Patents by Inventor Thomas Berger

Thomas Berger 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: 20070215726
    Abstract: A switching mechanism for a food waste disposer is provided having a plastic one-piece housing that engages an external surface of the food waste disposer by snapping thereto. The switching mechanism also contains a switch capable of enabling operation of the food waste disposer in response to an interlock device positioned within the drain opening. Also provided is a method for converting a continuous feed waste disposer into a batch feed waste disposer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2007
    Publication date: September 20, 2007
    Applicant: Emerson Electric Co.
    Inventors: Thomas Berger, Steven Hanson
  • Publication number: 20070194159
    Abstract: A food waste disposer system includes a housing with a grinding mechanism situated in the housing for reducing food waste. A motor drives the grinding mechanism. An outlet receives the reduced food waste from the grinding mechanism to discharge the food waste from the disposer housing. A water flow detector senses water flow through the disposer, and the disposer motor is controlled in response to the sensed water flow through the disposer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2006
    Publication date: August 23, 2007
    Applicant: EMERSON ELECTRIC CO.
    Inventors: Thomas BERGER, Steven HANSON
  • Publication number: 20070181719
    Abstract: Various mechanisms for reducing food waste in a food waste disposer are disclosed. In each of the reduction mechanisms, structures are provided for shearing food waste as it passes through or past a rotating shredder plate of the disposer. In one embodiment, the reduction mechanism has a rotatable plate coupled to a rotational source and positioned for rotation relative to an inner wall of a stationary ring. The plate has a fixed lug attached to the rotatable plate and has a movable lug attached to the rotatable plate. In another embodiment, the reduction mechanism includes a rotatable plate coupled to a rotational source and a stationary plate disposed adjacent the rotatable plate. The stationary plate or impeller defines a plurality of apertures therethrough. At least one first portion of the rotatable plate or impeller shears over at least some of the apertures in the stationary plate to shear the food waste.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2007
    Publication date: August 9, 2007
    Applicant: Emerson Electric Co,
    Inventors: Thomas Berger, Cynthia Jara-Almonte, Joseph Farmerie
  • Publication number: 20070145169
    Abstract: A food waste disposer includes a food conveying section, a grinding mechanism, and a brushless permanent magnet motor operably connected to the grinding mechanism. A discharge device is configured so as to reduce the overall height of the food waste disposer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2006
    Publication date: June 28, 2007
    Applicant: EMERSON ELECTRIC CO.
    Inventors: Steven Hanson, Thomas Berger, Nicholas Hirsch, Yasuhiro Iwata, Motoya Oghino
  • Publication number: 20070138327
    Abstract: A waste line connector assembly for a food waste disposer includes a tailpipe member having a first inlet connectable to an outlet of a food waste disposer, a second inlet connectable to a waste water outlet of a dishwasher, and an outlet connectable to a waste or drain line. A one-way valve, such as a duck-bill valve, is in fluid communication with the second inlet. A flexible coupler, may be provided to be connected to the outlet, with one or both ends of the coupler being angled and rotatably connected to the outlet and/or the waste line so that the angular position of the waste line is variable relative to the tailpipe member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2005
    Publication date: June 21, 2007
    Applicant: Emerson Electric Co.
