Patents by Inventor Kenneth E. Conrad
Kenneth E. Conrad 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: 10336639Abstract: A portable water treatment system includes at least one sub-system to treat water including a flocculation system, a chlorination system, and a bio-sand filter system. The water treatment system may include multiple sub-systems for treating water that feed into one another. The sand filter system may include a mini bio-sand filter, a foam filter, or a pressed block filter. The flocculation system may include a tank bottom that urges settling particles toward a sump and a ladle that removes settled particles. A manual pump or siphon may be included in the water treatment system.Type: GrantFiled: April 27, 2016Date of Patent: July 2, 2019Assignee: Access Business Group International LLCInventors: Roy W. Kuennen, Terry L. Lautzenheiser, Roy M. Taylor, Jr., William T. Stoner, Jr., Kenneth E. Conrad, Karen J. VanderKooi, Brian S. Beals, Ryan D. Schamper
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Publication number: 20190022564Abstract: A water treatment system is capable of meeting the particular needs of a variety of water treatment system applications. For instance, the water treatment system may include a customizable display, multiple interchangeable filters and disinfection systems. In one embodiment, a vessel containing the filters and disinfection assembly can be easily removed from a base that supplies water to the vessel. In another embodiment, the water treatment system includes a plate that includes at least one electrical connection. One or more electronics bricks with sensors, displays and the like can be removably attached to the plate such that each electronics brick is in electrical communication with said brick. In another embodiment, the water treatment system incorporates one or more stackable and interchangeable filter blocks that direct water flowing into the vessel through each filter media.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 27, 2018Publication date: January 24, 2019Inventors: Terry L. Lautzenheiser, Michael E. Miles, Karlis Vecziedins, Kenneth E. Conrad
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Publication number: 20160236958Abstract: A portable water treatment system includes at least one sub-system to treat water including a flocculation system, a chlorination system, and a bio-sand filter system. The water treatment system may include multiple sub-systems for treating water that feed into one another. The sand filter system may include a mini bio-sand filter, a foam filter, or a pressed block filter. The flocculation system may include a tank bottom that urges settling particles toward a sump and a ladle that removes settled particles. A manual pump or siphon may be included in the water treatment system.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 27, 2016Publication date: August 18, 2016Inventors: Roy W. Kuennen, Terry L. Lautzenheiser, Roy M. Taylor, JR., William T. Stoner, JR., Kenneth E. Conrad, Karen J. VanderKooi, Brian S. Beals, Ryan D. Schamper
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Patent number: 9352979Abstract: A portable water treatment system includes at least one sub-system to treat water including a flocculation system, a chlorination system, and a bio-sand filter system. The water treatment system may include multiple sub-systems for treating water that feed into one another. The sand filter system may include a mini bio-sand filter, a foam filter, or a pressed block filter. The flocculation system may include a tank bottom that urges settling particles toward a sump and a ladle that removes settled particles. A manual pump or siphon may be included in the water treatment system.Type: GrantFiled: January 12, 2010Date of Patent: May 31, 2016Assignee: Access Business Group International LLCInventors: Roy W. Kuennen, Terry L. Lautzenheiser, Roy M. Taylor, Jr., William T. Stoner, Jr., Kenneth E. Conrad, Karen J. VanderKooi, Brian S. Beals, Ryan D. Schamper, Cynthia G. Sutter
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Publication number: 20150190743Abstract: A water treatment system is capable of meeting the particular needs of a variety of water treatment system applications. For instance, the water treatment system may include a customizable display, multiple interchangeable filters and disinfection systems. In one embodiment, a vessel containing the filters and disinfection assembly can be easily removed from a base that supplies water to the vessel. In another embodiment, the water treatment system includes a plate that includes at least one electrical connection. One or more electronics bricks with sensors, displays and the like can be removably attached to the plate such that each electronics brick is in electrical communication with said brick. In another embodiment, the water treatment system incorporates one or more stackable and interchangeable filter blocks that direct water flowing into the vessel through each filter media.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 20, 2015Publication date: July 9, 2015Inventors: Terry L. Lautzenheiser, Michael E. Miles, Karlis Vecziedins, Kenneth E. Conrad
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Publication number: 20120186658Abstract: A water treatment system is provided including a disinfection system, a filter and a turbine generator. A manual pump is positioned downstream of the filter to create negative pressure to draw water through the filter. The manual pump also creates positive pressure to dispense treated water from the outlet of the system. The movement of the water through the system powers the turbine generator. The power generated can be used to monitor a characteristic of the water treatment system.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 23, 2012Publication date: July 26, 2012Applicant: ACCESS BUSINESS GROUP INTERNATIONAL LLCInventors: Roy W. Kuennen, Kenneth E. Conrad, Audrey Conrad, Terry L. Lautzenheiser, Ryan D. Schamper
