway body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: KOHLER CO.
    Inventor: Matthew J. Ball
  • Swimming pool water exchange device
    Patent number: 11015359
    Abstract: In an embodiment of the present invention, a swimming pool water exchange device is provided. In an embodiment, the device fills fresh water, from a water source, into one or more bags as the old water is pumped from the bottom of the pool. In an embodiment, the water exchange device is further provided with a regulation system. In the embodiment, the regulation system cuts off the fresh water supply if the water level exceeds a predetermined height. Furthermore, the regulation system may shut off the pump if the water level drops below a predetermined height.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Inventor: Scott Tarvyd MacDonald
  • Lavatory with hidden drain
    Patent number: 11001995
    Abstract: A lavatory includes a basin including a bottom surface, the basin configured to hold a volume of water; and a drain opening disposed in the bottom surface of the basin. The bottom surface of the basin includes a substantially horizontally extending projection formed integrally with the bottom surface of the basin. The horizontally extending projection is disposed over the drain opening such that the drain opening is at least partially obscured from a view of a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: KOHLER CO.
    Inventor: Cristian Mastellotto
  • Toilet coupling
    Patent number: 10995482
    Abstract: A toilet that includes a tank; a bowl; a mounting bracket comprising a base and three mounting locations; a valve having a valve body extending through the tank and an opening in the mounting bracket; a valve nut coupled to the valve body with the base of the mounting bracket retained between the tank and the valve nut; a flexible gasket disposed around the valve nut between the mounting bracket and the bowl; and three fasteners disposed externally to the tank, wherein each fastener extends through one mounting location and a hole in the bowl to couple the mounting bracket to the bowl; where the three mounting locations are arranged to provide both a pitch adjustment and a roll adjustment of the tank relative to the bowl about respective first and second axes in response to adjustment of one or more of the three fasteners.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: Kohler Co.
    Inventors: Peter William Swart, John F. Emmerling, Scott W. Stonecipher, Billy Jack Ahola
  • Emergency wash system
    Patent number: 10973737
    Abstract: Apparatus and method for providing tempered water to an emergency wash system. Various embodiments include simple, reliable, low-cost flow regulators to reliably provide adequate emergency wash flows. Yet other embodiments include one or more features that consider the special needs of a person temporarily blinded, and include those persons having disabilities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: Magarl, LLC
    Inventors: Robert B. Eveleigh, Thomas R. Baker, Cameron West, Lori Bolin
  • Rolling cover for a spa
    Patent number: 10968650
    Abstract: A rolling cover for a spa or a pool, which can be a rolled-up into generally cylindrical configuration, and an unrolled into a generally flat configuration. The rolling cover includes a flexible top cover, a flexible sealed insulation bag, a bag support structure, a top cover support structure and a cover tightening arrangement. Further, a spa including the rolling cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: Masterspas, LLC
    Inventor: Nathan Coelho
  • Dual flush flapper valve apparatus
    Patent number: 10961693
    Abstract: A dual flush flapper valve apparatus for converting a standard toilet to a dual flush system includes a valve body having a lower rim and an upper rim. The lower rim is configured to selectively engage a tank valve of a toilet. A valve top is coupled to the valve body and is selectively engageable with the upper rim to seal and alternatively unseal a top aperture. A first chain and a second chain are configured to attach to a trip lever of the toilet to move the valve top between a closed position. The first chain and the second chain are arranged such that a partial depression of a handle of the toilet lifts the trip lever to move the valve top to the open position and a full depression of the handle lifts the trip lever further to move the valve body to the lifted position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Inventor: Steven Lazar
  • Methods, systems, and devices for securing and supporting a sink
    Patent number: 10954657
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and hardware suitable for mounting a sink to a mounting structure. A mounting device for use in such methods and systems secures or supports a wall-mounted sink to a mounting structure at or adjacent an upper extremity of the sink and/or at a faucet-mounting hole of the sink.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: Accurtech Inc.
