Patents Examined by Joseph Iskra
  • Patent number: 9820611
    Abstract: A food grilling rack provides a frame defined by a plurality of connected side walls forming a closed geometric shape. The frame includes a lower corrugated sheet that provides multiple troughs, each trough having a lowest portion. The lower sheet is attached to at least some of the side walls. An upper sheet of material is supported (e.g., removably) above the sheet of corrugated material. There are a plurality of openings in the upper sheet of material, each opening being vertically aligned with a lowest portion of a trough. In one embodiment, the frame includes a pair of flanged members attached to a lower corrugated sheet that provides multiple troughs, each trough having a lowest portion. A sheet with openings slides into the frame aligning the openings with the lowest part of the trough.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: Metal Fusion, Inc.
    Inventors: Norman R. Bourgeois, Barbara Bourgeois, Michael P. Bourgeois
  • Patent number: 9821401
    Abstract: Weld metals and methods for welding ferritic steels are provided. The weld metals have high strength and high ductile tearing resistance and are suitable for use in strain based pipelines. The weld metal contains retained austenite and has a cellular microstructure with cell walls containing lath martensite and cell interiors containing degenerate upper bainite. The weld metals are comprised of between 0.02 and 0.12 wt % carbon, between 7.50 and 14.50 wt % nickel, not greater than about 1.00 wt % manganese, not greater than about 0.30 wt % silicon, not greater than about 150 ppm oxygen, not greater than about 100 ppm sulfur, not greater than about 75 ppm phosphorus, and the balance essentially iron. Other elements may be added to enhance the properties of the weld metal. The weld metals are applied using a power source with current waveform control which produces a smooth, controlled welding arc and weld pool in the absence of CO2 or oxygen in the shielding gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company
    Inventors: Douglas P. Fairchild, Mario L. Macia, Steven J. Ford, Nathan E. Nissley, Raghavan Ayer, Hyun-Woo Jin, Adnan Ozekcin
  • Patent number: 9814244
    Abstract: A system, oven forming assembly, and method for proofing and cooking corrugated dough crusts are disclosed. The system may include: a forming assembly including at least one parallel cylinder separated by at least one parallel space; and at least one base opposing the at least one parallel cylinder. An oven forming assembly may include: an oven including a conveyor; and a forming assembly opposite the conveyor including a plurality of parallel cylinders and spaces in an alternating series. A method may include: positioning at least one dough piece in contact with a conveyor and with an opposing forming assembly; moving the at least one dough piece on the conveyor under the opposing forming assembly into an oven proofing the dough piece; and moving the at least one proofed dough piece on the conveyor under the opposing forming assembly through the oven at least partially baking the proofed dough piece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Inventor: Kirt McFarland
  • Patent number: 9796056
    Abstract: A popcorn popping assembly includes a popcorn popping kettle having a side wall extending from a bottom wall. The assembly includes a plurality of retainers. Each of the retainers includes a bottom wall extending between a pair of side walls. The side walls and the bottom wall define a cavity, and an aperture is formed in the bottom wall and defines an essentially closed shaped periphery. The assembly includes a plurality of studs, each configured to be inserted through a respective aperture of a respective retainer. A plurality of fasteners are each configured to be received within the cavity of a retainer and couple with a stud to secure the stud to the retainer. A temperature sensor may extend through at least one of the apertures. A stud may be configured to cooperate with the temperature sensor and hold the temperature sensor in a predetermined location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: Gold Medal Products Company
    Inventors: Steven A. Snyder, John J. Ryan
  • Patent number: 9797593
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for generating a vapor with a compact vaporizer design and exposing the gas and liquid mixture for vaporization to a reduced maximum temperature. A gas and liquid droplet flow through a metal housing configured to heat the gas and liquid droplet mixture flow for vaporization includes directing the gas and liquid droplet mixture through an inlet of the metal housing and flowing the gas through a tortious flow path defined by a plurality of tubular flow passageways arranged around a central axis for vaporization. Residual liquid droplets may be further vaporized by flowing through a second metal housing configured to heat the gas and liquid droplet mixture for vaporization and having a similar construction to the first metal housing and providing a second tortious flow path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: MSP Corporation
    Inventors: Thuc M. Dinh, Yamin Ma, Benjamin Y. H. Liu
  • Patent number: 9788690
