Patents by Inventor Alfons Knapp

Alfons Knapp 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: 7740183
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a thermostatic mixer, including a device for the dynamic regulation of the cold water flow which supplies the mixer. A resistance is generated to the flow of cold water supplied to the thermostatic mixer when small flows of mixed water are required, and said resistance is lifted or reduced when large flows of mixed water are required. Said operation is automatically carried out by devices for dynamic regulation of flow, whereby the flow cross-section provided for the incoming cold water is reduced when the drawn flow is reduced and a larger flow cross-section reestablished when a larger flow is required.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2010
    Assignee: Masco Corporation of Indiana
    Inventor: Alfons Knapp
  • Patent number: 7726344
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a device for dynamic adjustment of a water flow, used to stabilize the operational mode of a thermostatic mixing tap. The inventive device includes a valve consisting of a piston and a return spring forcing the piston into a first position, said piston being displaced into two positions according to the flow. When the flow is lower than a threshold value, the piston is located in the first position and a flow limited means limits the flow. When the flow exceeds the threshold value, the piston is displaced into the second position and the flow limiting means is obviated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignees: Masco
    Inventor: Alfons Knapp
  • Patent number: 7681598
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a device for dynamic control of a water flow, including the following items in a body: a feed chamber, a discharge chamber and a piston arranged between the feed chamber and the discharge chamber. The piston can be displaced from a first position, which is offset towards the feed chamber and wherein the piston narrows the flow between the feed chamber and the discharge chamber, and a second position, which is offset towards the discharge chamber and wherein the piston does not narrow the flow between the feed chamber and the discharge chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2010
    Assignees: Masco, Masco Corporation of Indiana
    Inventor: Alfons Knapp
  • Patent number: 7681803
    Abstract: Disclosed is a device for taking showers at alternating temperatures. The device is used with a delivery pipe for one or several shower heads, a hot water pipe that is connected to the outlet of a thermostatic mixer, and a cold water pipe which is connected to a water pipe. The device includes a switching means regarding the hot water pipe and the cold water pipe. The switching means is provided with a first control means and a second control means, both of which can be moved into two positions in such a way that the second control means is in a first position when the first control means does not connect the delivery pipe to the cold water pipe while the second control means is in a second position when the first control means connects the delivery pipe to the cold water pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2010
    Assignees: Masco, Masco Corporation of Indiana
    Inventor: Alfons Knapp
  • Patent number: 7681597
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a thermostatic mixer, including a device for the dynamic regulation of cold water flow which supplies the mixer. A resistance is generated to the flow of cold water supplied to the thermostatic mixer when small flows of mixed water are required, and said resistance is lifted or reduced when large flows of mixed water are required. Said operation is automatically carried out by devices for dynamic regulation of flow, whereby the flow cross-section provided for the incoming cold water is reduced when the drawn flow is reduced and a larger flow cross-section reestablished when a larger flow is required.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2010
    Assignee: Masco
    Inventor: Alfons Knapp
  • Publication number: 20080283620
    Abstract: A thermostatic mixer device for sanitary use with a body, an inlet passage for hot water, an inlet passage for cold water, and a distribution passage for mixed water; a thermometric element installed partly within the distribution passage; a valve connected to the thermometric element and arranged so as to open or throttle, in a complementary fashion, the inlet passages, and a spring arranged so as to bias the valve; in which the spring is formed of a corrugated section. Illustratively, the spring is housed in an opening that extends peripherally around the distribution passage in which is installed the thermometric element, and this peripheral opening may constitute the internal portion of the inlet passage for the hot water.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2008
    Publication date: November 20, 2008
    Inventor: Alfons Knapp
  • Publication number: 20080029973
    Abstract: A seal device to be used to establish hydraulic static or dynamic seal between two conduction tubes (A and B) through which fluids are to be transported; it is equipped with a sleeve made of elastic material fitted in an appropriate containment seating depression; the entire device presents a section that narrows in size gradually from the outer rim line (2) toward the inner depth (3). The joint holding sleeve can present a radial, external cylindrical surface (5) and can even be eventually a commercial type joint sleeve; or it can be of an external radial surface that narrows axially from the extremity of the joint toward the corresponding internal axial extremity. Both the holding seat and the radial external surface (5) of the sleeve can have rectilinear or slightly curved, concave or convex generatrixes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2005
