Patents by Inventor Francisco Hinojosa, Jr.
Francisco Hinojosa, Jr. 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).
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Patent number: 9377147Abstract: Devices, systems and methods for improved multi-jet manifolds for spas, spa accessories and plumbing components are provided. A spa manifold with a first elongated pipe structure with a plurality of arms, a plurality of pipe segments sized to fit one or more of the first pipe arms, and a second elongated pipe structure with a plurality of arms is provided. A plurality of housing pipe segments attached to the remainder of the manifold is also provided, with the housing segments sized to house a jet and/or other spa accessories. A system for providing water and/or air to a grouping of jets and/or spa accessories through at least one manifold is also provided.Type: GrantFiled: December 15, 2008Date of Patent: June 28, 2016Assignee: B&S PLASTICS INC.Inventors: Brooks Hilton, Francisco Hinojosa, Jr., Par Dannas
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Patent number: 8306254Abstract: A spa speaker system having a housing with a speaker mounted therein, wherein the housing is mounted within a hole in the wall of a spa. The speaker system is arranged at an angle within the housing, and is rotatable with respect to the hole. The system can also comprise a watertight membrane arranged to prevent water and contaminants from interfering with speaker components. A system for providing audio to a spa is also disclosed. The system comprises a spa having walls and at least one speaker unit mounted in a spa wall. Each of the speaker units is capable of receiving an audio signal, and generating sound towards the occupants of the spa. Each of the speaker units comprises a speaker that is individually rotatable and arranged at an angle to direct the sound.Type: GrantFiled: April 10, 2007Date of Patent: November 6, 2012Assignee: B & S Plastics, Inc.Inventors: Darrell Schmidt, Francisco Hinojosa, Jr.
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Patent number: 8011604Abstract: A pop-up water jet assembly comprises a housing having a vertical, central axis, an upper end, a top surface, a lower end, an interior and a water inlet adjacent to the lower end communicating with the interior of the housing. A pop-up member having an upper portion, a top surface, a lower portion and an interior in communication with the interior of the housing, is movable relative to the housing between a raised position in which the upper portion of the pop-up member extends from the upper end of the housing and a lowered position in which the top surfaces of the housing and the pop-up member are substantially flush.Type: GrantFiled: November 10, 2004Date of Patent: September 6, 2011Assignee: B & S Plastics, Inc.Inventors: Michael D. Holtsnider, Francisco Hinojosa, Jr.
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Patent number: 7818826Abstract: A laminar flow jet is disclosed that provides a non-turbulent smooth stream of water. The jet is structured to remove turbulence from the moving water. As the water flows through the jet, a screen component and a nozzle component cooperate to slow the water flow and provide a uniform flow direction. The jet is also structured so that the laminar stream may be lighted from within the jet. The body of the jet is designed to receive an elongated and transparent probe carrying a lighting apparatus such as a fiber optic cable. The laminar flow jet is designed to be mounted to a structure such as a spa, pool or tub wall.Type: GrantFiled: April 13, 2006Date of Patent: October 26, 2010Assignee: B & S Plastics, Inc.Inventors: Darrell Schmidt, Francisco Hinojosa, Jr., Jose Cervantes
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Publication number: 20100046785Abstract: A spa speaker system having a housing with a speaker mounted therein, wherein the housing is mounted within a hole in the wall of a spa. The speaker system is arranged at an angle within the housing, and is rotatable with respect to the hole. The system can also comprise a watertight membrane arranged to prevent water and contaminants from interfering with speaker components. A system for providing audio to a spa is also disclosed. The system comprises a spa having walls and at least one speaker unit mounted in a spa wall. Each of the speaker units is capable of receiving an audio signal, and generating sound towards the occupants of the spa. Each of the speaker units comprises a speaker that is individually rotatable and arranged at an angle to direct the sound.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 10, 2007Publication date: February 25, 2010Inventors: Darrell Schmidt, Francisco Hinojosa, JR.
