Patents by Inventor Dan Lohde

Dan Lohde 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: 20040117899
    Abstract: A toilet cleaning dispenser system adapted for placement in a toilet tank includes a hanger, a dispenser housing and a cartridge device removably coupled to the dispenser housing. The cartridge device, which includes a cleanser tablet enclosed within a cartridge housing, is inserted into a cavity of the dispenser housing and turned in one direction to lock the device and, alternatively, in an opposite direction to unlock the device. The cartridge housing may be formed to turn as one unit, or be formed as a basket and a rotatable cap that can be turned with respect to the basket. The dispenser housing includes an inlet water trap and an outlet water trap, each comprising a pair of concentric, nested tubes that retain liquid after flushing so as to prevent fumes from exiting the dispenser housing into the toilet tank.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2003
    Publication date: June 24, 2004
    Inventors: Jack T. Nguyen, Farid Maiwandi, Dan Lohde, Christopher A. Coppock, Troy A. Bell
  • Patent number: 6557580
    Abstract: An irrigation valve comprises a valve housing made from a valve body joined to a valve bonnet by a plurality of attachment screws. The valve body and valve bonnet have an alignment rib received in an alignment notch when the body and bonnet are joined together such that the holes that receive the attachment screws are automatically aligned with one another. The attachment screws have a smooth portion adjacent a threaded portion such that the smooth portion when visible signals to the user that the attachment screws are clear of the valve body but are still captured in the valve bonnet. The valve includes a solenoid that may be remotely actuated to open the valve. An L-shaped actuator arm is also operatively connected to the solenoid for manually opening the valve with the upper portion of the actuator arm being closer to the user than in previous valves and thus easier to grip and turn.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2003
    Assignee: The Toro Company
    Inventors: Dan Lohde, John Larry Kent, Alan Dawn
  • Publication number: 20020104563
    Abstract: An irrigation valve comprises a valve housing made from a valve body joined to a valve bonnet by a plurality of attachment screws. The valve body and valve bonnet have an alignment rib received in an alignment notch when the body and bonnet are joined together such that the holes that receive the attachment screws are automatically aligned with one another. The attachment screws have a smooth portion adjacent a threaded portion such that the smooth portion when visible signals to the user that the attachment screws are clear of the valve body but are still captured in the valve bonnet. The valve includes a solenoid that may be remotely actuated to open the valve. An L-shaped actuator arm is also operatively connected to the solenoid for manually opening the valve with the upper portion of the actuator arm being closer to the user than in previous valves and thus easier to grip and turn.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2002
    Publication date: August 8, 2002
    Inventors: Dan Lohde, John Larry Kent, Alan Dawn
  • Patent number: 6394413
    Abstract: An irrigation valve comprises a valve housing made from a valve body joined to a valve bonnet by a plurality of attachment screws. The valve body and valve bonnet have an alignment rib received in an alignment notch when the body and bonnet are joined together such that the holes that receive the attachment screws are automatically aligned with one another. The attachment screws have a smooth portion adjacent a threaded portion such that the smooth portion when visible signals to the user that the attachment screws are clear of the valve body but are still captured in the valve bonnet. The valve includes a solenoid that may be remotely actuated to open the valve. An L-shaped actuator arm is also operatively connected to the solenoid for manually opening the valve with the upper portion of the actuator arm being closer to the user than in previous valves and thus easier to grip and turn.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2002
    Assignee: The Toro Company
    Inventors: Dan Lohde, John Larry Kent, Alan Dawn
  • Patent number: 6394126
    Abstract: An irrigation valve comprises a valve housing made from a valve body joined to a valve bonnet by a plurality of attachment screws. The valve body and valve bonnet have an alignment rib received in an alignment notch when the body and bonnet are joined together such that the holes that receive the attachment screws are automatically aligned with one another. The attachment screws have a smooth portion adjacent a threaded portion such that the smooth portion when visible signals to the user that the attachment screws are clear of the valve body but are still captured in the valve bonnet. The valve includes a solenoid that may be remotely actuated to open the valve. An L-shaped actuator arm is also operatively connected to the solenoid for manually opening the valve with the upper portion of the actuator arm being closer to the user than in previous valves and thus easier to grip and turn.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2002
    Assignee: The Toro Company
    Inventors: Dan Lohde, John Larry Kent, Alan Dawn
