Patents by Inventor Achim MIELKE

Achim MIELKE has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11933027
    Abstract: A sanitary fitting (1) that contains a fitting body (2), a first spray plate (3), a second spray plate (4), and a two-way valve (5), which can be used to selectively route a liquid to the first spray plate (3) or to the second spray plate (4), wherein the two-way valve (5) is arranged in the fitting body (2) and having a valve body (6), which is mounted rotatably about an axis of rotation (11) in a valve housing (25) of the two-way valve (5) between a first valve seat (7) of a first outlet (8) of the two-way valve (5) and a second valve seat (9) of a second outlet (10) of the two-way valve (5).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: GROHE AG
    Inventors: Jan Philipp Tueshaus, Waldemar Gaida, Achim Mielke, Andreas Jung
  • Patent number: 11454013
    Abstract: The invention relates to a bidet/toilet combination (1) comprising: —a toilet bowl (2) surrounding a bowl space (3); —a spray device (4) comprising a spray nozzle (5) located in the bowl space (3); wherein the spray nozzle (5) is arranged and designed to adopt a rest position (6) and a use position (7). The invention also relates to a method for operating said toilet and to the use of said bidet/toilet combination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: GROHE AG
    Inventors: Achim Mielke, Olaf Schneider
  • Publication number: 20220145600
    Abstract: A sanitary fitting (1) that contains a fitting body (2), a first spray plate (3), a second spray plate (4), and a two-way valve (5), which can be used to selectively route a liquid to the first spray plate (3) or to the second spray plate (4), wherein the two-way valve (5) is arranged in the fitting body (2) and having a valve body (6), which is mounted rotatably about an axis of rotation (11) in a valve housing (25) of the two-way valve (5) between a first valve seat (7) of a first outlet (8) of the two-way valve (5) and a second valve seat (9) of a second outlet (10) of the two-way valve (5).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2020
    Publication date: May 12, 2022
    Applicant: Grohe AG
    Inventors: Jan Philipp TUESHAUS, Waldemar GAIDA, Achim MIELKE, Andreas JUNG
  • Publication number: 20220018105
    Abstract: The invention relates to a bidet/toilet combination (1) comprising: —a toilet bowl (2) surrounding a bowl space (3); —a spray device (4) comprising a spray nozzle (5) located in the bowl space (3); wherein the spray nozzle (5) is arranged and designed to adopt a rest position (6) and a use position (7). The invention also relates to a method for operating said toilet and to the use of said bidet/toilet combination.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 11, 2019
    Publication date: January 20, 2022
    Applicant: Grohe AG
    Inventors: Achim MIELKE, Olaf SCHNEIDER
  • Patent number: 11193851
    Abstract: A method for detecting a leak, having at least the following steps: a) capturing a flow volume of a liquid through a liquid line during a multiplicity of liquid removal processes; b) comparing the flow volumes of the liquid in the respective liquid removal processes with an alarm value; c) outputting an alarm signal if the flow volume of the liquid in a liquid removal process exceeds the alarm value; d) adapting the alarm value on the basis of a frequency of the occurrence of the flow volumes of the liquid in the liquid removal processes above an adaptation value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: Grohe AG
    Inventors: Bert Depiere, Waldemar Gaida, Heiko Schoenbeck, Achim Mielke, Torsten Meier, Daniel Radermacher
  • Patent number: 10823634
    Abstract: A method for detecting a leak in a fluid line, having at least the following steps: closing the fluid line with a valve to create a pressure chamber in the fluid line; determining a first pressure drop in the pressure chamber; opening the valve after completing the determination of the first pressure drop; closing the fluid line with the valve to create the pressure chamber in the fluid line again; determining a second pressure drop in the pressure chamber; and comparing the first pressure drop with the second pressure drop. Also, a water meter is provided with a valve, a flow sensor, and a pressure sensor, which are connected in a data-carrying manner to a controller, wherein the controller is set up to carry out the method according to the invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: Grohe AG
    Inventors: Achim Mielke, Matthias Thesseling, Heiko Schoenbeck
  • Patent number: 10738461
    Abstract: An installation unit for a bathroom, having at least one wall cladding element covering a bathroom wall. At least one transmitter unit having at least one associated transmitter antenna, which is part of a wireless power and/or signal transmission device, is disposed on the rear side, facing away from the visible side, of the wall cladding element. The transmitter unit can be coupled in a wireless power and/or signal transmitting connection to a receiver unit positioned in the bathroom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: Grohe AG
