Patents by Inventor Michael Colston

Michael Colston 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: 20200177723
    Abstract: Embodiments are directed to communicating with and controlling operation of electronically-controlled appliances. In one scenario, a computer system receives a first input from a computing system indicating that an electronically-controlled appliance is permitted to communicate with a cloud computing platform. The computer system generates a notification that is to be sent to a software application, where the software application is configured to control functions of the electronically-controlled appliance. The computer system transmits the generated notification to the software application, where the generated notification indicates that the cloud computing platform is communicably connected to the electronically-controlled appliance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2020
    Publication date: June 4, 2020
    Inventor: Michael Colston
  • Patent number: 10652386
    Abstract: Embodiments are directed to communicating with and controlling operation of electronically-controlled appliances. In one scenario, a computer system receives a first input from a computing system indicating that an electronically-controlled appliance is permitted to communicate with a cloud computing platform. The computer system generates a notification that is to be sent to a software application, where the software application is configured to control functions of the electronically-controlled appliance. The computer system transmits the generated notification to the software application, where the generated notification indicates that the cloud computing platform is communicably connected to the electronically-controlled appliance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: Traeger Pellet Grills, LLC
    Inventor: Michael Colston
  • Patent number: 10568461
    Abstract: Grill rack systems include at least three grill racks and a mounting assembly for supporting the grill racks. The mounting assembly includes a plurality of grill rack mounting elements that are connectable to an inner surface of a grilling device. A grilling device with grill rack system includes an oven section having an outer wall that partially bounds an internal grilling compartment with an access opening and a lid that selectively covers the access opening. The grilling device also includes a grill rack system having at least three grill racks supported by a mounting assembly inside the internal grilling compartment. Oval-shaped grilling devices have the grill racks mounted therein in a vertically spaced configuration, with the front edge of each grill rack progressively recessed relative to an adjacent lower grill rack. At least one grill rack can have a removable grill rack insert and/or be slidable into the grill.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: Traeger Pellet Grills, LLC
    Inventors: Michael Colston, Daniel Altenritter, Matthew Czach
  • Publication number: 20200053198
    Abstract: Embodiments are directed to communicating with and controlling operation of electronically-controlled appliances. In one scenario, a computer system receives a first input from a computing system indicating that an electronically-controlled appliance is permitted to communicate with a cloud computing platform. The computer system generates a notification that is to be sent to a software application, where the software application is configured to control functions of the electronically-controlled appliance. The computer system transmits the generated notification to the software application, where the generated notification indicates that the cloud computing platform is communicably connected to the electronically-controlled appliance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2019
    Publication date: February 13, 2020
    Inventor: Michael Colston
  • Patent number: 10491738
    Abstract: Embodiments are directed to communicating with and controlling operation of electronically-controlled appliances. In one scenario, a computer system receives a first input from a computing system indicating that an electronically-controlled appliance is permitted to communicate with a cloud computing platform. The computer system generates a notification that is to be sent to a software application, where the software application is configured to control functions of the electronically-controlled appliance. The computer system transmits the generated notification to the software application, where the generated notification indicates that the cloud computing platform is communicably connected to the electronically-controlled appliance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: Traeger Pellet Grills, LLC
    Inventor: Michael Colston
  • Patent number: 10455979
    Abstract: A smoke trap includes a receptacle with a floor opening, a tubular riser surrounding the opening and extending from the floor into a receptacle cavity, and a capping element disposed over an aperture in a riser. The capping element has an upper wall and a side wall partially bounding a body cavity and extending from the upper wall toward the floor. The capping element covers the aperture from above and from the side without fluidly sealing the aperture such that the aperture is in fluid communication with the body cavity and the body cavity is in fluid communication with the receptacle cavity. A portion of the side wall extends past the aperture such that the aperture is disposed within the body cavity. Grease management systems that include the smoke trap have means for transferring grease into the receptacle cavity to inhibit smoke from escaping the receptacle cavity through the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: Traeger Pellet Grills, LLC
    Inventors: Michael Colston, Daniel Altenritter
  • Patent number: 10455022
    Abstract: Embodiments are directed to communicating with and controlling operation of electronically-controlled appliances. In one scenario, a computer system receives a first input from a computing system indicating that an electronically-controlled appliance is permitted to communicate with a cloud computing platform. The computer system generates a notification that is to be sent to a software application, where the software application is configured to control functions of the electronically-controlled appliance. The computer system transmits the generated notification to the software application, where the generated notification indicates that the cloud computing platform is communicably connected to the electronically-controlled appliance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: Traeger Pellet Grills, LLC
    Inventor: Michael Colston
  • Publication number: 20190320058
    Abstract: Embodiments are directed to communicating with and controlling operation of electronically-controlled appliances. In one scenario, a computer system receives a first input from a computing system indicating that an electronically-controlled appliance is permitted to communicate with a cloud computing platform. The computer system generates a notification that is to be sent to a software application, where the software application is configured to control functions of the electronically-controlled appliance. The computer system transmits the generated notification to the software application, where the generated notification indicates that the cloud computing platform is communicably connected to the electronically-controlled appliance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2019
    Publication date: October 17, 2019
    Inventor: Michael Colston
  • Publication number: 20190289119
    Abstract: Embodiments are directed to communicating with and controlling operation of electronically-controlled appliances. In one scenario, a computer system receives a first input from a computing system indicating that an electronically-controlled appliance is permitted to communicate with a cloud computing platform. The computer system generates a notification that is to be sent to a software application, where the software application is configured to control functions of the electronically-controlled appliance. The computer system transmits the generated notification to the software application, where the generated notification indicates that the cloud computing platform is communicably connected to the electronically-controlled appliance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2019
