Patents Examined by Robin Evans
  • Patent number: 7208706
    Abstract: The invention relates to a shrinking device for shrinking a rotary tool into a central receiving opening of a toolholder which holds said rotary tool in a press fit. The device an induction heating device for thermally expanding the toolholder in the area of the receiving opening. A cooling device with at least one cooling collar which can be placed on the toolholder, in physical contact with the same, and through which a liquid coolant can flow, is provided for cooling the receiving opening area of the toolholder. This liquid cooling considerably reduces the overall time span needed for the shrinking process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2007
    Assignee: Haimer GmbH
    Inventors: Franz Haimer, Josef Haimer, Wolfgang Kügle
  • Patent number: 7208705
    Abstract: A heater bracket assembly for securing a heater case in a dryer is disclosed. The heater bracket assembly includes a supporting part secured to a bottom end of the heater case for supporting the heater case, a fixing part secured to a base plate of the dryer, and a connecting part connecting the supporting part and the fixing part, wherein the supporting part comprises a first extension member extended therefrom which engages with an aperture provided to the bottom end of the heater case such that the supporting part is initially secured to the heater case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2007
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Sung Gi Hwang, Jung Woo Seo
  • Patent number: 7205505
    Abstract: A system for recognizing the occupancy of a seat, containing elements made of electrically conducting synthetic material, especially strips made of electrically conductive polyurethane. A seat equipped with the system. A method for recognizing seat occupancy whereby an alteration in resistance of the electrically conductive material occurring in a change of weight is detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2007
    Assignee: Braincom AG
    Inventors: Michael Diemer, Stefan Diemer
  • Patent number: 7205510
    Abstract: There is disclosed a heater for an automotive vehicle or other article of manufacture. The heater typically includes a first conductive medium and a second conductive medium disposed upon a carrier. In a preferred embodiment, the first conductive medium includes a first section and a second section that are electrically connected by a second conductive medium. The second conductive medium preferably exhibits a positive thermal coefficient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2007
    Assignee: W.E.T. Automotive Systems Ltd.
    Inventor: Shaun Howick
  • Patent number: 7205511
    Abstract: A combined heater and heat diffuser for fitting to an injection nozzle (10) for moulding plastics materials, where the nozzle comprises a tubular metal core (12) with an injection duct (14) and a cylindrical lateral surface (13). The heater and heat diffuser includes a resistor (40) housed in a channel-shaped seat (32) formed in a cylindrical internal surface (30d) of a heat diffuser (30) made of a metal material of a tubular shape for fitting around the core (12) of the nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2007
    Inventor: Piero Enrietti
  • Patent number: 7205509
    Abstract: An apparatus for both heating and serving food has both an interchangeable heat conducting food serving assembly and a heat exchange assembly coupled to at least a portion of the interchangeable heat conducting food serving assembly. A head portion of the interchangeable heat conducting food serving assembly is at least one of a scoop, a fork, a ladle and a knife. The interchangeable heat conducting food serving assembly serving assembly is heated by the heat exchange assembly, facilitating serving the food in contact with the interchangeable heat conducting food serving assembly. A head portion of the interchangeable heat conducting food serving assembly is at least one of a scoop, a fork, a ladle and a knife. A stand holds the apparatus and disperses heat to mitigate excess temperature build-up while the apparatus is not in use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2007
    Inventor: N. Kay Goulet
  • Patent number: 7205504
    Abstract: An interlayer composite includes a plastic sheet having a predetermined outer shape and a major surface; a pair of bus bars, and an adhesive layer securing the bus bars directly on the major surface of the plastic sheet in a fixed relationship to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2007
    Assignee: PPG Industries, Ohio, Inc.
