Patents Examined by Stephen M Gravini
  • Patent number: 11976409
    Abstract: A disclosed dryer includes a receptacle configured to contain material to be dried, an air duct configured to route recirculating air and/or fresh air to the receptacle, a heating device configured to heat the recirculating air, and at least one sensor. The sensor is configured to determine a relative humidity and/or temperature, and the air duct includes at least one adjusting element configured to modify a portion of recirculating air routed to the receptacle. The dryer further includes a control or regulating device configured to control or regulate the portion of recirculating air routed to the receptacle and/or a heating capacity of the heating device during a drying process. A disclosed method includes controlling a portion of recirculating air routed to the receptacle and/or a heating capacity of the heating device. Further, a mixture of recirculating air and fresh air are varied during heat-up, drying, and cool-down phases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: LAVATEC LAUNDRY TECHNOLOGY GMBH
    Inventors: Wolf-Peter Graeser, Joachim Krause
  • Patent number: 11978928
    Abstract: The invention relates to a plant for recycling used batteries, comprising a comminuting device to comminute used batteries in a comminuting space. The plant includes a drying device, arranged downstream of the comminuting device, to dry the comminuted batteries. The plant includes an intermediate storage device arranged between the comminuting device and the drying device. The plant includes a stirring means to keep the comminuted batteries received in the intermediate storage space in motion. The plant includes a respective supply line for inert gas for each of the comminuting space of the comminuting device, the intermediate storage space of the intermediate storage device, and a drying space of the drying device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: BHS-Sonthofen GmbH
    Inventors: Daniel Weber, Christopher Drechsel
  • Patent number: 11969068
    Abstract: The present inventive subject matter relates to a portable electronic device housing having an opening for receiving a hand or foot wherein the housing has interior positioned LEDs for emitting light onto the nails of the hand or foot to cure nail care preparations applied thereto. The device includes removably attachable top and bottom trim to which can be substituted with different top and bottom trim for different visual appearances. In addition, the disclosed device includes a slidably attached base plate that is movable to a first position for curing of fingernails of the hand and is movable to a second position for curing of toenails of the foot. The base plate includes protrusions for a tactile indicator to a user of proper positioning of a hand.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: Kupa, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard B. Hurter
  • Patent number: 11971215
    Abstract: A system for drying plant material comprising an enclosed space having a ceiling, a wall, an enclosed space first portion, and an enclosed space second portion. An air supply provides tempered air into the enclosed space proximate to enclosed space first portion. The system includes at least one air mover, positioned proximate to the ceiling at the enclosed space first portion, having an air mover inlet and an air mover outlet. The system further includes a duct horizontally arranged and having an elongated body, a duct open first end portion, and a duct closed second end portion. A plurality of openings is spaced apart in a predefined pattern on the elongated body. A dehumidifier is positioned proximate to the enclosed space first portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Inventors: Tyler Miller, Mojave Morelli
  • Patent number: 11957790
    Abstract: Herein described is a syringe assembly configured for the in situ lyophilization of an initial liquid preparation into a lyophilized product as well as the subsequent sealing of the lyophilized product for storage and transport, user reconstitution of the lyophilized product, and dispensing of the lyophilized product in rehydrated form to a patient in a medical setting, all in the same syringe. The combination lyophilization and dispensing syringe assemblies of the present invention greatly enhance the efficiency of the lyophilization process and find particular utility in conjunction with the dedicated lyophilization apparatus and methods described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 11,536,512 and 11,723,870. In particularly preferred embodiments, the present invention provides for shortened lyophilization cycles in a syringe barrel optionally fitted with a sealing Luer lock cap at its distal end and a vented stopper at its proximal end. During lyophilization, gas may flow out of the syringe barrel and through the stopper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Inventor: Thomas John Harkins, Jr.
