Patents by Inventor Mark Bedard
Mark Bedard 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).
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Patent number: 8621877Abstract: Kits for constructing a modular merchandizing unit include panels, frame members, joint pieces, and a cooling device. The frame members have a lengthwise shape defining outer and inner panel mounting assemblies and a joint capture region. The mounting assemblies include opposing legs extending from a base web to define a panel engagement region. The joint pieces each include a block core and orthogonally arranged plug assemblies projecting from faces of the core. The plug assemblies mate with the joint capture region. Construction of a unit from the kit includes the frame members retaining selected panels as paired inner and outer panels within corresponding engagement regions. The joint pieces interconnect the frame members and paired panels to form a cabinet. The cooling device is mounted the cabinet. A door assembly can also be mounted to the cabinet. Optionally, foam insulation is dispensed between the paired panels.Type: GrantFiled: May 27, 2011Date of Patent: January 7, 2014Assignee: General Mills, Inc.Inventors: George A. Tuszkiewicz, Mark Bedard
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Patent number: 8468836Abstract: A portable cooling/heating unit for cooling/heating a product container. The unit includes a thermoelectric assembly, a housing, a front side fan, and a rear side fan. The thermoelectric assembly includes a thermoelectric device, a first heat sink, and a second heat sink. The housing maintains the first heat sink and front fan within a front side channel, and the second heat sink and rear fan within a rear side channel. The housing further forms a condensation passageway segment that facilitates fluid connection between the channels. During use, the unit is removably assembled to the container such that openings of the front side channel are fluidly within the container's interior region. Accumulated condensation is directed to the rear side channel and evaporated.Type: GrantFiled: November 12, 2008Date of Patent: June 25, 2013Assignee: General Mills, Inc.Inventors: George A. Tuszkiewicz, Mark Bedard
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Patent number: 8424316Abstract: A portable cooled merchandizing unit including a product container assembly and a thermoelectric assembly. The product container assembly includes an exterior frame and an interior container forming a floor and side panels defining an interior region. Openings to the interior region are defined opposite the floor. Airflow paths are defined at an exterior of the panels and are fluidly connected to the interior region via the opening. The thermoelectric assembly includes a thermoelectric device connected to a heat sink that is fluidly connected to the airflow path away from the opening. A fan is positioned to circulate air from the thermoelectric device and into the interior region via the airflow paths.Type: GrantFiled: November 9, 2010Date of Patent: April 23, 2013Assignee: General Mills, Inc.Inventors: George A. Tuszkiewicz, Galen Hersey, Thomas P. Meehan, Mark Bedard
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Publication number: 20120297794Abstract: Kits for constructing a modular merchandizing unit include panels, frame members, joint pieces, and a cooling device. The frame members have a lengthwise shape defining outer and inner panel mounting assemblies and a joint capture region. The mounting assemblies include opposing legs extending from a base web to define a panel engagement region. The joint pieces each include a block core and orthogonally arranged plug assemblies projecting from faces of the core. The plug assemblies mate with the joint capture region. Construction of a unit from the kit includes the frame members retaining selected panels as paired inner and outer panels within corresponding engagement regions. The joint pieces interconnect the frame members and paired panels to form a cabinet. The cooling device is mounted the cabinet. A door assembly can also be mounted to the cabinet. Optionally, foam insulation is dispensed between the paired panels.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 27, 2011Publication date: November 29, 2012Applicant: GENERAL MILLS, INC.Inventors: George A. Tuszkiewicz, Mark Bedard
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Patent number: 8061148Abstract: The present invention generally relates to containers and more specifically, to a portable temperature-controlled container. The temperature-controlled container is used for maintaining articles at a controlled temperature. The container includes a housing unit defining a storage chamber for receiving the articles, a cooling system mounted to the housing unit, wherein the cooling system includes a cold side assembly system in heat transfer communication with the interior of the chamber, a hot side assembly system in heat transfer communication with the outside of the storage chamber and a thermoelectric module supplied with an electrical power source.Type: GrantFiled: May 19, 2006Date of Patent: November 22, 2011Assignee: SG ProductionsInventors: Sylvain S E Ethier, Gaetan Beaupre, Mark Bedard
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Publication number: 20110271691Abstract: A portable cooled merchandizing unit including a product container assembly and a thermoelectric assembly. The product container assembly includes an exterior frame and an interior container forming a floor and side panels defining an interior region. Openings to the interior region are defined opposite the floor. Airflow paths are defined at an exterior of the panels and are fluidly connected to the interior region via the opening. The thermoelectric assembly includes a thermoelectric device connected to a heat sink that is fluidly connected to the airflow path away from the opening. A fan is positioned to circulate air from the thermoelectric device and into the interior region via the airflow paths.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 9, 2010Publication date: November 10, 2011Applicant: GENERAL MILLS, INC.Inventors: George A. Tuszkiewicz, Galen Hersey, Thomas Meehan, Mark Bedard
