Patents Examined by Brandon Harvey
  • Patent number: 10070756
    Abstract: A kitchen appliance has a power switch for controlling supply of power to a motor and a separate control circuit (18) for controlling the speed. A button (14) for control by the user is provided for controlling both the actuation and speed. A carrier (40) carries the button, and also carries a first actuator (44, 86) for mechanically actuating the power switch when the button is first moved. When the button is further moved, the motor speed is controlled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventors: Walter Alex Planegger, Mario Hosner, Joze Dermol
  • Patent number: 10064414
    Abstract: A machine for injecting brine into meat pieces includes a conveyor having a support surface for conveying meat pieces in a forward step by step movement, each step having a predetermined length, first and second injection heads consecutively arranged over the conveyor relative to the forward direction, each injection head having an array of injection needles covering a whole width of the conveyor support surface. A length of the conveyor support surface corresponds to the predetermined length of the steps of the conveyor step by step movement, head driving device for alternately reciprocating the injection heads between an upper position, enabling the meat pieces to pass under the injection heads, and a lower position, where the injection needles are stuck into the meat pieces located under the injection heads, and brine supplying device supplying brine to the injection needles at least when the injection heads are at their lower position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: METALQUIMIA, S.A.
    Inventor: Narcis Lagares Corominas
  • Patent number: 10039410
    Abstract: A capsule to form a closed interior filled with an extraction product or extract can be perforated in a known manner by perforation elements of an injection device or a discharge device in order to introduce an extraction liquid and to discharge an extraction product produced in the interior of the capsule following an extraction process. The capsule has the shape of a cuboid or a die.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: QBO COFFEE GMBH
    Inventor: Louis Deuber
  • Patent number: 10040140
    Abstract: A nozzle for connecting or disconnecting solder joints between head bonding pads of in a hard disk drive, includes a nozzle body including a tip, the tip disposed at a distal end of the nozzle body and configured to deliver or reflow a solder ball in proximity to head bonding pads; and a central duct disposed along a central axis of the nozzle body and configured to convey the solder ball to or from the tip. The tip includes a front face facing to a trailing edge of a slider, a back face facing to a top surface of a suspension supporting the slider, and two side faces adjacent to the front face and back face respectively, and at least one interference-free structure is provided at two adjacent faces of the tip at least, thereby no interference happens between the tip and elements adjacent to the slider during the operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: SAE MAGNETICS (H.K.) LTD.
    Inventors: Chiwai Lo, Shenkuang Chou, Yiusing Ho, Kayip Wong, Xiangyuan Tan, Junqun Zhang
  • Patent number: 10021888
    Abstract: Implementations of a vertical smoker and cooker for food are provided. In some implementations, the vertical smoker and cooker may be configured to cook and smoke food using charcoal briquettes and wood chips while maintaining a constant cooking temperature within the cooking chamber. In some implementations, the vertical smoker and cooker may be configured to protect the contents of the cooking chamber from direct exposure to the radiant heat coming from the fire box and prevent meat drippings from falling into the fire box. In some implementations, the vertical smoker and cooker may comprise a housing having an interior cooking chamber accessible through a first door, and a fire box chamber accessible through a second door, and an array of drip guides positioned between the cooking chamber and the fire box chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Inventor: Curtis Glenn McLamb
  • Patent number: 10016085
    Abstract: A pressure cooker comprises a handle, a body, an outer lid being pivotally mounted on the body, an inner vessel with flange extending radially, an inner lid that is configured to cover the inner vessel, a rotatable rim protrusions that selectively engages with the flange of the inner vessel. The pressure cooker that utilizes an one-hand opening and locking mechanism that simultaneously locks the outer lid with the main body and locks the inner lid with the inner vessel. The locking of the outer lid is achieved by a clasp assembly, whose position is controlled by the handle. The locking of the outer lid is achieved by the pairing of the flange and the rim protrusions, whose position is also controlled by the handle. The pressure cooker also comprises a pressure rod that changes its level based on the pressure of the inner vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: Capbran Holdings, LLC
    Inventor: Colin Sapire
  • Patent number: 9980588
