Patents by Inventor John N. VanNewenhizen

John N. VanNewenhizen 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).

  • Efficiency mode for water softener
    Patent number: 6790362
    Abstract: The present invention provides a controller for a water softener having an ion exchange resin capable of receiving hard water ions from hard water during a softening step and releasing the hard water ions during a regeneration step. The controller includes a processor programmed to cause termination of the softening step and initiate the regeneration step when both a first and a second condition are met. The first condition is met when the resin is saturated with hard water ions, and the second condition is met when current demand for soft water is at or below a prescribed flow rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2004
    Assignee: Culligan International Company
    Inventors: Lance FitzGerald, John N. VanNewenhizen
  • Efficiency mode for water softener
    Publication number: 20030132164
    Abstract: The present invention provides a controller for a water softener having an ion exchange resin capable of receiving hard water ions from hard water during a softening step and releasing the hard water ions during a regeneration step. The controller includes a processor programmed to cause termination of the softening step and initiate the regeneration step when both a first and a second condition are met. The first condition is met when the resin is saturated with hard water ions, and the second condition is met when current demand for soft water is at or below a prescribed flow rate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2002
    Publication date: July 17, 2003
    Applicant: USF Consumer & Commercial Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Lance FitzGerald, John N. VanNewenhizen