Patents Examined by Thomas Ward
  • Patent number: 9955529
    Abstract: An inductively powered cooking appliance and an associated wireless power supply for producing an electromagnetic field. The cooking appliance may include a secondary and a metal portion where the wireless power supply is capable of providing power to both. The cooking appliance may communicate with the wireless power supply to control the temperature of the metal portion and the amount of power transferred to the secondary. A smart handle connected to the secondary may be capable of performing various functions. The smart handle may also be capable of displaying and monitoring temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: Access Business Group International LLC
    Inventors: David W. Baarman, Joshua B. Taylor, Scott A. Mollema, William T. Stoner, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9931708
    Abstract: A system and method for a plasma system includes a plasma torch actuated by a trigger, a consumable installed in the plasma torch, and a gas flow system constructed to receive pressurized gas and provide a gas flow to the plasma torch. A gas flow regulating system is included and configured to regulate the gas flow, and a sensing device is included and configured to monitor a gas pressure in the plasma torch. The plasma system also includes a controller configured to receive a signal from the sensing device and to determine one of a length parameter of the plasma torch and a type of the consumable therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.
    Inventors: Anthony V. Salsich, Jeremy D. Overesch
  • Patent number: 9915442
    Abstract: A household appliance has a heating circuit (140) for heating a fluid including a heating element (150) that can be selectively energized (155) to determine the heating of the fluid, and a monitoring unit (125) for monitoring the operation of the heating circuit. The monitoring unit (125) is configured to monitor at least one electrical potential internal to the heating circuit (140). The at least one electric potential internal to the heating circuit (140) is at least one among: an internal electric potential detected at a first terminal (160b) of the heating element (150) connected to an on/off switch (155) of the heating circuit (140); an internal electric potential detected at a second terminal (160a) of the heating element (150) connected to a main switch (135) of the appliance or to a safety switch provided for switching the heating circuit off in case of malfunction of the on/off switch (155).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: Electrolux Home Products Corporation N.V.
    Inventors: Paolo Driussi, Marco Lorenzi
  • Patent number: 9913320
    Abstract: An induction heating system includes an induction heating head assembly configured to move relative to a workpiece. The induction heating system may also include a temperature sensor assembly configured to detect a temperature of the workpiece and/or a travel sensor assembly configured to detect a position, movement, or direction of movement of the induction heating head assembly relative to the workpiece, and to transmit feedback signals to a controller configured to adjust the power provided to the induction heating head assembly by a power source based at least in part on the feedback signals. In certain embodiments, the induction heating system may also include a connection box configured to receive the feedback signals, to perform certain conversions of the feedback signals, and to provide the feedback signals to the power source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Paul William Garvey, Edward G. Beistle, Scott Stephen Liebert, Kevin John Mlnarik
  • Patent number: 9901209
    Abstract: A tabletop grill generally includes a first grill unit having a first grill plate and a first heating element for heating the first grill plate. The grill further includes a second grill unit positionable relative to the first grill unit. The second grill unit has a second grill plate and a second heating element for heating the second grill plate. The grill is configured to function as a broiler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: Spectrum Brands, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew Arthur Christian Guckenberger, Kevin Bruce Kinney, Rocky Marvin Van Asten, Jacob Daniel Smith, Victor Tenorio Cavalcanti, Karl Warner Marschke, David William Everett, Byron Seth Sawyer, Nicole Ann Sorenson
  • Patent number: 9900935
    Abstract: An apparatus for cooking food products includes: a first heating plate adapted to support the food products; a second heating plate adapted to face the food products during a cooking operation; a first resistive heating element associated with the first heating plate and adapted to provide heat to the food products during the cooking operation; a second resistive heating element associated with the second heating plate and adapted to provide heat to the food products during the cooking operation, and at least one microwave generator element configured to selectively generate microwave radiation for haeting the food products during the cooking operation. At least a selected resistive heating element between the first resistive heating element and the second resistive heating element is joined to a surface of the associated heating plate so that it forms a single piece with the associated heating plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: Electrolux Professional S.p.A.
