Patents Examined by Michael Hoang
  • Patent number: 8946601
    Abstract: An apparatus for heating structure or areas adjacent such structure, such as a roof on a building for example, exposed to varying weather conditions and methods of making and use of the apparatus. The heating apparatus can include a heating element and heat supplying components. In one embodiment, the heating apparatus also includes a heatable cover panel and fasteners or other fastening components or materials for securing the heating element and cover panel to the structure. The heat supplying components may include one or more heater cable or heater cable sections penetrating one or more heater cable channels in the heating element. The apparatus may also utilize various insulating and other materials, including paint on exposed surfaces of the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Inventor: Brian Casey
  • Patent number: 8933381
    Abstract: Provided is a packaging pouch for a microwave oven, provided with a steam releasing seal portion having a weakened portion, in which no clogging occurs in the steam releasing seal portion at the time of heat-cooking in a microwave oven, and any clogging occurred can be automatically eliminated. In the present invention, hermetic sealing is effected through heat sealing of a plastic film, and at least one steam releasing seal portion having a weakened portion is provided, with a width of the weakened portion gradually increasing from a forward end portion thereof to be opened toward a rear end portion thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: Toyo Seikan Kaisha, Ltd.
    Inventors: Keizou Kanzaki, Taketo Sakurai, Shie Nishimoto
  • Patent number: 8921747
    Abstract: A power supply includes a filter that attenuates a noise component being transmitted toward a source that supplies an AC current. The filter lacks a capacitor establishing a conductive path for conducting a high-frequency alternating signal, a leakage current, or both to a ground electrode. A rectifier is included, and is disposed electrically between the filter and a load that is to be energized by operation of the power supply. The rectifier converts AC into a rectified signal. The power supply also includes a grounding capacitor that establishes a capacitive, conductive path between an output of the rectifier and a ground electrode that is to be electrically connected to ground. The grounding capacitor is electrically separated from the filter by the rectifier, and extends electrically between the ground electrode and at least one of: a positive DC bus conductor from the rectifier, and a DC bus return to the rectifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Electrolux Home Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Dongyu Wang, Gianluca Venturini
  • Patent number: 8921739
    Abstract: Cost efficient, lightweight and rapid windshield deicing systems and methods are disclosed. The systems utilize step-up converters or inverters, or dual-voltage batteries, to provide a voltage high enough to deice a windshield in less than thirty seconds at ambient temperatures above ?10 C. Some of the disclosed systems include sensors for deicing element and ambient temperatures, and in some embodiments windspeed. All embodiments have a controller for limiting deicing time to that sufficient to melt a boundary layer of ice. The controller of embodiments with sensors computes deicing time as a function of ambient temperature. Embodiments interact with wiper systems to enable wipers to clear ice once the boundary layer is melted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: The Trustees of Dartmouth College
    Inventors: Victor Petrenko, Charles R. Sullivan, Oleg Nickolayev, Valeri Kozlyuk
  • Patent number: 8903228
    Abstract: In a vapor delivery device, a carrier or an expedient for an active ingredient is a liquid that can be vaporized by exposure to a concentrated, focused heating point using an efficient electrical power source. The device may have a vaporizing element and an electrical power source in a housing. A switch controls supply of electrical power to the vaporizing element from the electrical power source. A tube connects a liquid reservoir to the vaporizing element. A first valve, a second valve, and a pump are generally associated with the tube. A lever pivotally supported on or in the housing may be positioned to operate the first valve, the second valve, the pump and the switch, via pivoting movement of the lever. The device efficiently provides a uniform dose of vapor with each actuation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Chong Corporation
    Inventors: Jack Goodman, William O'Neill, Alexander Chong, William Bartkowski
  • Patent number: 8861943
    Abstract: A liquid heater such as a direct electrical resistance liquid heater having multiple flow channels is provided with a temperature-sensing element in the form of a wire extending across numerous channels, preferably all of the channels, near the downstream ends of the channels. The resistance of the wire represents the average temperature of the liquid passing through all of the channels, and hence the temperature of the mixed liquid exiting from the heater. A bubble suppressing structure is provided in the vicinity of the wire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: ISI Technology, LLC
