Patents by Inventor Tuan Le

Tuan Le 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: 10119259
    Abstract: A flow diverter for diverting flow between a toilet bowl and a toilet tank, having: a body having an inlet, a first outlet and a second outlet; and a flow adjustment mechanism rotatable within the body to selectively divert different percentages of flow between the first outlet and the second outlet; and an air vent and diaphragm in the body to prevent a siphon flow from the first or second outlet back to the inlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: FLUIDMASTER, INC.
    Inventor: Tuan Le
  • Publication number: 20180243801
    Abstract: A high throughput sorting device is disclosed. The device includes a first sorter and a second sorter, each of the first and second sorters having a plurality of cells each configured to support, carry, and deposit an item. The device can also include at least one shared chute extending below a portion of the first sorter and a portion of the second sorter. The at least one chute can be configured to receive an item deposited by each of the plurality of cells and transport the item to an endpoint.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2018
    Publication date: August 30, 2018
    Inventors: Scott R. Bombaugh, Tuan A. Le, Charles P. McLellan, Christopher M. Stratton
  • Publication number: 20180223511
    Abstract: Some embodiments include a fluid control assembly with a flapper canister, a linkage rotatably coupled to the flapper canister and to a support of a mount. In some embodiments, the flapper canister can be angled with respect to the mount to enable the flapper canister to be coupled to various sizes, types and orientations of flush valves. In some embodiments, by rotating the linkage about pivots coupled to the flapper canister and the support and pivoting or rotating about a motion-enabling element coupling the mount and a support, the flapper canister can be raised, lowered, and/or rotated or pivoted enabling the flapper canister to be sealed against a flush valve orifice. In some embodiments, the flapper canister includes a buoyancy control tube providing fluid coupling between one side of the flapper canister to an opposite side and enabling buoyancy-assist to the position or motion of the flapper canister.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2018
    Publication date: August 9, 2018
    Applicant: FLUIDMASTER, INC.
    Inventor: TUAN LE
  • Patent number: 9962743
    Abstract: A high throughput sorting device is disclosed. The device includes a first sorter and a second sorter, each of the first and second sorters having a plurality of cells each configured to support, carry, and deposit an item. The device can also include at least one shared chute extending below a portion of the first sorter and a portion of the second sorter. The at least one chute can be configured to receive an item deposited by each of the plurality of cells and transport the item to an endpoint. The device can also include a base configured to support the at least one shared chute and the first and second sorters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: United States Postal Service
    Inventors: Scott R. Bombaugh, Tuan A. Le, Charles P. McLellan, Christopher M. Stratton
  • Publication number: 20180112383
    Abstract: A toilet having a tank to receive water and a bowl connected with the tank. Water travels from the tank to the bowl to discharge waste in the bowl through a manifold connected to the bowl and into a drain line. The toilet has a jet trapway portion having a jet inlet with a nozzle connected with the tank. The nozzle directs water from the jet inlet to overcome an upward bend in the jet trapway portion until received by the manifold at an inlet below the upward bend. A waste trapway portion extends from the manifold opposite the jet trapway portion and connects with the drain line. Waste is discharged from the bowl through the manifold over a bend in the waste trapway portion by combining water flowing from the jet trapway portion into the manifold with waste flowing from the manifold into the waste trapway portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2016
    Publication date: April 26, 2018
    Applicant: FLUIDMASTER, INC.
    Inventor: TUAN LE
  • Publication number: 20180080206
    Abstract: A fill valve with pressure chamber having an open bottom end and a diaphragm at a top end such that falling water level in the toilet tank causes the diaphragm to flex in a first direction, thereby moving a sealing member to an open position, with a venturi in the fill valve keeping the sealing member in the open position until water refilling the tank causes the diaphragm to flex in a second direction, thereby moving the sealing member back to the closed position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2016
    Publication date: March 22, 2018
    Applicant: FLUIDMASTER, INC.
