Patents Examined by Vinod D Patel
  • Patent number: 7659491
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a refrigerator door which can prevent vapor condensation on one side thereof, and a refrigerator therewith. To achieve this, the present invention provides a refrigerator door including one pair of door bodies rotatably connected to a refrigerator body; and a heating device provided to at least one of ends of the door bodies facing each other in a state the door bodies are closed, for prevention of vapor condensation on the ends of the door bodies; and a refrigerator therewith, thereby preventing vapor condensation on one side of the door, permitting the user to use the refrigerator with comfort.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2010
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Chang Woan Yang
  • Patent number: 7655884
    Abstract: An oven has a housing, a heat source, and an aperture defined in the housing. A substantially horizontal deck rotates within the housing, and a number of substantially horizontal pallets are mounted on the deck to rotate relative to the deck. Each pallet has a lip. A source of motive power and a transmission system drive the main deck to revolve within the housing, and also drive the pallets to rotate relative to the main deck. The transmission system constrains rotational movement of the pallets relative to the main deck and causes each pallet to be oriented with its stopping member positioned opposite the aperture whenever that pallet is aligned with the aperture. The oven has a control system that monitors the length of time that an item remains in the oven, permitting items having different cooking times to be cooked simultaneously, even when introduced in a random order.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2010
    Inventor: Bernard H. Engelhardt
  • Patent number: 7645961
    Abstract: The unit comprises: a casing (1) with a protected interior, a window (2) closed by a transparent element (3) and support means (4) to carry an optical system (5) facing said window (2); image detection means (6) accommodated in said casing (1), facing said optical system (5), an associated with connection means with the exterior for the supply and/or bidirectional signal exchange; and heating means to provide thermal energy to said transparent element (3), or to an adjacent zone thereto, aiming at avoiding lacking transparency problems, due to ambient and climatic factors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Assignee: Fico Mirrors, SA
    Inventor: Francesc Xavier Hernando Fernandez
  • Patent number: 7638735
    Abstract: Systems and methods for pulse electrothermal and heat-storage ice detachment. A pulse electrothermal ice detachment apparatus includes one or more coolant tubes, and optionally, fins in thermal contact with the coolant tubes. The tubes and/or fins form a resistive heater. One or more switches may apply electrical power to the resistive heater, generating heat to detach ice from the tubes and/or the fins. A freezer unit forms a heat-storage icemaking system having a compressor and a condenser for dissipating waste heat, and coolant that circulates through the compressor, the condenser and a coolant tube. The coolant tube is in thermal contact with an evaporator plate. A tank, after the compressor and before the condenser, transfers heat from the coolant to a heating liquid. The heating liquid periodically flows through a heating tube in thermal contact with the evaporator plate, detaching ice from the evaporator plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2009
    Assignee: The Trustees of Dartmouth College
    Inventor: Victor Petrenko
  • Patent number: 7589298
    Abstract: The roll-up floor heating comprises an insulating layer, a heating element and a cladding. The insulating layer is intended for laying on a floor and the heating element extends between the cladding and the insulating layer. The cladding is intended to support a floor covering and comprises a force distribution layer for transmitting a force which is exerted on the cladding in a distributed manner to the insulating layer. In as far as (a part of) the heating element is at the location or in the vicinity of the exerted force, the load which will be exerted on it will be lower than the original load, due to the force being transmitted in a distributed manner. This lowers the risk of the heating element being damaged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2009
    Assignee: Devi A/S
    Inventor: Robert Oosterling
  • Patent number: 7576305
    Abstract: A heat-generating element of a heating device for heating air including at least one PTC element, electric strip conductors lying on the PTC elements and a longish positioning frame that forms at least one frame opening for holding the minimum of one PTC element. A heat-generating element that is improved with a view to safety from electric flashovers and leakage currents is created with the invention under consideration by providing at least one insulating layer, which covers the strip conductor on its exterior side that is turned away from the positioning frame. The insulating layer in any case is sealed against the long sides of the positioning frame by a compressible sealing bead. A heating device for heating air with multiple heat-generating elements is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2009
