Patents by Inventor Samuel Tobias

Samuel Tobias 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: 5607224
    Abstract: A housing for an underwater lighting fixture includes a wet niche formed from plastic and provided with three alternative grounding pathways. A conductor strap is attached to the niche by a threaded lug which extends through the strap and an adjacent wall of the niche to permit an internal ground wire and an external ground wire to be connected to the strap. As a further grounding assurance, the lighting fixture is grounded through a bracket which attaches to the conductor strap. The bracket also serves as a current collector to receive electrical charge from the surrounding water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 4, 1997
    Assignee: H-Tech, Inc.
    Inventors: Samuel Tobias, Donald R. Davidson, Robert H. Hanes
  • Patent number: 5493811
    Abstract: An apparatus and method are disclosed which operate to automatically deliver liquid to a plant growing medium in a pot from a receptacle positioned above the plant growing medium. The liquid flows from the receptacle under the influence of gravity and is supplied to the plant growing medium at predetermined drip rate, which may be manually adjusted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 27, 1996
    Inventors: Michael E. Tobias, Samuel Tobias
  • Patent number: 5432688
    Abstract: A housing for an underwater lighting fixture includes a wet niche formed from plastic and provided with a grounding strap. The grounding strap is attached to the niche by a threaded lug which extends through the strap and an adjacent wall of the niche to permit an internal ground wire and an external ground wire to be connected to the strap. As a further grounding assurance, the lighting fixture may be grounded through the grounding strap, which mechanically and electrically attaches the lighting fixture to the niche.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 11, 1995
    Assignee: H-Tech, Inc.
    Inventors: Samuel Tobias, Donald R. Davidson, Robert H. Hanes
  • Patent number: 5271561
    Abstract: An outlet assembly for a water receptacle, such as a swimming pool, spa or the like, includes a pair of interchangeable discharge nozzles, one being a rotary discharge nozzle and the other being a linear discharge nozzle. A user may selectively interchange the rotary discharge nozzle and the linear discharge nozzle by withdrawing and inserting them through an outlet port sized and shaped so as to permit the user's hand to fit therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 1992
    Date of Patent: December 21, 1993
    Assignee: Hayward Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Samuel Tobias, Robert M. Messinger, Donald R. Davidson
  • Patent number: 5115974
    Abstract: A device for creating a waterfall effect and a fountain effect in an adjacent swimming pool spa or the like, has a tubular manifold with spray orifices which produce streams of water. The manifold is positionable so that the streams of water can be aimed away from the housing at an inclined angle, thereby producing a fountain effect, or so that the streams of water can be directed to fill a reservoir located within the housing and adapted to discharge water in the form of a waterfall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 1991
    Date of Patent: May 26, 1992
    Assignee: Hayward Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Samuel Tobias, Fred Hollinger
  • Patent number: 5068033
    Abstract: An underdrain assembly contained within a swimming pool filter has a plurality of laterals, each of which is pivotable between a non-operating position and an operating position. Each of the laterals is threadedly attached to the underdrain assembly so that they can be replaced individually by unscrewing them from the underdrain assembly without removing the underdrain assembly from the filter. The laterals can be locked in their operating positions by either a reversible locking mechanism or an irreversible locking mechanism. With the laterals in their non-operating positions, the underdrain assembly and the laterals can be inserted into the filter as a unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 1990
    Date of Patent: November 26, 1991
    Assignee: Hayward Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Samuel Tobias, Fred T. Hazlehurst
  • Patent number: 4985943
    Abstract: A hydrotherapeutic jet for a hydrotherapeutic receptacle employs three nozzels and two separate mixing chambers. A primary stream of water flows through the first nozzel to create a low pressure condition which sucks air into the first mixing chamber, causing the primary stream to be mixed with the air. The primary stream is discharged through the second nozzle into the second mixing chamber, thereby creating another low pressure condition which sucks a secondary stream of water from the hydrotherapeutic receptacle into the second mixing chamber and hence causes the aerated primary stream to be entrained with the secondary stream. The air/water mixture is then discharged from the second mixing chamber into the hydrotherapeutic receptacle by te third nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 1989
    Date of Patent: January 22, 1991
    Assignee: Hayward Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Samuel Tobias, Robert M. Messinger
  • Patent number: 4982460
    Abstract: A jet fitting for a hydrotherapeutic receptacle includes an internal chamber which functions as a mixing chamber as well as a suction chamber. A primary stream of water is supplied to the mixing chamber in such a manner that a low pressure condition is created within the mixing chamber for entraining a secondary stream of water which flows from the hydrotherapeutic receptacle to the mixing chamber and for entraining air from an outside source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 1989
    Date of Patent: January 8, 1991
    Assignee: Hayward Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Samuel Tobias, William E. Treene, George E. Williams
  • Patent number: 4967696
    Abstract: A dog collar has a receiver unit which is selectively and remotely actuated by a conventional transmitter. When actuated, the receiver unit emits a sound audible to the dog, thereby allowing an individual to communicate with his dot. The emitted sound can be either a simple tone or a human voice.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 1989
    Date of Patent: November 6, 1990
    Inventor: Samuel Tobias
  • Patent number: 4941217
    Abstract: A jet fitting for a hydrotherapeutic receptacle includes an internal chamber which functions as a mixing chamber as well as a suction chamber. More particularly, a primary stream of water is supplied to the mixing chamber in such a manner that a low pressure condition is created within the mixing chamber for the purpose of entraining a secondary stream of water which flows from the hydrotherapeutic receptacle to the mixing chamber. The combined streams exit the fitting together so as to increase its discharge flow rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 1989
    Date of Patent: July 17, 1990
    Assignee: Hayward Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Samuel Tobias, William E. Treene, George E. Williams
  • Patent number: 4818389
    Abstract: A skimmer for skimming water from a swimming pool or spa is provided with entraining means for entraining additional water from the pool or spa to thereby increase the flow of water into and out of the skimmer. The entraining means includes two nozzle members which cooperate with each other to jet an entraining stream of water through the skimmer. The skimmer is also provided with isolating means for isolating the entraining stream of water from the rest of the water flowing through the skimmer. The isolating means includes actuating means for selectively actuating and deactuating the isolating means such that the skimmer can be operated at a normal flow rate when the isolating means is actuated and at an increased flow rate when the isolating means is deactuated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 1987
    Date of Patent: April 4, 1989
    Assignee: Hayward Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Samuel Tobias, Thomas Pinelli, Robert M. Messinger, Fred T. Hazlehurst
  • Patent number: 4629557
    Abstract: A test ring for a pump strainer is threadedly attached to both a housing and a cover of the strainer in such a manner that the cover can withstand relatively high internal pressure. When the test ring is detached from the cover, the cover is adapted for quick and easy removal from the strainer housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 1985
    Date of Patent: December 16, 1986
    Assignee: Hayward Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Samuel Tobias
  • Patent number: 4593420
    Abstract: A hydromassage fitting employs a directional nozzle to inject an aerated jet of water into the interior of a water receptacle, such as a bathtub, spa, therapy tank or swimming pool. The directional nozzle is mounted in the fitting so as permit water to drain around the nozzle and into the water receptacle when the fitting is not in use, thereby inhibiting the collection of water in the fitting. Pockets and voids within the fitting are eliminated or sealed in order to further inhibit the collection of water in the fitting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 1985
    Date of Patent: June 10, 1986
    Assignee: Hayward Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Samuel Tobias, Robert M. Messinger
  • Patent number: D333341
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 1991
    Date of Patent: February 16, 1993
    Assignee: Hayward Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Samuel Tobias, Fred Hollinger