    Inventors: Eric T. L. Hornback, Jeannine M. Hornback
  • Cistern
    Patent number: 10954658
    Abstract: This invention relates to a cistem (1010): More specifically, the invention relates primarily to concealed cisterns for toilets having integrated, and preferably adjustable, dual-flushing and odour extraction capability. The cistem (1010) includes a primary chamber (1020) for storing a volume of liquid, a liquid inlet (1026) for the primary chamber (1020) of the cistem (1010) with liquid, an air outlet (1028) for exhausting air from the primary chamber (1020) of the cistem (1010) operatively during filling; and a liquid outlet (30) through which liquid operatively stowed in the primary chamber (1020) of the cistem is dischargeable. The cistem (1010) further includes a fill valve for controlling liquid supply into the primary chamber from the liquid inlet (1026) and a flush valve (60) for controlling flow through the liquid outlet (30).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Inventor: Dylan Hugh Ross-Kent
  • Portable urinal mounting assembly
    Patent number: 10952916
    Abstract: A portable urinal mounting assembly selectively connectable to a walker having a pair of side support assemblies including upper and lower support braces. The mounting assembly comprises an body sleeve adapted to receive a portable urinal. Front left and right straps and rear left and right straps are attached to the body sleeve. Each of the front and rear left and right straps have an end portion including an attachment device. The end portions of the straps are arranged and designed to be removably secured to the upper and lower support braces of the pair of side support assemblies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Inventor: James M. Killian
  • Faucet
    Patent number: 10947710
    Abstract: A faucet is provided, and the faucet includes a faucet body, an electrically controllable valve, a contact sensing unit or a proximity sensing unit, a motion sensing unit, and a control unit. The control unit determines an operation mode of the faucet based on a signal of the contact sensing unit or the proximity sensing unit, and a signal of the motion sensing unit, and controls an on-off state of the electrically controllable valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Inventor: Chun-Ping Wang
  • Baby bath-support device
    Patent number: 10912422
    Abstract: A baby bath-support device comprises a frame having a generally rigid body. The rigid body is adapted to be positioned on a surface of a bathing tub or sink. The frame has an opening in the upper portion. The opening comprises a peripheral edge. The opening also comprises a support panel made of a flexible material. The flexible material defines a concave support surface to support a baby laid thereon during bathing. The support panel contains perforations to allow fluid to flow through the support surface. The frame opening also comprises a connection arrangement between the frame and the support for hanging the support panel at the peripheral edge. The support panel is hung to the frame to partially cover the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: ANGELCARE CANADA INC.
    Inventor: Michel Morand
  • Sanitary washing device
    Patent number: 10907333
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a sanitary washing device for washing human private parts includes a nozzle configured to jet water toward the human private parts, and a protective electronic circuit configured to prohibit operation of at least part of the sanitary washing device when a component of the sanitary washing device fails. The protective electronic circuit includes a failure diagnosis part configured to diagnose a failure of a component of the protective electronic circuit. At least part of the operation related to the jetting in the sanitary washing device is prohibited when a failure of the component of the sanitary washing device is sensed by diagnosis using the failure diagnosis part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: TOTO LTD.
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Matsuda, Munehiko Ogawa, Kandai Kawahara, Haruhiko Fukumoto, Taro Tanii, Ryota Nishie
  • Telescoping toilet mounting flange
    Patent number: 10907335
    Abstract: A two section telescoping toilet mounting flange for the installation and connection of a toilet to a waste water pipe consisting of an upper male section attached to the toilet base thru toilet base mounting holes and a lower female section with threaded holes for top bolting and mounting of the toilet to a floor and plumbing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Inventor: John David Jackman
  • Apparatus for assisting toilet user in standing up
    Patent number: 10893994
    Abstract: An apparatus for aiding a user of a toilet in standing up includes a structure where the user can sit, and includes a movable seat movably mounted to the toilet; and a seat actuator arranged adjacent to the toilet and actuating the movable seat to move having at least one of lifting movement and pivoting movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2021
    Inventor: Soon Young Song
  • Sink tap structure moving up and down through cooperative operation with shelf moving up and down
    Patent number: 10889970
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a sink tap structure moving up and down through a cooperative operation with a shelf moving up and down, including: shelf frames coupled to a screw bar in the form of male/female screws to move up and down along rails attached to the inner surface of a cupboard by rotation of the screw bar, the screw bar being rotatably coupled to a servo motor disposed inside a cupboard frame; a first stage shelf located close to a user when pulls by means of sliding members slidingly coupled to casing members disposed on the lower portions of the shelf frames and returned to the original position thereof when pushes by means of the sliding members; and a tap coupled to an elevating bar in such a manner as to move up and down by means of the up and down movements of the elevating bar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Inventor: Won-hee Son
  • Pool skimmer mounting arrangements and installation kits having a wall insert
    Patent number: 10876314
    Abstract: Mounting arrangements for pool skimmers, methods for mounting pool skimmers, pool skimmer adapter plates, and pool skimmer installation kits are provided that provide unique opportunities to overcome the limitations of the prior art. Aspects of the invention include an external adapter plate having an internal cavity sized to receive an inlet of a pool skimmer assembly and an internal adapter plate having an internal cavity positioned to at least partially align with an inlet opening of the inlet of the pool skimmer assembly. The use of the adapter plates allows the pool designer and installer broad latitude in selecting a proper skimmer assembly with minimal if any impact upon the design of the pool wall or panel used. Aspects of the invention are uniquely adapted to panel-type pool construction, but may be adaptable for any pool skimmer installation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: Trojan Leisure Products, LLC
    Inventor: Collin J. Sirco
  • System and method for preventing high voltage on a low voltage output in a welding-type system
    Patent number: 10857614
    Abstract: Systems and methods for a welding-type power supply to provide both a welding output voltage and a battery charging output voltage. The power supply includes a first contactor associated with a first circuit to provide the welding output voltage, and a second contactor associated with a second circuit to provide the battery charging output voltage. An auxiliary switch is operatively coupled to the second contactor, to prevent the first circuit from closing when the second contactor is closed to prevent transmission of the welding output voltage to the second circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventor: Ross Renner