    Assignee: Catem GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Michael Zeyen, Kurt Walz, Michael Niederer, Franz Bohlender
  • Patent number: 7569795
    Abstract: Disclosed is a breathable heater element for a garment or for the lining of a garment such as an outdoor jacket, e.g. a waterproof jacket. The heater element is formed from porous metallised fabric such a nickel plated woven polyester fabric by photochemical etching of a suitable track pattern onto the metallised fabric. The formed heater element is then laminated into a lining. The material of the lining may be impregnated with microencapsulated functional chemicals such as fragrances, perfumes, antimicrobials or insect repellents. The microcapsules release their contents on activation due to heat generated by the heater element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2009
    Assignee: NEL Technologies Limited
    Inventor: Patrick Ferguson
  • Patent number: 7538301
    Abstract: A tubular heating element for heating fluid media, in particular for household appliances, comprising a jacket pipe inside which there is disposed at least one heating coil made of an electrical resistance heating wire and embedded in an electrical insulation material, the heating coil having a first and a second terminal portion by means of which the heating coil is connected to a source of current via at least one connection element at each end, and at least one operating portion extending between the two terminal portions of the heating coil. It is further specified that the diameter of said heating coil increases at at least one terminal portion in the direction of the operating portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2009
    Assignee: Bleckmann GmbH & Co., KG
    Inventors: Gernot Teufl, Andreas Pleschinger
  • Patent number: 7531770
    Abstract: A cleaning processing jig is inserted into a bolt heater hole, and pollution such as extraneous matter on an inner surface of the hole is removed by a waste cloth. A penetration processing jig is inserted into the hole, and the penetrant is made to uniformly penetrate into the inner surface by a sponge onto which a penetrant is applied. Then, a developing processing jig is inserted into the hole, and the inner surface is developed by injecting a developer toward the inner surface from an injection tip provided on a head. When a predetermined time elapses after the developing processing, a visual inspection tool in which a visible head is attached to a tip of a pipe is inserted into the hole, and the inner surface is visually inspected through a light pipe connected to the visible head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2009
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Yoji Tanaka, Shigeo Morimoto
  • Patent number: 7525075
    Abstract: A microwave susceptor system for efficiently cooking food in a microwave. The microwave susceptor system includes a base positionable in a microwave, a first platform including a plurality of first openings, wherein the first platform is attached to the base and a second platform including a plurality of second openings, wherein the second platform is attached to an opposite end of the base. An outer surface of the base, first platform and second platform are comprised of a heat collecting material and a food item is positioned upon the first platform and the second platform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2009
    Inventors: Jeffrey T. Watkins, James P. Dohanick
  • Patent number: 7482557
    Abstract: A radiator element for an air heating device, and a corresponding heating device and manufacturing method are provided which reveal improved assembly properties. The radiator element comprises at least one lamella element and one radiator sheet, wherein the radiator sheet comprises on at least two edges projections for attaching the lamella element onto the radiator sheet. The projections may be folded for attaching the lamella element. For facilitating the bending process, a notch along the edge is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2009
    Assignee: DBK David + Baader GmbH
    Inventor: David Clemens
  • Patent number: 7473874
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a browning accessory for use in a microwave oven, for substantially simultaneous microwave cooking and browning or crusting of a food item. The browning accessory includes a microwave absorbing material operative to convert microwave energy into thermal energy and having its underside uncovered, thereby being accessible to airflow inside the microwave oven, and an outer enclosure having a skirt portion extending downwards below the microwave absorbing material to reduce convection cooling of the microwave absorbing material during use of the accessory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2009
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Hakan Carlsson, Ricardo Garcia-Padron, Vivian Sandman, Fredrik Hallgren
  • Patent number: 7465903
    Abstract: An integrated circuit is joined to a liquid container. The integrated circuit includes a passivation layer. A resistor is used as a heater to heat fluid in a liquid container. A mesa structure is formed over the passivation layer. The mesa structure is in contact with the resistor and is used to more effectively deliver heat from the resistor to the liquid container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2008
    Assignee: Avago Technologies Fiber IP (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.
