Patents Examined by Kathryn S. O'Malley
  • Patent number: 6886270
    Abstract: A small, portable fan having a spring-biased clamp at the base thereof. The clamp is adapted to mount to almost any surface on a conventional golf cart. The fan is provided with power cords having alligator clips at the ends thereof. The power cords can readily be connected to the battery of the golf cart, which battery is normally positioned under the seat of the cart. The fan can be mounted to and dismounted from the golf cart with ease.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2005
    Inventor: Diane L. Gilmer
  • Patent number: 6880264
    Abstract: This invention relates to a vacuum processing apparatus having vacuum processing chambers the insides of which must be dry cleaned, and to a method of operating such an apparatus. When the vacuum processing chambers are dry-cleaned, dummy substrates are transferred into the vacuum processing chamber by substrates conveyor means from dummy substrate storage means which is disposed in the air atmosphere together with storage means for storing substrates to be processed, and the inside of the vacuum processing chamber is dry-cleaned by generating a plasma. The dummy substrate is returned to the dummy substrate storage means after dry cleaning is completed. Accordingly, any specific mechanism for only the cleaning purpose is not necessary and the construction of the apparatus can be made simple.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2005
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shigekazu Kato, Kouji Nishihata, Tsunehiko Tsubone, Atsushi Itou
  • Patent number: 6877249
    Abstract: A method of drying a lactulose solution comprises introducing the solution into a vacuum chamber at elevated temperature and at reduced pressure so that the solution forms a foam, drying the foam under reduced pressure, and milling or grinding or breaking the dried foam into powder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2005
    Assignee: Relax Limited
    Inventors: Alan Kenneth Greenwood, Anthony Christopher Allen, Jaap Van Dijk
  • Patent number: 6874248
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a drying machine. The drying machine comprises supporting members mounted on a base, and motor fixing brackets each including an insert part, through which a motor is inserted, and first and second supporting legs extending downwardly from the opposite ends of the insert part, the first and second supporting legs being engaged with the supporting members, whereby any vibration of the motor is prevented and attachment/detachment of the motor is easy and convenient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2005
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Kyung Seop Hong, Young Hwan Park, Mu Yong Choi, Dae Yun Park
  • Patent number: 6871418
    Abstract: This invention resides in an apparatus and related method for rapidly curing thin film sol-gel coatings, particularly such coatings adhered to low melting temperature plastic substrates, whether rigid or flexible, without deforming the substrate. The curing is achieved using IR heating lamps and dry or humid hot gas flow. This curing densities the sol-gel coating and provides desired optical and mechanical properties. The use of IR lamps and hot-gas nozzles, either singularly or in combination, produces a rapid cure by effectively heating the thin film coating layer. In this manner, a sufficiently high temperature can be attained in the film layer, to densify the sol-gel coating, but for a sufficiently short time duration to avoid melting or otherwise deforming the substrate. The sol-gel coatings can be cured two to three orders of magnitude faster than with conventional oven curing, leading to significant cost reductions and manufacturing efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2005
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventors: Satyabrata Raychaudhuri, Trevor Merritt, Zhibang Jim Duan
  • Patent number: 6868622
    Abstract: This invention provides a conveyor and tunnel oven, where the conveyor is continuous, the tunnel oven is gas fired, having its ignited and heated gases passed through a tubular system, being attracted by one or more blowers, to generate by conduction infrared energy to furnish curing to products passing along the continuous conveyor. A control system is provided for controlling the operating parameters such as conveyor speed, regulating emitted gas, the velocity generated by the blowers, and the capacity of the BTUs created, during operations of the oven.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2005
    Inventor: James Stephen Dillender
  • Patent number: 6848196
    Abstract: A method of monitoring a freeze-drying process in an apparatus (1) holding one or more samples (9) of a material to be freeze dried, comprises the steps of directing input radiation onto the sample (9), the input radiation forming output radiation by interaction with the sample (9); collecting at least part of the output radiation and leading the thus collected radiation to a radiation analyzer (11); and analyzing the collected radiation spectroscopically in the radiation analyzer (11) to obtain a measurement value of one or more freeze-drying parameters of the sample (9), such as the temperature of the sample (9) and/or the content of a solvent in the sample (9) and/or the structure of the sample (9).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2005
    Assignee: AstraZeneca AB
    Inventor: Mikael Johan Alvin Brülls
  • Patent number: 6845570
