Patent Portfolio
5 U.S. Patents — Priority 2014
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.
5 U.S. Patents
June 4, 2014
63 Claims
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.
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 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. Pricing is available upon inquiry. NDA available upon request.
Full Patent Acquisition
Complete transfer of all rights, title, and interest in US 9,927,479 B2. Buyer receives full ownership and control of the patent, including all prosecution history, related applications, and the right to enforce.
- Full ownership of the granted patent
- 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
Exclusive or Non-Exclusive License
License the patent 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
Pricing available upon inquiry. All serious inquiries considered. Confidentiality agreement available upon request. The seller is represented and all transactions will be documented through appropriate legal channels.
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