Patents Examined by Janie M Loeppke
  • Patent number: 11969813
    Abstract: A spot welding method includes a heating step of energizing an electrode in pressure contact with an Al alloy member to heat and melt a join part by resistance heating and a cooling step of cooling the join part after the heating step in a state in which the electrode is in pressure contact with the Al alloy member. The alloy is a wrought alloy of Mg: 0.2 to 1.2 mass %, Si: 0.4 to 1.5%, and Cu: 1.1% or less or a casting alloy of Si: 7 to 11% and Mg: 0.1 to 0.4% with respect to 100% as a whole. The cooling step includes a first cooling process performed with a reduced amount of input energy to the join part as compared with the heating step and a second cooling process performed after the first cooling process at a higher cooling rate than that in the first cooling process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignees: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOYOTA CHUO KENKYUSHO, TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hideaki Matsuoka, Takanori Nakagaki, Kyosuke Izuno, Koki Nakada, Manabu Ooga
  • Patent number: 11963535
    Abstract: A tilted roller system for preparing laminated products having different figures, including three-dimensional rolled figures, wherein said roller system comprises a conveyor band, a start roller band, a roller band and an unloading band.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: Heat and Control, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew Anthony Caridis, Leopoldo Zarate Andrade, Miguel Angel Gomez Angulo, Sergio Gonzalez Granados, Mario Lorenzana Saucedo
  • Patent number: 11964539
    Abstract: A control device is disclosed for an electric heating device with a PTC element as an auxiliary heater in a motor vehicle. The control device has a control housing in which a printed circuit board, equipped with at least one power switch is provided. The power switch is applied against a cooling surface in a heat-conducting manner under pretension via an elastic pretensioning element. The pretensioning element is formed from an elongated piece of a soft-elastic plastic part extruded with at least one through-opening. Also disclosed is an electric heating device having such a control device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: Eberspächer catem GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Kai-Fabian Bürkle, Kurt Walz
  • Patent number: 11968753
    Abstract: A countertop appliance temperature controller configured to provide improved temperature control of a resistive heating element heated cooking surface of a countertop appliance through the use of a noncontact thermal sensor. The temperature controller including a pair of electrical output contacts selectively coupleable to the resistive heating element of the countertop appliance, a user input configured to receive a desired temperature setpoint for the cooking surface of the countertop appliance, a noncontact temperature sensor configured to receive temperature information directly from the cooking surface of the countertop appliance, and a thermostat configured to adjust an electrical output of the pair of electrical output contacts to minimize a difference between the desired temperature setpoint and a perceived actual temperature of the cooking surface based on the received temperature information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: National Presto Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Julian Warwick
  • Patent number: 11963269
    Abstract: A ceramic heater includes a ceramic plate having a surface that serves as a wafer placement surface, resistance heating elements that are embedded in the ceramic plate, a tubular shaft that supports the ceramic plate from a rear surface of the ceramic plate, a recess that is formed in a within-shaft region of the rear surface of the ceramic plate, the within-shaft region being surrounded by the tubular shaft, and terminals that are disposed to be exposed at a side surface of the recess and that supply electric power to the resistance heating element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: NGK INSULATORS, LTD.
