Patent Portfolio For Sale or License5 Granted & Active Patents

Intelligent Sump & Ejector Pump Monitor Patent Family

A five-patent U.S. portfolio covering an amperage-based pump monitoring system that predicts pump failure before it happens and delivers real-time alerts to remote devices — protecting homes and buildings from costly flood damage. Priority date: June 4, 2014.

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Total Patents: 5 U.S. Patents
Priority Date: June 4, 2014
Total Claims: 63 Claims
Status: All Active

Patent Portfolio

A 5-Patent Family — 10+ Years of Continuous Protection

All five patents share a common priority date of June 4, 2014 and form a single, unbroken continuation chain. Together they provide layered, overlapping coverage that is difficult to design around.

What This Patent Adds

The foundational patent covering both "smart" (onboard computation) and "dumb" (remote computation) monitor configurations. Covers portable housing, amperage detector, onboard computer, and wireless transmitter architecture. Includes on/off switch, input device for user-configurable amperage levels, and LED indicator with meter.

On/off switch for continuous pump power flow
Input device for user-configurable normal amperage levels
LED meter display for continuous amperage readout
Both smart and dumb operational configurations
Initiation mode for automatic pump learning

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What This Patent Adds

Continuation strengthening the core amperage-monitoring claims. Covers both starting and running amperage deviation detection, remote failure warning system integration, and the full wireless alert chain from monitor to user access device.

25 claims providing broad coverage of the core system
Explicit starting vs. operating amperage distinction
Remote pump failure warning system as independent claim element
Third-party data provider integration (weather, ground water, flood warnings)
Multi-pump, multi-location enterprise monitoring

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What This Patent Adds

Adds explicit claims covering internet-based two-way signal transmission and a multi-color LED indicator that visually signals pump status. Introduces initiation mode claims and broader "AC electric current characteristic" language to cover voltage and wattage monitoring in addition to amperage.

Internet-based two-way wireless transmission (send and receive)
Multi-color LED indicator with distinct failure color
Broader "AC electric current characteristic" scope (amperage, voltage, wattage)
Onboard computer initiation mode claim
18 independent and dependent claims

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What This Patent Adds

A tightly focused continuation with 7 streamlined claims centered on the electronic communication network transmission model and the multi-color LED indicator. Provides a clean, defensible claim set targeting current market implementations of connected pump monitoring.

Electronic communication network (broader than internet alone)
Two-way transmitter with receive capability as standalone claim
Smart phone app integration as dependent claim
Remote signal receiving device as primary computation node
Clean 7-claim structure for enforcement clarity

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What This Patent Adds

The newest and broadest patent in the family. Claims a complete system encompassing the sump pump, monitor, and remote signal receiving device. Introduces "remote determination" claims where the failure analysis occurs in the cloud — covering modern IoT architectures where the monitor is a sensor node and the intelligence lives server-side.

System-level claims covering pump + monitor + remote device as one unit
Remote determination of failure from cloud-side intelligence
Both starting AND operating current characteristic monitoring in a single claim
Anticipates modern cloud-IoT architectures explicitly
20 claims across three independent claim families

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Priority date: June 4, 2014. All five patents claim priority to the same original application. Any acquirer or licensee receives protection that predates virtually all commercially available connected predictive pump monitoring products on the market today.

Core Technology

What the Technology Covers

The portfolio's core invention — exemplified by US 9,927,479 B2 — covers a comprehensive system for monitoring sump and ejector pumps via amperage analysis, predicting failure before water damage occurs and alerting users remotely. All five patents share and extend this foundational technology.

Official Abstract

“A sump, ejector, or other pump monitor configured to monitor the amperage of electric current power supplied through the pump monitor to a pump and communicate one or more signals regarding the amperage or variations in amperage to a remote signal receiving device which indicate a predicted failure or actual failure of the pump. In various embodiments, the pump monitor operates with a remote pump failure warning system. The remote signal receiving device or remote pump failure warning system provides suitable warnings to one or more user access devices.”