    Abstract: A device is set out which considerably increase the exchange surface for aerating or oxygenating wine compared to prior art devices or decanters. In the invention, a series of components are mounted on top of each other, whereby wine poured from a bottle flows in sequential order, by force of gravity, through these components until it flows into glasses to be served to consumers. The structure of these components is such that each component enhances exposure to air and maximum oxygenation of the wine flowing through it.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Inventor: Carlo Benati
  • Patent number: 9984866
    Abstract: A multi-zone heater with a plurality of thermocouples such that different heater zones can be monitored for temperature independently. The independent thermocouples may have their leads routed out from the shaft of the heater in a channel that is closed with a joining process that results in hermetic seal adapted to withstand both the interior atmosphere of the shaft and the process chemicals in the process chamber. The thermocouple and its leads may be enclosed with a joining process in which a channel cover is brazed to the heater plate with aluminum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: Component Re-Engineering Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Alfred Grant Elliot, Brent Donald Alfred Elliot, Frank Balma, Richard Erich Schuster, Dennis George Rex, Alexander Veytser
  • Patent number: 9980597
    Abstract: A machine (1) for preparing a beverage (2) comprises: —a seat (10) having at least one part (11) that is movable between a transfer position for introducing a beverage ingredient into the seat and/or removing said ingredient therefrom, and a processing position for forming said beverage from the ingredient in the seat; —an outlet (20) for dispensing said beverage upon formation in the seat; and —a drop collector (30) for collecting drops (2?) from the outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: Nestec S.A.
    Inventor: Peter Mori
  • Patent number: 9969025
    Abstract: A mounting mechanism for connecting a tractor unit to a guide track, the mounting mechanism includes a fixed block having a first set of rolling devices and a movable plate having a second set of rolling devices. The distance between the first and second sets of rolling devices is adjustable by moving the movable plate to engage or disengage the tractor unit to the guide track. A clamping assembly is provided with a shaft, cam spring, and cam handle for adjusting the distance between the first and second rolling devices. When the cam handle is in an open position, the distance between the rolling devices is greater than the width of the guide track and when the cam handle is in a closed position the distance between the rolling devices is approximately equal to the width of the guide track.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: LINCOLN GLOBAL, INC.
    Inventors: Victor Miller, Jamil Snead
  • Patent number: 9974118
    Abstract: A heating apparatus, in particular a hob heating apparatus, with at least one heating connection for at least one heating element and at least one frequency unit. In order to provide a heating apparatus of the generic type with relatively high operational reliability, it is proposed that the heating apparatus comprises a protective unit, which is provided for determining the existence of a conducting path between the frequency unit and the at least one heating connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: BSH Hausgeräte GmbH
    Inventors: Daniel Anton Falcon, José Miguel Burdio Pinilla, Claudio Carretero Chamarro, Jose Maria De la Cuerda Ortin, Pablo Jesus Hernandez Blasco, Oscar Jimenez Navascues, Sergio Llorente Gil, Denis Navarro Tabernero, Jose Joaquin Paricio Azcona, Diego Puyal Puente, Magdy Saoudi Abdelfatah Saoudi
  • Patent number: 9968219
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide improved water fill capabilities, improved coffee baskets, and improved steam diverting and management features for coffee makers used on board passenger transport vehicles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: The Richards Corporation
    Inventors: Marcos Jimenez, Brad Beyer
  • Patent number: 9943090
    Abstract: Disclosed are methods and system for reducing or eliminating the possibility of cross-contamination between food to be cooked in a cooking device and food cooking in the cooking device. The methods and systems determine the placement into a cooking device of food product to be cooked by the distance sensor, determine a hygienic safe cooking time (HSCT) for that product based on the identification of food product to be cooked, and compare the HSCT to one or more remaining cooking times of food product cooking in the cooking device on levels below and/or above the desired placement of the food product to be cooked. Various methods of identifying the food to be cooked may be employed, both manual and automatic. As a result of the comparison, the methods and systems of the disclosure can identify safe carrier/tray level(s) for accepting placement of the food to be cooked.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: CONVOTHERM ELEKTROGERAETE GMBH
    Inventor: Michael Schilling
  • Patent number: 9918585