    Publication date: February 7, 2008
    Inventor: Alfons Knapp
  • Publication number: 20070289643
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a device for dynamic adjustment of a water flow, used to stabilize the operational mode of a thermostatic mixing tap. The inventive device includes a valve consisting of a piston and a return spring forcing the piston into a first position, said piston being displaced into two positions according to the flow. When the flow is lower than a threshold value, the piston is located in the first position and a flow limited means limits the flow. When the flow exceeds the threshold value, the piston is displaced into the second position and the flow limiting means is obviated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2007
    Publication date: December 20, 2007
    Applicant: Masco Corporation of Indiana
    Inventor: Alfons Knapp
  • Publication number: 20070289641
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a thermostatic mixer, including a device for the dynamic regulation of cold water flow which supplies the mixer. A resistance is generated to the flow of cold water supplied to the thermostatic mixer when small flows of mixed water are required, and said resistance is lifted or reduced when large flows of mixed water are required. Said operation is automatically carried out by devices for dynamic regulation of flow, whereby the flow cross-section provided for the incoming cold water is reduced when the drawn flow is reduced and a larger flow cross-section reestablished when a larger flow is required.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2007
    Publication date: December 20, 2007
    Applicant: Masco Corporation of Indiana
    Inventor: Alfons Knapp
  • Publication number: 20070289642
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a device for dynamic control of a water flow, including the following items in a body: a feed chamber, a discharge chamber and a piston arranged between the feed chamber and the discharge chamber. The piston can be displaced from a first position, which is offset towards the feed chamber and wherein the piston narrows the flow between the feed chamber and the discharge chamber, and a second position, which is offset towards the discharge chamber and wherein the piston does not narrow the flow between the feed chamber and the discharge chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2007
    Publication date: December 20, 2007
    Applicant: Masco Corporation of Indiana
    Inventor: Alfons Knapp
  • Publication number: 20070290055
    Abstract: Disclosed is a device for taking showers at alternating temperatures. The device is used with a delivery pipe for one or several shower heads, a hot water pipe that is connected to the outlet of a thermostatic mixer, and a cold water pipe which is connected to a water pipe. The device includes a switching means regarding the hot water pipe and the cold water pipe. The switching means is provided with a first control means and a second control means, both of which can be moved into two positions in such a way that the second control means is in a first position when the first control means does not connect the delivery pipe to the cold water pipe while the second control means is in a second position when the first control means connects the delivery pipe to the cold water pipe.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2007
    Publication date: December 20, 2007
    Applicant: Masco Corporation of Indiana
    Inventor: Alfons Knapp
  • TAP
    Publication number: 20070289648
    Abstract: Provided is a tap (9) having a base (10) for fixed installation and a body (20) that can be mounted on the fixed base (10) and removed from said base. According to the disclosure, the removable body (20) has an essentially bell-or-well-shaped form, having a larger opening (8) on the side that is to be connected to the fixed base (10) and a smaller opening (21) on the opposite side (7). The interior of the tap (9) is equipped with mechanisms (40-43), which can be introduced into the removable body (20) via the larger opening (8) and can be removed from said body (20) via this opening (8).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2007
    Publication date: December 20, 2007
    Applicant: Masco Corporation of Indiana
    Inventor: Alfons Knapp
  • Publication number: 20070290054
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a thermostatic mixer, including a device for the dynamic regulation of the cold water flow which supplies the mixer. A resistance is generated to the flow of cold water supplied to the thermostatic mixer when small flows of mixed water are required, and said resistance is lifted or reduced when large flows of mixed water are required. Said operation is automatically carried out by devices for dynamic regulation of flow, whereby the flow cross-section provided for the incoming cold water is reduced when the drawn flow is reduced and a larger flow cross-section reestablished when a larger flow is required.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2007
    Publication date: December 20, 2007
    Applicant: Masco Corporation of Indiana
    Inventor: Alfons Knapp
  • Patent number: 7063106
    Abstract: A mixing valve cartridge assembly having an envelope, a bottom member integral with the envelope, a fixed plate and a movable plate, both made from a hard material, a means for operating the movable plate, and a retaining cover for the cartridge envelope, such that the entire valve cartridge envelope may be assembled by inserting the cartridge components from the top of the envelope.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2006
