Patents Examined by Brandon Harvey
  • Patent number: 10224124
    Abstract: In various embodiments, welding washers are utilized to establish electrical connections between electrically conductive wires and electrically conductive pins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: MINIPUMPS, LLC
    Inventors: Gregory Harbers, Ming Wei Hung, Fukang Jiang
  • Patent number: 10219326
    Abstract: A production method produces a cable core for an induction cable in a simple and simultaneously reliable manner. In the method, a raw conductor is fed continuously to a processing machine and separated in a recurring manner at specified length positions at a separating point so that there are two wire ends. The ends are then pulled apart from each other in the longitudinal direction of the cable and then connected again by a connector which has an insulating spacer which separates the wire ends from each other by a specified distance. The connector is preferably configured as an injection molded part, in particular using the online process. A plurality of such cable cores are connected to each other via a cabling process and then enclosed by a cable sleeve to produce the induction cable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: LEONI Kabel Holding GmbH
    Inventors: Jens Mosebach, Michael Dreiner
  • Patent number: 10207365
    Abstract: A laser manufacturing system capable of fabricating 3-D resolved 2-D patterns. The system includes a pulse laser source generating a laser beam; a reflectance mirror arranged in the propagation path of the laser to reflect the laser, the mirror being controllable to adjust an emergent angle of the laser; a deformable dispersion unit located in the laser receiving path from the reflectance mirror and having an array of micromirrors controllable in response to the adjusted emergent angle to form required laser patterns from the reflected laser, the laser patterns having spatially separated optical spectral components with multiple propagation angles; and one or more focusing optical components positioned in the propagation path of the separated optical spectral components produced by the deformable dispersion unit; the focusing components recombine the optical spectral components at fabrication targets with patterns defined by the deformable dispersion unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: THE CHINESE UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG
    Inventors: Shih-Chi Chen, Dapeng Zhang, Chenglin Gu, Jun Jiang, Yam Yeung
  • Patent number: 10206536
    Abstract: A tray or pan for preparing and serving pizza is disclosed. The tray or pan may have a first cooking region separated from a second cooking region by a partition. The tray or pan may be discoid in shape and comprise an annular partition defining a smaller discoid surface within the partition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Inventor: Arlene Saunders
  • Patent number: 10201245
    Abstract: In an aspect, the disclosure provides an automatic broiler. The automatic broiler may include a conveyorized cooking surface, a lower heat source below the cooking surface, and an upper heat source above the cooking surface. A cooking chamber may be defined by the cooking surface, the upper heat source, and a broiler housing. A venting through passage, or flue, may extend from the cooking chamber to an opening located above the upper heat source. An air flow restriction plate may be positioned above the venting through passage. The air flow restriction plate may have a perforated flat surface extending across the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignee: BURGER KING CORPORATION
    Inventor: Stefan Streckfus
  • Patent number: 10194772
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an assembly for the preparation of a heated beverage, comprising a case or cover or box (battery cover) (8) for mobile phone (60) or external device (6) comprising an internal seat for the corresponding insertion of at least a container (7), said container (7) comprising means (13) for the production of heat, wherein said container (7) comprises contacts (12) to electrically feed said means (13) when said container is inserted in the seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: IUNO, LLC
    Inventors: Gianclaudio Purgatorio, Alessandro Purgatorio, Vito Galasso
  • Patent number: 10194494
    Abstract: A microwave cooking device is provided. The microwave cooking device includes a shell defining an air inlet and an air outlet therein; a filter screen disposed at the air outlet; and a ventilation grid assembly. The ventilation grid assembly includes a body defining a through hole therein and disposed on an outer surface of the shell, the through hole being opposite to the filter screen; and a cover plate disposed on the body and moveable between an open position where the through hole is opened by the cover plate and a closed position where the through hole is closed by the cover plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignees: MIDEA GROUP CO., LTD., GUANGDONG MIDEA KITCHEN APPLIANCES MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Modam Joo
  • Patent number: 10189117
    Abstract: A embodiment of the invention includes providing a system and method in accordance with an embodiment of the invention including processing a target surface of interest to adjust interfacial material characteristics such as increasing surface area and/or chemical interaction properties via laser texturizing such as via increasing porosity. An embodiment can include an ultrashort pulse laser (USPL), wherein laser pulses are of a duration of femtoseconds, and adapting the USPL's laser energy output irradiance to athermally convert the target surface of interest's material into a plasma state for re-deposition on the target surface; applying the exemplary embodiment's laser beam energy in a raster pattern across the target surface, wherein the USPL is adapted to nano-structure or texturize the target surface to produce a region having a surface covered by texturized structures that can include nano structures increasing adhesion or chemical reaction properties of the target surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: The United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Steve Seghi, Jason Kalishek
  • Patent number: 10189104
    Abstract: An electric heating tool includes a handle device and a heating device rotatably mounted to the handle device. The handle device includes a body, a power connection member, and a sleeve. The power connection member is received in the body, and the sleeve mounted around the body. The heating device includes a seat and a heating member. The seat rotatably engaged with the sleeve. The heating member is mounted to the seat and is slidely and electrically connected to the power connection member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: Goodhouse Enterprise Co. Ltd.
