Patents Examined by Lindsey C Teaters
  • Patent number: 9688949
    Abstract: A beer making system may use a detachable vessel to contain liquid during the mashing and boiling steps, and may also be used during the fermentation steps of beer making. The beer making system may recirculate liquid through the vessel, then select between several flow paths during the beer making process. A removable reservoir system having a grain reservoir and several hops or adjunct reservoirs may be selected as a flow path, as well as a bypass flow path. A programmable controller may cause liquid to recirculate through a heater and one of the various flow paths, the sequence, timing, and temperature profile of which are defined in a recipe for a particular beer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: PicoBrew, Inc.
    Inventors: William H. Mitchell, James B. Mitchell, Avi R. Geiger
  • Patent number: 9538883
    Abstract: A grating disc (4) arranged to be mounted within a food processor (1) and to be rotated in a direction of rotation (26). The grating disc (4) comprising at least one grating tooth (24) for grating food to be processed which tooth protrudes from a surface of the grating disc. The tooth (24) has an uninterrupted, continuous envelope surface (29) forming an outer contour of said tooth (24) which surface has gradient which spatial derivative does not change sign. The envelope surface comprises a front surface (30) which is, during use, the leading surface of the grating tooth (24). The front surface (30) extends from the grating said disc surface (23) to a distal end of the grating tooth, and is adapted to be brought into contact with said food during use of said food processor (1). The front surface (30) is delimited in one direction by the grating disc surface, and in at least one other direction by at least one grating edge (32).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventors: Ines Fister, Juergen Holzbauer
  • Patent number: 9538585
    Abstract: A microwave heating apparatus and a method for heating/browning a piece of food by means of microwaves are provided. The microwave heating apparatus comprises a cavity arranged to receive, in a substantially horizontal browning region, a piece of food to be browned. The microwave heating apparatus further comprises a microwave source for generating microwaves and a rotatable antenna arranged at the cavity bottom for supplying the generated microwaves. The antenna is configured to produce at least one radiating lobe pointing towards the browning region such that the intersection between the radiating lobe and the browning region forms a hot spot, thereby forming a ring-shaped heating pattern in the browning region under rotation of the antenna. The present invention is advantageous in that a microwave heating apparatus with an improved crisp function is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Ulf Nordh, Hakan Carlsson, Olle Niklasson, Fredrik Hallgren
  • Patent number: 9522437
    Abstract: A travel speed sensing system includes an optical sensor configured to be coupled to a welding torch. The optical sensor is configured to sense light incident on the optical sensor, and the travel speed sensing system is configured to determine a travel speed of the welding torch, a direction of the welding torch, or both, based on the sensed light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2016
    Assignee: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.
    Inventors: Kyle Andrew Pfeifer, Todd Earl Holverson, William Todd Watson, Richard Martin Hutchison, William Joshua Becker
  • Patent number: 9491803
    Abstract: The ceramic structure of the present invention includes a ceramic substrate, a conductor layer containing a glass component and disposed on a surface of the ceramic substrate, and a brazing filler material covering the surfaces, including the side surfaces, of the conductor layer. A reaction zone of the ceramic substrate, the conductor layer, and the brazing filler material located in a boundary region between the ceramic substrate, the conductor layer, and the brazing filler material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2016
    Assignee: KYOCERA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hiroshi Kukino
  • Patent number: 9486550
    Abstract: An emanation device is described which comprises a housing defining a sealed container having a front wall and a rear wall defining the length and width of the housing and connected to each other by a top wall, a bottom wall and one or more side walls defining the depth of the housing, wherein the length and width are each greater than the depth; one or more vent holes in the housing; electrical plug pins connected to the rear wall of the housing, said plug pins being operatively connected to a heating means located within the interior of the housing; an absorbent pad containing a quantity of air treatment agent mounted within the interior of the housing; wherein the pad fills a majority of the length and width of the housing; and wherein the heating means is located in connection with or immediately adjacent to a central portion of the pad on the front face thereof where the front face of the pad is adjacent the front wall and remote from the face of the pad facing the rear wall and electrical plug pins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2016
    Assignee: Reckitt & Colman (Overseas) Limited
    Inventors: Adrian Blagg, Avijit Das, Kristian Matthews
  • Patent number: 9482435
