Patents by Inventor Kevin L. Potucek
Kevin L. Potucek 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: 11955806Abstract: A swivel component allows a power cable to a pool or spa component, to swivel when the inductive power couplings are coupled. The couplings include a first inductive coupling that can be positioned within and/or mounted into a wall fitting, a second inductive coupling that inductively couples with the first inductive coupling, a swivel component attached to the second inductive coupling for allowing the second coupling to swivel with respect to the first inductive coupling, and a retainer ring that engages with the wall fitting and retains the first and second couplings and the swivel component in position within the wall fitting. A power cable is connected at one end to the second inductive power coupling and at an opposite end to a pool or spa component, such as an electric cleaner. Swiveling of the second power coupling relative to the first power coupling reduces kinking of the power cable.Type: GrantFiled: June 20, 2019Date of Patent: April 9, 2024Assignee: Hayward Industries, Inc.Inventor: Kevin L. Potucek
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Publication number: 20240102305Abstract: Power supplies for pool and spa equipment are disclosed. In one embodiment, the power supply includes a buoyant housing, a peripheral float, at least one solar cell positioned on the buoyant housing for collecting sunlight and converting same to electrical energy, and a power cable for interconnecting the power supply and pool/spa equipment. In other embodiments, first and second inductive power couplings are provided for powering pool and spa equipment. The power couplings can also be installed using existing plumbing features of the pool or spa.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 4, 2023Publication date: March 28, 2024Applicant: Hayward Industries, Inc.Inventors: Kevin L. Potucek, Dennis Willis, Jirawat (Jeffrey) Sumonthee, Benoit J. Renaud, Douglas H. Philhower, Patrick J. Forsythe, William M. Normyle
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Patent number: 11834861Abstract: Power supplies for pool and spa equipment are disclosed. In one embodiment, the power supply includes a buoyant housing, a peripheral float, at least one solar cell positioned on the buoyant housing for collecting sunlight and converting same to electrical energy, and a power cable for interconnecting the power supply and pool/spa equipment. In other embodiments, first and second inductive power couplings are provided for powering pool and spa equipment. The power couplings can also be installed using existing plumbing features of the pool or spa.Type: GrantFiled: April 20, 2021Date of Patent: December 5, 2023Assignee: Hayward Industries, Inc.Inventors: Kevin L. Potucek, Dennis Willis, Jirawat (Jeffrey) Sumonthee, Benoit J. Renaud, Douglas H. Philhower, Patrick J. Forsythe, William M. Normyle
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Patent number: 11619377Abstract: A light includes a body, a front housing secured to a front end of the body, a translating retainer rotatably engaged with the front housing, a slip ring positioned around the front housing and between the translating member and the front end of the body, a compressible ring positioned around the front housing and between the slip ring and the front end of the body, a lens mounted to the front housing, an electronic assembly, and a light emitting element in electrical communication with the electronic assembly and positioned within the lens. Rotation of the translating retainer in a first direction causes the translating retainer to drive the slip ring toward the front end of the body, compressing the compressible ring and causing the compressible ring to bulge outward to contact, and removably engage, an inner wall of a pipe or conduit that the light is positioned in.Type: GrantFiled: June 1, 2021Date of Patent: April 4, 2023Assignee: Hayward Industries, Inc.Inventors: Kevin L. Potucek, James Carter, Gregory Fournier, James Murdock, Steven Mitchell, Douglas Sawyer, Jr., Matt Williamson
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Publication number: 20220319178Abstract: Systems and methods for monitoring, optimization, and control of pool/spa equipment using video analytics are provided. A camera system in communication with a microprocessor monitors a pool/spa environment, identifies objects of interest in the pool/spa environment, classifies the objects of interest, and identifies scenarios and/or learned behaviors of objects utilizing video analytics. The analytics can include object detection in combination with tracking algorithms in order to precisely locate objects of interest within the video frames. Further image classification and scene labeling algorithms may be used to classify the object in order to define its attributes. Once processed, the system can transmit alerts or commands to pool/spa users and devices to modify the operation thereof based on the identified attributes of the objects of interest.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 1, 2020Publication date: October 6, 2022Applicant: Hayward Industries, Inc.Inventors: James Carter, Gregory Fournier, Jason Davila, Arthur W. Johnson, III, Louis Pereira, Troy Renken, Nagaraj B. Jayanth, Kevin L. Potucek
