Patents by Inventor Robert Bachman

Robert Bachman 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: 7497595
    Abstract: A lighting fixture having a color-changing mechanism, such as a color wheel, for cycling through a plurality of colors, such as by rotating, at a first speed and a second speed. The second speed is faster than the first speed. A position pulse device, such as a position sensor, generates a reference position pulse when the color-changing mechanism is at a predetermined color or position. A circuit periodically generates a master pulse. A control device causes the color-changing mechanism to cycle through the colors at the second speed when the reference position pulse is generated after the master pulse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2009
    Assignee: Pentair Water Pool and Spa, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael V. Mateescu, Kevin Potucek, Robert Bachman
  • Publication number: 20070174260
    Abstract: A system generates and retrieves relevant electronic information required by a user initiating an electronic search on the system. The system comprises a user-interactive search engine and a knowledge database, which stores knowledge information that is formatted. Additionally, the system includes a plurality of functional software modules that enables a user to complete an interactive search and find a solution to a task based on entered context information and keywords. A list of keywords is displayed to the user and the user selects those keywords that are relevant to the solution desired. The search engine looks for the articles containing the identified keywords. If no article is found with the search terms, the search is expanded to the Internet. The user may then modify the information returned from the Internet, format the information and save the information as a new recipe.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2007
    Publication date: July 26, 2007
    Inventors: Robert Bachman, Richard Hoffman, Verlyn Johnson, Douglas McDavid, Dorothy Mazina
  • Publication number: 20060291213
    Abstract: A lighting fixture having a color-changing mechanism, such as a color wheel, for cycling through a plurality of colors, such as by rotating, at a first speed and a second speed. The second speed is faster than the first speed. A position pulse device, such as a position sensor, generates a reference position pulse when the color-changing mechanism is at a predetermined color or position. A circuit periodically generates a master pulse. A control device causes the color-changing mechanism to cycle through the colors at the second speed when the reference position pulse is generated after the master pulse.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2006
    Publication date: December 28, 2006
    Applicant: PENTAIR WATER POOL AND SPA, INC.
    Inventors: MICHAEL MATEESCU, KEVIN POTUCEK, ROBERT BACHMAN
  • Patent number: 7128440
    Abstract: The lighting fixture includes a housing having an interior cavity and a transparent cover. A color-changing electric light assembly is provided in the interior cavity. The light assembly emits a plurality of different colors of light through the transparent cover and cycles through the plurality of different colors of light to sequentially emit each of the plurality of different colors of light. A synchronization circuit responds to a timed interruption in the power for synchronizing the color-changing electric light assembly with a color-changing electric light assembly of another underwater lighting fixture connected to the same power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2006
    Assignee: Pentair Pool Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael V. Mateescu, Kevin Potucek, Robert Bachman
  • Patent number: 7097329
    Abstract: An underwater lighting fixture adapted for installation in a wall of a swimming pool. The lighting fixture includes a housing having an interior cavity and a transparent cover. A color changing electric light assembly is provided in the interior cavity. The light assembly emits a plurality of different colors of light through the transparent cover and cycles through the plurality of different colors of light to sequentially emit each of the plurality of different colors of light. An electrical conductor extends through the housing into the interior cavity for delivering power to the color changing electric light assembly. A synchronization circuit responds to a timed interruption in the power for synchronizing the color changing electric light assembly with a color changing electric light assembly of another underwater lighting fixture connected to the same power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2006
    Assignee: Pentair Pool Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael V. Mateescu, Kevin Potucek, Robert Bachman
  • Patent number: 7055988
    Abstract: An underwater lighting fixture adapted for installation in a wall of a swimming pool. The fixture includes a housing having an interior cavity and a transparent cover. A plate is mounted within the housing defines an opening. The plate has a first side facing the transparent cover and a second side opposite the first side. An electric light source includes a reflector positioned at the opening on the second side of the plate so that the reflector is directed toward the transparent cover. A color wheel within the housing is mounted for rotation and has filter segments. A driver mechanism within the housing rotates the color wheel, sequentially positioning successive filter segments to the opening of the plate. An electrical conductor extends through the housing into the interior cavity for delivering power to the electric light source and the driver mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2006
    Assignee: Pentair Pool Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael V. Mateescu, Kevin Potucek, Robert Bachman
  • Publication number: 20050276044
    Abstract: An underwater lighting fixture adapted for installation in a wall of a swimming pool. The lighting fixture includes a housing having an interior cavity and a transparent cover. A color-changing electric light assembly is provided in the interior cavity. The light assembly emits a plurality of different colors of light through the transparent cover and cycles through the plurality of different colors of light to sequentially emit each of the plurality of different colors of light. An electrical conductor extends through the housing into the interior cavity for delivering power to the color-changing electric light assembly. A synchronization circuit responds to a timed interruption in the power for synchronizing the color-changing electric light assembly with a color-changing electric light assembly of another underwater lighting fixture connected to the same power.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2005
    Publication date: December 15, 2005
    Applicant: Pentair Pool Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Mateescu, Kevin Potucek, Robert Bachman