    Abstract: An appliance and method for variably controlling a drive signal to a light emitting device of the appliance based on a temperature value indicative of a temperature within a chamber of the appliance is provided. The light emitting device can be included in a display or disposed within a chamber of the appliance to provide illumination. The light intensity level of the light emitting device can be controlled based on the temperature value indicative of a temperature within the chamber. The temperature value indicative of a temperature within the chamber can be a value detected within the chamber, a value detected on a surface of the chamber, or a value that anticipates the temperature within the chamber. The light intensity can be controlled with a driving signal to the light emitting device. For instance, the light intensity can be controlled using pulse width modulation of the driving signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventor: Eric Xavier Meusburger
  • Patent number: 9474404
    Abstract: A cooking apparatus including an impedance measurer that measures impedance of an object to be heated by applying electricity to a first electrode portion and a second electrode portion that contact an outer side of the object to be heated and that are spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance and a controller that determines a cooking state of the object to be heated based on the measured impedance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yong Won Jeong, Soo Jung Lee, Seong Hun Ahn, Young Chul Ko, Mu Kun An
  • Patent number: 9468329
    Abstract: A tea brewing assembly having a brewing chamber with a top opening for loading/unloading a measure of tea, and a bottom wall; an ejector piston having a head permeable to liquid and mounted inside the brewing chamber to move between a lowered brewing position, and a raised position ejecting the measure of tea from the brewing chamber; a doctor for removing the measure of tea from the head in the raised position; a brewed beverage outlet communicating with the brewing chamber through an outlet opening formed through the bottom wall; a plug for controlling the outlet; and one actuator assembly for controlling the ejector piston, the doctor, and the plug.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: N&W GLOBAL VENDING S.P.A.
    Inventor: Daniele Lazza
  • Patent number: 9462910
    Abstract: A receptacle holding unit (1) for a device for preparing a beverage from an ingredient contained in a receptacle (2). A first part (10) and a second part (20) are movable between a closed position for holding said receptacle and an open position for inserting said receptacle and/or for removal therefrom. A fastening arrangement comprises a locking member (30) movable between: —a locking position for preventing relative rotational movement of the first and second engagement surfaces (11, 21) when the parts (10, 20) are in the closed position; and —an unlocking position for allowing relative rotational movement of the of the first and second engagements surfaces (11, 21) and engagement and disengagement thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: Nestec S.A.
    Inventors: Alexandre Perentes, Enzo Bonacci, Antoine Ryser, Jean-Luc Colantonio
  • Patent number: 9451844
    Abstract: The invention includes a tubular elongated body with suction openings determining a filter, intended to be inserted into the fruit, the tubular elongated body being provided with a device for grinding the pulp of the fruit, an insertion stop and a top opening, the top opening ending in a coupling arrangement of a juice-dispensing member, such as a spraying head, a brush or a drop-by-drop juice-dispensing member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: Lekue, SL
    Inventors: Jordi Olucha Soler, Alberto Arza Moncunill
  • Patent number: 9451849
    Abstract: A cooking device for roasting and basting food. The cooking device includes a roasting pan and lid forming a defined interior volume. The roasting pan includes a base, one or more sidewalls, and an open upper end. Along the interior of the sidewalls of the roasting pan, one or more tubes extend upwardly onto the lid and towards a centrally located reservoir. A pump is disposed on the exterior of the lid and allows a user to selectively baste food during the cooking process. The tubes and reservoir are operably connected to the pump, wherein the pump, once actuated, draws fluids through each tube and into the reservoir. The reservoir includes one or more openings for dispersing the fluids therefrom for basting food located within the roasting pan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Inventor: Dominique Howard
  • Patent number: 9451788
    Abstract: Disclosed a preservation apparatus for improving food storage performance, in which an illumination unit to irradiate light having a specific wavelength is installed on an inner wall surface of a box having foods stored therein to increase the storage period of the foods when the foods are transferred at a room temperature or stored at a low temperature. The foods are prevented from being decayed for a long time, and the nutrients and the freshness of the foods are maintained. The box having the foods stored therein and the illumination unit installed in the box to irradiate light having the specific wavelength onto the foods stored in the box are included.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Inventor: Seung Won Lee
  • Patent number: 9445688
    Abstract: The invention relates to a capsule intended for delivering a beverage in a beverage preparation machine. The capsule comprises a code support surface on which a code is represented. The code comprises a first value for at least one capsule-related information. The code further comprises a first element and a second element arranged on the code support surface so as that the distance between the first element and the second element is a function of the first value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: Nestec S.A.