    Inventor: TUAN LE
  • Publication number: 20180073235
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a gasket for a fluidic seal. Some embodiments include a flush valve to a toilet tank, where the gasket has a raised center portion and lowered inner and outer portions. In some embodiments, the gasket includes a plurality of recesses, troughs or grooves. Each of the three portions of the gasket has a bottom groove that can permit deformation and increases sealing capabilities when the groove either widens or narrows. Additionally, some embodiments include an inner support ring that extends inwardly from the lowered inner portion, and can center the gasket onto the flush valve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2017
    Publication date: March 15, 2018
    Inventors: DANIEL MCFARLAND, TUAN LE
  • Publication number: 20180066421
    Abstract: A fill valve system with a float nested in a container connected to the fill valve and a siphon device passing water out of the container into the toilet tank, with the siphon device having an air vent dimensioned such that: (i) tank refilling is delayed until after the flush valve closes; (ii) the fill valve is not turned on by small leaks in the tank; and (iii) the fill valve turns off when it encounters large leaks in the tank.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2016
    Publication date: March 8, 2018
    Applicant: FLUIDMASTER, INC.
    Inventor: TUAN LE
  • Publication number: 20180051450
    Abstract: A flow diverter for diverting flow between a toilet bowl and a toilet tank, the flow diverter having: a body with an inlet, outlet and pressure relief vent; and a flow adjustment mechanism rotatable around the outlet to selectively divert different percentages of flow between the outlet and the pressure relief vent by moving a stopper in and out of the outlet by rotating a sleeve of the flow adjustment mechanism around the outlet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2016
    Publication date: February 22, 2018
    Applicant: FLUIDMASTER, INC.
    Inventor: Tuan LE
  • Publication number: 20180007078
    Abstract: A method of relay-attack resistant communications in a wireless communications system that includes a master wireless device (Master) sending a synchronization signal to a slave wireless device (Slave). The synchronization signal includes timing information including a common time reference and a timeslot duration for interlocking Master communication timeslots for Master and Slave communication timeslots so that an alternating TX and RX role pattern is provided. The Master analyzes Slave packet data received from the Slave to identify overlaps of a transmission from the Master and the slave packet data, and in a case of detecting overlap, suspends communications from Master to Slave to prevent a relay-attack.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2016
    Publication date: January 4, 2018
    Inventors: TOMAS MOTOS, KHANH TUAN LE
  • Publication number: 20170241116
    Abstract: A system for mounting a fill valve in a toilet with a pivotable reservoir is disclosed. The pivotable reservoir is disposed inside the toilet tank. A fill valve is secured in the tank and designed to deliver water to the pivotable reservoir from an external water supply, wherein the fill valve is secured by a valve support mechanism to a lower portion of the tank. The fill valve support mechanism comprises a fluid line support mechanism and a fluid line. The fluid line support mechanism routes the fluid line away from and around the space through which the pivotable reservoir moves when actuated. A plurality of fasteners connect the fluid line to the fluid line support mechanism and the fill valve mechanism to the toilet tank and water supply.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2015
    Publication date: August 24, 2017
    Applicant: FLUIDMASTER, INC.
    Inventors: Tuan LE, Paul LI
  • Publication number: 20170197233
    Abstract: A high throughput sorting device is disclosed. The device includes a first sorter and a second sorter, each of the first and second sorters having a plurality of cells each configured to support, carry, and deposit an item. The device can also include at least one shared chute extending below a portion of the first sorter and a portion of the second sorter. The at least one chute can be configured to receive an item deposited by each of the plurality of cells and transport the item to an endpoint.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2017
    Publication date: July 13, 2017
    Inventors: Scott R. Bombaugh, Tuan A. Le, Charles P. McLellan, Christopher M. Stratton
  • Publication number: 20170152652
    Abstract: A flow diverter for diverting flow between a toilet bowl and a toilet tank, having: a body having an inlet, a first outlet and a second outlet; and a flow adjustment mechanism rotatable within the body to selectively divert different percentages of flow between the first outlet and the second outlet; and an air vent and diaphragm in the body to prevent a siphon flow from the first or second outlet back to the inlet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2017
    Publication date: June 1, 2017
    Applicant: FLUIDMASTER, INC.
    Inventor: Tuan LE
  • Patent number: 9469980
    Abstract: A toilet lever assembly, including: (a) a sleeve dimensioned to pass through a toilet tank wall; (b) a rotatable post extending through the sleeve; (c) a toilet flush handle mounted to the end of the rotatable post that is positioned outside of the toilet tank; (d) a nut received onto the end of the sleeve that is positioned outside of the toilet tank; and (e) a lever housing mounted to the end of the post that is positioned inside of the toilet tank, the lever housing comprising: (i) an actuator for moving a toilet lever to cause a flush when the post is rotated, and (ii) a biasing mechanism for rotating the post back to a neutral position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: FLUIDMASTER, INC.
