Patents Examined by Robert W. Jenkins
  • Patent number: 5586484
    Abstract: An improved expresso coffee maker comprising an upper cylindrical container 2 threadably engaged onto a lower truncated-cone container 1, said lower container having a coffee basket assembly 3 in which a cylindrical coffee holder 4 is centered with a piston 5 sliding inside, said piston has apertures 6 to allow passage of water and steam and to create differential pressure above and below the piston, which forces the piston to compress the coffee grounds during the brewing process. The water extract of the coffee grounds passes through inverted funnel 15 and it is collected into the upper cylindrical container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 24, 1996
    Inventor: Pietro Piazza
  • Patent number: 5586821
    Abstract: A preassembled collection of disposable mixing apparatus and constituent components needed for the vacuum mixing and preparation of bone cement and packaged as a single disposable kit is disclosed. The kit includes a contoured storage tray, ampules of liquid cement monomer, packets of powder cement copolymer, a small portable vacuum pump, connecting tubing with a vacuum indicator, a mixing cartridge, a cartridge cap and agitator, an assortment of connectable cement nozzles, and a funnel attachment. The kit can be packaged as a single unit for convenient and efficient use in the sterile environment of an operating room. The disposable telescoping mixing cartridge of the kit employs a telescoping mixing cartridge with a vacuum release mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 24, 1996
    Assignee: Zimmer, Inc.
    Inventors: John A. Bonitati, Kirt L. Case, Michael E. Hawkins, Stephen H. Hoag
  • Patent number: 5586822
    Abstract: The invention relates to a stirrer lid for color cans of stirring machines.This stirrer lid, of the type including a sealing element having a shutter (13) or having a pull flap closing the pouring lip (7), operated into the open position for pouring the color by a respective opposed operating lever (15) mounted on the body part of the lid, is characterized in that it includes at least one helical spring (25) for returning the said sealing element of the lip into the closed position, arranged laterally relative to the lip and oriented downward, toward the outside of the lid, this spring being connected by its ends to a fixing element (27) on the sealing element, a lug or fastener, and likewise to the lower part of the lip. FIG. 1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 24, 1996
    Assignee: F.A.S.
    Inventor: Alain Krzywdziak
  • Patent number: 5584229
    Abstract: A beverage brewing appliance for producing a brewed beverage having a serving temperature within a predetermined serving temperature range. The beverage brewing appliance includes a brewing apparatus for infusing a beverage brewing substance retained therein to extract a brewed beverage therefrom. The appliance also includes a first water source having a water heater coupled thereto for delivering water to the brewing apparatus within a predetermined range of brewing temperatures to produce a desired brewed beverage. The brewing appliance also includes a second water source which delivers temperature reduction water to the brewed beverage within a temperature range which, when mixed with the brewed beverage results in a final beverage dispensed from the brewing apparatus within a predetermined serving temperature ranges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 17, 1996
    Assignee: Bunn-O-Matic Corporation
    Inventor: James H. Anson
  • Patent number: 5582484
    Abstract: An apparatus for agitating a treatment liquid has a vessel for containing therein the treatment liquid. A turbine is rotatably provided inside the vessel. The turbine has a radius which extends close to an internal surface of the vessel. The turbine is rotated at a peripheral velocity of above about 20 m/sec by an electric motor. A flow cutoff ring is disposed along the internal surface of the vessel in a position above the turbine. When the treatment liquid is rotated by the turbine at a high speed, the treatment liquid is brought into a close contact with an internal surface of the vessel in a shape of a substantially hollow cylindrical film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 10, 1996
    Assignee: Tokushu Kika Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takeshi Asa
  • Patent number: 5579678
    Abstract: A control circuit and method for brewing and storing sweetened tea in large volume using an automatic tea brewing apparatus utilizes a separate timer to control the introduction of a liquid flavoring agent into the canister. The timer is initiated at the same time as the brewing apparatus and introduces the viscous syrup at the same time as the hot tea is introduced to the canister. The apparatus introduces the flavoring agent and dilutant water through a common line such that the line is purged of flavoring agent as each canister of tea is prepared.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 3, 1996
    Assignee: Royal Cup, Inc.
