Patents by Inventor Donald F. Swanson

Donald F. Swanson 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: 20040103825
    Abstract: The present invention provides a portable rack for assembling packages of building materials. The rack comprises a base having a proximal side, a distal side, a top, a bottom, and a pair of channels extending between the proximal side and the distal side, the channels being designed to receive the forks of a forklift, and a plurality of elongated members attached to the proximal side and projecting upwardly from the base. The process for using the rack comprises placing the building materials onto the base of the rack using the forklift, moving the building materials toward the elongated members until the building materials abut at least one of the elongated members, and pulling the forks out from under the building materials.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2003
    Publication date: June 3, 2004
    Inventor: Donald F. Swanson
  • Patent number: 6615742
    Abstract: A portable rack for assembling packages of building materials. The rack comprises a base having a proximal side, a distal side, a top, a bottom, and a pair of channels extending between the proximal side and the distal side, the channels being designed to receive the forks of a forklift, and a plurality of elongated members attached to the proximal side and projecting upwardly from the base. The process for using the rack comprises placing the building materials onto the base of the rack using the forklift, moving the building materials toward the elongated members until the building materials abut at least one of the elongated members, and pulling the forks out from under the building materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2003
    Inventor: Donald F. Swanson
  • Patent number: 6302034
    Abstract: A portable rack for assembling packages of building materials. The rack comprises a base having a proximal side, a distal side, a top, a bottom, and a pair of channels extending between the proximal side and the distal side, the channels being designed to receive the forks of a forklift, and a plurality of elongated members attached to the proximal side and projecting upwardly from the base. The process for using the rack comprises placing the building materials onto the base of the rack using the forklift, moving the building materials toward the elongated members until the building materials abut at least one of the elongated members, and pulling the forks out from under the building materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2001
    Inventor: Donald F. Swanson
  • Patent number: 4183222
    Abstract: A method of making ice wherein water in excess of the freezing capacity is directed over a cylindrical surface member that is refrigerated to a subfreezing temperature to form ice thereon and from which the ice is harvested in combination with a thermostatic water valve means having a control portion in heat exchange relationship with the low pressure side of the refrigerating means that provides the subfreezing temperature for regulating the volumetric water supply to the surface in inverse ratio to the temperature of the low pressure side of the refrigerating means so that when the temperature is higher than desired, the water flow is restricted or stopped so as to prevent waste. Then, when the temperature of the low pressure side of the refrigerating means and, thus, the cylindrical surface is sufficiently low, the volumetric flow of water is increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 1977
    Date of Patent: January 15, 1980
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventor: Donald F. Swanson
  • Patent number: 4040267
    Abstract: An ice maker of the type where water in excess of the freezing capacity is directed over a cylindrical surface member that is refrigerated to a subfreezing temperature to form ice thereon and from which the ice is harvested in combination with a thermostatic water valve means having a control portion in heat exchange relationship with the low pressure side of the refrigerating means that provides the subfreezing temperature for regulating the volumetric water supply to the surface in inverse ratio to the temperature of the low pressure side of the refrigerating means so that when the temperature is higher than desired the water flow is restricted or stopped so as to prevent waste. Then, when the temperature of the low pressure side of the refrigerating means and thus the cylindrical surface is sufficiently low the volumetric flow of water is increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 1976
    Date of Patent: August 9, 1977
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventor: Donald F. Swanson
  • Patent number: 4009594
    Abstract: A refrigeration apparatus having a refrigerant fluid accumulator providing a supercharge of hot refrigerant in the system for improved defrosting at desired intervals. During the normal refrigeration operation of the apparatus, the supercharge fluid is stored in the accumulator as hot refrigerant liquid with the remaining refrigerant fluid in the system defining a full charge quantity for normal proper operation of the refrigeration apparatus. The additional refrigerant fluid further provides accelerated cooling of the evaporator of the apparatus upon initiation of the refrigeration operation subsequent to a defrosting operation for further improved efficiency of operation of the refrigeration apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 1975
    Date of Patent: March 1, 1977
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventor: Donald F. Swanson