Patents Examined by Arthur O. Hall
  • Patent number: 10039323
    Abstract: A tank of a vaporizing device is described, wherein the tank may comprise an atomizer and a reservoir for containing a liquid adjacent to the atomizer. The atomizer may include a wick and a heating element, wherein the tank includes a barrier that separates the wick from liquid in the reservoir. The barrier may be at least partially permeable to allow for transfer of liquid from the reservoir to the wick for vaporization. The tank may include a connector coupled to the atomizer and configured to electrically connect the atomizer to a power supply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: NJOY, LLC
    Inventors: David Schuler, Ryan Miller
  • Patent number: 10039405
    Abstract: Provided is a method for obtaining a cooking vessel having the following steps: producing a bowl having an outer face made of aluminum and an inner face, carrying out hard anodization of at least the outer face of the bowl. According to the method, at least one coloring step is carried out on the anodized outer face after hard anodization, said coloring step employing at least one water-soluble inorganic pigment. Also provided is a culinary article or an electric cooking appliance comprising a cooking vessel obtained by the above method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: SEB S.A.
    Inventors: Martin Rubio, Stephane Tuffe
  • Patent number: 10034439
    Abstract: An emitter that is arranged on an inner wall surface of a tube through which an irrigation liquid flows, the emitter being arranged at a position that corresponds to a discharge opening that communicates between the inside and outside of the tube. The emitter is for quantitatively discharging from the discharge opening the irrigation liquid inside the tube and has: a water intake part that is for taking in the irrigation liquid; a discharge part that is for discharging the irrigation liquid; and a flow path that connects the water intake part and the discharge part and through which the irrigation liquid flows. Further, an inner wall surface of the flow path is constituted by a composition that includes an antimicrobial agent and includes a resin or rubber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2018
    Assignee: ENPLAS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Masahiro Kidachi
  • Patent number: 10015938
    Abstract: An irrigation system is disclosed that includes a control system for determining whether to apply a soil conditioning agent to an agricultural field is disclosed. In an implementation, the control system includes memory operable to store one or more modules and a processor coupled to the memory. The processor is operable to execute the one or more modules to cause the processor to receive one or more signals representing a soil moisture characteristic from a soil sensor. The processor is also operable to determine whether to apply a soil conditioning agent to a soil based upon the soil moisture characteristic and to initiate operation of the irrigation assembly to apply the soil conditioning agent to the soil in response when the soil requires the soil conditioning agent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: Valmont Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Craig S. Malsam, Jacob L. LaRue
  • Patent number: 10012197
    Abstract: A throttle body fuel injection system including a throttle body with at least one air intake, a fuel injector coupled to the throttle body at a fuel port and an annular ring coupled to the cylindrical inner wall of the air intake. The annular ring includes a primary fuel discharge orifice adjacent to the fuel port and a plurality of secondary fuel discharge orifices arranged radially around the annular ring for spraying atomized fuel into the air intake.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: Holley Performance Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Doug Flynn, James Dralle, Amy Gieske, Charles Jenckes, Corey Spainhoward
  • Patent number: 10005091
    Abstract: An irrigation sprinkler includes an engagement component connecting a cap component to a base by a converging movement. The base includes a holding member; the cap component includes an anchor member; and the engagement component includes a first male member and a first female member mating with each other. The first male member is alternatively arranged on the holding member and the anchor member, and the first female member is arranged on the other. Therefore, the first male member non-releasably couples with the first female member by a movement toward each other, and the first engagement component connects the cap component to the base. An indication component couples with the cap component offers visual recognition of the selected one of nozzles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: Yuan Mei Corp.