    Inventors: Thomas Berger, Steven Hanson, Scott Anderson
  • Publication number: 20070114310
    Abstract: Various mechanisms for reducing food waste in a food waste disposer are disclosed. In each of the reduction mechanisms, structures are provided for shearing food waste as it passes through or past a rotating shredder plate of the disposer. In one embodiment, the reduction mechanism has a rotatable plate coupled to a rotational source and positioned for rotation relative to an inner wall of a stationary ring. The plate has a fixed lug attached to the rotatable plate and has a movable lug attached to the rotatable plate. In another embodiment, the reduction mechanism includes a rotatable plate coupled to a rotational source and a stationary plate disposed adjacent the rotatable plate. The stationary plate or impeller defines a plurality of apertures therethough. At least one first portion of the rotatable plate or impeller shears over at least some of the apertures in the stationary plate to shear the food waste.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2007
    Publication date: May 24, 2007
    Inventors: Thomas Berger, Cynthia Jara-Almonte, Joseph Farmerie
  • Publication number: 20070063593
    Abstract: An electrical machine, in particular a rotary current generator for motor vehicles, is proposed which has a housing (13) in which a stator (16) is retained, such that a coolant can flow around the outside of the stator (16) from one of its axial face ends (57) to a circumferential region of the stator (16), defining a flow cross section of the flow course through the stator (16) and the housing (13). The flow course is defined toward the stator by outer stator teeth (62) located on the outer circumference of the stator (16).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2004
    Publication date: March 22, 2007
    Inventors: Horst Braun, Thomas Berger, Eugen Hellekes, Robert Goldschmidt
  • Publication number: 20060288876
    Abstract: An apparatus, method, and system of popping popcorn. In one aspect of the invention, an apparatus comprises a popcorn popper, a popped popcorn hopper and a dispensing mechanism in communication with the hopper. By actuation, the dispensing mechanism dispenses one or more servings from the hopper. In another aspect of the invention, the apparatus further comprises a dosing mechanism to provide sequential doses of unpopped corn to the popper to make a plurality of batches of popped popcorn. In another aspect of the invention, a sensor sensing when popped popcorn in the hopper exceeds a pre-determined level or amount and instigates a signal to actuate the dosing mechanism to fill the hopper. In a system according to the invention, a self-contained cabinet includes the popper, hopper, dispensing mechanism and dosing mechanism, as well as a control circuit and actuators to operate the dosing mechanism and dispensing mechanisms.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2005
    Publication date: December 28, 2006
    Inventors: Thomas Berger, Duane Bulanek, Bruce Nemec, Jason Rohr, Tad Upah, Ryan Crist, Milton Dallas, Rizaldy Mata
  • Publication number: 20060278742
    Abstract: A food waste disposer includes a food conveying section, a grinding mechanism, and a brushless permanent magnet motor operably connected to the grinding mechanism. A discharge device is configured so as to reduce the overall height of the food waste disposer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2004
    Publication date: December 14, 2006
    Applicant: EMERSON ELECTRIC CO.
    Inventors: Steven Hanson, Thomas Berger, Nicholas Hirsch, Yasuhiro Iwata, Motoya Oghino
  • Patent number: 7129614
    Abstract: A strip-shaped lamella (10) for a stator (30) of an electric machine, having a yoke region (12) and a number of first teeth (18) that are of one piece with the yoke region (12) on a first side (14) and have first grooves (20) between them, and having second teeth (22) that are of one piece with the yoke region (12) on a second side (16) oriented away from the first side (14) and have second grooves (24) between them. The second teeth (22) are located at a position of the first teeth (18).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2006
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Rolf-Dieter Hahn, Wolfgang Harrer, Eberhard Rau, Thomas Berger, Martin Henne, Klaus Pflueger
  • Publication number: 20060196979
    Abstract: A food waste disposer system includes a food waste disposer and an audio indicator operably connected to the food waste disposer. The audio indicator outputs a predetermined sound, such as a voice message or music, in response to activating the disposer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2005
    Publication date: September 7, 2006
    Applicant: EMERSON ELECTRIC CO.
    Inventors: Steven Hanson, William Strutz, Thomas Berger
  • Publication number: 20060185287
    Abstract: A portable floor is provided comprising a first panel board, a second panel board and a biscuit. The first panel board has a plurality of first panel sides, where one of the first panel sides includes a first panel slot. The second panel board has a plurality of second panel sides, where one of the second panel sides includes a second panel slot. The biscuit inserted into the first panel slot and the second panel slot.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2005
    Publication date: August 24, 2006
    Inventors: Kenneth Glazer, Thomas Berger
  • Publication number: 20060144975
    Abstract: A switching assembly for a food waste disposer includes a housing containing a switch and first and second magnets. An interlock device has third and fourth magnets. The magnets are arranged so that the switch is actuated when the first and third magnets align and the second and fourth magnets align.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2005
    Publication date: July 6, 2006
    Applicant: Emerson Electric Co.
