Patents Examined by Marc C Howell
  • Patent number: 10588310
    Abstract: A portable fogger apparatus includes a portable fogger body having at least one airflow passageway. A DC blower motor is connected to the fogger body proximate to the airflow passageway and receives power from a battery, wherein the DC blower motor produces an airflow through the passageway. A mixing chamber is positioned along the at least one passageway, wherein at least a portion of the airflow is movable through the mixing chamber. A quantity of pressurized fogging liquid is housed within a container connected to the fogger body. The pressurized fogging liquid is dispensable from the container into the mixing chamber where it is expelled through a nozzle and mixed with the airflow to produce a fog. The fog has an atomized micron particulate size between 5 and 60 microns. An activation switch controls activation of the DC blower motor and/or dispensing of the pressurized fogging liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: BOSTON FOG, LLC
    Inventors: Barry Franks, John Vallerand
  • Patent number: 10583408
    Abstract: Apparatuses and methods that reduce cavitation in interaction chambers are described herein. In an embodiment, an interaction chamber for a fluid processor or fluid homogenizer includes an inlet chamber having an inlet hole and a bottom end, an outlet chamber having an outlet hole and a top end, a microchannel placing the inlet hole in fluid communication with the outlet hole, wherein an entrance to the microchannel from the inlet chamber is offset a distance from the bottom end, and at least one of: (i) a tapered fillet located on a side wall of the microchannel at the microchannel entrance; (ii) a side wall of the microchannel converging inwardly from the inlet chamber to the outlet chamber; (iii) a top wall and/or bottom wall of the microchannel angled from the inlet chamber to the outlet chamber; and (iv) a top fillet that extends around a diameter of inlet chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2020
    Assignee: MICROFLUIDICS INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Thomai Panagiotou, Yang Su
  • Patent number: 10576661
    Abstract: There is provided with a screw that is inserted into a cylinder an inside of which a material is loaded, and is rotatably supported in both end portions on an upstream side and a downstream side, or in an end portion on the upstream side, in the cylinder; a first kneading blade including a plurality of first blades that are helically provided on the screw and send the material toward the downstream side with rotation of the screw; and a second kneading blade including a second blade that is helically provided on the screw and returns the material, which is sent toward the downstream side by the first kneading blade, toward the upstream side, the number of blades in the second blade being smaller than the number of blades in the first blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: THE JAPAN STEEL WORKS, LTD.
    Inventors: Manabu Ikeya, Makoto Ishikawa, Reo Fujita, Seiji Takamoto, Shigeki Inoue
  • Patent number: 10562672
    Abstract: A blending system includes a blending container having a base surface. The container also has a side wall extending upwardly from said base surface and a sound sleeve extending upwardly from said base surface and encasing the side wall. The container may also have a viscoelastic material positioned between the side wall and the sound sleeve extending upwardly from said base surface. In one embodiment, a blender has a base containing a motor and the container described above and the container is able to attach and engage with the motor and the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: Vita-Mix Management Corporation
    Inventors: David J. Kolar, Jack W. Gee, II, Fred H. Mehlman
  • Patent number: 10531767
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices are disclosed for automatically and programmably preparing food. Devices include a container that includes a cavity configured to store at least one food ingredient, where the cavity defines an internal volume of the container. The devices also include a first plate coupled to a first end of the container, where the first plate includes at least one hole configured to receive the at least one food ingredient. The devices further include a second plate coupled to a second end of the container, and a plurality of thermoelectric devices coupled to the container, where the plurality of thermoelectric devices is configured to exchange thermal energy with the container. The devices also include a first thermal conduit coupled to a first side of each of the plurality of thermoelectric devices, and a second thermal conduit coupled to a second side of each of the plurality of thermoelectric devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: George Wilson Freas, II
  • Patent number: 10532335
    Abstract: There is disclosed a system for enabling dynamic mixture of hair colorant for individuals within a local retail establishment or salon. The system utilizes a dynamically-updatable database of hair colorant mixtures, based upon input data regarding natural hair color and current state to generate a suitable mixture. The same system and database can be used for subsequent refill orders from a remote manufacturing site. The remote manufacturing system operates in much the same way, but at a larger scale, and can be used for subsequent refill orders submitted online. Whichever system is used, the same user and colorant mixtures will be generated, and any updates or changes to the colorant mixture will appear on any system reliant upon the same database of colorant combinate instructions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: eSalon.com, LLC