    Inventors: John H. Bowers, Gregory S. Lyon
  • Patent number: 8859935
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to methods of preparing a material for welding. The material is prepared by utilizing a laser to obliterate contaminants from the material surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Patrick Dunshee
  • Patent number: 8822873
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a honeycomb structure forming die including a liquid groove forming step for forming linear processing liquid grooves whose width is smaller than that of the slit, in positions for forming the slits that form the partition walls of the honeycomb structure by subjecting the kneaded clay to extrusion in one side end face as a kneaded clay forming face of a plate-shaped die substrate. An introduction hole forming step for forming introduction holes for introducing the kneaded clay is performed before or after the liquid groove forming step. Slits communicating with the introduction holes are formed by performing comb-like electro-discharge machining by a comb-like electrode where plate-shaped protrusion electrodes, each corresponding to the width of the slit, are disposed in positions including the processing liquid grooves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventors: Seiichiro Hayashi, Tomoki Nagae, Masanari Iwade, Hirofumi Hosokawa
  • Patent number: 8809740
    Abstract: In a two-electrode welding method of the present invention, a leading electrode is used to perform gas-shielded arc welding and a trailing electrode is an energized filler. A trailing electrode wire protrudes from a guide lead or guide tip and is energized from an energizing tip. The distance between a welding surface and the energizing tip is 100 mm or more and 1500 mm or less. The distance between electrodes is 10 mm or less. The electric current of the leading electrode is 250 A or more, and the electric current of the trailing electrode is 10 A or more and 50% or less of the electric current of the leading electrode. The feeding speed of the trailing electrode wire is 20% or more and 50% or less of the feeding speed of the leading electrode wire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Kobe Steel, Ltd.
    Inventors: Reiichi Suzuki, Kei Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 8785828
    Abstract: A cooking device comprises: a body casing (1); a heating chamber (2) disposed within the body casing (1) and provided with a gas discharge opening; a gas discharge path having one end connected to the gas discharge opening of the heating chamber; a cooling fan disposed within the body casing (1) and cooling an electric component; and a cooling path formed within the body casing (1) and leading from an outside-air suction opening (100) through the cooling fan and an electric component chamber to a cool-air introducing opening (31a) in a gas discharge duct (30). At least a part of cooling air from the cooling fan flows along the cooling path, passes through a space near heaters (14, 14) within the body casing (1), enters the gas discharge duct (30) from the cool-air introducing opening (31a), and is discharged from a gas-discharge external opening (28).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yoneo Komuro
  • Patent number: 8770098
    Abstract: A device for continuous production by extrusion cooking of a co-extruded food product containing whole solid pieces, of the type including an extrusion die (20) provided with a contact face at the end of the outlet of a cylinder (11) of an extrusion machine (10) having at least one screw (13) for processing at least one starting material and driven in rotation within the cylinder. The extrusion die (20) is provided with a bore (23) for forming a continuous tubular string of the food product in a direction forming an angle with the axis of the extrusion machine (10). Directly at the outlet of the die (20) and in the axis of the bore (23) for forming the continuous string, the device includes elements (30) for directly incorporating at regular intervals the whole solid pieces (2) into the continuous string of food product without altering the initial dimensions thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Clextral
    Inventors: Luis Asensio, Jean Marie Bouvier, Anne Perenon
  • Patent number: 8742306
    Abstract: Apparatuses, methods, kits, and systems relating to transferring electromagnetic energy to an energy application zone via a source of electromagnetic energy are disclosed. Some apparatuses may include a processor configured to determine a preliminary amount of energy to be dissipated in an object located at least partially in the energy application zone and determine a corrected amount of energy based on the preliminary amount of energy and calibration information. The processor may be further configured to estimate an amount of energy dissipated in the object. The processor may also be configured to cause the source to transfer energy to the energy application zone at least until the energy dissipated in the object as estimated equals the corrected amount of energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: Goji Ltd.
