Patents Examined by Michael D. Switzer
  • Patent number: 5332887
    Abstract: An electric thermos bottle capable of automatic water release/cutoff which has an automatic water release/cutoff power switch turned on by the weight of a cup placed thereon. When the power switch is on, it actuates an electric air pump inside the top head of the thermos bottle to produce compressed air which passes an air communicating pipe and enters the sealed thermos bottle. At this point, the air pressure in the thermos bottle suddenly increases and therefore, forces water reserved in the thermos bottle to automaticaly release from a blow off pipe before flowing into the cup below a water exit. When water in the cup reaches a predetermined level, the water completes an override circuit which includes conductive elements in the cup and the metal interior of the thermos, in order to disconnect the air pump and automatically discontinue the release of water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 1991
    Date of Patent: July 26, 1994
    Inventor: Yuan Shiaw-Shing
  • Patent number: 5331133
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process permitting the modification of the chemical composition of the inner face of a barrel, consisting in heating and in moistening the inner face of the shell (1) of this barrel, characterized in that it consists in alternately heating and moistening, according to a specified heating power and liquid flow rate, and for a specified time, the heating being distributed over the entire height of the shell.It also relates to a machine implementing this process and comprising a rotating support (12), heating means (19) and moistening means (20, 21, 22) which are vertically displaceable with respect to the main axis of the barrel.Application: barrels for wines and alcohols.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 19, 1994
    Assignee: Seguin Moreau & Co. Of Zone Industrielle
    Inventor: Bernard Cordier
  • Patent number: 5324920
    Abstract: The heat treatment apparatus according to the invention comprising a process tube for holding a plurality of semiconductor wafers, a heating resistive element made mainly of molybdenum silicide and surrounding the process tube, a heat insulating member surrounding the heating resistive element and having a layer which made of material inert to silicon dioxide and faces the surface of the heating resistive element, and a securing member securing the heating resistive element to the heat insulating member, and made of material inert to silicon dioxide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 1991
    Date of Patent: June 28, 1994
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Sagami Limited
    Inventor: Ken Nakao
  • Patent number: 5319518
    Abstract: A double layer capacitor comprising a conductive solid in contact with a gas, preferably an inert gas, to form a double layer capacitor of unusually high specific energy density (energy to weight ratio). The device may be sized for use with microelectronics or scaled up for use in electrical utility storage and may be controlled to provide variable conductance as an active element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 1992
    Date of Patent: June 7, 1994
    Assignee: Jonathan Cole
    Inventor: Robert A. Blood
  • Patent number: 5317132
    Abstract: A heating element comprising a three dimensional substrate having coating-containing electrically conductive tin oxide on at least a portion of all three dimensions thereof, the coated substrate being adapted and structured to provide heat in response to the presence of one or more electrical and/or magnetic fields.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 1991
    Date of Patent: May 31, 1994
    Assignee: Ensci, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas J. Clough, Victor L. Grosvenor, Naum Pinsky
  • Patent number: 5317129
    Abstract: A cooking range with a cooking zone plate made of glass, glass ceramics or similar materials. A frame for the cooking zone plate serves as edge protection on the one hand and as closing for the upper edge of the plate. On the other hand, the cooking zone plate is bonded with the frame on the edge side.According to the invention, the frame includes an attachment frame part and a visual frame part separated from the attachment frame part. The attachment frame is a standardized component that is connected with the lower plate edge. The visual frame serves as protection edge and upper closing. In this way a frame modular system can be put together for all applications in a simple, economical manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 31, 1994
    Assignee: Schott Glaswerke
    Inventors: Martin Taplan, Stefan Hubert, Herwig Scheidler
  • Patent number: 5315686
    Abstract: An electrically heated nozzle for use in injection molding is positionable between an injection apparatus and a die in an injection molding operation. The disclosed nozzle is formed in three sections an end cap integrally formed with a sleeve, a housing surrounding the sleeve, and a nozzle tip also surrounding the sleeve forwardly of the housing. A coil of electrical resistance heating wire is wrapped around the sleeve inside the housing. A control box is provided for varying the current flow to the coil heater wire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 1991
    Date of Patent: May 24, 1994
    Inventors: William Caugherty, Harold Booton
  • Patent number: 5313360
    Abstract: A dual metallized film capacitor is provided which has improved life test characteristics in that the smaller capacitor more closely tracks the capacitance loss of the larger capacitor. This results from a reduced length of insertion of the barrier strip into the capacitor section. The result of a barrier strip of reduced width permits use of a more expensive barrier material with superior performance but without substantially increased material cost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 17, 1994
    Assignee: American Radionic Co., Inc.
