Patents Examined by Sean Michalski
  • Patent number: 9821485
    Abstract: A cutting assembly for use in a hydro-cutting system in which water and food products are conveyed through tubes and the food products are sliced into smaller pieces. The cutting assembly includes multiple disks and U-shaped blades. Legs of the blades are mounted between the substantially parallel disks on opposite sides of the disks, thereby holding the blades in place. A rotationally-driven motor driveshaft extends through the assembly and the assembly is mounted in a tube. When the water and food products are conveyed into the cutting assembly, the rotating assembly slices pieces from the food product, and the pieces are separated from the water for later use or processing. The water can be used in another slicing cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Inventor: George A. Mendenhall
  • Patent number: 9807943
    Abstract: The present application provides a handheld plant trimming apparatus. The handheld plant trimming apparatus, in one aspect, includes a wand having a longitudinal axis. The wand includes a wand inlet tube defining a void and an elongate slot, an outlet port having a through bore parallel to the wand longitudinal axis and an outlet bore where the outlet bore is in fluid communication with the void, and a handle. A cutting element is contained in the wand inlet tube and coupled to a motor to provide rotative force to the cutting element. A drum is in fluid communication with the wand and a vacuum pulls plant parts that are cut by the cutting element from the wand to the drum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: Easy Trim LLC
    Inventors: Joseph Black, Michael Cross
  • Patent number: 9808114
    Abstract: A coffee maker efficiently automates the process of pour-over coffee brewing by employing a computer system that controls how and when hot water is dispensed into a coffee filter. The computer system controls a mechanism that pulls a nozzle back and forth along a linear track, and rotates the linear track. A user generally puts a coffee filter in place and then pushes a button on the computer system once to allow the system to wet the coffee filter. Then the user could put coffee grounds into the coffee filter and push the button again to allow the system to lightly wet the surface of the coffee grounds. The user could then place the coffee cup underneath the filter and push the button a third time to allow coffee to be slowly brewed as spirals of hot water are dispensed on the coffee grounds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: Steady Equipment Corporation
    Inventors: Stuart Heys, Mark Sibenac, Stephan von Muehlen
  • Patent number: 9801494
    Abstract: A capsule adapter (1) is described, for use in a beverage producing machine. The capsule adapter comprises: a capsule receptacle (3) for housing a capsule (C) and having an apertured bottom wall (3B); a first piercer (19) arranged in the capsule receptacle (3); a cover (5) for closing the capsule receptacle (3), the cover having at least one water-inlet port (37); a second piercer (27) arranged on the cover (5). The capsule adapter is configured for being introduced in a brewing chamber of a beverage producing machine, with a capsule housed therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventor: Andrea Castellani
  • Patent number: 9802330
    Abstract: A media cutting system is disclosed comprising a die cutter including a cutting surface and a plurality of dies stored proximate the cutting surface, a die exchange system including a die storage system configured to support the plurality of dies and a die transport system, and a computer system comprising a controller configured to operate the die transport system and the die cutter. A die exchange system and methods of making and using the die exchange system also are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Linn C. Hoover, William J. Nowak, William J. Hannaway
  • Patent number: 9796100
    Abstract: The present disclosure includes a cutting apparatus for cutting a strap to a desired length. The cutting apparatus includes a handle body with first and second handles and a head affixed to the handle body. The head includes an attachment mechanism to allow a strap to be cut to be releasably secured to a first end the head. The cutting apparatus further includes a blade disposed proximate to a second end of the head. The length of the head or the distance between the first end of the head and the blade approximates a device body length. The present disclosure further includes a method of using a handheld cutting apparatus for cutting a strap to a desired length, such that the combined length of the strap and a device to be attached to an object, approximates the circumference of the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Eitan Landau, Sagiv Zeltser, Ilan Burlo, Benny Sakat
  • Patent number: 9798313
    Abstract: A method for controlling a device system (10) having a saw blade (14) that is attached to a saw arm (15) and that can be moved along an advancing direction (26) by a motor-driven advancing mechanism (13), whereby there is an infeed motion of the saw arm (15) with the saw blade (14) into the workpiece (18) and, during the infeed motion of the saw arm (15) into the workpiece (18), a control unit (27) calculates an arc length (?) of the saw blade (14) that is engaged with the workpiece (18), and the calculated arc length (?) is compared to a pre-set, critical arc length (?crit) of the saw blade (14).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: Hilti Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Peter Brugger, Georg Studer
  • Patent number: 9788688