  • Patent number: 11959221
    Abstract: A laundry dryer includes: a cabinet, a drum rotatably disposed inside the cabinet and configured to receive hot air and steam, a steam unit disposed inside the cabinet and configured to generate the steam, a storage tank configured to detachably couple to an inside of the cabinet and receive water to be supplied to the steam unit, a tank accommodating the storage tank, and a floater placed inside the storage tank and configured to move in a vertical direction according to a volume of water in the storage tank. The floater includes a body portion having a first outer surface and a second outer surface, a third outer surface and a fourth outer surface, and a fifth outer surface and a sixth outer surface, where the first outer surface defines an upper surface of the floater and the second outer surface defines a lower surface of the floater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Juhan Yoon, Soowon Park, Manseok Lee, Jun Shin
  • Patent number: 11957293
    Abstract: The present disclosure discloses a telescopic shoe drying device comprises a body, and a heater connected to the body. The body comprises a base and a heat supply pipe, the heat supply pipe is disposed on the base, hot air generated by the heater is transported out of the heat supply pipe, the heat supply pipe comprises an inner pipe, an outer pipe, and a locking mechanism. When the at least two locking bases are in the extended position, the locking mechanism is in a locked state and locks the outer pipe and the inner pipe. When the at least two locking bases are in the retracted position, the locking mechanism is in an unlocked state and the outer pipe and the inner pipe are configured to relatively move up and down.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Inventor: Chengchuan Lin
  • Patent number: 11955350
    Abstract: An upper flow passage 181 is connected to a buffer space 182. The upper flow passage 181 has a constant cross-sectional shape and a processing fluid flows as a laminar flow in the upper flow passage 181. On the other hand, the buffer space 182 has a larger flow passage cross-sectional area than the upper flow passage 181. Thus, the processing fluid flowing in the upper flow passage 181 is released at once into the wide buffer space 182, whereby the pressure of the processing fluid decreases. A backflow of the processing fluid from the buffer space 182 to the upper flow passage 181 is prevented due to this pressure difference and the magnitude of a flow passage resistance of the upper flow passage 181 viewed from the buffer space 182.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: SCREEN HOLDINGS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Noritake Sumi
  • Patent number: 11944254
    Abstract: A dishwashing appliance includes a cabinet, a cabinet door for opening and closing the cabinet, a tub provided in the cabinet, the tub defining a wash chamber, an outlet defined at a first portion of the tub, an inlet defined at a second portion of the tub, an air flow duct defined between the inlet and the outlet, wherein air enters the air flow duct from the tub via the outlet and exits the air flow duct to the tub via the inlet, and an access panel removably attached to the air flow duct, the access panel defining a mounting plate protruding from an interior surface of the access panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventor: Ramasamy Thiyagarajan
  • Patent number: 11940213
    Abstract: The invention relates to a drying system (T) according to FIG.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: WENKER GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Franz Leers, Fokko Johann Crone, Andreas Schaake
  • Patent number: 11937740
    Abstract: A fabric towel dispenser includes a main housing having a receiving compartment, a used towel supporting shaft, a dispensing roller, a driving assembly, a plurality of guiding members, and a towel replacement arrangement. The used towel supporting shaft extends perpendicularly from the wall surface on which the main housing is mounted for supporting a used towel roll. The towel replacement arrangement includes a supporting panel which is capable of operating between a locking mode and a releasing mode, wherein in the locking mode, the supporting panel is securely connected to the used towel supporting shaft to lock up a position of the used towel supporting shaft in the receiving compartment, wherein in the releasing mode, the supporting panel is arranged to unlock the used towel supporting shaft for facilitating disposal of the used towel sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Inventor: Wei Huang
  • Patent number: 11937678
    Abstract: An auto-rotate flat iron assembly that can be turned into a curling iron by a simple press of a button. It automates the rotation of the clamped strands of hair in order to create different curl styles. The hair iron assembly creates curls in hair by adjustably applying heat, clamping around hair strands, and automating rotation of the tongs in either direction, so as to achieve the desired wave or curl in hair. A stop member restricts rotation to 180°. A power button powers on and off a motor. A rotate button rotates the tongs in both directions 180° and up to or greater than 360°. A heat button incrementally increases and decreases heat in tongs. A tong lever controls opening and closing of tongs around hair strands. Different hair curl styles are achieved by changing heat temperature and/or speed of pulling down the iron after the rotation is complete.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Inventor: Natan Ashkenazi
  • Patent number: 11927393
    Abstract: A method for processing demineralized bone fibers, comprising a centrifuging step, and following the centrifuging step hydrated in sterile water to create a slurry; providing a tray to receive said fiber slurry; freezing the tray and fiber slurry; and lyophilizing the fiber slurry to create dried fibers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: DCI Donor Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen Hollabaugh, Chris Cowan
