Patents by Inventor Christopher Wei

Christopher Wei 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: 20140217203
    Abstract: A sanitary insert, which is arranged in a water line, is provided. The sanitary insert includes a mixing device with at least one throttling or closing element, which can be moved under the pressure of the inflowing water from a mixing or open position into a throttling or closed position against a restoring force. The mixing device offers a relatively large clear flow cross section when the at least one throttling or closing element in the mixing or open position, and, by contrast thereto, a reduced clear flow cross section when the at least one throttling or closing element is in the throttling or closed position. The installation element always offers an optimum flow cross section both in low and high pressure ranges.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2014
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Applicant: NEOPERL GMBH
    Inventors: Uwe Zoller, Christoph Weis, Hermann Grether
  • Patent number: 8746596
    Abstract: A manual spray head can be connected with a flexible hose line by means of a coupling that has a ball-and-socket joint inserted between the manual spray head and the hose line. This arrangement not only increases the mobility and flexibility between the manual spray head and the flexible hose line, but also permits twisting of the manual spray head relative to the hose line without fear of unscrewing the screw-type connection or similar coupling provided between the manual spray head and the hose line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Neoperl GmbH
    Inventors: Hermann Grether, Christoph Weis
  • Patent number: 8740112
    Abstract: A sanitary functional unit with a housing releasably fastened to the water outlet of a sanitary outlet fitting, the housing having an outflow-side housing end face with outflow openings. The outflow-side housing end face has at least one slot, opposing longitudinal sides of which form turning engagement surfaces or tool engagement surfaces for a turning tool that is releasably inserted into the slot, and the housing of the functional unit is rotatably held on the water outlet of the outlet fitting and/or the housing end face is mounted rotatably in the housing. Using the turning tool in the slot, a pivotably mounted housing end face in the housing can be easily aligned and/or the turning force required for fitting and removing a screw connection provided between the outer housing periphery and the inner fitting periphery can be conveniently transferred to the housing without requiring special turning tools.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: Neoperl GmbH
    Inventors: Gerhard Blum, Hermann Grether, Georg Städtler, Alexander Stein, Christoph Weis, Oliver Denzler
  • Publication number: 20140145014
    Abstract: The invention relates to a sanitary functional unit (2), which has a housing (6), which can be releasably fastened to the water outlet of a sanitary outlet fitting, the housing (6) having an outflow-side housing end face (9) with outflow openings (10). It is characterizing for the functional unit according to the invention that the outflow-side housing end face (9) has at least one slot (19), the opposing longitudinal sides (20) of which slot are designed as turning engagement surfaces or tool engagement surfaces for a turning tool that can be releasably inserted into the at least one slot (19) and is preferably formed as a coin (21), and that the housing (6) of the functional unit (2) is rotatably held on the water outlet of the outlet fitting and/or the housing end face is mounted rotatably in relation to the housing on said housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2014
    Publication date: May 29, 2014
    Applicant: Neoperl GmbH
    Inventors: Gerhard Blum, Hermann Grether, Georg Stadtler, Alexander Stein, Christoph Weis, Oliver Denzler
  • Patent number: 8727239
    Abstract: A plumbing outlet fitting (2) with a liquid guide (3), which opens into a fitting outlet (4) in an area in which a plumbing functional unit (5) in the form of an insertion cartridge is provided. The outlet fitting is provided such that the clear open cross-section of the liquid guide (3) is adapted to the insertion cartridge (5) at least in the opening area of the fitting outlet (4), and the insertion cartridge (5) can be inserted into the fitting outlet (4) from the opening side and is removably held therein, The outlet fitting (2) can be used with a jet regulator or with another plumbing functional unit (5) without any significant limitations of the structural clearance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Neoperl GmbH
    Inventors: Christoph Weis, Hermann Grether
  • Patent number: 8509475
    Abstract: A method for identifying an object involves transmitted at least one electronic image of the object to be identified to an evaluation unit. The electronic image is compared in the evaluation unit for matches with at least one electronic image of the object to be identified stored in a database, or at least one object having an identical or similar shape, and the evaluation unit then outputs the data stored in the database for the at least one image detected as a sufficient match.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: Neoperl GmbH
    Inventors: Oliver Denzler, Christoph Weis
  • Publication number: 20130134239
    Abstract: A sanitary functional unit with a housing releasably fastened to the water outlet of a sanitary outlet fitting, the housing having an outflow-side housing end face with outflow openings. The outflow-side housing end face has at least one slot, opposing longitudinal sides of which form turning engagement surfaces or tool engagement surfaces for a turning tool that is releasably inserted into the slot, and the housing of the functional unit is rotatably held on the water outlet of the outlet fitting and/or the housing end face is mounted rotatably in the housing. Using the turning tool in the slot, a pivotably mounted housing end face in the housing can be easily aligned and/or the turning force required for fitting and removing a screw connection provided between the outer housing periphery and the inner fitting periphery can be conveniently transferred to the housing without requiring special turning tools.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2011
