Patents Examined by Joseph W Iskra
  • Patent number: 11731541
    Abstract: A seat heater according to the present invention includes: a heater that is provided between a seat cushioning material and a seat trim cover and includes a heating wire laid on a base material; a temperature detection unit provided in the vicinity of the heating wire of the heater; and a temperature control unit configured to control a temperature of the heater so that it approaches a target temperature, in which the temperature control unit calculates an estimated environment temperature, which is an estimated value of a temperature around the temperature detection unit, based on a rate of increase of a temperature indicating an amount of change of the temperature detected by the temperature detection unit in a period after an elapse of a predetermined time from a start of heating the heater, and corrects the target temperature so that it becomes lower as the estimated environmental temperature becomes lower.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: KURABE INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Kyoichi Muramatsu
  • Patent number: 11730316
    Abstract: A griddle having a grease management system and independent cooking zones is disclosed. The griddle may have a cooking surface back wall with an opening provided therein for grease removal. A grease drip flange may extend away from the cooking surface at a downward angle at or near the back wall opening. A removable grease receptacle having a pivotable handle, as well as a squeegee element, may be provided below the grease drip flange. The independent cooking zones may be provided by burner assemblies having front and rear burners that provide different levels of heat using a single dual gas control valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: Halo Products Group, LLC
    Inventors: Paul J. Simon, Michael R. Giebel
  • Patent number: 11725167
    Abstract: Provided is a brewing system (10) comprising a brewhouse assembly (12) having a mash tun (14), a kettle (16), a filter (18) and wort chiller (20) arranged in fluid communication for brewing purposes. The brewhouse assembly (12) is configured to operatively produce wort from mash liquor. Wort produced by the brewhouse assembly (12) is generally stored in a transport container (22). The brewing system 10 further includes a plurality of fermentation assemblies (24) each arranged remotely from the brewhouse assembly (12). Each fermentation assembly (24) includes at least one fermenter (26) which is arranged in fluid communication with a plurality of bright beer tanks (28). Each fermenter (26) is operatively suppliable with wort from the transport container (22) and is configured to produce beer from the wort for subsequent storage in a bright beer tank (28).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: Limestone Coast Brewing Company Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Sven George Grone, Geoffrey Ross Munday
  • Patent number: 11717917
    Abstract: A laser processing apparatus includes: a work support portion which supports the work and forms a closed space between the work and the work support portion; pads which are movable upward and downward inside the closed space and include upper surfaces respectively coming into contact with regions obtained by dividing a processing object region having the through-holes formed in the work to surround the region of the work over one circle when the pads move upward; a drive unit which drives the pads to move forward and backward between a state in which the pad is in contact with the work and a state in which the pad is separated from the work; a gas supply unit which supplies a gas into the closed space; and clamps which contact the work supported by the work support portion on inner circumferential surfaces and outer circumferential surfaces from above over one circle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takashi Kobayashi, Naruhiko Okubo, Kenichi Fukami, Seiichi Kouketsu, Kenji Sugai
  • Patent number: 11707801
    Abstract: A process for aligning a laser in a gear inspection system is disclosed. The method comprises fixing a gear for inspection within a gear inspection system and emitting a first signal from a laser to a point of interest of the gear. A reflection of the first signal is received as the first signal reflects off the point of interest of the gear. Based on the reflection of the first signal, an orientation of the laser is adjusted. Subsequently, a second signal is emitted from the laser to the point of interest of the gear, and a reflection of the second signal is received as the second signal reflects off the point of interest of the gear. Values corresponding to the orientation of the laser are stored based on the reflection of the second signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: SLONE GEAR INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventor: Brian W. Slone
  • Patent number: 11697176
    Abstract: A beam vibrating mechanism vibrates a laser beam in a parallel direction with a cutting advancing direction of a sheet metal. An amplitude amount of the laser beam is Qx, a radius of a first circular region having an area occupying 86% beam energy at a center side of total beam energy in a sectional area of the laser beam on a top surface of the sheet metal is rtop, and a radius of a second circular region having an area occupying 86% beam energy at a center side of total beam energy in a sectional area of the laser beam in a bottom surface of the sheet metal is rbottom. A calculation value Va is expressed by the expression: Va=(Qx+rtop+?{square root over (2)}×rbottom). When a standard deviation of the calculation value Va at a time of cutting sheet metals of a plurality of plate thicknesses is Vasd, a nozzle having a diameter of an opening between a minimum value obtained by 2Va?Vasd, and a maximum value obtained by 2.5 Va+Vasd is used as a nozzle attached to a machining head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2023
    Assignee: Amada Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takaaki Yamanashi, Koji Funaki, Akihiko Sugiyama, Takehiko Shigefuji
  • Patent number: 11690479
    Abstract: A barbecue smoker device for cooking food includes a container, a heat source disposed in the container, and a fuel chute coupled to the container. The fuel chute includes a door panel, a hinge mechanism, and a back panel coupled to the door panel. The fuel chute is rotatable between an open position and a closed position. In the open position the fuel chute receives a supply of fuel, and in the closed position the fuel chute directs the supply of fuel to a fuel basket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: Desora, Inc.
