Patents by Inventor Dieter Himmighofen

Dieter Himmighofen 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: 6082645
    Abstract: To increase the versatility of a household food grater, in which grating inserts can be inserted into a plate-like body formed with an opening, a slicing insert is provided, fitting into the opening. The slicing insert has a frame and a guide path (10) hinged to the frame, and moveable with respect thereto. The frame also carries a knife blade (14). A lever (15) projecting laterally from the frame, adjusts the position of a cutting gap between the knife (14) and the guide path (10) to control the thickness of slices being made, the lever engaging a camming surface of the guide path from beneath the surface on which food is being fed to the knife blade. Adjustment is by interengaging teeth and saw tooth-like depressions, for step-wise adjustment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2000
    Assignee: Leifheit AG
    Inventors: Dieter Himmighofen, Rolf Gunter Schulein
  • Patent number: 5197197
    Abstract: To facilitate manufacture and eliminate the possibility of sharp corners projecting from metallic elements of a can opener, a bearing bushing (21) for a feed wheel shaft (20), to which a serrated feed wheel (15) and a twist knob (16) are connected, the handle is formed of two plastic handle shells (18, 19) of which an upper handle shell (18) is a unitary molded element together with the bearing bushing (21) and a counter or guide surface (24) in part surrounding the feed wheel. The bearing bushing extends through a hole in the metallic lever (11, 12) and into an opening of the lower handle shell (19), preferably forming a snap connection, with a slightly projecting shoulder, extending above the lower handle shell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 30, 1993
    Assignee: Leifheit AG
    Inventors: Dieter Himmighofen, Rolf G. Schulein
  • Patent number: 4762042
    Abstract: A refillable dispenser for web materials has a housing 1 and a snap-fitted cover 2. A slidable cutter 3 rides in a slit 25 of cover 2. A vertical cutting support surface 11 is formed as an integral extension of a horizontal roll support plate 9. Baseplates 9 may also be integrally formed with back wall 8 of housing 1. The junction of plate 9 and cutting surface 11 define with the adjacent edge of cover 2 a dispensing slot 14, so replacement of rolls 17 is facilitated and threading of web material is simplified. A cooperating lip 18 and recess 19 on surface 11 facilitate grasping the end of the web, and a labyrinthine web path 20 defined by ribs 15, 16 prevents retraction of web material, particularly clingly plastic wrap, back onto the roll after cutting. A leaf spring 29 inside cover 2 urges a disk-shaped blade 23 into a slot 24 of surface 11 while a housing surrounding the blade protects the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 1987
    Date of Patent: August 9, 1988
    Assignee: Leifheit AG
    Inventors: Ulrich Denter, Dieter Himmighofen, Rolf G. Schulein
  • Patent number: 4247054
    Abstract: An arrangement for comminuting foodstuffs, such as potatoes, cucumbers, carrots, fruits and the like, has an elongated plate provided with a through-going opening in which one comminuting plate member can be accommodated so as to perform comminuting of a foodstuff. The elongated plate has a receptacle which is spaced from the through-going opening and is adapted to receive another comminuting plate member which is not utilized for comminuting at that very moment. The foodstuffs to be comminuted move relative to an upper surface of the base plate, whereas the receptacle for receiving the comminuting plate member which is not utilized, is formed in a lower surface of the base plate. A foodstuff holder is provided which is adapted to hold a foodstuff to be comminuted and to be placed on upper longitudinal walls of the base plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 1979
    Date of Patent: January 27, 1981
    Assignee: Leifheit International Gunter Leifheit
    Inventors: Rolf G. Schulein, Johannes Liebscher, Dieter Himmighofen