Patents by Inventor Bill Griffin

Bill Griffin 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).

  • Publication number: 20200182705
    Abstract: A device and system for measuring a temperature of a liquid food product includes a housing (3) having an inlet (5) and an outlet (6) for allowing passage of liquid food product through the housing (3), a temperature probe (2) located within the housing (3) for providing a signal representative of a temperature of liquid food product passing through the housing (3), and a scraping sleeve (7) that is concentrically arranged over the temperature probe (2) and axially moveable along the temperature probe (2) to scrape and remove deposits from the temperature probe (2) that have been formed by accumulation of liquid food product on an outer surface (8) of the temperature probe (2).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2018
    Publication date: June 11, 2020
    Inventor: Bill Griffin
  • Patent number: 7963282
    Abstract: A kitchen hood assembly includes a combination hood cleaning and fire suppression system. The hood assembly includes a hood structure and a riser connected thereto. An exhaust blower forces an exhaust stream of air into the hood and through the riser. A combination hood cleaning and fire suppression system is incorporated into the hood structure. The combination hood cleaning and fire suppression system includes an elongated spray bar that is connected to a water source and includes a surfactant injector that injects a surfactant into the water being directed to the spray bar. In one mode of operation, the spray bar is effective to clean the hood assembly. In another mode of operation, when a fire is sensed in or in the vicinity of the hood, the same spray bar is utilized to inject an aqueous liquid into the hood to suppress the fire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2011
    Assignee: Captive-Aire Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Bill Griffin, John Staley
  • Publication number: 20090272372
    Abstract: A kitchen hood assembly includes a combination hood cleaning and fire suppression system. The hood assembly includes a hood structure and a riser connected thereto. An exhaust blower forces an exhaust stream of air into the hood and through the riser. A combination hood cleaning and fire suppression system is incorporated into the hood structure. The combination hood cleaning and fire suppression system includes an elongated spray bar that is connected to a water source and includes a surfactant injector that injects a surfactant into the water being directed to the spray bar. In one mode of operation, the spray bar is effective to clean the hood assembly. In another mode of operation, when a fire is sensed in or in the vicinity of the hood, the same spray bar is utilized to inject an aqueous liquid into the hood to suppress the fire.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2008
    Publication date: November 5, 2009
    Applicant: CAPTIVE-AIRE SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Bill Griffin, John Staley
  • Patent number: 7537818
    Abstract: Acoustically absorptive carpeting includes a primary layer of fibrous material with yarn tufts extending outwardly therefrom and a secondary layer of thermoplastic material that forms a carpet backing. The carpet backing is rendered porous. A substrate of porous material is attached to the carpet backing. The substrate includes a layer of fine fibrous material attached to a layer of coarse fibrous material. The layers of fine and coarse fibrous material each have respective different acoustic impedances. The layer of coarse fibrous material has fibers in an open, loose configuration. The carpet backing is bonded to the layer of coarse fibrous material with a thermoplastic adhesive material such that the thermoplastic adhesive material encapsulates individual fibers of the layer of coarse fibrous material without extending therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2009
    Assignee: International Automotive Components Group North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy J. Allison, Surendra Khambete, Fred Skidmore, Bill Griffin
  • Patent number: 7063183
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods are provided forming a sound attenuating laminate that has a decoupler fiber layer and a mass layer in opposing relationship with each other. The decoupler fiber layer and mass layer of the laminate are heated to the selected temperature in substantially the same amount of time via a hot air source and a heated platen, respectively. The heated laminate is conveyed to a mold and formed into a predetermined three-dimensional configuration via the mold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2006
    Assignee: Collins & Aikman Products Co.
    Inventors: Timothy J. Allison, Carroll Owenby, Bill Griffin
  • Patent number: 7055649
    Abstract: Sound attenuating laminates, and methods of making the same, are provided. Heat is applied to a surface of a non-woven, fibrous layer of material to form a stratum of melted fibers having a density greater than that of the remainder of the fibrous layer. The density of the melted fibers is effective in attenuating noise traversing the fibrous layer of material. Upholstery material, such as carpeting, is attached to the surface of the heated fibrous layer. The fibrous layer and upholstery material are then subjected to compressive molding pressure to obtain a desired shape. The compressive molding pressure may further tune the sound attenuating properties of the fibrous layer by selectively changing the densities of portions of the fibrous layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2006
    Assignee: Collins & Aikman Products Co.
