Patents Examined by Richard Price, Jr
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Patent number: 9526259Abstract: A vehicle mountable hanging hook apparatus for hanging a fish or other game for cleaning in a mobile setting comprises a vertical base defining a square steel pipe sized to fit in the stake pocket of a conventional pickup truck rail and a hook extension arm defining an “L” shaped square member sized to telescopically slide into the top of the vertical base at its proximal end and a lateral section with a hook member at its distal end and a hinged portion that provides a pivot about which the lateral section can swing between a deployed position and a retracted position. When in the deployed position, it is contemplated that the lateral section of the hook extension arm will extend beyond the edge of the vehicle on which it is mounted such that a fish or other game can be hung from the hook member.Type: GrantFiled: March 25, 2015Date of Patent: December 27, 2016Inventors: Cheryl Renee DuBois, Bruce Alan DuBois
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Patent number: 9516886Abstract: An animal stunning apparatus for inducing unconsciousness and insensibility of a live subject animal includes an applicator for contacting an application point on the live subject animal's head and couples microwave radiation to the head. A microwave generator generates microwave energy of a suitable power level and frequency, and a waveguide directs the microwave radiation to the applicator. An auto-tuner in the waveguide uses a directional coupler to detect forward and reflected power and to tune in real time the impedance for matching the load and optimize effective power transfer. A switch discontinues the application of microwave radiation that is heating the frontal portion of the brain after a period of time sufficient to induce the unconsciousness and insensibility. Methods for inducing rapid unconsciousness and insensibility in an animal include application of microwave radiation.Type: GrantFiled: November 4, 2013Date of Patent: December 13, 2016Assignee: Wagstaff Food Services Pty LtdInventors: James Henry Ralph, David William Mclean
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Patent number: 9516887Abstract: A handheld skinning device having a tooth roll, which is retained motor-driven in a housing with side arms and rotating about an axis, and having a blade which in an operating position is positioned with a gap parallel to the tooth roll and is retained in a blade mount, which is formed by side parts fixed to the side arms of the housing and a blade holder. The blade mount in the operating position is fixed in the side arms by releasable locking, and in an opened position of the blade mount the blade can be removed from the blade holder. The locking of the blade mount in the operating position occurs by two spring-loaded locking pins in the arms, which are releasable together via a disengaging plate and in the opened position the blade holder remains connected to the arms of the housing.Type: GrantFiled: June 17, 2016Date of Patent: December 13, 2016Assignee: Freund Maschinenfabrik GmbH & Co. KGInventor: Christoph Ewers
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Patent number: 9510603Abstract: There is provided an apparatus and method of filleting and cleaning a cephalopod, including squid. The apparatus for use in filleting a cephalopod including, a body having a first end being shaped for insertion into a cavity of a mantle of the cephalopod and a second end graspable by a user, a cutting member located at, or adjacent, the first end, for severing an internal membrane of the cephalopod, a guide located adjacent the cutting member, wherein upon insertion of the first end in through an opening of the mantle, the guide acts to constrain the movement of the cutting member such that it is directed along a junction between the internal membrane and an inner surface of the mantle, to thereby detach the internal membrane therefrom, wherein the mantle is inhibited from being perforated by the cutting member.Type: GrantFiled: November 12, 2013Date of Patent: December 6, 2016Assignee: CROSSFORD ENTERPRISES PY LTDInventor: Rodney Cross
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Patent number: 9504263Abstract: The invention relates to a device (2) for transferring longitudinally supplied elongate food products (4), such as for instance sausages. The sausages are placed here in a recess (10) of a rotatable holder body (9) and subsequently set down in lateral direction. The invention further relates to an assembly (1) of such a transfer device and a feed conveyor (3) for sausages connecting to the transfer device. The invention moreover relates to a method for transferring elongate food products such as sausages.Type: GrantFiled: March 27, 2012Date of Patent: November 29, 2016Assignee: MAREL TOWNSEND FURTHER PROCESSING B.V.Inventors: Sigebertus Johannes Jacobus Jozef Meggelaars, Marcus Bernhard Hubert Bontjer, Mathias Marcellus Kuijpers, Frank Johannes Antonius Van Den Heuij
