Patents Examined by Ryan Reis
  • Patent number: 9999895
    Abstract: According to a first aspect, a spray insert includes a sidewall and a first vane extending from the sidewall. The spray insert also includes an endwall including a discharge outlet. The spray insert further includes a first boss including a tip and a side to direct a fluid product toward a swirl chamber. The boss is disposed on the endwall and extends from the vane. The side has a point of inflection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2018
    Assignee: S. C. Johnson & Son, Inc.
    Inventors: Cory J. Nelson, Harbinder S. Pordal
  • Patent number: 9995532
    Abstract: Embodiments of a self-cleaning jet tube may include an elongate hollow body that is generally rectangular in cross-section and tapered from an open first end to a second end generally opposite the first end. The elongate hollow body may have an upper wall, a lower wall, side walls, a plurality of apertures arranged along the upper wall, an end plate coupled with the walls at the second end, and at least one through-slot. A through-slot may be disposed through the end plate or a wall, between the end plate and a wall, or between two walls. The jet tube may be configured for use with the through-slot(s) open and unblocked, thereby allowing debris to be expelled from the jet tube during operation of the jet veneer dryer. Corresponding systems and method are also provided herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: USNR, LLC
    Inventors: Irven J. McMahon, Clinton Spangler
  • Patent number: 9995408
    Abstract: A forage gas relief valve device for reducing pressure within a forage bag by releasing gases from within. The forage gas relief valve device includes a tubular insert, a support plate slidably disposed upon the tubular insert, a tubular housing engaged upon the support plate and a valve member disposed in the tubular housing to prevent outside gases from entering a forage bag containing foodstuff.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Inventors: Dennis M. Yager, Craig D. Yager
  • Patent number: 9989264
    Abstract: A heating tile designed to be easily installed using standard construction methods and materials while providing a radiant heating method that is compatible with both computer controlled systems as well as simple thermostat controls, can be repaired without major floor rework, does not produce a significant magnetic field, is protected against overheating due to excessive exposed surface insulation, and is water and contaminant resistant even if there is minor cracking of the tile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Inventor: Bruce Blaine Williams
  • Patent number: 9975057
    Abstract: A water-rocket water-transfer-station, referred to as the water station, is comprised of a specialized manifold combined with a plastic carbonated drink bottle, which functions as a water reservoir. The water reservoir is pressurized with air to make a water transfer station for water rockets. By using pressurized air, water can be transferred from the water station to a water rocket launch system, referred to as the launcher, and into an attached water rocket. A second unique feature of this system is the ability to return water from the water rocket back into the water station reservoir, as in the case of an over-fill, or in a launch abort. This unique water station can easily and quickly transfer water to a water rocket from a water reservoir, and in reverse from a rocket, without having to remove the rocket from the launcher. This saves time and minimizes water waste which is important when water has to be hand carried into a remote launch field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Inventors: William Scott Howell, Scott Douglas Farner
  • Patent number: 9974403
    Abstract: A drinking straw includes a cylindrical sidewall having a longitudinal axis and a flexible region formed in the sidewall. The flexible region including a plurality of segmented sections separated from each other by inward annular corrugations. Each corrugation has a height parallel to the longitudinal axis and a depth transverse to the longitudinal axis. The height of each corrugation is one and a half times greater than the depth of the corrugation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Inventor: John P. O'Neill
  • Patent number: 9975130
    Abstract: A trigger sprayer (100) may include a tube retainer (110) fitted in a valve body (120), a piston (140) fitted in the valve body and an integrated trigger (150) and biasing member (154) connected to the piston and the valve body and biased in part by the attachment of a shroud (130) to the trigger sprayer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: SILGAN DISPENSING SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventors: David L. Dejong, Steven L. Sweeton, Joseph K. Dodd
  • Patent number: 9951948
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate to a gas fire pit delivery and pay-station system for providing a gas service on a pay-per-use basis. The system provides a multi pay-station or a single pay-station configuration connected to a main gas supply of pressurized gas whereby a control signal is provided by the pay-station to a plurality of electronically controlled gas valves for disabling or enabling the pressurized gas to flow to one or more fire pit stations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Inventor: Eric Le Blanc
  • Patent number: 9943716
    Abstract: A combined trigger and concealing device for an automatic fire protection sprinkler includes a first plate attached to a second plate by a heat fusible material. Each plate is formed with an aperture which receives an actuator depending from the bottom of the sprinkler. The trigger device depends a preselected distance from the bottom of the sprinkler body and includes a cover which has an outer dimension which conceals the internal components of the sprinkler from view. The cover includes openings and is dimensioned and positioned to permit heat energy to be received by the inner and outer surface of the trigger device. Conduction of heat energy from both the inner and outer surface of the trigger device permits the heat fusible material to be expeditiously raised to the preselected separation temperature. This construction minimizes response time of the sprinkler while maintaining a highly aesthetic appearance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: THE VIKING CORPORATION
    Inventors: David Vaneerden, Thomas E. Winebrenner
  • Patent number: 9937584
    Abstract: A method for producing an electrical component is provided. The method includes steps of providing a continuous strip material and separating a section from the continuous strip material using an electron beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: TE Connectivity Germany GmbH
    Inventors: Helge Schmidt, Eva Henschel, Soenke Sachs
  • Patent number: 9931707