    Inventors: Tuan Le, Venkat Mallela, Can (Ken) Nguyen
  • Patent number: 9428897
    Abstract: A toilet sensor and actuator assembly, having: (a) an infrared sensor configured to detect the presence of an object at a far distance from a toilet; (b) an ultrasonic sensor configured to detect the presence of the object at a near distance from the toilet, wherein the ultrasonic sensor remains in a sleep mode until awakened by a signal from the infrared sensor that the infrared sensor has detected the presence of the object at the far distance; and (c) an actuator mechanism that flushes the toilet in response to a signal from the ultrasonic sensor that the ultrasonic sensor has detected the presence of the object at the near distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: Fluidmaster, Inc.
    Inventors: Tuan Le, Adam Sampson, Derres Catalano, Stewart Walton, Scott Valoff, Robb Milley
  • Publication number: 20160216875
    Abstract: Embodiments provide systems, methods and apparatus for a computer implemented graphical user interface (GUI) for monitoring and controlling an energy management system (EMS) in real time. The GUI includes a card carousel GUI control wherein the card carousel GUI control includes a plurality of cards arranged in a sequence, each card displaying a unique set of status information about related EMS parameters, wherein the unique set of status information of each card is concurrently visible. Numerous other aspects are provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2015
    Publication date: July 28, 2016
    Inventors: Jo S. Soo, Jeff Walz, Tuan Le, Touhid Khan
  • Publication number: 20160168835
    Abstract: A toilet sensor and actuator assembly, having: (a) an infrared sensor configured to detect the presence of an object at a far distance from a toilet; (b) an ultrasonic sensor configured to detect the presence of the object at a near distance from the toilet, wherein the ultrasonic sensor remains in a sleep mode until awakened by a signal from the infrared sensor that the infrared sensor has detected the presence of the object at the far distance; and (c) an actuator mechanism that flushes the toilet in response to a signal from the ultrasonic sensor that the ultrasonic sensor has detected the presence of the object at the near distance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2013
    Publication date: June 16, 2016
    Applicant: FLUIDMASTER, INC.
    Inventors: Tuan Le, Adam Sampson, Derres Cataiano, Stewart Walton, Scott Valoff, Robb Milley
  • Patent number: 9359752
    Abstract: A toilet flush valve that has a moveable buoyant float therein, wherein the float has an open bottom end to trap air therein and wherein the housing includes controls to selectively release air to allow the float to move upwardly therein to permit flushing. By timing when one or two air vents on the housing are open, the duration and volume of the flush can be controlled, with the buoyancy provided by the water lifting the float to open the flush valve. This provides a flushing system with minimal activation energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: Fluidmaster, Inc.
    Inventors: Tuan Le, Steve Cook, Adam Sampson
  • Patent number: 9348344
    Abstract: A flow valve that maintains a constant flow valve despite varying pressures at its inlet, comprising: (a) an elongated cage with alternating axially-extending pockets and ridges on its inner surface; and (b) an elongated generally conical shaped elastomeric sleeve received within the elongated cage; wherein the sleeve flexes outwardly at higher pressures, thereby decreasing the size of the flow channel between the sleeve and cage, thereby restricting flow to maintain constant flow valve despite varying inlet pressures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: Fluidmaster, Inc.
    Inventors: Tuan Le, Jaime Berndt, Adam Sampson
  • Publication number: 20160097190
    Abstract: A leak prevention device is provided for use in operation with a fill valve with a fill valve arm in a toilet tank. The device may comprise a pivotable locking lever having a first portion positioned to pivot into and out of contact with the fill valve arm or an extension thereof. The fill valve arm affects actuation of the fill valve to modulate fluids from entering the toilet tank, wherein the pivotable locking lever is operable to contact or is capable of contacting the fill valve arm thereby prohibiting the operation of the fill valve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2014
    Publication date: April 7, 2016
    Applicant: FLUIDMASTER, INC.
    Inventors: Joseph HAN, Tuan Le