Patents by Inventor Lawrence Almasy

Lawrence Almasy 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).

  • Patent number: 6883534
    Abstract: A freezeless wall hydrant has a normally horizontal fluid inlet tube with an interior end and exterior end. A hollow valve fitting is rigidly secured to the interior end of the inlet tube for a connection to a source of pressurized fluid. A valve seat is located on an interior end of the valve fitting. A valve body is longitudinally movably mounted in the inlet tube adjacent to the valve fitting. A pressure relief valve is mounted on the inlet tube between the interior and exterior ends thereof so that if residual water within and adjacent the exterior end of the inlet tube freezes and exerts pressure on residual fluid within the inlet tube adjacent the interior end thereof, the pressure relief valve will actuate to purge some of the high pressure fluid to decrease the pressure being exerted by such fluid to the interior of the inlet tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2005
    Assignee: WCM Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: William T. Ball, Cody W. Jackson, Lawrence Almasy
  • Patent number: 6857442
    Abstract: A freezeless wall hydrant has a normally horizontal fluid inlet tube with an interior end and exterior end. A hollow valve fitting is rigidly secured to the interior end of the inlet tube for a connection to a source of pressurized fluid. A movable ball is located with a fluid conduit that extends from the interior of the inlet tube to the location of the potable water source. When the water pressure inside the inlet tube increases because of the presence of ice, the high pressure of such water moves the ball to open fluid flow of the high pressure fluid to the source of potable water which will be at a lower pressure, thus reducing the fluid pressure within the inlet tube and saving it from rupture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2005
    Assignee: WCM Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: William T. Ball, Cody W. Jackson, Lawrence Almasy
  • Publication number: 20050034757
    Abstract: A freezeless wall hydrant has a normally horizontal fluid inlet tube with an interior end and exterior end. A hollow valve fitting is rigidly secured to the interior end of the inlet tube for a connection to a source of pressurized fluid. A valve seat is located on an interior end of the valve fitting. A valve body is longitudinally movably mounted in the inlet tube adjacent to the valve fitting. A pressure relief valve is mounted on the inlet tube between the interior and exterior ends thereof so that if residual water within and adjacent the exterior end of the inlet tube freezes and exerts pressure on residual fluid within the inlet tube adjacent the interior end thereof, the pressure relief valve will actuate to purge some of the high pressure fluid to decrease the pressure being exerted by such fluid to the interior of the inlet tube.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2003
    Publication date: February 17, 2005
    Applicant: WCM INDUSTRIES, INC.
    Inventors: William Ball, Cody Jackson, Lawrence Almasy
  • Patent number: 6769446
    Abstract: A freezeless wall hydrant has a normally horizontal fluid inlet tube with an interior end and exterior end. A hollow valve fitting is rigidly secured to the interior end of the inlet tube for a connection to a source of pressurized fluid. A valve seat is located on an interior end of the valve fitting. An elongated hollow tube of a diameter less than the interior diameter of the inlet tube is positioned on the center line of the inlet tube and has inner and outer ends. A plug is rigidly secured to the inner end of the tube to close the inner end for fluid flow. A normally closed check valve is movably mounted in the tube to engage a valve seat on the plug, to open the tube for fluid therein under conditions of high fluid pressure in the inlet tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2004
    Assignee: WCM Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: William T. Ball, Cody W. Jackson, Lawrence Almasy
  • Patent number: 6142172
    Abstract: A freezeless wall hydrant/faucet has an inlet pipe with one end connected to a source of pressurized water, a water discharge conduit, and an elongated control rod extending through the inlet pipe to open and close a fluid valve. A bore is inserted through the fluid valve with the bore being in communication with both the source of pressurized water and the interior portion of the inlet pipe. A check valve is placed in the bore of the valve body to open only when extreme water pressure within the inlet valve moves a seated ball to permit the highly pressurized water to move through the bore in the valve body and be relieved as it escapes rearwardly into the original source of pressurized water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2000
    Assignee: WCM Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: James F. Shuler, Lawrence Almasy
  • Patent number: 6135359
