Patents by Inventor Christian Mace

Christian Mace 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).

  • Publication number: 20200341497
    Abstract: A thermostatic control device for a thermostatic mixer tap has a temperature sensor that measures the temperature of a mixed fluid, a flow rate sensor that measures the flow rate of the stream of the mixed fluid when the control device is in a flowing state, and an incorporated electronic circuit having a programmable electronic computer, a communication interface provided with a radio antenna, and an electric energy reserve, capable of powering the electronic computer and the communication interface. The electronic circuit collects information measured by the sensors and transmits this information to the outside via the communication interface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2019
    Publication date: October 29, 2020
    Inventors: Christian MACE, Benoît MAUGERARD
  • Patent number: 8074893
    Abstract: The thermostatic cartridge (C) comprises a thermostatic assembly (2) for regulating the temperature of an outgoing mixture (F3) of incoming hot and cold fluids (F1 and F2), two ceramic disks (3, 4) for controlling the flow rates of the hot and cold fluids delivered to the thermostatic assembly, and a disk-actuating sleeve (5) receiving therein in leaktight manner the outer body (2.1) of the thermostatic assembly. To limit costs and any risk of leakage from the cartridge, the actuator sleeve is a single part that defines two internal channels (52, 53) for passing flows respectively of the hot and cold fluids from the disks to respective admission slots (2.2, 2.3) defined by the outer body of the thermostatic assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Assignee: Vernet
    Inventor: Christian Mace
  • Patent number: 7845574
    Abstract: The cartridge comprises two ceramic disks (20, 24) for regulating the temperature and flow of a mixture (M) of two entering fluids. In order to ensure that the temperature of the mixture remains lower than a predetermined value, the cartridge comprises thermostatic means (16) designed for, in the event of a high-temperature mixture, automatically shutting off, upstream from these disks, the circulation of the entering fluid (C) of the highest temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2010
    Assignee: Vernet
    Inventor: Christian Mace
  • Patent number: 7673808
    Abstract: A thermostatic cartridge regulates hot and cold fluids to be mixed, and a mixer tap one such cartridge. The cartridge includes two disks which are used to adjust the flow of hot and cold fluids and which each include a passage for hot fluid, a passage for cold fluid, and a passage for a mixture of both. The disks are movably joined to one another. One of the disks is connected in rotation to a member for controlling the flow of the mixture, while the other is fixed. In order to do without a turbulator in the cartridge, the flow section for the mixture through the disks, which is defined by stacking passages for the mixture in the joining plane of the disks, varies according to the configuration of the control member. The majority of the thermo sensitive part of a thermostatic regulation element is positioned upstream of the disk joining plane in the direction of flow of the mixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2010
    Assignee: Vernet S.A.
    Inventors: Christian Mace, Gérard Le Clanche
  • Publication number: 20090314844
    Abstract: The thermostatic cartridge (C) comprises a thermostatic assembly (2) for regulating the temperature of an outgoing mixture (F3) of incoming hot and cold fluids (F1 and F2), two ceramic disks (3, 4) for controlling the flow rates of the hot and cold fluids delivered to the thermostatic assembly, and a disk-actuating sleeve (5) receiving therein in leaktight manner the outer body (2.1) of the thermostatic assembly. To limit costs and any risk of leakage from the cartridge, the actuator sleeve is a single part that defines two internal channels (52, 53) for passing flows respectively of the hot and cold fluids from the disks to respective admission slots (2.2, 2.3) defined by the outer body of the thermostatic assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2007
    Publication date: December 24, 2009
    Applicant: VERNET
    Inventor: Christian Mace
  • Publication number: 20080156890
    Abstract: The inventive thermostatic element comprises a cup (1) containing a material (3) which is expendable and contractile according to the direction of the temperature variation thereof and a piston (5) which is movable with respect to the cup in the axial direction (X-X) thereof and is coupled to the expendable and contractile material in such a way that it is displaceable in the opposite direction according to the material expansion or contraction. In order to reduce the element response time in a simple and reliable manner, the cup (1) is embodied in one metal piece which internally delimits at least two distinct internal cavities (14A) for receiving at least one part of the expendable and contractile material (3).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2005
    Publication date: July 3, 2008
    Applicant: Vernet
    Inventors: Gerard Jean Andre Le Clanche, Christian Mace
  • Publication number: 20080035744
    Abstract: The invention relates to a thermostatic cartridge for the regulation of hot and cold fluids to be mixed, and to a mixer tap comprising one such cartridge. The inventive cartridge comprises two disks which are used to adjust the flow of hot and cold fluids and which each comprise a passage for hot fluid, a passage for cold fluid and a passage for a mixture of both, said disks being movably joined to one another. One of said disks is connected in rotation to a member for controlling the flow of the mixture, while the other is fixed. In order to do without a turbulator in the cartridge, the flow section for the mixture through the disks, which is defined by stacking passages for the mixture in the joining plane of the disks, varies according to the configuration of the control member. The majority of the thermosensitive part of a thermostatic regulation element is positioned upstream of the disk joining plane in the direction of flow of the mixture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2005
    Publication date: February 14, 2008
    Inventors: Christian Mace, Gerard Le Clanche
  • Publication number: 20070261738
    Abstract: The cartridge comprises two ceramic disks (20, 24) for regulating the temperature and flow of a mixture (M) of two entering fluids. In order to ensure that the temperature of the mixture remains lower than a predetermined value, the cartridge comprises thermostatic means (16) designed for, in the event of a high-temperature mixture, automatically shutting off, upstream from these disks, the circulation of the entering fluid (C) of the highest temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2005
    Publication date: November 15, 2007
    Applicant: Vernet
    Inventor: Christian Mace
  • Patent number: 6935568
    Abstract: The cartridge comprises a body in which there is formed a mixed fluid chamber; a fixed disk; a movable disk; thermostatic regulation means including a regulation slide-valve and a thermostatic element which are mechanically connected to each other; and a single control lever for controlling the flowrate and the temperature of the mixed fluid and adapted to drive the movable disk in rotation and in translation and to move the thermostatic element inside the mixed fluid chamber. Cold fluid inlet passage and cold fluid return passage in the fixed disk extend approximately end-to-end in circumferential arcs with substantially equal radii and hot fluid inlet passage and the hot fluid return passage in the fixed disk extend approximately end-to-end in circumferential arcs with substantially equal radii. Application to the field of mixer taps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2005
    Assignee: Vernet S.A.