    Abstract: A pavement dryer has a pick-up assembly operating with a gas processing system. The pick-up assembly has an assembly frame mounted on wheels and connected to the gas processing system, and a nozzle that is maintained in close proximity to a paved surface. The gas processing system has a system frame mounted on wheels, a compressor, and a collection chamber. The compressor draws air from the nozzle through the collection chamber. Water entrained in the air flow is removed from the paved surface and settles in the collection chamber. The water may be separated by gas centrifuges. The nozzle has a nozzle lip positioned to provide a controlled gap with the paved surface. The size of the gap can preferably be adjusted, preferably by a movable damper. The nozzle has a trailing edge seal that forcibly engages the paved surface, and preferably also has end seals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2005
    Assignee: WCCP, LLC
    Inventor: Robert Paterson
  • Patent number: 6829842
    Abstract: A preferred embodiment of the invention includes a vessel having a first end an a second end. A first cap is releasably mounted on the first end. A second cap is releasably mounted on the second end. The vessel is configured to prevent crushing and promote ventilating thereof. The first cap and/or second cap may have an aperture for ventilating the vessel. A fan is fixed relative to, for ventilating, the vessel. The fan is mounted on an end cap. The fan energizable with a battery. A switch is provided for selectably supplying energy to the fan. If a fan is provided, a barrier is disposed in the vessel configured to protect an object in the vessel from the fan. The barrier should have an aperture for ventilating the vessel. The invention may include a handle connected thereto, for carrying, the vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2004
    Inventor: Dennis J. Zuccaro
  • Patent number: 6829841
    Abstract: A drying cabinet is used to dry a person's body after bathing or showering. The drying cabinet includes a plurality of adjustable air-dispensing nozzles on two sides and on the rear wall of the cabinet. The nozzles are fluidically connected to each other and to a source of hot dry air by manifolds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2004
    Inventor: Jonathan G. Edwards
  • Patent number: 6826848
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for completely drying polished nails without any smudging or nicking. The method utilizes first warm air and then very cold air preferably followed by a brief return to warm air. The apparatus for performing the method includes a temperature controller for setting the temperature and timers for controlling the duration of each heating and cooling period. By means of an air heater and a cooler connected to a temperature controller, heats and cools the air which is forced upon the nails by a motor and fan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2004
    Inventors: Diane E. Delaney, Cornelia A. Arndt
  • Patent number: 6826850
    Abstract: An animal dryer comprises an animal receiving chamber, a door member and an air providing member. The animal receiving chamber includes a first end portion, a second end portion and at least three side portions. The second end portion is disposed opposite the first end portion. The door member is disposed within one of the first or second end portions of the animal receiving chamber. The air providing member is either attached to one of the first or second end portions of the animal receiving chamber or disposed around the outside of at least one of the side portions of the animal receiving chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2004
    Inventor: Connie J. Jewell
  • Patent number: 6823608
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for inhibiting corrosion of an automobile chassis is provided. The method utilizes an apparatus which provides a flow of heated air to the underside of the automobile. The apparatus preferably includes a pair of elongated conduits positioned under and along the length of the automobile having a plurality of spaced apart openings. A flow of heated air from the apparatus housing is directed into the conduits and flows out of the openings outward and upward toward the chassis of the automobile and dries the chassis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2004
    Assignee: Classic Air Systems, LLC
    Inventor: James J. Shea, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6823606
    Abstract: A dryer section for drying a moving material web, specifically a paper or cardboard web, including several dryer groups that are located successively in the direction of web travel, whereby at least one of these is a double row configuration and whereby the material web is continuously supported in at least one transitional zone from a single row dryer group to an immediately following double row dryer group and/or in a transitional zone between two double row dryer groups that are located immediately following each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2004
    Assignee: Voith Paper Patent GmbH
    Inventors: Erich Rollenitz, Bernhard Schleidt
  • Patent number: 6820351
    Abstract: An enhanced apparatus and method for cleaning, drying, and disinfecting brine shrimp eggs is provided. The apparatus may have a blower and a furnace that provide pressurized, dry air to a screening device. The screening device may include a vibrating screen designed to release detritus while retaining viable cysts. The dry air may convey the cysts upward and suspend them within a containment vessel. The containment vessel may have a lower, narrow section and an upper, wide section; the larger airflow velocity within the narrow section suspends the brine shrimp eggs while the remaining detritus moves upward, into the wide section, in which the airflow velocity is lower. The air suspension rapidly dries the cysts to maintain a high percentage of viable eggs. Ultraviolet lights disinfect the cysts within the narrow section. An extractor with a cyclone separator draws material from the wide section and removes viable eggs from the detritus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2004
    Assignee: North American Brine Shrimp, L.L.C.
