Patents by Inventor Terry L Hygema
Terry L Hygema 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: 9486551Abstract: An air freshener system includes a roll paper assembly and an air freshener assembly coupled with the roll paper assembly. The air freshener assembly includes an integrated air freshener element in the form of a single, continuous gel component.Type: GrantFiled: September 19, 2013Date of Patent: November 8, 2016Assignee: Momentum Industries, Inc.Inventors: David A. Granger, Terry L. Hygema
-
Publication number: 20140076989Abstract: An air freshener system includes a roll paper assembly and an air freshener assembly coupled with the roll paper assembly. The air freshener assembly includes an integrated air freshener element in the form of a single, continuous gel component.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 19, 2013Publication date: March 20, 2014Applicant: Momentum Industries, Inc.Inventors: David A. Granger, Terry L. Hygema
-
Patent number: 8286830Abstract: An aerosol valve actuator with a top portion rotatable on a bottom portion. The entire top portion in one rotatable position is depressible vertically to actuate the valve. A click post and clicking rib provide a single click in each direction of rotation. Flanges on top and bottom portions interact to stop rotation as soon as each click occurs. Plastic springs interact with spring biasing members only when the top portion is in actuating position, and assure return of the actuator top portion to full upward position for rotation after actuation of even a short-stemmed valve. Downwardly extending flexible connecting flanges connect the actuator top and bottom portions. The top portion has a lower periphery with a plurality of upwardly extending indentations to overlie lateral ribs in the lower portion in actuation position. The top and bottom portions have interfitting cylinders to stabilize the top portion and maintain verticality.Type: GrantFiled: June 24, 2011Date of Patent: October 16, 2012Assignee: Precision Valve CorporationInventor: Terry L. Hygema
-
Patent number: 8267109Abstract: The present invention provides a water vacuum break assembly for use in a washing machine and a method of assembling the water vacuum break assembly. The water vacuum break assembly includes a housing defining at least one water inlet opening, a water cavity fluidly connected with the at least one water inlet opening, and a control system cavity positioned proximate the water cavity, the control system cavity configured for selectively retaining one of at least two differently configured control systems configured for sensing and/or regulating a temperature of water in the water cavity.Type: GrantFiled: March 7, 2007Date of Patent: September 18, 2012Assignee: Group Dekko, Inc.Inventor: Terry L. Hygema
-
Patent number: 8122548Abstract: A method of installing a water vacuum break in a housing including the steps of providing a plurality of slots in a wall of the housing; moving a water vacuum break in a first direction; and moving the water vacuum break in a second direction. The step of moving the water vacuum break in a first direction includes moving it substantially perpendicularly with the outer wall so that a plurality of retaining protrusions extend through the plurality of slots.Type: GrantFiled: December 15, 2009Date of Patent: February 28, 2012Assignee: Group Dekko, Inc.Inventor: Terry L. Hygema
-
Publication number: 20110253749Abstract: An aerosol valve actuator with a top portion rotatable on a bottom portion. The entire top portion in one rotatable position is depressible vertically to actuate the valve. A click post and clicking rib provide a single click in each direction of rotation. Flanges on top and bottom portions interact to stop rotation as soon as each click occurs. Plastic springs interact with spring biasing members only when the top portion is in actuating position, and assure return of the actuator top portion to full upward position for rotation after actuation of even a short-stemmed valve. Downwardly extending flexible connecting flanges connect the actuator top and bottom portions. The top portion has a lower periphery with a plurality of upwardly extending indentations to overlie lateral ribs in the lower portion in actuation position. The top and bottom portions have interfitting cylinders to stabilize the top portion and maintain verticality.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 24, 2011Publication date: October 20, 2011Applicant: PRECISION VALVE CORPORATIONInventor: Terry L. Hygema
-
Patent number: 7984827Abstract: An aerosol valve actuator with a top portion rotatable on a bottom portion. The entire top portion in one rotatable position is depressible vertically to actuate the valve. A click post and clicking rib provide a single click in each direction of rotation. Flanges on top and bottom portions interact to stop rotation as soon as each click occurs. Plastic springs interact with spring biasing members only when the top portion is in actuating position, and assure return of the actuator top portion to full upward position for rotation after actuation of even a short-stemmed valve. Downwardly extending flexible connecting flanges connect the actuator top and bottom portions. The top portion has a lower periphery with a plurality of upwardly extending indentations to overlie lateral ribs in the lower portion in actuation position. The top and bottom portions have interfitting cylinders to stabilize the top portion and maintain verticality.Type: GrantFiled: February 25, 2010Date of Patent: July 26, 2011Assignee: Precision Valve CorporationInventor: Terry L. Hygema
