Patents Represented by Attorney L. M. Lillehaugen
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Patent number: 6374709Abstract: An accessory (10) for a wrench socket (12) is disclosed including a generally cylindrical magnet (32) secured to a generally cylindrical, nonmagnetic, disk (26). Accessory (10) is held within the socket (12) by snugly fitting the disk (26) formed of compressible material within the well (14) and/or by the magnetic attraction of the magnet (32) with the socket (12). The accessory (10) is removably insertable into the socket (12) of any design and model and without need for modification of the socket (12) and captures a spark plug (100) slideably received in the well (14) of the socket (12) to magnetically hold the spark plug (100) captive in the well (14) as the socket (12) is moved to the fastening location while not magnetizing the socket (12) or the spark plug (100) sufficiently to be detrimentally magnetically attracted to metal adjacent to the fastening location.Type: GrantFiled: November 1, 2000Date of Patent: April 23, 2002Assignee: Vasichek Enterprises LLCInventors: Richard A. Vasichek, Robert J. Vasichek, Sedat Evran
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Patent number: 4265922Abstract: An elongated treating chamber in the form of a cylindrical metallic barrel is rotatable about an inclined longitudinal axis. The food material to be processed is introduced into the inlet or higher end of the barrel through the agency of a rotary valve and is removed or discharged through a nozzle at the other or lower end. In one embodiment two solenoid-type induction coils encircle longitudinal portions of the barrel, being energized with alternating current power so as to inductively heat the barrel. The heat is induced throughout the thickness of the wall of the barrel and is then transmitted into the food material as the food material passes therethrough. The temperature of the barrel's outer surface is sensed at two longitudinally spaced locations as the barrel rotates and each of the two induction coils is individually controlled in accordance with the temperature that is desired.Type: GrantFiled: January 31, 1979Date of Patent: May 5, 1981Assignee: General Mills, Inc.Inventors: Takuzo Tsuchiya, Jin-Liou Fang, Glen Rasmussen
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Patent number: 4216618Abstract: A selected number of troughs containing small plants therein are placed in a parallel relation with each other at one end of a soilless growth chamber. Tubular screw sections having helical grooves therein are employed for advancing the troughs from the loading end of the chamber to the unloading end thereof, the helical or screw pitch being considerably greater at the unloading or harvesting end in order to accommodate for the increased size of the plants as they reach maturity. In other words, the pitch of the helix is correlated with the rate at which the plants mature. Tubular screw sections having different pitches can be substituted when the growth rate differs from one species to another.Type: GrantFiled: August 2, 1978Date of Patent: August 12, 1980Assignee: General Mills, Inc.Inventors: John T. Haub, James G. Krassas, Stanley C. Rustad, Noel Davis
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Patent number: 4186517Abstract: Actuating linkage contained within each arm and hand of the doll causes the three middle fingers of either hand to be flexed from an extended relation to a clenched condition when the arm for that particular hand is raised. When the arm is lowered, then the middle fingers are automatically unclenched. The clenching action is independent of whatever degree of wrist rotation may exist.Type: GrantFiled: February 7, 1978Date of Patent: February 5, 1980Assignee: CPG Products Corp.Inventors: James O. Kuhn, James J. Wright, Howard N. Bollinger
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Patent number: 4167910Abstract: Supporting the forward end of a mobile frame is a rotatable drum having a number of sawtooth-shaped or beveled ribs extending circumferentially around the drum. Owing to the sawtooth configuration of the circumferential ribs, each rib opens a furrow having a sloping side and a vertical side. A plant supply tape is employed, one for each furrow to be formed, which has a series of resilient blocks secured to a nonstretchable flexible belt, the root ends of the plants to be transplanted being releasably held in the slits between adjacent blocks. A roller mechanism changes the direction of tape travel directly over the sloping side of the furrow being supplied with plants from the tape so that each slit is opened to deposit a plant on the sloping side of the furrow. A scraper blade, one for each furrow, extends downwardly from the frame to backfill the furrow immediately after several plants have been dropped therein.Type: GrantFiled: August 22, 1977Date of Patent: September 18, 1979Assignee: General Mills, Inc.Inventor: Paul R. Pretzer
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Patent number: 4156486Abstract: The food material to be processed is alternately transferred from two sources to an elongated treating chamber. The apparatus for carrying out the method includes rotary valve means employing two pocket areas, each pocket area including a plurality of pockets with each pair of diametrically located pockets having an interconnecting passage. The pockets of one area are angularly displaced or out-of-phase with the pockets of the other area. Owing to the out-of-phase relationship, the food material to be processed is alternately received by one pocket of one area, then by the next pocket of the other area and so on through each revolution of the valve means in which the pockets are contained, the material being discharged in the same out-of-phase relationship through the interconnecting passages and diametrically disposed pockets into the inlet of a pressurized elongated treating chamber.Type: GrantFiled: April 6, 1977Date of Patent: May 29, 1979Assignee: General Mills, Inc.Inventors: Kenneth J. Valentas, Palmer K. Strommer, Takuzo Tsuchiya
