Patents by Inventor Werner Gnauert

Werner Gnauert 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: 9739040
    Abstract: A sanitary fitting having at least one first actuating element, in particular for setting the temperature and/or volume of mixed water, and having at least one second actuating element for setting the volume of hot water. In order to set the volume of hot water, a valve element, in particular a solenoid valve, which is electrically controllable by the second actuating element, is arranged in the hot water flow path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: Grohe AG
    Inventors: Werner Gnauert, Wulf Woesthoff
  • Publication number: 20150322651
    Abstract: A sanitary fitting having at least one first actuating element, in particular for setting the temperature and/or volume of mixed water, and having at least one second actuating element for setting the volume of hot water. In order to set the volume of hot water, a valve element, in particular a solenoid valve, which is electrically controllable by the second actuating element, is arranged in the hot water flow path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2015
    Publication date: November 12, 2015
    Applicant: GROHE AG
    Inventors: Werner GNAUERT, Wulf WOESTHOFF
  • Patent number: 5947147
    Abstract: A valve has a housing formed with a connection face, an intake port adapted to be connected to a supply of pressurized liquid, an output port, an intake passage extending from the intake port to the connection face, a bore extending from the connection face, an output passage extending from the bore to the output port, and a bleed passage communicating with the atmosphere and opening into the bore. A valve cartridge secured to the connection face is operable to conduct liquid between the intake passage and the bore. A vent valve mounted in the output bore has inner and outer seats and a valve body movable between end positions in each of which it blocks one of the seats. The outer seat lies between the inner seat and the connection face and the output passage opens into the bore between the seats. The bleed passage opens into the bore through the inner seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 7, 1999
    Assignee: Friedrich Grohe AG
    Inventors: Werner Gnauert, Frank-Thomas Luig
  • Patent number: 5704588
    Abstract: A valve assembly has a fixed disk and a movable disk. The fixed valve disk has a flat face centered on an axis and is formed to one side of the axis with an axially throughgoing aperture. The normally rotary movable valve disk has a flat face bearing on the fixed-disk face and formed to one side of the axis with an axially throughgoing aperture. Thus on rotation of the rotary disk about the axis relative to the fixed disk the apertures are moved between an aligned position in which fluid can pass through the apertures and a nonaligned position in which each disk at least partially blocks the aperture of the other disk. One of the disks is formed at the respective face to the other side of the axis with an inwardly open recess positioned so as to be exposed by the aperture of the other disk in the nonaligned position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 6, 1998
    Assignee: Friedrich Grohe AG
    Inventors: Harald Korfgen, Werner Gnauert
  • Patent number: 5660203
    Abstract: A mixing faucet adapted to be mounted on a support body having an outside face, an inside face, and a hole extending between the faces has a faucet body adapted to sit on the outside face over the hole, a mixing valve in the body having hot- and cold-water inlet ports and a mixed-water outlet port, and a rigid tubular stem fixed to the body, extending through the hole, formed with a passage connected to one of the ports, having at the outer face an external screwthread, and having an outer end. At least one conduit extends through the hole and is connected to another of the ports. A nut is threaded onto the external screwthread of the stem and bears against the inside face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 26, 1997
    Assignee: Friedrich Grohe AG
    Inventors: Werner Gnauert, Stefan Steinhoff
  • Patent number: 5329967
    Abstract: A single-control mixing valve has an upwardly directed stem extending along a stem axis and movable relative to a normally stationary valve axis for regulation of flow through the valve. A lever assembly has a flange element having a socket fitted complimentarily over the stem and a plate having a periphery and extending transversely of the valve axis, a first screw secures the flange element to the stem with the socket fitted over same, and a lever having a cup-shaped base part formed with a downwardly open seat complimentarily fittable with the plate and an arm projecting laterally from the base part. The seat has a laterally open recess, and a second screw secures the plate in the seat with a portion of the seat periphery projecting laterally into the recess.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 19, 1994
