Patents by Inventor André Leutwyler

André Leutwyler 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: 8763986
    Abstract: The sanitary fitting has a control cartridge which is arranged in an end region of a fitting housing and defines a longitudinal axis (A). The control cartridge and an end, on this side, of the fitting housing are covered by a fitting cap. The fitting cap has a through-passage, through which an actuating shaft of the control cartridge is connected to an actuating lever which is arranged outside the fitting cap, said actuating shaft being pivotable about a pivot axis (B) that runs at right angles to the longitudinal axis (A). A deformable, annular covering element according to the invention is fastened by way of a first rim, facing the control cartridge, to a supporting ring arranged on the control cartridge, and engages in a sealing manner by way of a second rim around the actuating shaft or a connecting element seated thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: KWC AG
    Inventors: André Leutwyler, Christian Gautschi
  • Patent number: 8267118
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a sanitary fitting having a fitting house and having a control cartridge which is arranged in the latter. The control cartridge has a control shank which is pivotably mounted in the control cartridge. On the control shank is displaceably mounted an actuating lever which can be pivoted up and down between a closed position and an open position in order thus to control the water flow. Furthermore, a plate is mounted at one end on the guide element and at the other end on an axis of rotation which is fixedly arranged with respect to the pivot axis and which is parallel thereto. By means of this arrangement, during the pivoting of the actuating lever from the closed position in the direction toward the open position, said actuating lever is also moved in the direction away from the control shank and, in the direction of the cartridge axis, away from the fitting housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: KWC AG
    Inventor: Andre Leutwyler
  • Publication number: 20120204344
    Abstract: The sanitary fitting has a control cartridge which is arranged in an end region of a fitting housing and defines a longitudinal axis (A). The control cartridge and an end, on this side, of the fitting housing are covered by a fitting cap. The fitting cap has a through-passage, through which an actuating shaft of the control cartridge is connected to an actuating lever which is arranged outside the fitting cap, said actuating shaft being pivotable about a pivot axis (B) that runs at right angles to the longitudinal axis (A). A deformable, annular covering element according to the invention is fastened by way of a first rim, facing the control cartridge, to a supporting ring arranged on the control cartridge, and engages in a sealing manner by way of a second rim around the actuating shaft or a connecting element seated thereon.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2012
    Publication date: August 16, 2012
    Applicant: KWC AG
    Inventors: André LEUTWYLER, Christian GAUTSCHI
  • Publication number: 20110089355
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a sanitary fitting (10) having a fitting housing (12) and having a control cartridge (36) which is arranged in the latter. The control cartridge (36) has a control shank (52) which is pivotably mounted in the control cartridge (36). On the control shank (52) is displaceably mounted an actuating lever (22) which can be pivoted up and down between a closed position and an open position in order thus to control the water flow. Furthermore, a plate (58) is mounted at one end on the guide element (60) and at the other end on an axis of rotation (C) which is fixedly arranged with respect to the pivot axis (A) and which is parallel thereto. By means of this arrangement, during the pivoting of the actuating lever (22) from the closed position in the direction toward the open position, said actuating lever is also moved in the direction away from the control shank (52) and, in the direction of the cartridge axis (B), away from the fitting housing (12).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2010
    Publication date: April 21, 2011
    Applicant: KWC AG
    Inventor: André Leutwyler
  • Patent number: 7850323
    Abstract: A control cartridge (20) is inserted into the fitting housing (10). Mounted on the actuating shaft (38) of said cartridge is an actuating body (42) on which the tubular actuating lever (50) is fastened. A light guiding element (52) runs through the actuating lever (50). The light source (66) in the actuating body (42) emits light that is guided to the end of the actuating lever (50) by means of the light guiding element (52).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2010
    Assignees: KWC AG, Schott AG
    Inventors: Oliver Keiper, Michael Lehner, André Leutwyler, Michael Lammel
  • Patent number: 7832428