    Inventors: Graham Tompson, Surendra Khambete, Fred Skidmore, Bill Griffin
  • Publication number: 20060090832
    Abstract: Acoustically absorptive carpeting includes a primary layer of fibrous material with yarn tufts extending outwardly therefrom and a secondary layer of thermoplastic material that forms a carpet backing. The carpet backing is rendered porous. A substrate of porous material is attached to the carpet backing. The substrate includes a layer of fine fibrous material attached to a layer of coarse fibrous material. The layers of fine and coarse fibrous material each have respective different acoustic impedances. The layer of coarse fibrous material has fibers in an open, loose configuration. The carpet backing is bonded to the layer of coarse fibrous material with a thermoplastic adhesive material such that the thermoplastic adhesive material encapsulates individual fibers of the layer of coarse fibrous material without extending therebetween.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2004
    Publication date: May 4, 2006
    Inventors: Timothy Allison, Sorendra Khambere, Fred Skidmora, Bill Griffin
  • Publication number: 20050023080
    Abstract: Sound attenuating laminates, and methods of making the same, are provided. Heat is applied to a surface of a non-woven, fibrous layer of material to form a stratum of melted fibers having a density greater than that of the remainder of the fibrous layer. The density of the melted fibers is effective in attenuating noise traversing the fibrous layer of material. Upholstery material, such as carpeting, is attached to the surface of the heated fibrous layer. The fibrous layer and upholstery material are then subjected to compressive molding pressure to obtain a desired shape. The compressive molding pressure may further tune the sound attenuating properties of the fibrous layer by selectively changing the densities of portions of the fibrous layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2004
    Publication date: February 3, 2005
    Inventors: Graham Tompson, Surendra Khambete, Fred Skidmore, Bill Griffin
  • Patent number: 6802389
    Abstract: Sound attenuating laminates, and methods of making the same, are provided. Heat is applied to a surface of a non-woven, fibrous layer of material to form a stratum of melted fibers having a density greater than that of the remainder of the fibrous layer. The density of the melted fibers is effective in attenuating noise traversing the fibrous layer of material. Upholstery material, such as carpeting, is attached to the surface of the heated fibrous layer. The fibrous layer and upholstery material are then subjected to compressive molding pressure to obtain a desired shape. The compressive molding pressure may further tune the sound attenuating properties of the fibrous layer by selectively changing the densities of portions of the fibrous layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2004
    Assignee: Collins & Aikman Products Co.
    Inventors: Graham Tompson, Surendra Khambete, Fred Skidmore, Bill Griffin
  • Publication number: 20040079583
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods are provided forming a sound attenuating laminate that has a decoupler fiber layer and a mass layer in opposing relationship with each other. The decoupler fiber layer and mass layer of the laminate are heated to the selected temperature in substantially the same amount of time via a hot air source and a heated platen, respectively. The heated laminate is conveyed to a mold and formed into a predetermined three-dimensional configuration via the mold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2003
    Publication date: April 29, 2004
    Inventors: T. J. Allison, Carroll Owenby, Bill Griffin
  • Publication number: 20030106741
    Abstract: Sound attenuating laminates, and methods of making the same, are provided. Heat is applied to a surface of a non-woven, fibrous layer of material to form a stratum of melted fibers having a density greater than that of the remainder of the fibrous layer. The density of the melted fibers is effective in attenuating noise traversing the fibrous layer of material. Upholstery material, such as carpeting, is attached to the surface of the heated fibrous layer. The fibrous layer and upholstery material are then subjected to compressive molding pressure to obtain a desired shape. The compressive molding pressure may further tune the sound attenuating properties of the fibrous layer by selectively changing the densities of portions of the fibrous layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2001
    Publication date: June 12, 2003
    Inventors: Graham Tompson, Surendra Khambete, Fred Skidmore, Bill Griffin