    Inventor: Shun-Nan Lo
  • Patent number: 9995261
    Abstract: A fuel injector includes an injector body defining a liquid fuel passage, a gaseous fuel passage, and a first guide bore; a gaseous fuel check guided within the first guide bore between a retracted position and an advanced position to selectively open and block, respectively, fluid communication between the gaseous fuel passage and a gaseous fuel nozzle outlet; and a sleeve seal seated within the first guide bore, the sleeve seal having an inner surface defining a sleeve seal bore therethrough, and at least a portion of the gaseous fuel check is disposed within the sleeve seal bore; an outer surface of the sleeve seal including a first portion and a second portion, the first portion being disposed closer to a longitudinal axis of the sleeve seal bore along a radial direction than the second portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: Hoisan Kim
  • Patent number: 9987643
    Abstract: A system may include a spray device having a body with a first liquid passage configured to flow a first liquid and a second liquid passage configured to flow a second liquid. The spray device also may include a spray head configured to output a spray of the first liquid and the second liquid. In addition, the spray device may include a multi-component container coupled to the body, wherein the multi-component container comprises a first container portion having a first outlet configured to supply the first liquid to the first liquid passage and a second container portion having a second outlet configured to supply the second liquid to the second liquid passage, and the first and second outlets are positioned in close proximity to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: Carlisle Fluid Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Marvin Dean Burns
  • Patent number: 9980443
    Abstract: An emitter (120) includes a flow path from a water intake path (221), which is for taking in irrigation liquid within a tube, to a recessed part (251). This flow path includes a recessed surface part (242) closed, without contact, by a film (300). A channel (243) that forms a reduced pressure flow path included in the above flow path is formed on the surface of the recessed surface part (242). If the film (300) is pressed by the pressure of the irrigation liquid in the tube (110) and adheres to the recessed surface part (242), the flow rate of the irrigation liquid inside the emitter (120) is controlled to an amount that can pass through the channel (243).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: ENPLAS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Masahiro Kidachi
  • Patent number: 9981150
    Abstract: A fire suppression apparatus for fighting fires from a vehicle configured for flight is disclosed, comprising a foam and water held in separate containers aboard the vehicle that when mixed forms a fire retardant, a pump driven by an electric motor to pressurize the fire retardant, the pump including an air induction valve where air is drawn into a suction end of the pump and pressurized together with the fire retardant, and an aimable boom connected to the pump by a conduit, the boom including a nozzle on a distal end of the boom from which the pressurized fire retardant and air is dispensed toward a target.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: SIMPLEX MANUFACTURING CO.
    Inventors: Mark D. Zimmerman, David M. Kruithoff
  • Patent number: 9982641
    Abstract: A valve assembly for a fluid injection valve may comprise a valve body, a valve needle moving in a cavity of the valve body, an armature in the cavity for actuating the valve needle, and a particle retainer. The cavity may extend axially through the valve body to connect a fluid inlet end to a fluid outlet end of the valve body and have a valve seat adjacent to the fluid outlet end. The first portion of the cavity may limit movement of the armature in the axial direction towards the fluid outlet end by a bottom surface having a central opening from which a second portion of the cavity extends towards the fluid outlet end. The shaft of the valve needle may extend through the opening into the second portion. The particle retainer element may bear on the bottom surface, circumferentially surrounding the shaft of the valve needle and overlapping the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventors: Edoardo Giorgetti, Lucca Matteucci
  • Patent number: 9974989
    Abstract: A concealed sprinkler including a body having a proximal portion and a distal portion. The distal portion includes an annular wall defining a chamber and an opening in communication with the chamber. A deflector assembly is disposed within the chamber. A trigger assembly having a lever assembly engaged with an inner surface of the annular wall supports the deflector assembly in the first position, the trigger assembly including and a thermally rated plate assembly having a lip portion to substantially circumscribe and substantially cover opening and chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: Tyco Fire Products LP
    Inventors: Bernhard Abels, Manuel R. Silva, Jr., Marcelo J. Chavez
  • Patent number: 9974986
    Abstract: An automated fire extinguishing assembly for fire protection while using cooking appliances includes a fire extinguisher and a stand. The fire extinguisher is automatic. The stand is configured to couple to the fire extinguisher. The stand is positioned to couple to the fire extinguisher such that the fire extinguisher is positionable above a cooking appliance, such as a crockpot. The fire extinguisher is configured to detect a fire, self-actuate and deliver a fire suppressing agent in the event of a fire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Inventor: Joseph Pirrone
  • Patent number: 9975136
