Patents Examined by John J Norton
  • Patent number: 11793348
    Abstract: The invention concerns a process for preparing a tea in a drinking receptacle with a tea brewing machine, said machine being configured:—to brew tea from a capsule, said capsule comprising tea leaves, by introducing hot water in said capsule and dispensing brewed tea from the capsule in the drinking receptacle, and—to pump and heat water and dispense hot water to the capsule, wherein said process comprises a step of pasteurization of tea leaves inside the capsule before dispensing brewed tea from the capsule inside the drinking receptacle, wherein said pasteurization step comprises the sub-steps of: p1)—introducing hot water in the capsule until all the tea leaves are submerged by hot water inside the capsule and stopping water introduction before tea is dispensed therefrom in the drinking receptacle, then p2) keeping all the tea leaves submerged in hot water during a period of time, wherein the temperature of hot water introduced in sub-step p1) and the sum of the periods of time of sub-steps p1) and p2) bef
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: Societe des Produits Nestle S.A.
    Inventor: Matthieu Ozanne
  • Patent number: 11794270
    Abstract: A system for increasing joint strength and reducing embrittlement in a resistance spot weld of metal workpieces is disclosed. The system comprises a stackup of first and second metal workpieces, and an interface member disposed between the first and second metal workpieces. The interface member comprises a peripheral wall defining a hollow inner portion. The peripheral wall has a first open end extending to a second open end. The first open end is in contact with the first metal workpiece defining a first weld portion thereon. The second open end is in contact with the second metal workpiece defining a second weld portion thereon. The system further comprises a first electrode configured to contact the first metal workpiece to heat the peripheral wall at the first weld portion and join the first metal workpiece with the first open end of the peripheral wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Huaxin Li, MingFeng Shi, Jatinder Paul Singh, Dale A. Gerard
  • Patent number: 11794283
    Abstract: A unitary adapter for attaching a cutting nozzle to a laser cutting head includes an inner cylinder made of ceramic, a conductive shield sintered to the outer sidewall of the ceramic cylinder, a threaded conductive holder (for accepting the cutting nozzle) mounted in an opening at one end of the ceramic cylinder, and a coaxial connector (for connection to external measuring equipment) attached to an opposite end of the ceramic cylinder. A pair of wires is formed to be embedded within the ceramic material and provide separate electrical connections between the coaxial connector and: (1) the threaded holder, and (2) the conductive shield. The various components are sintered to the ceramic body to form permanent attachments, creating a unitary structure less susceptible to the high levels of acceleration and elevated temperatures associated with the laser cutting process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: II-VI Delaware, Inc.
    Inventors: Goran Bjelajac, Frank Schulze
  • Patent number: 11795685
    Abstract: A beverage maker and a method for manufacturing a cover for a beverage maker are provided. The beverage maker may include a base, a tank case spaced upward from the base and in which a tank configured to contain a fluid for making a beverage may be accommodated, a machine room defined between the base and the tank case, a cover configured to cover the tank case and the machine room at one side, a sound absorption pad attached to an inner surface of the cover, the sound absorption pad being disposed within the machine room or facing the machine room, and at least one sound absorption member compressed between the inner surface of the cover and an outer surface of the tank case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Shic Yoon, Taehoon Kim, Bonken Gu
  • Patent number: 11792897
    Abstract: A microwave oven and a method of operating the same is provided herein. The method includes the steps of: sensing that a door of the microwave is in an open state; interrupting a power input to a generator power supply unit comprising a first converter, a first energy reserve, a second energy reserve located downstream from the first energy reserve, and a second converter located between the first and second energy reserves; detecting an input voltage; and disabling the second converter if the detected input voltage is less than a threshold voltage that is proportional to the detected input voltage, wherein disabling the second converter triggers the second energy reserve to discharge, and wherein the time necessary to discharge the second energy reserve is free of influence from the first energy reserve and is independent of the detected input voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignees: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Alessandro Gigante, Giuseppe Tarantino, Matteo Rinaldi, David O. Wahlander
  • Patent number: 11786992