    Inventors: Aaron Chan, Anthony Brzozowski, Francisco Gimenez, Rabih Zaouk
  • Patent number: 10532333
    Abstract: The present invention describes a rotating mixing/stirring device that includes a shaft (1) connectable to a rotational drive element, the rotating shaft (1) having sufficient length to accommodate at least one integral, substantially orthogonal blade or impeller (5). The blade or impeller (5) is driven to rotate by the rotating shaft (1) and thereby mix and stir any liquid in which the device is used. The blade or impeller (5) includes a plurality of apertures (6) arranged perpendicular to the rotating shaft (1) and these apertures are tapered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: DARCOURTS LTD
    Inventors: Courtenay Merchant, Philip Allinson-James
  • Patent number: 10517436
    Abstract: A blending system is shown and described herein. The blending system may include a base including a motor, a blade assembly selectively and operably engaged with the base, where the motor drives the blade assembly, and a container having an inner and outer layer. The blending system may also include a magnet positioned between inner and outer layers of the container, and a sensor positioned in the base, where the magnet in operative proximity to the sensor permits operation of the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: VITA-MIX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Michael Arnett, James Philip Bascom, Scott Christopher Bly, Richard D. Boozer, Kolman Juhasz, David Kolar
  • Patent number: 10517662
    Abstract: A device and methods mix polymethylmethacrylate bone cement and/or store the starting components of the bone cement. The device comprising: a cartridge with an internal space for mixing the bone cement that is closed on one side by means of a mobile dispensing plunger; a monomer container for a monomer liquid and/or a connector for attachment of a monomer container for a monomer liquid such that the monomer container can be opened appropriately in the device such that the monomer liquid flows from the monomer container into the device; a connecting conduit through which the monomer liquid can be guided into the internal space of the cartridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: HERAEUS MEDICAL GMBH
    Inventors: Sebastian Vogt, Thomas Kluge
  • Patent number: 10506896
    Abstract: An apparatus for agitating liquid foodstuff, comprising a whisk that includes a magnetic rotor of a brushless electromotor assembly, and a main body including a liquid foodstuff container in which the whisk is receivable such that it is rotatable around a rotation axis thereof, and a stator of the electromotor assembly. The stator is configured to electromagnetically drive the rotor in rotation, and includes at least one magnetic sensor configured to provide a signal that reflects positional changes of the magnetic rotor relative to the magnetic sensor. The main body also includes a controller configured to detect an initial, manually effected rotational movement of the whisk around its rotation axis from the signal of the magnetic sensor, and, once such initial movement of the whisk is detected, to operate the apparatus independent of said initial, movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventor: Mark Ronald Ven Der Woning
  • Patent number: 10493414
    Abstract: A beverage stirring assembly for selectively stirring a liquid in a container includes a container that may contain a liquid. A stirring unit is removably coupled to the container and the stirring unit is selectively manipulated. The stirring unit stirs the liquid when the stirring unit is manipulated. Moreover, the stirring unit is selectively removed from the container thereby facilitating an interior of the container to be washed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Inventors: A Hakeem Ahmad, Shadia Ahmad
  • Patent number: 10485598
    Abstract: Opening device for the opening of a monomer liquid container (1) comprising a positioning aid (6) for positioning of the monomer liquid container (1), an opening facility (8) for the opening of the monomer liquid container (1), the opening facility (8) being mobile with respect to the positioning aid (6) and/or the positioning aid (6) being mobile with respect to the opening facility (8), at least one elastically deformable energy-storing element (9) for storage of elastic energy, whereby a motion of the opening facility (8) and/or a motion of the positioning aid (6) can be driven by the elastic energy of the at least one elastically deformable energy-storing element (9).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: HERAEUS MEDICAL GMBH
    Inventors: Sebastian Vogt, Thomas Kluge
  • Patent number: 10486124
    Abstract: Described are systems and methods of mixing a liquid in a container, while liquid is being added or removed from the container, and with control of the speed of a mixing device that mixes the liquid to prevent an undesired mixing effect such as splashing, formation of a vortex, foaming, and vibration of a shaft of a mixing device used to mix the liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: Cabot Microelectronics Corporation
    Inventors: Justin Stewart, Marc Maxim
  • Patent number: 10479970
    Abstract: The invention relates to a container, in particular a fermenter for a biogas plant, wherein in the container a mixer is arranged that can be removed through an inspection opening provided in a container wall. A boom is provided for this purpose. Furthermore, the invention relates to a related method and a related use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: Thürwächter GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Paul Thurwachter
  • Patent number: 10478789
