Patents by Inventor David M. Colby

David M. Colby 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: 20240109694
    Abstract: A drinking vessel including a beverage container and a closure assembly attachable to the beverage container. The beverage container has a spout defining a first drinking opening and a second drinking opening. The closure assembly includes a positioning member and a sealing member. When the positioning member is in a sealing orientation, the positioning member can extend deep enough into the first drinking opening for the sealing member to seal the first drinking opening and the second drinking opening. When the positioning member is not in the sealing orientation, the positioning member cannot extend deep enough into the first drinking opening for the sealing member to seal the first drinking opening and the second drinking opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2023
    Publication date: April 4, 2024
    Inventors: David O. MEYERS, Jim Allen COLBY, John R. OMDAHL, II, Timothy Tyler BOND, Steven M. SORENSEN
  • Patent number: 10702831
    Abstract: A membrane filter module configured to treat a liquid contained in a tank at an ambient pressure. The module may have a header, with a bundle containing a plurality of substantially vertical hollow fiber membranes, wherein a lower end of each hollow fiber membrane is fixed in the header. The module may also have a gasification device adapted to periodically generate a gaseous bubble and configured to release the gaseous bubble within the bundle. The module may further have an enclosure that substantially surrounds the bundle that extends from a lower region to an upper region of the membrane bundle, wherein the enclosure is configured to retain the liquid introduced into the enclosure such that the liquid surrounds the membrane bundle. The gaseous bubble has a cross-sectional area that corresponds with a cross-sectional area of the enclosure, such that the cross-sectional area of the gaseous bubble occupies substantially the entire cross-sectional area of the enclosure as it flows along the bundle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: KOCH SEPARATION SOLUTIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Taylour Johnson, David M. Colby, Manwinder Singh
  • Publication number: 20180221826
    Abstract: A membrane filter module configured to treat a liquid contained in a tank at an ambient pressure. The module may have a header, with a bundle containing a plurality of substantially vertical hollow fiber membranes, wherein a lower end of each hollow fiber membrane is fixed in the header. The module may also have a gasification device adapted to periodically generate a gaseous bubble and configured to release the gaseous bubble within the bundle. The module may further have an enclosure that substantially surrounds the bundle that extends from a lower region to an upper region of the membrane bundle, wherein the enclosure is configured to retain the liquid introduced into the enclosure such that the liquid surrounds the membrane bundle. The gaseous bubble has a cross-sectional area that corresponds with a cross-sectional area of the enclosure, such that the cross-sectional area of the gaseous bubble occupies substantially the entire cross-sectional area of the enclosure as it flows along the bundle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2018
    Publication date: August 9, 2018
    Applicant: Koch Membrane Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Taylour Johnson, David M. Colby, Manwinder Singh
  • Patent number: 9956530
    Abstract: A membrane filter module configured to treat a liquid contained in a tank at an ambient pressure. The module may have a header, with a bundle containing a plurality of substantially vertical hollow fiber membranes, wherein a lower end of each hollow fiber membrane is fixed in the header. The module may also have a gasification device adapted to periodically generate a gaseous bubble and configured to release the gaseous bubble within the bundle. The module may further have an enclosure that substantially surrounds the bundle that extends from a lower region to an upper region of the membrane bundle, wherein the enclosure is configured to retain the liquid introduced into the enclosure such that the liquid surrounds the membrane bundle. The gaseous bubble has a cross-sectional area that corresponds with a cross-sectional area of the enclosure, such that the cross-sectional area of the gaseous bubble occupies substantially the entire cross-sectional area of the enclosure as it flows along the bundle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: Koch Membrane Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Taylour Johnson, David M Colby, Manwinder Singh
  • Publication number: 20170173538
