Patents by Inventor Donald E. Holcomb

Donald E. Holcomb 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: 4974643
    Abstract: A beverage dispenser has a housing, a dispenser head with an electrically conductive combination beverage receptacle actuator lever and dispensed beverage level probe, a control circuit connected to the probe and to a start switch actuatable by the probe and to a solenoid for a beverage valve, and a drip tray and receptacle support wherein the receptacle support is tilted rearward toward the probe to support a tilted receptacle against the probe and keep the lowest part of a tilted receptacle rim against the probe; an improved probe assembly has dielectric journal piece isolating the probe from a body of the dispensing head, and a heater element is provided for the probe and either continuously or intermittently heats the probe to keep it insect free and sanitary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 1988
    Date of Patent: December 4, 1990
    Assignee: The Cornelius Company
    Inventors: Clay D. Bennett, Donald E. Holcomb, Henry C. Kovar
  • Patent number: 4753277
    Abstract: A beverage dispenser has a housing, a dispenser head with an electrically conductive combination cup actuator lever and beverage level probe, a control circuit connected to the probe and to a start switch actuatable by the probe and to a solenoid for a beverage valve, and a drip tray and cup rest wherein the cup rest is tilted rearward toward the actuator lever to hold a cup against the lever and keep the back of the cup rim against the lever. An improved actuator lever has a dielectric journal, an electrically conductive thin wall metal tube cantilevered probe extending down from a single fastener securing a control lead and the probe to the journal piece and the conductive probe is spaced from and is below the level of the valve body and lever fulcrum. A conductive plastic flow control is mounted in the valve body and a second control lead is connected to the electrically conductive flow control for providing a potential signal in the beverage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 1986
    Date of Patent: June 28, 1988
    Assignee: The Cornelius Company
    Inventors: Donald E. Holcomb, Henry C. Kovar
  • Patent number: D274925
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 1982
    Date of Patent: July 31, 1984
    Inventor: Donald E. Holcomb
  • Patent number: D300403
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 1986
    Date of Patent: March 28, 1989
    Assignee: The Cornelius Company
    Inventor: Donald E. Holcomb