    Inventors: Michel Nicholas Maalouly, Elizabeth Olayinka Ogunbiyi
  • Patent number: 11690472
    Abstract: The invention concerns an apparatus (1) for brewing infusion material, said infusion material being hold in a filtering packet (2), said apparatus comprising: —a brew container (11) configured for holding water and a filtering packet of infusion material, and 10—a basket (12) configured for holding the filtering packet and configured for being hold in the brew container, and—an actuator (13) to rotate the basket inside the brew container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: Societe des Produits Nestle S.A.
    Inventor: Flavien Florent Dubief
  • Patent number: 11684994
    Abstract: The invention features a replaceable cartridge for a plasma arc torch. The cartridge includes a cartridge body having a first section and a second section. The first and second sections are joined at an interface to form a substantially hollow chamber. The interface provides a coupling force that secures the first and second sections together. The cartridge also includes an arc constricting member located in the second section; an electrode included within the substantially hollow chamber; and a contact start spring element affixed to the electrode. The spring element imparts a separating force that biases the electrode toward at least one of the first section or the second section of the body. The separating force has a magnitude that is less than a magnitude of the coupling force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: Hypertherm, Inc.
    Inventors: Nicholas A. Sanders, Peter J. Twarog, E. Michael Shipulski, Yu Zhang
  • Patent number: 11684995
    Abstract: An adapter for a plasma arc torch comprising a torch body is provided. The adapter includes a body defining a longitudinal axis between a proximal end and a distal end and at least one protruding portion extending from the proximal end of the body. The at least one protruding portion is configured to be inserted into a cavity of the torch body to physically engage a switch inside of the cavity. The engagement of the switch is adapted to indicate installation of a consumable component in the plasma arc torch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: Hypertherm, Inc.
    Inventors: Yu Zhang, Zheng Duan, Stephen T. Eickhoff, Garrett K. Quillia, Brett Hansen
  • Patent number: 11676832
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to systems and methods for fabricating semiconductor packages, and more particularly, for forming features in semiconductor packages by laser ablation. In one embodiment, the laser systems and methods described herein can be utilized to pattern a substrate to be utilized as a package frame for a semiconductor package having one or more interconnections formed therethrough and/or one or more semiconductor dies disposed therein. The laser systems described herein can produce tunable laser beams for forming features in a substrate or other package structure. Specifically, frequency, pulse width, pulse shape, and pulse energy of laser beams are tunable based on desired sizes of patterned features and on the material in which the patterned features are formed. The adjustability of the laser beams enables rapid and accurate formation of features in semiconductor substrates and packages with controlled depth and topography.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Kurtis Leschkies, Jeffrey L. Franklin, Wei-Sheng Lei, Steven Verhaverbeke, Jean Delmas, Han-Wen Chen, Giback Park
  • Patent number: 11659960
    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: April 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: Metal Fusion, Inc.
    Inventors: Norman Bourgeois, Barbara Bourgeois, Michael Bourgeois
  • Patent number: 11654517
    Abstract: A fastener welding apparatus having a frame assembly, a welding assembly, a coupling assembly and a locating assembly. The welding assembly has a welder frame and a welding electrode assembly coupled thereto. The coupling assembly has a suspension frame, a frame axle and a welding axle. The frame axle is fixedly engaged to the frame assembly and the welding axle is fixedly engaged to the welding assembly. The suspension frame is pivotably coupled to each of the frame axle and the welding axle. The locating assembly is structurally configured to selectively allow the suspension frame to pivot relative to the frame axle and the welding axle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: JR Automation Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Seth Reenders, Heath Lynnes, Robb Ripley
  • Patent number: 11654514
    Abstract: A shift in position of a laser beam used for welding objects is corrected without need for intervention by a welder. An irradiator performs welding along a welding part of objects to be welded by relatively moving objects to be welded and a nozzle for emitting a laser beam. An arm apparatus movably holds the nozzle while applying a biasing force to the nozzle in a direction toward the welding part such that the nozzle comes into contact with objects to be welded to irradiate the welding part with the laser beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: KOBAYASHI MANUFACTURE CO., LTD
    Inventor: Yasunori Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 11639225
    Abstract: A solid-state radio frequency (SSRF) water heating apparatus is disclosed. In embodiments, the SSRF water heater includes a water tank, SSRF generator array and RF sensors enclosed within an RF-shielded cage. The SSRF array synthesizes RF signals in the microwave range and transmits the RF energy through the water tank, exciting and heating the water molecules without direct contact. The RF sensors at the opposite end of the tank sense residual RF energy not absorbed by the water. Control processors regulate the generation and transmission of the RF energy based on the sensed residual energy. The heated water and/or generated steam is piped to hot water dispensers, beverage makers, or steam ovens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2023
    Assignee: Koninklifke Fabriek Inventum B.V.