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Publication number: 20110236549Abstract: A portable cooking device suitable for baking foods such as pizza. The device can include a base with a cover, a fan mounted circulate air within the device, and a thermoelectric device for powering the fan.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 7, 2011Publication date: September 29, 2011Inventor: Mark Bedard
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Patent number: 7934384Abstract: A portable cooled merchandising unit including a product container assembly, a door assembly, a cooling assembly, a customer enticement device, and a power unit. The product container assembly defines an interior region for containing products. The cooling assembly is connected to the product container assembly and includes a powered cooling device to cool the interior region. The enticement device is adapted to encourage customer interest in the merchandising unit and includes a powered component. The power unit includes a power supply electrically connectable to an external power source, with each of the powered cooling device and the power component of the enticement device being electrically coupled to the power supply. With this configuration, the common power supply serves to power both the cooling assembly as well as the customer enticement device. In some embodiments, the cooling assembly includes a thermoelectric device.Type: GrantFiled: February 20, 2007Date of Patent: May 3, 2011Assignee: General Mills, Inc.Inventors: George A. Tuskiewicz, Mark Bedard
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Patent number: 7827806Abstract: A portable cooled merchandising unit including a product container assembly and a thermoelectric assembly. The product container assembly includes an exterior frame and an interior container forming a floor and side panels defining an interior region. Openings to the interior region are defined opposite the floor. Airflow paths are defined at an exterior of the panels and are fluidly connected to the interior region via the opening. The thermoelectric assembly includes a thermoelectric device connected to a heat sink that is fluidly connected to the airflow path away from the opening. A fan is positioned to circulate air from the thermoelectric device and into the interior region via the airflow paths.Type: GrantFiled: November 17, 2008Date of Patent: November 9, 2010Assignee: General Mills, Inc.Inventors: George A. Tuszkiewicz, Galen Hersey, Thomas P. Meehan, Mark Bedard
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Publication number: 20100115969Abstract: A portable cooling/heating unit for cooling/heating a product container. The unit includes a thermoelectric assembly, a housing, a front side fan, and a rear side fan. The thermoelectric assembly includes a thermoelectric device, a first heat sink, and a second heat sink. The housing maintains the first heat sink and front fan within a front side channel, and the second heat sink and rear fan within a rear side channel. The housing further forms a condensation passageway segment that facilitates fluid connection between the channels. During use, the unit is removably assembled to the container such that openings of the front side channel are fluidly within the container's interior region. Accumulated condensation is directed to the rear side channel and evaporated.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 12, 2008Publication date: May 13, 2010Applicant: GENERAL MILLS, INC.Inventors: George A. Tuszkiewicz, Mark Bedard
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Publication number: 20100095687Abstract: A portable cooled merchandising unit including a product container assembly and a thermoelectric assembly. The product container assembly includes an exterior frame and an interior container forming a floor and side panels defining an interior region. Openings to the interior region are defined opposite the floor. Airflow paths are defined at an exterior of the panels and are fluidly connected to the interior region via the opening. The thermoelectric assembly includes a thermoelectric device connected to a heat sink that is fluidly connected to the airflow path away from the opening. A fan is positioned to circulate air from the thermoelectric device and into the interior region via the airflow paths.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 17, 2008Publication date: April 22, 2010Applicant: GENERAL MILLS, INC.Inventors: George Tuszkiewicz, Galen Hersey, Thomas Meehan, Mark Bedard
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Publication number: 20100012165Abstract: A portable self-powered electrical system for converting heat energy into electrical energy to power one or more electric devices, the portable self-powered electrical system comprises a housing, a thermoelectric device positioned in the housing, and a power transfer medium, wherein the thermoelectric device converts heat energy from a heat source into electrical energy for providing power to at least one electronic device via a power transfer medium.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 14, 2009Publication date: January 21, 2010Inventor: Mark Bedard
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Publication number: 20090229476Abstract: A portable cooking device suitable for baking foods such as pizza. The device can include a base with a cover, a fan mounted circulate air within the device, and a thermoelectric device for powering the fan.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 13, 2008Publication date: September 17, 2009Inventor: Mark Bedard
