Patents Examined by Natasha Campbell
  • Patent number: 8834650
    Abstract: A system for cleaning a site of a medical implement is disclosed. The system can include a strip of flexible material and a plurality of cleaning devices attached to the strip. Each cleaning device can include a cap, one or more protrusions, and a cleaning agent. The cap can be selectively removable from the strip of flexible material and can have an inner cavity that is sealed when the cleaning device is attached to the strip and unsealed upon removal of the cleaning device from the strip. The inner cavity can receive a site of the medical implement. The one or more protrusions can extend inwardly from the inner cavity and can engage corresponding protrusions on the site of the medical implement. The cleaning agent can occupy at least some of the inner cavity and can be formulated to clean the site of the medical implement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Ivera Medical Corporation
    Inventors: Bobby E. Rogers, Paul DiPerna
  • Patent number: 8801863
    Abstract: A dishwasher includes a rack provided with interior and exterior corner nozzles to direct washing fluid onto interior and exterior surface portions of an object placed in a corner of the rack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Walter T. Blanchard, David H. Chen
  • Patent number: 8795437
    Abstract: A dishwasher (100) for pot washing, comprising a detector (160) for automatically detecting what type of washing basket (140) has been placed in the dishwasher (100). This enables automatic selection of water pressure and granule control, such that more sensitive crockery and plates are not damaged. The detector can be an inductive sensor (160) that detects an indicating member (141) of the washing basket. The washing basket can comprise one or several indicating members, for enabling a more reliable detection. A method of operating such a dishwasher (100) comprises the steps of automatically detecting what type of washing basket (140) is placed in the dishwasher, and then controlling the water pressure and granule addition according to what washing basket was detected. A system comprises an above dishwasher and an above washing basket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: GS Development AB
    Inventors: Per Walter, Hans Bramevik
  • Patent number: 8794251
    Abstract: The washing apparatus employs a cup with integrated channels for the supply of fluid to integrated spraying nozzles arranged around the rim of the cup and with a central outlet at the top of the cup for removal of fluid and fouling material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Inventors: Tor Mikal Østervold, Sten Terje Østervold
  • Patent number: 8790468
    Abstract: A cleaning system for cleaning a surface comprising: a frame for the cleaning system; a liquid supply source; a liquid applicator; and at least one thruster on the frame to provide force against the frame to maintain support with the surface to be cleaned. A surface is cleaned by providing the cleaning device, moving the cleaning device both horizontally and vertically along the surface, and stabilizing the cleaning device with at least one thruster emitting a fluid stream comprising gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: Sky Robotics, Inc.
    Inventor: Dallas W. Simonette
  • Patent number: 8778092
    Abstract: There is provided a substrate processing method including cleaning a substrate by immersing the substrate in a cleaning solution in a longitudinal direction while the cleaning solution is supplied to a cleaning tank; transferring the substrate picked up from the cleaning tank to a drying chamber while holding the substrate in a longitudinal direction; and drying the substrate in the drying chamber communicating with an upper area of the cleaning tank by alternately supplying a first drying gas containing vapor of a solvent for removing a liquid and a second drying gas without containing the vapor of the solvent for removing the liquid to an area where the substrate is exposed between the upper area of the cleaning tank and the drying chamber after an upper end of the cleaned substrate is picked up from a liquid surface of the cleaning solution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Hiroshi Tanaka, Hironobu Hyakutake, Takashi Uno
  • Patent number: 8753450
    Abstract: One exemplary embodiment can be a process for treating an interior of equipment for an isomerization unit. Generally, the isomerization unit includes at least one of a drying zone, an isomerization reaction zone, and a stabilizer zone, for receiving a feed stream. Usually, the feed stream includes one or more C4-C8 hydrocarbons. The process can include combining an anhydrous hydrogen stream and anhydrous organic chloride stream to form a hydrogen chloride feedstock, and passing the hydrogen chloride feedstock to a reaction zone containing a catalyst including at least one of nickel, palladium, and platinum on an alumina support to form a hydrogen chloride stream, and passing the hydrogen chloride stream upstream of the isomerization reaction zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Ralph Charles Norton, Dana K. Sullivan, Jocelyn C. Daguio
  • Patent number: 8747569
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods are disclosed for cleaning interiors of passageways in endoscopes or other luminal medical devices by flow of liquid and gas therethrough. The liquid flow may include rivulets, droplets or other liquid entities which move on the internal surfaces of the passageways, and may include a three-phase contact interface between liquid and dry solid and gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Princeton Trade & Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Mohamed Emam Labib, Ching-Yue Lai, Yacoob Tabani, Ziye Qian, Stanislav S. Dukhin, Joseph J. Murawski