    Inventors: Noboru Kajihara, Shuichiro Motoyama
  • Patent number: 11956864
    Abstract: Disclosed is a heating device comprising a heating resistor, and a heat sink thermally coupled to the heating resistor, wherein the heat sink comprises corrugated fins that are skived fins integral to the heat sink. Also disclosed is a method for producing a heating rod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Inventors: Cian McCarthy, Kevin Dukes, Ivan Morris
  • Patent number: 11951566
    Abstract: A method, medium, and system to obtain an assignment of one of a plurality of different additive manufacturing (AM) print parameter sets to each of a plurality of 3D volume elements forming a representation of the model of the part; define a plurality of groupings based on margin parameter values associated with the model of the part; assign a print parameter set to each grouping; automatically assign each of the plurality of print parameter sets to a laser of a multi-laser AM device; save a record of the determined print parameter sets to laser assignments; and transmit the record of the determined print parameter sets to laser assignments to an AM controller to control the multi-laser AM device to generate the part based on the model of the part and the determined print parameter sets to laser assignments, the generated part to be built in a single build.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Christina Margaret Vasil, Subhrajit Roychowdhury, Arvind Rangarajan, Joshua Mook
  • Patent number: 11945031
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing an additively-manufactured object in which deposition is performed by melting and solidifying a metal depending on three-dimensional shape data of a target shape, includes: acquiring the three-dimensional shape data; creating a deposition plan in which a formation track and a heating condition of the metal are determined; determining a difference between a shape of the additively-manufactured object that thermally contracts by cooling after deposition and a shape of the three-dimensional shape data by an operation; modifying the deposition plan until the difference falls within a predetermined allowable range; and additively manufacturing the additively-manufactured object based on the deposition plan in which the difference falls within the allowable range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: KOBE STEEL, LTD.
    Inventors: Takemasa Yamasaki, Tatsuya Fujii, Shinji Sato, Takeshi Yamada
  • Patent number: 11945056
    Abstract: A gas shielded arc welding wire contains, based on total mass of the wire in terms of mass %: C: 0.01% to 0.50%; Si: 0.01% to 1.50%; Mn: 0.10% to 2.50%; Cr: 5% to 15%; Ni: 0.05% to 1.50%; Mo: 0.1% to 2.0%; V: 0.1% to 1.0%; Nb: 0.01% to 0.20%; REM: 0.001% to 0.050%; S: 0.0010% to 0.0200%; and O: 0.025% or less (including 0%), which satisfies the following relationship: 3.0?(Nb+10×REM)/(S+O)?200.0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: Kobe Steel, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuya Ikai, Tetsunao Ikeda
  • Patent number: 11945046
    Abstract: A method of joining electrical connections together includes evaluating at least one weld joint between at least two substrates, determining mismatch between the at least two substrates, and welding the at least two substrates together with a multi-step welding process. The multi-step welding process includes compensating for mismatch between the at least two substrates by welding on both sides but not overlapping a joint line between the at least two substrates with a first welding step and increasing melt volume and penetration depth of a weld between the at least two substrates with a second welding step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Emily Ann Ryan, Elizabeth Therese Hetrick, Arnon Wexler
  • Patent number: 11938563
    Abstract: An annealed workpiece manufacturing method of irradiating a workpiece with laser light and annealing the workpiece includes a support step of supporting the workpiece, and an irradiation step of irradiating the supported workpiece with the laser light. In the support step, at least in a laser light irradiation area for the workpiece, the workpiece is supported by a cam member whose upper end height position is adjusted according to a rotation position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: JSW AKTINA SYSTEM CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Suk-Hwan Chung
  • Patent number: 11931831
    Abstract: A status alarm mask may include a main body to cover a face and eyes of a user. The mask may include a filter unit placed at a front surface portion of the main body to protect the eyes. The mask may include a communication module configured to establish a communication session with a welding torch held by the user and receive at least one inclination value of the welding torch being operated by the user, through the communication session. The mask may include a controller configured to determine whether a work of the torch is in progress, on the basis of an operation of the filter unit and to generate notification output data when the work of the torch is in progress. The mask may include an output unit placed at a location not overlapping with the filter unit and configured to receive and output the notification output data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: OTOS WING.CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Moon Young Huh
  • Patent number: 11930563
    Abstract: A method and system for monitoring a heating arrangement includes applying a first polarity voltage to a heater of the heating arrangement, detecting a first polarity heating leakage current, applying a second polarity voltage to the heating arrangement, detecting a second polarity heating leakage current, and determining health of the heating arrangement via the first polarity heating leakage current and the second polarity heating leakage current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: Rosemount Aerospace Inc.
