Patents Examined by Vinod Patel
  • Patent number: 6987245
    Abstract: A heat plate for fixation comprising: a metallic base plate; and a heating resistor arranged on a reverse face of the metallic base plate, the heating resistor being formed by laminating, at least, an electric insulating layer and heating resistor layer in this order on the metallic base plate, wherein the heat plate is capable of raising the temperature of the metallic base plate to a fixing temperature when the heating resistor layer is energized and heated. A semicircular heating member for fixation comprises the heat plate which is curved so that the metallic base plate has a convex surface, a belt type fixing device is provided with the semicircular heating member, and an electrophotographic image forming apparatus is provided with the belt type fixing device comprising the semicircular heating member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2006
    Assignees: Takao Kawamura, Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Koichi Sanpei, Mitsuhiro Mori, Akio Yano, Masatoshi Kimura, Masao Konishi, Takao Kawamura, Akio Harada, Tsuyoshi Nishi, Yukio Yamamoto, Yoshiaki Ohbayashi, Naoya Takehara, Toru Imai
  • Patent number: 6982400
    Abstract: A self retaining crankcase heater (10) has a tubular casing (12) of relatively flexible, thermally conductive material in which is received a PTC element (16), sandwiched by semi-cylindrical terminal blocks (14). Spring contacts (18a) are received in grooves (14c) of the terminal blocks and the assembly is potted with heat conductive material (20) and sealed with sealant (22). Locking projections (12d) are formed at open end (12c) of the casing which are lockingly received in an annular recess (24a; 26d) of a well (24; 26) in a compressor housing wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2006
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventor: Bunratthanna Nguon
  • Patent number: 6979806
    Abstract: A flexible body has a conductive resistance pathway which includes conductive resistance flexible strands of material connected in series between two supply bus flexible strands of material, and a temperature dependent variable resistance pathway with temperature dependent variable resistance flexible strands of material electrically connected in series by connection bus flexible strands of material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2005
    Assignee: Milliken & Company
    Inventors: Alfred R. DeAngelis, David Bruce Wilson
  • Patent number: 6974935
    Abstract: A device for connecting a source of electrical power to a coating or film incorporating carbon particles, an objective met by providing a coating of a nickel compound to the coating or film of carbon particles, and applying to the nickel coating a tin-copper tape coated with a silver-loaded conductive adhesive. What results is a uniform heating effect over a relatively wide area, substantially free from hot and cold spots or areas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2005
    Assignee: Inditherm PLC
    Inventor: Patrick James O'Grady
  • Patent number: 6969831
    Abstract: A substrate for a heating pad, blanket or throw includes one or more heating elements and one or more securing loops disposed at a securing end of the substrate. Each of the securing loops is of sufficient diameter to encircle and secure the substrate in a scrolled configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2005
    Assignee: Sunbeam Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth R. Parker, Patricia A. Bassett
  • Patent number: 6969832
    Abstract: A radiant heating and cooling system clip for positioning a tube and construction support wire with one hand comprising an interior having a main channel for positioning a tube with a narrowing second channel within said main channel for positioning a wire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2005
    Inventor: Timothy Douglas Daughtry, Sr.
