Patents Examined by Joseph Pelham
  • Heating cooker
    Patent number: 6972397
    Abstract: A heating cooker which prevents leakage of water even when an inlet of the water feed pipe is placed in any direction, and in which a water feed tank is removably coupled to the water feed pipe in any direction. The heating cooker includes a steam generator to supply steam into a cooking cavity defined in the heating cooker, a water feed tank to supply water into the steam generator, a water feed pipe to supply the water from the water feed tank into the steam generator, with the water feed tank removably coupled to the water feed pipe, a first valve to control an outlet provided on the water feed tank to discharge the water from the water feed tank, and a second valve to control an inlet provided on the water feed pipe to draw the water discharged from the water feed tank into the water feed pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2005
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yu Jeub Ha
  • Smolder pot with temperature control function
    Patent number: 6967311
    Abstract: A smolder pot capable of cooking food as heat source is removed. The smolder pot comprises a cooking pot. At least one heat accumulating disk is fixed to a center of a bottom of the cooking pot; the heat accumulating disk being retained with a gap from the bottom. When the bottom of the cooking pot is heat, the heat accumulating disk will be heated. Due to the gap between the heat accumulating disk and the bottom, no heat is transferred to the cooking pot directly. Thus the temperature of the heat accumulating disk is not effect by the heat dissipating of liquid in the cooking pot. Thereby the heat accumulating effect of the heat accumulating disk is helpful to the heating and temperature retaining of the cooking pot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2005
    Inventors: Rong-Yuan Tseng, Kuo-I Lin
  • Smokeless vent system for a cooking appliance
    Patent number: 6967310
    Abstract: A cooking appliance includes an exhaust system that substantially eliminates potential smoke generating byproducts carried by oven gases. The cooking appliance includes an oven cavity having a top wall including a recessed portion within which is mounted a broil element. A plurality of openings are formed in the recessed portion that allow exhaust gases to pass into a smoke elimination chamber. Heat generated by the broil element and in the smoke elimination chamber removes substantially all combustion byproducts contained in the exhaust gases. To further remove combustion byproducts, the exhaust gases are passed through a ceramic catalyst prior to being directed into a vent duct. From the vent duct, the exhaust gasses are directed past a blower into an exhaust duct that, ultimately, guides the exhaust gases from the appliance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2005
    Assignee: Maytag Corporation
    Inventors: Kerry O. Austin, Perry A. Bennett, Norman B. Davis, Dean I. Griffey, Steven M. Haring, Donnie L. Keith, Gary E. Keller, Jeffrey K. McLeod, Jason Lewallen, Norman T. McGuffey
  • Rotisserie oven having horizontally and vertically oriented cooking elements
    Patent number: 6965095
    Abstract: Indoor use rotisserie ovens which have construction features and scale which make the cleaning process easier. Shown are indoor use rotisserie ovens which also may rotate cooking foods about either a horizontal or vertical axis, which makes their applications more versatile. Construction features include: a scale appropriate for cleaning in a typical kitchen sink, use of removable electrical components, and single oven wall construction, all to allow easy cabinet cleaning. Also shown is a locking tab manufacturing detail which creates an inexpensive, light weight, oven cavity, which is easy to clean and also permits oven cavity washing and/or immersion in water. This manufacturing detail also is easy to handle by the end-user without projecting sharp edges. Self lubricated spit assembly axles are shown as well to help deaden sound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2005
    Assignee: Ronco Inventions, LLC
    Inventors: Ronald M. Popeil, Alan L. Backus, Lauren Popeil
  • Safety electric heating cooker
    Patent number: 6965096
    Abstract: This invention discloses a safety electric heating cooker comprises an outer shell and a cooker bowl, wherein, said cooker further comprises interlaid backstops which are made of heat-resistant materials; said backstops are installed between said outer shell and said cooker bowl, whereby air gap is generated between said outer shell and said cooker bowl. Therefore, the outer shell doesn't contact with the hot cooker bowl directly, which prevents the outer shell from melting by heat. The present invention is applicable to kitchen apparatus such as electric frying pans, electric saucepots, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2005
    Inventor: Dong-lei Wang
  • Controlled heat steamer
    Patent number: 6965094
    Abstract: An automatically operated steamer for cooking and warming food products is described. The steamer uses three operating thermostatic controls, a housing with a reservoir in the bottom thereof, and an electrical heat source disposed below said reservoir to heat the same. When cold water is admitted to the reservoir a thermostat closes to generate heat to warm the water and as the water warms, the flow of the water into the reservoir ceases. When the reservoir water reaches a temperature slightly above its boiling point, a second thermostat operates to control the temperature to keep the water boiling until it completely evaporates. When the water evaporates the heat within the device steamer increases, and another thermostat opens at a predetermined elevated temperature to signal for the addition of water to the reservoir.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2005
    Inventor: Nitai Friedman
  • Slow cooker
    Patent number: 6963051