    Inventor: Steven J. Goerndt
  • Patent number: 5580171
    Abstract: There is disclosed a static mixer for intimate mixing of granular solids, a solids flow controller and a solids transfer tube which are useful to mix polycrystalline material with dopant solids, and to feed the resultant mixture continuously and accurately into a modified Czochralski-type furnace for growing single crystal material. The static mixer is a series of conical funnel plates interspaced by thieving divider plates that are formed by a plurality of triangular V-shaped, radial sectors. Contiguous to the static mixer is a storage hopper which has sufficient storage capacity for all the polycrystalline feed material required in a single run of the furnace. Located beneath the hopper is a solids flow controller that is a V-shaped trough which is vibrated along its longitudinal axis. At one end, the trough has a transverse baffle located with a gap between its bottom edge and the bottom of the trough that controls the rate of flow of the solids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 3, 1996
    Inventors: John C. Lim, William A. Koch, Mohan Chandra
  • Patent number: 5580170
    Abstract: A mixing and conditioning machine for turning dust and very fine particles into pellets comprising an elongated, generally horizontal trough formed of flexible rubber-like material having a downwardly concave arcuate bottom wall and vertical side walls. A rotor assembly comprises an elongated, generally horizontal shaft extending lengthwise within a trough with paddles distributed along the length of the shaft. The shaft is rotated to cause the paddles to mix and pelletize material introduced into the trough at the inlet end and move the material to the outlet end for discharge. The side walls of the trough are attached to the machine frame at points located a substantial distance above the bottom wall so that the trough is suspended from the points of attachment and enabled to flex as the shaft rotates, preventing build-up of material in the trough.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 3, 1996
    Assignee: Ferro-Tech, Inc.
    Inventors: Carl A. Holley, Kurt B. Albert
  • Patent number: 5575562
    Abstract: A splatter-proof blender skirt has a splatter-protective skirt (1) that fits expansively around and over food-preparation containers (5) while being suspended from an electric blender (3) with attachment straps (6, 26) which are attached to a top portion (2) of the skirt and put under a handle (8) or at a hand-holding position (7) on top of the electric blender.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 19, 1996
    Inventor: Dawn Borgia
  • Patent number: 5575560
    Abstract: A tote tank has a flexible, collapsible liner for water-based or water-borne paint. The liner when full of paint fills the tank and lines the interior walls thereof. A paint outlet from the liner extends through a wall of the tank for withdrawing paint. A paint inlet to the liner is provided for filling the line with paint and is normally closed and sealed by a closure plate. An air inlet to the tank allows the liner to collapse as paint is withdrawn. The tank is mounted on a pivot and cranks are linked to the tank to rock it back and forth to keep the paint in an agitated condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 19, 1996
    Assignee: Chrysler Corporation
    Inventors: Donald E. Kaneski, Ross G. Good
  • Patent number: 5575561
    Abstract: The invention is an in-line mixer without moving parts, with a generally conical shear head pointed in the upstream direction within a pipe, and centered near the downstream side of an annular seating ring fastened to the inside surface of the pipe. In the upstream, slanted face, or high pressure side of the shear head, there is a series of generally circular ports bored through the shear head. The slanted face of the conical shear head extends through the center of the seating ring in the upstream direction, and is adjusted to be located very close, about 0.020 inches, to the downstream side of the seating ring. At the downstream end of the slanted face of the shear head is a first sharp, approximately 90 degree edge leading away from the inside surface of the pipe in the downstream direction, which first edge is adjusted to be located very close, about 0.004 inches, to the inside surface of the pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 19, 1996
    Inventor: Gary L. Rohwer
  • Patent number: 5572923
    Abstract: Apparatus and method for manufacturing a health beverage, a food additive, and/or a perfume containing a very small amount of effective ingredient by extracting from various useful materials the effective ingredient. Water is heated and atomized, and contacts the raw material such as soy bean under decompression. The atomized water is then liquid-cooled and collected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 12, 1996
    Inventor: Nobuyoshi Kuboyama
  • Patent number: 5571068
    Abstract: A blood component separating device comprises a centrifuge bowl adapted for rotation about its axis in a centrifuge. The bowl defines an outer arcuate wall plus an inner circumferential wall, spaced from the outer wall, to define a arcuate slot adapted for receiving blood components. Access tubing is adapted for communication with the slot. Preferably, an elongated, flexible, collapsible inner liner is provided in the slot. Individual access tubing also may communicate with an elongated container interior between the ends of the elongated, collapsible container. Furthermore, a portion of the slot may define the shape of an outwardly extending spiral, to provide an increasing gravitational field upon fluids therein as the fluid moves along the slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 5, 1996
    Assignee: Baxter International Inc.