-
Publication number: 20100155436Abstract: An aerosol valve actuator with a top portion rotatable on a bottom portion. The entire top portion in one rotatable position is depressible vertically to actuate the valve. A click post and clicking rib provide a single click in each direction of rotation. Flanges on top and bottom portions interact to stop rotation as soon as each click occurs. Plastic springs interact with spring biasing members only when the top portion is in actuating position, and assure return of the actuator top portion to full upward position for rotation after actuation of even a short-stemmed valve. Downwardly extending flexible connecting flanges connect the actuator top and bottom portions. The top portion has a lower periphery with a plurality of upwardly extending indentations to overlie lateral ribs in the lower portion in actuation position. The top and bottom portions have interfitting cylinders to stabilize the top portion and maintain verticality.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 25, 2010Publication date: June 24, 2010Inventor: Terry L. Hygema
-
Patent number: 7699190Abstract: An aerosol valve actuator with a top portion rotatable on a bottom portion. The entire top portion in one rotatable position is depressible vertically to actuate the valve. A click post and clicking rib provide a single click in each direction of rotation. Flanges on top and bottom portions interact to stop rotation as soon as each click occurs. Plastic springs interact with spring biasing members only when the top portion is in actuating position, and assure return of the actuator top portion to full upward position for rotation after actuation of even a short-stemmed valve. Downwardly extending flexible connecting flanges connect the actuator top and bottom portions. The top portion has a lower periphery with a plurality of upwardly extending indentations to overlie lateral ribs in the lower portion in actuation position. The top and bottom portions have interfitting cylinders to stabilize the top portion and maintain verticality.Type: GrantFiled: January 4, 2007Date of Patent: April 20, 2010Assignee: Precision Valve CorporationInventor: Terry L. Hygema
-
Publication number: 20100088892Abstract: A method of installing a water vacuum break in a housing including the steps of providing a plurality of slots in a wall of the housing; moving a water vacuum break in a first direction; and moving the water vacuum break in a second direction. The step of moving the water vacuum break in a first direction includes moving it substantially perpendicularly with the outer wall so that a plurality of retaining protrusions extend through the plurality of slots.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 15, 2009Publication date: April 15, 2010Inventor: Terry L. Hygema
-
Patent number: 7673480Abstract: A washing machine including a water tub, a housing and a water vacuum break. The water tub is mounted in the housing. The housing includes an outer wall having a plurality of slots therein. The water vacuum break partially extends over a portion of the water tub. The vacuum break includes at least one retaining protrusion and at least one retaining snap associated with the at least one retaining protrusion. The at least one retaining protrusion extends over a portion of the outer wall and the at least one retaining snap has an edge that engages a portion of one of the plurality of slots.Type: GrantFiled: May 9, 2006Date of Patent: March 9, 2010Assignee: Group Dekko, Inc.Inventor: Terry L. Hygema
-
Patent number: 7543598Abstract: A vacuum break assembly including a housing and a sensor assembly. The housing has a pocket therein, the pocket having a wall. The sensor assembly includes a spring beam and a thermal sensor held against the wall of the pocket by force from the spring beam.Type: GrantFiled: December 29, 2005Date of Patent: June 9, 2009Assignee: Group Dekko, Inc.Inventor: Terry L. Hygema
-
Publication number: 20090014679Abstract: A plastic aerosol valve with a plastic valve stem, plastic housing, plastic mounting cup, and plastic locking ring. The plastic valve is assembled into the mounting cup. The plastic housing is assembled into the plastic mounting cup by snap fittings. The plastic mounting cup has a peripheral portion that snap fits up into the plastic locking ring. The plastic locking ring has frangibly-connected upper and lower portions. The lower portion snap fits with the top of a plastic product bottle to mount the aerosol valve assembly on the bottle. The upper ring portion thereafter is telescoped downwardly over the lower ring portion to lock and retain the aerosol valve assembly on the pressurized bottle. The plastic mounting cup can be molded separately, or integrally with the plastic locking ring. A check valve may be contained in the valve stem.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 13, 2007Publication date: January 15, 2009Applicant: PRECISION VALVE CORPORATIONInventors: Terry L. Hygema, Geoff Brace, John B. Fore, Randy J. Flynn
-