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Publication number: 20220179436Abstract: A system and method are provided for controlling water temperature in a body of water. The temperature control system includes a processor, a user interface for receiving a desired temperature and a desired time for reaching the desired temperature, a sensor interface for receiving sensor information from one or more sensors, and an actuator interface for controlling a plurality of heat sources. The processor determines one or more optimal heat sources for heating the body of water to the desired temperature by the desired time. The processor controls the one or more optimal heat sources through the actuator interface and periodically polls the sensor interface to determine whether changes in the operating environment require additional or alternate heat sources to be activated to ensure that the body of water is heated to the desired temperature by the desired time.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 22, 2022Publication date: June 9, 2022Applicant: Hayward Industries, Inc.Inventors: Kevin L. Potucek, Gilbert Conover, James Murdock
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Patent number: 11256274Abstract: A system and method are provided for controlling water temperature in a body of water. The temperature control system includes a processor, a user interface for receiving a desired temperature and a desired time for reaching the desired temperature, a sensor interface for receiving sensor information from one or more sensors, and an actuator interface for controlling a plurality of heat sources. The processor determines one or more optimal heat sources for heating the body of water to the desired temperature by the desired time. The processor controls the one or more optimal heat sources through the actuator interface and periodically polls the sensor interface to determine whether changes in the operating environment require additional or alternate heat sources to be activated to ensure that the body of water is heated to the desired temperature by the desired time.Type: GrantFiled: November 22, 2016Date of Patent: February 22, 2022Assignee: Hayward Industries, Inc.Inventors: Kevin L. Potucek, Gilbert Conover, James Murdock
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Publication number: 20210285629Abstract: A light includes a body, a front housing secured to a front end of the body, a translating retainer rotatably engaged with the front housing, a slip ring positioned around the front housing and between the translating member and the front end of the body, a compressible ring positioned around the front housing and between the slip ring and the front end of the body, a lens mounted to the front housing, an electronic assembly, and a light emitting element in electrical communication with the electronic assembly and positioned within the lens. Rotation of the translating retainer in a first direction causes the translating retainer to drive the slip ring toward the front end of the body, compressing the compressible ring and causing the compressible ring to bulge outward to contact, and removably engage, an inner wall of a pipe or conduit that the light is positioned in.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 1, 2021Publication date: September 16, 2021Applicant: Hayward Industries, Inc.Inventors: Kevin L. Potucek, James Carter, Gregory Fournier, James Murdock, Steven Mitchell, Douglas Sawyer, JR., Matt Williamson
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Publication number: 20210265865Abstract: A swivel component allows a power cable to a pool or spa component, to swivel when the inductive power couplings are coupled. The couplings include a first inductive coupling that can be positioned within and/or mounted into a wall fitting, a second inductive coupling that inductively couples with the first inductive coupling, a swivel component attached to the second inductive coupling for allowing the second coupling to swivel with respect to the first inductive coupling, and a retainer ring that engages with the wall fitting and retains the first and second couplings and the swivel component in position within the wall fitting. A power cable is connected at one end to the second inductive power coupling and at an opposite end to a pool or spa component, such as an electric cleaner. Swiveling of the second power coupling relative to the first power coupling reduces kinking of the power cable.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 20, 2019Publication date: August 26, 2021Applicant: Hayward Industries, Inc.Inventor: Kevin L. Potucek
