Patents by Inventor Willard A. Denham

Willard A. Denham 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: 6378790
    Abstract: A shower head comprising a hollow body connected at one end to a water source, and a face, plate connected at the other end of the hollow body. The face plate includes a plastic substrate having a plurality of circumferential openings and a central opening provided therein. The face plate further has a thermoplastic rubber layer formed on portions of the plastic substrate, including the walls of the plastic substrate circumferential openings. The thermoplastic rubber layer formed on the walls of the plastic substrate circumferential openings includes ridge portions extending away from and circumferentially around the plastic substrate circumferential openings. The shower head further comprises a plurality of plungers connected to a spider, wherein each plastic substrate circumferential opening receives a corresponding plunger and the ridge portions closely surround the plungers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2002
    Assignee: Speakman Company
    Inventors: Graham H. Paterson, Willard A. Denham
  • Patent number: 6082407
    Abstract: An automatic faucet assembly includes a chassis and a cover removably connected to the chassis, wherein both chassis and cover extend above the surface of a deck of a sink basin. The chassis has a mounting section for mounting the chassis to the surface of the deck. A deck plate is mounted between the mounting section and the surface to provide support and stability to the faucet assembly. The faucet assembly further comprises: a fluid conduit extending through the chassis and connecting a fluid discharge port with a fluid supply; an infrared sensor mounted on the chassis for sensing the presence of a user of the faucet assembly; an electrical connector wire extending from the infrared sensor, through an opening in the deck, to a solenoid valve that turns on the fluid supply when infrared sensor senses the presence of the user; and a battery-operated power supply for supplying power to the infrared sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2000
    Assignee: Speakman Company
    Inventors: Graham H. Paterson, Willard A. Denham
  • Patent number: 6029293
    Abstract: A sensor assembly for use with a sink having a faucet hydraulically connected to an electrically operated on/off mechanism for controlling the flow of water from the faucet into the sink. The sensor assembly includes a fiber optic proximity sensor mounted adjacent the sink. The fiber optic proximity sensor directs a visible or infrared ray toward a user's legs, via a transmit fiber, and detects the presence and absence of a user in the immediate vicinity of the sink, via a receive fiber. The senor assembly also includes an adjustable pipe clamp for connecting the sensor assembly to the drain tube of the sink, and a ball-and-socket flexible connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 29, 2000
    Assignee: Speakman Company
    Inventors: Graham H. Paterson, Willard A. Denham
  • Patent number: 5943713
    Abstract: A sensor assembly for use with a sink having a faucet hydraulically connected to an electrically operated on/off mechanism for controlling the flow of water from the faucet into the sink. The sensor assembly includes a short focus optical sensor mounted adjacent the sink which directs an infrared ray toward a user's legs for detecting the presence and absence of a user in the immediate vicinity of the sink. The senor assembly also includes an adjustable pipe clamp for connecting the sensor assembly to the drain tube of the sink, and a ball-and-socket flexible connector for interconnecting the optical sensor to the adjustable clamp. The optical sensor is electrically connected to the on/off mechanism, via a conduit provided in the ball-and-socket flexible connector, so as to turn on the faucet when the presence of the user is detected and turn off the faucet when the absence of a user is detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 31, 1999
    Assignee: Speakman Company
    Inventors: Graham H. Paterson, Willard A. Denham
  • Patent number: 5918811
    Abstract: A water discharge device in the form of a showerhead is disclosed having multiple features including a rotating shutoff valve incorporated in the body of the device. Variable discharge patterns are achieved by rotation of a handle on the side of the device. These patterns include a vibrating spray, a columnar spray pattern and cone shaped spray pattern. All patterns are achieved at low flow rates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 6, 1999
    Assignee: Speakman Company
    Inventors: Willard A. Denham, Christopher G. Miedzius
  • Patent number: 5893387
    Abstract: An electrically controlled faucet is disclosed which is operable by pushing a button or placing hands within the operating range of a sensor. The faucet is mounted to a sink deck or like surface using specially configured gasket means which insure against slippage of the faucet on the deck. The gasketing means provide special channels through which electrical operating wires can be securely passed from the faucet to operating means below the sink deck. These operating means include a solenoid valve that controls fluid flow through the faucet and a temperature control valve fluidly linked to the solenoid valve. Solenoid disabling pressure buildup in the line linking the temperature control valve and solenoid is bled through special bleed means in the temperature control valve inlets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 13, 1999
    Assignee: Speakman Company
    Inventors: Graham H. Paterson, Willard A. Denham
  • Patent number: 5771923
    Abstract: An electrically controlled faucet is disclosed which is operable by pushing a button or placing hands within the operating range of a sensor. The faucet is mounted to a sink deck or like surface using specially configured gasket means which insure against slippage of the faucet on the deck. The gasketing means provide special channels through which electrical operating wires can be securely passed from the faucet to operating means below the sink deck. These operating means include a solenoid valve that controls fluid flow through the faucet and a temperature control valve fluidly linked to the solenoid valve. Solenoid disabling pressure buildup in the line linking the temperature control valve and solenoid is bled through special bleed means in the temperature control valve inlets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 30, 1998
    Assignee: Speakman Company
    Inventors: Graham H. Paterson, Willard A. Denham
  • Patent number: 5535781
    Abstract: A flush mechanism is provided for a urinal, wherein the working components are provided within a two-part, sealed housing. A button is provided on the cap portion of the housing to flush the urinal. Depression of the flush button signals a battery-powered solenoid to open for a preset amount of time, allowing water into the mechanism from a supply line. The flow of water in each flush is further regulated by an adjustable flow-control valve. All working components can be accessed for replacement or maintenance with only a minimum of disassembly of the flush mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 16, 1996
    Assignee: Speakman Company
    Inventors: Graham H. Paterson, Willard A. Denham
  • Patent number: 4651770
    Abstract: A faucet valve of the ceramic disc type convertable from hot to cold water usage by a reassembling of the elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 1986
    Date of Patent: March 24, 1987
    Assignee: Speakman Company
    Inventors: Willard A. Denham, Carmen J. Lagarelli, Rodolfo J. Viegener
  • Patent number: D456493
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2002
    Assignee: The Speakman Company
    Inventors: Graham H. Paterson, Willard A. Denham
  • Patent number: D381396
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 22, 1997
    Assignee: Speakman Company
    Inventors: Graham H. Paterson, Willard A. Denham
  • Patent number: D431285
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2000
    Assignee: Speakman Company
    Inventors: Graham H. Paterson, Willard A. Denham, Emil Vulcu