    Abstract: A combination barbeque and smoker apparatus, fabricated of stainless steel, which includes an open vessel portion, having a plurality of walls and a floor portion; a cover moveable from an open position to a closed position covering the open end of the vessel to define an enclosed space; a metal grill positioned on the open end of the vessel upon which meat would rest to barbeque or smoke; a continuous pipe positioned in a space between an inner vessel wall and an outer vessel wall, in a pattern along the rear and side walls of the vessel, the pipe receiving pressurized natural gas from a gas source, such as a pressurized tank; a plurality of openings in the upper wall of the continuous pipe for releasing pressurized gas through the openings; and a device for igniting the gas exiting the openings for defining a source of heat along the length of the pipe into the cover space when the cover is in the closed position for receiving and directing heat downward onto meat resting on the metal grill.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Inventor: Salvador Ficarra
  • Patent number: 9789617
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a hair cutting appliance (10), a blade set (20) for a hair cutting appliance (10), and to a stationary blade (22) for said blade set (20), said blade comprising a first wall portion (44) and a second wall portion (46), each which defining a first surface (80, 82, 84), and a second surface (86, 88, 90) facing away from the first surface (80, 82, 84), and an intermediate wall portion (48) arranged between the first and the second wall portion (46), wherein the first wall portion (44) the second wall portion (46) and the intermediate wall portion (48) jointly define at least one toothed leading edge (32, 34), wherein the first surfaces (80, 82) of the first wall portion (44) and the second wall portion (46) face each other, at least at their leading edges (32, 34), the first wall portion (44), the second wall portion (46) and the intermediate wall portion (48) are interconnected at their tips (38) to define a plurality of teeth (40), wherein the first surfaces (80, 82) of the fir
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILLIPS N.V.
    Inventors: Martinus Bernardus Stapelbroek, Jan Bennik, Albert Jan Aitink, Robbert Freerk Van Der Scheer, Remy Ripandelli, Johan Pragt, Fokke Roelof Voorhorst
  • Patent number: 9782903
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a hair cutting appliance (10) and a blade set (20) for a hair cutting appliance (10), said blade set (20) being arranged to be moved through hair in a moving direction (28) to cut hair, said blade set (20) comprising a stationary blade (22), comprising a first wall portion (44), and a second wall portion (46), each wall portion defining a first surface (80, 82, 84), a second surface (86, 88, 90), and at least one toothed leading edge (32, 34) comprising a plurality of mutually spaced apart projections (36), wherein the toothed leading edge (32, 34) at least partially extends in a transverse direction (Y, t) relative to the moving direction (28), wherein the mutually spaced apart projections (36) at least partially extend forwardly in a longitudinal direction (X, r) approximately perpendicular to the transverse direction (Y, t), wherein the first surfaces (80, 82) of the first wall portion (44) and the second wall portion (46) face each other, at least at their leading edges (3
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventors: Martinus Bernardus Stapelbroek, Jan Bennik, Albert Jan Aitink, Robbert Freerk Van der Scheer
  • Patent number: 9782909
    Abstract: A draw stud connector, for use on a punch driver, includes a draw stud having a first end. The draw stud connector also includes a body defining an axis therethrough, the body forming a cavity having an open end, and a wedge at least partially positioned within the cavity and moveable with respect to the body both axially and radially. The wedge allows the first end of the draw stud to move axially into the cavity but does not permit axial removal of the first end of the draw stud from the cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: MILWAUKEE ELECTRIC TOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Sean T. Kehoe, James O. Myrhum, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9775460
    Abstract: A cooking apparatus comprises a cooking chamber configured to hold a cooking medium therein, a lid configured to cover the cooking chamber, and a sealing member disposed between the lid and the cooking chamber to create a seal between the cooking chamber and the lid. The lid comprises a lid liner and a retaining member disposed on an inner surface of the lid, the retaining member configured to retain the sealing member adjacent to an edge of the lid. The sealing member comprises a lip portion comprising an upper leg and a lower leg, each disposed at an angle to a longitudinal axis of the sealing member to substantially form a V shape at one longitudinal end of the sealing member, and a ridge portion comprising an upper ridge and a lower ridge, each disposed at an opposite longitudinal end of the sealing member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: Henny Penny Corporation
    Inventor: Gary F. Summons
  • Patent number: 9770131
    Abstract: The invention relates to a beverage producing machine (1) comprising a housing (3) and a connector (20) for attaching an ingredient container (C) to said housing. The connector comprises a bottom wall (23) with a passage (25) for dispensing said ingredient towards the interior of the housing and a locking seat for said ingredient container. The locking seat comprises a ridge member (29) at least partly surrounding the bottom wall, wherein at least one resilient element (47, 49) is provided in said locking seat and constrained to the ridge member. The ridge member (29) is provided with at least one tangentially extending slot (39, 41) with an edge (39A, 41A) extending substantially parallel to and distanced from the bottom wall. The at least one resilient element projects from the edge of the slot towards the bottom wall (23) and is arranged to reduce backlash between an ingredient container and said connector when said ingredient container is locked to said connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignees: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V., KONINKLIJKE DOUWE EGBERTS B.V.
