Patents by Inventor Christian Gautschi

Christian Gautschi 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: 8783651
    Abstract: A sanitary fitting includes a joint arrangement having a support connection piece that defines an abutment face that is at least approximately flat; a joint part that rests flat against the abutment face by way of an at least approximately flat mating face, and defines a neutral position; a spring that is supported at one end against the support connection piece and at the other end against the joint part, the spring using a spring force to push the joint part against the abutment face by way of the mating face; and a rod-like extremity that is arranged on the joint part at a fixed angle in relation to the mating face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: KWC AG
    Inventors: Christian Gautschi, Daniel Baumann
  • 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: 8708257
    Abstract: The spray attachment has a holding part with a water guide that can be connected to a feed water pipe, and a spray head with an external housing. Said spray head and the holding part are fastened separably to each other by means of a coupling. Furthermore, the spray head can have switching options for producing different spray jets, and an illuminating means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: KWC AG
    Inventors: Christian Gautschi, Michael Lehner
  • Patent number: 8550380
    Abstract: The spray head has a housing-mounted inflow passage for feed water, and a central first outflow passage. A second and a third outflow passage are offset in the circumferential direction with respect to an axis of rotation. Each of the outflow passages is connected to a corresponding water outlet for producing different spray jets. A control element having a connecting channel is disposed in the interior of the spray head and is rotatable about the axis of rotation by the actuating element. The actuating element can execute a lifting movement. In the starting position of the actuating element, the connecting channel exclusively connects the inflow passage to the first outflow passage. In the lifting position of the actuating element, the inflow passage is connected either to the second or the third outflow passage as a function of the actuating element and the associated rotational position of the control element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: KWC AG
    Inventors: Christian Gautschi, Michael Lehner
  • Patent number: 8534568
    Abstract: A sanitary fitting includes a cold water connection; a hot water connection; a mixed water outlet; a valve device for setting a mixed water temperature and a mixed water throughflow rate, wherein the valve device is connected to the cold water connection and the hot water connection at one end and is connected to the mixed water outlet at the other end; an electrical controller for actuating a valve; and a control signal transmitter for generating an input signal to the controller, wherein the valve is an integral constituent part of the valve device, and the controller actuates the valve device as a function of the input signal of the control signal transmitter such that a mixed water temperature and a mixed water throughflow rate are set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: KWC AG
    Inventors: Christian Gautschi, Daniel Baumann
  • 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
  • Patent number: 7794095
    Abstract: A sanitary fitting includes a light-permeable water-carrying outflow pipe that has (i) an exposed end face and (ii) an input face located upstream of the exposed end face. A light source, preferably including light emitting diodes (LED), inputs light into the outflow pipe through the input face. The light emerges from the outflow pipe at the end face, and may also emerge at an exposed outer peripheral surface area of the outflow pipe. The outflow pipe has a stationary first outflow pipe piece with the input face and a rotatable second outflow pipe piece with the exposed end face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2010
    Assignee: KWC AG
    Inventors: Christian Gautschi, Stefan Brunner, Michael Lehner, Daniel Baumann
  • Publication number: 20100206956
    Abstract: A sanitary fitting includes a cold water connection; a hot water connection; a mixed water outlet; a valve device for setting a mixed water temperature and a mixed water throughflow rate, wherein the valve device is connected to the cold water connection and the hot water connection at one end and is connected to the mixed water outlet at the other end; an electrical controller for actuating a valve; and a control signal transmitter for generating an input signal to the controller, wherein the valve is an integral constituent part of the valve device, and the controller actuates the valve device as a function of the input signal of the control signal transmitter such that a mixed water temperature and a mixed water throughflow rate are set.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2010
    Publication date: August 19, 2010
    Applicant: KWC AG
    Inventors: Christian GAUTSCHI, Daniel BAUMANN
  • Publication number: 20100206409
    Abstract: A sanitary fitting includes a joint arrangement having a support connection piece that defines an abutment face that is at least approximately flat; a joint part that rests flat against the abutment face by way of an at least approximately flat mating face, and defines a neutral position; a spring that is supported at one end against the support connection piece and at the other end against the joint part, the spring using a spring force to push the joint part against the abutment face by way of the mating face; and a rod-like extremity that is arranged on the joint part at a fixed angle in relation to the mating face.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2010
    Publication date: August 19, 2010
    Applicant: KWC AG
    Inventors: Christian GAUTSCHI, Daniel BAUMANN
  • Publication number: 20100084487