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Patent number: 9504261Abstract: An apparatus useful in removing internal organs from a game animal, and a method of field dressing an animal. The apparatus includes, generally, a pair of tubes, slidably engaged one within the other, with a hook structure removably affixed to the end of the inner tube. The position of the tubes relative to one-another is controlled by longitudinal and latitudinal channels extending along one of the tubes, and a protuberance formed on the other tube. The associated method for removing internal organs from a game animal using the disclosed apparatus includes inserting the apparatus into the anus of a game animal, securing the hook to the flesh of the animal, cutting around the anus, and pulling back the internal tube so that the anal tract is locked within the proximal end of the external tube.Type: GrantFiled: December 16, 2015Date of Patent: November 29, 2016Inventor: Joseph Wayne Collins
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Patent number: 9497934Abstract: A pet toy has an integral noisemaking module or assembly. The module is located within an interior cavity of the pet toy. The module defines an internal protective housing with at least one noisemaking element mounted within the module, such as a squeaker. The squeaker is mounted to a position in the module that results in the squeaker being placed in a protected and offset location as compared to the exterior surface of the toy. Multiple noisemaking elements can be mounted in the module to produce different types of sounds and volumes of sounds. Variable forces placed on the pet toy result in different sounds produced by the noisemaking elements. For example, each noisemaking element may have a different threshold air flow requirement in order to produce sound.Type: GrantFiled: February 14, 2014Date of Patent: November 22, 2016Assignee: THE KONG COMPANY, LLCInventor: Dominic Mak
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Patent number: 9491952Abstract: Disclosed is a method and a system for separating a viscera set eviscerated from slaughtered poultry and held by a viscera holder of a viscera conveyer in manner whereby at least the liver, the intestines and the gallbladder are suspended below the viscera holder. The method comprises the steps of: arranging the viscera set in an elongate opening of a guide member and separating the intestines and the gallbladder from the remaining viscera set. The intestines and the gallbladder are separated from the remaining viscera set while at least the liver rests on a separation support surface of the guide member, arranged with an angle relative to the horizontal plane. A guide assembly having two movable parts for use in such method/system is further disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: May 14, 2014Date of Patent: November 15, 2016Assignee: LINCO FOOD SYSTEMS A/SInventors: Uffe Thrane, Jonas Jensen
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Patent number: 9485996Abstract: A game dressing device, in one embodiment, comprising at least two legs, each coupled to at least one hook. A spring member that is configured to engage a portion of each of the legs and define a compressed state and an uncompressed state.Type: GrantFiled: December 31, 2015Date of Patent: November 8, 2016Inventors: Robert E. Ellis, Richard E. Ellis
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Patent number: 9485998Abstract: Poultry carcasses are contacted with water treated with one or more specified dihalodialkylhydantoin biocides in a processing operation downstream from a scalding tank. The aqueous effluent from that downstream operation or from any location further downstream is recycled to the scalding tank. Surprisingly, the bromine residues from the dihalodialkylhydantoin biocides are much more thermally unstable than, for example, the commonly used microbiocide, sodium hypochlorite. Thus, the effluent from the scalding tank has its active bromine content significantly reduced before it is sent to a water purification facility wherein microbial action is used to reduce the BOD of the waste water before its release to the environment. Thus, injury to this desired microbial action is reduced. In addition, the recycle reduces water consumption in the overall poultry processing operation.Type: GrantFiled: January 13, 2016Date of Patent: November 8, 2016Assignee: ALBEMARLE CORPORATIONInventor: Eric W. Liimatta
