Patents by Inventor Thomas R. Berger

Thomas R. 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).

  • Patent number: 8033486
    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: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignee: Emerson Electric Co.
    Inventors: Thomas R Berger, Steven P Hanson, Scott W Anderson
  • Publication number: 20110083776
    Abstract: PBX compositions and methods for fabricating PBX compositions are provided. In an exemplary embodiment, a PBX composition comprises a binder matrix comprising a thermoset resin and an oxidizer comprising octanitrocubane (ONC), the oxidizer homogeneously dispersed within the binder matrix. In another embodiment, a method for fabricating a PBX composition comprises providing an oxidizer comprising octanitrocubane (ONC) and blending the oxidizer with a prepolymer that, upon cure, forms a thermoset resin.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2009
    Publication date: April 14, 2011
    Applicant: RAYTHEON COMPANY
    Inventors: Sami Daoud, Thomas R. Berger, Michael J. Villeburn
  • Publication number: 20100294866
    Abstract: A food waste disposer and mount system has a threaded sink flange and a food waste disposer. The threaded sink flange has a tubular body portion and a flange portion extending radially outwardly from a top of the tubular body portion. The tubular body portion has a threaded portion. The food waste disposer has an upper food conveying section that includes a housing having an upper, annular portion having a threaded portion. The upper, annular portion of the housing of the upper food conveying section is threaded to the threaded portion of the tubular body portion of the threaded sink flange when the threaded sink flange is disposed in a draining opening of a sink to mount the food waste disposer to the sink.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2010
    Publication date: November 25, 2010
    Applicant: Emerson Electric Co.
    Inventors: Thomas R. Berger, Steven P. Hanson
  • Patent number: 7757981
    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: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2010
    Assignee: Emerson Electric Co.
    Inventors: Scott W Anderson, Srihari M Dhati, Randall E Hammer, Steven P Hanson, Thomas R Berger
  • Patent number: 7753297
    Abstract: A grinding mechanism for a food waste disposer includes a grinding ring defining a plurality of window openings therethrough. The grinding ring is received in a housing of a grinding mechanism. The grinding mechanism has a plurality of cavities therein corresponding to the window openings that are disposed outboard of the window openings. A plurality of stacked disks form a rotatable shredder plate that is situated to rotate relative to the grinding ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2010
    Assignee: Emerson Electric Co.
    Inventors: Steven P. Hanson, Richard A. Junk, Cynthia C. Jara-Almonte, Thomas R. Berger, Randall Hammer
  • Publication number: 20100150122
    Abstract: A system includes one or more wireless islands, one or more incident management applications, and one or more message management and routing (MMR) systems. Each MMR systems is configured to act as an intermediary for communication between one of the wireless islands and one or more of the incident management applications. One of the wireless islands includes a radio network. The radio network includes a plurality of remote sensor nodes (RSNs), and a gateway controller. An RSN of the plurality of RSNs is worn by ESS personnel, the gateway controller is mounted to an ESS vehicle, and the RSN is configured to wirelessly communicate with the gateway controller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2009
    Publication date: June 17, 2010
    Inventors: Thomas R. Berger, Joseph E. Denny, David S. Robins, Stephen A. Wallace, Raymond T. Gurgone, LaMonte Peter Koop, Edward Allen Payne, Robert W. Twitchell, Rodney A. Hilton, Randy Edwards
  • Patent number: 7735760
    Abstract: A grinding mechanism for a food waste disposer includes a grinding ring defining a plurality of window openings therethrough. A backing member receives the grinding ring and defines a plurality of cavities therein corresponding to the window openings. A plurality of stacked disks form a rotatable shredder plate that is situated to rotate relative to the grinding plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Assignee: Emerson Electric Co.
    Inventors: Steven P. Hanson, Richard A. Junk, Cynthia C. Jara-Almonte, Thomas R. Berger
  • Publication number: 20100145865
    Abstract: RSNs are attached to equipment at construction sites. Gateways located and construction sites. A rental company uses presence data to know in real-time which of multiple yards specific equipment is located for meeting customer needs. At a renter's construction site, a gateway receives engine-hours data from RSNs associated with rental equipment and reports to the rental company, which uses the data to determine whether contract limits on use are exceeded and/or whether the equipment is abused. For sites not having a gateway, a truck-mounted gateway is used to periodically visit and collect data from the RSNs at each site. The data collected is sent to the rental company via cellular link. A construction company uses the system to track and monitor its own equipment in storage yards and on construction sites. Classes are assigned such that a rental company sees only the rented equipment. RSNs send theft and vandalism alarms.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2009
    Publication date: June 10, 2010
    Inventors: Thomas R. Berger, Joseph E. Denny
  • Publication number: 20100144383
    Abstract: A system for monitoring and managing emergency services sector resources includes a wireless communications device configured to establish a wireless network, a plurality of wireless nodes wirelessly connected to the wireless network, a user application, a message management and routing system configured to facilitate communications between the wireless communication device and the user application, and a user device configured to display information from the user application. Each wireless node of the plurality of wireless nodes is associated with an emergency services sector resource, and is configured to communicate information regarding the emergency services sector resource to the user application via the wireless communications device. The user device is configured to display information regarding the emergency services sector resource from the user application.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2009
    Publication date: June 10, 2010
    Inventors: Thomas R. BERGER, Joseph E. Denny
  • Publication number: 20100013635
    Abstract: An electronic locking device secures a shipping container and includes a housing, two arms, a sensing circuit, and electronics. The pair of arms extend from the housing and couple to the hasp. The arms transition between locked and unlocked configurations relative to the hasp, with one or both of the arms pivoting relative to the other. A bolt seal locks the arms in the locked configuration. The sensing circuit, which includes sensing contacts, is in a “closed” state or “open” state depending on whether the arms are in the locked or unlocked configuration. The electronics record and report the state of the sensing circuit, thereby indicating whether the arms are locked or unlocked.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2009
    Publication date: January 21, 2010
    Applicant: TERAHOP NETWORKS, INC.