    Inventors: Waldemar Gaida, Achim Mielke
  • Publication number: 20200217744
    Abstract: A method for detecting a leak, having at least the following steps: a) capturing a flow volume of a liquid through a liquid line during a multiplicity of liquid removal processes; b) comparing the flow volumes of the liquid in the respective liquid removal processes with an alarm value; c) outputting an alarm signal if the flow volume of the liquid in a liquid removal process exceeds the alarm value; d) adapting the alarm value on the basis of a frequency of the occurrence of the flow volumes of the liquid in the liquid removal processes above an adaptation value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2020
    Publication date: July 9, 2020
    Applicant: Grohe AG
    Inventors: Bert DEPIERE, Waldemar GAIDA, Heiko SCHOENBECK, Achim MIELKE, Torsten MEIER, Daniel RADERMACHER
  • Patent number: 10214885
    Abstract: A method for operating a sanitary fitting having a housing with a spout and a touch sensor, wherein in a touch mode of the sanitary fitting a tapping of a fluid can be activated by touching the touch sensor and wherein by touching the touch sensor for a period of at least 3 seconds, the touch mode is disabled. In addition, a sanitary fitting is specified, which controller is designed and provided for performing the method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: Grohe AG
    Inventors: Achim Mielke, Felix Hamer
  • Publication number: 20180328811
    Abstract: A method for detecting a leak in a fluid line, having at least the following steps: closing the fluid line with a valve to create a pressure chamber in the fluid line; determining a first pressure drop in the pressure chamber; opening the valve after completing the determination of the first pressure drop; closing the fluid line with the valve to create the pressure chamber in the fluid line again; determining a second pressure drop in the pressure chamber; and comparing the first pressure drop with the second pressure drop. Also, a water meter is provided with a valve, a flow sensor, and a pressure sensor, which are connected in a data-carrying manner to a controller, wherein the controller is set up to carry out the method according to the invention.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2018
    Publication date: November 15, 2018
    Applicant: Grohe AG
    Inventors: Achim MIELKE, Matthias THESSELING, Heiko SCHOENBECK
  • Patent number: 10088851
    Abstract: A thermostatic mixing valve for mixing cold water and hot water and for setting a mixed water temperature, having an electric motor that is controllable by a control unit and acts via a gear stage on a valve body, which is stroke-adjustable over a setting range and with which the mixing ratio between hot and cold water can be varied depending on a target mixed water temperature, presettable on the user side, and having a sensor element for detecting at least one set position in the setting range of the thermostatic mixing valve. The gear stage has a linearly adjustable linear displacement element, arranged rotationally fixed and provided between the electric motor and the valve body, and the sensor element works together with the linear displacement element to detect the set position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: GROHE AG
    Inventors: Kai Huck, Tanja Schwartpaul, Achim Mielke
  • Publication number: 20180066423
    Abstract: An installation unit for a bathroom, having at least one wall cladding element covering a bathroom wall. At least one transmitter unit having at least one associated transmitter antenna, which is part of a wireless power and/or signal transmission device, is disposed on the rear side, facing away from the visible side, of the wall cladding element. The transmitter unit can be coupled in a wireless power and/or signal transmitting connection to a receiver unit positioned in the bathroom.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2017
    Publication date: March 8, 2018
    Applicant: Grohe AG
    Inventors: Waldemar GAIDA, Achim MIELKE
  • Patent number: 9714501
    Abstract: A plumbing fixture at least having a first housing section and a second housing section which are arranged movable to one another, whereby the first housing section together with the second housing section forms an electrical sensor. In particular, an electrically conductive and simultaneously sealing coupling component is provided between the housing sections, whereby further an electrically conductive coupling component is provided between the first housing section and the second housing section and the coupling component comprises an electrically conductive plastic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2017
    Assignee: Grohe AG
    Inventors: Hans Dieter Keiter, Achim Mielke, Frank-Thomas Luig, Gunter Gaebel
  • Publication number: 20170081832