    Abstract: A cooking apparatus is described including: at least one grill element including a cooking surface for supporting foodstuffs which in use are heated on the cooking surface; and a cleaning device for cleaning at least a portion of the cooking surface, the cleaning device including a surface cleaning element and a movement mechanism, the movement mechanism being arranged to move the cleaning element across the cooking surface; and at least one motor for driving the movement mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Inventor: Marian Silviu Rosian
  • Patent number: 9784456
    Abstract: An electric stove includes an electric heating element arranged at a distance from a position right below a target to be heated. A first mirror surface portion is arranged to surround the electric heating element and configured to reflect heat rays radiated from the electric heating elements. A second mirror surface portion is arranged below the electric heating elements and configured to collect the heat rays reflected by the first mirror surface portion to a side below the target by reflecting the heat rays substantially immediately upwardly. The first mirror surface portion includes a plurality of partial elliptical mirror surface portions having one focus near the electric heating elements and the other focus below the electric heating elements, and the second mirror surface portion includes a partial elliptical mirror surface portion a having one focus near the electric heating elements and the other focus below the electric heating elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: TAKITA RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Masaaki Takita
  • Patent number: 9775468
    Abstract: The device comprises a square metal base plate with an anchor post, a tine holder that fits over the base plate anchor post, and a plurality shaped tines of circular cross-section that are inserted into the tine holder. The shaped tines are inserted into the food to be cooked. A plurality of tines are inserted into a hole on the tine holder. The tine holder assembly is then set atop the anchor post on the base plate such that the food is positioned vertically. The device is then placed directly on top of the upper grill surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Inventor: Charlie Adron Whitfield, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9763458
    Abstract: A machine including a supply of gelling agent (45), a supply of acidic buffer solution (47), a third supply of food inlet (51) connected to a source of food (53), a mixer (27) connected to the gelling agent and acidic buffer solution supplies, for delivering a mixture of gelling agent and acidic buffer solution, and a co-extruder (31) fed with food (51) and with said mixture, for extruding the food at the center and the mixture at the periphery, so as to obtain the expected food product at the outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: MAREL FRANCE
    Inventors: Jacques Le Paih, Yohann Pierre, Fabrice Le Pabic, Leon Spierts, Patricia Hoekstra-Suurs, Johannes Kools, Johannes Meulendijks
  • Patent number: 9756983
    Abstract: A salad spinner includes a lid with openings to allow water to pass through the lid and into the bowl, or from the bowl out through the lid. The bowl includes openings on a bottom portion of the bowl to allow water to pass through the bottom of the bowl. A removable cover allows the bottom portion of the bowl to be selectively sealed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: PROGRESSIVE INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
    Inventor: Sul Gi Myoung
  • Patent number: 9750273
    Abstract: An apparatus for vacuum tumbling and barbecuing food includes a barbecue and a vacuum tumbling container which fits inside the barbecue. The vacuum tumbling container has a vacuum valve. In an embodiment, the vacuum tumbling container is affixed to a rotatable connector of the barbecue. In another embodiment, the barbecue includes an enclosure which alternately accepts a vacuum tumbling container or food for cooking on the barbecue. In another embodiment, the apparatus includes a divider for partitioning the barbecue into subchambers, each suitable for holding a vacuum tumbling container or a cooking grate. In another embodiment the vacuum tumbling container also functions as a pressure cooker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Inventor: Rogerio Paulo Vicente Cristovao
  • Patent number: 9751145
    Abstract: A sealing device for slot-type vacuum glass is provided with a slot (11) through which a glass sheet to be sealed passes, inductive heating coils (14) are arranged around the slot, and the circumference of the glass sheet to be sealed is gradually hermetically sealed through metal brazing process as the glass sheet to be sealed passes through the slot via conveyor rollers (13). The device is further provided with a casing (10-1) and press wheels or rollers (15), and the slot extends through the casing, the inductive heating coils are arranged inside the casing around the slot, the press wheels or rollers (15) are set in the casing. The device is only required to be arranged in the middle of conveyor rollers in order to ensure that the glass sheet can pass through the slot, thereby simplifying equipment and sealing process, enhancing sealing efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: LUOYANG LANDGLASS TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD
    Inventors: Yanbing Li, Zhangsheng Wang
  • Patent number: 9737956
    Abstract: Resistance spot welding of a thin-gauge steel workpiece to another steel workpiece is achieved through the combined use of specific spot welding electrodes and a pulsating welding current. Each of the spot welding electrodes has a weld face that is smaller in diameter than a typical steel spot welding electrode. And the pulsating welding current that is used in conjunction with the smaller-sized spot welding electrodes includes at least two stages of electrical current pulses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: David Yang, Michael J. Karagoulis, David R. Sigler
  • Patent number: 9732964
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an electric oven. The electric oven according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a cavity which is provided with an oven chamber, a door for opening and closing alternatively the oven chamber, a carbon heater for providing radiant energy to the inside of a cooking room through the communication opening, a reflector for reflecting the radiant energy from the carbon heater to the inside of the cooking room, and a grate which is fixed to the reflector and is disposed on the communication opening and is provided with a forming section a part of which is formed toward the reflector. Therefore, the grate can be prevented from being damaged according to the electric oven of the present invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Young Jun Lee, Hyun Jung Kim, Dong Seong Kwag
  • Patent number: 9718140
    Abstract: An electric discharge machining system is provided which distinguishes an abnormal discharge caused by an immediate discharge and an abnormal discharge caused not by the immediate discharge to suitably control in each case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Yasuo Onodera, Hiroki Hikosaka, Kazunari Morita, Hidetaka Katougi
  • Patent number: 9713852
    Abstract: A welding tool includes a first handle and a second handle. The welding tool also includes a torch nozzle holder configured to hold a nozzle of a welding torch therein, and to block the nozzle from extending therethrough. The welding tool includes a blade assembly positioned a predetermined distance from the torch nozzle holder. The blade assembly is configured to cut welding wire extending through the blade assembly to calibrate wire stickout from the welding torch to the predetermined distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2017
    Assignee: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.
    Inventors: William J. Becker, Richard Beeson, David P. Marcusen
  • Patent number: 9717115
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a flat-shaped article with an electrical function for placement in a functional tone. Provision is made that, even after having been placed, the flat-shaped article can again be removed without being destroyed from the functional zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2017
    Assignee: GENTHERM GMBH
    Inventors: William Wei Li, Sherry (Li) Chen, Stefan Huber, Han-georg Rauh
  • Patent number: 9681776
    Abstract: An adapter for a slow cooker having one or more basins for food items and a perimeter configured to fit an upper rim of the slow cooker and also receive the cover of the slow cooker such that the original closure seal of the cover to the slow cooker is maintained. Another embodiment comprises at least first and second identically shaped trays configured to nest in side-by-side fashion when supported within the slow cooker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Inventor: Diana L. York
  • Patent number: 9681771
    Abstract: A container is disclosed that comprises an outer vessel having an inner cavity, and an inner vessel having an inner cavity. The inner vessel and outer vessel are configured for receiving all or substantially all of the inner vessel through an opening in the outer vessel such that in operation, said opening of the inner vessel may be releasably positioned proximate the opening of the outer vessel. The container also includes a lid for releasably enclosing said inner vessel within said outer vessel. The outer container may be made from a material called TRITAN and the inner vessel may be made from glass. A seal may be provided between the top to the inner vessel and the lid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: Precidio Design Inc.
    Inventors: Nicholas Herling, Marc Heinke
  • Patent number: 9676053
    Abstract: A welding system includes an inductor on an output of a welding power supply. The power supply may be of the type including an engine and a generator for producing power, with power conversion circuitry conditioning the power to a form suitable for a stick welding application. The inductor has an inductance sufficient for storing energy for maintaining a welding arc with XX10 electrodes, such as on the order of 700 mH. The inductor may have a particular structure, such as one designed around T and L shaped core elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.
    Inventor: Randall J. DuVal