USO0RE423 86E
(19) United States (12) Reissued Patent
(10) Patent Number: US RE42,386 E (45) Date of Reissued Patent: May 24, 2011
Wanie (54)
WATER SOFTENER MONITORING SYSTEM
5,239,205 A 5,239,285 A 5,264,831 A *
(76) Inventor: Andrew J. Wanie, Jackson, W1 (U S)
5,297,428 A 5,340,954 A
(21) Appl.No.: 12/775,076
5,363,087 A *
5,512,834 A
(22) Filed:
May 6, 2010
5,665,895 A *
5,818,128 A
Related US. Patent Documents
Reissue of:
(64) Patent No.: Issued: Appl. No.:
7,369,055 May 6, 2008 11/388,448
Filed:
Mar. 24, 2006
?led on Sep. 30, 2003, noW Pat. No. 7,030,768.
Int. Cl. G08B 21/00 G01F 23/26 H01H 35/00 (52) US. Cl. 340/618;
(2006.01) (2006.01) (2006.01) 340/612; 73/304 C; 200/61.21
398/115*117,140,151; 200/61.2, 61.21; 340/607, 608, 612, 617, 618, 619, 621; 73/290 R, 73/304 C, 293
See application ?le for complete search history. References Cited U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS 3,890,486 A * 4,307,606 A *
4,332,678 A 4,774,838 A *
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2/2001 Philipp 8/2001 9/2001 10/2001 9/2002 3/2003
Issachar ...................... .. 340/624
Venable et al. Lawrence Suchecki, Jr. et a1. Johannsen et al. Huss et a1. .................... .. 73/295
Johnson ........................ .. 73/295
Rickson et al. ............... .. 73/295
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5,147,531 A
9/1992 Dougal
Primary Examiner * Jennifer Mehmood
(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm * Boyle Fredrickson, SC.
(57)
ABSTRACT
A system for monitoring the level or amount of a material Within a container is provided. The system includes a detec tion mechanism that can be a direct detection mechanism or
any of a number of indirect detection mechanisms. When the detection mechanism senses an upper level of the substance in the container that is beloW a predetermined loWer limit for the substance, the mechanism operates an alarm mechanism to emit an audible and/ or visible alarm to alert an individual to
.. 219/523
6/1982 Spiegl 10/1988
11/1994
(Continued)
Field of Classi?cation Search ........ .. 398/106*108,
(56)
Pfeiffer ....................... .. 340/621
3/1994 Carr et a1. 8/1994 Hoffman et al.
6,023,159 A
6,536,276 B2 *
(51)
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6,067,927 A * 6,107,924 A *
6,281,802 6,287,458 6,309,551 6,456,202
US. Applications: (63) Continuation-in-part of application No. 10/675,641,
8/1993 Hoffman et al. 8/1993 Rak
the loW level of the sub stance Within the container. The alarm mechanism can be integrally formed With the detection mechanism, or can be spaced from the detection mechanism in order to provide a more accessible point for the viewing or
hearing of the alarm emitted by the alarm mechanism.
17 Claims, 30 Drawing Sheets
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US RE42,386 E Page 2 US. PATENT DOCUMENTS 6,964,278 6,983,214 7,127,943 7,284,427
B2 B2 B1 B2
* * * *
11/2005
Tschanz ...................... ..
1/2006 Hiraizumi et 31 10/2006
Grif?ths et a1.
10/ 2007
Calabrese
137/392
. 702/100
. . 73/304 C
................. ..
73/304 R
2001/0054966 2002/0149489 2002/0170354 2007/0207053
A1 12/2001 Johannsen et a1. A1 10/2002 Bearak A1* 11/2002 Monsrud et a1. .............. .. A1* 9/2007 Doyle et a1. .................. ..
* cited by examiner
73/305
422/14
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