    Assignee: Friedrich Grohe Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Werner Gnauert
  • Patent number: 5259650
    Abstract: A releasable fast-action coupling has a female part formed centered on an axis with an axially outwardly open bore having a smooth-walled inner portion of predetermined diameter and an outer portion of somewhat greater diameter and formed with an internal screwthread. A male tube part having an end engageable in the bore has an inner portion engageable in the inner bore portion and formed with a radially outwardly open groove, an outer portion engageable in the outer bore portion when the inner tube portion is in the inner bore portion and formed with a radially outwardly open groove, and a radially outwardly projecting ridge axially inwardly engaging the bore shoulder when the tube part is fitted in the bore. An elastic seal ring seated in the groove of the tube inner portion radially outwardly engages the bore inner portion when the tube part is fitted in the bore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1993
    Assignee: Friedrich Grohe Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Werner Gnauert, Detlef Hochstein
  • Patent number: 5213268
    Abstract: A faucet assembly has a housing formed with a vent passage extending between inlet and vent ports and a feed passage extending between an outlet port and a location in the vent passage between the inlet and vent ports. An inner valve body is displaceable in the vent passage between an inner end position sitting in an inner valve seat at the inlet port and blocking flow out of the vent passage through the inlet port and an outer end position sitting in an outer seat and blocking flow from the location toward the vent port. Similarly an outer valve body is displaceable in the vent passage between an outer end position sitting in a vent seat at the vent port and blocking flow out of the vent passage through the vent port and an inner end position permitting flow through the vent port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 1991
    Date of Patent: May 25, 1993
    Assignee: Friedrich Grohe Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Werner Gnauert, Frank-Thomas Luig
  • Patent number: 5213131
    Abstract: A diverter-type mixing valve has a body formed with a chamber having opposite ends, a mixed-water feed passage opening into the chamber between its ends, a faucet outlet port opening into the chamber at one end thereof, a vent port opening into the chamber at the other end thereof, a diverter port also opening into the chamber at the other end thereof, and a restriction in the chamber between the feed passage and the ports at the other end. Mixed water is supplied under pressure to the feed passage. A diverter valve in the chamber directs flow from the feed passage out the faucet port when pressure between the restriction and the other end is greater than pressure between the restriction and one end and directs flow from the feed passage to the diverter port when pressure between the restriction and one end is greater than pressure between the restriction and the other end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 25, 1993
    Assignee: Friedrich Grohe Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Werner Gnauert, Frank-Thomas Luig
  • Patent number: 5079781
    Abstract: A backflow preventer used in combination with a plumbing fixture has a pressurizable supply line, an output hose that can be equipped with a sprayer or shower, and a drain. It further has a valve casing having an inlet valve seat forming an inlet port connected to the supply line, a vent valve seat forming a vent port opening to the atmosphere, and an outlet port opening laterally between the seats and connected to the supply hose. A valve body is movable in the casing between a normal-flow position on the vent seat blocking the vent and permitting flow between the inlet and outlet ports and a backflow-preventing position on the inlet seat blocking the inlet port and permitting flow between the outlet and vent ports.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 1991
    Date of Patent: January 14, 1992
    Assignee: Friedrich Grohe Armaturenfabrik GmbH & Co.
    Inventors: Werner Gnauert, Hans-Jurgen Jensen
  • Patent number: 4921016
    Abstract: A water mixing valve has an axially shiftable bottom pressed by water pressure against the valve seat disk in a housing for the assembly which allows the assembly to be inserted as a unit into the valve. The openings in the bottom have constrictions against which tubular seals press to provide the axial force which prevents a gap from forming between the bottom and the valve seat disk.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 1989
    Date of Patent: May 1, 1990
    Assignee: Friedrich Grohe Armaturenfabrik GmbH & Co.
    Inventors: Werner Gnauert, Horst Titze