Patents by Inventor Stephen M. Niznik

Stephen M. Niznik 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: 10640962
    Abstract: An apparatus for controlling the waste outlet of a toilet includes, according to an implementation, a motor comprising a Hall effect sensor that detects the rotation of the motor and generates a position signal in response thereto; a mechanical actuator coupled to the motor; a door coupled to the mechanical actuator, wherein the door is disposed at the waste outlet of the toilet; logic circuitry that receives the position signal, generates a control signal to move the door based at least in part on the position signal, and transmits the control signal to the motor. The motor operates according to the control signal to drive the mechanical actuator to move the door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2020
    Assignee: B/E Aerospace, Inc.
    Inventors: Thao Hoang, Bradley J. Buniak, Christian C. Kurshinsky, Stephen M. Niznik, William Pedersen, Mark A. Pondelick
  • Publication number: 20190277014
    Abstract: An apparatus for controlling the waste outlet of a toilet includes, according to an implementation, a motor comprising a Hall effect sensor that detects the rotation of the motor and generates a position signal in response thereto; a mechanical actuator coupled to the motor; a door coupled to the mechanical actuator, wherein the door is disposed at the waste outlet of the toilet; logic circuitry that receives the position signal, generates a control signal to move the door based at least in part on the position signal, and transmits the control signal to the motor. The motor operates according to the control signal to drive the mechanical actuator to move the door.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2019
    Publication date: September 12, 2019
    Applicant: B/E Aerospace, Inc.
    Inventors: Thao Hoang, Bradley J. Buniak, Christian C. Kurshinsky, Stephen M. Niznik, William Pedersen, Mark A. Pondelick
  • Patent number: 10202747
    Abstract: An apparatus for controlling the waste outlet of a toilet includes, according to an implementation, a motor comprising a Hall effect sensor that detects the rotation of the motor and generates a position signal in response thereto; a mechanical actuator coupled to the motor; a door coupled to the mechanical actuator, wherein the door is disposed at the waste outlet of the toilet; logic circuitry that receives the position signal, generates a control signal to move the door based at least in part on the position signal, and transmits the control signal to the motor. The motor operates according to the control signal to drive the mechanical actuator to move the door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignee: B/E Aerospace, Inc.
    Inventors: Thao Hoang, Bradley J. Buniak, Christian C. Kurshinsky, Stephen M. Niznik, William Pedersen, Mark A. Pondelick
  • Patent number: 10041241
    Abstract: A method of installing a toilet system on board an aircraft is generally described. The toilet system includes a base support having a right base support and a left base support, a toilet bowl, a right side support and a left side support each supporting the toilet bowl. The method comprises lowering the toilet bowl on to the base supports to at least partially engage a first locking mechanism; sliding the toilet bowl in a forward direction to engage a second locking mechanism; and inserting a first pin to couple the right base support to the right side support and a second pin to couple the left base support to the left side support in order to completely engage the first locking mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: B/E Aerospace, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Hardwick, Thao Hoang, Bradley J. Buniak, Stephen M. Niznik, William Pedersen, Mark A. Pondelick, Gregory E. Sund
  • Patent number: 9951504
    Abstract: A toilet system configured for operation on-board an aircraft includes, according to an implementation, a toilet bowl, a left side support bracket supporting the toilet bowl, a right side support bracket supporting the toilet bowl, a control box including a first set of pins, and a harness connector configured to electrically couple the toilet to the aircraft. The harness connector includes a set of pins, where the first set of pins of the control box are configured to be connected to the set of pins included in the harness connector, and the control box is configured to determine a platform of the aircraft based on the presence or absence of a pin in the set of pins included in the harness connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: B/E Aerospace, Inc.
    Inventors: Thao Hoang, Bradley J. Buniak, Stephen M. Niznik, William Pedersen, Mark A. Pondelick
  • Publication number: 20160289938
    Abstract: A toilet system configured for operation on-board an aircraft includes, according to an implementation, a toilet bowl, a left side support bracket supporting the toilet bowl, a right side support bracket supporting the toilet bowl, a control box including a first set of pins, and a harness connector configured to electrically couple the toilet to the aircraft. The harness connector includes a set of pins, where the first set of pins of the control box are configured to be connected to the set of pins included in the harness connector, and the control box is configured to determine a platform of the aircraft based on the presence or absence of a pin in the set of pins included in the harness connector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2016
    Publication date: October 6, 2016
    Inventors: Thao Hoang, Bradley J. Buniak, Stephen M. Niznik, William Pedersen, Mark A. Pondelick
  • Publication number: 20160289943
    Abstract: A method of installing a toilet system on board an aircraft is generally described. The toilet system includes a base support having a right base support and a left base support, a toilet bowl, a right side support and a left side support each supporting the toilet bowl. The method comprises lowering the toilet bowl on to the base supports to at least partially engage a first locking mechanism; sliding the toilet bowl in a forward direction to engage a second locking mechanism; and inserting a first pin to couple the right base support to the right side support and a second pin to couple the left base support to the left side support in order to completely engage the first locking mechanism.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2016
    Publication date: October 6, 2016
    Inventors: Christopher Hardwick, Thao Hoang, Bradley J. Buniak, Stephen M. Niznik, William Pedersen, Mark A. Pondelick, Gregory E. Sund
  • Publication number: 20160289942
    Abstract: An apparatus for controlling the waste outlet of a toilet includes, according to an implementation, a motor comprising a Hall effect sensor that detects the rotation of the motor and generates a position signal in response thereto; a mechanical actuator coupled to the motor; a door coupled to the mechanical actuator, wherein the door is disposed at the waste outlet of the toilet; logic circuitry that receives the position signal, generates a control signal to move the door based at least in part on the position signal, and transmits the control signal to the motor. The motor operates according to the control signal to drive the mechanical actuator to move the door.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2016
    Publication date: October 6, 2016
    Inventors: Thao Hoang, Bradley J. Buniak, Christian C. Kurshinsky, Stephen M. Niznik, William Pedersen, Mark A. Pondelick