Patents by Inventor Eric S. Cole

Eric S. Cole 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: 20120117724
    Abstract: A spa system comprising a tub, a circulation system and a controller is provided. The tub holds water and has an outlet port and an inlet port. The circulation system has a pump assembly, including a motor driving a pump, to circulate water from the outlet port to the inlet port. The speed of the motor can be set at different speeds by the controller in response to user inputs to adjust the flow rate of the water discharged into the tub through the inlet port. Alternatively, or in addition, the speed of the motor can be set at different speeds by the controller depending one whether a water heater positioned in fluid communication with the pump assembly is in a heating mode or in a non-heating mode. In some implementations, the motor used to drive the pump is a BLDC motor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2011
    Publication date: May 17, 2012
    Applicant: GECKO ALLIANCE GROUP INC.
    Inventors: Dirk A. CAUDILL, Eric S. COLE
  • Patent number: 8104110
    Abstract: A water circulating system, such as a spa system, is disclosed having a flow control feature. In one embodiment, the spa system includes a tub, a pump assembly and a controller. The pump assembly includes a BLDC motor and circulates water from the tub's outlet port to its inlet port. The controller sets the speed of the BLDC motor to any speed within the speed range of the BLDC motor in response to a user input to adjust the flow rate of the water to the inlet port of the tub. The spa system may also produce at least one jetting mode in response to a user input. The jetting mode may be a pulse mode, a sinusoidal mode, a ramp mode, or a saw-tooth mode. In another spa system, a first pump operates at a first speed to heat the circulating water when a heater is activated, and at a second speed when the heater is not activated. In other embodiments, the spa system includes a jetting pump assembly that includes a BLDC motor and a circulating pump assembly that operates at two speeds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: Gecko Alliance Group Inc.
    Inventors: Dirk A. Caudill, Eric S. Cole
  • Publication number: 20110035870
    Abstract: A water circulating system, such as a spa system, is disclosed having a flow control feature. In one embodiment, the spa system includes a tub, a pump assembly and a controller. The pump assembly includes a BLDC motor and circulates water from the tub's outlet port to its inlet port. The controller sets the speed of the BLDC motor to any speed within the speed range of the BLDC motor in response to a user input to adjust the flow rate of the water to the inlet port of the tub. The spa system may also produce at least one jetting mode in response to a user input. The jetting mode may be a pulse mode, a sinusoidal mode, a ramp mode, or a saw-tooth mode. In another spa system, a first pump operates at a first speed to heat the circulating water when a heater is activated, and at a second speed when the heater is not activated. In other embodiments, the spa system includes a jetting pump assembly that includes a BLDC motor and a circulating pump assembly that operates at two speeds.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2010
    Publication date: February 17, 2011
    Applicant: GECKO ALLIANCE GROUP INC.
    Inventors: Dirk A. CAUDILL, Eric S. COLE
  • Publication number: 20080168599
    Abstract: A water circulating system, such as a spa system, is disclosed having a flow control feature. In one embodiment, the spa system includes a tub, a pump assembly and a controller. The pump assembly includes a BLDC motor and circulates water from the tub's outlet port to its inlet port. The controller sets the speed of the BLDC motor to any speed within the speed range of the BLDC motor in response to a user input to adjust the flow rate of the water to the inlet port of the tub. The spa system may also produce at least one jetting mode in response to a user input. The jetting mode may be a pulse mode, a sinusoidal mode, a ramp mode, or a saw-tooth mode. In another spa system, a first pump operates at a first speed to heat the circulating water when a heater is activated, and at a second speed when the heater is not activated. In other embodiments, the spa system includes a jetting pump assembly that includes a BLDC motor and a circulating pump assembly that operates at two speeds.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2007
    Publication date: July 17, 2008
    Inventors: Dirk A. Caudill, Eric S. Cole
  • Publication number: 20040240994
    Abstract: Some embodiments of the present invention provide a two-piece fan housing having a seam between first and second housing pieces. In some embodiments, a portion of the seam extends circumferentially about the fan housing while also extending axially. Also, some embodiments of the present invention provide an integrally-formed intake wall at or adjacent the fan housing intake aperture and extending axially into the fan housing. The axially extending intake wall can also extend radially inwardly to define an inlet restriction of the fan housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2004
    Publication date: December 2, 2004
    Inventors: Eric S. Cole, William J. Metzger, Ling-Zhong Zeng, Michael J. Roman, Michael F. Buckley
  • Patent number: D526713
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2006
    Assignee: Revcor, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard R. Shelby, Eric S. Cole, Michael F. Buckley