Patents Examined by Carl D. Price
  • Patent number: 6606986
    Abstract: A barbeque grill including a lower housing, heating means and food support means positioned within the lower housing, an upper housing or hood adapted to enclose the lower housing, a smoke exhaust means provided in said upper and/or lower housing for allowing smoke to escape from within the barbeque grill, wherein said smoke exhaust means is retractable/collapsible in order to allow the oven or grill to take up the least amount of space when being stored or transported.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2003
    Assignee: The Holland Company, Inc. of the Carolinas
    Inventors: Robert Braxton Holland, Jeffrey Alan McCulloch, Stephen Earl Southers
  • Patent number: 6604520
    Abstract: The vapor extraction device is disposed, for example, in a kitchen counter top next to the cooking or other hot-food area, specifically so as to be retracted in the position of rest. To operate as a suction device, the intake the vapor extraction device is moved out upward and pivoted over and above food preparation carriers disposed on the hot-food areas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2003
    Assignee: BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeräte GmbH
    Inventors: Maximilian Grimm, Armin Zibold, Ulrich Gremmelmaier, Martin Wetzel, Martin Kornberger, Michael Wendt
  • Patent number: 6604521
    Abstract: An improved solar collector pipe that directly conveys fluid to be heated and collects and transfers solar energy efficiently and directly to the internal fluid, thereby maximizing both the amount of energy transmitted to the internal fluid and the peak temperature attainable by that fluid. The solar collector pipe includes a transparent portion for admitting solar energy into the solar collector pipe. Internal to the solar collector pipe is an absorbing portion for absorbing solar energy. A conduit portion is also included and comprises a reflecting surface thereon for reflecting solar energy received through the transparent portion onto the absorbing portion. The transparent portion, the conduit portion, and the absorbing portion together define at least one fluid passageway for conveying the fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2003
    Inventors: Travis Smith, Manu Ghela
  • Patent number: 6595771
    Abstract: A safety candleholder comprises a seat, a center of the seat having a hollow groove base; an outer side of the groove base being installed with an inner ring and an outer ring; inner walls of the inner ring and the outer ring being installed with inner thread portions; a plurality of via holes being formed at a bottom of the seat; the inner lampshade being installed with an opening; an outer side of the opening having a flange; a diameter of the opening being smaller than a diameter of the candle; and an outer lampshade screwedly fixed to the outer ring, thereby, an annular groove being formed between the two lampshade so that air can flow in the annular groove; an upper end of the outer lampshade having an opening; an outer side of the opening being installed with an annular flange, thus, a safety candleholder being formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2003
    Inventor: Yi-Hsueh Chu
  • Patent number: 6595197
    Abstract: A preferred embodiment of the present invention incorporates a cooking chamber, including a lower portion and a lid that cooperate to define a cooking enclosure. Preferably, the lid is moveably mounted to the lower portion, and the lower portion has a lower surface, which is arranged at least partially beneath the cooking enclosure. Additionally, the lower surface preferably includes an opening formed therethrough that cooperates with a firebox so that an interior of the firebox engages in fluid communication with the cooking enclosure via the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2003
    Assignee: W. C. Bradley Company
    Inventor: John Ganard
  • Patent number: 6592362
    Abstract: A two-stage safety arrangement for a cigarette lighter of the piezoelectric type having a case that houses a flammable liquid container, gas release mechanism, and piezoelectric ignition element. The safety arrangement includes an ignition cover that covers the gas release mechanism, a striking lever, and a release button. To operate the lighter, a user must first depress the release button and use an upward movement to release the ignition cover and reveal the gas release mechanism. Next, the user must simultaneously depress the release button and push the striking lever rotatably downwards and away from the gas release mechanism in order to actuate the piezoelectric ignition element. Use of both hands to depress the release button and pry back the striking lever from above, near the gas release mechanism, is further prevented by providing a raised safety ridge to prevent a user from gripping the edge of the striking lever near the outlet of the gas release mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2003
    Assignee: Oneworld Enterprises, Ltd.
    Inventor: Gary Fisher
  • Patent number: 6589046
    Abstract: A multi piece gas burner assembly that is machined or cast and having a burner base that contains holes for primary air where the hole dimensions do not exceed the height of a jet mounted therein. The burner base is fastened onto an appliance. The burner head rests upon a boss on the burner base and has a tube that directs a flammable gas-air mixture from the burner base into a cavity created between the burner head and the burner cap. The burner cap rests upon the burner head and contains an outer edge that is turned downwards in order to allow fluid to drip away from the flame. A groove is cut into the burner cap just inside the down turned outer edge and provides a location for a support flame. The location of the groove prevents fluid and dust from collecting inside the groove. The groove captures the flammable gas-air mixture, which provides a constant ignition source for the gas-air mixture through slots in the burner cap when ignited.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2003
    Inventor: Uwe Harneit
  • Patent number: 6589047
    Abstract: A venting plate for a containerized candle, which improves scent distribution while still providing a clean soot free combustion is disclosed. The venting plate includes a flat disc shaped top and a channeled annular baffle. The venting plate sits atop the mouth of the containerized candle and is supported above the rim of the vessel mouth by a number of mounting bosses or feet. The mounting feet space the top above the candle brim to permit the flow of inlet air underneath the venting plate between the plate top and the brim of the candle vessel. The baffle extends downward into the mouth of the vessel around the exhaust vent and has six recessed longitudinal furrows, which allow inlet air into the vessel interior. The baffle redirects the inlet air flow, which enters the candle horizontally from underneath the venting plate, downward along the vessel sidewall. The inlet air flow passes through the six inlet channels, which columnate the inlet air flow into distinct columns of air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2003
    Assignee: Smith Mountain Properties, LLC.