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Publication number: 20210242718Abstract: Power supplies for pool and spa equipment are disclosed. In one embodiment, the power supply includes a buoyant housing, a peripheral float, at least one solar cell positioned on the buoyant housing for collecting sunlight and converting same to electrical energy, and a power cable for interconnecting the power supply and pool/spa equipment. In other embodiments, first and second inductive power couplings are provided for powering pool and spa equipment. The power couplings can also be installed using existing plumbing features of the pool or spa.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 20, 2021Publication date: August 5, 2021Applicant: Hayward Industries, Inc.Inventors: Kevin L. Potucek, Dennis Willis, Jirawat (Jeffrey) Sumonthee, Benoit J. Renaud, Douglas H. Philhower, Patrick J. Forsythe, William M. Normyle
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Patent number: 11022298Abstract: A light includes a body, a front housing secured to a front end of the body, a translating retainer rotatably engaged with the front housing, a slip ring positioned around the front housing and between the translating member and the front end of the body, a compressible ring positioned around the front housing and between the slip ring and the front end of the body, a lens mounted to the front housing, an electronic assembly, and a light emitting element in electrical communication with the electronic assembly and positioned within the lens. Rotation of the translating retainer in a first direction causes the translating retainer to drive the slip ring toward the front end of the body, compressing the compressible ring and causing the compressible ring to bulge outward to contact, and removably engage, an inner wall of a pipe or conduit that the light is positioned in.Type: GrantFiled: March 13, 2018Date of Patent: June 1, 2021Assignee: Hayward Industries, Inc.Inventors: Kevin L. Potucek, James Carter, Gregory Fournier, James Murdock, Steven Mitchell, Douglas Sawyer, Jr., Matt Williamson
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Patent number: 10985612Abstract: Power supplies for pool and spa equipment are disclosed. In one embodiment, the power supply includes a buoyant housing, a peripheral float, at least one solar cell positioned on the buoyant housing for collecting sunlight and converting same to electrical energy, and a power cable for interconnecting the power supply and pool/spa equipment. In other embodiments, first and second inductive power couplings are provided for powering pool and spa equipment. The power couplings can also be installed using existing plumbing features of the pool or spa.Type: GrantFiled: September 14, 2020Date of Patent: April 20, 2021Assignee: Hayward Industries, Inc.Inventors: Kevin L. Potucek, Dennis Willis, Jirawat (Jeffrey) Sumonthee, Benoit J. Renaud, Douglas H. Philhower, Patrick J. Forsythe, William M. Normyle
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Publication number: 20210049891Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a lighting fixture for use in connection with a swimming pool or spa. The lighting fixture includes a light source, and a detection device for detecting the presence of a bather in a pool or a spa. A microprocessor is in electrical communication with the detection device and the light source. The microprocessor adjusts an output of the light source when a bather is detected in the pool or the spa. The microprocessor could adjust the color of the light emitted by the light source when a bather is detected. Also provided is a bather condition/activity detection system which utilizes pool or spa devices to detect various bather conditions/activities such as bather ingress, egress, drowning, distress, etc.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 19, 2020Publication date: February 18, 2021Applicant: Hayward Industries, Inc.Inventors: Kevin L. Potucek, Stuart Baker
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Publication number: 20200412168Abstract: Power supplies for pool and spa equipment are disclosed. In one embodiment, the power supply includes a buoyant housing, a peripheral float, at least one solar cell positioned on the buoyant housing for collecting sunlight and converting same to electrical energy, and a power cable for interconnecting the power supply and pool/spa equipment. In other embodiments, first and second inductive power couplings are provided for powering pool and spa equipment. The power couplings can also be installed using existing plumbing features of the pool or spa.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 14, 2020Publication date: December 31, 2020Applicant: Hayward Industries, Inc.Inventors: Kevin L. Potucek, Dennis Willis, Jirawat (Jeffrey) Sumonthee, Benoit J. Renaud, Douglas H. Philhower, Patrick J. Forsythe, William M. Normyle
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Patent number: 10839665Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a lighting fixture for use in connection with a swimming pool or spa. The lighting fixture includes a light source, and a detection device for detecting the presence of a bather in a pool or a spa. A microprocessor is in electrical communication with the detection device and the light source. The microprocessor adjusts an output of the light source when a bather is detected in the pool or the spa. The microprocessor could adjust the color of the light emitted by the light source when a bather is detected. Also provided is a bather condition/activity detection system which utilizes pool or spa devices to detect various bather conditions/activities such as bather ingress, egress, drowning, distress, etc.Type: GrantFiled: November 5, 2018Date of Patent: November 17, 2020Assignee: Hayward Industries, Inc.Inventors: Kevin L. Potucek, Stuart Baker