    Abstract: A filtering apparatus for filtering a beverage in a beverage producing apparatus, includes a base plate, a plurality of piercing components connected to a front side of the base plate, and a plurality of filtering holes extending through the base plate from the front side of the base plate to the rear side of the base plate. Each piercing component includes a piercing base extending away from the front side of the base plate, and a piercing point, integrated with the piercing base, having a pointed tip. During use of the beverage producing apparatus, the filtering apparatus mates with a sealing cover of a beverage cartridge by coupling the plurality of filtering holes and the plurality of piercing components with the sealing cover to form a filtering screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: TEATEK CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yangsheng Ye, Yusheng Shi
  • Patent number: 9918358
    Abstract: A microwave oven includes a shell defining a cooling air inlet and a cooling air outlet therein; a compartment defining a cavity, nested in the shell and defining an open front end, a receiving space being defined between a rear plate of the compartment and a rear plate of the shell; a first electric member and a second electric member disposed in the receiving space respectively; and a fan disposed in the receiving space, defining a first air inlet, a second air inlet, a first air outlet communicated with the first air inlet to define a first air blowing channel, and a second air outlet communicated with the second air inlet to define a second air blowing channel, the fan being configured to cool the first electric member via the first air blowing channel and to cool the second electric member via the second air blowing channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignees: GUANGDONG MIDEA KITCHEN APPLIANCES MANUFACTURING CO., LTD., MIDEA GROUP CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jaeman Cho, Qihong Ling, Yongnan Mao, Mingbo An
  • Patent number: 9901211
    Abstract: A barbecue support assembly for supporting an elongate skewer or other accessories at one or more preselected heights above a barbecue grill. The barbecue support assembly includes one or more body elements having one or more parts thereof positionable substantially at one of the preselected heights. Also the part includes one or more apertures in which an end of the skewer is receivable. A rotatable and removable leg assembly is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: WEBER-STEPHEN PRODUCTS LLC
    Inventors: Stephen Balcerzak, Walter Grassi, Marilyn Bowden, Daniel Pelletier
  • Patent number: 9894924
    Abstract: A pasteurization tunnel and a method for pasteurizing beverage packs are described, wherein the beverage packs are conveyed on at least two decks lying one upon the other and sprayed with a heated spraying liquid from spraying pipes extending each transversely to the conveying direction of the beverage packs. According to the invention, the spraying liquid is guided through the spraying pipes of the one deck into the spraying pipes of the other deck. Thereby, the maintenance efforts for removing deposits in sections of the spraying pipes where the flow is weak can be reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: KRONES AG
    Inventor: Hans-Joachim Krause
  • Patent number: 9877512
    Abstract: A battery assembly for an electronic cigarette, configured to form an electronic cigarette in combination with an atomizing assembly, wherein the atomizing assembly is provided with a magnetic material containing information to be identified, and the battery assembly includes: a magnetic sensor arranged on the battery assembly and configured to obtain the information to be identified; and a microcontroller connected to the magnetic sensor, and configured to control a circuit between the battery assembly and the atomizing assembly to be switched on in a case that the microcontroller determines that the information to be identified matches a preset information, to enable the electronic cigarette to work normally.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: HUIZHOU KIMREE TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD. SHENZHEN BRANCH
    Inventor: Qiuming Liu
  • Patent number: 9807975
    Abstract: A device for processing milk foam for use in an automatic hot and/or cold beverage machine includes a milk pump to pump the milk foam, and a secondary processing device coupled to the milk foam pump to change the consistency of the milk foam. The secondary processing device includes a homogenizer to break up and distribute air bubbles in the milk foam. The homogenizer has a reducing region including a plurality of impact bodies arranged to define a channel labyrinth through which the milk foam is flowable. Additionally, there is provided a process for homogenizing milk foam utilizing the above device, includes steps of a) impacting divided partial flows of the milk foam with the impact surfaces to divide the air bubbles of the milk foam; and b) mixing the divided partial flows with the divided air bubbles together to form new partial flows.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: MELITTA PROFESSIONAL COFFEE SOLUTIONS GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Bernd Buchholz, Thomas Diester
  • Patent number: 9777928
    Abstract: An oven appliance having at least two cooking chambers with features for ensuring the cooking chambers exit preheat and finish cooking food items within each cooking chamber at the same time is provided. A method for operating an oven appliance having at least two cooking chambers also is provided. The method includes features for ensuring the cooking chambers exit preheat and finish cooking food items within each cooking chamber at the same time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen Christopher Boedicker, Sabrina Marie Hannah