Patents by Inventor Brian Vanhoy

Brian Vanhoy 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).

  • Automatic actuator to flush toilet
    Patent number: 8695125
    Abstract: An automatic toilet flushing system, for use with conventional toilets, includes a sensor, an actuator and a flushing mechanism. The actuator has a gear train, a motor, a pivotal arm connected to the gear train, and a power source connected to the motor for rotating the shaft of the motor which rotates the gear train for pivotal movement of the arm. The flushing mechanism includes a flapper valve and the pivotal arm is connected to the flapper valve via a bead chain and a handle swivel or a tab mounted on the pivotal arm. The sensor may replace the flush handle or the flush handle and the sensor may both be provided. A kit and a method for converting a manual flushing system to the automatic toilet flushing system are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: Zurn Industries, LLC
    Inventors: Michael A. Funari, Jeffrey T. Phillips, Brian Vanhoy, Roy F. Leviner, III
  • Automatic actuator to flush toilet
    Publication number: 20080072369
    Abstract: An automatic toilet flushing system, for use with conventional toilets, includes a sensor, an actuator and a flushing mechanism. The actuator has a gear train, a motor, a pivotal arm connected to the gear train, and a power source connected to the motor for rotating the shaft of the motor which rotates the gear train for pivotal movement of the arm. The flushing mechanism includes a flapper valve and the pivotal arm is connected to the flapper valve via a bead chain and a handle swivel or a tab mounted on the pivotal arm. The sensor may replace the flush handle or the flush handle and the sensor may both be provided. A kit and a method for converting a manual flushing system to the automatic toilet flushing system are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2007
    Publication date: March 27, 2008
    Applicant: Zurn Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Funari, Jeffrey Phillips, Brian Vanhoy, Roy Leviner