    Inventors: James Chesley, III, Samuel Chesley
  • Patent number: 6799382
    Abstract: A process for drying/heat-treating nonwoven webs in which the web is partially dried under tension in a first drying zone and further heat treated under low tension or in a substantially tensionless state a second drying zone. The process significantly reduces the occurrence of stretch-type defects in the nonwoven webs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2004
    Assignee: E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company
    Inventors: John C. Cleary, Michael C. Davis, Todd A. McCoy, Edgar N. Rudisill
  • Patent number: 6796055
    Abstract: The invention describes a method for the drying of a damp material (2), whereby the material (2) is treated in a treatment chamber (15) of a drying cabinet (1) in a mechanically immobile condition, in which air (10) is directed through the treatment chamber (15) and over a condenser (13) and the moisture in the air (10) can condense at the condenser (13) and be led away.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2004
    Inventor: Hans Baltes
  • Patent number: 6792692
    Abstract: A hair dryer includes an air outlet portion, a holding portion, a start switch, an airflow rate control switch, an airflow rate indication portion, an input power control switch, and an input power indication portion. Thus, when the user presses the start switch, the hair dryer will start to perform with its previous setting in memory for the airflow rate and its power input. And when the user presses the airflow rate control switch or the input power control switch, the system enters the manual control mode, and is forced into the safety mode immediately, so that the user can adjust the input power and the airflow rate according to the preset safety values, thereby achieving the safe requirement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2004
    Assignee: Manica-Thai Corp., Ltd
    Inventors: Noriaki Takizawa, Feng-Chih Liao
  • Patent number: 6792694
    Abstract: A control system for a clothes dryer has an inlet thermister located in the air flow system prior to the dryer drum to monitor the inlet temperature. This inlet temperature signal is provided to a microprocessor which samples this temperature over time and when this temperature exceeds a predetermined rate of increase with respect to time, the microprocessor generates an air flow restriction or blockage signal representing an air flow restriction or blockage in the dryer vent ducting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2004
    Assignee: Camco Inc.
    Inventor: Jacques Michel Lapierre
  • Patent number: 6792695
    Abstract: The invention provides a device for treating fabrics in a tumble dryer comprising: a reservoir for storing a fabric treatment composition and transfer means to expose fabric treatment composition from the reservoir to airflow generated inside the tumble drier and/or to directly contact fabrics in the dryer, thereby transferring a portion of the fabric treatment composition into contact with fabrics in the tumble dryer during a tumble drying cycle; characterised in that the transfer means comprises at least an inner flow control member and an outer flow control member arranged in series, wherein the flow control characteristic of the inner flow control member is greater than that of the outer flow control member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2004
    Assignee: Unilever Home & Personal Care USA, divison of Conopco, Inc.
    Inventors: Alan John Fry, Uwe Hagemann, Steven Hayes Hayes, Colin Watt Kerr