Patents Examined by Carl D. Price
  • Patent number: 7322819
    Abstract: A fireplace including a backlighting system. The backlighting system can be positioned in a back portion of the bottom panel of the fireplace. The backlighting system includes at least one light source to shine light upon the components of the fireplace. For example, the light source can be positioned to shine light on a back panel of the fireplace. The light source of the backlighting system can be modulated depending on a state of the fireplace. For example, the light source can be turned on or off depending on whether the flame of the fireplace is on or off.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: HNI Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: David Charles Lyons, Thomas J. Bachinski, Robert Samuel Waddell, Richard Berg, Scott Stephen Jeutter, Kurt Matthew Schwie
  • Patent number: 7318432
    Abstract: A solar collector plate (2) has a solar radiation receiving front absorber plane (3) that is wiped at its rear side by a cooling liquid (4) flowing in channels (5). Cavities (7), preferably behind the channels (5) and integrated in the solar collector plate (2), and that can be closed off by the very liquid flow (4), provide a closed air volume that gives a dampening effect regarding kickbacks and pressure transients in the liquid (4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2008
    Assignee: Solarnor AS
    Inventor: John Rekstad
  • Patent number: 7314371
    Abstract: An igniter with a safety switch includes an ignition section, a pressing section, a gas storage tank, a gas outlet valve, and an electric arc generator, and a safety switch, wherein the safety switch is connected to the pressing section and latched with the pressing section, such that the pressing section cannot be pressed if the safety switch is not pushed. If the safety switch is pushed, the gas outlet valve will be opened to allow gas to flow to the ignition section. If the pressing section is pressed at this time, an electric arc will be produced to light up the gas. Therefore, it is necessary to simultaneously push the safety switch and press the pressing section to complete an ignition, and thus can greatly reduce the risk of having an accident.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2008
    Inventor: Huang-Hsi Hsu
  • Patent number: 7305982
    Abstract: The present invention is a cooking grill having as its cooking fuel source charcoal, wood, or similar solid fuels and comprised of devices for acceleration of ignition and temperature elevation of the solid fuels so as to lessen cooking preparation time and increase cooking efficiency of said grill. The invention is directed to a barbecue unit capable of accelerated ignition and burn time of charcoal, wood chip, or similar fuel. The unit is comprised of an accelerated ignition system having an ignition box, heating element, plurality of transportable fuel baskets, basket transfer tool, high-pressure forced air supply device, automatic sequenced timer, and ignition air diverter. The unit is further comprised of supporting racks affixed to the shell of the unit and operable to hold the transportable fuel baskets in a plurality of configurations such that heat can be applied directly or indirectly in the cooking of the food.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2007
    Inventor: James Lee Gross
  • Patent number: 7303388
    Abstract: Combustion system comprising a furnace having a thermal load and a combustion atmosphere disposed therein; one or more fuel lances adapted to inject fuel into the combustion atmosphere; and one or more igniters associated with the one or more fuel lances and adapted to ignite the fuel injected by the one or more fuel lances into the combustion atmosphere.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2007
    Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: Mahendra Ladharam Joshi, Aleksandar Georgi Slavejkov, Xianming Jimmy Li
  • Patent number: 7299799
    Abstract: The gas manifold assembly (1) is adapted to a cooking appliance for supplying the burners (21) thereof, and is equipped with various taps (C1-C4) of the rotary type, installed on a elongated tubular-shaped manifold conduit (2), which is disposed parallel to the front wall (FP) of the appliance and supported on it. The taps (C1-C4) have a respective installation seat (7) with a built-in gas intake connected to the elongated conduit (2), and mounting is carried out by means of a one-piece mounting device (12), which in turn has an integral means (12b) for supporting and fastening the manifold assembly (1) to the front wall (FP), for which purpose the aligned tap drive shafts (16) stand proud of the front wall (FP) and the tap outlet conduits (8) face and adjoin their respective burner (21).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Inventor: Inigo Albizuri
  • Patent number: 7300276
    Abstract: A safety control switch comprises a slide base movably mounted on the housing of a gas-fired ignition device, a push button positioned in a through hole of the slide base, a brake block fixed to the push button for inserting into a space between the slide base and the housing, and a locking piece movably mounted on the slide base and engaged with the through hole of the slide base, the locking piece being moved relative to the slide base between a first position to prevent the push button and the slide base from being operated by blocking the through hole and a second position to allow the push button and the slide base to be operated by removing the blockage of the through hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Inventor: Hui-Ming Sun
  • Patent number: 7291009
    Abstract: A cooktop burner assembly is described. The cooktop burner assembly includes a main burner, and a simmer burner located below the main burner, where a diameter of the simmer burner is greater than a diameter of the main burner. The closer placement of the main burner to a cooking vessel placed on top of the cooktop burner assembly as compared to the placement of the simmer burner from the cooking vessel increases thermal efficiency. Moreover, the farther placement of the simmer burner from the cooking vessel facilitates simmering of items in the cooking vessel and the larger diameter of the simmer burner reduces a possibility of overheating the main burner and the cooking vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2007
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Azfar Kamal, Paul Bryan Cadima, Shree Kumar, Sudeep Pradhan Sadananda Rao
  • Patent number: 7275533
    Abstract: Systems and method for controlling the flow of air through a mechanical draft system are disclosed herein. A pressure controller for controlling air pressure comprises an appliance controller configured to control the operation of a plurality of appliances, an intake fan controller configured to control the speed of an intake fan, and an exhaust fan controller configured to control the speed of an exhaust fan. The pressure controller also includes a processor configured to receive a differential pressure signal and to control the operation of the appliances, the speed of the intake fan, and the speed of the exhaust fan in response to the differential pressure signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Assignee: Exhausto, Inc.
