Patents Examined by Robert M. Fetsuga
  • Patent number: 6760932
    Abstract: Hydrotherapy-tub coplanar-flow device includes slotted nozzle on a body for discharge of fluids from the nozzle in a substantially coplanar flow. The body is adapted for mounting on an inner surface of a hydrotherapy tub and attachable to first and second fluid supply conduits. Further, the body has a first inlet for flow of water from the first fluid supply conduit and a second inlet for flow of air from the second fluid supply conduit. The slotted nozzle discharges these fluids in the substantially coplanar flow. The second inlet of the body is located between the first inlet and the slotted nozzle. The body includes an air dam located between the inlets, such as an interior face portion having a steep decline toward the second inlet of the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2004
    Assignee: Saratoga Spa & Bath, Inc.
    Inventor: John V. Maiuccoro
  • Patent number: 6757921
    Abstract: A pull-out faucet has a hollow faucet body with open top and bottom ends and a cylindrical (laterally extending) side opening. A hollow, cane-shaped spout mounts to the top end and seats a spray head at one end. A separate valve block mounts in the housing through the side opening and connects to a mixing valve cartridge lying adjacent thereto on a lateral side. Water supply hoses snap into inlet passages of the valve. One end of a counterweighted spray hose assembly snaps into an outlet passage of the valve block and the other end connects to the spray head. The spray head can be extended from the spout and then retracted. A method of assembling the hoses and valve assembly into the hollow faucet body through the side opening is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2004
    Assignee: Kohler Co.
    Inventor: John C. Esche
  • Patent number: 6754917
    Abstract: A powered auxiliary toilet seat lift provides a U-shaped casement formed by two similar elongate side members interconnected by a forward end plate to fit about a toilet stool and support a toilet seat structure thereabove for vertical and forwardly and downwardly angulated motion. Each casement side member is peripherally defined to create an internal chamber carrying similar elongately spaced lateral pairs of forward and rearward compound jackscrews that pivotally interconnect with the toilet seat structure thereabove. Powering mechanism provides separate electric motors powering each jackscrew that are controlled by a computerized feedback type circuitry for manually selectable or pre-programed motion of the toilet seat structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2004
    Inventor: Delbert R. Rhoades
  • Patent number: 6754912
    Abstract: The present invention provides a novel water spray technique that extends a cleansing area in a two-dimensional manner without moving a nozzle. A nozzle head 170 has a water swirling chamber 171, which is located immediately below a nozzle opening 31 and connects with the nozzle opening 31 via a small-diametral connection pipe 163. The water swirling chamber 171 is formed as a hollow room having a tapered inner wall. A head flow path 34 is eccentrically connected to the water swirling chamber 171. Cleansing water flowed through the head flow path 34 into the water swirling chamber 171 swirls along the tapered inner wall of the water swirling chamber 171 as shown by the arrow SY and is sprayed from the nozzle opening 31 in a spiral (cone-shaped) form.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2004
    Assignee: Toto Ltd.
    Inventors: Ryosuke Hayashi, Yoshiyuki Kawahara, Minoru Sato, Haruo Tsutsui, Michinori Yananose
  • Patent number: 6751813
    Abstract: A device for producing a jet of water has a portable handheld water reservoir to be filled with warm or cold water manually by the user, a battery powered handheld air or water pump to create water pressure for the generation of water jet which is delivered through a handheld nozzle system, a thin flexible disposable nozzle protector for sanitary protection of the non-disposable nozzle and nozzle tip, and an optional new medicine dispenser on the nozzle system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2004
    Inventor: Jing-Yau Chung
  • Patent number: 6751814
    Abstract: A whirlpool bath has a combination suction fixture and disposable filter. The suction fixture is a plastic semi-cylindrical housing attachable to the tub. A removable faceplate is reinforced and resistant to body and hair entrapment. The disposable filter is fibrous having a porous core, wherein the porous core has a series of holes and/or slots graduating in size from small at the outlet end to large at the remote end. The filter, sloped floor of the housing and drain slots provide for low water retention during shutdown. A safety/sanitation port on the outlet port creates cavitation if the whirlpool bath is operated without the disposable filter. The preferred embodiment removable faceplate is attached to the housing via a magnet and a peripheral ledge providing a pop off design. The preferred embodiment filter also has a pop off design.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2004
    Inventors: Roy W. Mattson, Jr., Paulette C. Ogden
  • Patent number: 6745408
    Abstract: A non-leaking flush toilet kit that eliminates the need for using wax gaskets or rings on a toilet system. Such kit includes a floor flange, a toilet base extension sleeve that is affixed to the base outlet opening of a flush toilet, and a v-ring seal seated within the floor flange. The floor flange is affixed to a soil pipe at or about floor surface. Said sleeve projects downwardly from the toilet base and is received by the v-ring seal and extends into the soil pipe, and forms a seal between the sleeve and the floor flange, thereby forming a seal between the base of the toilet bowl and the soil pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2004
    Inventor: Michael Spells, Sr.