    Abstract: An enclosure assembly configured to receive a plurality of fiber membranes configured to filter fluid may include an elongated tubular member including an elongated wall extending between first and second ends, and a removable hatch coupled to opposing side edges of the elongated wall, thereby forming a hollow enclosure having an interior. The interior of the elongated tubular member may be configured to receive a plurality of fiber membranes configured to filter fluid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2015
    Publication date: June 22, 2017
    Applicant: Koch Membrane Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Taylor Johnson, David M. Colby, Manwinder Singh
  • Publication number: 20160220963
    Abstract: A membrane filter module configured to treat a liquid contained in a tank at an ambient pressure. The module may have a header, with a bundle containing a plurality of substantially vertical hollow fiber membranes, wherein a lower end of each hollow fiber membrane is fixed in the header. The module may also have a gasification device adapted to periodically generate a gaseous bubble and configured to release the gaseous bubble within the bundle. The module may further have an enclosure that substantially surrounds the bundle that extends from a lower region to an upper region of the membrane bundle, wherein the enclosure is configured to retain the liquid introduced into the enclosure such that the liquid surrounds the membrane bundle. The gaseous bubble has a cross-sectional area that corresponds with a cross-sectional area of the enclosure, such that the cross-sectional area of the gaseous bubble occupies substantially the entire cross-sectional area of the enclosure as it flows along the bundle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2016
    Publication date: August 4, 2016
    Applicant: Koch Membrane Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Taylour Johnson, David M. Colby, Manwinder Singh
  • Patent number: 9333464
    Abstract: A membrane filter module configured to treat a liquid contained in a tank at an ambient pressure. The module may have a header, with a bundle containing a plurality of substantially vertical hollow fiber membranes, wherein a lower end of each hollow fiber membrane is fixed in the header. The module may also have a gasification device adapted to periodically generate a gaseous bubble and configured to release the gaseous bubble within the bundle. The module may further have an enclosure that substantially surrounds the bundle that extends from a lower region to an upper region of the membrane bundle, wherein the enclosure is configured to retain the liquid introduced into the enclosure such that the liquid surrounds the membrane bundle. The gaseous bubble has a cross-sectional area that corresponds with a cross-sectional area of the enclosure, such that the cross-sectional area of the gaseous bubble occupies substantially the entire cross-sectional area of the enclosure as it flows along the bundle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: Koch Membrane Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Taylour L. Johnson, David M. Colby, Manwinder Singh
  • Publication number: 20160114292
    Abstract: A membrane filter module configured to treat a liquid contained in a tank at an ambient pressure. The module may have a header, with a bundle containing a plurality of substantially vertical hollow fiber membranes, wherein a lower end of each hollow fiber membrane is fixed in the header. The module may also have a gasification device adapted to periodically generate a gaseous bubble and configured to release the gaseous bubble within the bundle. The module may further have an enclosure that substantially surrounds the bundle that extends from a lower region to an upper region of the membrane bundle, wherein the enclosure is configured to retain the liquid introduced into the enclosure such that the liquid surrounds the membrane bundle. The gaseous bubble has a cross-sectional area that corresponds with a cross-sectional area of the enclosure, such that the cross-sectional area of the gaseous bubble occupies substantially the entire cross-sectional area of the enclosure as it flows along the bundle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2015
    Publication date: April 28, 2016
    Applicant: Koch Membrane Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: David M. Colby, Taylour Johnson, Manwinder Singh
  • Publication number: 20160023165
    Abstract: A single header filter cartridge for removing contaminates from water using a plurality of hollow fiber membrane filters, and methods of using the same, is provided. The single header filter cartridge contains a plurality of hollow fiber membrane filters secured at the top of the cartridge in a header to form a fiber bundle, the filter ends designed to be freely suspended in the water, a central aeration tube positioned at the cartridge bottom, and a vent tube positioned near the cartridge top that creates a void space within the fiber bundle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2015
    Publication date: January 28, 2016
    Applicant: KOCH MEMBRANE SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: David M. Colby, Taylor Johnson
  • Patent number: 7387731