  • Patent number: 8747563
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for adaptive materials arranged in a variety of orientations and with a wide range of attachment configurations to induce structural vibrations at extremely high frequencies. These mechanical vibrations cause fouling agents to become detached and accordingly “clean” an otherwise dirty element or wire of a hot-wire anemometer, planar or curvilinear sensor surface, or display surfaces. They also can be made to vibrate at such frequencies with such intensities that local droplets of water are either shaken off or instantaneously cavitate, thereby allowing the elements to be used in all weather conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: University of Kansas
    Inventors: Ronald M. Barrett, Scott E. Cravens, Travis R. Cravens
  • Patent number: 8741068
    Abstract: A barbeque grill scraper and related methods of use that utilize a scraping end formed of a heat-responsive material to remove char and other debris from the grilling surface. The grill scraper includes a conformable scraping edge formed of the heat-responsive material. As the conformable scraping edge is drawn back and forth along the heated grilling surface, a combination of pressure applied by a user as well as the heat of the grill surface results in the formation of individual grooves along the conformable scraping edge, wherein each groove is formed to match an upper profile of the grilling surface. Over time, the grooves fully conform to the upper profile of the grilling surface such that an entire cooking surface can be scraped clean of char and debris.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: Thompson Brothers & Company, LLC
    Inventors: Nathan A. Thompson, Joshua J. Thompson, Jason S. Thompson
  • Patent number: 8734593
    Abstract: A substrate treatment apparatus includes: substrate holding unit which horizontally holds a substrate; a rotating unit which rotates the substrate held by the substrate holding unit about a vertical axis; and a first nozzle having a first opposing face to be opposed to a region of a lower surface of the substrate inward of a peripheral portion of the substrate in spaced relation to the lower surface of the substrate during rotation of the substrate by the rotating unit and a treatment liquid spout provided in the first opposing face for filling a space defined between the lower surface of the substrate and the first opposing face with a treatment liquid spouted from the treatment liquid spout to keep the space in a liquid filled state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Dainippon Screen Mfg. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takuya Kishimoto, Koji Ando
  • Patent number: 8732894
    Abstract: A cleaning bullet for use in a track can include a compressible body to clean the track, and a motorized device to propel the body through the track. In some embodiments, the motorized device includes wheels rotatably coupled to the device, a motor to drive the wheels, and a power source to supply power to the motor. Also, in some embodiments, one or more wheels engage an inner or outer surface of the track to move the motorized device along the track.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Diversey, Inc.
    Inventors: Jim J. Hilarides, Carol A. Rouillard, Andrew M. Bober
  • Patent number: 8709166
    Abstract: Methods for extracting bisphenols from polymer substrates are described. The methods include contacting the polymer substrate with an aqueous composition which includes a phase transfer agent, a base and optionally an oxidant, whereby the bisphenol is extracted into the aqueous composition. Suitable phase transfer agents are delineated. Also described are compositions which can be used in the present methods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Empire Technology Development LLC
    Inventor: Kraig Anderson
  • Patent number: 8684015
    Abstract: Strategies for tool designs and their uses wherein the tools can operate in either closed or open modes of operation. The tools easily transition between open and closed modes on demand. According to one general strategy, environmentally controlled pathway(s) couple the ambient to one or more process chambers. Air amplification capabilities upstream from the process chamber(s) allow substantial flows of air to be introduced into the process chamber(s) on demand. Alternatively, the fluid pathways are easily closed, such as by simple valve actuation, to block egress to the ambient through these pathways. Alternative flows of nonambient fluids can then be introduced into the process chamber(s) via pathways that are at least partially in common with the pathways used for ambient air introduction. In other strategies, gap(s) between moveable components are sealed at least with flowing gas curtains rather than by relying only upon direct physical contact for sealing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Tel FSI, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey M. Lauerhaas, Jimmy D. Collins, Tracy A. Gast, Alan D. Rose
  • Patent number: 8679257
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for adding a multi-component solid detergent additive during a program sequence of a water leading household appliance, in particular a dishwasher, wherein the household appliance comprises a compartment for storing the detergent additive. According to the invention, the liquid supply to the detergent additive stored in the compartment is effected in dependency of the program sequence, wherein in particular the liquid supply to the compartment is repeated at different times. Similarly a household appliance is provided with a device for adding a multi-component detergent additive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignees: Electrolux Home Products Corporation N.V., ELBI International S.p.A.