    Inventors: Michele Simonato, Alessandro Morassut
  • Patent number: 9889518
    Abstract: A consumable electrode gas shield arc welding torch (20) includes a torch body (21), a tip body (22) mounted to a front end of the torch body, a tip holder (23) mounted to a front end of the tip body, a spring (26) provided in the tip body (22) in contact with the front end of the torch body (21), a pressing shaft (27) provided in the tip body (22) in contact with a front end of the spring 26) and a power feed tip (28) pressed by the pressing shaft (27) and the tip holder (23). The tip (28) includes a side surface having a projection contacting with a base end (23a) of the holder (23), with a space (29) defined between an inner surface of the holder (23) and a front end (28a) of the tip (28) when the front end (28a) of the tip (28) is inserted into the holder (23).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: DAIHEN Corporation
    Inventor: Masaru Nishimura
  • Patent number: 9861118
    Abstract: A cooking rack for bacon, or other food products, includes several articulated planar members defining a series of connected V-shaped structures. Each planar member, which may be defined by a plurality of generally parallel wires or other members, is generally porous. Bacon strips are placed on the planar members, and the rack is placed in a cooking vessel. The porosity of the planar members allows air to flow around the bacon during cooking, and allows liquids to fall from the bacon into a vessel below. The V-shaped structures may include spacers which prevent adjacent strips of bacon from touching each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: Jameson Consulting, LLC
    Inventor: Paul G. Jameson
  • Patent number: 9867237
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide an induction heating cooker with improved assemblability, and with which a reduction in the temperature sensing precision of an infrared sensor can be suppressed and a reduction in the thickness of the induction heating cooker can be achieved. To this end, the induction heating cooker of the present invention includes a duct 33 that forms a cooling air path for guiding the cooling air produced by the air blower 32 to a control circuit 27 and to an infrared sensor 26. The infrared sensor 26 and the control circuit 27 are disposed at positions lower than the top wall of the duct 33.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Eiji Matsui, Akira Kataoka, Takaaki Kusaka
  • Patent number: 9854812
    Abstract: An oven contains a continuous chain of baking tongs that can be opened and closed, and locked in the closed state. The chain circulates in the oven and moves through the baking chamber in two transport planes, one above the other. A device for opening the baking tongs, a delivery station, a loading station, a device for closing the baking tongs, and a device for locking the tongs are successively arranged in the running direction of the baking tongs, in the front part of the oven, along the upper transport plane. A product removal device contains a flatly arranged rotating support and is arranged in the delivery station. The rotating support carries removal elements embodied as suction elements along the outer periphery thereof, which it uses to remove the baked products from the open baking tongs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: Haas Food Equipment GmbH
    Inventors: Johannes Haas, Josef Haas, Stefan Jiraschek, Erich Koletnik, Johann Sachsenhofer
  • Patent number: 9849537
    Abstract: A method for purging air from a structure to be joined by welding by feeding a liquid cryogen to the structure. The liquid cryogen will enter the structure, warm up and enter the gaseous phase very rapidly. The gaseous cryogen will displace the air that is present in the structure out of the structure and reduce the content of oxygen in the structure to about 10 parts per million when welding can begin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: Linde Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Glen Graydon, Walter Mark Veldsman
  • Patent number: 9833101
    Abstract: In an exemplary embodiment, an induction cooking pan can include: a pan; a handle coupled to the pan; wherein the pan can include: a ceramic inner coated portion; a first metallic outer portion; and a second metallic outer portion; wherein the second metallic outer portion is at least one of extruded or impact bonded to the first metallic outer portion; wherein the second metallic outer portion can include: a generally circular shape and can include a plurality of punched openings therethrough; and wherein the plurality of punched openings have been at least one of: impact bonded into a lower surface of the first metallic portion; or extruded into a lower surface of the first metallic portion; and wherein the first and second metallic outer portions have been machined substantially smooth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: NuWave, LLC
    Inventors: Jung S. Moon, Byung G. Choi, Mikale K. Kwon
  • Patent number: 9827828
    Abstract: The description relates to a vehicle heating system having at least one heat transfer device through which air can flow to be heated and at least one heating device which is attached to the heat transfer device and which each involves at least one heating element arranged between two contact plates, said heating element being held by a positioning frame which is attached to one of the contact plates. The contact plates of the heating devices are each held in a positioning frame to which they are attached.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: BORGWARNER BERU SYSTEMS GMBH
    Inventors: Jürgen Hetzler, Norbert Ernst
  • Patent number: 9821400
    Abstract: A method providing a manual welding apparatus configured to supply a welding wire to a welding gun. The welding gun has a trigger and an opening where the welding wire extends when the trigger is activated. The method also has a computer with a user interface that includes an automatic wire retract program. The program monitors the welding gun and determines when the trigger is disabled. The program indicates when a first condition is satisfied and retracts the welding wire so the welding wire does not extend from the opening of the welding gun.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: LINCOLN GLOBAL, INC.
