Patents by Inventor Michael F. Paul

Michael F. Paul 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: 11862952
    Abstract: A watertight electrical compartment for use in an irrigation device can include a compartment body having a chamber and a sealing section configured to mate with one or more sealing rings. A sealing cap can mate with the sealing section and/or the sealing rings to seal the chamber. A cap retainer can be advanced over at least a portion of the sealing cap. One of the compartment body and cap retainer can have internal threads to be screwed onto external threads of the other one of the compartment body and cap retainer. The cap retainer can also have a stopping feature to keep the sealing cap in its sealed position. The watertight electrical compartment can be used in a wireless flow sensor assembly, a battery operated irrigation controller, and/or a battery-operated central controller device, to provide irrigation control, and/or sensor information, without the need for AC power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: Hunter Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael F. Paul
  • Publication number: 20230073749
    Abstract: A watertight electrical compartment for use in an irrigation device can include a compartment body having a chamber and a sealing section configured to mate with one or more sealing rings. A sealing cap can mate with the sealing section and/or the sealing rings to seal the chamber. A cap retainer can be advanced over at least a portion of the sealing cap. One of the compartment body and cap retainer can have internal threads to be screwed onto external threads of the other one of the compartment body and cap retainer. The cap retainer can also have a stopping feature to keep the sealing cap in its sealed position. The watertight electrical compartment can be used in a wireless flow sensor assembly, a battery operated irrigation controller, and/or a battery-operated central controller device, to provide irrigation control, and/or sensor information, without the need for AC power.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2022
    Publication date: March 9, 2023
    Inventor: Michael F. Paul
  • Patent number: 11502492
    Abstract: A watertight electrical compartment for use in an irrigation device can include a compartment body having a chamber and a sealing section configured to mate with one or more sealing rings. A sealing cap can mate with the sealing section and/or the sealing rings to seal the chamber. A cap retainer can be advanced over at least a portion of the sealing cap. One of the compartment body and cap retainer can have internal threads to be screwed onto external threads of the other one of the compartment body and cap retainer. The cap retainer can also have a stopping feature to keep the sealing cap in its sealed position. The watertight electrical compartment can be used in a wireless flow sensor assembly, a battery operated irrigation controller, and/or a battery-operated central controller device, to provide irrigation control, and/or sensor information, without the need for AC power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: Hunter Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael F. Paul
  • Patent number: 11395416
    Abstract: A landscape control box includes a base portion and a facepack. The facepack supports a rotary shaft extending along an axis in a first direction. A cover has a hole aligned with the rotary shaft. A knob has a receptacle and a first portion of an interacting structure. The receptacle engages with the rotary shaft so as to transfer rotational motion of the knob to the rotary shaft. The first portion of the interacting structure engages with a second portion of the interacting structure on the cover so as to inhibit movement of the knob. The control box can receive one or more modules for enhancing functionality of the control box and/or superseding station programming stored by the control box or input by the user. The control box includes openings that are sized and shaped to allow attachment of different sized pipes and conduits to the control box.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: Hunter Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael F. Paul
  • Publication number: 20210203142
    Abstract: A watertight electrical compartment for use in an irrigation device can include a compartment body having a chamber and a sealing section configured to mate with one or more sealing rings. A sealing cap can mate with the sealing section and/or the sealing rings to seal the chamber. A cap retainer can be advanced over at least a portion of the sealing cap. One of the compartment body and cap retainer can have internal threads to be screwed onto external threads of the other one of the compartment body and cap retainer. The cap retainer can also have a stopping feature to keep the sealing cap in its sealed position. The watertight electrical compartment can be used in a wireless flow sensor assembly, a battery operated irrigation controller, and/or a battery-operated central controller device, to provide irrigation control, and/or sensor information, without the need for AC power.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2021
    Publication date: July 1, 2021
    Inventor: Michael F. Paul
  • Publication number: 20210136936
    Abstract: A landscape control box includes a base portion and a facepack. The facepack supports a rotary shaft extending along an axis in a first direction. A cover has a hole aligned with the rotary shaft. A knob has a receptacle and a first portion of an interacting structure. The receptacle engages with the rotary shaft so as to transfer rotational motion of the knob to the rotary shaft. The first portion of the interacting structure engages with a second portion of the interacting structure on the cover so as to inhibit movement of the knob. The control box can receive one or more modules for enhancing functionality of the control box and/or superseding station programming stored by the control box or input by the user. The control box includes openings that are sized and shaped to allow attachment of different sized pipes and conduits to the control box.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2021
    Publication date: May 6, 2021
    Inventor: Michael F. Paul
  • Patent number: 10965109