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Publication number: 20120145618Abstract: A portable water treatment system includes at least one sub-system to treat water including a primary disinfection system and a residual disinfection system. The water treatment system may include multiple sub-systems for treating water that feed into one another. The residual disinfectant may be administered to the water at a level below the taste threshold to prevent backgrowth of bacteria while leaving the taste of the water unaffected. The portable water treatment system may be designed to dispense water at a high-flow rate.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 10, 2010Publication date: June 14, 2012Applicant: ACCESS BUSINESS GROUP INTERNATIONAL LLCInventors: Roy W. Kuennen, Kenneth E. Conrad, William T. Stoner, JR., Terry L. Lautzenheiser
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Publication number: 20120132575Abstract: A foam filter is provided that may form a radial flow or a stacked flow filter. In the radial flow configuration, the foam may be wrapped around an inner support core. The inner support core may define holes to allow the water to enter the support core and exit the filter. More than one foam layer may be used, and a single sheet of foam wrapped in a spiral may form a multi-layer configuration. A non-permeable flexible layer may be positioned between adjacent foam layers to facilitate flow through the filter. In the stacked flow configuration, multiple foam layers may be used and water can flow successively or simultaneously through the foam layers. Functional layers may be added to provide other filtration functions.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 29, 2011Publication date: May 31, 2012Applicant: Access Business Group International LLCInventors: Roy W. Kuennen, Kenneth E. Conrad, Audrey Conrad, David W. Baarman
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Publication number: 20120132573Abstract: A water treatment system is capable of meeting the particular needs of a variety of water treatment system applications. For instance, the water treatment system may include a customizable display, multiple interchangeable filters and disinfection systems. In one embodiment, a vessel containing the filters and disinfection assembly can be easily removed from a base that supplies water to the vessel. In another embodiment, the water treatment system includes a plate that includes at least one electrical connection. One or more electronics bricks with sensors, displays and the like can be removably attached to the plate such that each electronics brick is in electrical communication with said brick. In another embodiment, the water treatment system incorporates one or more stackable and interchangeable filter blocks that direct water flowing into the vessel through each filter media.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 11, 2010Publication date: May 31, 2012Applicant: ACCESS BUSINESS GROUP INTERNATIONAL LLCInventors: Terry L. Lautzenheiser, Michael E. Miles, Karlis Vecziedins, Kenneth E. Conrad, Audrey Conrad
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Publication number: 20110303589Abstract: A portable water treatment system includes at least one sub-system to treat water including a flocculation system, a chlorination system, and a bio-sand filter system. The water treatment system may include multiple sub-systems for treating water that feed into one another. The sand filter system may include a mini bio-sand filter, a foam filter, or a pressed block filter. The flocculation system may include a tank bottom that urges settling particles toward a sump and a ladle that removes settled particles. A manual pump or siphon may be included in the water treatment system.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 12, 2010Publication date: December 15, 2011Applicant: ACCESS BUSINESS GROUP INTERNATIONAL LLCInventors: Roy W. Kuennen, Terry L. Lautzenheiser, Roy M. Taylor, JR., William T. Stoner, JR., Kenneth E. Conrad, Karen J. VanderKooi, Brian S. Beals, Ryan D. Schamper
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Publication number: 20090045106Abstract: A water treatment system (“WTS”) includes a prefilter, a carbon block filter and a microbiological interception (“MI”) filter that operate in combination to treat a fluid stream, such as water. The WTS may include two prefilters, for example, both a multi-layer nonwoven prefilter and a pleated fabric prefilter. The MI filter may include carbon particles and a binder, and the carbon particles may have a mean particle diameter ranging from about 60 microns to about 80 microns and with a particle size distribution in which no more than about 10% by weight of the particles are larger than about 140 mesh and no more than about 10% by weight are smaller than about 500 mesh. In one embodiment, the water treatment system further includes a volumetric end-of-life filter monitor that monitors the life of the MI filter.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 15, 2008Publication date: February 19, 2009Applicant: ACCESS BUSINESS GROUP INTERNATIONAL LLCInventors: Roy W. Kuennen, Kenneth E. Conrad, Roy M. Taylor, JR.