    Inventors: Edward Hillen, David Kempert
  • Patent number: 9814102
    Abstract: A cooking appliance has a cooktop including a plurality of separately controlled cooking areas. A first heating element and a second heating element are positioned below one of the separately controlled cooking areas. A control switch is electrically coupled to the first heating element and the second heating element and is operable to selectively energize the first heating element with single-phase AC power and selectively energize the second heating element with two-phase AC power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Leopoldo H. Franca, Foad M. Kesheh, Moacyr C. Possan, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9756686
    Abstract: Reduction of crosstalk between induction heating coils in an induction heating apparatus and particularly to reduction of crosstalk in a multi-zone induction heating system provides greater reliability for the power modules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: Honeywell ASCa, Inc.
    Inventors: Nicholas Dohmeier, Keith McCormick
  • Patent number: 9724786
    Abstract: Various embodiments of a metal cored wires, hardband alloys, and methods are disclosed. In one embodiment of the present invention, a hardbanding wire comprises from about from about 16% to about 30% by weight chromium; from about 4% to about 10% by weight nickel; from about 0.05% to about 0.8% by weight nitrogen; from about 1% to about 4% by weight manganese; from about 1% to about 4% by weight carbon from about 0.5% to about 5% by weight molybdenum; from about 0.25% to about 2% by weight silicon; and the remainder is iron including trace elements. The hardband alloy produced by the metal cored wire meets API magnetic permeability specifications and has improved metal to metal, adhesive wear resistance compared to conventional hardband alloys.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: Postle Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Christopher J. Postle
  • Patent number: 9723937
    Abstract: A dual-chamber teapot configured for stovetop preparation. In one embodiment, the dual-chamber teapot includes an exterior body portion defining a cavity and an interior body portion housed in the cavity. The teapot also includes a spout projecting outward from the exterior body portion. An inner chamber is defined by the interior body portion and an outer chamber is defined between the exterior body portion and the interior body portion. The inner chamber is in fluid communication with the outer chamber and the outer chamber is in fluid communication with the spout.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Inventor: Parag S. Patel
  • Patent number: 9683282
    Abstract: Powder injection apparatus, plasma gun, and method of use. Powder injection apparatus includes a shroud attachable to an outlet nozzle of a thermal spray apparatus and a substantially smooth and continuous inner wall defining a bowl through which a plume of the thermal spray apparatus travels. At least one port in the inner wall is structured and arranged to receive a powder injection nozzle that injects powder into the plume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: OERLIKON METCO (US) INC.
    Inventors: Ronald J. Molz, James Leach
  • Patent number: 9657991
    Abstract: A T-junction microwave applicator and a method for making a T-junction microwave applicator with a microwave source supplying electromagnetic energy through a junction arm to a pair of collinear arms extending in opposite directions from their junction with the junction arm. The two collinear arms form a main waveguide terminated in end walls in which entrance and exit ports are formed for a conveyor to convey material to be heated through the main waveguide for exposure to electromagnetic energy. A rectangular conductive ridge in the wall of the main waveguide opposite the junction arm extends the length of the applicator. A cylindrical tuning bar spanning the junction is positioned vertically in a plane perpendicular to the axis of the main waveguide to maximize power transfer to the material to be heated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: Industrial Microwave Systems, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Abdulkadir Hallac, Michael W. Bumgardner