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Patent number: 4109824Abstract: Individual seeds are electrostatically diverted from a continuously flowing stream of seeds. Each diverted seed is pneumatically conveyed to a seed distributor which sequentially directs each seed it receives to an appropriate delivery tube leading downwardly to a series of laterally spaced dispensers beneath which is positioned a row of fibrous planting blocks. Provision is made for releasing the conveying air just above each dispenser so that for all intents and purposes the seed is gravitationally deposited on its particular planting block. The various planting blocks are arranged in rows on a tray which in turn is carried on a movable transport table. Provision is made for advancing the table row-by-row beneath the various seed dispensers so that all of the blocks in the tray receive seeds.Type: GrantFiled: September 1, 1976Date of Patent: August 29, 1978Assignee: General Mills, Inc.Inventor: Noel B. Davis
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Patent number: 4096791Abstract: Apparatus for preparing a chip type snack is disclosed. The apparatus includes a section for preparing and sheeting dough, a section for cutting the dough sheet into a continuous ribbon of wide and narrow portions, a section for frying the ribbon in deep fat, and a section for severing the ribbon into individual chips.Type: GrantFiled: May 21, 1975Date of Patent: June 27, 1978Assignee: General Mills, Inc.Inventors: Verne E. Weiss, Glenn M. Campbell, Gerald L. Wilson
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Patent number: 4082176Abstract: Apparatus is provided for handling a column of nested, uniformly shaped snack chips. The apparatus comprises a pair of parallel, spaced elongated conveying surfaces which support an imbricated column of chips and a stationary support bar positioned therebetween. A gate engages the chips causing them to rotate backwardly transferring the support of the chips from the conveying surfaces to the bar thereby eliminating frictional drag on the articles. A second gate is provided to segregate the column into two portions.Type: GrantFiled: January 19, 1976Date of Patent: April 4, 1978Assignee: General Mills, Inc.Inventor: Dennis Pommer
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Patent number: 4048786Abstract: Apparatus is provided which moves a column of nested, uniformly shaped chips into a reservoir thereby forming a loop array. The loop array of snack chips is then transferring from the reservoir into a package.Type: GrantFiled: September 25, 1975Date of Patent: September 20, 1977Assignee: General Mills, Inc.Inventors: William A. Brastad, Nelson J. Beall
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Patent number: 4032664Abstract: A chip-type snack is disclosed. A dough is prepared and sheeted. An elongated shaped ribbon of connected dough pieces is cut from the dough sheet. The ribbon is passed through a deep fat fryer and then severed into individual chips.Type: GrantFiled: January 19, 1976Date of Patent: June 28, 1977Assignee: General Mills, Inc.Inventors: Verne E. Weiss, Glenn M. Campbell, Gerald L. Wilson
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Patent number: 4028847Abstract: An installation for continuously growing plants which includes one or more growth chambers wherein alternate periods of lightness and darkness are provided, and the environmental conditions are controlled. The plants are individually supported, and transported through the growth chambers in such a manner as to require a minimum amount of handling. A diverging track system is provided in one of the growth chambers for handling the plants in a prescribed manner and guiding them through the chamber. As the plants are moved through such chamber, increased space is automatically provided for plant growth. The installation is well suited for growing plants hydroponically.Type: GrantFiled: February 19, 1976Date of Patent: June 14, 1977Assignee: General Mills, Inc.Inventors: Noel Davis, William M. Dreier, Stanley C. Rustad
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Patent number: 4026417Abstract: An anti-theft display stand for holding merchandise which is mounted on small cards. The display stand includes a number of tiered platforms which are rotatably mounted on a vertical shaft, and a number of tiered guard plates which are paired with the platforms so that a plate is superposed over each platform. The guard plates are non-rotatable relative to the shaft and platforms. The cards are mounted on the platforms so that their removal is restricted.Type: GrantFiled: June 26, 1975Date of Patent: May 31, 1977Assignee: Monet Jewelers, Inc.Inventors: Edward H. Streim, Thomas Strasser
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Patent number: 4006555Abstract: A doll having a movable head, and articulated appendages movably attached to the doll's torso. An actuator and a gear transmission system are operatively connected to one of the doll's arms, for imparting incremental movement to the arm. The transmission can be placed in gear, or taken out of gear, by manually rotating the doll's head. By placing the transmission in gear and manipulating the actuator, the transmission is activated so that the doll's arm, and if desired, a light load placed in the doll's hand, can be slowly raised to an elevated position. In addition, simulated battery pack inserts are positioned in one arm, a flexible skin-like covering stretchably fits over such arm, and a wide-angle lens is positioned in the doll's head.Type: GrantFiled: June 11, 1975Date of Patent: February 8, 1977Assignee: General Mills Fun Group, Inc.Inventors: Donald E. England, George P. Giordano, Garland C. Thompson, James J. Wright
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Patent number: D258747Type: GrantFiled: June 4, 1979Date of Patent: March 31, 1981Assignee: CPG Products Corp.Inventors: William K. Burtoft, Thomas J. Troy
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Patent number: D282942Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 1983Date of Patent: March 11, 1986Assignee: CPG Products Corp.Inventor: Mark E. Hartelius