  • Publication number: 20050168970
    Abstract: An underwater lighting fixture adapted for installation in a wall of a swimming pool. The lighting fixture includes a housing having an interior cavity and a transparent cover. A color changing electric light assembly is provided in the interior cavity. The light assembly emits a plurality of different colors of light through the transparent cover and cycles through the plurality of different colors of light to sequentially emit each of the plurality of different colors of light. An electrical conductor extends through the housing into the interior cavity for delivering power to the color changing electric light assembly. A synchronization circuit responds to a timed interruption in the power for synchronizing the color changing electric light assembly with a color changing electric light assembly of another underwater lighting fixture connected to the same power.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2005
    Publication date: August 4, 2005
    Applicant: Pentair Pool Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Mateescu, Kevin Potucek, Robert Bachman
  • Patent number: 6811286
    Abstract: An underwater lighting fixture adapted for installation in a lamp receiving recess in the wall of a swimming pool. The fixture includes a lamp housing having a pair of reflector-mounted incandescent lamps mounted therein. A plate having a pair of a apertures is mounted in the housing with the apertures mounted in alignment with the lamps. A pair of secondary reflectors are mounted to face the plate apertures and are provided with light-transmitting portals. A color wheel having dichroic filter segments is mounted so that identically colored pairs of segments pass the portals when the color wheel is driven by a motor. The motor is controlled by a circuit by disconnecting power to an input of the circuit, reconnecting power to the input to control the motor to move at a first speed. The control circuit stops the motor when the driven element reaches an index position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2004
    Assignee: Pentair Pool Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael V. Mateescu, Kevin Potucek, Robert Bachman
  • Publication number: 20040208008
    Abstract: An underwater lighting fixture adapted for installation in a wall of a swimming pool. The fixture includes a housing having an interior cavity and a transparent cover. A plate is mounted within the housing defines an opening. The plate has a first side facing the transparent cover and a second side opposite the first side. An electric light source includes a reflector positioned at the opening on the second side of the plate so that the reflector is directed toward the transparent cover. A color wheel within the housing is mounted for rotation and has filter segments. A driver mechanism within the housing rotates the color wheel, sequentially positioning successive filter segments to the opening of the plate. An electrical conductor extends through the housing into the interior cavity for delivering power to the electric light source and the driver mechanism.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2004
    Publication date: October 21, 2004
    Applicant: Pentair Pool Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael V. Mateescu, Kevin Potucek, Robert Bachman
  • Publication number: 20020149941
    Abstract: An underwater lighting fixture adapted for installation in a lamp receiving recess in the wall of a swimming pool. The fixture includes a lamp housing having a pair of reflector-mounted incandescent lamps mounted therein. A plate having a pair of apertures is mounted in the housing with the apertures mounted in alignment with the lamps. A pair of secondary reflectors are mounted to face the plate apertures and are provided with light-transmitting portals. A color wheel having dichroic filter segments is mounted so that identically colored pairs of segments pass the portals when the color wheel is driven by a motor. A synchronization circuit is responsive to an alternating-current source of power applied to the lighting fixture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2002
    Publication date: October 17, 2002
    Inventors: Michael V. Mateescu, Kevin Potucek, Robert Bachman
  • Patent number: 6379025
    Abstract: An underwater lighting fixture adapted for installation in a lamp receiving recess in the wall of a swimming pool. The fixture includes a lamp housing having a pair of reflector-mounted incandescent lamps mounted therein. A plate having a pair of apertures is mounted in the housing with the apertures mounted in alignment with the lamps. A pair of secondary reflectors are mounted to face the plate apertures and are provided with light-transmitting portals. A color wheel having dichroic filter segments is mounted so that identically colored pairs of segments pass the portals when the color wheel is driven by a motor. A synchronization circuit is responsive to an alternating-current source of power applied to the lighting fixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2002
    Assignee: PacFab, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael V. Mateescu, Kevin Potucek, Robert Bachman
  • Publication number: 20010014021
    Abstract: The invention relates to an water lighting system for illuminating the features of water displays where the system can be maintained with relative ease. The system has a plurality of finger clamps disposed about the perimeter of a housing that permit the installation and removal of a front lens without tools. With the front lens removed, the system further has an optical cassette that can easily be removed without tools to expose the lamp. The lamp then can be replaced without the need for tools or without accidentally touching a lens in the optical cassette. Other features are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2001
    Publication date: August 16, 2001
    Inventors: David Duff, Mark W. Fuller, Robert Bachman
  • Patent number: 4496125
    Abstract: An improved supporting leg assembly for laundry tubs, tables and the like. A leg coupler having a tapered, substantially cylindrical socket containing a key therein is placed at each corner on the underside of the tub. A V-shaped leg, bearing a cylindrical tube affixed thereto on the inside of the V-leg at the end which contacts the tub, is placed at each corner of the tub with the tube engaging the socket. Each tube has a slot formed therein at the end which fits into the tubular socket, and the slot and key mate with each other when the leg is set in place. When assembled together, the tub and coupler are in load bearing contact with the top of each section of the V-leg and the top of the cylindrical tube, respectively. The V-legs may be tapered if desired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 1982
    Date of Patent: January 29, 1985
    Assignee: Fiat Products Incorporated
    Inventors: Thomas J. Walsh, Robert Bachman, Ronald Aderhold