    Inventors: Thomas R. BERGER, Joseph E. DENNY
  • Publication number: 20090322510
    Abstract: A method of securing a container includes inserting, into a seal device at a container, an electronic bolt; reading, by the seal device, a serial number stored in the electronic bolt; communicating, from the seal device, to a user application, insertion of the bolt; scanning, by the user via a handheld device, a barcode on the seal device representative of an identification of the seal device; communicating, from the handheld device to the user application, the identification of the seal device; inputting, by a user at the container via the handheld device, information associated with the container; communicating, from the handheld device to the user application, the information associated with the container; associating, in a database by the user application, the information associated with the container with the bolt serial number and the identification of the seal device; communicating, by the user application, a confirmation to the seal device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2009
    Publication date: December 31, 2009
    Applicant: TERAHOP NETWORKS, INC.
    Inventors: Thomas R. BERGER, Joseph E. DENNY, David S. ROBINS, LaMonte Peter KOOP, Edward Allen PAYNE, Robert W. TWITCHELL, JR.
  • Patent number: 7584915
    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: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2009
    Assignee: Emerson Electric Co.
    Inventors: Cynthia C Jara-Almonte, Steven P Hanson, Scott Anderson, Thomas R Berger
  • Patent number: 7578460
    Abstract: A food waste disposer having one or more antimicrobial components is disclosed. The components can be metal, plastic, or rubber, and preferably constitute at least those components that a user could come in contact with during operation or maintenance of the disposer and/or components that come in contact with food waste. The plastic and rubber components can either be embedded or coated with an antimicrobial agent. The metal components are preferably powder coated. Exemplary components within the disposer benefiting from such antimicrobial treatment include a metal shredder plate, a metal shredder ring, a rubber mounting gasket, a rubber vibration isolation mount, a rubber vibration isolation tailpipe coupling, and the plastic discharge outlet and associated rubber seals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2009
    Assignee: Emerson Electric Co.
    Inventor: Thomas R Berger
  • Patent number: 7503514
    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: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2009
    Assignee: Emerson Electric Co.
    Inventors: Thomas R. Berger, Steven P. Hanson
  • Patent number: 7500626
    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. The switching mechanism includes a plug having a male end and a female end that can receive the electrical plug from the continuous feed waste disposer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2009
    Assignee: Emerson Electric Co.
    Inventors: Thomas R. Berger, Steven P. Hanson
  • Patent number: 7500628
    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: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2009
    Assignee: Emerson Electric Co.
    Inventors: Thomas R. Berger, Cynthia C. Jara-Almonte, Joseph G. Farmerie
  • Publication number: 20080301871
    Abstract: A food waste disposer mounting assembly uses a stainless steel sink-flange with a screw-on collar system as a primary mounting system to a sink. By connecting the stainless steel sink-flange with a bayonet locking reed collar and screw-on nut collar, a vibration and sound transmission path to the sink is both reduced and rendered indirect. Incorporation of reed switches with a stopper and magnets can modify the unit for use as a batch-feed disposer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2008
    Publication date: December 11, 2008
    Applicant: Emerson Electric Co.
    Inventors: Steven P. Hanson, Thomas R. Berger, Jerry G. Ryder
  • Patent number: 7448563
    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: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2008
    Assignee: Emerson Electric Co.
    Inventors: Thomas R. Berger, William F. Strutz, Nicholas J. Hirsch, Gregory A. Peterson, Ralph D. Furmanek, Arthur E. Woodward
  • Publication number: 20080116305
    Abstract: A grinding mechanism for a food waste disposer includes a grinding ring defining a plurality of window openings therethrough. The grinding ring is received in a housing of a grinding mechanism. The grinding mechanism has a plurality of cavities therein corresponding to the window openings that are disposed outboard of the window openings. A plurality of stacked disks form a rotatable shredder plate that is situated to rotate relative to the grinding ring.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 4, 2008
    Publication date: May 22, 2008
    Applicant: Emerson Electric Co.
    Inventors: Steven P. Hanson, Richard A. Junk, Cynthia C. Jara-Almonte, Thomas R. Berger
  • Patent number: 7337996
    Abstract: A grinding mechanism for a food waste disposer includes a grinding ring defining a plurality of window openings therethrough. A backing member receives the grinding ring and defines a plurality of cavities therein corresponding to the window openings. A plurality of stacked disks form a rotatable shredder plate that is situated to rotate relative to the grinding plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2008
    Assignee: Emerson Electric Co.
    Inventors: Steven P. Hanson, Richard A. Junk, Cynthia C. Jara-Almonte, Thomas R. Berger