Filing Information

Patent Number: US 9,927,479 B2
Issue Date: March 27, 2018
Filing Date: May 17, 2017
Parent Application: 14/295,685 (filed Jun. 4, 2014)
Assignee: RF Group LLC, Fort Lauderdale, FL
Inventor: Michael B. Rothbart
Total Claims: 25 (including independent and dependent)
Drawing Sheets: 2

Key Claim Coverage

Portable housing with integrated electric plug receptacle and power cord — installs in minutes without removing the existing pump
Onboard amperage detector monitors electric current supplied through the monitor to the pump in real time
Onboard computer determines variations and deviations from normal amperage indicating impending or actual pump failure
Wireless transmitter sends one or more warning signals to a remote signal receiving device or failure warning system
Works with virtually any AC-powered sump, ejector, or similar pump — no custom hardware required
Remote pump failure warning system receives signals and distributes alerts to one or more user access devices (smartphones, tablets, computers)
Detects: power failure, jammed/blocked pump, dry running, stuck float, inadequate pumping rate, and switch failure
Predicts failure before it occurs — not just after water is already rising

Core Technical Features

Plug-and-Play Installation

No pump removal required. Unplug the pump from the wall, plug it into the monitor, plug the monitor into the wall — done.

Amperage-Based Intelligence

Continuously monitors current draw and detects deviations that signal failure — far earlier than water sensors.

Wireless Remote Monitoring

Transmits status and alerts over a computer network to a cloud-connected failure warning system.

Multi-Device Alerting

Push warnings to smartphones, tablets, and computers — ensuring the right people are notified immediately.

Market Opportunity

A Large, Growing, and Underserved Market

Sump pump failure is the leading cause of basement flooding. This patent addresses a real, expensive, and widespread problem with patented technology that predicts — not just reacts to — pump failure.

15M+

U.S. homes with sump pumps

Addressable product market

$4.5B

Water damage claims annually

Avg. claim: $11,000+

98%

Of basement floods caused by sump pump failure

This patent directly addresses the root cause

$2.1B

Smart home water monitoring market (2026)

CAGR of 11.4%

Ideal Acquirer & Licensee Profiles

Smart Home Device Manufacturers

OEM integration into new pump product lines or standalone retrofit monitoring devices for the residential market.

Commercial & Property Management

Multi-unit monitoring systems for apartment complexes, office buildings, and managed properties with centralized alerts.

IoT / Connected Home Platforms

Platform integration for companies like Google Home, Amazon Alexa, or dedicated water management ecosystems.

Pump Manufacturers

Embed the monitoring technology into next-generation pump product lines as a premium, differentiated feature.

Insurance & Risk Management

Preventive monitoring solutions sold through or co-branded with property insurers to reduce water damage claims.

Private Equity / IP Holding Companies

Strategic acquisition for licensing revenue generation across the sump pump, smart home, and IoT industries.

Predictive, Not Reactive

Unlike water-level sensors that detect flooding after it starts, this patent covers technology that identifies declining pump performance through amperage analysis — giving homeowners and building managers time to act before any flood event occurs. This is the fundamental differentiator over all competing approaches.

Deal Structure

Sale or License — Your Choice

The patent owner is open to both an outright sale and licensing arrangements.

Outright Sale

Full Patent Acquisition

Complete transfer of all rights, title, and interest in all 5 patents. Buyer receives full ownership and control of the patents, including all prosecution history, related applications, and the right to enforce.

Full ownership of the granted patents
Transfer of all enforcement rights
Access to all prosecution history and related documentation
Clean chain of title — no encumbrances
Optional: seller cooperation on any future litigation

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Licensing

Exclusive or Non-Exclusive License

License the patents to manufacture, sell, or incorporate the patented technology into your products. Exclusive licensing available for specific fields of use, geographies, or market segments.

Exclusive or non-exclusive terms available
Field-of-use and geographic restrictions negotiable
Royalty structures: lump sum, per-unit, or revenue share
Sublicensing rights negotiable
Seller retains title; licensee gains commercial rights

Discuss Licensing Options

All serious inquiries considered. The seller is represented and all transactions will be documented through appropriate legal channels.

Get In Touch

Inquire About These Patents

Submit your inquiry below or contact Jeffrey Rothbart directly at jr@patentbroker.ai or 312-307-1429 to receive full patent documentation, pricing information, and to begin due diligence. All communications are kept strictly confidential.