The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Apr. 12, 2005
Filed:
Apr. 09, 2003
Carl F. Mueller, Sheboygan, WI (US);
Jeffrey F. Tempas, Oostburg, WI (US);
Peter W. Swart, Oostburg, WI (US);
Carter J. Thomas, Cedarburg, WI (US);
Ronald A. Bauer, Belgium, WI (US);
Carl F. Mueller, Sheboygan, WI (US);
Jeffrey F. Tempas, Oostburg, WI (US);
Peter W. Swart, Oostburg, WI (US);
Carter J. Thomas, Cedarburg, WI (US);
Ronald A. Bauer, Belgium, WI (US);
Kohler Co., Kohler, WI (US);
Abstract
An apparatus is provided to control a plumbing fixture, such as a whirlpool, that has electrically operated components. The apparatus has a dial that is moveable by the user into a plurality of positions to select a function of the plumbing fixture to be controlled. A unique sensor arrangement detects motion and the direction of the motion and provides a signal to a controller that changes the valve of a pointer that designates which function is presently selected. The user then presses a keypad to indicate whether the selected function is to be activated or deactivated and to control the intensity of the selected function. The signals from the keypad also are applied to the controller.