    Inventor: Jean-Marc Flick
  • Patent number: 9443373
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a beverage preparation machine (1) having an extended user-advisory functionality, comprising a control unit (21) for recognizing an actual or upcoming event triggering said user-advisory functionality, such as a disturbance of such machine (1) based on monitored machine parameters or a machine contextual event, a communication module (11) for communicating with a remote external device (50) via a communication network (501, 511), and a display (10) for displaying messages, wherein the control unit (21) in said user-advisory functionality is further adapted to establish a connection via the communication module (11) to said external device (50) offering a resource for managing the actual or upcoming event, and to control the display of a message on the display (10) indicating the actual or upcoming event and advising a user on managing said event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: Nestec S.A.
    Inventors: Marc Delbreil, Fabien Ludovic Agon
  • Patent number: 9439530
    Abstract: Intelligent cooking apparatuses incorporate wireless communication technology to carryout cooking procedures. More specifically, stoves, ovens, and cookware may send and receive data wirelessly to carryout cooking procedures. An application may guide persons through recipes and automate many of the cooking procedures. Cookware may send batch information to an application for processing, display, and analysis. Cookware may use hardware for automated cooking actions, such as a magnetic stirrer and driver for stirring the contents in cookware, all monitored by various sensors located in the cookware.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: Twin Harbor Labs, LLC
    Inventors: James D Logan, Eric Carr, Richard A Baker, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9415467
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing a contour cut in a sheet metal web (BB) transported in a direction of transport (T) by means of a conveying apparatus (3). To accelerate the production of the contour cut, it is proposed in accordance with the invention to divide the sheet metal web (BB) into a plurality of overlapping processing strips and to assign successively two laser cutting units (10, 11) to at least two processing strips in the direction of transport (T).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: SCHULER AUTOMATION GMBH & CO., KG
    Inventors: Martin Liebel, Thomas Pohl, Juergen Schreck, Michael Tolz
  • Patent number: 9408413
    Abstract: A dryer barrel basket may include a body with a mesh surface. The dryer barrel basket may also include a door positioned proximate a bottom portion of the dryer barrel basket. The dryer barrel basket may further include a hinge which may be sized and configured to allow the door to rotate between an open and closed position. In addition, the dryer barrel basket may include a locking mechanism that is configured to secure the door to the mesh body in a closed position and allow the door to be disposed in an open position using an opening mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: F.I.R.M., INC.
    Inventors: Jesus R. Oropeza, Carlos Carrasco, Guillermo Villa Pasos
  • Patent number: 9408496
    Abstract: Heated air roller cookers and methods for cooking hot dogs are disclosed herein. An embodiment of a roller cooker configured in accordance with the present disclosure includes a plurality of rollers and a heating element positioned to heat air. A blower can be positioned to direct the heated air through the rollers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: C. Cretors & Company
    Inventor: Charles D. Cretors
  • Patent number: 9404665
    Abstract: The present invention in some embodiments can utilize a board for retaining a tube within a region. The board (or boards) and region can have many configurations. A transfer layer having a graphite layer can be applied and/or bonded to the board. A metal or non-metal layer can be bonded to the graphite layer as part of the transfer layer. The present invention takes advantage of the principles of heat transfer to produce a more effective and efficient system and methods of use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: Khart Panels LLC
    Inventor: Paul Kayhart