    Abstract: A watertight electrical compartment for use in an irrigation device can include a compartment body having a chamber and a sealing section configured to mate with one or more sealing rings. A sealing cap can mate with the sealing section and/or the sealing rings to seal the chamber. A cap retainer can be advanced over at least a portion of the sealing cap. One of the compartment body and cap retainer can have internal threads to be screwed onto external threads of the other one of the compartment body and cap retainer. The cap retainer can also have a stopping feature to keep the sealing cap in its sealed position. The watertight electrical compartment can be used in a wireless flow sensor assembly, a battery operated irrigation controller, and/or a battery-operated central controller device, to provide irrigation control, and/or sensor information, without the need for AC power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: Hunter Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael F. Paul
  • Patent number: 10917979
    Abstract: A landscape control box includes a base portion and a facepack. The facepack supports a rotary shaft extending along an axis in a first direction. A cover has a hole aligned with the rotary shaft. A knob has a receptacle and a first portion of an interacting structure. The receptacle engages with the rotary shaft so as to transfer rotational motion of the knob to the rotary shaft. The first portion of the interacting structure engages with a second portion of the interacting structure on the cover so as to inhibit movement of the knob. The control box can receive one or more modules for enhancing functionality of the control box and/or superseding station programming stored by the control box or input by the user. The control box includes openings that are sized and shaped to allow attachment of different sized pipes and conduits to the control box.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: Hunter Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael F. Paul
  • Publication number: 20200284370
    Abstract: A watertight electrical compartment for use in an irrigation device can include a compartment body having a chamber and a sealing section configured to mate with one or more sealing rings. A sealing cap can mate with the sealing section and/or the sealing rings to seal the chamber. A cap retainer can be advanced over at least a portion of the sealing cap. One of the compartment body and cap retainer can have internal threads to be screwed onto external threads of the other one of the compartment body and cap retainer. The cap retainer can also have a stopping feature to keep the sealing cap in its sealed position. The watertight electrical compartment can be used in a wireless flow sensor assembly, a battery operated irrigation controller, and/or a battery-operated central controller device, to provide irrigation control, and/or sensor information, without the need for AC power.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2020
    Publication date: September 10, 2020
    Inventor: Michael F. Paul
  • Patent number: 10559949
    Abstract: A watertight electrical compartment for use in an irrigation device can include a compartment body having a chamber and a sealing section configured to mate with one or more sealing rings. A sealing cap can mate with the sealing section and/or the sealing rings to seal the chamber. A cap retainer can be advanced over at least a portion of the sealing cap. One of the compartment body and cap retainer can have internal threads to be screwed onto external threads of the other one of the compartment body and cap retainer. The cap retainer can also have a stopping feature to keep the sealing cap in its sealed position. The watertight electrical compartment can be used in a wireless flow sensor assembly, a battery operated irrigation controller, and/or a battery-operated central controller device, to provide irrigation control, and/or sensor information, without the need for AC power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2020
    Assignee: Hunter Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael F. Paul
  • Patent number: 10498115
    Abstract: An irrigation control box can include a housing base having a first sidewall, a second sidewall, a top sidewall, a bottom sidewall, and a back wall. The box can include at least one hinge post. An offset hinge assembly can include a hinge assembly frame defining a hinge assembly interior, a first attachment structure positioned at least partially within the hinge assembly interior and configured to releasably attach to the at least one hinge post, and a rotational attachment point. A facepack can include at least one hinge point configured to mate with the rotational attachment point. In some cases, the facepack is configured to rotate about rotational attachment point of the offset hinge assembly with respect to the housing base when the housing base and facepack are each attached to the offset hinge assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: Hunter Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael F. Paul
  • Publication number: 20190273371
    Abstract: A watertight electrical compartment for use in an irrigation device can include a compartment body having a chamber and a sealing section configured to mate with one or more sealing rings. A sealing cap can mate with the sealing section and/or the sealing rings to seal the chamber. A cap retainer can be advanced over at least a portion of the sealing cap. One of the compartment body and cap retainer can have internal threads to be screwed onto external threads of the other one of the compartment body and cap retainer. The cap retainer can also have a stopping feature to keep the sealing cap in its sealed position. The watertight electrical compartment can be used in a wireless flow sensor assembly, a battery operated irrigation controller, and/or a battery-operated central controller device, to provide irrigation control, and/or sensor information, without the need for AC power.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2019
    Publication date: September 5, 2019
    Inventor: Michael F. Paul
  • Patent number: 10340675