    Abstract: An aerosol generator for generating an aerosol from a fluid, comprising: a vibratable membrane (22) having a first side (24) for being in contact with the fluid and an opposite second side (25), the membrane having a plurality of through holes (26) penetrating the membrane in an extension direction (E) from the first side to the second side, whereby the fluid passes the through holes from the first side to the second side when the membrane is vibrated for generating the aerosol at the second side, each through hole (26) having along its extension direction (E) a smallest diameter (Ds), a larger diameter (DL) that is larger than the smallest diameter and defined by that diameter that is closest to triple, preferably twice said smallest diameter, each through hole having a nozzle portion (32) defined by that continuous portion of the through hole in the extension direction comprising the smallest diameter of the through hole and bordered by the larger diameter of the through hole, characterized in that the rati
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: PARI Pharma GmbH
    Inventors: Harald Schulz, Philipp Holzmann, Dominique Mutschmann, Michael Hahn
  • Patent number: 9975128
    Abstract: A rotating shower sprayer includes a housing, a cover plate component, and an impeller rotatably disposed in the housing. The top surface of the impeller has a blade. The eccentric position of the bottom surface of the impeller has a rotating shaft. The housing has an incline hole with respect to the blade. The shower sprayer also has a planetary reducing mechanism disposed in the housing. The planetary reducing mechanism comprises a gear sleeved on the rotating shaft and a fixing gear ring disposed on the internal revolution surface of the housing. The upper portion of the gear has a first stage reducing gear ring engaged to the fixing gear ring. The lower portion of the gear has a driving gear ring. The cover plate component is disposed with a second stage reducing gear ring that engages with the driving gear ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: XIAMEN SOLEX HIGH-TECH INDUSTRIES CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Huasong Zhou, Renmin Chen, Donghai Chen, Wei Wang
  • Patent number: 9968702
    Abstract: The air freshener consists of a small box formed by coupling together two parts (1, 2) in the form of box halves that can be tightly fitted together, with a perfume-impregnated cellulose block (5) between them. The cellulose block (5) is separated from the bottoms of the boxes and from the side walls by ledges (6) provided on the bottoms of both the female part (1) and the male part (2), and by partitions (7) provided on the male part (2), near the side walls thereof. The box has windows for air inlet (9) and for outlet (8) of the air impregnated with the perfume contained in the cellulose block (5). On the outside of the box there are conformations defining a dovetail joint (10) for securing a clip (11) which, when released from this mounting formed by the conformations (10), can be coupled to an outer recess in the bottom of the male part (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: L & D S.A.U.
    Inventor: David Fernandez Torres
  • Patent number: 9970422
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provide for a self-pumping structure, methods of self-pumping, and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: Georgia Tech Research Corporation
    Inventors: John Mark Meacham, Andrei G. Fedorov, F. Levent Degertekin
  • Patent number: 9968700
    Abstract: One or more embodiments are directed to a microfluidic delivery system that dispenses a fluid. The microfluidic delivery system may be provided in a variety of orientations. In one embodiment, the microfluidic delivery system is vertical so that fluid being expelled opposes gravity. In another embodiment, the microfluidic delivery system is orientated sideways so that fluid being expelled has a horizontal component. In yet another embodiment, the microfluidic delivery system faces downward.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignees: STMICROELECTRONICS, INC., STMICROELECTRONICS S.R.L., STMICROELECTRONICS INTERNATIONAL N.V.
    Inventors: Simon Dodd, Joseph Edward Scheffelin, Dave S. Hunt, Timothy James Hoekstra, Faiz Sherman, Stephan Gary Bush
  • Patent number: 9970397
    Abstract: A fuel electro-injector for a fuel injection system for an internal combustion engine, having an atomizer equipped with a nozzle and a valve needle defining a discharge section that is annular and has a width that continuously increases as the opening stroke of the valve needle proceeds. The opening stroke is directed outwards and is caused, in a proportional manner, by the operation of an electric actuator. The electro-injector has a high-pressure environment with an annular passageway around the lateral outer surface of the valve needle to supply fuel to the discharge section, and a low-pressure environment, which communicates with a fuel outlet and is separated from the high-pressure environment by a dynamic seal between the valve needle and the nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: C.R.F. Societa' Consortile per Azioni
    Inventors: Sergio Stucchi, Onofrio De Michele, Raffaele Ricco, Marcello Gargano, Carlo Mazzarella
  • Patent number: 9961933
    Abstract: A convertible juicer is disclosed. The convertible juicer includes a shell formed from a plurality of removable shell segments and an extraction assembly. The extraction assembly is disposed in the shell. The extraction assembly including a drum, a compression chamber disposed in the drum, and an auger disposed in the drum and received by the compression chamber. The extraction assembly and the shell are convertible between a storage configuration and a juicing configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: OMEGA PRODUCTS, INC.
    Inventor: Timothy Fields