  • Publication number: 20010039962
    Abstract: An irrigation valve comprises a valve housing made from a valve body joined to a valve bonnet by a plurality of attachment screws. The valve body and valve bonnet have an alignment rib received in an alignment notch when the body and bonnet are joined together such that the holes that receive the attachment screws are automatically aligned with one another. The attachment screws have a smooth portion adjacent a threaded portion such that the smooth portion when visible signals to the user that the attachment screws are clear of the valve body but are still captured in the valve bonnet. The valve includes a solenoid that may be remotely actuated to open the valve. An L-shaped actuator arm is also operatively connected to the solenoid for manually opening the valve with the upper portion of the actuator arm being closer to the user than in previous valves and thus easier to grip and turn.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2001
    Publication date: November 15, 2001
    Inventors: Dan Lohde, John Larry Kent, Alan Dawn
  • Publication number: 20010040228
    Abstract: An irrigation valve comprises a valve housing made from a valve body joined to a valve bonnet by a plurality of attachment screws. The valve body and valve bonnet have an alignment rib received in an alignment notch when the body and bonnet are joined together such that the holes that receive the attachment screws are automatically aligned with one another. The attachment screws have a smooth portion adjacent a threaded portion such that the smooth portion when visible signals to the user that the attachment screws are clear of the valve body but are still captured in the valve bonnet. The valve includes a solenoid that may be remotely actuated to open the valve. An L-shaped actuator arm is also operatively connected to the solenoid for manually opening the valve with the upper portion of the actuator arm being closer to the user than in previous valves and thus easier to grip and turn.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2001
    Publication date: November 15, 2001
    Inventors: Dan Lohde, John Larry Kent, Alan Dawn
  • Patent number: 6263901
    Abstract: An irrigation valve comprises a valve housing made from a valve body joined to a valve bonnet by a plurality of attachment screws. The valve body and valve bonnet have an alignment rib received in an alignment notch when the body and bonnet are joined together such that the holes that receive the attachment screws are automatically aligned with one another. The attachment screws have a smooth portion adjacent a threaded portion such that the smooth portion when visible signals to the user that the attachment screws are clear of the valve body but are still captured in the valve bonnet. The valve includes a solenoid that may be remotely actuated to open the valve. An L-shaped actuator arm is also operatively connected to the solenoid for manually opening the valve with the upper portion of the actuator arm being closer to the user than in previous valves and thus easier to grip and turn.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2001
    Assignee: The Toro Company
    Inventors: Dan Lohde, John Larry Kent, Alan Dawn
  • Patent number: 5983826
    Abstract: A mechanical pressure gauge indicator for showing a position of a multi-turn non-rising water valve stem is disclosed. The mechanical pressure gauge indicator uses 180 degrees of turning motion to indicate various approximations of pressure downstream of the regulating valve. One half turn of the mechanical simulated pressure gauge indicator indicates ten turns of the multi-turn non-rising water valve stem.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1999
    Assignee: The Toro Company
    Inventor: Dan Lohde
  • Patent number: 5860715
    Abstract: An enclosure for housing electronic controls and devices that provides exceptional access to all sides of the enclosure and is both secure and aesthetically pleasing. The enclosure has a frame, semi-cylindrical doors, a top assembly, and a mounting base. Each of the doors has a door retaining member on its inner lower surfaces which engages and is supported by a receiving member mounted to a lower portion of the frame. The doors may be pivoted open and closed about the retaining and receiving members or may be completely removed from the base by simply lifting the doors off of the frame. Removal of the doors allows unobstructed access to the interior of the enclosure. The top assembly mounts on top of the frame and moves between a closed position and an open position. The top assembly includes a rim which overlaps and engages the top surfaces of the doors to securely retain the doors in the closed position. An opening and closing system mounted on the frame supports the top assembly in the open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 19, 1999
    Assignee: The Toro Company
    Inventors: Dan Lohde, Noorlah N. Beidokhti, Brian J. Smith, Jeff L. Tipton
  • Patent number: D449872
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2001
    Assignee: The Toro Company
    Inventors: Dan Lohde, John Larry Kent, Alan Dawn
  • Patent number: D476057
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2003
    Assignee: Fluidmaster, Inc.
    Inventors: Jack T. Nguyen, Farid Maiwandi, Dan Lohde, Christopher A. Coppock, Troy A. Bell