Patents Assigned to Hamilton Beach/Proctor-Silex, Inc.
  • Control circuit for a coffee grinder
    Patent number: 6700340
    Abstract: A control circuit controls a coffee grinder having a grinder motor. The control circuit includes a timer portion and a first switch. The first switch functions as a two-condition switch to place the control circuit in one of (1) an off condition when the first switch is open and the timer portion and the grinder motor are de-energized and (2) a run condition when the first switch is closed, the timer portion is energized, and the grinder motor is energized once in the run condition, the control circuit remaining in the run condition until the timer portion times out or until the first switch is re-opened thereby returning the control circuit to the off condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2004
    Assignee: Hamilton Beach/Proctor-Silex, Inc.
    Inventors: Phillip Boyune Wong, Peter J. McCurdy
  • Waffle baker
    Publication number: 20040020370
    Abstract: A waffle baker grill for producing a waffle product, including a first heating plate having a first surface and a first peripheral wall extending from the first surface to a predetermined distance. The first peripheral wall includes a first side and a second side. A second heating plate has a second surface and a second peripheral wall extending from the second surface to the predetermined distance. The second peripheral wall includes at least a third side and a fourth side. The second heating plate is pivotally connected to the first heating plate to move between a closed position and an open position. The first and second surfaces include at least one scoring flange extending to a distance less than the predetermined distance. The waffle produced from the grill may be divided into a plurality of waffle sticks along score lines created by the scoring flanges.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2002
    Publication date: February 5, 2004
    Applicant: Hamilton Beach/Proctor-Silex, Inc.
    Inventors: David Lee Jackson, Jeffrey Thomas Mauch, Xiaogang Guo
  • EVAPORATIVE HUMIDIFIER
    Publication number: 20040012103
    Abstract: An evaporative humidifier including a base removably supporting a water tray for holding a quantity of water. A blower assembly and a water tank are removably supported by the base above the water tray. The blower assembly includes a housing and a fan disposed intermediate a pair of air inlets and an air exhaust outlet. A cylindrically shaped wick filter is supported by the water tray and extends upwardly into the housing. The wick filter includes a cylindrical side wall and opposing open upper and lower ends. The fan is driven by a motor mounted inside the housing for drawing air into the housing through the air inlets, through the cylindrical side walls of the wick filter, and then through the open upper end of the wick filter and out of the housing through the air exhaust outlet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2003
    Publication date: January 22, 2004
    Applicant: Hamilton Beach/Proctor-Silex, Inc.
    Inventors: Patrick T. Mulvaney, Michael E. Smith, Anthony V. Cruz
  • Humidifier with ultraviolet germicidial light
    Publication number: 20040005260
    Abstract: A humidifier which includes a reservoir of water in fluid communication with an evaporation chamber. Some of the water that enters the evaporation chamber vaporizes and enters the ambient environment. A remainder of the water does not evaporate and flows into a collection container in fluid communication with the reservoir. The unevaporated water is then exposed to a source of ultraviolet radiation which helps to inhibit the ability of various organisms contained therein to reproduce in the future. After irradiation, the unevaporated water travels from the collection container to the reservoir.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2002
    Publication date: January 8, 2004
    Applicant: Hamilton Beach/Proctor-Silex, Inc.
    Inventor: Patrick T. Mulvaney
  • GRAVITY BIASED GRILL WIRES
    Publication number: 20040000238
    Abstract: A toaster including a housing with a toasting compartment, a heater located in the housing, a food cage movably supported in the toasting compartment for movement between a gripping position and a receiving position and a carriage movably supported in the housing. The carriage is permitted movement between a toasting position adjacent a lower portion of the toasting compartment and a loading position adjacent an upper portion of the toasting compartment. The carriage may receive and support a food item to be toasted in the loading position. The food cage is positioned in the receiving position when the carriage is positioned in the loading position and is positioned in the gripping position when the carriage is positioned in the toasting position. The food cage is urged toward the gripping position by gravitational forces as the carriage moves toward the toasting position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2002
    Publication date: January 1, 2004
    Applicant: Hamilton Beach/Proctor-Silex, Inc.