    Publication date: May 30, 2013
    Applicant: NEOPERL GMBH
    Inventors: Gerhard Blum, Hermann Grether, Georg Stadtler, Alexander Stein, Christoph Weis, Oliver Denzler
  • Patent number: 8430342
    Abstract: An outlet nozzle is configured to be attached to a sanitary water line outlet end, and includes a valve unit movable between a blocking position, closing the water line, and an open position, releasing the water line. The outlet nozzle includes a two-part construction with a connection part configured to be attached to the outlet end of the water line and an adjacent holder part. The holder part is configured to receive at least one jet regulator unit, which includes at least one of: a jet divider, homogenizing device, or flow rectifier, a shower unit, or a jet former.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: Neoperl GmbH
    Inventors: Christoph Weis, Oliver Denzler, Alexander Stein, Martin Fangmeier
  • Publication number: 20130088007
    Abstract: A water outlet fitting with a handleable water outlet (4) and with a flexible hose line (3) which can be connected to the water outlet (4) via a coupling (5). A characteristic feature of the water outlet fitting according to the invention is that the coupling (5), which is provided for connecting the water outlet (4) and hose line (3), has a ball-and-socket joint (7). The ball-and-socket joint (7) connected between the water outlet (4) and the hose line (3) not only increases the mobility and articulation between the water outlet (4) and the flexible hose line (3), but the ball-and-socket joint (7) also permits the water outlet (4) to be rotated relative to the hose line (3) without having to be concerned that the screw connection or similar coupling (5) provided between the water outlet (4) and hose line (3) will become undone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2011
    Publication date: April 11, 2013
    Applicant: NEOPERL GMBH
    Inventors: Hermann Grether, Christoph Weis, Holger Reinhardt
  • Publication number: 20130075496
    Abstract: A sanitary fitted element (1) which can be inserted into the water outlet of a sanitary outlet fitting and is held releasably there. A characteristic feature of the fitted element (1) according to the invention is that said fitted element has an adjusting device for changing the clear sectional area of flow of the fitted element (1) and/or the discharge rate, which adjusting device is actuable via at least one control element (8) which is arranged actuably on the inflow side of the fitted element (1) and/or on the outflow side thereof. The fitted element (1) according to the invention can be used in a versatile manner in order to reduce the outlay on production and stock.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2011
    Publication date: March 28, 2013
    Applicant: NEOPERL GMBH
    Inventors: Keith Hart, Gehard Blum, Marc Tempel, Christoph Weis
  • Patent number: 8308079
    Abstract: A sanitary installation element (1) having at least one bypass or cleaning duct (6) which is assigned a valve in whose open position the at least one bypass or cleaning duct is connected switched on. The installation element (1) according to the invention is characterized in that the installation element (1) has a filter screen (4) with at least one outlet opening (5), which outlet opening (5) has a larger clear opening cross section than the screen openings of the filter screen (4), that the at least one outlet opening (5) opens into the at least one bypass or cleaning duct (6), and that, as seen in the direction of flow, the outlet opening (5) is arranged in front of at least one liquid-conveying component of at least one functional unit situated in the installation element (1) and, as seen in the direction of flow, the duct outlet of the at least one bypass or cleaning duct (6) is arranged after this component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: Neoperl GmbH
    Inventors: Hermann Grether, Manfred Gilcher, Jorg Rudolph, Christoph Weis
  • Publication number: 20120097715
    Abstract: An outlet nozzle is configured to be attached to a sanitary water line outlet end, and includes a valve unit movable between a blocking position, closing the water line, and an open position, releasing the water line. The outlet nozzle includes a two-part construction with a connection part configured to be attached to the outlet end of the water line and an adjacent holder part. The holder part is configured to receive at least one jet regulator unit, which includes at least one of: a jet divider, homogenizing device, or flow rectifier, a shower unit, or a jet former.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2011
    Publication date: April 26, 2012
    Applicant: NEOPERL GMBH
    Inventors: Christoph Weis, Oliver Denzler, Alexander Stein, Martin Fangmeier
  • Publication number: 20120091232
    Abstract: A jet aerator (1) having an aerator housing (8) that can be installed in the water discharge of a sanitary outlet fitting, and having a jet splitter (12) in the interior of the housing, dividing the inflowing water flow into a plurality of individual jets, a mixing zone (14) being disposed downstream of the splitter for aerating the individual jets, wherein at least one aerator duct (16) is provided that ends in the mixing zone (14). The jet aerator has a throttle or closing piece (18) for reducing and/or optionally activating or deactivating the aerating function, the throttle or closing piece being displaceable between an open position opening the at least one aerating duct (16) and a throttle or closing position at least partially closing the at least one aerating duct (16) by a rotary and/or sliding movement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2011
    Publication date: April 19, 2012
    Applicant: NEOPERL GMBH
    Inventors: Hermann Grether, Alexander Stein, Daniel Oechsle, Christoph Weis
  • Patent number: 8109449