    Inventors: Soeren Soeholm, Michael Beisheim, Steen Hagensen
  • Patent number: 7255101
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a door, in particular, a cooking appliance door, through which a useful space can be closed, and having a stowage space, into which the door can be lowered at least partly, guided by a guide system that has a pivot axis and at least one guide element guided in a guide track, through which the door is guided in its movement along the guide track during a pivoting movement. The position of the pivot axis is fixed in the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2007
    Assignee: BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeraete GmbH
    Inventors: Joachim Grützke, Thomas Rembold
  • Patent number: 7255100
    Abstract: An electronically activated gas cooktop control system, responsive to a touch-sensitive user interface, and capable of providing a predetermined range of cooking and simmer levels of BTU output, has two complementary heating modes of operation A first heating mode of operation is provided to produce a wide selection of simmer levels of BTU output, by electronically sequencing a solenoid-operated modulating gas valve “on” and “off”, at a predetermined level of flame. A second cooking mode of operation is provided by electronically modulating the level of flame, through use of a pulse-width-modulation (PWM) output signal to produce a wide selection of cooking levels of BTU output. An igniter system capable of insuring proper ignition of gas without generating harmful electromagnetic interference is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2007
    Assignee: CompuValve LLC
    Inventors: Pierre P. Repper, Alan B. Shute, Christa B. Shute, Suzanne J. Shute, Allen L. Olson, Feng Zhou
  • Patent number: 7252503
    Abstract: A venturi tube has a configuration of baffles affixed thereto that serve to greatly reduce the susceptibility of a gas burning appliance to wind gusts. The baffles cooperate to force incoming primary combustion air through a circuitous route before introduction into a flow of gaseous fuel. The circuitous route in combination with the volume of air that is contained within the baffling serves to substantially reduce flame blowout.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2007
    Assignee: Magma Products, Inc.
    Inventor: James S. Mashburn
  • Patent number: 7252502
    Abstract: The method and apparatus provides a controller (which might comprise a microprocessor) that can control gas flow to a pilot burner in fluid communication with a manual pilot valve and an automatic pilot valve. The exemplary embodiments can comprise a selectable input device that can open the manual pilot valve to allow gas flow to the pilot burner. A pilot flame can then heat one or more thermal detection devices in thermal communication with the pilot burner, wherein the one or more thermal detection devices can output a variable voltage potential to the controller. The controller can then open the automatic pilot valve to maintain gas flow to the pilot burner after the manual pilot valve has been closed. In an exemplary embodiment, the only voltage potential used to power the controller is supplied by the one or more thermal detection devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2007
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventor: Sybrandus B. V. Munsterhuis
  • Patent number: 7249947
    Abstract: The venting chassis is designed to function optimally with jar candles that have small diameter mouths, and jar candles that have oddly shaped, non-cylindrical or smaller sized jars. The venting chassis includes an annular skirt that is dimensioned to extend below the jar shoulder that is formed between the sidewalls and jar brim. The skirt physically separates the inlet air flow from the exhaust air flow to facilitate laminar air flow within the jar candle. The skirt has three longitudinal depressions or channels, which form three inlet vents that open just below the shoulder. The skirt is shaped and configured to acts as a nozzle to constrain thereby increasing the velocity and inertia of the airflow and to vent the inlet airflow under the shoulder directly onto jar sidewalls thereby cooling the jar sidewalls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2007
    Inventor: Tod A. Papai
  • Patent number: 7249946
    Abstract: The invention relates to a thermal generator comprising a furnace tube (2) wherein a fuel is burnt, recombustion means (14, 15) for reducing the nitrogen oxides content present in said fumes and means (3) for recovering the heat of the fumes resulting from said combustion. The invention is characterized in that recombustion means (14, 15) are arranged in containment means (11).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2007
    Assignee: Institut Francais du Petrole
    Inventors: Gérard Martin, Willy Nastoll, John Roesler
  • Patent number: 7246614