    Abstract: A watertight electrical compartment for use in an irrigation device can include a compartment body having a chamber and a sealing section configured to mate with one or more sealing rings. A sealing cap can mate with the sealing section and/or the sealing rings to seal the chamber. A cap retainer can be advanced over at least a portion of the sealing cap. One of the compartment body and cap retainer can have internal threads to be screwed onto external threads of the other one of the compartment body and cap retainer. The cap retainer can also have a stopping feature to keep the sealing cap in its sealed position. The watertight electrical compartment can be used in a wireless flow sensor assembly, a battery operated irrigation controller, and/or a battery-operated central controller device, to provide irrigation control, and/or sensor information, without the need for AC power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: Hunter Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael F. Paul
  • Publication number: 20190157852
    Abstract: A watertight electrical compartment for use in an irrigation device can include a compartment body having a chamber and a sealing section configured to mate with one or more sealing rings. A sealing cap can mate with the sealing section and/or the sealing rings to seal the chamber. A cap retainer can be advanced over at least a portion of the sealing cap. One of the compartment body and cap retainer can have internal threads to be screwed onto external threads of the other one of the compartment body and cap retainer. The cap retainer can also have a stopping feature to keep the sealing cap in its sealed position. The watertight electrical compartment can be used in a wireless flow sensor assembly, a battery operated irrigation controller, and/or a battery-operated central controller device, to provide irrigation control, and/or sensor information, without the need for AC power.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2019
    Publication date: May 23, 2019
    Inventor: Michael F. Paul
  • Patent number: 10199815
    Abstract: A watertight electrical compartment for use in an irrigation device can include a compartment body having a chamber and a sealing section configured to mate with one or more sealing rings. A sealing cap can mate with the sealing section and/or the sealing rings to seal the chamber. A cap retainer can be advanced over at least a portion of the sealing cap. One of the compartment body and cap retainer can have internal threads to be screwed onto external threads of the other one of the compartment body and cap retainer. The cap retainer can also have a stopping feature to keep the sealing cap in its sealed position. The watertight electrical compartment can be used in a wireless flow sensor assembly, a battery operated irrigation controller, and/or a battery-operated central controller device, to provide irrigation control, and/or sensor information, without the need for AC power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: Hunter Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael F. Paul
  • Publication number: 20190036310
    Abstract: An irrigation control box can include a housing base having a first sidewall, a second sidewall, a top sidewall, a bottom sidewall, and a back wall. The box can include at least one hinge post. An offset hinge assembly can include a hinge assembly frame defining a hinge assembly interior, a first attachment structure positioned at least partially within the hinge assembly interior and configured to releasably attach to the at least one hinge post, and a rotational attachment point. A facepack can include at least one hinge point configured to mate with the rotational attachment point. In some cases, the facepack is configured to rotate about rotational attachment point of the offset hinge assembly with respect to the housing base when the housing base and facepack are each attached to the offset hinge assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2018
    Publication date: January 31, 2019
    Inventor: Michael F. Paul
  • Patent number: 10069284
    Abstract: An irrigation control box can include a housing base having a first sidewall, a second sidewall, a top sidewall, a bottom sidewall, and a back wall. The box can include at least one hinge post. An offset hinge assembly can include a hinge assembly frame defining a hinge assembly interior, a first attachment structure positioned at least partially within the hinge assembly interior and configured to releasably attach to the at least one hinge post, and a rotational attachment point. A facepack can include at least one hinge point configured to mate with the rotational attachment point. In some cases, the facepack is configured to rotate about rotational attachment point of the offset hinge assembly with respect to the housing base when the housing base and facepack are each attached to the offset hinge assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: Hunter Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael F. Paul
  • Publication number: 20180109094
    Abstract: A watertight electrical compartment for use in an irrigation device can include a compartment body having a chamber and a sealing section configured to mate with one or more sealing rings. A sealing cap can mate with the sealing section and/or the sealing rings to seal the chamber. A cap retainer can be advanced over at least a portion of the sealing cap. One of the compartment body and cap retainer can have internal threads to be screwed onto external threads of the other one of the compartment body and cap retainer. The cap retainer can also have a stopping feature to keep the sealing cap in its sealed position. The watertight electrical compartment can be used in a wireless flow sensor assembly, a battery operated irrigation controller, and/or a battery-operated central controller device, to provide irrigation control, and/or sensor information, without the need for AC power.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2017
    Publication date: April 19, 2018
    Inventor: Michael F. Paul
  • Patent number: D808908
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: Hunter Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael F. Paul, Stephen A. Sharp
  • Patent number: D892796
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: Hunter Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael F. Paul, Stephen A. Sharp