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Patent number: 7252763Abstract: A lamp assembly for use in a water treatment system. The lamp assembly includes a bulb assembly, a reflector assembly and a conduit carring liquid, such as water, through the lamp assembly. The reflector assembly is configured to reflect and focus light emitted from the bulb assembly on the conduit, thereby enhancing the efficiency of the lamp assembly. The reflector assembly can include reflectors including one or more diminishing radii of curvature, which terminate and form a peak near a bulb of the bulb assembly and/or conduit.Type: GrantFiled: January 29, 2004Date of Patent: August 7, 2007Assignee: Access Business Group Interational LLCInventors: Roy W. Kuennen, Eric K. Bartkus, David W. Baarman, Kenneth E. Conrad, Terry L. Lautzenheiser, Greg Snyder, Scott A. Mollema
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Patent number: 6984320Abstract: The present invention provides a WTS closure assembly that is easily and quickly secured to and removed from the filter chamber of a WTS. The closure assembly of the present invention provides a bail handle attached to the closure and which utilizes a mechanical advantage, preferably in the form of a pivoting handle which presses a plurality of cams onto the WTS housing, thereby breaking a seal between the closure assembly and the WTS filter chamber, and lifting the closure away from the filter chamber.Type: GrantFiled: February 18, 2003Date of Patent: January 10, 2006Assignee: Access Business Group International LLCInventors: Eric K. Bartkus, Kenneth E. Conrad, David J. Dekker
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Publication number: 20040182761Abstract: The present invention is directed to a point-of-use water treatment system (WTS) unit (20) for filtering and treating contaminants in water. WTS unit (20) may include a first primary coil (74) located in a base unit (22) which inductively power a secondary treatment device such as a UV lamp assembly (24). A filter assembly (26) is used which has a filter block (90) and an inner sleeve (92) which extends inside filter block (90). Inner sleeve (92) defines a chamber in which the secondary treatment device (24) may be disposed. First and second valves and seals may be interposed between the filter assembly (26), secondary treatment device (24) and base unit (22) to allow the filter assembly (26) and secondary treatment device (24) to be independently replaceable. Secondary treatment device (24) may be a lamp assembly (24) which includes a condensing element (84) to condense mercury in a bulb in the arc path between filaments (444).Type: ApplicationFiled: January 29, 2004Publication date: September 23, 2004Applicant: Access Business Group International LLC f/k/a Amway CorporationInventors: Roy W. Kuennen, Eric K. Bartkus, David W. Baarman, Kenneth E. Conrad, Terry L. Lautzenheiser, Greg Snyder, Scott A. Mollema
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Patent number: 6793817Abstract: The present invention is directed to a replaceable lamp assembly for a point-of-use water treatment system (WTS). The lamp assembly includes first and second ends with respective sealed inlet and outlet openings associated with the ends. One or more conduits extend between the openings. A bulb assembly is positioned adjacent the conduit to irradiate liquid transferred in the conduit. A reflector assembly in the lamp assembly focuses radiation on the conduit. An enclosure surrounds the bulb and reflector assemblies such that lamp assembly becomes a generally closed pressure vessel.Type: GrantFiled: July 29, 2002Date of Patent: September 21, 2004Assignee: Access Business Group International LLCInventors: Roy W. Kuennen, Eric K. Bartkus, David W. Baarman, Kenneth E. Conrad, Terry L. Lautzenheiser, Greg Snyder, Scott A. Mollema