    Inventor: Tod A. Papai
  • Patent number: 6588475
    Abstract: A device for welding overlapping roof membranes comprising a chassis, an air discharge chute and a flame distribution assembly communicating with the air discharge chute. The flame distribution assembly includes a gaseous fuel source inlet, a primary burner, and an ignition source. A control unit ignites the primary burner by the ignition source. The blower connected to an inlet port of the air discharge chute directs heat generated by the primary burner through an air discharge outlet for welding the overlapping roof membranes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2003
    Assignee: NTE Equipment, Inc.
    Inventors: James J. Simon, Jr., Scott M. Bockelman, Don Dubuc
  • Patent number: 6584968
    Abstract: A ventilator includes a hood structure having an air inlet slot and a multi-position damper baffle within the hood structure. The damper baffle is movably positioned adjacent the air inlet slot for movement between (i) an exhaust cycle position in which the damper baffle allows gases to flow through the hood structure, (ii) a wash cycle position in which the damper baffle closes off the air inlet slot; and (iii) a fire cycle position in which the damper baffle divides the hood structure into an upper section and a lower section. A manifold and associated water control valve may also be provided, along with a motor for controlling damper baffle positioning, an exhaust fan for air flow, and with a controller being provided for automated operation. In an internal fire mode of the controller the damper baffle is moved to the fire cycle position, the exhaust fan is turned off and the water control valve is opened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2003
    Assignee: ITW Food Equipment Group LLC
    Inventor: Philip O'Farrell Morton
  • Patent number: 6585510
    Abstract: A venting plate that can be used with any containerized candle regardless of shape, wick configuration or dimension is disclosed. The venting cover stabilizes the combustion flame and improves the efficiency of the combustion of containerized candles, thereby reducing candle smoke. The venting plate is shaped to conform to the shape of the mouth of the particular containerized candle. The venting plate has a central exhaust vent and includes a peripheral outer flange, an inner baffle and a plurality of mounting bosses or feet. The venting plate is supported atop the mouth of the containerized candle by the mounting feet, which space the venting plate above the brim of the candle to form an annular inlet vent. The baffle follows the contour and shape of the outer flange and extends downward into the mouth of the candle when seated atop a candle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2003
    Assignee: Smith Mountain Properties, LLC.
    Inventor: Tod A. Papai
  • Patent number: 6581589
    Abstract: Heat insulations in houses having card-board lattice arranged behind a glass pane yield, in practice, a heat flow which is dependent on insolation. Said heat flow is lower at night and during weak insolation and begins to increase when the lattice is solar heated. The inventive solar cell (1) comprises a lattice (5) which is situated behind a rear-ventilated glass pane (2) and which exhibits durable storage properties. The solar cells characterize a solar energy yield (v′) by an arrangement which selects for an angle of incidence. Said solar energy yield does not lead to overheating in the room interior (R) also when the sun is at a high position. A thermal time constant is obtained by means of heat insulations (11, 12, 13) which are connected in succession. Said time constant guarantees comfortable temperatures in the interior (R) of the house also in the case of low supplementary heating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2003
    Inventors: Giuseppe Fent, Jan Richard De Fries
  • Patent number: 6582220
    Abstract: An ignitor assembly for a fossil fuel-fired power generation system includes an elongate electrode, a tube sub assembly, and a coupling sub assembly, and an insulator sub assembly. The coupling sub assembly cooperates with other structural elements of the ignitor assembly and the respective windbox in which the ignitor assembly is installed to operably couple the elongate electrode to an external electrical power source. The ignitor assembly includes a contact socket secured by crimping to a lead of the external electrical power source which is biased into an electric current communicating disposition with the electrode rod of the ignitor assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2003
    Assignee: ALSTOM Power Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth J. Heck, Raymond D. MacWhinnie, Jr., David J. Matteson, Ronald H. Nowak
  • Patent number: 6579086
    Abstract: This invention concerns a boiler fitted with a burner suitable for wall heaters or built-in kitchen heaters in which a mantle-shaped heat exchanger made of pipe elements connected in parallel and/or series divides the boiler chamber into a combustion chamber and an exhaust chamber. The heat exchanger has openings for hot flue gases distributed over its mantle. The burner head disposed in the combustion chamber is suitable for burning oil and has a flame tube with an axial flame opening and a flame baffle element disposed at a distance from the flame opening which is constructed so that the flame is diverted into the space between the flame tube and the heat exchanger. In addition, a fire chamber mantle can be disposed between the heat exchanger and the flame tube to protect the heat exchanger from direct contact with the flame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2003
    Assignee: R.W. Beckett Corporation
