Patents Examined by Daniel E Namay
  • Patent number: 10604055
    Abstract: A motor vehicle (1) having a driver's position (2), having a device (3) adjacent thereto for processing, in particular for assembling, food, and having an oven device (4) for heating foods is designed so that at least the device (3) for processing, in particular assembling, foods is arranged in a section (6) which is separate from the driver's position (2) and which has at least one access option (8) for the driver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: Zume Pizza, Inc.
    Inventor: Joachim Eismann
  • Patent number: 10601365
    Abstract: In an example, the system has a mechanical isolator comprising an elastic material configured to separate the panel rail from the torque tube cause destructive interference with a natural resonant frequency of the system without the mechanical isolator to reduce a mechanical vibration of the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: NEXTRACKER INC.
    Inventor: Alexander W. Au
  • Patent number: 10598376
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a heat exchange member at least partially defining a passageway, and structure defining a first plurality of holes and a second plurality of holes. The first and second pluralities of holes provide fluid communication from the passageway to the exterior of the apparatus, i.e., to the atmosphere. A blower is operatively connected to the heat exchange member and configured to blow air into the passageway. The apparatus is configured such that, when the heat exchange member is sufficiently positioned with respect to a campfire, air exiting the first plurality of holes is directed downward and away from the campfire and air exiting the second plurality of holes has an upward velocity component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Inventor: Lee Alan Schunk
  • Patent number: 10591168
    Abstract: A countertop oven includes a housing having a rear panel, an upper panel, a bottom panel, a first side panel, an opposing second side panel and an open front end, together defining a cooking cavity therebetween. The cooking cavity is accessible via the open front end of the housing. At least one heating element within the housing selectively heats the cooking cavity. A door is movably attached to the housing via at least one 4-bar linkage mechanism. The door is selectively movable between a closed position, wherein the open front end of the housing is covered by the door, and an open position, wherein the door is positioned generally atop the upper panel of the housing, thereby uncovering the open front end of the housing to access the cooking cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: Hamilton Beach Brands, Inc.
    Inventors: Weiqun Yang, Michael Garman, Amy Hollister
  • Patent number: 10588455
    Abstract: Fire pit systems including a base pan member having a base pan member lower wall with a pan outer periphery, and one or more side walls extending upward from the base pan member lower wall and along the pan outer periphery; at least two rod members extending upward along opposite sides of the pan outer periphery; and one or more additional accessories that are attachable to and detachable from at least one of the at least two rod members, the one or more additional accessories comprising a griddle, a grill, a coffee pot, a Dutch oven, a tubular spacer, a pot holder, a horizontal bar extending between two rod members of the at least two rod members, a warming tray, or any combination thereof. Methods of making and using the fire pit systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: Kudu Safari Braai, LLC
    Inventor: Stebin Horne, III
  • Patent number: 10591154
    Abstract: A combustion burner including: a fuel nozzle (61) which ejects a fuel gas that is a mixture of fuel and air; a combustion air nozzle (62) which ejects air from an outer side of the fuel nozzle (61); first members (71) which are arranged inside the fuel nozzle (61) and which each comprise a first inclined surface (82a) inclined with respect to the flow of the fuel gas, and a first inclination end edge where the inclination of the first inclined surface (82a) ends; and second members (72) which are arranged downstream of the first inclination end edges in the direction of fuel gas flow, and which each comprise a second inclined surface (84a) inclined towards the first members (71) with respect to the fuel gas flow and a second inclination end edge where the inclination of the second inclined surface (84a) ends.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI HITACHI POWER SYSTEMS, LTD.