    Inventors: Scott Anderson, Srihari Dhati, Randall Hammer, Steven Hanson, Thomas Berger
  • Publication number: 20060144254
    Abstract: An improved platform for use with a conveyor system used in the automated formation of folded food products such as burritos, taquitos and the like. The platform includes a substantially planar base and an articulated flap having pivotally connected upper and lower members. The articulated flap rotates with respect to the base to fold the shell of the food product once. The upper member of the articulated flap rotates with respect to the lower member to create a pinch-like subsequent fold in the previously folded shell, which secures the filling within the initial enclosure. The platform may also include additional, rigid flaps for making additional folds after the upper member makes the pinch-like fold. Once the final fold is made, the partially-folded food product may be securely transferred to the mechanism for finalizing the folding and production thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2004
    Publication date: July 6, 2006
    Inventors: Gilbert Foulon, Thomas Berger, Moysey Shtilerman
  • Publication number: 20060125339
    Abstract: A strip-shaped lamella (10) for a stator (30) of an electric machine, having a yoke region (12) and a number of first teeth (18) that are of one piece with the yoke region (12) on a first side (14) and have first grooves (20) between them, and having second teeth (22) that are of one piece with the yoke region (12) on a second side (16) oriented away from the first side (14) and have second grooves (24) between them. The second teeth (22) are located at a position of the first teeth (18).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2003
    Publication date: June 15, 2006
    Inventors: Rolf-Dieter Hahn, Wolfgang Harrer, Eberhard Rau, Thomas Berger, Martin Henne, Klaus Pflueger
  • Publication number: 20060125341
    Abstract: The method for making a stator includes making individual strip-shaped laminas (15) for it; stacking the laminas (15) to form a stator core (13) with grooves (18) on one side extending through the core; producing a subassembly by inserting a stator winding (17) into the grooves (18); bending the subassembly to form a cylindrical cavity so that the grooves (18) end in the cavity and connecting two ends (23) of the stator core (13) to each other by a welding seam (20) to maintain this configuration. To produce a welding seam of sufficient strength which does not exert excessive influence on magnetic properties, the welding seam depth (TS) is given by TS=0.5 mm*(Hyoke/mm?1)±?TS, wherein Hyoke is yoke height and ?TS is a tolerance value. An electric machine including the stator made by this method is also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2003
    Publication date: June 15, 2006
    Inventors: Eberhard Rau, Thomas Berger, Martin Henne, Klaus Pflueger
  • Publication number: 20060107846
    Abstract: The present invention relates to apparatus for making rolled food products. More particularly, the apparatus includes a dispensing mechanism for dispensing edible filling materials onto a generally planar shell and a rolling mechanism for making the shell dispensed with the filling materials into a roll.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2005
    Publication date: May 25, 2006
    Inventors: Gilbert Foulon, John Walz, Kenneth Schmidt, Thomas Berger
  • Publication number: 20060097091
    Abstract: A food waste disposer includes a housing defining an inlet opening and a grinding mechanism driven by a motor for grinding food waste received into the housing through the inlet opening. An annular retaining collar has one end for connecting to a sink opening, via a standard sink mount, for example. An annular elastomeric coupler is situated about the opposite end of the annular retaining collar and connected to the housing for vibrationally isolating the annular retaining collar from the housing. The primary loading on the elastomeric material is in shear. Elastomeric materials in shear are particularly effective in absorbing both vibration and shock loads.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2005
    Publication date: May 11, 2006
    Applicant: EMERSON ELECTRIC CO.
    Inventors: Cynthia Jara-Almonte, Steven Hanson, Scott Anderson, Thomas Berger
  • Patent number: 7018583
    Abstract: According to a known method for producing a component by means of a powdery starting material, powder is mixed with auxiliaries comprising binding agents, whereby a free-flowing mass is produced. A green body is produced from the mass by means of powder injection moulding. A portion of the auxiliaries is extracted by heating the green body in a container and exposing said body to a stream of solvents. The green body is sintered, whereby the component is produced. The aim of the invention is to enable fast and gentle extraction for releasing green bodies which are produced by means of powder injection moulding. According to the invention, the extraction comprises a heating-up phase during which the temperature of the green body is permanently or gradually increased and the green body is overflown by solvent in the form of a compressed, supercritical treatment gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2006
    Assignee: Messer Griesheim GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Berger, Henry Cohrt, Heribert Dierkes
  • Publication number: 20060032951
    Abstract: A system and method for automatically applying a de-jamming action in response to a jammed rotating member includes applying a pulsed torque in response to a detected jam, and additionally a reversal in the direction of rotation may be applied.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2005
    Publication date: February 16, 2006
    Applicant: EMERSON ELECTRIC CO.
    Inventors: Thomas Berger, William Strutz, Nick Hirsch, Ralph Furmanek, Arthur Woodward