Patents by Inventor Michael W. Minnick

Michael W. Minnick 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: 8555923
    Abstract: A valve assembly for plumbing installations. The valve assembly has a unitary valve body with three interconnected ports and a fluid control mechanism. Connector portions are formed about each port of the unitary valve body to thereby enable connection of the valve assembly into a fluid supply line and for connecting an appliance and various devices and fluid lines to the valve assembly. The fluid control mechanism of the valve assembly is constructed to direct fluid through the valve body and to enable the fluid flow to be shut off.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Oatey Co.
    Inventor: Michael W. Minnick
  • Patent number: 7699076
    Abstract: A valve assembly for plumbing installations. The valve assembly has a unitary valve body with three interconnected ports and a fluid control mechanism. Connector portions are formed about each port of the unitary valve body to thereby enable connection of the valve assembly into a fluid supply line and for connecting an appliance and various devices and fluid lines to the valve assembly. The fluid control mechanism of the valve assembly is constructed to direct fluid through the valve body and to enable the fluid flow to be shut off.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2010
    Assignee: Oatey, Co.
    Inventor: Michael W. Minnick
  • Patent number: 7614419
    Abstract: A washing machine outlet box includes a housing having a bottom wall containing multiple openings and two valve mount inserts insertable into selective openings for supporting water shut off valves therein. The two valve mount inserts may be individual valve mount inserts that are separately insertable into two of the openings or the two valve mount inserts may be joined together for insertion into at least one of the openings as a unit. A drain pipe may be connected to another opening in which the two valve mount inserts are not inserted. A twist on and twist off test cap may be used to seal off the drain pipe opening during pressure testing of a sanitary drainage system to which the drain pipe is connected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2009
    Assignee: Oatey Co.
    Inventor: Michael W. Minnick
  • Publication number: 20080173359
    Abstract: A valve assembly for plumbing installations. The valve assembly has a unitary valve body with three interconnected ports and a fluid control mechanism. Connector portions are formed about each port of the unitary valve body to thereby enable connection of the valve assembly into a fluid supply line and for connecting an appliance and various devices and fluid lines to the valve assembly. The fluid control mechanism of the valve assembly is constructed to direct fluid through the valve body and to enable the fluid flow to be shut off.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2008
    Publication date: July 24, 2008
    Inventor: Michael W. Minnick
  • Patent number: 7373953
    Abstract: A valve assembly for plumbing installations. The valve assembly has a unitary valve body with three interconnected ports and a fluid control mechanism. Connector portions are formed about each port of the unitary valve body to thereby enable connection of the valve assembly into a fluid supply line and for connecting an appliance and various devices and fluid lines to the valve assembly. The fluid control mechanism of the valve assembly is constructed to direct fluid through the valve body and to enable the fluid flow to be shut off.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: Oatey Co.
    Inventor: Michael W. Minnick
  • Patent number: 7270144
    Abstract: A washing machine outlet box includes a housing having a bottom wall containing multiple openings and two valve mount inserts insertable into selective openings for supporting water shut off valves therein. The two valve mount inserts may be individual valve mount inserts that are separately insertable into two of the openings or the two valve mount inserts may be joined together for insertion into at least one of the openings as a unit. A drain pipe may be connected to another opening in which the two valve mount inserts are not inserted. A twist on and twist off test cap may be used to seal off the drain pipe opening during pressure testing of a sanitary drainage system to which the drain pipe is connected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2007
    Assignee: Oatey Co.
    Inventor: Michael W. Minnick
  • Patent number: 6836911
    Abstract: A waste and overflow system for a bathtub includes an overflow conduit having a threaded end and an overflow cap threaded at one end extending through the overflow opening in the bathtub into threaded engagement with the threaded end of the conduit. The other end of the overflow cap has a test cap portion removably connected thereto for closing off an overflow passage through the overflow cap during pressure testing of the system. The test cap portion is removable from the other end of the overflow cap upon completion of the system pressure test to open up the overflow passage through the overflow cap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2005
    Assignee: Oatey Co.
    Inventor: Michael W. Minnick
  • Patent number: 6687925
    Abstract: A floor drain assembly includes a barrel assembly having a radially outwardly flared drain area surrounded by an outer ledge for supporting the outer periphery of a grate covering the drain area. Radially inwardly of the ledge are a plurality of supports integral with the barrel assembly and/or grate for providing additional support for the span of the grate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2004
    Assignee: Oatey Co.
    Inventor: Michael W. Minnick
  • Patent number: 6606753
    Abstract: A waste and overflow system for a bathtub includes an overflow conduit having a threaded end and an overflow cap threaded at one end extending through the overflow opening in the bathtub into threaded engagement with the threaded end of the conduit. The other end of the overflow cap has a test cap portion removably connected thereto for closing off an overflow passage through the overflow cap during pressure testing of the system. The test cap portion is removable from the other end of the overflow cap upon completion of the system pressure test to open up the overflow passage through the overflow cap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2003
    Assignee: Oatey Co.
    Inventor: Michael W. Minnick
  • Patent number: 6598835
    Abstract: An insulating pipe clamp for supporting one or more pipes within an aperture in a metal wall stud and the like includes an annular body portion having a radially outwardly protruding flange at one end. Extending axially through the body portion are a plurality of different diameter holes for accommodating different size pipes. The axes of the holes are offset from the axis of the body portion to permit rotation of the clamp to compensate for any misalignment between a pipe extending through one or more of the holes and a respective aperture in a metal wall stud in which the clamp is inserted. On the rearwardly facing end wall of the flange are a plurality of tabs for grasping by an installer for ease of insertion of the clamp into a respective aperture in a metal wall stud and for ease of rotation of the clamp within the aperture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2003
    Assignee: Oatey Co.