    Inventors: Christian Mace, Jean Chamot
  • Publication number: 20030234295
    Abstract: The cartridge comprises a body in which there is formed a mixed fluid chamber; a fixed disk; a movable disk; thermostatic regulation means including a regulation slide-valve and a thermostatic element which are mechanically connected to each other; and a single control lever for controlling the flowrate and the temperature of the mixed fluid and adapted to drive the movable disk in rotation and in translation and to move the thermostatic element inside the mixed fluid chamber. Cold fluid inlet passage and cold fluid return passage in the fixed disk extend approximately end-to-end in circumferential arcs with substantially equal radii and hot fluid inlet passage and the hot fluid return passage in the fixed disk extend approximately end-to-end in circumferential arcs with substantially equal radii. Application to the field of mixer taps.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2003
    Publication date: December 25, 2003
    Inventors: Christian Mace, Jean Chamot
  • Patent number: 6557770
    Abstract: To obtain an exact regulation of temperature, a strong flow, and a moderate cost, the cartridge comprises a first disc having two transverse hot fluid passages and two transverse cold fluid passages as well as a groove, the base of which forms a seat for a regulating valve which is joined to a thermostatic element, and a second disc having two passages for hot and cold fluid respectively, and which is coupled and rotatable relative to the first disc, between a communicating position and a non-communicating position of the two hot fluid passages on the one hand and the two cold fluid passages on the other of the first disc. The cartridge may be used for thermostatic water mixer taps, in particular for sinks, washbasins, showers and bathtubs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2003
    Assignee: Vernet S.A.
    Inventors: Christian Mace, Jean Chamot
  • Publication number: 20020130189
    Abstract: To obtain an exact regulation of temperature, a strong flow, and a moderate cost, the cartridge comprises a first disc having two transverse hot fluid passages and two transverse cold fluid passages as well as a groove, the base of which forms a seat for a regulating valve which is joined to a thermostatic element, and a second disc having two passages for hot and cold fluid respectively, and which is coupled and rotatable relative to the first disc, between a communicating position and a non-communicating position of the two hot fluid passages on the one hand and the two cold fluid passages on the other of the first disc. The cartridge may be used for thermostatic water mixer taps, in particular for sinks, washbasins, showers and bathtubs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2002
    Publication date: September 19, 2002
    Inventors: Christian Mace, Jean Chamot
  • Patent number: 6349090
    Abstract: In a telecommunications network comprising a plurality of nodes (N1, N2. . . ) interconnected by communications links (L1, L2. . . ) each incorporating one or more communications channels, traffic routing between network nodes is determined by providing a map or model of the network and determining in the model first and second nodes between which a communications path or route is to be established across the network. A set or colony of exploratory agents is created at the first node, and explores the model network via the links and nodes between the first and second nodes, each agent recording the results of its exploration. From this exploration, a route favoured by a significant number of the agents is determined and is set up on the telecommunications network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2002
    Assignee: Nortel Networks Limited
    Inventors: Kevin Lewis, Bertrund Gerard Christian Mace
  • Patent number: 6257493
    Abstract: The invention relates to a reverse-flow cartridge comprising a body (1) at which a cold fluid inlet duct (F), a hot fluid inlet duct (C) and a duct (M) for discharging mixed fluid terminate. According to the invention, a bypass (B) connects the cold fluid inlet and mixed fluid outlet ducts, and the cartridge is equipped with a device (7, 8) for shutting off the bypass, this device comprising a thermostatic element (7) equipped with a shut-off element (74) for shutting off the bypass as long as the temperature of the discharged fluid remains below or equal to a predetermined temperature and uncovering the bypass when the temperature of the fluid becomes higher than this temperature so as then to cause fluid to flow from the cold fluid inlet duct (F) to the discharge duct (M) through the bypass (B). The invention can be used in particular in water-distribution installations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2001
    Assignee: Vernet S.A.
    Inventors: Jean Chamot, Christian Mace
  • Patent number: 6085984
    Abstract: A safety cartridge for thermostatic mixer taps includes a thermostat carrying a slide having two valves for shutting off respective flows of hot and cold water. A region of the thermostat is housed in a piston having a part which is guided by a reversibly releasable guide mechanism adapted to guide the piston as long as the valve for shutting off the flow of hot water is not in contact with its seat, to eliminate the guidance when the valve bears on the seat, to allow misalignment of the piston, of the thermostat and of the slide so that the valve is pressed against and sealed to the seat, and to re-establish the guidance when the valve leaves its seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2000
    Assignee: Vernet S.A.
    Inventors: Jean Chamot, Christian Mace