    Inventors: Keigo Matsumoto, Kazuhiro Domoto, Yukihiro Tominaga, Ryuichiro Tanaka, Naofumi Abe
  • Patent number: 10584883
    Abstract: A cooktop includes a cooking surface and a heating element. A cover for the cooktop includes a top sheet extending between a left side and a right side and between a front side and a back side. A locator opening is defined in the top sheet. A first peripheral flange extends from one of the left side and the front side, and a second peripheral flange extends from one of the right side and the back side. A first plurality of cooling slots is between the top sheet and the first peripheral flange. A second plurality of cooling slots is between the top sheet and the second peripheral flange. The cover is configured to overlie the cooktop such that the locator opening corresponds to the heating element of the cooktop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2020
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventor: Justin Tyler Brown
  • Patent number: 10569619
    Abstract: A combustion chamber assembly unit, for a fuel-operated vehicle heater, includes a combustion chamber housing (12) with a combustion chamber (18) defined by a circumferential wall (14) and by a bottom area (16). A flame tube (30) follows the circumferential wall (14) in the direction of a housing longitudinal axis (L) and encloses a waste gas flow space (32) that is open in the direction of the housing longitudinal axis (L). A flame diaphragm (34) has a flow-through opening (60). A waste gas backflow space (46) is formed between the flame tube (30) and a housing (38) enclosing same. The waste gas flow space (32) is open towards the waste gas backflow space (46) in a first axial end area (48) of the waste gas backflow space (46). A catalytic converter device (54), through which combustion waste gases can flow, is provided in the waste gas backflow space (46).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: Eberspächer Climate Control Systems GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Michael Humburg
  • Patent number: 10571119
    Abstract: A combustion chamber assembly unit, for a vaporizing burner, includes a combustion chamber housing with a circumferential wall extending in a direction of a combustion chamber housing longitudinal axis (L) and a bottom area (14), together defining a combustion chamber (16). The bottom area (14) includes an evaporating medium carrier (18) and on a side facing the combustion chamber (16), a porous evaporating medium (20). A first flame diaphragm (36), with a first diaphragm opening (38), is provided on the circumferential wall (12). A second flame diaphragm (40), with a second diaphragm opening (42), is provided at an axial distance to the first flame diaphragm (36) on an axial side facing away from the porous evaporating medium (20). An air admission opening arrangement (44) is provided in the circumferential wall (12) and includes an air admission opening (46) between the first flame diaphragm (36) and the second flame diaphragm (40).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: Eberspächer Climate Control Systems GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Walter Blaschke
  • Patent number: 10562368
    Abstract: A method for heating the passenger compartment of an electric vehicle, including the following steps: pre-heating at least one part of the passenger compartment by at least one electric heater when the vehicle is connected to an external energy source, and heating the at least one part of the passenger compartment by a combustion heater when the vehicle is in use. Also provided is a system implementing such a method and an electric vehicle, in particular of the electric bus type, utilizing such a method or such a system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: BLUEBUS
    Inventors: Alexandre Desneux, Fabien Durand, Christophe Bardot
  • Patent number: 10551074
    Abstract: The system includes: a heat pump unit; a hot water supply heat exchanger; heating heat exchangers; a pump; heat medium pipes that connect a discharge side of the pump, the heat pump unit, the hot water supply heat exchanger, the heating heat exchangers, and a suction side of the pump in order; a first bypass pipe that bypasses the hot water supply heat exchanger from the heat medium pipe; a second bypass pipe that bypasses the heating heat exchangers from the heat medium pipe; a four-way valve that regulates flow distribution of the heat medium between the hot water supply heat exchanger and the first bypass pipe 22, and between the heating heat exchangers and the second bypass pipe; and a control unit for controlling the four-way valve in accordance with a hot water supply request and a heating request.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventor: Hirokazu Minamisako
  • Patent number: 10544945
    Abstract: A heat supply system with a first temperature detection unit that detects a first temperature of hot water in a tank and a second temperature detection unit that detects a second temperature above the first temperature detection unit. When the first temperature is a first lower limit temperature or less, where a temperature increase operation by a combined heat and power supply device is permitted, a control device operates the combined heat and power supply device and flow state adjustment devices such that a heat medium circulates between the combined heat, power supply device, and hot water storage device. When the second temperature is a second lower limit temperature or less, where a temperature increase operation by a boiler device is permitted, the control device operates the boiler device and the flow state adjustment devices such that the heat medium circulates between the boiler device and hot water storage device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2020
    Assignee: Osaka Gas Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yoshitaka Shibata
  • Patent number: 10544937
    Abstract: A lighter comprises a container that is configured to hold a liquid fuel, a cap attachable to a top portion of the container, a fuel cap attachable to a bottom portion of the container, a first watertight seal formed by a first sealing element between the cap and the container, and a second watertight seal formed by a second sealing element between the fuel cap and the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2020
    Assignee: Exotac, Inc.