    Abstract: A method for operating a sanitary fitting having a housing with a spout and a touch sensor, wherein in a touch mode of the sanitary fitting a tapping of a fluid can be activated by touching the touch sensor and wherein by touching the touch sensor for a period of at least 3 seconds, the touch mode is disabled. In addition, a sanitary fitting is specified, which controller is designed and provided for performing the method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2016
    Publication date: March 23, 2017
    Applicant: Grohe AG
    Inventors: Achim MIELKE, Felix HAMER
  • Publication number: 20170068228
    Abstract: A method of operating a sanitary fixture including at least the steps of: a) defining a plurality of zones of a surrounding area of the sanitary fixture; b) detecting a current ambient situation by a sensor device; c) setting a default ambient situation; d) monitoring the plurality of zones by the sensor device; e) initiating an action of the sanitary fixture when with step d), a characterizable change in the ambient situation is detected. An assembly is also provided having at least one sensor device and a sanitary fixture. The sanitary fixture has a control unit for setting at least one actuator of the sanitary fixture. The sensor device has a measuring unit for detecting ambient situations of the sanitary fixture, and the measuring unit is data-conductively connected with the control unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2016
    Publication date: March 9, 2017
    Applicant: Grohe AG
    Inventors: Heiko SCHOENBECK, Achim MIELKE
  • Patent number: 9085879
    Abstract: An electronic control switch with at least two operating states for water faucets. The control switch has at least one control section, a base section, and a guide for a motion of the two sections relative to one another. At least one sensor is located in one section and at least two magnets are located in the other section, or alternatively at least two sensors are located in one section and at least one magnet is located in the other section, and each magnet associated with an operating state enters a detection region of a sensor at least at times in the course of the relative motion. The magnets at least have different magnetic field strengths or different spacings from the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2015
    Assignee: Grohe AG
    Inventors: Achim Mielke, Wulf Woesthoff, Guenter Faust
  • Publication number: 20150168960
    Abstract: A thermostatic mixing valve for mixing cold water and hot water and for setting a mixed water temperature, having an electric motor that is controllable by a control unit and acts via a gear stage on a valve body, which is stroke-adjustable over a setting range and with which the mixing ratio between hot and cold water can be varied depending on a target mixed water temperature, presettable on the user side, and having a sensor element for detecting at least one set position in the setting range of the thermostatic mixing valve. The gear stage has a linearly adjustable linear displacement element, arranged rotationally fixed and provided between the electric motor and the valve body, and the sensor element works together with the linear displacement element to detect the set position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2014
    Publication date: June 18, 2015
    Applicant: Grohe AG
    Inventors: Kai HUCK, Tanja SCHWARTPAUL, Achim MIELKE
  • Publication number: 20140250590
    Abstract: A plumbing fixture at least having a first housing section and a second housing section which are arranged movable to one another, whereby the first housing section together with the second housing section forms an electrical sensor. In particular, an electrically conductive and simultaneously sealing coupling component is provided between the housing sections, whereby further an electrically conductive coupling component is provided between the first housing section and the second housing section and the coupling component comprises an electrically conductive plastic.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2014
    Publication date: September 11, 2014
    Applicant: Grohe AG
    Inventors: Hans Dieter KEITER, Achim MIELKE, Frank-Thomas LUIG, Gunter GAEBEL
  • Publication number: 20140026997
    Abstract: An electronic control switch with at least two operating states for water faucets. The control switch has at least one control section, a base section, and a guide for a motion of the two sections relative to one another. At least one sensor is located in one section and at least two magnets are located in the other section, or alternatively at least two sensors are located in one section and at least one magnet is located in the other section, and each magnet associated with an operating state enters a detection region of a sensor at least at times in the course of the relative motion. The magnets at least have different magnetic field strengths or different spacings from the sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2013
    Publication date: January 30, 2014
    Inventors: Achim MIELKE, Wulf WOESTHOFF, Guenter FAUST