  • Patent number: 6745411
    Abstract: A spa system of the invention includes a room of a structure having a plurality of faces defining a room interior space. A plurality of panels each have a front surface and a rear, with the front surface of each of the panels having an emissivity characteristic with respect to infrared radiation of from 0 to approximately 0.3. A securing device is provided for securing each of the panels to one of the faces of the room, with the securing device being positioned on the rear of each of the panels. An infrared radiation emitter generates infrared radiation and disperses the radiation about the room interior space. The infrared radiation emitter is positioned in the interior space such that infrared radiation generated by the infrared radiation emitter strikes the front surfaces of the plurality of panels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2004
    Inventor: Roger L. Kjonaas
  • Patent number: 6745415
    Abstract: Disclosed is a splash block for use with a combination bathtub/shower structure of the type having a substantially planar, horizontal rim surface extending underneath a shower curtain rod. The splash block comprises a ramp portion and a collar portion, wherein the ramp portion has a drainage surface bounded by a peripheral edge consisting of a drip edge and a collar-receiving edge, and wherein the collar portion extends around the collar-receiving edge, and is positionable at an operative position on said rim surface whereat said ramp portion substantially overlies one of said exposed contiguous corners with the drip edge presenting towards the bathing recess, with the drainage surface of said ramp portion presenting upwardly and sloping downwardly to the drip edge, and with the collar portion projecting upwardly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2004
    Inventor: Scott Brettell
  • Patent number: 6745414
    Abstract: A portable and rapidly deployable shower station is provided particularly for emergency wash-down use, such as flush-flow decontamination of a person exposed to hazardous materials such as hazardous chemical agents or the like. The shower station includes a plurality of tubular frame components adapted for quick and easy assembly to define an interior shower stall. The frame components incorporate a plurality of upright telescopic tubular posts having their upper ends interconnected by a flexible hose, wherein these telescopic posts are extensible upon connection to a supply of water under pressure to raise the flexible hose to an elevated position at the top of the shower stall. The tubular posts and the flexible hose carry a plurality of spray nozzles for delivering a substantial water flow projected from multiple locations and in multiple directions into the shower stall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2004
    Assignee: Haws Drinking Faucet Company
    Inventor: Ronghua Zhou
  • Patent number: 6742199
    Abstract: An automatic shower and bathtub cleaning device, with no connection to the water supply piping, that directs cleaning fluid through nozzles that are positioned or adjusted to allow coverage of the entire inside surface of the shower or bathtub enclosure. The device consists of a main body, cleaning fluid reservoir, electric pump, nozzles, and a control circuit that allows either local or remote initiation of the device's cleaning cycle operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2004
    Inventors: Daniel P. Conway, Jude Nicholas Kaiser
  • Patent number: 6732384
    Abstract: A urine collector is comprised of a container with an electric suction pump. A hose extending from the pump is connected to a funnel for collecting urine. The funnel is comprised of an interchangeable female or male funnel. The female funnel is comprised of a cup with an elongated and curved opening for closely fitting under and against a vulva. The male funnel is comprised of a penis-shaped tube with a resilient sealing ring around an open end for sealing around an inserted penis. The funnel can be positioned against the body through a fly in the pants, through a loosened waistband, or under a dress. Urine deposited in the funnel is rapidly drawn into the container by the pump even when the funnel and the top end of the tube are angled up and define an initially uphill path for the urine, such as when the user is seated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2004
    Inventor: Barbara Scott
  • Patent number: 6725471
    Abstract: An apparatus is provided for bathing body parts, such as the feet. The apparatus includes a bath chamber for containing fluid, such as water, and receiving the body part therein. The bath chamber includes a bottom surface and a wall structure extending upwardly therefrom. A pump is disposed adjacent to the bottom surface of the bath chamber, and a bubble egress tube is provided in communication with the pump and the bath chamber bottom surface. The bubble egress tube has a continuous configuration which traverses a surface area of the bath chamber bottom surface having a width dimension greater than the width of the egress tube. Air from the pump is directed into the bath chamber through egress holes formed in the bubble egress tube, thereby generating air bubbles in the fluid contained in the bath chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2004
    Assignee: HoMedics, Inc.