Publication number: 20080164285Abstract: An aerosol valve actuator with a top portion rotatable on a bottom portion. The entire top portion in one rotatable position is depressible vertically to actuate the valve. A click post and clicking rib provide a single click in each direction of rotation. Flanges on top and bottom portions interact to stop rotation as soon as each click occurs. Plastic springs interact with spring biasing members only when the top portion is in actuating position, and assure return of the actuator top portion to full upward position for rotation after actuation of even a short-stemmed valve. Downwardly extending flexible connecting flanges connect the actuator top and bottom portions. The top portion has a lower periphery with a plurality of upwardly extending indentations to overlie lateral ribs in the lower portion in actuation position. The top and bottom portions have interfitting cylinders to stabilize the top portion and maintain verticality.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 4, 2007Publication date: July 10, 2008Applicant: PRECISION VALVE CORPORATIONInventor: Terry L. Hygema
-
Patent number: 6795645Abstract: A heated fluid dispensing system including a heated dispenser and a docking element. The heated dispenser includes a housing with a docking interface, a channel heat exchanger disposed in the housing and an electrical heater associated with the channel heat exchanger. The channel heat exchanger has a channel in fluid communication with a valve on an aerosol can. The docking element includes a flange and a housing interface, the flange attachable to a cap ring on an aerosol can, the housing interface is both releasably attachable to and actuatable with the docking interface.Type: GrantFiled: January 29, 2003Date of Patent: September 21, 2004Assignee: Dekko Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Terry L. Hygema, Larry R. Wolf
-
Publication number: 20030142966Abstract: A heated fluid dispensing system including a heated dispenser and a docking element. The heated dispenser includes a housing with a docking interface, a channel heat exchanger disposed in the housing and an electrical heater associated with the channel heat exchanger. The channel heat exchanger has a channel in fluid communication with a valve on an aerosol can. The docking element includes a flange and a housing interface, the flange attachable to a cap ring on an aerosol can, the housing interface is both releasably attachable to and actuatable with the docking interface.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 29, 2003Publication date: July 31, 2003Inventors: Terry L. Hygema, Larry R. Wolf
-
Patent number: 6526763Abstract: A method of making ice in an automatic ice maker includes the steps of: providing a mold including one cavity; filling the at least one mold cavity at least partially with water; providing an ice removal device at least partly within the at least one mold cavity; coupling a mechanical drive with the ice removal device; coupling a controller with the drive; measuring a temperature of the mold; measuring an ambient temperature associated with the mold; and controlling operation of the drive using the controller, dependent upon the measured temperature of the mold and the measured ambient pressure.Type: GrantFiled: September 26, 2001Date of Patent: March 4, 2003Assignee: Dekko Heating Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Andrei Tchougounov, Robert G. Cox, Terry L Hygema, Steven M. Nimtz
-
Publication number: 20020007638Abstract: A method of making ice in an automatic ice maker includes the steps of: providing a mold including one cavity; filling the at least one mold cavity at least partially with water; providing an ice removal device at least partly within the at least one mold cavity; coupling a mechanical drive with the ice removal device; coupling a controller with the drive; measuring a temperature of the mold; measuring an ambient temperature associated with the mold; and controlling operation of the drive using the controller, dependent upon the measured temperature of the mold and the measured ambient pressure.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 26, 2001Publication date: January 24, 2002Inventors: Andrei Tchougounov, Robert G. Cox, Terry L. Hygema, Steven M. Nimtz
-
Patent number: 5647053Abstract: A vapor dispensing device having an outer shell (10); a one piece electric plug heater block (40) having attached electric plug pins (48), the block being attached to the outer shell such that the block can rotate a predetermined amount around an axis parallel to the plug pins; and a wick (36) in fluid communication with a material to be dispensed and extending into an opening (52) through the block; wherein the opening has a shape defined by the rotation through an internal angle at least equal to the predetermined amount of rotation of a solid geometric shape transverse to the axis and wherein the block has an electric heating element (60) in close proximity to the opening.Type: GrantFiled: October 11, 1995Date of Patent: July 8, 1997Assignee: S. C. Johnson & Son, Inc.Inventors: John A. Schroeder, Armin L. Clobes, Mark E. Wefler, Terry L. Hygema, Kevin W. Smith
-
Patent number: D792770Type: GrantFiled: March 3, 2016Date of Patent: July 25, 2017Assignee: Momentum Industries, Inc.Inventors: Terry L. Hygema, Casey Geiger, David Granger