    Inventors: Bruce A. Bartrug, Allen R. Hawk, Robert N. Pinchok, James H. Schwartz
  • Patent number: 7205506
    Abstract: A glow plug having a heat range indicated by a colored insulating ring. The insulating ring, along with first and second washers, insulates a central electrode from a glow plug body. Electrical insulation is provided by anodizing the insulating ring. A colored anodizing is used on the insulating ring which is visible from the top of the glow plug, which colored anodizing is indicative of the heat range of the glow plug.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2007
    Inventor: Steven B. O'Donnell
  • Patent number: 7202445
    Abstract: To provide a door mirror heater for a vehicle such as a motor vehicle or the like on which a high voltage battery is mounted, a door mirror heater compliant to a high voltage battery having a heat generating circuit provided with a PTC layer corresponding to a heating element and electrodes for applying a current to the PTC layer is structured such that an initial resistance value of the heat generating circuit is set between 20 and 200 ?, more preferably between 50 and 100 ?, a lower limit value of a PTC characteristic R100° C./R25° C. is set to 10, more preferably, to 50, and a rubber is added to a main material polymer of the PTC layer, and a metal oxide is added as a filler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2007
    Assignee: NOK Corporation
    Inventor: Naoki Yamada
  • Patent number: 7202443
    Abstract: Electric heating/warming composite fabric articles have at least a fabric layer having inner and outer surfaces, and an electric heating/warming element, formed, e.g., of die cut, metallized textile or plastic sheeting or metal foil, affixed at the inner surface of the fabric layer and adapted to generate heating/warming when connected to a power source. A barrier layer may be positioned, for example, adjacent to the inner surface of the fabric layer; e.g., with the electric heating/warming element formed thereupon, including to protect the electric circuit, e.g. against abrasion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2007
    Assignee: Malden Mills Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Moshe Rock, Vikram Sharma
  • Patent number: 7202446
    Abstract: A hair cutting apparatus comprising: an elongate element (260) heated to a temperature capable of cutting hair; a vibrating structure (200), on which said elongate element (260) is mounted; and a housing (106) in which the vibrating structure (200) is mounted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2007
    Assignee: Radiancy Inc.
    Inventors: Pinchas Shalev, Zion Azar
  • Patent number: 7202444
    Abstract: A heating device includes a conductive layer on an electrically insulated substrate. The substrate and conductive layer have a plurality of cross-like apertures therethrough. The conductive layer includes busses and traces extending from the busses, the traces surrounding the apertures. A resistive or thermistor layer is provided over the conductive layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2007
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventor: Edward F. Bulgajewski
  • Patent number: 7199333
    Abstract: A personalized branding iron with interchangeable symbols, including: a handle arrangement having a first end and a second end; a mounting arrangement mechanically connected to the first end; and at least one unitary substantial symbol configured for branding. The mounting arrangement and the symbol are configured for convenient mechanical connection of the symbol to the mounting arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Inventor: Adi Alphandary
  • Patent number: 7200327
    Abstract: Electric heating device comprising an electric radiator (10) for heating the air passing through it, said radiator comprising a casing (12), at least one resistive element mounted in the casing and constituted by at least one zigzag metal strip (22) which is disposed so as to be directly exposed to the air passing through the casing, and a circuit (30) for controlling the electrical supply of the resistive element or elements connected to a power supply. The electric radiator (10) comprises a set of individual heating modules (20) disposed parallel to one another in the casing (12) and so as to be directly exposed to the air passing through the casing, each heating module (20) comprising a pleated or corrugated metal strip (22) and an electronic switch controlled by the control circuit (30) intended to selectively inhibit the electrical supply of the metal strip (22).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Assignee: Valeo Climatisation
    Inventors: Frédéric Pierron, Gilbert Terranova, Christophe Marange, Olivier Colette
  • Patent number: 7197239
    Abstract: A system and method for removing wrinkles from the covering material of seats for automobiles and other vehicles. The invention may be implemented in a seat dewrinkling oven that includes front and rear heaters that conform to the shape of the seat being heated. In particular, a front heater may be employed that includes a vertically oriented portion for directing heat at the vertically oriented back portion of a front seat surface and a horizontally oriented portion for directing heat at the horizontally oriented bottom portion of the seat front surface. Preferably medium wavelength infrared heating elements are employed in the heaters to provide better heat penetration and dewrinkling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2007
