Patents Examined by Spencer H Kirkwood
  • Patent number: 10709287
    Abstract: A beverage-producing machine includes a housing, a beverage producing unit arranged in the housing and a container for at least one beverage ingredient. The container is lockable to the housing and unlockable therefrom. The container includes a bottom aperture configured to dispense the ingredient contained therein and a shutter configured to selectively close and open the aperture. Furthermore, an actuating member is provided in the housing. The actuating member acts upon the shutter for selectively opening and closing the bottom aperture of the container while respectively locking the container to the housing and unlocking the container from the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventors: Stefano Tonelli, Cristiano Castelli
  • Patent number: 10694881
    Abstract: A heating cooker includes an inner pot (7) for accommodating therein a heating object to be heated, a heating cooker body (1) for accommodating the inner pot (7) therein, a heating part (10) attached to the heating cooker body (1) and serving for heating the heating object, a lid (2) which is openably/closably attached on top of the heating cooker body (1) and which can be closed so as to cover the inner pot (7), a rotator (11) rotatably placed between the heating cooker body (1) and the lid (2), stirrers (12A, 12B) which are attached to the rotator (11) and which are switchable between a stirring state of being in contact with the heating object set in the inner pot (7) and a non-stirring state of being apart from the heating object set in the inner pot (7), and a notification part (5) for notifying which the stirrers (12A, 12B) are in the stirring state or in the non-stirring state while the lid (2) is closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Keisuke Hara
  • Patent number: 10690418
    Abstract: A heat exchanger (10) for arrangement inside a service-liquid tank (12), in particular inside a motor-vehicle service-liquid tank (12), comprising: a heat-exchanger liquid reservoir (14) for receiving a supply of liquid (22), an electric heating device (20) which is constructed and arranged for the transfer of heat into the heat-exchanger liquid reservoir (14), and a heat-exchanger line (24) which originates at least from the heat-exchanger liquid reservoir (14) and which is designed for the transfer of heat from the liquid flowing in the heat-exchanger line (24) to an area (26) outside the heat-exchanger line (24), characterized in that the heat-exchanger line (24), as a circulation line, discharges into the heat-exchanger liquid reservoir (14).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: Röchling Automotive SE & Co. KG
    Inventors: Fabrizio Chini, Luca Marini, Ivan De Metri, Francesca Brunori, Stefano Dalpez
  • Patent number: 10638881
    Abstract: A device is provided that may include an attachment component configured to attach the device to a grill. The device may include a temperature sensor configured to detect a grill temperature of the grill and an airflow control component configured to control an airflow into the grill. The airflow control component may be adjustable to permit a plurality of airflow rates into the grill. The device may include one or more processors to set a target temperature for the grill, detect the grill temperature of the grill via the temperature sensor, determine an airflow rate based on the target temperature, the grill temperature, and a value that changes as a function of time. The processor may cause the device to set the airflow control component, based on the airflow rate, to control the airflow into the grill.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2020
    Inventor: Michael W. Holt
  • Patent number: 10617254
    Abstract: A hand drip coffee tumbler comprises: a container keeping coffee; a filter unit seated on the top of the container; a grinder unit separably coupled to the container over the filter unit to grind coffee beans; a cap separably coupled to the top of the container; and an auxiliary container having a space for keeping the grinder unit and separably coupled to the lower end portion of the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Inventor: Han Sang Yoon
  • Patent number: 10610962
    Abstract: A laser welding method includes guiding laser pulses to a workpiece surface of workpieces and adjusting a power of the laser pulses according to a time pulse curve to spot weld the workpieces together. The time pulse curve has a first pulse section having a rising pulse flank for generating a melting temperature and subsequently a vaporization temperature in the workpieces, a second pulse section for melt bath generation having a vapor channel in the workpieces, a third pulse section having a pulse flank which initially drops vertically to at least ¾ of the power at an end of the second pulse section and subsequently drops more flatly for reversion of the vapor channel, and a fourth pulse section having a low pulse plateau and a level of between ? and ¼ of the power at the end of the second pulse section for oscillation of the melt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: TRUMOF LASER GMBH