    Abstract: Provided is a method of manufacturing a molded product that can reduce problems on a reinforcing plate during pressing. In one aspect of the present disclosure, the method of manufacturing a molded product includes welding a first metal plate overlaid with a second metal plate to the second metal plate; and pressing the first metal plate and the second metal plate together. In the pressing, a base surface and a wall surface are formed on the first metal plate; the wall surface is disposed to cross the base surface. In the welding, a first welding is performed on a reinforcing portion of the second metal plate that is overlaid on an area of the first metal plate that is formed into the wall surface; and subsequently, a second welding is performed in a direction crossing a direction of the first welding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: FUTABA INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shota Muto, Keigo Yasuda, Koji Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 11792893
    Abstract: A material-removing heater device including: a first terminal portion defining a first electrode; a second terminal portion defining a second electrode; and a heating portion which connects the first terminal portion to the second terminal portion, the heating portion heatable by a flow of electrical current from the first terminal portion to the second terminal portion to remove a portion of material of a display device. The heating portion defines a lower end surface of the material-removing heater device at which the material-removing heater device contacts the material of the display device, the heating portion disposes the lower end surface to have a concave shape, and the heating portion which is heated deforms the lower end surface from the concave shape to have a planar shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: SAMSUNG DISPLAY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ohjune Kwon, Jungsik Nam, Seungwook Kwon, Hyojeong Kwon, Minsang Kim, Chanho Moon, Jeongseok Lee, Wonje Cho, Taekyoung Hwang
  • Patent number: 11786069
    Abstract: A beverage fluid dispensing head comprising a housing; and a fluid track, at least in part, arranged inside the housing. The fluid track comprises: an inlet channel arranged for receiving a beverage fluid, such as coffee, from a beverage apparatus; a collection chamber, fluidly connected to the inlet channel, for receiving the beverage fluid therefrom; and at least one outlet channel. The at least one outlet channel is fluidly connected to the collection chamber for receiving the beverage fluid from the collection chamber. A downstream part of the at least one outlet channel is formed as a tongue-shaped flow guide which is downwardly directed for, in use, guiding the received beverage fluid and submitting the received beverage fluid therefrom in the form of an integral fluid beam for dispensing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: Koninklijke Douwe Egberts B.V.
    Inventors: Rodin Enne Bruinsma, Joeke Noordhuis, Johannes Rogier De Vrind, Thijs Jelle Feenstra, Gerbrand Kristiaan De Graaff, Nicholas Andrew Hansen, Harrison Lloyd Woodall
  • Patent number: 11771205
    Abstract: An impregnatable pad applicator storage and warming device for storing at least a first impregnatable pad applicator for a cosmetic preparation, a sundry preparation, a topical medication, or topical pharmaceutical, and warming these contents thereof comprises: a housing including an upper housing element and a lower housing element, the housing elements attached by a connector; a storage unit configured to receive and store at least a first impregnatable pad applicator; a warming unit comprising a power supply, controller, and a first heating element; and a first warming chamber configured to receive a first impregnatable pad applicator and transfer heat from the first heating element to the contents of the warming chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: CaseMed Engineering, LLC
    Inventor: Casey Samangooie
  • Patent number: 11771117
    Abstract: A portable popcorn machine including a housing assembly, cooking assembly, electrical assembly, and popcorn assembly is disclosed. These assemblies in conjunction with one another provide a portable solution to cooking popcorn. Portable popcorn machine is a rectangular apparatus that includes an upper and lower portion. The upper portion includes a hinged door that gives a user access to the cooking cavity. Uncooked kernels are placed within this cavity and cooked via a heating system. The lower portion includes two vertically stacked drawers for the storage of uncooked kernels, popcorn serving bags, and condiments. Adjacent to the drawers in the lower portion, is a digital display for cooking time readout as well as a digital keypad for user cook time input. When the popcorn machine is ready to be moved the back panel of the machine includes two shoulder straps for easy carriage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Inventor: Theresa Mabry
  • Patent number: 11770876
    Abstract: A heater control system is disclosed. In an embodiment, the heater control system includes a fluid heater that includes a heating element. The heating element controlled by a switch. The heater control system also includes a controller that can operate the switch. The controller is configured to determine whether a temperature associated with the fluid heater is below a predetermined temperature threshold. The controller causes the switch to transition to an operational state when the temperature is below the predetermined temperature threshold allowing current to flow through the at least one heating element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignee: Phillips & Temro Industries Inc.