    Inventor: Jung-Fa Tsai
  • Patent number: 10143210
    Abstract: A control system for a controlled atmosphere room (“CA room”) for storing perishable commodities, such as fruits and vegetables. The control system includes an enclosure that can be placed within the CA room to store a representative sample of the commodities in the CA room. The control system includes an atmosphere valve selectively operable to provide atmospheric communication between the enclosure and the CA room or to isolate the enclosure from the CA room. The control system includes a sampling control system for determining a dynamic control value based on the isolated representative sample. The dynamic control value may be determined by monitoring the respiratory quotient in the enclosure while it is isolated. Once determined, the control system can use the dynamic control value to adjust the atmosphere of the CA room, thereby using tests on a representative sample to control the atmosphere for the full volume of commodities in the CA room.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Inventor: James C. Schaefer
  • Patent number: 10145829
    Abstract: A laser processing system herein includes a laser oscillator, a laser optical path that guides laser beam from the laser oscillator to a workpiece, a purge gas supply line for supplying a purge gas into the laser optical path, oxygen sensor and an impure gas sensor which detects an impure gas influencing the propagation of the laser beam that are installed in the laser optical path, and an impure gas sensor output value correction unit. The impure gas sensor output value correction unit corrects an output value of the impure gas sensor based on an output value of the oxygen sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: FANUC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Takashi Izumi
  • Patent number: 10143091
    Abstract: Systems and apparatus are provided for solid-state oscillators and related resonant circuitry. An exemplary oscillator system includes an amplifier having an amplifier input and an amplifier output and resonant circuitry coupled between the amplifier output and the amplifier input. In exemplary embodiments, the resonant circuitry includes an annular resonance structure that is substantially symmetrical and includes a pair of arcuate inductive elements. In accordance with one or more embodiments, the resonant circuitry includes an additional inductive element that is capacitively coupled to the annular resonance structure via an air gap to improve the quality factor of the resonant circuitry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: NXP USA, INC.
    Inventor: Tiefeng Shi
  • Patent number: 10138531
    Abstract: An induction apparatus including a hardening control unit for controlling an induction hardening apparatus based on setup conditions data; a hardening monitoring unit that measures, as measurement data, the electric quantity in an electric circuit and that monitors an induction hardening status; and a data collecting unit that collects the data from various sensors in the induction hardening apparatus obtained when the induction hardening apparatus subjects the work to an induction hardening based on the setup conditions data outputted from the hardening control unit and that collects the measurement data from the hardening monitoring unit to store the collected data from the various sensors and the measurement data so that the collected data are associated to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: NETUREN CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Keisuke Ito, Yue Yang, Fumiaki Ikuta, Taichi Kitamura, Tetsuya Ono, Ken-ichi Hoshiba
  • Patent number: 10132534
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an electrothermal converter, which has at least one cold side and one warm side. Provision is made that all the components of the converter cope with the thermal loads appearing when the converter is operated and/or in particular maintains its mechanical stability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: GENTHERM GMBH
    Inventors: Goran Bajic, Syed Iqbal, Dmitri Axakov, Tim Normand
  • Patent number: 10130211
    Abstract: A machine for preparing liquid food products using capsules includes a dispensing assembly, a loading arrangement, an actuation system and a control system, including a processor, a non-volatile memory and an optical sensor device for acquiring characteristic information associated to an end wall of the body of a capsule. The actuation system is prearranged so that movements of the first part and the second part of the infusion chamber take place in a direction generally transverse to a direction of movement of the capsule determined by the insertion guide. The optical sensor device is mounted laterally with respect to the insertion guide. The loading arrangement has first retaining elements, which define an intermediate retention position of the capsule, in such a way that the control system is able to acquire the characteristic information by the optical sensor device when the capsule is in the intermediate position of retention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: LUIGI LAVAZZA S.P.A.
