Patents by Inventor Bruce Grau

Bruce Grau 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: 8176844
    Abstract: A food container or cabinet may have a power cord extending and exiting from the cabinet at recess formed at a corner of side, top and back walls. The cabinet may be heated and humidified and operated with a control that operates air and water heating elements alternately and not simultaneously. The control may include a microprocessor and a digital storage device storing instructions for the microprocessor. An interface may be provided at the cabinet via which electronic signals can be directed to or received from the microprocessor or digital storage device. The container may be provided with a removable water receptacle and a water heating element positioned within the receptacle. The water heating element may be mounted in a pivotable fashion such that as the receptacle is removed from the container, the heating element is automatically pivoted out from within the receptacle and as the receptacle is returned to the container, the heating element is automatically pivoted into the receptacle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: Food Warming Equipment Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Deron Lichte, Bruce Grau, Souksomchay Luangnikone
  • Publication number: 20100186605
    Abstract: A food container or cabinet may have a power cord extending and exiting from the cabinet at recess formed at a corner of side, top and back walls. The cabinet may be heated and humidified and operated with a control that operates air and water heating elements alternately and not simultaneously. The control may include a microprocessor and a digital storage device storing instructions for the microprocessor. An interface may be provided at the cabinet via which electronic signals can be directed to or received from the microprocessor or digital storage device. The container may be provided with a removable water receptacle and a water heating element positioned within the receptacle. The water heating element may be mounted in a pivotable fashion such that as the receptacle is removed from the container, the heating element is automatically pivoted out from within the receptacle and as the receptacle is returned to the container, the heating element is automatically pivoted into the receptacle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2009
    Publication date: July 29, 2010
    Inventors: Deron Lichte, Bruce Grau, Souksomchay Luangnikone
  • Patent number: 6481433
    Abstract: A conveyor oven has a modulating gas valve which raises and lowers the thermal output of a burner that heats the oven. A bypass line passes a minimum amount of gas to prevent the burner from completely shutting down during periods while the oven remains above a threshold demand for more heat. Electrical isolation is provided between temperature controlling devices to prevent an electrical feed back which might otherwise prevent a complete shut down of the oven during hazardous conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2002
    Assignee: Middleby Marshall Incorporated
    Inventors: William S. Schjerven, Sr., Mark A. Sieron, Bruce Grau, Adrian A. Bruno, Gerald J. Schneeweiss, Frank Carbonara
  • Patent number: RE43035
    Abstract: A conveyor oven has a modulating gas valve which raises and lowers the thermal output of a burner that heats the oven. A bypass line passes a minimum amount of gas to prevent the burner from completely shutting down during periods while the oven remains above a threshold demand for more heat. Electrical isolation is provided between temperature controlling devices to prevent an electrical feed back which might otherwise prevent a complete shut down of the oven during hazardous conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignee: Middeby Marshall Incorporated
    Inventors: William S. Schjerven, Sr., Mark A. Sieron, Bruce Grau, Adrian A. Bruno, Gerald J. Schneeweiss, Sylvia Pauline Schneeweiss, legal representative, Frank Carbonara