    Inventors: Roger J. Halberg, Steven W. Tonkin
  • Patent number: 11766746
    Abstract: A method for processing a transparent workpiece that includes directing a laser beam the transparent workpiece. The laser beam incident to the impingement surface has an oblong angular spectrum and portion of the laser beam directed into the transparent workpiece is a laser beam focal line and generates an induced absorption to produce a defect within the transparent workpiece. The laser beam focal line includes a wavelength ?, a spot size wo, a Rayleigh range ZR that is greater than F D ? ? ? ? w o 2 ? , where FD is a dimensionless divergence factor comprising a value of 10 or greater, and an internal beam angle of greater than 10° relative to a plane orthogonal to an impingement surface at an impingement location, such that the defect has a defect angle within the transparent workpiece of greater than 10° relative to a plane orthogonal to the impingement surface at the impingement location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignee: Corning Incorporated
    Inventors: Viacheslav Viacheslavovich Ivanov, Nikolay Alekseyevich Kaliteevskiy, Nickolaos Savidis, Petr Mikhaylovich Sterlingov, Ralf Joachim Terbrueggen, Craig John Mancusi Ungaro
  • Patent number: 11759890
    Abstract: A method of joining electrical connections together includes evaluating at least one weld joint between at least two substrates, determining a mismatch between the at least two substrates, and welding the at least two substrates together with a multi-step welding process. The multi-step welding process includes compensating for the mismatch between the at least two substrates by welding on both sides but not overlapping a joint line between the at least two substrate with a first welding step and increasing melt volume and penetration depth of a weld between the at least two substrates with a second welding step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Emily Ann Ryan, Elizabeth Therese Hetrick, Arnon Wexler
  • Patent number: 11759051
    Abstract: A smoking and basting lid including its own smoking unit that holds a smoke producing substance in a capsule of the lid which allows the lid to smoke a food covered by the lid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: TURBO TRUSSER LLC
    Inventors: Brian Halasinski, Kirk W. Hyust
  • Patent number: 11751710
    Abstract: A cooking system including a housing having a hollow interior, a heating element associated with said housing, a support body for supporting the food within said hollow interior such that the food is positionable on a support surface of said support body, and a guard located between at least a portion of the support surface and said heating element. The guard is permissive of convective airflow between said hollow interior and said heating element, and is generally impermeable to projectile matter generated during a cooking operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: SHARKNINJA OPERATING LLC
    Inventor: Joshua D. Anthony
  • Patent number: 11752569
    Abstract: In a method for severing a solid body, a defined contour is stored in a control unit configured to detect contour breaches and to avoid contour breaches. A high-energy beam is moved along a contour on a surface of the solid body, with the surface of the solid body facing the high-energy beam, to produce with the high-energy beam a cutting gap. The contour on the surface is compared with the defined contour stored in the control unit, and avoidance of the contour breach is automatically deactivated when the contour on the surface of the solid body matches the defined contour and a contour breach is detected. Otherwise, the contour is omitted. Advantageously, the high-energy beam travels along the contour with an averaged line movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignees: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft, Trumpf Werkzeugmaschinen SE + Co. KG
    Inventors: Aleksandra Schermann, Ralf Spielmann, Michael Krutzke
  • Patent number: 11747043
    Abstract: A low leakage current fluid heater and systems and methods thereof. The fluid heater has a configuration whereby a heating element is isolated from a fluid channel so as to leak into fluid passing through the channel an allowed amount of leakage current. Fluid passing through the fluid heater can be heated to a desired temperature. A controller can provide control signals to driver the fluid heater to the desired temperature and maintain the temperature at the desired temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: NxStage Medical, Inc.
    Inventor: Scott W. Newell
  • Patent number: 11744396
    Abstract: A system, method, and device for coffee grounds agitation is disclosed. The coffee grounds agitation device includes an agitating assembly extending into at least one brewing basket having a mesh. The agitating assembly includes a driver, and at least one agitator operatively coupled to the driver such that the driver impels the at least one agitator to move within the at least one brewing basket. The agitating assembly also includes a control circuit in electrical communication with the driver and configured to impel the at least one agitator with the driver. The agitating assembly is movable into, and out of, a brewing configuration. The brewing configuration includes the at least one agitator being substantially contained within the at least one brewing basket while also operatively engaged with the driver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: Caffeine Innovations, LLC
    Inventors: Matthew S. Brown, Samuel T. Fulton, Thomas G Pittman, Carl TenBrink
  • Patent number: 11745268
    Abstract: A three-dimensional (3D) metal object manufacturing apparatus is equipped with a wire detector to determine a position of a top surface of melted metal contained in a receptacle of a heated vessel in the apparatus from time to time. The solid metal wire being fed into the heated vessel is retracted and the length of the retracted wire is determined using a signal generated by the wire detector. The determined length of the wire is used to identify the position of the top level of the melted metal in the receptacle so the receptacle can be replenished if the level has fallen below a predetermined capacity for the receptacle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Steven R. Moore, Dinesh Krishna Kumar Jayabal
  • Patent number: 11737602
    Abstract: An automatic edible fluid injection device of food flying machines is disclosed, comprising a machine body which is mounted with a food flying pot and an edible fluid adding device, wherein the edible fluid adding device includes a material feeding arm and a material feeding cylinder connected to the material feeding arm, and the material feeding arm is fixedly installed with a tilted material discharge fixing device and configured with a plurality of peristaltic pumps, as well as the same amount of material containers and material tube as the peristaltic pumps, and an end of each of the material tubes extends into each of the material containers and then passes around the peristaltic pump so as to detour to the material discharge fixing device to be fixed therein, and the master controller controls the material feeding cylinder and each of the peristaltic pumps such that, after activation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: O-VIEW TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Chia-I Pan