    Inventors: Luca Bugnano, Alberto Cabilli
  • Patent number: 10123650
    Abstract: A vacuum-type coffee maker includes an upper brewing unit and a lower carafe. The upper brewing unit includes a vessel and a collar disposed around a lower portion of the vessel. The collar includes a magnetic array defining an upper magnetic coupler. The lower carafe includes a vessel having a collar disposed around an upper portion of the vessel. The collar further includes a magnetic array to define a lower magnetic coupler. In assembly, the upper magnetic coupler is magnetically coupled to the lower magnetic coupler when the upper brewing unit is received on the lower carafe. A heating element is disposed in a base portion of the lower carafe. The lower carafe is removeably received on a support stand, and the heating element of the lower carafe is powered by the support stand in use during a brewing sequence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Meighan McLaughlin, Wee Ng
  • Patent number: 10104721
    Abstract: An induction cooking utensil is constructed such that it cooks food within its chamber while maintaining a relatively cool outer surface (e.g., preferably an outer surface that is cool enough to pick up with one's bare hands). The cooking utensil includes an inner wall that is made at least in part of an electrically conductive material and an outer wall that is made at least in part of the electrically non-conductive material. A reflective layer, a vacuum-sealed thermal insulator and/or a gas more resistant to conducting heat than air is disposed between the inner and outer walls to resist the transfer of heat from the inner wall to the outer wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: Bose Corporation
    Inventors: Raymond O. England, Thomas A. Froeschle, David W. Beverly
  • Patent number: 10094505
    Abstract: A heatable line pipe useful for diesel fuel systems and fuel cell systems is provided. The heatable line pipe comprises in order from an inside of the pipe: a) an electrically insulating inner layer; b) a first electrically conductive layer; c) at least two current leads wound spirally around the first electrically conductive layer; d) a second electrically conductive layer over the at least two current leads forming a surface; and e) an outer cladding of an electrically insulating plastic material. The thickness of the second electrically conductive layer is 0.1 to 1.5 mm, and the at least two current leads form wave peaks in the surface of the second electrically conductive layer. The line pipe has the advantage that a fall in heating performance over the lifetime is effectively prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignees: EVONIK DEGUSSA GmbH, VOSS AUTOMOTIVE GmbH
    Inventors: Rainer Goering, Michael Boeer, Juergen Franosch, Joerg Westmeier, Otfried Schwarzkopf, Daniel De Beer
  • Patent number: 10080461
    Abstract: A machine for preparing liquid food products using capsules includes a dispensing assembly having a first part and a second part designed to define an infusion chamber between them, a loading arrangement for the insertion of the capsule, an actuation system, a control system, and an arrangement for heating the fluid. A processor of the control system is prearranged for controlling at least the heating arrangement and the feeding arrangement. Encoded instructions contained in a memory of the control system has sets of brewing information that are differentiated from each other according to a type of capsule. The processor is prearranged for comparing an image acquired by an optical sensor device with reference images of the capsules that are encoded in the memory and for associating a set of brewing information to a corresponding type of capsule to select an operation mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2018
    Assignee: LUIGI LAVAZZA S.P.A.
    Inventors: Luca Bugnano, Alberto Cabilli
  • Patent number: 10079394
    Abstract: A method of welding comprising contacting a first electrode to a porous body flow path, contacting a second electrode to a plate material, pressing the porous body flow path and the plate material by the first and second electrodes in a thickness direction of the plate material, and spot welding the porous body flow path and the plate material, wherein: a deformation of the plate material in a direction of the second electrode pressing the plate material is smaller than a deformation of the porous body flow path in a direction of the first electrode pressing the porous body flow path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2018
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroki Okabe, Makoto Aoyama, Hiroshi Adachi, Takashi Kondo