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Patent number: 10718337Abstract: A self-priming dedicated water feature pump is provided. The water feature pump can include a strainer housing connected to a pump housing. The strainer housing can include a reservoir for allowing water to enter the strainer housing so that the pump can self-prime. The strainer housing can also include a post installed within the reservoir. The post can function to prevent a strainer basket from being installed in the strainer housing. The post can be of sufficient volume and/or geometry to allow enough water to enter the strainer housing so that the water feature pump can self-prime while also preventing a strainer basket from being installed in the strainer housing.Type: GrantFiled: July 11, 2017Date of Patent: July 21, 2020Assignee: Hayward Industries, Inc.Inventors: Jason W. Parcell, Scott Petty, Douglas H. Philhower, Kevin L. Potucek, Gary Ortiz, Jon Terence Stone
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Patent number: 10718507Abstract: An underwater light having a sealed polymer housing includes a rear housing component formed at least in part from a thermally conductive and electrically insulative material, an electronic assembly having at least one light-emitting element mounted thereto, the electronic assembly in thermal communication with the rear housing component, and a lens mounted to the rear housing component and forming a watertight seal therebetween, the lens and the rear housing component enclosing the electronic assembly. At least a portion of the rear housing component conducts heat away from the electronic assembly to cool the electronic assembly.Type: GrantFiled: March 6, 2013Date of Patent: July 21, 2020Assignee: Hayard Industries, Inc.Inventors: Kevin L. Potucek, James Carter, James Murdock, Joe Diorio, Steven Mitchell
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Publication number: 20200150701Abstract: A system and method are provided for controlling water temperature in a body of water. The temperature control system includes a processor, a user interface for receiving a desired temperature and a desired time for reaching the desired temperature, a sensor interface for receiving sensor information from one or more sensors, and an actuator interface for controlling a plurality of heat sources. The processor determines one or more optimal heat sources for heating the body of water to the desired temperature by the desired time. The processor controls the one or more optimal heat sources through the actuator interface and periodically polls the sensor interface to determine whether changes in the operating environment require additional or alternate heat sources to be activated to ensure that the body of water is heated to the desired temperature by the desired time.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 22, 2016Publication date: May 14, 2020Applicant: Hayward Industries, Inc.Inventors: Kevin L. Potucek, Gilbert Conover, James Murdock
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Publication number: 20190363579Abstract: Power supplies for pool and spa equipment are disclosed. In one embodiment, the power supply includes a buoyant housing, a peripheral float, at least one solar cell positioned on the buoyant housing for collecting sunlight and converting same to electrical energy, and a power cable for interconnecting the power supply and pool/spa equipment. In other embodiments, first and second inductive power couplings are provided for powering pool and spa equipment. The power couplings can also be installed using existing plumbing features of the pool or spa.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 12, 2019Publication date: November 28, 2019Applicant: Hayward Industries, Inc.Inventors: Kevin L. Potucek, Dennis Willis, Jirawat (Jeffrey) Sumonthee, Benoit J. Renaud, Douglas H. Philhower, Patrick J. Forsythe, William M. Normyle
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Patent number: 10381872Abstract: Power supplies for pool and spa equipment are disclosed. In one embodiment, the power supply includes a buoyant housing, a peripheral float, at least one solar cell positioned on the buoyant housing for collecting sunlight and converting same to electrical energy, and a power cable for interconnecting the power supply and pool/spa equipment. In other embodiments, first and second inductive power couplings are provided for powering pool and spa equipment. The power couplings can also be installed using existing plumbing features of the pool or spa.Type: GrantFiled: November 22, 2016Date of Patent: August 13, 2019Assignee: Hayward Industries, Inc.Inventors: Kevin L. Potucek, Dennis Willis, Jirawat (Jeffrey) Sumonthee, Benoit J. Renaud, Douglas H. Philhower, Patrick J. Forsythe, William M. Normyle