    Inventors: Jorg Fullemann, Heinrich Boner, Andreas Allemann, Marco Allemann
  • Patent number: 6575734
    Abstract: A low emissions burner includes a diffusion burner surrounded by an annular array of premix burners. The diffusion burner operates at maximum swirl air flow and at a low constant fuel rate to reduce NOx emissions. The diffusion burner provides a stable swirling diffusion flame. An annular array of premix burners surrounds the diffusion burner and provides a non-swirling premix flame about the diffusion flame to advantageously provide a higher heat content about the periphery of the burner flame to facilitate industrial drying processes using the burner. The diffusion burner flame maintains the premixed flame stabilized. Water injection nozzles are provided each of the premix and diffusion burners.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2003
    Assignee: Gencor Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: David F. Brashears, Grover T. Butler, Joseph T. Mollick
  • Patent number: 6572365
    Abstract: An automatic candle snuffer has a heat resistant housing with a bottom end that is received and closed by a candle holder. The housing top end is open when a hinged lid is open and closed when the lid is closed. A digital timer is attached to the housing and has a fixed part of the hinge attached for selectively magnetizing and demagnetizing. The hinge also has a magnetic portion attached to the lid, such that the lid is held open by the magnetic coupling of the fixed part of the hinge and the magnetic hinge portion attached to the lid. The user selects a time for the candle to be snuffed, and the timer demagnetizes the fixed part of the hinge, whereupon the magnetic coupling is broken and gravity causes the lid to close on the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2003
    Inventor: Justin Byxbe
  • Patent number: 6565353
    Abstract: An improved ignition system incorporated with a lighter includes a flint supported by a flint-spring between two supporting walls of the lighter. A striker wheel having a circumferential coarse striking surface positioned right above the flint is rotatably mounted between the two supporting walls. At least a driving wheel, having a plurality of gear teeth, is coaxially attached to a side of the striker wheel. A pusher button slidably disposed in a pusher cavity in a vertically movable manner. At least a trigger protrusion is outwardly protruded from a front wall of the pusher button wherein the trigger protrusion has at least an engaging tooth adapted for slidably engaging the gear teeth of the driving wheel to drive the striker wheel to rotate. And, a resilient element normally retaining and urging the pusher button in an upper normal position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2003
    Inventor: John Jiin Chung Yang
  • Patent number: 6561179
    Abstract: A gas grill that is structurally engineered such that it can be easily and rapidly assembled by a person of limited technical ability in a simplified manner with only a single open end wrench. The gas grill of the present invention comprises a base or bottom shelf, four legs, four casters, a firebox, a main upper body, a burner assembly, a pivotable door or lid, a rock grate, briquette or lava rock, a cooking grid, one or more warming racks, two side shelves, one or more front panels, a pair of side panels, a propane assembly, and a valve assembly. The firebox, main upper body, and the legs of the gas grill of the present invention are secured together by a plurality of externally threaded bolts which pass through openings in the main upper body, the firebox and the upper end portion of each leg.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2003
    Assignee: Fiesta Gas Grills, Inc.
    Inventors: George R. Brake, Shawn Minshall
  • Patent number: 6558156
    Abstract: A multi-flame lighter includes a housing, an igniter, a liquid fuel supply, a valve, a vaporizer, a mixing chamber, a nozzle, and a flame chamber. The multi-flame lighter produces clearly visible and forceful flames that are aesthetically pleasing and functional being equivalent to 2 or more of the flames from a conventional tighter as well as being particularly wind resistant. The multiple clearly visible and forceful flames allow a user to easily aim the cigarette or cigar to quickly achieve ignition and easily ignite the cigarette or cigar for ignition and easily ignite the cigarette of cigar with the multiple clearly visible flames.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2003
    Inventor: Chi Lam Wong
  • Patent number: 6537065
    Abstract: A burner for a cooking range includes a burner base disposed on the range top, a burner body extending upwardly through aligned openings in the range top and the burner base to a threaded rim, a venturi having a threaded annular flange secured to the threaded rim of the burner body and a venturi tube depending from the flange through the burner body to a lower end. The burner base is sandwiched between the annular flange of the venturi and the range top and is thereby mounted to the range top by means of the venturi. A gas orifice is disposed beneath the bottom end of the venturi tube for ejecting gas upwardly into the venturi tube and a ported burner ring and burner cap rest on the burner base overlying the venturi tube. The burner is easily assembled and disassembled from the top without special tools and without raising or removing the range top. Components of the burner may be individually removed from the top of the range for maintenance or replacement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2003
    Assignee: Viking Range Corporation
    Inventors: Manoucher Shirali, James E. Hurley