    Abstract: A coupler for a spiral membrane filtration element having a spiral membrane enclosed within a rigid outerwrap includes a center support, a plurality of spokes extending outwardly from the center support, a circular rim coupled with the spokes, with the face of the rim being perpendicular to the axis of the overwrap. The rim includes a channel on its face for receiving a compressible seal, and a plurality of receptacles around its outer surface for joining two face-to-face adjacent couplers when a pair of aligned keepers is place in each receptacle. Exemplary embodiments of the coupler and filtration elements and filtration assemblies are provided, as well as an associated method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2008
    Assignee: Koch Membrane Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: David M. Colby, Frederick K. Lesan, Alan M. Franks, Chang-Li Hsieh, Anjan Kumar Mukherjee
  • Patent number: 7311830
    Abstract: A coupler for a spiral membrane filtration element having a spiral membrane enclosed within a rigid outerwrap includes a center support, a plurality of spokes extending outwardly from the center support, a circular rim coupled with the spokes, with the face of the rim being perpendicular to the axis of the overwrap. The rim includes a channel on its face for receiving a compressible seal, and a plurality of receptacles around its outer surface for joining two face-to-face adjacent couplers when a pair of aligned keepers is placed in each receptacle. Exemplary embodiments of the coupler and filtration elements and filtration assemblies are provided, as well as an associated method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2007
    Assignee: Koch Membrane Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: David M. Colby, Frederick K. Lesan, Alan M. Franks, Chang-Li Hsieh, Anjan Kumar Mukherjee
  • Patent number: 7063789
    Abstract: A coupler for a spiral membrane filtration element having a spiral membrane enclosed within a rigid outerwrap includes a center support, a plurality of spokes extending outwardly from the center support, a circular rim coupled with the spokes, with the face of the rim being perpendicular to the axis of the overwrap. The rim includes a channel on its face for receiving a compressible seal, and a plurality of receptacles around its outer surface for joining two face-to-face adjacent couplers when a pair of aligned keepers is place in each receptacle. Exemplary embodiments of the coupler and filtration elements and filtration assemblies are provided, as well as an associated method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2006
    Assignee: Koch Membrane Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: David M. Colby, Frederick K. Lesan, Alan M. Franks, Chang-Li Hsieh, Anjan Kumar Mukherjee
  • Patent number: 5470468
    Abstract: A membrane filtration module is provided incorporating a seal assembly to seal the annular space or bypass channel existing between the outer diameter of the filtration cartridge and the inner diameter of the housing in which it is disposed. The seal assembly prevents a feed stream from entering the bypass channel, and includes a pair of seals each having a flexible gasket and a sleeve extending perpendicularly therefrom, the sleeve being adapted to be positioned directly on the cartridge. This positioning prevents the feed stream from ever coming into contact with the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 28, 1995
    Assignee: Koch Membrane Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: David M. Colby
  • Patent number: 5073263
    Abstract: An ultrafiltration module and method of constructing same is the subject of the present invention. The module comprises a permeate collector tube and one or more membrane leaves wound around the tube together with a feed channel spacer so as to present spaced layers of membrane leaves or envelopes that are contacted by fluid flowing axially through the module in the channel provided by the feed spacer screen. The feed spacer screen projects beyond the terminal ends of the leaves to present an open mesh outerwrap screen circumscribing the wound leaves. A plurality of restraining bands are provided in longitudinally spaced relationship along the length of the module. These bands are designed to hold the entire module assembly in tight spiral relationship. Preferably, the bands are constructed of heat shrinkable material and are thus secured in place and tightened by the application of heat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 1990
    Date of Patent: December 17, 1991
    Inventors: Carlos A. Fagundes, Thomas C. McDermott, Jr., David M. Colby
  • Patent number: D779631
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: KOCH MEMBRANE SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Taylour L Johnson, David M. Colby
  • Patent number: D779632
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: KOCH MEMBRANE SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Taylour L Johnson, David M. Colby