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Patent number: 9485999Abstract: An improved apparatus for processing sea cucumbers having stages for orienting/aligning, cutting, splitting, flattening, eviscerating and cleaning the sea cucumber, and for collecting the eviscerated innards. A method for the automated splitting and evisceration of sea cucumbers using the apparatus of the present disclosure. A flattening plate and trough during the orienting/aligning step relax the sea cucumber and discourage its defence mechanisms. A wedge shaped flattening plate splits and flattens the sea cucumber immediately after the incision. Pronged discs maintain positioning of the sea cucumber during an aggressive wash and brush cleaning cycle, which may be repeated. Optionally, a vacuum may suction off a portion of the innards prior to cleaning.Type: GrantFiled: August 15, 2013Date of Patent: November 8, 2016Assignee: MEMORIAL UNIVERSITY OF NEWFOUNDLANDInventors: Joseph Singleton, Mark Ingerman, Stephen King
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Patent number: 9480264Abstract: A method and a device for controlling a filling machine with a clipping machine, the clipping machine and the filling machine exchanging process data via a communication interface, where functions of the clipping machine, in particular the movement profile of opposed clipper scissors, and functions of the filling machine, in particular the speed profile of a feed mechanism, are automatically adjusted with respect to each other by at least one control system.Type: GrantFiled: March 3, 2014Date of Patent: November 1, 2016Assignee: ALBERT HANDTMANN MASCHINENFABRIK GMBH & CO. KGInventor: Klaus Schmid
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Patent number: 9480266Abstract: Separation chambers, deboning machines, and methods of operating the same are provided. In one aspect, a separation chamber for a compression-type deboning machine includes a body defining an internal cavity therein having a frusto-conical shape. A central longitudinal axis of the body extends from a first opening of the cavity near a first end of the body to a second opening of the cavity near a second end of the body. The first opening is larger than the second opening. The separation chamber also includes a plurality of perforations defined through the body from an inner surface of the body to an outer surface of the body. Each perforation includes a perforation axis extending longitudinally through a center of the perforation. The perforation axes of the plurality of perforations are transverse to a radial axis extending perpendicular to the central longitudinal axis of the body.Type: GrantFiled: December 8, 2015Date of Patent: November 1, 2016Assignee: WEILER AND COMPANY, INC.Inventor: Eric A. Eisiminger
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Patent number: 9480263Abstract: A skinning device for removing skin from an animal carcass has a housing, a manipulation arm extending from the housing, an cutting blade, a motor driven tooth roll mounted on the housing having plurality of tooth wheels arranged in axially spaced apart arrangement such that the space between adjacent tooth wheels has a pre-set distance. The tooth wheels have circumferentially arranged teeth projecting outwardly therefrom adapted to grab the skin with the circumferentially arranged teeth and pull it towards the cutting blade. The skinning device includes a support structure mounted on the housing arranged in proximity to the tooth roll, and is adapted to engage the skin while the skin is simultaneously being pulled off the carcass. Strippers are arranged in the space of pre-set distance and circumferentially surround at least a space portion where the arc-shaped contour essentially follows the tooth roll.Type: GrantFiled: July 7, 2014Date of Patent: November 1, 2016Assignee: MAREL MEAT PROCESSING B.V.Inventors: Johannes Cornelis Antonius Maria Van Der Leest, Dennis Stoots, Jan Meerdink
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Patent number: 9480265Abstract: Deboning machines and methods of operating deboning machines are provided. In one aspect, a deboning machine includes a housing, a bearing supported by the housing, a separation chamber supported by the housing and including perforations defined through the separation chamber from an interior surface to an exterior surface, an auger including a shaft and a flute formed about the shaft with the auger extending through the separation chamber and the flute adapted to be positioned a working distance from the interior surface of the separation chamber. The deboning machine also includes a retainer rotatably supported by the bearing with the auger extending through the retainer, a nut rotatably coupled to a threaded portion of the auger and rotation of the moves the flute relative to the separation chamber to establish the working distance between the flute and the interior surface of the separation chamber.Type: GrantFiled: December 31, 2014Date of Patent: November 1, 2016Assignee: WEILER AND COMPANY, INC.Inventor: Marshall D. Smith