    Assignee: Wisconsin Oven Corporation
    Inventor: Michael L. Grande
  • Patent number: 7196289
    Abstract: Personal warming systems and apparatuses for use in hospitals and other settings. In one embodiment, a heating mattress or pad for warming a patient during a hospital procedure can include a heating element positioned between a first foam portion and a second foam portion. The heating element and the foam portions can be at least partially enclosed in a fluid-resistant cover. The heating element can be operably connected to a control unit that allows an operator to select between a plurality of temperature options for the heating pad. In another embodiment, the heating pad can include one or more radiolucent, or at least generally radiolucent, features that will not appreciably obscure x-ray images taken of a patient positioned on the heating pad. In one aspect of this embodiment, the radiolucent features can include one or more of a carbon-based heating element, an optical temperature sensing device, and/or a thermally responsive state-changing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2007
    Assignee: American HealthCare Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Kent D. Ellis, Kenneth S. Siegner, Charles C. Wyatt, Jack Wilkerson
  • Patent number: 7196287
    Abstract: A fuser includes a fusing roll unit having a fusing roll, a pressurizing roll unit having a pressurizing roll and a coil spring resiliently biasing the pressurizing roll. The units are secured by a pair of engagements. One engagement includes a hook provided at the fusing roll unit and an eye provided at the pressurizing roll unit and capable of guiding and thus moving the units pivotably relative to each other when said hook is engaged therein. The fuser can thus have a simple structure formed of a reduced number of components and enhancing workability and facilitating its fabrication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2007
    Assignees: Funai Electric Co., Ltd., Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventor: Toshinori Asai
  • Patent number: 7196290
    Abstract: A heat sealer having a heated platen, a cylinder for reciprocating the platen, a die positioned to be engaged by the platen and a shuttle supporting the die to move the die from a platen-engaging position to a non-engaging position, and a control for controlling the temperature of the platen and the force applied to the platen against the die by the cylinder. The invention also includes a temperature sensor for sensing the surface temperature of the platen and a load sensor for sensing the force applied by the platen to the die. In one embodiment, the temperature sensor is an infrared temperature sensor that reads the surface temperature of the platen and the load sensor is a load cell positioned beneath the die and supporting the die so that the load sensors can measure the direct force applied by the platen against the die. Also, in one embodiment, the infrared sensor is positioned beneath the die so that it can read the platen temperature when the die is displaced to the non-engaging position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2007
    Assignee: Planet Products Corporation
    Inventors: William Michael Oliver, Douglas J. Robinson, Jon T. Sharrah, Alford Jack Ramey, John A. Lynch
  • Patent number: 7196295
    Abstract: A heater system is provided with a layered heater in communication with a two-wire controller, wherein a resistive layer of the layered heater is both a heater element and a temperature sensor. The two-wire controller thus determines temperature of the layered heater using the resistance of the resistive layer and controls heater temperature through a power source. Furthermore, a heater system using a layered heater in communication with a two-wire controller for a specific application of a hot runner nozzle in an injection molding system is provided by the present invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2007
    Assignee: Watlow Electric Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Kenneth F. Fennewald, William A. McDowell, III, Kevin Ptasienski, Louis P. Steinhauser
  • Patent number: 7193192
    Abstract: A temperature-responsive device (14) is provided for an electric heater (2). The heater (2) is located behind a heatable surface and comprises a dish-like support (6) having therein at least one electric heating element (12) having first and second terminal regions, (12A, 12B). An electrical component (18), having an electrical parameter which changes as a function of temperature, is supported inside the heater (2) by an elongate member (16). The elongate member (16) is secured to the heater (2) and extends at least partially across the heater (2). An electrically insulating carrier member (30) is secured to the elongate member (16) at a location externally of the periphery of the heater (2). The carrier member (30) has first and second side edges (32, 38) at opposite sides of the elongate member (16) and is provided with first and second electrically conductive elements (34, 40) accessible at the opposite side edges (32, 38) for electrical connection to the first and second terminal regions (12A, 12B).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2007
    Assignee: Ceramaspeed Limited
    Inventor: Stuart Lamb