    Inventors: Arnau Castillo Gonzalez, Hans Huijsing
  • Patent number: 11633810
    Abstract: A workpiece-separating device includes: a holding member which detachably holds one of the workpiece and the supporting body; a laser irradiation part which irradiates the separating layer with the laser beam through the other of the supporting body and the workpiece of the laminated body being held by the holding member; and a controlling part which controls an operation of the laser irradiation part, wherein the laser irradiation part has a laser scanner which moves the spot like laser beam along the laminated body, an entire irradiated face of the separating layer in an area of the laser beam irradiated from the laser scanner toward the laminated body is divided into a plurality of irradiation areas each having a band shape that is elongated in one of two directions intersecting a light irradiation direction from the laser irradiation part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: SHIN-ETSU ENGINEERING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshikazu Ohtani, Kyouhei Tomioka
  • Patent number: 11618102
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a domestic appliance at least comprising the following steps:—at least one positioning and/or prefixing step comprising positioning and/or prefixing of at least a first component part (3) of the domestic appliance relative to at least a second component part (2) of the domestic appliance, the first component part (3) comprising a first contour (32), and the second component (2) part comprising a matching second contour (21), respectively, the positioning and/or prefixing comprising positioning and/or prefixing the second contour (21) in a pre-defined arrangement at the first contour (32);—at least one welding step comprising welding together the first and second component parts (3, 2) along at least one of the first and second contour (32, 21); wherein the welding being controlled by a control device and carried out by:—detecting, in particular via a detection device, at least one of a location and course of at least a section of a marking representa
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: Electrolux Appliances Aktiebolag
    Inventors: Christian Ehninger, Richard Wiesinger, Marco Böckler
  • Patent number: 11617459
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to the technical field of tea brewing devices, and more particularly, to a beverage brewing device. The beverage brewing device comprises a kettle body, a heating disc, and a tea-leaf basket. The heating disc and the tea-leaf basket are located in the kettle body and an air cylinder mechanism is fixed in the kettle body. A moving piston is arranged in an inner cavity of the air cylinder mechanism, and the piston is connected to the tea-leaf basket. The air cylinder mechanism is connected to an air pump, which is used for conveying a driving gas to the air cylinder mechanism. The piston is driven by the driving gas, thereby driving the tea-leaf basket to move in the kettle body. The air cylinder mechanism may automatically drive the tea-leaf basket to move up and down, achieving a simple structure and a low cost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Inventors: Jiangang Guo, Peng Ji
  • Patent number: 11590601
    Abstract: A method of joining a multiple member work-piece includes providing a first steel work-piece having a first thickness and a second steel work-piece having a second thickness. The first thickness is at least twice the second thickness. A third material is disposed in contact with the second steel work-piece. For example, the third material may be in the form of a rivet, a plurality of pins, or a coating material. The method includes resistance welding the first and second work-pieces together. A bonded assembly includes the first and second steel members and the third material being bonded together, where the thickness of the first member is at least twice the thickness of the second member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Pei-chung Wang, Michael J. Karagoulis, Spyros P. Mellas, Steven Cipriano
  • Patent number: 11590600
    Abstract: Provided is a method of manufacturing a joined member that is manufactured by applying resistance welding to a workpiece. The workpiece is provided with plating layers on sides to be in contact with electrodes. In a state in which a first electrode is in contact with a first area in a first plate material that is curved along a contour of a leading end of the first electrode and in which a second electrode is in contact with a second area in a second plate material that is curved along a contour of a leading end of the second electrode, energization between the first electrode and the second electrode is started to form a nugget.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: FUTABA INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Keigo Yasuda