Patents by Inventor Charles Flather

Charles Flather has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 7905224
    Abstract: A beverage warmer apparatus (10) can include a vertically adjustable platform (17) for holding a self-contained heating element (20) (such as a tea light candle, Sterno can, or other heating element), a gear (54) or pulley mechanism (18 and 22) for adjusting the height of the vertically adjustable platform, a support structure (16) anchored at least in part to the vertically adjustable platform, and a top planar member (12) having an opening (14) and further supported by the support structure. The apparatus can further include a bottom planar member (13) coupled to the support structure. The vertically adjustable platform can be an L-shaped member for holding a horizontally slidable planar member (15) that holds the self-contained heating element. The support structure 16 can have posts or walls coupled to the top planar member or the bottom planar member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2011
    Inventor: Charles Flather
  • Patent number: 7628432
    Abstract: An eating utensil (100) is provided for serving among a fork, a spoon, a pair of chopsticks, or a knife. The eating utensil (100) can have a handle (102) with two members (104, 106) separated and extending from a base portion (108). A first member opens into a first spoon portion (110) having a first irregular shaped interior edge (114). A second member opens into a second spoon portion (120) having a second irregular shaped mating interior edge (124). A closing of the two members mates the first interior edge and the second interior edge for creating a spoon aspect. An opening of the two members can provide a dual prong aspect as a fork. The irregular shaped edge can have a winding contour (115) followed by a straight contour (116). An outer edge (111) of a spoon portion can provide a cutting edge leading to a tine (112).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2009
    Inventor: Charles Flather
  • Publication number: 20080197138
    Abstract: A beverage warmer apparatus (10) can include a vertically adjustable platform (17) for holding a self-contained heating element (20) (such as a tea light candle, Sterno can, or other heating element), a gear (54) or pulley mechanism (18 and 22) for adjusting the height of the vertically adjustable platform, a support structure (16) anchored at least in part to the vertically adjustable platform, and a top planar member (12) having an opening (14) and further supported by the support structure. The apparatus can further include a bottom planar member (13) coupled to the support structure. The vertically adjustable platform can be an L-shaped member for holding a horizontally slidable planar member (15) that holds the self-contained heating element. The support structure 16 can have posts or walls coupled to the top planar member or the bottom planar member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2007
    Publication date: August 21, 2008
    Inventor: CHARLES FLATHER
  • Publication number: 20070205619
    Abstract: An eating utensil (100) is provided for serving among a fork, a spoon, a pair of chopsticks, or a knife. The eating utensil (100) can have a handle (102) with two members (104, 106) separated and extending from a base portion (108). A first member opens into a first spoon portion (110) having a first irregular shaped interior edge (114). A second member opens into a second spoon portion (120) having a second irregular shaped mating interior edge (124). A closing of the two members mates the first interior edge and the second interior edge for creating a spoon aspect. An opening of the two members can provide a dual prong aspect as a fork. The irregular shaped edge can have a winding contour (115) followed by a straight contour (116). An outer edge (111) of a spoon portion can provide a cutting edge leading to a tine (112).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2006
    Publication date: September 6, 2007
    Inventor: Charles Flather