    Inventors: Magdi A. Essawy, Cuong Tho Huynh
  • Patent number: 11927005
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a connecting structure, a nozzle assembly, a nozzle bracket and a urinal. The connecting structure includes: a urinal bowl, wherein the urinal bowl includes a basin surface for receiving urine, a middle upper portion of the urinal bowl comprises an accommodating space, and the nozzle assembly is disposed in the accommodating space; the nozzle bracket is disposed in the accommodating space; the nozzle bracket is movably connected with the nozzle assembly; and the nozzle bracket has a locking structure. The connecting structure according to the present disclosure enables the nozzle assembly of the urinal to be replaced and maintained conveniently and quickly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: Kohler (China) Investment Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Pingsheng Yao
  • Patent number: 11927001
    Abstract: A pop up stopper comprising multiple aperture and at least one non-aperture lever rod engagement locations to allow use of the stopper as a replacement with different pre-existing actuating and drain systems when the existing stopper is broken, worn or needs to be replaced for aesthetic reasons. An existing lever rod is selectively positionable to engage with one of the lever rod engagement locations that are disposed at varying heights on the stopper. Most preferably, there are six lever rod engagement locations, four aperture locations and two non-aperture locations. A seal disposed below a cap and around a body of the stopper comprises an enlarged annular ring near its outer edge to provide increased surface area for sealing a drain opening. The body of the stopper has a maximum width measured in cross section of 1.04 inches or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: Danco, Inc.
    Inventors: Jon Manoj, Robert Jones, Jr.
  • Patent number: 11918154
    Abstract: A portable restroom system includes plural individual restrooms connected as a pod structure and supported by a chassis. Each restroom includes: a lockable door that opens to outside the pod structure; and a tank having a toilet with a toilet opening, a urinal with a urinal opening, a cleaning port, and two vent holes, all as part of a unitary tank body that defines an interior volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Inventor: Peter van der Linde
  • Patent number: 11920337
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to an air exhaust apparatus and a toilet bowl having an air exhaust apparatus, configured for propelling air from the toilet bowl towards a sewage line connecting the toilet bowl to the sewage system. In particular, the present disclosure aims at providing an internal exhaust system suitable for application with toilet bowls comprising a rinsing inlet and waste outlet for connecting the toilet bowl to a flush liquid source and the sewage line, respectively. The toilet bowl can be wall mounted or floor mounted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: INVENT AIRCARE LTD.
    Inventors: Iehezkel Shahar, Tomer Shahar
  • Patent number: 11919132
    Abstract: A shower base installation system including a shower base and shower base installation tool. The shower base includes one or more recesses on the bottom surface. The installation tool includes a handle, a strap, and a hook. The tool is used to lift and maneuver a shower base into position by engaging the hook into one of the recesses in the shower base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: Delta Faucet Company
    Inventors: Garry Marty, Charles Hettrick
  • Patent number: 11896173
    Abstract: A bathtub closure system may include a step configured to be retrofit onto a bathtub and a plug. The step may include a first side panel, a second side panel, and an elongated platform defining a cavity configured to facilitate ingress and egress into the bathtub, and a first attachment recess extending downward from the first top surface less than an entire height of the first side panel or extending downward from the second top surface less than an entire height of the second side panel. The plug includes a body and a first attachment member affixed to the body and corresponding to the first attachment recess defined by the step. The plug cooperates with the step to form a substantially watertight seal when the first attachment member is mated with the first attachment recess and the body of the plug is positioned at least partially within the cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: Safeway Safety Step, LLC
    Inventors: Christopher Brian Stafford, Lance Middleton, Houston E. Lay
  • Patent number: 11899421
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to calibrating scanner devices for positioning laser beams in a processing field, and includes, e.g.: arranging a retroreflector in the processing field of the scanner device, the processing field being formed in a processing chamber for irradiating powder layers; detecting laser radiation reflected back into the scanner device when the laser beam passes over the retroreflector; determining an actual position of the laser beam in the processing field using the detected laser radiation; and calibrating the scanner device by correcting a laser beam target position specified for the scanner device in the processing field using the determined actual position of the laser beam in the processing field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: TRUMPF Laser- und Systemtechnik GmbH
    Inventors: Matthias Allenberg-Rabe, Jürgen Ortmann