  • Patent number: 11920864
    Abstract: A dryer for drying a liquid feed into a powder comprises a drying chamber defined by a chamber wall including a bottom wall portion; a feed inlet for receiving the liquid feed and dispersing particulate feed into the drying chamber; at least one air inlet for entering drying air into the drying chamber; and at least one drying chamber outlet for dried powder and/or spend drying air from the drying chamber. The feed inlet comprises a decanter centrifuge with an axis of rotation; a first axial end; a second axial end; and a solid phase outlet at the first axial end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: GEA Process Engineering A/S
    Inventors: Zahé Daw, Poul-Erik Aagaard, Alexander William Lear
  • Patent number: 11920863
    Abstract: A nozzle includes a slit-shaped discharge port at tip ends of a pair of nozzle walls arranged to face each other at a predetermined interval and a plurality of protrusions protruding toward the facing nozzle walls at tip end sides of the nozzle walls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: UNIVERSAL CAN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroaki Uchida, Masamichi Tsuji
  • Patent number: 11920288
    Abstract: A laundry appliance includes a rotating drum for processing laundry. A blower directs process air through an airflow path that includes the rotating drum. A heat exchanger is positioned within the airflow path that dehumidifies the process air. A fixedly-secured lint filter captures lint from the process air at a position upstream of the heat exchanger. A fluid spray system has spray nozzles that deliver fluid to a surface of the fixedly-secured lint filter. Each spray nozzle of the plurality of spray nozzles directs captured lint away from the fixedly-secured lint filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Gianluca Bocchino, Arun Rajendran
  • Patent number: 11919488
    Abstract: An attachment assembly to convert an existing leaf blower into a device for drying vehicles. The attachment assembly includes several interchangeable modular sections, including an adapter section configured to attach to the air outlet of an existing commercial leaf blower. Other sections include air outlet nozzle sections, an extender section, and a weighted section. The inlet side of the nozzle sections, extender section, and weighted section as well as the outlet sides of the adapter section, extender section, and weighted section are uniform so that any of the outlets may be mated with any of the inlets. This allows any configuration of sections desired to be achieved. The adapter section may have a filter placed in the air stream to prevent debris from being blown into the vehicle and damaging the exterior of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: ApexIP, LLC
    Inventor: David L. Beaver, IV
  • Patent number: 11913723
    Abstract: The present invention includes a spray drying disposable device for use in a spray drying system. The disposable has a spray drying head and a plasma drying chamber. The head has a spray dry nozzle assembly in fluid communication with the plasma source and the pressurized aerosol gas source. The pressurized gas flows in a vortex pattern that atomizes plasma droplets in the chamber. The head also includes a plenum has uniform air pressure of the drying gas. A baffle plate forms the floor of the plenum having drying gas jets that supply drying gas to the chamber. The atomized plasma droplets evaporate in the presence of the drying gas emitted from the jets to obtain dried plasma particles and humid air. A capture filter captures the dried plasma particles and allows the humid air to pass. The humid air passes through the gas outlet and the exhaust port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: Velico Medical, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert R. Andrews, Herman E. Snyder, William J. Merritt, Evan P. Ordway, Clair Strohl, Russell Barron
  • Patent number: 11916219
    Abstract: Provided is a flexible air supply damper system for preventing an overdrying-caused defect of a secondary battery electrode plate, the flexible air supply damper system including: a fluid supply unit supplying a fluid; a heating unit heating the fluid supplied through the fluid supply unit; a drying unit drying the electrode plate while receiving the fluid heated through the heating unit; a damper unit splitting the fluid passing through the heating unit to control an amount of the fluid to be introduced into the drying unit; and a discharge unit through which the fluid used in the drying unit and the fluid split out of the damper unit are discharged. By controlling the amount of the fluid to be introduced into the drying unit, the electrode plate is prevented from being overdried.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: SK ON CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Sang Hwa Lee, Se Hun Park, Hoe Sun Jeong
  • Patent number: 11913722
    Abstract: The present invention includes a spray drying disposable device for use in a spray drying system. The disposable has a spray drying head and a plasma drying chamber. The head has a spray dry nozzle assembly in fluid communication with the plasma source and the pressurized aerosol gas source. The pressurized gas flows in a vortex pattern that atomizes plasma droplets in the chamber. The head also includes a plenum has uniform air pressure of the drying gas. A baffle plate forms the floor of the plenum having drying gas jets that supply drying gas to the chamber. The atomized plasma droplets evaporate in the presence of the drying gas emitted from the jets to obtain dried plasma particles and humid air. A capture filter captures the dried plasma particles and allows the humid air to pass. The humid air passes through the gas outlet and the exhaust port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: Velico Medical, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert R. Andrews, Herman E. Snyder, William J. Merritt, Evan P. Ordway, Clair Strohl, Russell Barron