    Inventor: Nhiem Viet Nguyen
  • Mixer assembly with locking pivot head
    Publication number: 20040001387
    Abstract: A mixer stand for supporting a mixer includes a base member, a turntable mounted for rotation on the base member, a bowl supported on the turntable, a pedestal extending generally upwardly from the base member, and a pivot head pivotally connected to an upper portion of the pedestal for receiving the mixer. A first locking mechanism is operably associated with the pivot head and the pedestal for locking the pivot head in an upright operative position and/or a tilted position. A second locking mechanism is operably associated with the pivot head and the mixer for releasably locking the mixer onto the pivot head.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2002
    Publication date: January 1, 2004
    Applicant: Hamilton Beach-Proctor-Silex, Inc.
    Inventors: James Hallar, Martin Brady
  • Blender blade assembly
    Patent number: 6666574
    Abstract: A blender blade assembly has a lower blade and an upper blade, each having a planar center section and curved outer blade sections. The blades extend in the same longitudinal direction so that the upper blade sections are above the lower blade sections. The blade sections are so curved that ingredients in the path of rotating blades are funneled between them. Such funneling can create a tendency for the ingredients to form a swirling mass which rotates with the blade assembly and detracts from the efficiency of the blade assembly. Therefore, the curved blade sections of the upper blade extend at an upward angle sufficient to avoid the creation of a swirling mass of ingredients that rotates with the blade assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2003
    Assignee: Hamilton Beach/Proctor-Silex, Inc.
    Inventor: Ernest B. Pryor
  • Household electronic toaster and method of manufacture
    Patent number: 6667465
    Abstract: A toaster having an electronic circuit including a chip-on-board ASIC that controls the operation of toaster heating elements and an electromagnet to which relatively high voltage is applied to hold an armature carried by a bread carriage and toaster-operating assembly. The armature is freely suspended from a bread carriage and toaster-operating assembly and accurately guided onto the electromagnet when the bread carriage is lowered. The toaster has a one-piece main frame that includes both a base frame plate and a rear frame plate. Several economies are obtained by virtue the construction of the toaster. A one-piece control support member is mounted on the base frame plate that supports both mechanical and electronic assemblies for controlling the operation of the toaster in predetermined relative positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2003
    Assignee: Hamilton Beach/Proctor-Silex, Inc.
    Inventors: Alan M. Garber, Paul M. Blankenship, James R. Gaynor, Derwood S. DeLong, Nhiem V. Nguyen
  • Cutlery center
    Patent number: 6662453
    Abstract: A cutlery center including a support block having at least one knife blade-receiving cavity and a battery charging stand for an electric knife affixed to the support block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2003
    Assignee: Hamilton Beach/Proctor Silex, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael J. Stuckey, Phillip L. Brookshire, Anthony V. Cruz
  • Food processor
    Publication number: 20030226923
    Abstract: A food processor for processing foodstuffs including a housing having a motor covering a base. The food processor further including a driveshaft, a bowl, a lid and a first tool. The driveshaft protrudes from the base and includes a first end proximate the base and a second end distal therefrom. The bowl is removably securable to the base. The lid is removably securable to the bowl creating a processing chamber between inner surfaces of the bowl and the lid. The first tool is rotatably securable to the driveshaft adjacent the first end in a first operating mode and is rotatably securable to the driveshaft adjacent the second end in a second operating mode. The food processor further includes a disk that is rotatably securable adjacent the second end creating a sub-processing chamber between the first surface and the inner surfaces in the second operating mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2002
    Publication date: December 11, 2003
    Applicant: Hamilton Beach/Proctor-Silex, Inc.