    Assignee: Masco Corporation
    Inventor: Alfons Knapp
  • Patent number: 6823892
    Abstract: A valve installed at the inlet of a thermostatic mixing device for automatically stabilizing the operation of the thermostatic device by maintaining the pressure within the thermostatic mixing device close to the water supply pressure, thereby making the thermostatic device response to small pressure changes while maintaining the fluid flow through the device. The valve comprises a tubular body inserted within the water supply line, a holding seat within the tubular body, a cursor that moves within the valve body with respect to the seat, the cursor moving between a first position where the seat is partially occluded and a second position where the seat is substantially clear. The cursor is subjected to the pressure existing inside the thermostatic mixing device, and a spring positioned with the valve body that acts upon the cursor to urge the cursor towards the first cursor position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2004
    Assignee: Masco Corporation of Indiana
    Inventor: Alfons Knapp
  • Publication number: 20040094213
    Abstract: A cartridge, including the mechanisms for a hydraulic equipment, functionally comprising an envelope (1), a bottom member (5) of the envelope, a pair of plates (7,10) made of hard material, one (7) of which is operatively fixed, while the other (10) one is operatively mobile, a slide (12) for moving the mobile plate, a support member for the operating means along with the operating means themselves, a retaining lid (16), and the packings needed for sealing among said component parts and toward the outside, wherein the bottom member and the operatively fixed plate (7) constitute a single structural element (8A), made by means of one of the processes for making plates of hard material that make it possible to confer to the plates relatively complex configurations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2003
    Publication date: May 20, 2004
    Inventor: Alfons Knapp
  • Publication number: 20040069358
    Abstract: A plate (9, 10) made of hard material, having at least one flat surface machined by means of lapping and intended to be used as a member to control the flow in a hydraulic equipment unit, that consists of a thermosetting synthetic polymer, is made by means of molding and has in the regions different from its flat surface configurations suitable for cooperating directly with some specific members of a hydraulic equipment unit. The thermosetting synthetic polymer can be mixed with a solid lubricant. When the plate is a fixed plate, it presents the characteristic configurations of a bottom member that is directly connected to the cage (1) of a cartridge, whereas when the plate is a movable plate, it presents the characteristic configurations of a slide that cooperates directly with guide members and with members for operating the cartridge.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2003
    Publication date: April 15, 2004
    Inventors: Alfons Knapp, Francesco Knapp
  • Patent number: 6708895
    Abstract: A new use of a flow rate regulating device (5, 6) is disclosed whose feature consists of the fact that, when inserted in a water pipeline, it permits the passage of a flow of water having a substantially constant flow rate and predetermined in keeping with the variation within certain limits of the pressure at which the water is supplied to the device, thus constituting a variable resistance that is opposed to the water flow. The new use is especially designed to perform the function of reducing the temperature peak presented by the mixed water drawn from a thermostatic mixing device (1) during the transitory period of regulation when the pressure of the water supplied to one of the inlets (2, 3) of the thermostatic mixing device (1) varies abruptly with respect to the pressure of the water supplied to the other inlet of the thermostatic mixing device (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2004
    Assignee: Masco Corporation of Indiana
    Inventor: Alfons Knapp
  • Patent number: 6557785
    Abstract: The showerhead (10) includes a main housing (12) that forms the central supply inlet (16), a supply passage section (20) for the central inlet and a peripheral deflector (22). A disc (26) is applied to the main housing (12). The Venturi passages (40) are made up between housing (14) and the disc (26). A showerhead (10) is intended to deliver an aerated stream of water that has passed through and has been aerated by Venturi passages 40. The Venturi passages (40) radially extend from the supply inlet (16) toward the periphery (22) of the head (14). An air intake passage (44) communicates with the ambient exterior and also communicates with the Venturi passage between its nozzle (50) and diffuser (52). The deflector (22) is arranged to divert the aerated stream of water coming out of the individual Venturi passages in order to deliver them in substantially axial direction perpendicular to the plane (29) of the showerhead.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2003
    Assignee: Masco Corporation
    Inventor: Alfons Knapp
  • Patent number: 6517006
    Abstract: Two flow control ceramic discs (22 and 24) for a thermostatic valve (10) have ports (30, 32, 38 and 40) to adjust water flow from a closed to a full open position. Ceramic disc (24) has a contoured opening (38 and 40) that has a wide section (84) and a narrow section (85) that provide regulation fields with significant different capacities of flow rates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2003
    Assignee: Masco Corporation
    Inventor: Ing. Alfons Knapp