    Inventor: Tyler Sims
  • Patent number: 7428373
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for delivering solid precursors. In certain embodiments of the present application, a flow monitor, pressure sensor, or temperature sensor is used to measure and regulate the flow of vaporized solid precursor material from a vaporization chamber to a deposition chamber. To avoid condensation of the solid precursor material in the delivery lines, a controller is placed in a feed back loop to make adjustments to the amount of vapor available. Additional embodiments are disclosed and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2008
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Gurtej S. Sandhu
  • Patent number: 7411158
    Abstract: A heatable composite pane having a trapezoidal outline, including a heating area having heating wires embedded in the composite and at least two main busbars. The two main busbars connect ends of a first group of parallel heating wires electrically in parallel. The outer triangular surface of the trapezoidal outline includes at least a second group and a third group of parallel heating wires that can be fed electrically via busbars. The second group and the third group of heating wires have different lengths and are combined to be connected in parallel with the first group. The second group and the third group are electrically connected to one another in series such that an effective wire length between the two main busbars is increased to homogenize heating power in the triangular surface with heating power in the heating area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2008
    Assignee: Saint-Gobain Glass France
    Inventor: Jan Andrt
  • Patent number: 7402775
    Abstract: A vehicular shock-absorbing beam includes a pair of mounting portions disposed at the both ends of a beam body and adapted to be mounted on a vehicle. The shock-absorbing beam is produced by a thermal treatment equipment for the heat treatment of the beam. The thermal treatment equipment comprises a pair of holding means for holding the beam body, a pair of current-applying means for directly applying current to the beam body, and quenching means for quenching the heated beam body. One of the paired holding means or that of the paired current-applying means can be slidable. The quenching means sandwiches the beam body with a lower jig and an upper jig both having corrugated surfaces. The heated beam body is quenched with a coolant sprayed from a plurality of the injection holes formed in the upper and lower corrugated surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2008
    Assignee: Asteer Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiroshi Yoshida
  • Patent number: 7390990
    Abstract: A heating device is provided, including an insulating ceramic base having a heating surface for heating an object. A high frequency electrode is embedded in the insulating ceramic base in the vicinity of the heating surface, and a heating body is embedded in the base in a location that is further from the heating surface than the location of the high frequency electrode. A low resistance ceramic member is provided so as to be exposed to a part of the heating surface of the insulating ceramic base and to be connected to a conductive member inside of the insulating ceramic base. A main component of the material of the low resistance ceramic member is common to that of the insulating ceramic base, and the respective thermal expansion coefficients are equivalent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2008
    Assignee: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventors: Mitsuru Ohta, Masao Nishioka
  • Patent number: 7378614
    Abstract: A heat rod assembly for preheating internal air of a vehicle by using heat generated from a positive temperature coefficient (PCT) device and a pre-heater for vehicles including the same, in which components of the heat rod assembly and the pre-heater are grouped as module units so that a width and a volume of the heat rod assembly or the pre-heater can be variously formed so that the heat rod assembly or the pre-heater is adaptable for various kinds of vehicles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2008
    Assignee: Woory Industrial Company Ltd.
    Inventor: Sung-Young Lee
  • Patent number: 7375308
    Abstract: Disclosed is a breathable heater element for a garment or for the lining of a garment such as an outdoor jacket, e.g. a waterproof jacket. The heater element is formed from porous metallised fabric such a nickel plated woven polyester fabric by photochemical etching of a suitable track pattern onto the metallised fabric. The formed heater element is then laminated into a lining. The material of the lining may be impregnated with microencapsulated functional chemicals such as fragrances, perfumes, antimicrobials or insect repellents. The microcapsules release their contents on activation due to heat generated by the heater element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: NEL Technologies Limited
    Inventor: Patrick Ferguson
  • Patent number: RE40913
    Abstract: A multilumen catheter assembly and methods for making and inserting the same are provided. The catheter assembly includes a unitary catheter and at least two distal end tubes which extend distally from the unitary catheter. The at least two lumens in the unitary catheter are in fluid communication with passageways through the distal end tubes. The catheter assembly may be made by extruding a unitary catheter tube having internal longitudinally extending lumens, then splitting the tube on its distal end portion to form distal end tubes. The tubes are then ground and polished to form a smooth surface on the exterior of the tubes. The catheter assembly may also be made by forming an outer layer on at least two longitudinally extending catheters while leaving two distally extending portions of the tubes outside the outer layer to form the distal end tubes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2009
    Assignee: Medical Components, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy M. Schweikert, Anthony J. Madison, Donald A. Schon