    Inventors: Roman S. Ferber, Alex Wong Chi To
  • Patent number: 6721967
    Abstract: A portable washroom for providing both washing and toilet facilities. The washroom is an enclosure that includes a base, upright supports mounted to the base, wall panels mounted between the upright supports, and a roof mounted to the top of the wall panels. An upward flushing toilet is mounted within the enclosure. The toilet has a waste line extending through one of the wall panels, and out of the enclosure so that waste from the flush toilet and wash basin is flushed outside of the enclosure. A wash basin is mounted within the enclosure and includes a drain line that connects to the toilet bowl waste line. A fresh water supply line extends through one of the wall panels of the enclosure and is fluidically connected to the toilet and to the wash basin for supplying fresh water thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2004
    Inventor: Earl J. Braxton
  • Patent number: 6715161
    Abstract: A toilet training aid comprising a platform and set of safety rails. The platform has a cutout that enables it to be placed directly in front of a standard toilet so that the toilet seat over-hangs the platform. A set of adjustable safety handrails provides small children with an added sense of security while using the toilet and can be completely removed if desired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2004
    Inventor: Allan J. Depoe, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6698034
    Abstract: A liquid rim dispenser intended for suspension from a rim of a toilet bowl adjacent a wall thereof, in the path of flushing water during a flushing operation, comprises a basin with a basin wall and a basin bottom having a bottom opening and a cup with a cup wall and a cup bottom fixed within said basin. The dispenser further comprises a container with a colored staining liquid having a discharge opening facing the bottom of the cup with a predetermined clearance therebetween. The dispenser is so configured that the discharge opening is lower than the cup wall, and the bottom opening is lower than the cup wall and is located remote from the wall of the toilet bowl, and at least when the dispenser is suspended from the bowl rim, the bottom opening is higher than a low portion of the basin bottom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2004
    Assignee: San Bruno's Enterprises Ltd.
    Inventors: Alexander Landesberg, Marc Bremaeker
  • Patent number: 6691335
    Abstract: A hair rinsing apparatus includes a liquid impervious helmet having a hemispherical configuration for partially covering a user's head. An inflatable air bladder extends along a continuous peripheral edge of the helmet for establishing a watertight seal between the peripheral edge and the user's head. The apparatus includes an air pump that may be releasably coupled to the air bladder with a needle valve and needle valve receptacle combination for selectively inflating or deflating the air bladder. The apparatus includes a hose that may be connected to a helmet input port. A plurality of rinse tubes defining a plurality of holes are positioned within the interior of the helmet and are in fluid communication with the inlet port for dispersing a water stream into the helmet as water is received through the hose. An outlet opening is extends through a rear portion of the helmet for draining water therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2004
    Inventor: Susan L. Keith
  • Patent number: 6691341
    Abstract: A sink form for use in installing a sink having laterally extending flanges in a countertop is preferably formed of a plastic material, such as nylon or polypropylene resin. It is preferably made to the exact shape of the cut-out opening for the sink, although for round or oval sinks, the form may consist of a flexible strip of the proper cross-section cut to length as required to match the opening. The sink form has a cross section consisting of a downwardly extending portion which is secured to the edges of the opening, a laterally extending flange portion, and, at the outer edge of the flange portion, an upstanding vertical portion terminating in an outwardly curved part. The downwardly extending portion is secured to the edge of the cut-out opening with the laterally extending flange portion spaced away from the countertop to allow for a layer of concrete float material between the flange portion and the countertop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2004
    Inventor: Jay M. Loch
  • Patent number: 6691331
    Abstract: A gasket for sealing between a toilet base a closet flange has a ring of water impermeable elastomer having a ring upper surface spaced apart from a ring lower ledge by a separation distance S sufficiently large that the ring becomes compressed between the toilet and the closet flange. The ring is sized to cover a portion of the closet flange while fitting between mounting bolts used to secure the toilet to the closet flange. The gasket also has an annular extension attached to the ring and sized to fit into the closet flange. The ring may be rectangular or trapezoidal in cross section. A preferred embodiment has a quasi-trapezoidal cross section with a groove that provides the ring with increased compressibility.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2004
    Assignee: Bakup, LLC
    Inventors: Steven J. Gallacher, Dwayne B. Adams
  • Patent number: 6691336
    Abstract: A spa jet for delivering water from an upstream source of water under pressure to the interior of a spa, the spa jet having a housing with an inlet tube communicating with the source of water and a chamber wall defining a generally cup shaped chamber. A retaining ring is connected to and inside of the chamber wall. A form having an annular upstream portion is fixed against axial movement between the chamber wall the retaining ring. The form has a downstream portion extending from the annular portion in the form of a shaft aligned with the axis. The spa jet also has a rotor with a generally cylindrical body concentric with the axis, the body having a bearing surface extending around the shaft which supports the body for rotating. At least one nozzle passage extends through the rotor which collects water from the inlet tube and directs the water as a water jet into the spa at an angle sufficient to impart a turning moment to the rotor about the axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2004
    Assignee: Pentair Pool Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Jack Buck