    Inventors: Marco Marchi, Cesare Lenzi
  • Patent number: 9763534
    Abstract: This invention relates to a disposable single serving coffee pod brewing device that includes upper and lower brew chambers, forming a pod holding chamber therein, a diffuser device that disseminates the incoming hot water to the outer periphery of any located beverage pod, and a kicker assembly formed in the bottom brew chamber, that supports the beverage pod during a brewing cycle, and then achieves its discharge into a waste or other bin following a brew cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: Newco Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventor: Joseph P. Webster
  • Patent number: 9763470
    Abstract: Disclosed is a juicer device. In some aspects, the juicer includes a feed housing releasably connected about a rotatable cutter, and an input chute of the feed housing can be offset away from a side of the cutter that rotates upward. In some aspects, the juicer includes a feed housing releasably connectable by a rotation of the feed housing relative to the mount from an aligned position to an installed position so that the feed housing is locked in place in response to the rotating motion. In some aspects, the juicer includes a press chamber in which pulp can be squeezed for juice extraction. The press chamber can include a base and a wall, and a press chamber form can include a continuous piece of material forming at least a portion of the base, at least a portion of the wall, and a transition between the base and the wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: SEVERAL GARDENS FARM
    Inventors: David Feinberg, Rajiv Gupta, Richard Ashley Shute
  • Patent number: 9764485
    Abstract: A knife include a handle, button, blade with an integral tang, locking mechanism within the tang, and thrust mechanism. The blade moves between closed and open positions. The button may axially slide along the handle. When the blade is in the closed position and locked, movement of the button towards the first handle end releases the locking mechanism and the thrust mechanism moves the blade to the open position. A knife includes a stop pin connected to a tang of a blade and a stop plate positioned within a knife handle. The stop plate has two angled surfaces. The stop pin mates with both angled surfaces and the blade is constrained from movement in two planes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: HAWK DESIGNS INC
    Inventors: Grant Woodrow Hawk, Gavin Dan Hawk
  • Patent number: 9751224
    Abstract: A forceps, in particular surgical forceps, having at least one handle and a pressure lever which is mounted in a pivotal manner relative to the handle and further having a jaw consisting of two jaw parts, one of which is provided on the handle. A lever arm is to be arranged between the handle and the pressure lever, wherein the lever arm has the second jaw part and pressure can be applied to the lever arm by the pressure lever.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: KARL KLAPPENECKER GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventor: Bernhard Spitznagel
  • Patent number: 9746186
    Abstract: A control device for gas appliances comprises at least one control module (20) having a supporting structure that can be associated to a gas tap (10) and defines a housing, contained within which is at least one first part of a circuit arrangement. The control module (20) comprises a command element operable by a user for activating at least one timing function and/or a function of ignition of a gas burner. The first part of the circuit arrangement comprises control elements, electrical-interconnection elements, and detection elements (45) configured for detecting actuation of the command element and supplying corresponding signals to the control elements. The circuit arrangement comprises further control and/or command elements (PSD, IS, F, LE, BC, ISC) and/or an auxiliary module (PSD).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: ELTEK S.p.A.
    Inventors: Marco Moro, Paolo Savini
  • Patent number: 9743793
    Abstract: An adjustable peeling utensil for peeling an exterior portion from an interior portion of a fruit or vegetable, having: a base having a front side, a back side, a left side, a right side, a top side, and a bottom side; the base being associated with a handle on the back side and having a support bar slideably associated with the front side; and a U-shaped adjustable blade having a front blade side with a cutting edge, a left blade side with a left cutting edge, and a right blade side with a right cutting edge; the U-shaped adjustable blade being slideably associated with the left side and the right side of the base such that the U-shaped adjustable blade is extendable from the front side, to a selected distance between the support bar and the front blade side matching a thickness of the exterior portion; and a locking element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Inventors: Camelia Maria Soran, Cosmin Radu Crisan
  • Patent number: 9730551
    Abstract: A container within which is a liquid absorbing material that is wetted by a wetting liquid. The liquid absorbing material has a liquid retention characteristic for retaining the vinegar—such that the liquid retention ability reduces as a surface tension of the wetting liquid reduces due to a temperature rise of the wetting liquid over time. The temperature rise of the wetting liquid comes about when heated water at a higher temperature than the wetted liquid comes into contact with the wetting liquid. Preferably the liquid absorbing material is cotton and the wetting liquid is vinegar, such as apple vinegar. The container has an open top closed by a cover or lid and has a bottom. After piercing the cover of lid, heated water to pass through to enter confines of the container and heat the vinegar and mix with it for cleaning a machine that uses single serving beverage filter cartridges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Inventors: Shaun Douglas, Daniel Depatie