    Inventors: Daniella Atzmony, Eran Ben-Shmuel, Steven Robert Rogers, Amichai Ron, Daniel Selinger, Eyal Torres
  • Patent number: 8735780
    Abstract: Provided are a heater supporter and an electric hob including the heater supporter. A tube heater is supported by the heater supporter, and at least a portion of the heater supporter is formed of a ceramic containing material. Therefore, food can be cooled more rapidly, and the tube can be easily installed. Furthermore, damage caused by heat generated from the tube heater can be minimized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Young-Jun Lee, Byeong-Wook Park, Yang-Kyeong Kim, Wan-Soo Kim, Dong-Seong Kwag
  • Patent number: 8674273
    Abstract: Provided is a heat treatment apparatus which, when simultaneously heating substrates placed on susceptors, is capable of controlling the uniformity of temperature within each substrate. The heat treatment apparatus includes: a reaction tube which performs predetermined treatment to wafers; a plurality of susceptors each of which has a mounting surface for mounting the wafer and is made of a conductive material; a rotatable quartz boat wherein the susceptors spaced apart in a direction perpendicular to the mounting surfaces are arranged and supported in the reaction tube; a magnetic field generating unit which is arranged on a sidewall of the processing chamber and includes a pair of electromagnets which generate an AC magnetic field in a direction parallel to the mounting surfaces of the susceptors and inductively heat the susceptors; and a control unit which controls the AC magnetic field generated by the magnetic field generating unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Tomihiro Yonenaga, Yumiko Kawano
  • Patent number: 8635947
    Abstract: A barbecue cooking apparatus is provided. The barbecue cooking apparatus includes a firebox comprising a housing having solid walls. A charcoal tray is disposed within the housing, and one or more vents are disposed in the housing above the charcoal tray. One or more vents are disposed in the charcoal tray. An upper interior chamber within the housing above the charcoal tray is configured to hold wood and charcoal. A lower interior chamber within the housing below the charcoal tray is configured to provide a volume for the collection of wood ash. A duct is attached to the housing and forms a passageway from the lower interior chamber for heated air and wood smoke.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Inventor: William H. Karau
  • Patent number: 8575519
    Abstract: A gas igniter device includes a first synthetic material casing containing igniter and an electronic control and a terminal board integrally coupled to the first casing and in turn including a cable clamp. The terminal board includes a second synthetic box-shaped material casing including: a cup-shaped body provided with a first and a second opposite side opening and an inlet oriented essentially perpendicular to the side openings; and a closing lid of the inlet hingedly restrained onto a first side of the cup-shaped body; a first end of the first casing is provided with a pair of electric power contacts for the igniter and is snappingly and removably coupled in use to the cup-shaped body within a first side opening with the contacts arranged inside the cup-shaped body in position facing the inlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: ITW Industrial Components S.R.L. con Unico Socio
    Inventor: Daniele Pianezze
  • Patent number: 8575525
    Abstract: Tunnel is provided for conditioning of food products, especially for sterilization of food in containers or vessels of the heat-sealed type, in which the conditioning unit has: 1) an active temperature and pressure control system provided in at least one magnetron supported heating stage, which provides for balancing of the pressure within the heat-sealed vessels or containers; 2) a conveyor which conveys the heat-sealed vessels or containers through the stages along the conditioning unit which contains mechanisms that move the conveyor outside of the conditioning tunnel, and 3) doors operating like check valves that separate the conditioning stages, but still provide for continuous linear feed of products through conditioning tunnel. Movement of the magnetron electromagnetic field and/or conveyor is controlled by software which utilizes the temperature and/or density measurements in a closed loop process to ensure uniform heating of the products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Inventors: Jeffrey H. Mackay, Renato Giordano, Randall J. Lanham, Rod Corder
  • Patent number: 8569658
    Abstract: Composite conductor comprising a metallic conductor and a ceramic conductor or non-conductor, at least one of them being elongate, the two being connected with each other in an electrically conductive manner. The ceramic conductor or non-conductor and the metallic conductor are hard-soldered to each other by a contact surface extending obliquely to the longitudinal direction of the at least one elongate conductor, and has one of the conductors tapers at its end and the other conductor has a matching tapering recess. The tapering end of the conductor is fitted into the tapering recess.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: BERU Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Martin Allgaier, Hans Peter Kasimirski, Rainer Hain, Bernhard Graf, Oliver Göb, Lutz Frassek, Johannes Hasenkamp, Jochen Hammer, Henning Von Watzdorf, Hans Houben
  • Patent number: 8561527
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a cooking apparatus having a pan with a sidewall, a bottom wall and a grill top. The bottom wall has a top surface and a bottom surface, with the bottom surface facing a heating source and the top surface facing an air space. A grill covering is disposed on top of the sidewall, with the air space forming between the grill covering and the top surface of the bottom wall. The sidewall also contains at least one handle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: Eden Variety Products, LLC
    Inventor: Wilfredo Ganuza