    Abstract: A small, lightweight, portable cooking stove that utilizes alcohol as fuel and is suitable for backpacking, hunting, camping and similar activities. The cooking stove includes a combustion chamber which encloses, contains and regulates the entire combustion process. The stove also includes an efficient fuel vaporizer, which is adapted to perform in unison with the combustion chamber, to effect the metered and efficient mixing of the air and fuel vapor. An integral, simple and convenient means is provided to vary the intensity and pattern of the heat output, thereby controlling the cooking performance of the stove. The stove achieves high heat output and efficiency, low fuel consumption, and superior cooking performance in a small, lightweight, portable, convenient, simple and integrated assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Inventor: Timothy Gregg Huggins
  • Patent number: 7244119
    Abstract: Compact low NOx gas burner apparatus and methods for discharging fuel gas and air mixtures into furnace spaces wherein the mixture is burned in folded flame patterns and flue gases having low NOx content are formed are provided. A burner apparatus of the invention is basically comprised of a housing having a burner tile attached thereto and means for introducing air therein. The burner tile has an opening therein with a wall surrounding the opening which extends into a furnace space. The exterior sides of the wall are divided into sections by radially positioned baffles with alternate sections having the same or different heights and slanting towards the opening at the same or different angles. Primary fuel gas mixed with flue gases and air is discharged through the burner tile. Secondary fuel gas is discharged adjacent to the external slanted wall sections whereby the secondary fuel gas mixes with flue gases in the furnace space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Assignee: John Zink Company, LLC
    Inventors: I-Ping Chung, Jesse Steven Chambers, Carol Ann Schnepper, Roger L. Poe, Jaiwant D. Jayakaran, Richard T. Waibel, Michael G. Claxton, Marianne Zimola, Darin Robert Foote
  • Patent number: 7244120
    Abstract: The invention is an igniter gun equipped with a safety mechanism. The invention is characterized in that a lever is provided between a piezoelectric pusher and a trigger, with a first end of the lever pivotally connected to the casing, the second end and middle portion of the lever abutting against the trigger and the piezoelectric pusher respectively; one end of a gas controller is connected with a gas outlet valve, while another end of the gas controller forms a hook that abuts against the first end of the lever, a safety spring which urges the hook to go beyond a movement range of the first end of the lever is set between one side of the gas controller and a casing, a controller switch abutting against a back of the hook is set between another side of the gas controller and the casing, the controller switch is pivotally connected to the casing, and a portion of the controller switch exposed outside the casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Inventor: Zhihong Jiang
  • Patent number: 7240675
    Abstract: The parabolic trough collector has a receiver formed by several single absorber tubes (13). The single absorber tubes (13) are supported by absorber tube supports (14) and surrounded by a glass tube (15). Because of different expansion behavior of the absorber tube (13) and the glass tube (15) during collector operation flexible unions (17) are foreseen between absorber tube (13) and glass tube (15). In order to use the radiation coming to the non active-area where the absorber tube supports (14) and the flexible unions (17) are installed a mirror collar (20) is installed on this area. The mirror collar (20) is able to reflect the solar radiation, which is coming from different directions, to the active absorber part of the single absorber tubes (13) also when the sun incident angle is changing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2007
    Assignee: Schott AG
    Inventor: Martin Eickhoff
  • Patent number: 7234932
    Abstract: A fireplace for viewing outside of a house or other structure that includes a combustion chamber defined by a combustion chamber enclosure with a front opening and a front panel at least partially enclosing the front opening. The front panel is partially surrounded by an air intake/gas exhaust system. The air intake/gas exhaust system is defined by bottom intake, a top exhaust and at least one of side intake/exhaust opening. A gas burner is situated on the floor of the combustion chamber enclosure. Fresh air enters through a bottom intake opening in the bottom intake and the lower portion of the intake/exhaust opening. After the combustion exhaust gases are expelled through a top exhaust opening in the top exhaust and the upper portion of the intake/exhaust openings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2007
    Assignee: HNI Technologies Inc.
    Inventor: Robin Michael Streit