    Abstract: This invention discloses an electrical slow cooker. Said slow cooker has an added thermal insulating layer, which is formed by filling foaming materials in the gap between the shell and the inner casing as well as between the pedestal and the inner casing, so as to improve the quality of the thermal insulation of the slow cooker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2005
    Inventor: Jin You
  • Electrical oven with detachable liners
    Patent number: 6960742
    Abstract: This invention discloses an electric oven with detachable liners includes a front door, a control panel and a rear shell; inside the rear shell is an inner chamber where an electric heater and a baking rack are installed; wherein, said electric oven further includes at least one piece of detachable liners, each detachable liner is in the shape of plane plate and is detachably installed at the inner side of said inner chamber. By adding the detachable liners, the inner chamber of the electric oven can be always kept clean and new. Besides, it is convenient to put the detachable liners into conventional dish washing troughs or dish washing machines for soaking and cleaning. The present invention is widely applicable to conventional electric ovens by modification of the existing ovens and addition of the detachable liners.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2005
    Inventor: Kun-lian Wei
  • Hot pan
    Patent number: 6953913
    Abstract: A pan warmer and controller for the pan warmer allows a user to preset operating conditions of the pan warmer using a digital controller, and to lock out changes to the operation of the pan warmer unless a code has been entered. The pan warmer monitors water level and temperature, and automatically adjusts water levels and water temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2005
    Assignee: Premier Restaurant Equipment Co.
    Inventors: James Richard Hara, Larry Edmond Drake, Alfred Walter Huf, III
  • Apparatus for heating baby formula pot and method of operating the same
    Patent number: 6953914
    Abstract: An apparatus for heating a baby formula pot 10 includes a case 11, and a heating plate 12 disposed in the case 11 on which a baby formula pot 30 is mounted. When the baby formula pot 30 is mounted on the heating plate 12 and is heated by the heating plate 12, the water contained in the baby formula pot 30 is boiled to become hot water. An water amount is calculated by a control mechanism 35 based on a temperature rising ratio of the water. An optimum cooling period is calculated by the control mechanism 35 based on the calculated water amount. A cooling fan 13 is rotated by the control mechanism 35 in compliance with the optimum cooling period, so that the baby formula pot 30 is cooled by air taken-in through air intake ports 18.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2005
    Assignee: Combi Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki Suzuki, Sakiko Minami, Gen Sato, Keiichi Nakamura
  • Electron source for food treating apparatus and method
    Patent number: 6949721
    Abstract: A food treating apparatus and method wherein a reducing DC electric current is provided by a DC electric circuit, the food treating apparatus including a vessel and a handle, and wherein at least part of the electric circuit is integral with the handle and is operative to provide electrons to food in the vessel. Further, the added electrons inhibit and/or reduce the formation of acrylamides in the food prepared in the food treating apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2005
    Inventors: Branimir Simic-Glavaski, Michael G. Simic
  • Heated tray for razor
    Patent number: 6946624
    Abstract: A tray for holding a razor has a cradle formed and configured for nested engagement with the handle of the razor and the blade face of the cartridge carried on the razor head. Electric heating elements in the cradle warm the blades of the razor when the razor rests in the cradle. The cradle of the tray may further be provided with heating elements in the handle engaging portion for warming the razor handle as well as a shave product carried in the handle of a razor that has an integrated shave product dispenser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2005
    Inventor: Louis D. Tomassetti
  • Battery operated self heating thermos container
    Patent number: 6943323
    Abstract: A thermos container with inner sealing cap and outer cap used to contain solid or liquid foods. Integral heating coils contained within the innermost compartment of the receptacle receives energy from the main power cord connected to the On/Off sliding switch power conductor. When the sliding switch is moved to the On position it activates the battery power to heat the integral coils to a certain temperature to warm the contents of the thermos container. With such applications the invention is a battery operated self heating thermos thus allowing for storage and heat to foods contained within the inner receptacle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2005
    Inventor: Claudine Iannucci
  • Pressure exhaust system for a convection cooking appliance
    Patent number: 6943322
    Abstract: A cooking appliance incorporates a convection heating system including a housing having an interior portion, a fan assembly, a heating element and an exhaust outlet duct. The exhaust outlet duct, within which is arranged a plurality of controlled vent openings, is positioned in a high pressure area of the convection heating system established about a periphery of the fan assembly and heating element. Oven gases are forced by the high pressure through the exhaust duct, thereby creating a corresponding reduction in pressure. The reduction in pressure establishes a low pressure area within the fan assembly which draws in fresh air in an amount equal to that exhausted through the exhaust duct.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2005
    Assignee: Maytag Corporation
    Inventor: Robert Z. Whipple, Jr.
