Patents by Inventor Leonard J. Minnick

Leonard J. Minnick 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: 5426814
    Abstract: A heated windshield wiper having a heating element for melting ice formations on both the wiper and an associated windshield. The wiper includes an elongated cylindrical body having a hollow interior and three wiping surfaces which project from the body and extend longitudinally along the wiper. A helical heating element is concentrically positioned within the hollow interior of the wiper and is connectable to the vehicle battery to heat the entire outer circumference of the wiper body and the wiping surfaces to melt ice surrounding the wiper and present on the windshield. Alternate embodiments of the present invention include a fluid dispensing arrangement for dispensing fluid over the heating coil and through apertures in the wiping surfaces, as well as an air expansion assembly for expanding the cylindrical body and the wiping surfaces to fracture ice formations surrounding the wiper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 27, 1995
    Inventor: Leonard J. Minnick
  • Patent number: 4153655
    Abstract: Methods of making finely divided product from fly ash compositions, including both dry fly ash compositions and aqueous suspensions of fly ash in combination with alkaline earth metal compounds. The fly ash composition, preferably including 10 to 50% combined alkaline earth metal oxides, is heated to molten condition while collecting gases evolving therefrom, including sulfur oxide gases. The top portion of the melt is then poured in a manner causing a molten stream thereof to be divided into a multiplicity of fractions and cooled to solid form while encompassed by a fluid cooling medium in a manner to produce either a shot or a granulated aggregate product. The bottom portion of the melt is nearly pure metallic iron which is recovered, as such, for other uses. Preferably, the molten stream impinges on a rotating member in a manner to produce shot, or is quenched in a water bath to form a granulated type product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 1976
    Date of Patent: May 8, 1979
    Inventors: Leonard J. Minnick, William C. Webster, Charles L. Smith