    Publication date: September 19, 2019
    Inventor: Michael Colston
  • Publication number: 20190289122
    Abstract: Embodiments are directed to communicating with and controlling operation of electronically-controlled appliances. In one scenario, a computer system receives a first input from a computing system indicating that an electronically-controlled appliance is permitted to communicate with a cloud computing platform. The computer system generates a notification that is to be sent to a software application, where the software application is configured to control functions of the electronically-controlled appliance. The computer system transmits the generated notification to the software application, where the generated notification indicates that the cloud computing platform is communicably connected to the electronically-controlled appliance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2019
    Publication date: September 19, 2019
    Inventor: Michael Colston
  • Publication number: 20190289120
    Abstract: Embodiments are directed to communicating with and controlling operation of electronically-controlled appliances. In one scenario, a computer system receives a first input from a computing system indicating that an electronically-controlled appliance is permitted to communicate with a cloud computing platform. The computer system generates a notification that is to be sent to a software application, where the software application is configured to control functions of the electronically-controlled appliance. The computer system transmits the generated notification to the software application, where the generated notification indicates that the cloud computing platform is communicably connected to the electronically-controlled appliance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2019
    Publication date: September 19, 2019
    Inventor: Michael Colston
  • Publication number: 20190289121
    Abstract: Embodiments are directed to communicating with and controlling operation of electronically-controlled appliances. In one scenario, a computer system receives a first input from a computing system indicating that an electronically-controlled appliance is permitted to communicate with a cloud computing platform. The computer system generates a notification that is to be sent to a software application, where the software application is configured to control functions of the electronically-controlled appliance. The computer system transmits the generated notification to the software application, where the generated notification indicates that the cloud computing platform is communicably connected to the electronically-controlled appliance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2019
    Publication date: September 19, 2019
    Inventor: Michael Colston
  • Publication number: 20190277507
    Abstract: A pellet hopper for use in a pellet grill includes a first bottom panel, a second bottom panel, and a third bottom panel. Each bottom panel has an inner edge that partially defines a pellet evacuation opening. The first, second, and third bottom panels form respective first, second, and third nonzero angles relative to a horizontal plane. In this way, each bottom panel tilts downward toward the pellet evacuation opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2019
    Publication date: September 12, 2019
    Inventors: Michael Colston, Daniel Sluder, Phuong Hoang
  • Patent number: 10218833
    Abstract: Embodiments are directed to controlling an electronically-controlled appliance using a software application and providing a user interface for controlling an electronically-controlled appliance. In one scenario, a computer system receives an indication from a remote computing system indicating that an electronically-controlled appliance is communicably connected to the remote computing system. The computer system provides a notification in the software application indicating that the electronically-controlled appliance is available to receive instructions, and receives a user input at the software application indicating that certain functions are to be performed by the electronically-controlled appliance. The computer system further generates instructions configured to control the electronically-controlled appliance based on the functions specified in the received user input, and sends the generated instructions to the electronically-controlled appliance to perform the specified functions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: Traeger Pellet Grills, LLC
    Inventor: Michael Colston
  • Patent number: 10213051
    Abstract: A grilling device includes an oven section having an outer wall with opposing side portions and an encircling body portion extending therebetween. The body portion has an access opening and the grilling device includes a lid that selectively covers the access opening by means of a handle attached thereto. The grilling device also includes opposing hinge elements connected to opposite sides of the lid and to the side portions of the outer wall, as opposed to the encircling body portion. In particular, the hinge elements are connected to respective rear areas of the side portions. Accordingly, the path of opening the lid has a different shape or curvature and thereby positions the handle substantially lower than if the hinge elements were connected to the body portion adjacent to the access opening. The opposing side portions have a substantially oval shape and the hinge elements have an elongated configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: Traeger Pellet Grills, LLC
    Inventors: Michael Colston, Daniel A. C. Altenritter, Matthew G. Czach
  • Patent number: 10165102
    Abstract: Embodiments are directed to controlling an electronically-controlled appliance using a software application and providing a user interface for controlling an electronically-controlled appliance. In one scenario, a computer system receives an indication from a remote computing system indicating that an electronically-controlled appliance is communicably connected to the remote computing system. The computer system provides a notification in the software application indicating that the electronically-controlled appliance is available to receive instructions, and receives a user input at the software application indicating that certain functions are to be performed by the electronically-controlled appliance. The computer system further generates instructions configured to control the electronically-controlled appliance based on the functions specified in the received user input, and sends the generated instructions to the electronically-controlled appliance to perform the specified functions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: Traeger Pellet Grills, LLC
    Inventor: Michael Colston
  • Patent number: 10158720
    Abstract: A cloud computing system for use in remote cooking can receive a first input from a computing system indicating that an electronically-controlled appliance is permitted to communicate with a cloud computing platform. The computer system generates a notification that is to be sent to a software application, where the software application is configured to control functions of the electronically-controlled appliance. The computer system transmits the generated notification to the software application, where the generated notification indicates that the cloud computing platform is communicably connected to the electronically-controlled appliance. The computer system then receives a second input from the software application indicating that specified functions are to be performed on the electronically-controlled appliance, and transmits instructions to the electronically-controlled appliance to perform the specified functions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2018
    Assignee: Traeger Pellet Grills, LLC
    Inventor: Michael Colston
  • Patent number: D839047
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: Traeger Pellet Grills, LLC
    Inventors: Michael Colston, Daniel Altenritter, Matthew Czach
  • Patent number: D853786
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: Traeger Pellet Grills, LLC
    Inventors: Michael Colston, Daniel Altenritter, Matthew Czach
  • Patent number: D867065
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: Traeger Pellet Grills, LLC
    Inventors: Michael Colston, Daniel Sluder, Phuong Kim Hoang