    Abstract: In embodiments, a welding apparatus includes an automated wire feed mechanism to output wire at a wire feed rate, where the wire is to provide a welding arc to a weld site. The wire feed rate is based at least in part on selected power to be provided to the weld site. Additional embodiments are described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Inventor: Ammon Nazareth Balaster
  • Patent number: 9919071
    Abstract: A sealing member is disclosed for use with a wick of a diffuser, or the like. The sealing member seals a vessel containing a liquid in a fluid chamber. The sealing member may be composed of a malleable material that may also be resistant to a liquid fragrance contained in the vessel. The sealing member may include a body, flaps and an opening for receiving a wick therethrough. The sealing member may form a persistent seal when a wick is inserted therethrough, while at the same time allowing venting to the fluid chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: S. C. Johnson & Son, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher S. Hoppe, Jason L. Halonen
  • Patent number: 9914432
    Abstract: A safety device that would be installed within the fuel lines of motor vehicles including cars and trucks, with the device remotely activated by police and other law enforcement personnel to block the flow of fuel to the vehicle engine, thus disabling the vehicle to provide law enforcement officials a practical way in which to safely disable a motor vehicle in the event of a police chase, thus protecting both parties, as well as other motorists, innocent bystanders and property from the dangers that can easily occur as a result of high speed chases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Inventor: Mario Ramos
  • Patent number: 9909556
    Abstract: A system comprising a tunnel implement for immersion in a moving mass. Energy from the moving mass passing through said tunnel implement is converted to rotational force. A collector device is provided having open and collapsed states, wherein the open state resists the moving mass. A rotational converting device converts the rotational force to constant singular direction. An input shaft is turned bidirectionally by the rotational force and two gears driven by the input shaft in opposite rotational directions, the gears separately attached to idler gears causing output gears attached to the idler gears to engage an output shaft in a same rotational direction. A bidirectional drive motor device drives a pulley device in a predetermined direction. A sensor device senses the position of the collector device. A trigger device is configured to activate said sensor device to indicate the collector device position and state, whether opened or collapsed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Inventor: Joseph Marion Santos
  • Patent number: 9907986
    Abstract: An exemplary fire suppression system includes a sprinkler nozzle. At least one conduit is connected to the nozzle for delivering a fire suppression fluid to the nozzle. The conduit and the nozzle establish a discharge path. A pneumatically driven pump is connected with the conduit for pumping fluid into the conduit. A gas source provides pressurized gas to the pump for driving the pump. The gas source also provides gas to the discharge path for achieving a desired discharge of the fluid from the nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: UTC Fire & Security Corporation
    Inventors: Bryan Robert Siewert, Ulf J. Jonsson, Mike Lindsay
  • Patent number: 9908688
    Abstract: The dispensing device provides dispensable material in a closable container in concert with a corresponding accessory so that the container and the accessory can be commonly stored when not in use, and further provides a ventilated storage volume within the device that can facilitate drying and aerating the accessory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: Digital Innovations LLC
    Inventors: Tony J. Abfall, Kara Lineal, Paul Holbrook
  • Patent number: 9908201
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for edge bead removal. A laser beam of approximately a wavelength is received. The laser beam is delivered along a predetermined beam path. The laser beam is projected on an edge portion of a wafer for edge bead removal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited
    Inventors: Chun-Hao Chang, Hsueh-Yi Chung, Shang-Yun Huang, Jui-Ping Chuang, Li-Kong Turn, Fei-Gwo Tsai
  • Patent number: 9908768
    Abstract: A refrigerator includes a dispenser having a dispenser well, a control for regulating a product dispensing operation, and an optical sensing system includes a camera within the dispenser well in communication with a controller for controlling the filling of a container within the dispenser well based on image data. The image data can used to detect at least one of a presence of a container in the dispenser well, a height of liquid within the container, a height of ice within the container and a shape of the container within the dispenser well, as well as to adjust a dispensing rate of product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Farhad Ashrafzadeh, Kevin M. Chase, Brian P. Janke, Shreecharan Kanchanavally
  • Patent number: 9903103
    Abstract: A tub faucet includes a first shell; a second shell; a cross-shaped first coupling including a tubular member having two sets of two opposite wells at two ends respectively, an externally threaded first tube, an externally threaded second tube; two T-shaped second couplings each including an externally threaded inlet, a tubular first joining member, the first joining member having two opposite tabs on an outer surface, and an externally threaded, tubular second joining member; two knobs rotatably secured to the second joining members respectively; and a spout threadedly secured to the second tube, the spout having a stem configured to open or close the spout. The first joining members are secured to two ends of the tubular member respectively with the tabs inserted into the wells respectively. The first and second shells are complimentarily fastened together with the first and second couplings partially disposed therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: Chyi Liou Enterprise Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Chin-Hua Ho
  • Patent number: 9902371
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for dispensing a windshield-cleaning liquid for windshield wiper blades of a motor vehicle, comprising: a hydraulic pipe (7, 8) having at least one liquid flow channel (7a, 7b, 8a, 8b); at least one hydraulic coupling (9, 10, 11, 15) for transporting of liquid to said pipe or discharging the liquid from said pipe, characterized in that the dispensing device also comprises at least one non-return valve (20) received in the flow channel (7a, 7b, 8a, 8b) or in a hydraulic coupling (9, 10, 11, 15).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: Valeo Systèmes d'Essuyage
    Inventors: Vincent Izabel, Gérald Caillot, Jean-Michel Jarasson