    Inventor: Robert M. Stockman
  • Patent number: 5305178
    Abstract: The electrical breakdown strength of capacitors is increased by briefly esing the dielectric, the metal foil, and/or the fully assembled capacitor to a low pressure, low temperature gas plasma.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 1992
    Date of Patent: April 19, 1994
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventors: Michael Binder, Robert J. Mammone, Bernard Lavene
  • Patent number: 5304783
    Abstract: A heating element includes a multi-channel monolith substrate having a coating containing electrically conductive tin oxide on at least a plurality of the channels thereof, the coated substrate being adapted and structured to provide heat in response to the presence of one or more electrical and/or magnetic fields.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 1991
    Date of Patent: April 19, 1994
    Assignee: Ensci, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas J. Clough, Victor L. Grosvenor, Naum Pinsky
  • Patent number: 5302808
    Abstract: A thermal fixing apparatus including a heater and a pressure roller pressed against the heater. The heater has a substrate, an electrical heating element mounted on the substrate and a protective layer covering the electrical heating element, the protective layer having a concave contacting edge. The pressure roller is fitted against the concave contacting edge of the protective layer of the heater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 1992
    Date of Patent: April 12, 1994
    Assignee: Toshiba Lighting & Technology
    Inventors: Shigehiro Sato, Yoshiyuki Matsunaga
  • Patent number: 5302810
    Abstract: Between the high electronic conduction structures of the multilayer assembly an electric voltage signal is applied of which at least one portion includes an alternating component which has an amplitude between 0.05 and 100 volts and a frequency lower than 5 kHz and preferably between 2 and 2000 Hz so as to generate within the multilayer assembly an alternating ion current susceptible of producing a heating of the ion conducting macromolecular material by Joule effect. Application to the heating of electrochemical current generators in thin layers with solid polymer electrolyte or to the surface heating of elements of various regular or irregular shapes of which the surface is coated with the multilayer assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 1991
    Date of Patent: April 12, 1994
    Assignees: Societe Nationale Elf Aquitaine, Hydro-Quebec
    Inventors: Michel Gauthier, Philippe Ricoux, Daniel Muller
  • Patent number: 5303118
    Abstract: An electric double layer capacitor is proposed which is constructed by sandwiching a laminated body of a pair of polarizable electrodes consisting of a porous solid conductive material each impregnated with an electrolytic solution and a platelike ion permeating separator member, between a pair of collectors for external connection terminals, and housing the aggregate in a gasket, wherein the gap between the inner surface of the gasket and the outer surface of the laminated body is filled with an auxiliary electrolytic solution. The auxiliary electrolytic solution consists of glass fibers or water absorbing polymer impregnated with gelatinous electrolytic solution or a liquid electrolytic solution, and replenishes the lost portion due to evaporation and leakage of the electrolytic solution of the electric double layer capacitor. Moreover, this auxiliary electrolytic solution acts as a buffer to mechanical impact externally applied to the capacitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 12, 1994
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventors: Takashi Saito, Junji Tabuchi, Yukari Kibi, Atsushi Ochi
  • Patent number: 5298721
    Abstract: A positive temperature coefficient composition including a monomeric crystalline organic material is disclosed having a preselected switching temperature below about 150.degree. Fahrenheit. Devices incorporating same and related method of manufacture are set forth. The material includes a continuous, single phase solution of a polymer, for providing cohesion and flexibility to the positive temperature coefficient material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 29, 1994
    Inventor: Jack H. Smuckler
  • Patent number: 5298723
    Abstract: A support assembly for an open coil heating element including a planar mounting plate having longitudinally spaced and offset cutouts therethrough with a separate insulator positioned within each cutout by sequentially introducing the insulator through the cutout and longitudinally shifting the insulator within the cutout to overlie the upper and lower surfaces of the mounting plate. The two insulators are locked within their mounted positions within the cutouts by a locking frame affixed to the mounting plate and abutting against the insulators to preclude movement of the insulators from their mounted positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 29, 1994
    Assignee: Teledyne Industries Inc.
    Inventor: James E. Philpot
  • Patent number: 5296685
    Abstract: A heating element formed from at least two wires twisted together. The twisted wires are preferably shaped in a helical configuration and mounted within a quartz tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 22, 1994
    Assignee: Quartz Tubing, Inc.
    Inventors: Norman Burstein, John Stein
  • Patent number: 5296686
    Abstract: A heating element having at least one filament. The filament(s) are supported by an insulating trough which reflects heat and insulates a rear wall of a refractory tube within which said trough is mounted. The element may incorporate a metal rod located within, and substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the insulating trough. The metal rod enables an external electrical connection to be made with the filament(s) at one end only of the heating element such that all external connections to the outside power source may be made at the opposite end of the heating element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 1990
    Date of Patent: March 22, 1994
    Assignee: Thermal Quartz Schmelze GmbH
    Inventors: Christian Ullrich, John A. Winterburn
  • Patent number: 5295040
    Abstract: This invention provides oligomer-free polyesters that consist essentially of repeating, interpolymerized units derived from isophthalic acid and/or terephthalic acid, and 9,9-bis-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-fluorene, a process for making such polyesters and articles comprising said polyesters such as electrical capacitors, optical films and fibers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 15, 1994
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Edward F. Hampl, Jr., Mohammad Iqbal
  • Patent number: 5290996
    Abstract: A modular drainmast assembly for an aircraft includes a drain tube assembly removably enclosed in a fairing that is removably attachable to an aircraft. The electrically heated drain tube assembly may be accessed in the field for service, repair or replacement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 1, 1994
    Assignee: The B. F. Goodrich Company
    Inventors: Michael J. Giamati, Tommy M. Wilson
  • Patent number: 5288975
    Abstract: A resistance-adjusting-type heater including a honeycomb structure having a large number of passages and at least two electrodes provided on the honeycomb structure for energizing the honeycomb structure. The honeycomb structure has a slit or slits which form a predetermined angle to the partition walls of the honeycomb structure so as to enable adjustment of resistance between the electrodes, so that gas flowing through the passages of the honeycomb structure is heated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 1993
    Date of Patent: February 22, 1994
    Assignee: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventor: Tomoharu Kondo