  • Patent number: 6968125
    Abstract: An electric heater for industrial liquids comprises a plastic flat box that contains a stainless steel pressure vessel holding a number of parallel electrical heating rods. These heating rods are interlaced with shorter “I” shaped Teflon rods which generates a tube-like space around the heating rods. Spiral grooves in the symmetrical concave faces of the Teflon rods promote a spiraling turbulent flow. The general liquid flow from the liquid inlet meanders around the parallel heating rods for optimal heat transfer. The heater can be mounted horizontally or vertically on the side of a lab bench or a vessel for floor space conservation. The flow speed of the liquid, its specific heat, the number of heating elements with their individual power rating determine the heating profile of liquid temperature versus cumulative length of the flow path which is important to prevent the liquid from reaching the boiling point. This arrangement allows for design flexibility and scalability in heating capacities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2005
    Inventor: Robert G. Garber
  • Patent number: 6965731
    Abstract: A conventional radial electric warmer includes an upper and a lower support base, plural heaters, a protective net, and an upper, a front and a rear cover. The upper and the lower support base respectively have a fixing frame for the heaters, and plural holes for hot air to flow out. The heaters respectively consist of plural heating pieces secured at the outside of the upper and the lower support base with the fixing frames with bolts. The protective net is secured at the front side of the heaters, secured stably by the upper and the lower support base. The upper, the front and the rear cover are respectively secured at the upper side, the front side and the rear side of the upper and the lower support base. Further, two foot frames are fixed under the lower support base to keep the warmer standing on the ground. Then the warmer is very safe to use and highly effective.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2005
    Inventors: Chuan-Pan Huang, Chen-Lung Huang
  • Patent number: 6963049
    Abstract: A snow removal system for melting snow from the body of a vehicle is disclosed. The snow removal system includes a control assembly being designed for operationally coupling to a power supply of the vehicle. A plurality of conducting strips are operationally coupled to the control assembly. The conducting strips are designed for being coupled to the body of the vehicle. The control assembly distributes power through the conducting strips whereby the conducting strips generate heat when power is passed through the conducting strips for warming the body of the vehicle to melt snow on the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2005
    Inventors: Jamarell M. Martin, Ella M. Martin
  • Patent number: 6963053
    Abstract: A sheathed electrical resistance heater is provided with a metal corrugated resistance heating element located internally within a surrounding metal sheath and separated from the sheath by a compacted insulating material such as magnesium oxide. The preferred corrugated resistance element is a flat strip of metal that has been corrugated such as by passing the strip through the nip of a pair of gears. The corrugated strip resistance element is thicker than a foil and may be used to provide sheathed, electrical resistance heaters where it is too difficult to wind large diameter wires, which are desired for a low resistance ohm of 0.12 ohm/inch or less, on a small arbor to form a coiled wire resistance element. A heater may be formed with a resistance of 0.05 ohm/inch using the corrugated metal ribbon and may be 200 inches in length and have a finned sheath. Preferably, the sheath is compressed in a die to reduce the cross-sectional area of the heater without a substantial elongation of the sheath.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2005
    Assignee: CCI Thermal Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Timothy P. Lutz
  • Patent number: 6963050
    Abstract: A paver having a paving screed and at least one working component which is heated by at least one electric heating element and a smoothing plate, with the heating element being secured in heat tampering condition at a heating area of the working component. The heating element is a planar heating element with at least one heating coil being a heating conductor which is wound in a spiral around a planar carrier, and the peripheral form of the carrier material and/or the winding density or the winding course of the heating conductor is adapted to produce a predetermined heating picture in the heating area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2005
    Assignee: Joseph Voegle AG
    Inventor: Michael Heindtel
  • Patent number: 6960741
    Abstract: A large area heater used, for example, in a laser printer belt fuser or as cooking surface, has an alumina substrate in which two bowed parts of alumina ceramic having opposed concave regions are formed together as a laminate. Electrical resistors are deposited on the laminate. The alumina laminate provides excellent resistance to uneven heating or other thermal stress. Alumina ceramic is readily shaped during manufacture and manufacturing costs and yield are good. A wide variety of large area heaters can usefully employ the laminate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2005
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas Campbell Hamilton, Jerry Wayne Smith, Larry Earl Stahlman, Kiyoshi Mizushima, Hisakazu Hujimoto, Makoto Aoki
  • Patent number: 6953910
    Abstract: The assembly element is mechanically connected to two component parts of a device (2) at least once the device is assembled. A shape-memory metal element (6i, 7i), is provided as the assembly element, the metal element having a first form during assembly of the device (2) and a second form, which assures the mechanical connection between the two component parts (3a-3d, 4a-4c) of the device, when the device is assembled. The second form is memorized by the shape-memory metal element before assembly, by its shape-memory properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2005
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Stefan Kautz, Heinrich Zeininger
  • Patent number: 6953918