    Inventors: Dane Starr, Jeffery Thomas Mauch, Michael M. Pierce
  • Carton for containing an object during transport and storage and unitary blank therefor
    Patent number: 6640971
    Abstract: A unitary blank of foldable material for forming a carton for containing an object during transport and storage, the blank having: a back panel, first side panel, a front panel, a second side panel, a lid, four bottom tabs, two one-piece support flaps, and two split support flaps. The two on-piece support flaps and two split support flaps form an internal support structure in the bottom of the carton formed by folding the unitary blank. Objects or small appliances positioned within the carton are secured in such a manner as to provide additional support and drop protection to the object or appliance. The carton is folded in such a way so as to add structural integrity to the final carton by the use of stabilizing flaps and an internal support structure. The carton is also designed so as to minimize the material used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2003
    Assignee: Hamilton Beach/Proctor-Silex, Inc.
    Inventor: Angel W. Acevedo
  • Control circuit for a coffee grinder
    Publication number: 20030178959
    Abstract: A control circuit controls a coffee grinder having a grinder motor. The control circuit includes a timer portion and a first switch. The first switch functions as a two-condition switch to place the control circuit in one of (1) an off condition when the first switch is open and the timer portion and the grinder motor are de-energized and (2) a run condition when the first switch is closed, the timer portion is energized, and the grinder motor is energized once in the run condition, the control circuit remaining in the run condition until the timer portion times out or until the first switch is re-opened thereby returning the control circuit to the off condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2002
    Publication date: September 25, 2003
    Applicant: Hamilton Beach/Proctor-Silex, Inc.
    Inventors: Phillip Boyune Wong, Peter J. McCurdy
  • Humidifier including output efficiency and liquid level indicators
    Patent number: 6622993
    Abstract: A humidifier including a reservoir adapted for retaining liquid and an evaporative media supported in adsorbing contact with the liquid. A reservoir temperature sensor detects a temperature within the reservoir at a low liquid level and provides a reservoir temperature signal indicative thereof. An air inlet temperature sensor detects a temperature of air upstream from the evaporative media and provides an air inlet temperature signal indicative thereof. An air outlet temperature sensor detects a temperature of air downstream from the evaporative media and provides an air outlet temperature signal indicative thereof. A controller determines an operating condition of the humidifier based upon at least one of the reservoir temperature signal, the air inlet temperature signal, and the air outlet temperature signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2003
    Assignee: Hamilton Beach/Proctor-Silex, Inc.
    Inventor: Patrick T. Mulvaney
  • Evaporative humidifier
    Patent number: 6604733
    Abstract: An evaporative humidifier including a base removably supporting a water tray for holding a quantity of water. A blower assembly and a water tank are removably supported by the base above the water tray. The blower assembly includes a housing and a fan disposed intermediate a pair of air inlets and an air exhaust outlet. A cylindrically shaped wick filter is supported by the water tray and extends upwardly into the housing. The wick filter includes a cylindrical side wall and opposing open upper and lower ends. The fan is driven by a motor mounted inside the housing for drawing air into the housing through the air inlets, through the cylindrical side walls of the wick filter, and then through the open upper end of the wick filter and out of the housing through the air exhaust outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2003
    Assignee: Hamilton Beach/Proctor-Silex, Inc.
    Inventors: Patrick T Mulvaney, Michael E. Smith, Anthony V. Cruz
  • Coffee maker
    Patent number: D477175
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2003
    Assignee: Hamilton Beach/Proctor-Silex, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael E. Smith
  • Coffee maker
    Patent number: D478242
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2003
    Assignee: Hamilton Beach/Proctor-Silex, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael Garman
  • Cup with lid
    Patent number: D478779
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2003
    Assignee: Hamilton Beach/Proctor-Silex, Inc.
    Inventors: George William Stamper, III, Mark Romandy
  • Lid
    Patent number: D481258
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2003
    Assignee: Hamilton Beach/Proctor-Silex, Inc.
    Inventors: Martin Brady, Jeffrey Mauch, James Hallar
  • Food processor
    Patent number: D483987
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2003
    Assignee: Hamilton Beach/Proctor-Silex, Inc.
    Inventor: Jeffrey T. Mauch
  • Disher
    Patent number: D487381
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2004
    Assignee: Hamilton Beach/Proctor-Silex, Inc.
    Inventors: Roy B. Bates, Jason Russell Reed, Mark C. Steiner, Larry R. Olson