Patents by Inventor Allen M. Foote

Allen M. Foote has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 4423658
    Abstract: A humidifier adapted to be associated with a grand piano to facilitate the control of humidity conditions and which also can be used to humidify any small enclosed area. The humidifier includes a tank having a supply of water therein, a heating element and evaporator pads disposed at the top of the tank and a unique supporting assembly for the tank to support the tank from the top of the braces or posts in a grand piano or between the rim and an adjacent brace or posts or between the rims with the supporting structure including support rods and clips or telescoping tube assemblies. A distribution shield or baffle having depending skirts is disposed above the tank and supported from the support rods or tubes and extends throughout the length and width of the tank so that it will spread moisture more evenly in relation to the components of the piano.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 1981
    Date of Patent: January 3, 1984
    Inventor: Allen M. Foote
  • Patent number: 4150372
    Abstract: A humidity control system, such as can be used with a piano to control the level of humidity within the interior of the piano, is comprised of a low water measuring/warning sub-system and a "blind" refill sub-system. The low water measuring/warning sub-system comprises stainless steel probes extending below the water level in a humidifying unit when the unit is filled with water. When the water in the humidifying unit is sufficiently high to cover the ends of the probes, a neon light is shorted, the absence of light emission from said neon light thereby indicating a sufficient water supply to be present in the humidifying unit. Evaporation of the water to a level below the ends of the probes causes a circuit including the neon light to be completed, thereby causing the light to be lit and indicating that the water supply in the humidifying unit has been diminished by a predetermined amount and can be replenished by said predetermined amount without the need for visual observation of the humidifying unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 1977
    Date of Patent: April 17, 1979
    Inventor: Allen M. Foote