Patents by Inventor Merrill F. McGinnis

Merrill F. McGinnis 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: 5368227
    Abstract: A temperature limiting control valve for a shower head including a housing having an internal water chamber, a water diversion piston slidably mounted in the internal water chamber, a thermostat mounted in water diversion piston that is closed by a predetermined water temperature in the water chamber with a valve and valve seat being positioned to allow water to flow into the water diversion piston when the valve is in the unseated position and to substantially prevent water from flowing into the water diversion piston when the valve is in the unseated position and to substantially prevent water from flowing into the water diversion piston when the valve is in the seated position, a button mechanically connected to the water diversion piston chamber for resetting the water diversion piston, and an overflow passage external to the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 29, 1994
    Inventor: Merrill F. McGinnis
  • Patent number: 4281790
    Abstract: This shower head serves to replace existing shower heads, and when the water becomes too hot for safety, it is so designed, that it will stop the hot water flow from striking the bather. It consists primarily of a fixed thermostat, which, when expanded, will cause a disc attached to a piston to be, by water pressure, urged against an opening, to cut off the water flow on the bather, and the hot water is then shut off at its source by the bather. The head further includes a lower passageway leading to a depressible relief valve, for releasing the hot water from the thermostat area, so as to enable the thermostat to reset.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 1980
    Date of Patent: August 4, 1981
    Inventor: Merrill F. McGinnis