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Publication number: 20030178356Abstract: The present invention provides a WTS closure assembly that is easily and quickly secured to and removed from the filter chamber of a WTS. The closure assembly of the present invention provides a bail handle attached to the closure and which utilizes a mechanical advantage, preferably in the form of a pivoting handle which presses a plurality of cams onto the WTS housing, thereby breaking a seal between the closure assembly and the WTS filter chamber, and lifting the closure away from the filter chamber.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 18, 2003Publication date: September 25, 2003Inventors: Eric K. Bartkus, Kenneth E. Conrad, David J. Dekker
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Patent number: 6569319Abstract: The present invention is directed to a light monitoring system used in a water treatment system. The monitoring system includes a light pipe and a light intensity detector. The light pipe is impregenated with a florescent dye that converts ultraviolet light into visible light. The light pipe includes a plurality of internal facets that focus light incident on the light pipe toward the light intensity detector. The light intensity detector monitors the visible light transmitted to the detector by the light pipe and determines the relative ultraviolet light output intensity of a lamp assembly within the water treatment system based on the monitored visible light.Type: GrantFiled: June 26, 2002Date of Patent: May 27, 2003Assignee: Access Business Group International LLCInventors: Roy W. Kuennen, Eric K. Bartkus, David W. Baarman, Kenneth E. Conrad, Terry L. Lautzenheiser, Scott A. Mollema
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Patent number: 6514420Abstract: The present invention is directed to a lamp assembly for use in a point-of-use water treatment system or other device. The lamp assembly includes a condensing element to condense mercury in a bulb within the arc path of opposing filaments when the bulb is de-energized. In one embodiment, the time required for the lamp assembly to produce light upon subsequent re-energization of the bulb is significantly reduced because the mercury is in the intermediate portion of the bulb, within the filament arc path.Type: GrantFiled: September 24, 2001Date of Patent: February 4, 2003Assignee: Access Business Group International LLCInventors: Roy W. Kuennen, Eric K. Bartkus, David W. Baarman, Kenneth E. Conrad, Scott A. Mollema
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Publication number: 20020189986Abstract: The present invention is directed to a point-of-use water treatment system (WTS) unit (20) for filtering and treating contaminants in water. WTS unit (20) may include a first primary coil (74) located in a base unit (22) which inductively power a secondary treatment device such as a UV lamp assembly (24). A filter assembly (26) is used which has a filter block (90) and an inner sleeve (92) which extends inside filter block (90). Inner sleeve (92) defines a chamber in which the secondary treatment device (24) may be disposed. First and second valves and seals may be interposed between the filter assembly (26), secondary treatment device (24) and base unit (22) to allow the filter assembly (26) and secondary treatment device (24) to be independently replaceable. Secondary treatment device (24) may be a lamp assembly (24) which includes a condensing element (84) to condense mercury in a bulb in the arc path between filaments (444).Type: ApplicationFiled: July 29, 2002Publication date: December 19, 2002Applicant: Amway CorporationInventors: Roy W. Kuennen, David W. Baarman, Terry L. Lautzenheiser, Scott A. Mollema, Eric K. Bartkus, Kenneth E. Conrad, Greg Snyder
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Patent number: D634397Type: GrantFiled: April 13, 2010Date of Patent: March 15, 2011Assignee: Access Business Group International LLCInventors: Terry L. Lautzenheiser, Bradley J. Pippel, Kenneth E. Conrad, Richard J. Weber, Ryan D. Schamper