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Patent number: 9474288Abstract: A method and apparatus for loading live poultry onto an overhead shackle conveyor system is used in poultry processing plants. The birds (25) are placed on a horizontal moving conveyor (22) that includes dividers (34) that form a series of spaces on the surface conveyor for receiving birds. The shackles are tilted upwardly from the surface conveyor and tend to engage the legs of the bird and lift the birds out of the conveyor system and along the processing path of the poultry plant.Type: GrantFiled: March 23, 2015Date of Patent: October 25, 2016Inventor: Robert L. Grizzle
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Patent number: 9468192Abstract: An enclosure (1) for small animals, the enclosure comprising: an internal wall (17) that divides a space within the enclosure (1) into first (5) and second (7) regions, and a passageway (13) mounted in said internal wall (17) to extend between said regions (5, 7) so that an animal within the enclosure can pass between the first and second regions of the space; wherein the passageway (13) is movable relative to said internal wall (17) between a first operating mode in which an animal within the enclosure is able to pass between said regions and a second operating mode in which the animal is obstructed from passing between said regions.Type: GrantFiled: August 13, 2012Date of Patent: October 18, 2016Assignee: HEBE STUDIO LIMITEDInventors: Simon Nicholls, James Tuthill, Johannes Paul, William Windham
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Patent number: 9468219Abstract: Techniques and devices are described for preparing a fish fillet. The techniques and devices facilitate the removal of the skin and/or rib bones of the fish from the meat that forms the fillet. In embodiments, the techniques employ a fish skinning device that includes a roller and a blade. The roller is configured to contact the skin included on a fillet so that rotation of the roller causes the fillet to be directed toward the blade. The roller and blade are configured so the skin passes between the roller and blade and is generally separated and directed away from the meat. A blade float assembly permits the blade to float with respect to the blade during use to receive the skin or rib bones of the fish fillet between the roller and the blade.Type: GrantFiled: August 1, 2015Date of Patent: October 18, 2016Assignee: Ultimate Fishing Gear, Inc.Inventors: Chris Kielian, Brian Kielian, Perry Parks, Eric Parks
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Patent number: 9462784Abstract: A bowl assembly (2) includes a bowl (4) which is suitable for holding various types of produce but which is intended for receiving food for a pet. The bowl assembly (2) is supported upon a tray (6). Four legs (8) are disposed to support the tray and are of sufficient length to elevate the tray a distance above the reach of ants (11). An insect deterrent (12) is located on the underside of the tray around the juncture of each leg (8) with the tray (6) to prevent insects proceeding along the legs to the tray. The legs (8) depend downwards and respectively terminate in bayonet heads (16) (best seen in FIG. 2) that are received into complementary sockets (14) formed in the topside of base plate (10).Type: GrantFiled: September 7, 2012Date of Patent: October 11, 2016Inventor: Lee Zeke O'Connor
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Patent number: 9462816Abstract: Disclosed is an oyster shucking device, of which both manual and automated embodiments are envisioned. An exemplary embodiment is constructed of aluminum and/or stainless steel and may be mounted on a wooden, steel or plastic base. A double roller bearing arrangement housed in a bearing box above a spike and positioning cylinder generates an efficient transfer of an actuation force to an oyster hinge while providing a user with the ability to adjust the amount of force applied to the oyster. Additionally, the spike and positioning cylinder arrangement provides for consistent and stable alignment of the spike all the way through a stroke. Further, the vertical travel of the spike as guided by the positioning cylinder provides for a wide range of travel by the spike to accommodate various oyster sizes without having to reconfigure or adjust the setup of the device.Type: GrantFiled: November 13, 2015Date of Patent: October 11, 2016Inventors: Robert Lee, Jr., Gregory Parker
