Patents by Inventor Edward F. McKiernan

Edward F. McKiernan 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: 7725961
    Abstract: A portable toilet is provided comprising a bowl provided with an outlet and at least one spout. A flush tank is adapted to store a fluid, wherein the flush tank is adapted to be pressurized. A manually-actuated pump is in sealed communication with the flush tank, wherein the pump is adapted to cause the flush tank to become pressurized. A pressure relief valve adapted to release pressure from the flush tank. A manually-actuated flush valve is in sealed communication with the flush tank and is normally biased to a closed position. The flush valve includes a fluid outlet connected to the at least one spout and a fluid inlet. A flush valve actuator is disposed outside of the flush tank and is adapted to actuate the flush valve, wherein actuation of the flush valve actuator causes the flush valve to open to permit pressurized fluid contained within the flush tank to be delivered through the at least one spout.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: Dometic Corporation
    Inventors: Miguel O. Martinez, Patrick J. Curran, Edward F. McKiernan, Otto E. Erbacher, Robert D. Krieder
  • Patent number: 6182673
    Abstract: A dump facility for RV sewage-containing tanks allows the tanks to be emptied in a simple and hygienic manner. A container which can receive a tank includes a connector for making a liquid tight seal with an outlet from the tank when it is received by the container. A flexible conduit is connected to the connector and transports sewage from the tank to a disposal location, and a spray head may be mounted to the connector to spray cleaning liquid into the tank within the container. The container is mounted for movement about a generally horizontal axis between the first position in which a tank may be readily inserted into the container, and a second position in which sewage from the tank may flow by gravity through the connector and the flexible conduit. Rotation of the tank about the axis may be provided manually or by a reversible powered element (such as a motor with associated sprockets and chain).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2001
    Assignee: Mike Kindermann Marketing/Vertriebs GmbH
    Inventors: Mike Kindermann, Dieter Kolodziej, Michael Schinkmann, Edward F. McKiernan
  • Patent number: 5937888
    Abstract: The unpleasant task of manually removing a sewage holding tank from a recreation vehicle at a campground, and emptying it, is avoided by operatively connecting the RV sewage system to a stationary (preferably underground) vacuum installation at the campground. While the RV is renting space at the campground it is connected to an above ground vacuum hookup (typically including a conduit and a shut-off valve, and usually also a flexible hose with a dripless free end connection), at a campsite. The hookup is, in turn, connected to at least one underground vacuum source. The vacuum source may be a vacuum pump connected to a number of vacuum tanks (one for each hookup), with a check valve (e. g. duckbill valve) isolating each vacuum tank from the others. Alternatively, the vacuum source may be a vacuum generator connected to each hookup, and a common gravity sewer pipe connected to all of the vacuum generators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 17, 1999
    Assignee: Sealand Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Edward F. McKiernan, James A. Sigler
  • Patent number: 5442952
    Abstract: Hose samples are tested to determine their permeability to noxious odors when used to conduct sewage. A hose sample is preferably pre-treated with methyl alcohol for several days to accelerate the rate of failure. Then the open ends of the hose sample tubular body are sealed and the tubular body is covered with a flexible generally (although not necessarily completely) sulfur-containing gas-impervious material (such as nylon film) to define a gas volume between the exterior surface of the hose and the film. Carbon disulfide, dimethyl sulfide, and/or dimethyl disulfide are introduced into the interior of the hose and allowed to stand for at least a day, and then the content of any gas in the gas volume between the exterior surface and the hose is evaluated to see if it is gas from carbon disulfide or like fluids introduced into the hose.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 22, 1995
    Assignee: Sealand Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Frederic J. Morris, Edward F. McKiernan
  • Patent number: 5433163
    Abstract: An adaptor for use with dockside pumps to facilitate pump out of sewage holding tanks is constructed so that it readily accommodates both of the two most common fittings for dockside pumps, an elastomeric material right circular cone frustrum, and a cam actuated fitting having a number of curved locking surface locking cams. The adaptor is a tubular body of rigid material having first and second ends with a concentric bore. An interior surface of the first end defines a cone frustrum cooperable with the dockside pump cone frustrum fitting, and the exterior surface of the first end is a cylindrical surface with a semi-toroidal recess at a central axial portion, which recess cooperates with the curved surfaces of the locking cams. The second end of the adaptor has external threads that fit one of three common sizes of boat deck fitting internal threads (e.g.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 18, 1995
    Assignee: Sealand Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Edward F. McKiernan
  • Patent number: 4893720
    Abstract: The emptying of the contents of a holding tank for a recreational vehicle or the like into a land based water closet is greatly simplified, and made much less unpleasant. A portable tank has wheels at one end and a handle at the other, with a discharge valve located adjacent the handle. A deployable stationary support is provided with the tank. The deployable support includes collars engaging stub shafts extending outwardly from the sides of the tank, and two sets of legs which provide a supporting base. As the tank is moved into a vertical position it moves to a point where it is no longer supported by the wheels, but instead is supported by the legs, and the connection between the tank and the legs is automatically unlatched. The tank is then tilted (pivoted) about a horizontal axis so that the discharge valve is right above a water closet. A tube extends from the valve into the toilet to about the point of the liquid level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 1989
    Date of Patent: January 16, 1990
    Assignee: Sealand Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Edward F. McKiernan, Carl E. Bochmann
  • Patent number: 4854827
    Abstract: A sanitary pump station for removing waste from recreational vehicle and pleasure craft waste tanks is provided. A pump station housing encloses a motor driven pump provided with at least a pair of one-way valve arrangements in both inlet and outlets to the pump. A waste hose is connected to the pump inlet and stored on a reel device within the housing. A water hose connected to an external water source is also provided. The water hose is also stored in the housing on a second reel. The respective hoses may be pulled from the housing, selectively, and after use, may be rewound on the reels by a rewind mechanism selectively engageable with drive pulleys associated with the respective reels. A universal adaptor is also provided to enable connection between the waste hose and the termination valve of the waste tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 1987
    Date of Patent: August 8, 1989
    Assignee: Sealand Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Edward F. McKiernan, James Sigler, Richard Sprang, Richard Lewellen, Mark Geis