    Inventor: Elke Dolores Kaiser
  • Patent number: 10595661
    Abstract: A cooking vessel system includes a double wall cooking vessel that includes a bottom wall, an inner side wall, and an outer side wall. The cooking vessel also includes a plurality of dividers that extend between the inner side wall and the outer side wall. The plurality of dividers form one or more slots between the inner side wall and the outer side wall. The system also includes an induction element configured to fit into a slot of the one or more slots such that the induction element is positioned at least partially between the inner side wall and the outer side wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Inventor: Bernard Fryshman
  • Patent number: 10533790
    Abstract: A single serve beverage dispenser having a beverage dispensing assembly for an appliance is provided. The beverage dispensing assembly may include a brewing body, a lid, an actuating lever, and a lift frame. The brewing body may define a brew chamber and define an outlet. The lid may be pivotally attached to the brewing body to rotate between a first position and a second position. The lid may include a cam and defining an inlet to receive a flow of water in the first position. The actuating lever may extend between a first end and a second end. The first end may be slidably engaged with the cam to move between the first position and the second position. The lift frame may be pivotally attached to the lever at the second end to selectively motivate the brew pod away from the brew chamber in the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Dhinesh Babu Sakthivel, Aditya Kampalli
  • Patent number: 10529598
    Abstract: A microwave heat treatment apparatus includes: a processing vessel configured to accommodate a substrate therein; a support member configured to rotatably support the substrate in the processing vessel; a microwave introduction device configured to generate a microwave for processing the substrate and introduce the microwave into the processing vessel; a first cooling gas introduction part installed to face a main surface of the substrate supported by the support member, the main surface being a target to be processed; a second cooling gas introduction part installed in a lateral side of the substrate supported by the support member; and a control unit configured to independently control the introduction of a cooling gas from the first cooling gas introduction part and the introduction of the cooling gas from the second cooling gas introduction part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Seokhyoung Hong, Taichi Monden, Yoshihiro Miyagawa, Masaki Koizumi
  • Patent number: 10524603
    Abstract: A platform for food service and preparation is provided. The platform includes a base member that is supportable on a cooking vessel and a stabilizing member that supports the base member in a fixed orientation relative to the cooking vessel when the base member is supported on the cooking vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Inventor: Timothy Pastor
  • Patent number: 10524495
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a juice extraction module for juice capable of fundamentally blocking the introduction of dregs which degrade a texture of food when being mixed with the juice and certainly maintaining airtightness. According to one embodiment of the present invention, a dregs blocking part which isolates between a bottom surface of a juice extraction mesh and a bottom of the container maintains airtightness to fundamentally block the introduction of dregs into the juice, thereby improving a texture of food.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignees: NUC ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jong Boo Kim, Ji Tae Kim, O Jung Kwon, Young Dong Kim, Chan Yeol Kim, Ho Seok Lee, Seung Hee Lee
  • Patent number: 10517333
    Abstract: An electronic cigarette includes a battery assembly and an atomizer assembly within a housing with the battery assembly electrically connected to the atomizer assembly. The housing has one or more air inlets. A liquid storage component is in contact with a porous component of the atomizer assembly, with the porous component having a run-through hole. A heating wire is in an air flow path through the run-through hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: FONTEM HOLDINGS 1 B.V.