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Publication number: 20090242047Abstract: Devices, systems and methods for improved multi-jet manifolds for spas, spa accessories and plumbing components are provided. A spa manifold with a first elongated pipe structure with a plurality of arms, a plurality of pipe segments sized to fit one or more of the first pipe arms, and a second elongated pipe structure with a plurality of arms is provided. A plurality of housing pipe segments attached to the remainder of the manifold is also provided, with the housing segments sized to house a jet and/or other spa accessories. A system for providing water and/or air to a grouping of jets and/or spa accessories through at least one manifold is also provided.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 15, 2008Publication date: October 1, 2009Inventors: Brooks Hilton, Francisco Hinojosa, JR., Par Dannas
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Patent number: 7218746Abstract: A spa speaker system is disclosed having a housing with a speaker mounted within it. The housing is movably mounted to a track with the housing extendible and retractable from the top of the track. A spring is arranged to urge the housing to extend from the top of the track. A latching mechanism is operable to hold the housing in its retracted position and is thereafter operable to release the housing. The housing extends from the track when the housing is released by the latching mechanism. A system for providing audio to a reservoir of water is also disclosed. The system comprises a reservoir shell capable of holding water and at least one speaker system according to the invention mounted to said reservoir shell above the water line. Each of the speaker systems is independently extendible from the shell.Type: GrantFiled: February 7, 2003Date of Patent: May 15, 2007Assignee: B & S Plastics, Inc.Inventors: Darrell Schmidt, Francisco Hinojosa, Jr., Michael D. Holtsnider, Raymond Colin, Stephen L. Samuels
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Patent number: 6450418Abstract: The present invention provides a new waterfall apparatus water reservoirs such as pools, spa's and the like. It comprises a manifold having a water inlet connected to the a water supply, preferably the water supply from the reservoir's plumbing. The manifold has internal baffles to remove turbulence from the water, which is then directed to a spillway water outlet. The spillway has a through slot that allows water to flow out from the manifold. It also has a removable outlet cap which forms the water into a particular waterfall shape. Another embodiment of the invention for spas, has a tubular body and a outlet that is in the form of a longitudinal slot in the body. The outlet cap is then mounted in the slot. In both embodiments the outlet cap can be easily removed to clean the apparatus if debris becomes lodged within it. It can also be removed if the spillway becomes damaged or it the pool/spa owner would like to change the type of waterfall produced by the apparatus.Type: GrantFiled: June 16, 2000Date of Patent: September 17, 2002Assignee: Waterway Plastics, Inc.Inventors: Rich F. Simpson, Francisco Hinojosa, Jr.
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Patent number: 5269029Abstract: A hydrotherapy jet has a push-pull adjustment that enables a discharge to be turned off or on without rotating the discharge nozzle. This allows an off-axis discharge, useful for a neck massage, to be maintain in a constant direction despite adjustments in the discharge flow level. Inlets are provided in the rear of the nozzle, with the inlets closed off by a surrounding sleeve when the nozzle is pushed in but exposed to receive a discharge flow when the nozzle is pulled out. The sleeve is carried by a mounting member, with water flow passages to the nozzle inlet formed between the sleeve and its mounting member. The adjustment mechanism is preferably contained within a pivotable eyeball fitting, and air passageways can be added to provide a mixed water/air discharge.Type: GrantFiled: November 2, 1992Date of Patent: December 14, 1993Assignee: B&S Plastics, Inc.Inventors: Robert G. Spears, Francisco Hinojosa, Jr., Eugene M. Gravatt, Michael D. Holtsnider
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Patent number: 5226601Abstract: A greater volume of air is entrained in the water flow from a hydrotherapy jet by directing the discharge from a first venturi nozzle through a second nozzle that constrains and accelerates the flow. For greatest aeration the ratio of the discharge orifice diameter for the first nozzle to that of the second nozzle is about 0.7-0.85, the ratio of the distance between the discharge orifices for the two nozzles and the diameter of the first nozzle's discharge orifice is about 0.85-1.5, air is introduced into the discharge from the first nozzle from a location fully behind that nozzle's discharge orifice, the flow of air to the downstream side of the second nozzle's discharge orifice is blocked, and the upstream end of the second nozzle overlaps the downstream end of the first nozzle.Type: GrantFiled: November 6, 1991Date of Patent: July 13, 1993Assignee: B&S Plastics, Inc.Inventors: Francisco Hinojosa, Jr., Eugene M. Gravatt