    Abstract: Sanitary fitting comprising a basic element which is designed to be fastened to an object and has a passage defining an axis, a fitting part having a sleeve-shaped portion which in a free end region has a casing-side transverse groove, the sleeve-shaped portion reaching through the passage, being mounted in the basic element, and an annular, single-part guide clamp disposed coaxially to the axis and having a guide portion for the mounting of the fitting part in the basic element, and a latching portion for cooperation with the transverse groove configured as a ring groove. The guide clamp is fixed in the transverse groove and has between the guide portion and the latching portion a radial slot running in the peripheral direction. The latching portion protrudes radially outwards over the guide portion disposed in the passage and thereby cooperates with a mating shoulder configured on the basic element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Assignee: KWC AG
    Inventor: André Leutwyler
  • Patent number: 7798172
    Abstract: An internal housing for a sanitary fitting has a receiving opening for receiving a control cartridge. The receiving opening is bounded along its circumference by a wall and at its lower end by a base. In order to supply water to the control cartridge, the internal housing has an inlet opening passing through the base. A discharge opening for the discharge of the water flowing out from the control cartridge also passes through the base. In order to ensure a leak-tight transition between the internal housing and the control cartridge, an inlet seal groove open on its upper side and completely surrounding the inlet opening, and a discharge seal groove open on its upper side and completely surrounding the discharge opening are formed in the base. The inlet seal groove is for receiving an inlet seal element and the discharge seal groove is for receiving a discharge seal element that consequently bear against the internal housing and against the control cartridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Assignee: KWC AG
    Inventors: Andre Leutwyler, Herbert Gloor
  • Publication number: 20080202611
    Abstract: A control cartridge (20) is inserted into the fitting housing (10). Mounted on the actuating shaft (38) of said cartridge is an actuating body (42) on which the tubular actuating lever (50) is fastened. A light guiding element (52) runs through the actuating lever (50). The light source (66) in the actuating body (42) emits light that is guided to the end of the actuating lever (50) by means of the light guiding element (52).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2008
    Publication date: August 28, 2008
    Applicant: KWC AG
    Inventors: Oliver Keiper, Michael Lehner, Andre Leutwyler, Michael Lammel
  • Publication number: 20070295418
    Abstract: Sanitary fitting comprising a basic element which is designed to be fastened to an object and has a passage defining an axis, a fitting part having a sleeve-shaped portion which in a free end region has a casing-side transverse groove, the sleeve-shaped portion reaching through the passage, being mounted in the basic element, and an annular, single-part guide clamp disposed coaxially to the axis and having a guide portion for the mounting of the fitting part in the basic element, and a latching portion for cooperation with the transverse groove configured as a ring groove. The guide clamp is fixed in the transverse groove and has between the guide portion and the latching portion a radial slot running in the peripheral direction. The latching portion protrudes radially outwards over the guide portion disposed in the passage and thereby cooperates with a mating shoulder configured on the basic element in order to prevent the fitting part from being pulled out of the basic element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2007
    Publication date: December 27, 2007
    Applicant: KWC AG
    Inventor: Andre Leutwyler
  • Publication number: 20070256744
    Abstract: An internal housing for a sanitary fitting has a receiving opening for receiving a control cartridge. The receiving opening is bounded along its circumference by a wall and at its lower end by a base. In order to supply water to the control cartridge, the internal housing has an inlet opening passing through the base. A discharge opening for the discharge of the water flowing out from the control cartridge also passes through the base. In order to ensure a leak-tight transition between the internal housing and the control cartridge, an inlet seal groove open on its upper side and completely surrounding the inlet opening, and a discharge seal groove open on its upper side and completely surrounding the discharge opening are formed in the base. The inlet seal groove is for receiving an inlet seal element and the discharge seal groove is for receiving a discharge seal element that consequently bear against the internal housing and against the control cartridge.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2007
    Publication date: November 8, 2007
    Applicant: KWC AG
    Inventors: Andre Leutwyler, Herbert Gloor
  • Publication number: 20060162795
    Abstract: The sanitary fitting according to the invention has a unipartite angled pipe element which forms a flow connection with a control cartridge and can be pivoted about a pivot axis. A water-bearing pipe limb is formed at the inflow end of the angled pipe element, is oriented parallel to the pivot axis, and its inflow-end end region engages in a bearing recess in a base body of the fitting such that it can rotate. A water outlet is arranged together with the angled pipe element such that it can pivot about the pivot axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2006
    Publication date: July 27, 2006
    Applicant: KWC AG
    Inventors: Herbert Gloor, Andre Leutwyler