Patents by Inventor Chris Norman

Chris Norman 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).

  • Publication number: 20240100726
    Abstract: There is provided a blade for an oscillating power tool having an elongate body fixed to an attachment section. The elongate body is divided into two or more resiliently flexible tongue portions, and each tongue portion includes a cutting portion distal from the attachment section. A depth stop may be attached to the elongate body. There is also provided a method of using an oscillating power tool. In the method, a power tool is activated to oscillate a blade. The oscillating blade is inserted into a channel filled with material, and the power tool is twisted to cause the tongue portions to engage at least opposing walls of the channel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2023
    Publication date: March 28, 2024
    Inventor: Chris Norman
  • Patent number: 11725828
    Abstract: A cooking appliance includes a cooktop having at least one heating element for heating a cookware member on or to be placed on the cooktop, the at least one heating element being adjustable between a working-power level wherein the at least one heating element is energized to generate heat and a zero-power level wherein the at least one heating element is not energized. The cooking appliance further includes a temperature sensor configured to detect a temperature or rate of temperature change of a cooking element. The cooking appliance further includes a control device configured to adjust the at least one heating element from the working-power level to the zero-power level based on the temperature or rate of temperature change of the cooking element. The at least one heating element will remain at the zero-power level until a user intervenes to re-energize the at least one heating element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: Electrolux Home Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas Chris Norman, Lloyd Smith, Jonathan Wright, Gavin Williams
  • Publication number: 20210156566
    Abstract: A cooking appliance includes a cooktop having at least one heating element for heating a cookware member on or to be placed on the cooktop, the at least one heating element being adjustable between a working-power level wherein the at least one heating element is energized to generate heat and a zero-power level wherein the at least one heating element is not energized. The cooking appliance further includes a temperature sensor configured to detect a temperature or rate of temperature change of a cooking element. The cooking appliance further includes a control device configured to adjust the at least one heating element from the working-power level to the zero-power level based on the temperature or rate of temperature change of the cooking element. The at least one heating element will remain at the zero-power level until a user intervenes to re-energize the at least one heating element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2021
    Publication date: May 27, 2021
    Inventors: Douglas Chris Norman, Lloyd Smith, Jonathan Wright, Gavin Williams
  • Patent number: 10935252
    Abstract: A cooking appliance includes a cooktop having at least one heating element for heating a cookware member on or to be placed on the cooktop, the at least one heating element being adjustable between a working-power level wherein the at least one heating element is energized to generate heat and a zero-power level wherein the at least one heating element is not energized. The cooking appliance further includes a temperature sensor configured to detect a temperature or rate of temperature change of a cooking element. The cooking appliance further includes a control device configured to adjust the at least one heating element from the working-power level to the zero-power level based on the temperature or rate of temperature change of the cooking element. The at least one heating element will remain at the zero-power level until a user intervenes to re-energize the at least one heating element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: Electrolux Home Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas Chris Norman, Lloyd Smith, Jonathan Wright, Gavin Williams
  • Publication number: 20180073745
    Abstract: A household appliance including a heating element at an upper surface of the appliance, and a variable height downdraft vent assembly movable relative to the upper surface. The vent assembly includes a duct defining a flow passage between an upper end and a lower end thereof. The duct is movable in a vertical direction relative to the upper surface of the appliance. A drive assembly is provided for engaging the duct to position the upper end of the duct at a user-selected variable height relative to the upper surface of the appliance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2017
    Publication date: March 15, 2018
    Inventors: Douglas Chris Norman, Jonathan Wright, Lloyd Smith
  • Publication number: 20170067648
    Abstract: A cooking appliance includes a cooktop having at least one heating element for heating a cookware member on or to be placed on the cooktop, the at least one heating element being adjustable between a working-power level wherein the at least one heating element is energized to generate heat and a zero-power level wherein the at least one heating element is not energized. The cooking appliance further includes a temperature sensor configured to detect a temperature or rate of temperature change of a cooking element. The cooking appliance further includes a control device configured to adjust the at least one heating element from the working-power level to the zero-power level based on the temperature or rate of temperature change of the cooking element. The at least one heating element will remain at the zero-power level until a user intervenes to re-energize the at least one heating element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2016
    Publication date: March 9, 2017
    Inventors: Douglas Chris Norman, Lloyd Smith, Jonathan Wright, Gavin Williams
  • Patent number: 7755774
    Abstract: An on-board, noncontact measurement system and method is disclosed for measuring track quality, vertical track stiffness and vertical track modulus for a portion of track underlying the rail vehicle. The system comprises first and second optical emitters mounted to the vehicle and configured to emit beams of light that are detectable on the underlying surface; a camera mounted to the vehicle for recording the distance between the beams of light as the vehicle travels along the surface, a mechanism for measuring the distance between the beams of light for a particular portion of the surface; and a mechanism for determining the vertical track stiffness or vertical track modulus for a particular portion of the track.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2010
    Assignee: Board of Regents of University of Nebraska
    Inventors: Shane Farritor, Richard Arnold, Chris Norman
  • Publication number: 20080304083
    Abstract: An on-board, noncontact measurement system and method is disclosed for measuring track quality, vertical track stiffness and vertical track modulus for a portion of track underlying the rail vehicle. The system comprises first and second optical emitters mounted to the vehicle and configured to emit beams of light that are detectable on the underlying surface; a camera mounted to the vehicle for recording the distance between the beams of light as the vehicle travels along the surface, a mechanism for measuring the distance between the beams of light for a particular portion of the surface; and a mechanism for determining the vertical track stiffness or vertical track modulus for a particular portion of the track.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2008
    Publication date: December 11, 2008
    Applicant: BOARD OF REGENTS OF UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA
    Inventors: SHANE FARRITOR, RICHARD ARNOLD, CHRIS NORMAN
  • Patent number: 7403296
    Abstract: An on-board, noncontact measurement system and method is disclosed for measuring track quality, vertical track stiffness and vertical track modulus for a portion of track underlying the rail vehicle. The system comprises first and second optical emitters mounted to the vehicle and configured to emit beams of light that are detectable on the underlying surface; a camera mounted to the vehicle for recording the distance between the beams of light as the vehicle travels along the surface, a mechanism for measuring the distance between the beams of light for a particular portion of the surface; and a mechanism for determining the vertical track stiffness or vertical track modulus for a particular portion of the track.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2008
    Assignee: Board of Regents of University of Nebraska
    Inventors: Shane Farritor, Richard Arnold, Chris Norman
  • Publication number: 20060144129
    Abstract: An on-board, noncontact measurement system and method is disclosed for measuring track quality, vertical track stiffness and vertical track modulus for a portion of track underlying the rail vehicle. The system comprises first and second optical emitters mounted to the vehicle and configured to emit beams of light that are detectable on the underlying surface; a camera mounted to the vehicle for recording the distance between the beams of light as the vehicle travels along the surface, a mechanism for measuring the distance between the beams of light for a particular portion of the surface; and a mechanism for determining the vertical track stiffness or vertical track modulus for a particular portion of the track.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2005
    Publication date: July 6, 2006
    Applicant: Board of Regents of University of Nebraska
    Inventors: Shane Farritor, Richard Arnold, Chris Norman