    Inventors: Winfried Steiner, Rolf Stahlmann, Christian Daume, Stefan Füglein, Klaus-Martin Forst, Guiseppe Marone, Paolo DaPont
  • Patent number: 8656744
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a sterilizable washing machine using ultraviolet radiation, and a sterilizable washing method in the same. The sterilizable washing machine includes a cabinet (2) having an inlet for putting the laundry into the washing machine, a door (50) installed at the cabinet (2), for opening and closing the inlet of the cabinet (2), a tub (6) installed in the cabinet with a buffing function and containable wash water, a drum (8) rotatably installed inside the tub (6) for performing washing, a gasket G installed between the inlet of the cabinet (2) and the tub (6), for sealing the gap between the door (50) and the tub (6), and an ultraviolet light source (20) installed at the gasket (6), for radiating ultraviolet rays into the drum (8).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Young-Soo Kim, Soung-Bong Choi
  • Patent number: 8647442
    Abstract: A cleaning substrate that can prevent a decrease in the operating rate of a substrate processing apparatus. The cleaning substrate that cleans the interior of a chamber in the substrate processing apparatus has a removal mechanism that removes foreign matter in the chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Yohei Yamazawa, Hiroshi Nagaike, Masashi Saito, Masanobu Honda
  • Patent number: 8617316
    Abstract: A dishwasher is provided comprising one or more power consuming functions and a controller in signal communication with an associated utility. The controller can receive and process a signal from the associated utility indicative of current cost of supplied energy. The controller operates the dishwasher in one of a normal operating mode and an energy savings mode based on the received signal. The controller is configured to change the power consuming functions by adjusting one or more of an operation schedule, an operation delay, an operation adjustment, and a selective deactivation of at least one of the one or more power consuming functions to reduce power consumption of the dishwasher in the energy savings mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Michael F. Finch, John K. Besore, Jeff Donald Drake, Darin Franks, Erick Paul Graven, Om Hari, Steven Keith Root, Nagaraju Valluri, Natarajan Venkatakrishnan, Eric K. Watson, Timothy Martin Wetzel
  • Patent number: 8617320
    Abstract: A wash system for cleaning the exposed surfaces of a contaminant collection device that includes a source of pressurized cleaning solution and a rinse appliance. The rinse appliance includes a first flow path that is adapted to direct the pressurized cleaning solution against a plurality of interior surfaces of a sampling head of the contaminant collection device and a vacuum tube that couples the sampling head to a collection chamber of the contaminant collection device. The rinse appliance may also include a second flow path that is adapted to direct the pressurized cleaning solution against a plurality of interior surfaces of the collection chamber and a separator filter installed therein. The rinse appliance further includes a dipping tank adapted to receive the cleaning solution after passing through one of the first and second flow paths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Microbial-Vac Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Wayne D. Carlsen, Jared G. Maughan, Kris Nosack, Joshem Coy Gibson, Kelly Maureen Black, Jared V. Bradley, Kevin Joseph Church
  • Patent number: 8603254
    Abstract: A method for the in situ clearing of blockages in artificial tubes completely or partially disposed within a living being is described. The method includes coupling a first end of a releasably-securable flexible clearing member to a controller, inserting a second working end of the flexible clearing member into an opening in the artificial tube, energizing the controller such that said flexible clearing member experiences repetitive motion, and positioning the flexible clearing member such that the second working end of the flexible clearing member comes into repetitive contact with the blockage for clearing the blockage therein. The controller remains outside of the living being and the flexible clearing member clears the blockage when positioned within a straight portion or within a curved portion of the artificial tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: Actuated Medical, Inc.
    Inventors: Roger B. Bagwell, Paul L. Frankhouser, Maureen L. Mulvihill, Josue R. Crespo, Brian M. Park, Dana B. Mallen, Gabriela Hernandez Meza, Debora L. Demers