Patents Assigned to Universal Enterprises, Inc.
  • Patent number: 5346138
    Abstract: The present invention provides an improved seal for a metering orifice between an orifice seal member and an orifice housing. The orifice housing includes first and second upper surfaces which are separated by an annular groove or notch, the first surface being adjacent a central bore and recessed from the second surface. The first surface is sealably engaged by a sealing surface provided by the orifice seal member. The orifice seal member includes a stem which is threadably received by the central bore, and which is surrounded by the sealing surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 13, 1994
    Assignee: Universal Enterprises Inc.
    Inventor: Ralph G. Ridenour
  • Patent number: 5292083
    Abstract: Multiple embodiments of a construction for exerting a force substantially along the longitudinal axis of a roll of paper towels supported between two side arms of a paper towel holder. The longitudinal force urges the side arms outwardly toward their maximum deflection point to increase the stability of the holder. Each end of the constructions includes a cylindrical portion that fits over each bearing member of the side arms. The longitudinal force is created by either a spring inserted within the core of a roll of paper towels, or a bellows portion of the construction. Each bellows portion is made of a thermoplastic material having sufficient elastic properties to create the longitudinal forces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 8, 1994
    Assignee: Universal Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventor: Ralph G. Ridenour
  • Patent number: 5025990
    Abstract: A gas nozzle has a body threaded on a threaded conduit with an insert therebetween. This insert is not changed for another insert in order to adapt the nozzle to either natural gas or LP gas; instead, the body is tightened onto the insert and threaded conduit for LP gas and is loosened about one thread for natural gas. The insert has a first restricted orifice and a bypass passageway around this restricted orifice. The body has a second restricted orifice which is larger than that of the first restricted orifice. Thus, when the body is tightened on the conduit, a seal is made to close off the bypass passageway and the gas flow is through the first and second restricted orifices in series. When the body is loosened, the bypass passageway comes into effect and the gas flow is also through the bypass passageway to be restricted only by the second restricted orifice.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 1989
    Date of Patent: June 25, 1991
    Assignee: Universal Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventor: Ralph G. Ridenour
  • Patent number: 4805587
    Abstract: A cooking grill assembly of high energy efficiency is disclosed. A gas burner arm heat source is oscillated through an arc of a variable amount in order to limit the heat source cooperation with the cooking grill to that area of the grill on which the food is to be cooked. A means to limit the heat source to this given area of the grill is provided and includes a motor, drive linkage, and variable stop means so that the arc of the burner tube oscillation is limited to the selected area. The foregoing abstract is merely a resume of one general application, is not a complete discussion of all principles of operation or applications, and is not to be construed as a limitation on the scope of the claimed subject matter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 1988
    Date of Patent: February 21, 1989
    Assignee: Universal Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventor: Ronald D. Schweitzer
  • Patent number: 4585255
    Abstract: A tube coupling with only a body and a threaded member is disclosed, the threaded member usually being a nut to overlie an outer sleeve and an inner sleeve unitary with the body. These two sleeves define therebetween an annular groove to receive the end of the tube. The method of tightening the nut onto the body provides that a generally conical cam surface on the nut interacts with a shallower taper conical cam follower surface on the outer sleeve to force this cam follower surface radially inwardly and longitudinally inwardly forming annular radially inward bulges on the outer and inner sleeves and on the tube trapped therebetween. This interlocks the tube with the coupling, and provides a fluid seal at three different places, the inner wall of the tube, the outer wall of the tube, and the end of the tube at the bottom of the groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 1983
    Date of Patent: April 29, 1986
    Assignee: Universal Enterprises Inc.
    Inventor: Ralph G. Ridenour
  • Patent number: 4262942
    Abstract: A tube fitting assembly is disclosed comprising a fitting having a first orifice through a portion of the fitting and a second orifice larger than the first orifice and coaxial with and through a portion of the first orifice. The second orifice extends from an outside surface of the fitting. One of the first and second orifices contains a shoulder defining areas of different cross-sectional areas within that orifice. The shoulder includes a shoulder surface facing axially inwardly relative to the outside surface of the fitting. A tubing having a diameter substantially equal to the first orifice occupies the first and second orifices with a first deformed portion formed from a radially expanded tubing wall engaging the other of the first and second orifices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 1978
    Date of Patent: April 21, 1981
    Assignee: Universal Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventor: Ralph G. Ridenour