    Abstract: This invention belongs to the field of biomass energy utilization at the large scale. A material stirring device for a biomass bin includes a transmission mechanism, a main stirring mechanism, and an auxiliary stirring mechanism. The main stirring mechanism includes a cylinder connected to the transmission mechanism. The outer wall of the cylinder is provided with a hollow stirring rod. The auxiliary stirring mechanism includes a rotating shaft vertically penetrating through the hollow stirring rod. Both ends of the rotating shaft are provided with stirring blades and the rotating shaft is connected to the transmission mechanism. That the stirring device is easily damaged due to too high density of the biomass material is overcome through the automatic conversion adjustment of the main and auxiliary stirring mechanisms. The continuous discharge efficiency of the biomass bin is improved by the organic integration of over and partial stirring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: Energy Research Institute Co., LTD, Henan Academy of Sciences
    Inventors: Tingzhou Lei, Zhiwei Wang, Zaifeng Li, Xiaofeng He, Shuhua Yang, Xinguang Shi, Ju Xiao, Jinling Zhu
  • Patent number: 10456759
    Abstract: A mixing and paint-making device and method for making paint are described. Embodiments of the paint-making device include a first and second palette hingedly coupled to a base. The base includes a paint pot shaking component configured to agitate and/or translate a paint pot. The paint pot shaking component includes a series of gears and pistons that interact to produce a shaking motion for a paint pot coupled to the paint pot shaking component. In one embodiment, the paint pot shaking component includes a crank gear adjacent a combination gear that contacts a slide crankshaft. The slide crankshaft is coupled to a slide crank arm that is secured by slide bracket coupled to the base. A paint pot harness holds a paint pot during agitation and moves in an upward and downward motion corresponding to the motion of the slide crank arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: Crayola LLC
    Inventors: Robert Henry, Cheryl Krieger, James Allen
  • Patent number: 10456760
    Abstract: A system and method for controlling a mixing system at a peak energy efficiency point, maximum response point or reduced sound generation point based on displacement, velocity, acceleration or jerk operating conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: Resodyn Corporation
    Inventors: Harold W. Howe, Peter A. Lucon, Jeffrey D. Thornton, Brian Jay Seaholm
  • Patent number: 10441938
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a method for carrying out a continuous physical or chemical process, in particular crystallization. The method of the invention comprises: comprising—flowing a fluid through a channel comprising an inlet and an outlet for said fluid, wherein said channel is at least in part curved and comprises at least two curvatures,—allowing said process to occur at least in part in said fluid in the presence of Dean vortices in said fluid, while—reversing the direction of the flow of said fluid in said channel multiple times, wherein Dean vortices in the fluid in the channel are maintained while the flow is reversed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: NEDERLANDSE ORGANISATIE VOOR TOEGEPAST—NATUURWETENSCHAPPELIJK ONDERZOEK TNO
    Inventors: Cornelis Petrus Marcus Roelands, Axel Sebastiaan Lexmond, Earl Lawrence Vincent Goetheer, Leonard Ferdinand Gerard Geers
  • Patent number: 10435321
    Abstract: The present invention provides a stirrer for manufacturing glass including a stirrer shaft and a multi-staged rod-shaped stirrer blade fixed so as to penetrate through the stirrer shaft. This stirrer blade is a hollow cylindrical body including: a cylinder obtained by seam welding of two opposing sides of a flat plate made, for example, from strengthened platinum containing platinum or a platinum alloy as a matrix and metallic oxide dispersed in the plate; and a disk welded to an entire circumference of both ends of the cylinder and made from an identical material, and it penetrates so that a weld line crosses a center axis of the stirrer shaft, and is fixed so that a locus of an end portion of the blade forms a spiral shape. In addition, the rod-shaped stirrer blade has a core layer showing a dispersed structure that exists in a cross-sectional structure at a fixing portion with the stirrer shaft and does not receive heat effect resulting from fixing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: TANAKA KIKINZOKU KOGYO K.K.
    Inventors: Tetsuo Shinohara, Tsutomu Naganuma
  • Patent number: 10427171
    Abstract: The invention relates to a centrifugal separator comprising a casing which delimits and seals off a space in which a rotor is arranged. The rotor forms a separation space which is sealed or isolated from the space, and in which separation space centrifugal separation of a higher density and a lower density component from a fluid takes place. An inlet extends into the rotor for introducing fluid to the separation space, and a first outlet extends from the rotor for discharge of a component separated from the fluid. The space is connected to a pump device which is arranged to remove gas, thereby maintaining negative pressure in said space. The rotor comprises at least one second outlet extending from the separation space to the space for discharge of at least one higher density component separated from the fluid. The invention also relates to a method in such a centrifugal separator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: Alfa Laval Corporate AB
    Inventors: Peter Thorwid, Roland Isaksson, Peter Hagqvist, Carl Häggmark, Lars Hillström