  • Heat roller and method of fabricating the same
    Patent number: 6940045
    Abstract: A heat roller has a cylindrical sheet-like heating element, an inner tube and an outer tube. The sheet-like heating element has a resistance member embedded into an insulating member. The outer tube has a non-linear shape seen in an axial direction. The heat roller is fabricated by supplying pressurized fluid to the inner tube for expanding the inner tube, sheet-like heating element and outer tube toward a die. The die has a non-linear inner shape seen in the axial direction. Therefore, the outer tube of the fabricated heat roller has a non-linear shape. Further, an edge section of the inner tube can simultaneously be formed into a desired shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2005
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Koichi Sanpei, Mitsuhiro Mori, Masatoshi Kimura, Masao Konishi
  • Thermal storage and transport
    Patent number: 6936791
    Abstract: The carrying case for storing and transporting heated articles includes a thermal storage assembly having a heat retention member for absorbing and retaining sensible heat and for releasing the sensible heat of a extended period time. The thermal storage assembly includes a heating coil assembly secured to a surface of the heat retention member. The heating coil assembly includes a resistive heating coil disposed adjacent to the heat retention member. The heating coil has a power cord connected to the coil with the coil being retained within a sealed thermally conductive pouch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2005
    Assignee: Vesture Acquisition Corporation
    Inventors: Wayne D. Baldwin, Fujio Abe
  • Method and apparatus for securing a power head on an electric cooker
    Patent number: 6936795
    Abstract: An electric cooker includes a base, a housing supported on the base and having an opening, and a power head configured to be removably attached to the housing at the opening. The power head includes a heating unit for generating and directing heat into the housing. At least one land piece is provided on the power head for securing the power head onto the housing, and at least one corresponding tab piece is provided on the housing and is configured to matingly engage the land piece for removably attaching the power head onto the housing. A locking device provided on the power head proximate the land piece prevents the land piece and the tab piece from disengaging from a temperature increase inside the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2005
    Assignee: Hearthware Home Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Jung S. Moon, Rong Liu, Kitak Chae, Jongrok Kim
  • Automatic toaster apparatus
    Patent number: 6936796
    Abstract: Automatic toaster apparatus as described including a displacing mechanism for displacing at least one of the heater plates, preferably both heater plates, towards and away from the food article in the toaster in order to accelerate the toasting thereof. According to another feature, particularly useful in apparatus for toasting bagels or other types of rolls having relatively hard crust layers on their outer surfaces, the toaster includes cutter blades for cutting through the roll before the roll is fed into the toasting unit. In the described embodiment, the cutter includes a pair of spaced cutter blades for cutting away the crust layer on the opposite faces of the roll before the roll is fed into the toaster unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2005
    Assignee: AAC Trade Ltd.
    Inventors: Josef Lavi, Eli Cohen
  • High speed cooking oven having an air impingement heater with an improved orifice configuration
    Patent number: 6933473
    Abstract: An air impingement oven having a conveyor belt assembly for moving food through a heat treatment passage. The air impingement oven has a fan, a supply duct, a plenum and a number of jet fingers being disposed above the conveyor belt assembly. The jet fingers have a base portion having a number of orifices for directing the impingement air onto the food. The orifices have an improved configuration. The improved configuration intensifies the airflow on the food to penetrate heat into the food surface thereby improving heat transfer. The improved configuration reduces a cooking time of the food in the air impingement oven.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2005
    Assignee: Lincoln Foodservice Products Inc.
    Inventors: Mitchell C. Henke, Carol S. Nealley
  • Electric convection oven
    Patent number: 6933472
    Abstract: An electric convection oven is provided wherein a squirrel cage fan is used to circulate air through a circular bank of heating coils surrounding the fan and into the oven. The coils wrap around the fan and are spaced from each other so that air from the fan will pass through the coils and into the oven. The fan is provided with a concave centrally located plate for drawing air from within the oven into the fan for recirculation through the heating coils and to return to the oven.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2005
    Assignee: Blodgett Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert L. Smith, David Shangraw