    Inventors: Rob Falkenhayn, Colin Reilly
  • Patent number: 10532751
    Abstract: A vehicle air-conditioning apparatus includes: a hot water heater core provided in a hot water circuit in which cooling water circulates in a heat source to recover waste heat of the heat source, and configured to exchange heat between the cooling water heated by the waste heat of the heat source and air to heat the air, thereby heating an inside of a vehicle by using the heated air; a heat pump configured to exchange heat between a refrigerant discharged from a refrigerant compressor and air by using an indoor heat exchanger to heat the air, thereby heating the inside of the vehicle by using the heated air; an electric heater configured to heat air to heat the inside of the vehicle; and a controller configured to select at least one of the hot water heater core, the heat pump and the electric heater to perform a heating operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yukitaka Mijin
  • Patent number: 10533772
    Abstract: A furnace system featuring baffles, each set of baffles including one or more movable vanes, and systems for controlling the positioning of movable vanes during furnace operation. Actuators may be used to move vanes between deployed and retracted positions, the actuators controlled by units within the furnace or linked to the power sources for furnace elements which are specific to either heating or cooling operations. The movable vanes may alternately be positioned by using springs with stiffness selected to place vanes in a deployed position when under heating airflows and in a retracted position when under cooling airflows.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: TRANE INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Angus Robert Lemon, Nathan Wagers
  • Patent number: 10533754
    Abstract: A support grate for a household cooking appliance includes a plurality of spokes with at least one portion on which a cooking article can be supported and at least one pad of elastic material for supporting the grate on a surface of the household appliance. The pad is of a polymeric material having a thermochromic pigment dispersed therein and causing the pad to change in a color thereof at a first preset temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Leonardo Arteconi, Alberto Gasparini
  • Patent number: 10532661
    Abstract: An exemplary electrified vehicle includes a passenger cabin, and an infrared heater configured to radiate heat for conditioning the passenger cabin. The vehicle further includes a heating device configured to heat airflow for conditioning the passenger cabin. Further, the vehicle includes a controller configured to selectively command a change in an output of the heating device based on an amount of power available to the infrared heater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: William Samuel Schwartz, Angel Fernando Porras, Timothy Noah Blatchley
  • Patent number: 10532629
    Abstract: A radiant heating system includes a radiant heating element, a steering wheel position monitoring device and a controller configured to control the radiant heating element in response to steering wheel position data received from the steering wheel position monitoring device. A method of controlling operation of a radiant system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: John Craig Elson, Kerrie Kathleen Gath, Clay Wesley Maranville, Victoria Leigh Schein, Donald Peter Schneider, III, Manfred Koberstein
  • Patent number: 10527295
    Abstract: A microcomputer-based controller has control outputs operably connected to a hydronic boiler of a building, a network connection for receiving weather forecast information from a meteorological server, and an input operably connected to an outside temperature transducer. The controller is configured to an appropriate set-point temperature for the boiler based on both the current outside temperature and a forecasted outdoor temperature from the meteorological server. Remote zone temperature sensors report zone temperatures to the controller, based on which further adjustment of the set point temperature are made if a notable number of zones all have temperatures notably shifted in a same direction from a normally expected zone temperature. The zone temperature sensors and controller are connected as nodes in a mesh network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: IoT Cloud Technologies Inc.
    Inventor: Matthew James Lewis
  • Patent number: 10519399
    Abstract: A scented candle is provided. The candle has a body made of a flammable material and a wick. The body of the candle is provided with one or more bores adapted for receiving a respective scent element therein as selected by a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Inventors: Lucy M. Campbell, A. Keith Campbell