    Abstract: An outlet nozzle (1) which can be attached to an outlet fitting, or to a similar outlet end of a sanitary water line, which includes a valve unit (3), which is displaceable between a blocking position, closing the water line, and an open position, releasing the water line, wherein at least one aerator unit having a jet divider, homogenizer, and/or flow rectifier, a shower unit, or similar jet former, is provided in the outlet nozzle (1). The outlet nozzle (1) is characterized by the low space requirement and production costs thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2012
    Assignee: Neoperl GmbH
    Inventors: Christoph Weis, Oliver Denzler, Alexander Stein, Martin Fangmeier
  • Publication number: 20110309167
    Abstract: A manual spray head can be connected with a flexible hose line by means of a coupling that has a ball-and-socket joint inserted between the manual spray head and the hose line. This arrangement not only increases the mobility and flexibility between the manual spray head and the flexible hose line, but also permits twisting of the manual spray head relative to the hose line without fear of unscrewing the screw-type connection or similar coupling provided between the manual spray head and the hose line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2010
    Publication date: December 22, 2011
    Applicant: Neoperl GmbH
    Inventors: Hermann GRETHER, Christoph Weis
  • Publication number: 20110309168
    Abstract: A manual spray head can be connected with a flexible hose line by means of a coupling that has a ball-and-socket joint inserted between the manual spray head and the hose line. This arrangement not only increases the mobility and flexibility between the manual spray head and the flexible hose line, but also permits twisting of the manual spray head relative to the hose line without fear of unscrewing the screw-type connection or similar coupling provided between the manual spray head and the hose line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2011
    Publication date: December 22, 2011
    Applicant: Neopert GmbH
    Inventors: Hermann Grether, Christoph Weis
  • Publication number: 20110036930
    Abstract: A sanitary functional unit having a sleeve-shaped insert cartridge insertable into the pipe-shaped fixture outlet of a sanitary outlet fixture is provided. The insert cartridge has a water inlet at the cartridge circumference and a jet former having flow guiding walls oriented transversely to the cartridge longitudinal axis provided in the water outlet. The functional unit deflects the water jet flowing in from the axial direction such that water subsequently flows out of the fixture outlet in a nearly radial direction. The functional unit has a jet former, provided in the region of the water outlet, supporting flow guiding walls that are oriented transversely and perpendicularly to the cartridge longitudinal axis. Since the functional unit is oriented approximately coaxially to the fixture outlet, it also does not project beyond the pipe circumference of the fixture outlet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2009
    Publication date: February 17, 2011
    Applicant: NEOPERL GMBH
    Inventors: Oliver Denzler, Christoph Weis, Christoph Taran
  • Publication number: 20110025876
    Abstract: A method for identifying an object involves transmitted at least one electronic image of the object to be identified to an evaluation unit. The electronic image is compared in the evaluation unit for matches with at least one electronic image of the object to be identified stored in a database, or at least one object having an identical or similar shape, and the evaluation unit then outputs the data stored in the database for the at least one image detected as a sufficient match.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2009
    Publication date: February 3, 2011
    Applicant: Neoperl GmbH
    Inventors: Oliver Denzler, Christoph Weis
  • Publication number: 20100065661
    Abstract: A jet aerator (1) having an aerator housing (8) that can be installed in the water discharge of a sanitary outlet fitting, and having a jet splitter (12) in the interior of the housing, dividing the inflowing water flow into a plurality of individual jets, a mixing zone (14) being disposed downstream of the splitter for aerating the individual jets, wherein at least one aerator duct (16) is provided that ends in the mixing zone (14). The jet aerator has a throttle or closing piece (18) for reducing and/or optionally activating or deactivating the aerating function, the throttle or closing piece being displaceable between an open position opening the at least one aerating duct (16) and a throttle or closing position at least partially closing the at least one aerating duct (16) by a rotary and/or sliding movement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2007
    Publication date: March 18, 2010
    Applicant: NEOPERL GMBH
    Inventors: Hermann Grether, Alexander Stein, Daniel Oechsle, Christoph Weis
  • Publication number: 20100025499
    Abstract: The invention relates to a sanitary installation element (101) which is arranged in a water line. The installation element (101) according to the invention comprises a mixing device (4) with at least one throttling or closing element (5), which throttling or closing element (5) can be moved under the pressure of the inflowing water from a mixing or open position into a throttling or closed position against a restoring force, wherein the mixing device (4) offers a relatively large clear flow cross section when the at least one throttling or closing element (5) in the mixing or open position, and, by contrast thereto, a reduced clear flow cross section when the at least one throttling or closing element (5) is in the throttling or closed position. The installation element according to the invention is distinguished in that it always offers an optimum flow cross section both in low and high pressure ranges.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2007
    Publication date: February 4, 2010
    Applicant: NEOPERL GMBH
    Inventors: Uwe Zoller, Christoph Weis, Hermann Grether