    Abstract: A freezeless yard hydrant comprises a single length, electrically heated, hydrant apparatus that does not have an underground drain port. The operating mechanisms are located in the outlet head, above ground, to facilitate the assembly, operation and repair of the hydrant. A single length heater is provided to prevent the hydrant and the water supply connection from freezing under the coldest environmental conditions expected where this type of hydrant would be used. Heat conduction through the water directly from the heating element and the casing materials permits a single length hydrant and heater to be used. By using the electric heater to prevent the freezing, the water does not have to be drained out of the hydrant. The use of such a heater also makes the hydrant very simple to construct and operate. No cumbersome reservoirs or expulsion apparatus are needed to draw water out of the hydrant. This results in an efficient and relatively inexpensive mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2000
    Assignee: WCM Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Lawrence Almasy, James F. Shuler
  • Patent number: 5813428
    Abstract: A fluid hydrant has an outlet with a threaded outer surface, and a backflow preventor is mounted on the inlet of the hydrant. The backflow preventor has an inlet and outlet end. Male hose threads are formed on the exterior of the outlet end of the backflow preventer. Interior female threads are on the inlet end thereof. A bushing adapter is interposed between the inlet end of the backflow preventor and the threaded nozzle of the hydrant with the threads connecting the adapter and the backflow preventor being of a size different than the threads connecting the adapter and the threaded nozzle of the hydrant. The bushing adapter extends over the threaded outer surface of the outlet of the hydrant, and a locking cement between the threaded outer surface of the outlet of the hydrant and the interior female threads on the inlet end of the bushing adapter rigidly fix these threads together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 29, 1998
    Assignee: WCM Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Lawrence Almasy, James F. Shuler, Robert J. Vandepas
  • Patent number: 5701925
    Abstract: A yard hydrant of the venturi check valve-fluid reservoir type has a manually operable flow diverter valve which will provide full fluid flow through the hydrant to effectively siphon residual fluid from the reservoir without removal of hoses, backflow preventers or the like from the nozzle of the hydrant. The flow diverter valve is located upstream of the fluid discharge nozzle of the hydrant. A tube connects the venturi check valve with the extreme bottom of the reservoir so that all the residual fluid in the reservoir can be removed therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 30, 1997
    Assignee: WCM Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Shaun T. Mulligan, Robert J. Vandepas, James F. Shuler, Lawrence Almasy
  • Patent number: 5632303
    Abstract: A wall mounted water hydrant has an elongated hollow housing with water inlet and outlet ends, and a center axis; an inlet valve in the housing adjacent to the inlet end, including a valve seat and a valve body; a water outlet port in the housing adjacent to its outlet end; a valve operating rod in the housing with its an inner end secured to the valve body and extending along the center axis to the outlet end of said housing, terminating in an outer end; a handle attached to the rod outer end, which when rotated in one direction closes the valve body against the valve seat, and in the other opposite direction moves the valve body away from the seat, thus allowing pressurized water from the inlet to flow downstream through the housing and outlet port; and a backflow preventor secured to the valve downstream from its seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 27, 1997
    Assignee: WCM Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Lawrence Almasy, James F. Shuler, Robert J. Vandepas, William L. Carlson
  • Patent number: 5590679
    Abstract: A wall mounted water hydrant has an elongated hollow housing with water inlet and outlet ends, and a center axis; an inlet valve in the housing adjacent to the inlet end, including a valve seat and a valve body; a water outlet port in the housing adjacent to its outlet end; a valve operating rod in the housing with an inner end secured to the valve body and extending along the center axis to the outlet end of said housing, terminating in an outer end; a handle attached to the rod outer end, which when rotated in one direction closes the valve body against the valve seat, and in the other opposite direction moves the valve body away from the seat, thus allowing pressurized water from the inlet to flow downstream through the housing and outlet port; and a backflow preventor secured to the valve downstream from its seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 7, 1997
    Assignee: WCM Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Lawrence Almasy, James F. Shuler, Robert J. Vandepas, William L. Carlson