    Inventors: David V. Bacehowski, Herbert M. Cullis, Armand R. VanBaelen
  • Patent number: 5571281
    Abstract: A cement mixing and slurry density control system utilizes an improved eductor mixer for particular use in a cementing process for an oil or gas well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 5, 1996
    Inventor: Thomas E. Allen
  • Patent number: 5570955
    Abstract: A modular high shear mixer has a shaft guard substantially enclosing the rotating mix shaft thereof and a mixing member guard substantially surrounding the mixing member formed upon the lower end of the mix shaft so as to enhance safety without undesirable affecting the performance of the mixer.. Modular construction facilitates both mechanical and fluid shearing utilizing a plurality of interchangeable mixing members. The mix shaft is driven by a AC motor, the speed of which is determined by a controller so as to eliminate the need for multiple pulleys.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 5, 1996
    Assignee: Morehouse Cowles, Inc.
    Inventors: James R. Swartwout, John J. Corrigan
  • Patent number: 5571282
    Abstract: A motorized mixer for mixing bone cement for use in attachment of prosthetics and method for using the mixer. The mixer comprises a mixing chamber, a liner in the mixing chamber, an impeller within the liner, a motor for driving the impeller and programmable means for regulating the operations of the motor.An impeller for use in a mixer for mixing bone cement having a mixing chamber and means for mixing cement within the chamber that allows the simultaneous exposure of the mixing chamber and the post-cement delivery area to a vacuum source to prevent to prevent air from being folded into the cement during mixing and post-mixing transfer as well as aiding in the ease of cement transfer from the mixing chamber to the post-mixing cement collection area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 5, 1996
    Inventor: Michael L. Earle
  • Patent number: 5570623
    Abstract: A heat retaining coffee pot comprises a tubular housing into which a hollow thermal insulating jacket is received with a glass, container received in the thermal insulating jacket. A lid unit is fitted to a top of the tubular housing and comprises an outer cover and an inner cover. A filter unit has a bottom portion, a mediate portion and a top portion, the mediate portion slidably extending through the lid with the bottom portion received in the glass container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 5, 1996
    Inventor: Henry Lin
  • Patent number: 5568975
    Abstract: A steady bearing on a mixer shaft in a vessel supported from the walls of the vessel by a plurality of pairs of parallel struts which are pivotably mounted at their ends in fixed parallel clevises, the inner clevises being included in a bearing support subassembly and the outer clevises being attached to the vessel wall. The struts and clevises define a plurality of supportive parallelogram structures. The steady bearing is free to slide axially along the mixer shaft. As the vessel expands or contracts in response to changes in internal pressure or temperature as required by process conditions, the shape of the parallelogram structures is free to change to lengthen or shorten the parallelogram diagonals, and in response the steady bearing moves to a new position along the shaft. Radial support of the bearing is maintained at all axial positions assumed by the bearing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 29, 1996
    Assignee: General Signal Corporation
    Inventors: Robert Blakley, Marlin Schutte
  • Patent number: 5568974
    Abstract: A fluid mixing device comprises a housing provided with fluid entry ports for fluids being treated, and for treatment fluids, as well as a fluid discharge port for the discharge of treated fluids. A compound valve arrangement is positioned in the entry port, comprising one valve for adjusting the amount of treatment fluids entering the mixing device, and in series therewith a toggle valve actuated by a rod attached to the toggle valve which extends into the housing and which is actuated by the impact of fluids passing through the device. The mixing device is particularly suited to the neutralization of mine waste waters with caustic soda and for the introduction of polymer flocculents to induce the settling of solids in liquid suspension.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 29, 1996
    Assignee: Vapco Engineering
    Inventors: Van G. Plocus, Chris Forsha
  • Patent number: 5568763
    Abstract: A method of controlling an automatic coffee machine, and an automatic coffee machine, are disclosed. The method of controlling the automatic coffee machine includes the steps of actuating a selector switch for a first time and starting the grinding of an amount of coffee beans for a coffee brewing cycle using a first set of brewing parameters in response thereto, monitoring the selector switch for a predetermined period of time in the range of from one to two seconds, delaying the start of coffee brewing in response to the actuation of the selector switch for a second time within the predetermined time period, and then grinding an additional amount of coffee beans and resuming the coffee brewing cycle using a second set of brewing parameters in response to the second actuation of the selector switch. The first set of brewing parameters is used to brew a single size serving of coffee, and the second set of brewing parameters are used to brew a double sized serving of coffee.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 29, 1996
    Assignee: HGZ Maschinenbau AG
    Inventor: Bernhard Kunzler