    Abstract: The spray head has a housing-mounted inflow passage for feed water, and a central first outflow passage. A second and a third outflow passage are offset in the circumferential direction with respect to an axis of rotation. Each of the outflow passages is connected to a corresponding water outlet for producing different spray jets. A control element having a connecting channel is disposed in the interior of the spray head and is rotatable about the axis of rotation by the actuating element. The actuating element can execute a lifting movement. In the starting position of the actuating element, the connecting channel exclusively connects the inflow passage to the first outflow passage. In the lifting position of the actuating element, the inflow passage is connected either to the second or the third outflow passage as a function of the actuating element and the associated rotational position of the control element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2009
    Publication date: April 8, 2010
    Applicant: KWC AG
    Inventors: Christian Gautschi, Michael Lehner
  • Publication number: 20100084492
    Abstract: The spray attachment has a holding part with a water guide that can be connected to a feed water pipe, and a spray head with an external housing. Said spray head and the holding part are fastened separably to each other by means of a coupling. Furthermore, the spray head can have switching options for producing different spray jets, and an illuminating means.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2009
    Publication date: April 8, 2010
    Applicant: KWC AG
    Inventors: Christian Gautschi, Michael Lehner
  • Patent number: 7467874
    Abstract: A sanitary fitting includes a light-permeable water-carrying outflow pipe that has (i) an exposed end face and (ii) an input face located upstream of the exposed end face. A light source, preferably including light emitting diodes (LED), inputs light into the outflow pipe through the input face. The light emerges from the outflow pipe at the end face, and may also emerge at an exposed outer peripheral surface area of the outflow pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2008
    Assignee: KWC AG
    Inventors: Christian Gautschi, Stefan Brunner
  • Publication number: 20080291660
    Abstract: A sanitary fitting includes a light-permeable water-carrying outflow pipe that has (i) an exposed end face and (ii) an input face located upstream of the exposed end face. A light source, preferably including light emitting diodes (LED), inputs light into the outflow pipe through the input face. The light emerges from the outflow pipe at the end face, and may also emerge at an exposed outer peripheral surface area of the outflow pipe. The outflow pipe has a stationary first outflow pipe piece with the input face and a rotatable second outflow pipe piece with the exposed end face.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2008
    Publication date: November 27, 2008
    Applicant: KWC AG
    Inventors: Christian Gautschi, Stefan Brunner, Michael Lehner, Daniel Baumann
  • Publication number: 20060203470
    Abstract: A sanitary fitting includes a light-permeable water-carrying outflow pipe that has (i) an exposed end face and (ii) an input face located upstream of the exposed end face. A light source, preferably including light emitting diodes (LED), inputs light into the outflow pipe through the input face. The light emerges from the outflow pipe at the end face, and may also emerge at an exposed outer peripheral surface area of the outflow pipe.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2006
    Publication date: September 14, 2006
    Applicant: KWC AG
    Inventors: Christian Gautschi, Stefan Brunner
  • Patent number: 6830072
    Abstract: The invention relates to a fitting housing having an underside, a top side, lateral outer surfaces, a water outlet, a cutout for accommodating a mixing and/or metering cartridge, two supply channels, which lead from the underside to the cutout and through which, during use, the mixing and/or metering cartridge is fed hot and/or cold water, and at least one discharge channel, which leads from the cutout to the water outlet and through which, during use, water is led away from the mixing and/or metering cartridge. According to the invention, the fitting housing, at least over part of the height of the cutout, is in the shape of a polygon in cross section. The discharge channel has a first channel section which runs in the vertical direction in the region of one of the corners of the polygon. As a result of the shape according to the invention of the basic body, it is possible to reduce both the amount of material used and the dimensions of the basic body, while maintaining the same stability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2004
    Assignee: KWC AG
    Inventors: Christian Gautschi, Herbert Gloor
  • Publication number: 20030178071
    Abstract: The invention relates to a fitting housing having an underside, a top side, lateral outer surfaces, a water outlet, a cutout for accommodating a mixing and/or metering cartridge, two supply channels, which lead from the underside to the cutout and through which, during use, the mixing and/or metering cartridge is fed hot and/or cold water, and at least one discharge channel, which leads from the cutout to the water outlet and through which, during use, water is led away from the mixing and/or metering cartridge. According to the invention, the fitting housing, at least over part of the height of the cutout, is in the shape of a polygon in cross section. The discharge channel has a first channel section which runs in the vertical direction in the region of one of the corners of the polygon. As a result of the shape according to the invention of the basic body, it is possible to reduce both the amount of material used and the dimensions of the basic body, while maintaining the same stability.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2003
    Publication date: September 25, 2003
    Applicant: KWC AG
    Inventors: Christian Gautschi, Herbert Gloor