Patents by Inventor Donald Eugene Smith

Donald Eugene Smith 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: 11965690
    Abstract: A pan chiller system eschews traditional methods of strapping refrigeration tubing upon an inner liner and obtaining temperature readings from a suction line. The disclosed embodiments overcome shortfalls in the related art by, inter alia, by artfully using a thermal retention assembly that retains refrigeration tubing in the middle of an inner liner. An inner liner may be filled with glycerin or similar products with the glycerin filling a temperature control bulb to obtain accurate temperature readings and avoiding the use of a suction line for such purposes. The disclosed embodiments may also include an air movement system moving cold air at the bottom of the pan and moving air upon the outer sides of the glycerin well and over the top of the well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Inventors: Donald Eugene Smith, Christine Marie Smith
  • Publication number: 20220412642
    Abstract: A pan chiller system eschews traditional methods of strapping refrigeration tubing upon an inner liner and obtaining temperature readings from a suction line. The disclosed embodiments overcome shortfalls in the related art by, inter alia, by artfully using a thermal retention assembly that retains refrigeration tubing in the middle of an inner liner. An inner liner may be filled with glycerin or similar products with the glycerin filling a temperature control bulb to obtain accurate temperature readings and avoiding the use of a suction line for such purposes. The disclosed embodiments may also include an air movement system moving cold air at the bottom of the pan and moving air upon the outer sides of the glycerin well and over the top of the well.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2022
    Publication date: December 29, 2022
    Inventors: Donald Eugene Smith, Christine Marie Smith
  • Patent number: 11391494
    Abstract: An evaporator coil and housing system is sometimes used in commercial applications wherein refrigeration occurs in confined and harsh environments. The disclosed evaporator coils are energy efficient, configured for installation in areas typically not suited for evaporator coil insulation, and made to withstand acids and other contaminants of spilled food stuffs. The fan motors are also made to withstand contaminates often found in commercial food environments. The various housing assemblies allow for air flow in a plethora of directions to comport with the most constrained and difficult applications. Multiple blow directions may be configured and individual blow patterns may be configured in a cone shape for maximum efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Inventors: Donald Eugene Smith, Christine Marie Smith
  • Publication number: 20200370791
    Abstract: An evaporator coil and housing system is sometimes used in commercial applications wherein refrigeration occurs in confined and harsh environments. The disclosed evaporator coils are energy efficient, configured for installation in areas typically not suited for evaporator coil insulation, and made to withstand acids and other contaminants of spilled food stuffs. The fan motors are also made to withstand contaminates often found in commercial food environments. The various housing assemblies allow for air flow in a plethora of directions to comport with the most constrained and difficult applications. Multiple blow directions may be configured and individual blow patterns may be configured in a cone shape for maximum efficiency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2020
    Publication date: November 26, 2020
    Inventors: Donald Eugene Smith, Christine Marie Smith
  • Patent number: 7314250
    Abstract: A first fitting and a second fitting are driven by a common drive shaft. Each of the fittings has a first fitting part and a second fitting part that are connected to one another by a gear mechanism so that there can be a rolling movement of the second fitting part on the first fitting part, with an angle defined between the fitting parts being changed by the rolling movement. Each of the fittings has a driver rotatably mounted in its first fitting part and driving an eccentric arranged so that rotation of the driver causes the rolling movement of the second fitting part on the first fitting part, when the driver is driven by the drive shaft. A stopper is mounted on the first fitting for limiting the angle between the fitting parts. The driver of the first fitting is made of a material with a high mechanical strength and the driver of the second fitting is made of a material with a lower mechanical strength.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2008
    Assignee: KEIPER GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Michael Eblenkamp, Dirk Brassat, Martin Stilleke, Donald Eugene Smith
  • Patent number: 6838628
    Abstract: A cam-operated timer for a household appliance including a housing and a switch wafer mounting in the housing used to receive and locate the wafers to prevent inaccuracies in wafer thickness from accumulating through the stack of wafers. The switch wafer mounting includes first and second locating features for receiving first and second switch arm wafers. The first switch arm wafer rests against the first locating feature, and the second switch arm wafer is stacked atop the first switch arm wafer and rests against the second locating feature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2005
    Assignee: France/Scott Fetzer Company
    Inventors: Daniel Keith Amonett, Robert G. Sokalski, Donald Eugene Smith
  • Patent number: 6797897
    Abstract: A cam-operated timer for a household appliance features lanced switch arm contacts. A contacting surface of at least one switch arm includes a tear in the surface of the switch arm. Adjacent the tear, a first portion of the contact surface is deflected away from the surface of the switch arm in a first direction, whereby a sharp contact edge is created. The sharp contact edge permits the switch arms to make good contact with adjacent switch arms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2004
    Assignee: France/Scott Fetzer Company
    Inventors: Daniel Keith Amonett, Robert G. Sokalski, Donald Eugene Smith
  • Publication number: 20040090871
    Abstract: A cam-operated timer for a household appliance features lanced switch arm contacts. A contacting surface of at least one switch arm includes a tear in the surface of the switch arm. Adjacent the tear, a first portion of the contact surface is deflected away from the surface of the switch arm in a first direction, whereby a sharp contact edge is created. The sharp contact edge permits the switch arms to make good contact with adjacent switch arms.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2003
    Publication date: May 13, 2004
    Applicant: France/Scott Fetzer Company
    Inventors: Daniel Keith Amonett, Robert G. Sokalski, Donald Eugene Smith
  • Publication number: 20040079624
    Abstract: A cam-operated timer for a household appliance includes a motor having a stator plate and a rotor mounted for rotation in the stator plate. The geartrain comprises meshing gears positioned on both opposite sides of the stator plate and mounted directly to the stator, for providing a gear reduction of the rotation of the motor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2003
    Publication date: April 29, 2004
    Applicant: France/Scott Fetzer Company
    Inventors: Daniel Keith Amonett, Robert G. Sokalski, Donald Eugene Smith
  • Publication number: 20040081029
    Abstract: A cam-operated timer for a household appliance including a housing and a switch wafer mounting in the housing used to receive and locate the wafers to prevent inaccuracies in wafer thickness from accumulating through the stack of wafers. The switch wafer mounting includes first and second locating features for receiving first and second switch arm wafers. The first switch arm wafer rests against the first locating feature, and the second switch arm wafer is stacked atop the first switch arm wafer and rests against the second locating feature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2003
    Publication date: April 29, 2004
    Applicant: France/Scott Fetzer Company
    Inventors: Daniel Keith Amonett, Robert G. Sokalski, Donald Eugene Smith
  • Patent number: 6080943
    Abstract: A cam-operated timer for a household appliance has a variety of improvements. An audible and tactile feedback member engages a textured surface on the cam wheel, to produce desired audible and tactile feedback when the timer is manually set. When the timer is manually set, the cam-actuated switches are moved away from the cam surfaces, and a clutch is opened to permit bi-directional slip between the cam wheel and motor, so that the sole source of audible and tactile feedback is the audible and tactile feedback member. The timer also features lanced switch arm contacts, that provide a sharp contact edge to permit the switch arms to make good contact with adjacent switch arms. The switch arms are mounted in a stack of wafers, where each wafer may have switch arms of differing thickness or metal, allowing high current and low current switches to be mixed. Features in the housing are used to receive and locate the wafers to prevent inaccuracies in wafer thickness from accumulating through the stack of wafers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2000
    Assignee: France/Scott Fetzer Company
    Inventors: Daniel Keith Amonett, Robert G. Sokalski, Donald Eugene Smith