    Inventor: Lik Hon
  • Patent number: 10512357
    Abstract: Apparatuses, methods and systems for liquid flow control and beverage preparation are disclosed. The apparatuses, methods and systems of the present invention include liquid flow control and beverage preparation capsules, pods, cartridges, pouches, systems, and modules for controlling and directing flow streams of liquid through a beverage preparation process. The apparatuses, methods and systems of the present invention may be used in combination with or included as an integral assembly of any apparatus, method or system for liquid dispension.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2019
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Lukasz D. Skalski, Tiemen T. Van Dillen
  • Patent number: 10492520
    Abstract: A two stage system for extraction of oil from whole citrus fruit is provided. The first stage is known in the art and includes a first plurality of toothed rollers which convey citrus as the teeth penetrate and rupture oil glands. The oil passes into a first water pan. A novel second stage uses a second plurality of toothed rollers to continue the penetration and rupturing of oil glands. The second plurality of rollers are positioned in an isolated second pan to partially submerge the citrus. A middle phase liquor with extremely low oil concentration is transferred into said second pan to initiate desorption of oil from the citrus. The desorption technique in one embodiment increases yield by 4% or more. This technique is expected to increase yield even more as the recovery by the first stage is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: Brown International Corporation LLC
    Inventors: Roger Waters, Carlos Valentin Gallo, Santiago Manuel Sosa, Victor Francisco Onchi Navarro
  • Patent number: 10470253
    Abstract: A coaxially arranged smart susceptor conductor, comprising a smart susceptor core comprising an alloy having a first Curie temperature point and a first smart susceptor shell coaxially arranged around the smart susceptor core. The first smart susceptor shell comprising a second Curie temperature point that is different than the first Curie temperature point of the smart susceptor core. In one arrangement, the second Curie temperature point of the first smart susceptor shell is lower than the first Curie temperature point of the smart susceptor core. In another arrangement, the smart susceptor conductor further comprises a second smart susceptor shell disposed about the first smart susceptor shell. The second smart susceptor shell comprising a third Curie temperature point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: Robert James Miller, Marc Rollo Matsen, Cameron Kai-Ming Chen, Leah Gillian Glauber, James M. Kestner, Christopher John Hottes
  • Patent number: 10427247
    Abstract: Apparatus and a method for forming a metallic component by additive layer manufacturing are provided. The method includes the steps of using a heat source such as a laser to melt the surface of a work piece and form a weld pool; adding wire or powdered metallic material to the weld pool and moving the heat source relative to the work piece so as to progressively form a new layer of metallic material on the work piece; applying forced cooling to the formed layer; stress relieving the cooled layer by applying a peening step, for example with a pulsed laser, and repeating the above steps as required to form the component layer by layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: BAE SYSTEMS plc
    Inventors: Andrew David Wescott, Jagjit Sidhu
  • Patent number: 10406746
    Abstract: The invention provides a heating head for a three-dimensional printing pen. The heating head includes a heating pipe, a heating member, a heat insulation pipe, a heat insulation sleeve, and a heat sink. The heating member is disposed on the heating pipe. The heat insulation pipe penetrates into the heating pipe. The heat insulation sleeve is sleeved on the heating pipe and opposite to the heating member. The heat insulation sleeve partly covers the heat insulation pipe, and the heat insulation pipe and the heat insulation sleeve are separated by the heating pipe. The heat sink and the heat insulation sleeve mutually lean against, wherein the heat insulation sleeve is located between the heating member and the heat sink, and the heat insulation pipe penetrates into the heat sink.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignees: XYZprinting, Inc., Kinpo Electronics, Inc.
    Inventor: Hao-Jen Huang
  • Patent number: 10390653
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a beverage preparation module intended for installation in a self-service beverage vending machine. According to the disclosure, a water connection and a preparation device for preparing a beverage by means of water provided at the water connection are provided. Beverage preparation parameters can be transmitted to a control unit via a communication interface. The control unit is configured to control the preparation device in order to prepare a beverage based on the beverage preparation parameters. A beverage outlet for discharging the beverage prepared by the preparation device is provided. In one embodiment, at least one additional module interface is provided for connecting the control unit to at least one additional module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: SCHAERER A.G.
    Inventors: André Lüssi, Bruno Mosimann, Peter Egli, Bruno Aeberhard
  • Patent number: 10368697
    Abstract: An egg cracker may include a platform with a generally planar upper surface and a protrusion may extend upwardly from the generally planar upper surface of the platform to form an egg cracking structure. The platform may be connected to an annular support ring and connecting members may connect the platform and the annular support ring. The annular support ring may be sized and configured to be disposed within an upper portion of a container and, when a lid is attached to the container, the egg cracker may be enclosed by the container and lid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: Runway Blue, LLC
    Inventors: Steven M. Sorensen, David O. Meyers, Kim L. Sorensen
  • Patent number: 10368690
    Abstract: A machine (1) for preparing food or beverage products is provided. Said machine (1) is adapted for injecting a fluid under pressure in an ingredient capsule inserted therein. Said machine (1) comprises a fluid reservoir (3), a fluid system, a fluid heating element, and a controller for managing at least one preparation parameter, and further comprises a selector for allowing a user to manually select at least one food or beverage preparation parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: Societe des Produits Nestle S.A.
    Inventors: Nicolas Louis Robert Martz, Markus Steckhan