    Abstract: There is disclosed a heating apparatus which has an electrostatic adsorption function and which comprises at least a supporting substrate, an electrode for electrostatic adsorption formed on a surface of one side of the supporting substrate, a heating layer formed on a surface of the other side of the supporting substrate, and an insulating layer formed so that it may cover the electrode for electrostatic adsorption and the heating layer wherein a volume resistivity of the insulating layer is varied in a plane. Thus, there can be provided a heating apparatus which has an electrostatic adsorption function wherein uniformity of a temperature distribution in a plane of the wafer when the wafer is heated can be improved, and the wafer can be heat-treated uniformly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2005
    Assignee: Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shoji Kano, Kenji Satoh, Kenji Ito
  • Patent number: 6949726
    Abstract: A heating apparatus having an electrostatic adsorption function comprising at least a supporting substrate, an electrode for electrostatic adsorption and a heating layer formed on the supporting substrate, and an insulating layer formed so as to cover the electrode for electrostatic adsorption and the heating layer, wherein a surface roughness of the insulating layer satisfies Ra?0.05 ?m and Rmax?0.6 ?m, and Vickers hardness of the surface of the insulating layer is 10 GPa or less. Thus, there can be provided a heating apparatus having an electrostatic adsorption function in which scratches are not generated on a silicon wafer or the like and the generation of particles can be suppressed when heating/cooling the wafer or the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2005
    Assignee: Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takuma Kushihashi, Yukio Kurosawa, Masaki Seki
  • Patent number: 6946621
    Abstract: An automotive vehicle safety device for melting ice and snow on roadways and in areas immediately adjacent the vehicle tires includes ductwork extending from a heater mounted adjacent the vehicle engine with the ductwork terminating at front and rear undercarriage mounted v-shaped ducts. Each v-shaped duct includes a pair of heating vents disposed adjacent each vehicle tire that blows heated air onto the roadway for melting the ice and snow. A heating grid is securable to the vehicle undercarriage for providing additional radiant heat to melt ice and snow, and a dashboard-mounted control panel provides for the manual activation of the heater and the heating grid while sensors mounted to the undercarriage and electrically connected to the control panel provide for automatic activation of the heater and heating grid upon sensing a predetermined temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2005
    Inventor: David M. Roseman
  • Patent number: 6946622
    Abstract: An automotive glazing panel has an electrically heatable solar control coating layer, spaced first and second bus bars adapted to relay electrical power to the coating layer. The glazing panel is provided with at least two, spaced data transmission windows positioned at least partially in contact with the heatable solar control coating layer which are separated by a portion of the glazing panel which is in electrical contact with the electrically heatable solar control coating layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2005
    Assignee: Glaverbel
    Inventor: Etienne Degand
  • Patent number: 6943320
    Abstract: A heating system providing a heated surface for use on or in a driveway, roadway, walkway, patio, deck, stairs or the like, principally for outdoor use but usable as well for indoor use. The heating system includes a form suitably retained on an existing surface, at least one block disposed within the form, the block being molded principally of recycled rubber, thereby providing a frictional surface to prevent or minimize slipping. The heating system also includes heating elements for heating the block, thereby providing substantially improved moisture absorption and evaporation along with substantially improved melting capacity for ice or snow, and the block being removably disposed in the form for substantially easier and convenient repair, thus avoiding the necessity for digging up any concrete, asphalt or other materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2005
    Inventor: Steven T. M. Bavett
  • Patent number: 6940043
    Abstract: Disclosed is a heating element which can also absorb gas, especially a heating element usable as an interior material for buildings which serves both as a heater and an absorber capable of absorbing harmful gas present in the room. This heating element comprises: a molded product comprising a high-temperature carbonized charcoal which has been carbonized at a temperature of about 800° C. or above; and at least two electrodes which can energize the molded product, wherein current is applied to the electrodes to generate heat. The molded product comprising a high-temperature carbonized charcoal, which has been carbonized at a temperature of about 800° C. or above is excellent as a heating element and, at the same time, has an excellent capacity capable of adsorbing various gases. Mixing a low-temperature carbonized charcoal, which has been carbonized at a temperature of about 500° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2005
    Assignee: Sanei Kensetsu Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toru Komatsu, Ryusuke Nishimaki
  • Patent number: 6930283
    Abstract: An electrically heatable glow plug and a method for manufacturing an electrically heatable glow plug are proposed that enable a protection of a heating coil of the glow plug against nitridation and evaporation of the aluminum from the heating conductor alloy. The glow plug includes a glow tube that is closed at the end, into which the electrically conductive heating coil is inserted, the heating coil being formed at least partially of aluminum, in particular of an aluminun-iron-chromium alloy. In the glow tube, oxygen donors are provided in order to form an aluminum oxide layer on the surface of the heating coil before or during the heating of the heating coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2005
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Andreas Reissner, Armin Kussmaul, Steffen Carbon, Christoph Kern