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Publication number: 20090145138Abstract: The present invention generally relates to containers and more specifically, to a portable temperature-controlled container. The temperature-controlled container is used for maintaining articles at a controlled temperature. The container includes a housing unit defining a storage chamber for receiving the articles, a cooling system mounted to the housing unit, wherein the cooling system includes a cold side assembly system in heat transfer communication with the interior of the chamber, a hot side assembly system in heat transfer communication with the outside of the storage chamber and a thermoelectric module supplied with an electrical power source.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 19, 2006Publication date: June 11, 2009Inventors: Sylvain Ethier, Gaetan Beaupre, Mark Bedard
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Publication number: 20090092473Abstract: A method for stacking firewood which comprises the steps of supplying an elongated strap, securing a first end portion of the strap about a piece of firewood, laying a first portion of the strap along a substrate, placing a plurality of logs in a side by side relationship to form a first row on top of the first portion of the strap, wrapping the strap about an end of the first row and then extending the strap on top of the first row, stacking further objects in a second row on top of the strap and first row, and wrapping the strap about a second end of the second row and again extending the strap on top of the second row. The steps are repeated until the desired amount of firewood is stacked.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 19, 2008Publication date: April 9, 2009Inventor: Mark Bedard
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Publication number: 20090064687Abstract: A portable cooled merchandising unit including a product container assembly and a thermoelectric assembly. The product container assembly includes an exterior frame and an interior container forming a floor and side panels defining an interior region. Openings to the interior region are defined opposite the floor. Airflow paths are defined at an exterior of the panels and are fluidly connected to the interior region via the opening. The thermoelectric assembly includes a thermoelectric device connected to a heat sink that is fluidly connected to the airflow path away from the opening. A fan is positioned to circulate air from the thermoelectric device and into the interior region via the airflow paths.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 17, 2008Publication date: March 12, 2009Applicant: GENERAL MILLS, INC.Inventors: George A. Tuszkiewicz, Galen Hersey, Thomas Meehan, Mark Bedard
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Patent number: 7451603Abstract: A portable cooled merchandising unit including a product container assembly and a thermoelectric assembly. The product container assembly includes an interior floor and at least one interior panel extending from the floor and defining a portion of an interior region. An opening to the interior region is defined opposite the floor. A first airflow path is defined along at least a portion of the panel and fluidly connected to the opening. The thermoelectric assembly includes a thermoelectric device connected to a heat sink that is fluidly connected to the airflow path away from the opening. Further, a fan is positioned to circulate air from the thermoelectric device, through the airflow path, and to the opening.Type: GrantFiled: March 22, 2005Date of Patent: November 18, 2008Assignee: General Mills, Inc.Inventors: George A. Tuszkiewicz, Galen Hersey, Thomas Meehan, Mark Bedard
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Publication number: 20070193280Abstract: A portable cooled merchandising unit including a product container assembly, a door assembly, a cooling assembly, a customer enticement device, and a power unit. The product container assembly defines an interior region for containing products. The cooling assembly is connected to the product container assembly and includes a powered cooling device to cool the interior region. The enticement device is adapted to encourage customer interest in the merchandising unit and includes a powered component. The power unit includes a power supply electrically connectable to an external power source, with each of the powered cooling device and the power component of the enticement device being electrically coupled to the power supply. With this configuration, the common power supply serves to power both the cooling assembly as well as the customer enticement device. In some embodiments, the cooling assembly includes a thermoelectric device.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 20, 2007Publication date: August 23, 2007Inventors: George Tuskiewicz, Mark Bedard
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Publication number: 20050210884Abstract: A portable cooled merchandising unit including a product container assembly and a thermoelectric assembly. The product container assembly includes an interior floor and at least one interior panel extending from the floor and defining a portion of an interior region. An opening to the interior region is defined opposite the floor. A first airflow path is defined along at least a portion of the panel and fluidly connected to the opening. The thermoelectric assembly includes a thermoelectric device connected to a heat sink that is fluidly connected to the airflow path away from the opening. Further, a fan is positioned to circulate air from the thermoelectric device, through the airflow path, and to the opening.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 22, 2005Publication date: September 29, 2005Inventors: George Tuskiewicz, Galen Hersey, Thomas Meehan, Mark Bedard
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Patent number: D615319Type: GrantFiled: November 12, 2008Date of Patent: May 11, 2010Assignee: General Mills, Inc.Inventors: George A. Tuszkiewicz, Mark Bedard