    Inventor: Michael W. Minnick
  • Publication number: 20030019032
    Abstract: A waste and overflow system for a bathtub includes an overflow conduit having a threaded end and an overflow cap threaded at one end extending through the overflow opening in the bathtub into threaded engagement with the threaded end of the conduit. The other end of the overflow cap has a test cap portion removably connected thereto for closing off an overflow passage through the overflow cap during pressure testing of the system. The test cap portion is removable from the other end of the overflow cap upon completion of the system pressure test to open up the overflow passage through the overflow cap.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2002
    Publication date: January 30, 2003
    Inventor: Michael W. Minnick
  • Publication number: 20030014813
    Abstract: A waste and overflow system for a bathtub includes an overflow conduit having a threaded end and an overflow cap threaded at one end extending through the overflow opening in the bathtub into threaded engagement with the threaded end of the conduit. The other end of the overflow cap has a test cap portion removably connected thereto for closing off an overflow passage through the overflow cap during pressure testing of the system. The test cap portion is removable from the other end of the overflow cap upon completion of the system pressure test to open up the overflow passage through the overflow cap.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2002
    Publication date: January 23, 2003
    Inventor: Michael W. Minnick
  • Patent number: 6484331
    Abstract: A waste and overflow system for a bathtub includes an overflow conduit having a threaded end and an overflow cap threaded at one end extending through the overflow opening in the bathtub into threaded engagement with the threaded end of the conduit. The other end of the overflow cap has a test cap portion removably connected thereto for closing off an overflow passage through the overflow cap during pressure testing of the system. The test cap portion is removable from the other end of the overflow cap upon completion of the system pressure test to open up the overflow passage through the overflow cap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2002
    Assignee: Oatey Co.
    Inventor: Michael W. Minnick
  • Publication number: 20020148039
    Abstract: A floor drain assembly includes a barrel assembly having a radially outwardly flared drain area surrounded by an outer ledge for supporting the outer periphery of a grate covering the drain area. Radially inwardly of the ledge are a plurality of supports integral with the barrel assembly and/or grate for providing additional support for the span of the grate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2002
    Publication date: October 17, 2002
    Inventor: Michael W. Minnick
  • Publication number: 20020113172
    Abstract: An insulating pipe clamp for supporting one or more pipes within an aperture in a metal wall stud and the like includes an annular body portion having a radially outwardly protruding flange at one end. Extending axially through the body portion are a plurality of different diameter holes for accommodating different size pipes. The axes of the holes are offset from the axis of the body portion to permit rotation of the clamp to compensate for any misalignment between a pipe extending through one or more of the holes and a respective aperture in a metal wall stud in which the clamp is inserted. On the rearwardly facing end wall of the flange are a plurality of tabs for grasping by an installer for ease of insertion of the clamp into a respective aperture in a metal wall stud and for ease of rotation of the clamp within the aperture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2001
    Publication date: August 22, 2002
    Inventor: Michael W. Minnick
  • Publication number: 20020112285
    Abstract: A waste and overflow system for a bathtub includes an overflow conduit having a threaded end and an overflow cap threaded at one end extending through the overflow opening in the bathtub into threaded engagement with the threaded end of the conduit. The other end of the overflow cap has a test cap portion removably connected thereto for closing off an overflow passage through the overflow cap during pressure testing of the system. The test cap portion is removable from the other end of the overflow cap upon completion of the system pressure test to open up the overflow passage through the overflow cap.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2001
    Publication date: August 22, 2002
    Inventor: Michael W. Minnick
  • Patent number: 6435206
    Abstract: A valve outlet assembly for mounting to a building structure and adapted to interconnect a water supply line to a plumbing fixture or an appliance. The outlet assembly has a housing enclosure, an exterior cover and alignment and mounting assemblies which cooperate with the housing structure. A valve structure is mounted in the housing to a conduit fitting which extends through a housing wall. The valve structure is constructed and arranged to receive a water line extending to the appliance. The housing enclosure has opposing alignment and mounting assemblies which provide for various securement options to position the valve outlet assembly within a building wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2002
    Assignee: Oatey Company
    Inventor: Michael W. Minnick
  • Patent number: 6148850
    Abstract: A washing machine outlet box includes a bottom wall having a first drain port for a washing machine hose and a second drain port for a condensate line. Communicating with both drain ports is a common tailpiece integral with the bottom wall. The common tailpiece includes an outlet for connection to a drain pipe and wall sections defining a first passageway from the first drain port to the outlet and a second passageway from the second drain port to the outlet. This allows both drain ports to be connected to the drain pipe with only one solvent weld between the tailpiece and drain pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2000
    Assignee: Oatey Co.
    Inventors: Raun A. Kopp, Michael W. Minnick, Robert S. Kane
  • Patent number: D522616
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2006
    Assignee: Oatey Co.
    Inventors: Michael W. Minnick, Michael E. Schindley
  • Patent number: D428117
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2000
    Assignee: Oatey Co.
    Inventor: Michael W. Minnick