Patents by Inventor Edward J. Martens
Edward J. Martens 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).
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Patent number: 7775459Abstract: A liquid atomizing device for dispensing liquid droplets includes a container for holding a liquid, the container having a porous wick positioned to communicate the liquid from the container, and an orifice plate with apertures, the orifice plate being vibrated by a piezoelectric element to cause liquid communicated from the container to be atomized and dispensed as liquid droplets through the apertures. The device employs a unique placement and design of heaters or fans to promote evaporation and dispersion of the atomized liquid while the liquid is airborne.Type: GrantFiled: June 17, 2004Date of Patent: August 17, 2010Assignee: S.C. Johnson & Son, Inc.Inventors: Edward J. Martens, III, Heather R. Schramm
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Patent number: 7610118Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling emission of fragrances into a given area such as a room or a region of a yard; and more particularly the creation of a desired atmosphere within the given area. In addition, the invention involves a volatile substance dispensing device (200) having mounted therein a plurality of reservoirs (31) storing a volatile substance, and a plurality of atomizer assemblies (34) for emitting volatile substances communicated thereto by the reservoirs (31). Preferably, a microcontroller (50) controls the emission of the volatile substances in accordance with preferred programs.Type: GrantFiled: November 10, 2003Date of Patent: October 27, 2009Assignee: S.C. Johnson & Son, Inc.Inventors: Heather R. Schramm, Scott D. Walter, Thomas Jaworski, Thomas A. Helf, Jose Porchia, Edward J. Martens, III, David A. Tomkins
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Patent number: 7469842Abstract: A volatile dispenser is provided, including a reservoir containing a quantity of volatile liquid having a viscosity of no greater than 3.9 centipoises. Each of its individual components has a vapor pressure of no less than 0.008 mm Hg. The dispenser also includes an emanator fluidly coupled to the reservoir (either directly or through a wick) that is comprised of elongated oriented bonded fibers, the fibers being impermeable to the volatile material.Type: GrantFiled: May 31, 2007Date of Patent: December 30, 2008Assignee: S.C. Johnson & Son, Inc.Inventor: Edward J. Martens, III
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Patent number: 7252244Abstract: A volatile dispenser is provided, including a reservoir containing a quantity of volatile liquid having a viscosity of no greater than 3.9 centipoises. Each of its individual components has a vapor pressure of no less than 0.008 mm Hg. The dispenser also includes an emanator fluidly coupled to the reservoir (either directly or through a wick) that is comprised of elongated oriented bonded fibers, the fibers being impermeable to the volatile material.Type: GrantFiled: June 29, 2004Date of Patent: August 7, 2007Assignee: S.C. Johnson & Son, Inc.Inventor: Edward J. Martens, III
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Patent number: 7213770Abstract: A volatile material dispensing system with a dispenser for providing controlled release of a volatile material, the dispenser being attached to a display frame, and having at least one protrusion. Protrusions are disposed on a face of the frame to distance the membrane from a delicate surface. The system prevents and/or hinders concentration of volatile material gases that could harm a delicate surface and resists tipping from a substantially vertical position.Type: GrantFiled: June 30, 2004Date of Patent: May 8, 2007Assignee: S. C. Johnson & Son, Inc.Inventors: Edward J. Martens, III, Stephen B. Leonard, Heather R. Schramm, Kara L. Lakatos
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Patent number: 7188780Abstract: An indicator system with a dispenser providing controlled release of a volatile material contained within a dispenser, which indicates the exhaustion of the volatile material. The dispenser includes a blister that contains a vapor permeable membrane that collapses on a bottom wall due to internal vacuum forces created by the evacuation of volatile material. As the membrane collapses the remaining volatile material migrates to the periphery of the dispenser thereby indicating exhaustion of the volatile material.Type: GrantFiled: June 30, 2004Date of Patent: March 13, 2007Assignee: S.C. Johnson & Son, Inc.Inventor: Edward J. Martens, III
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Patent number: 7070121Abstract: An atomizer 10 atomizes a multi-component liquid from a reservoir 20 into a cloud 14 comprising small droplets 38 which are ejected into the atmosphere to a certain height and allowed to fall toward a surface 12. Essentially complete evaporation is assured by maintaining the size of the droplets, the liquid's component vapor pressures and the height through which the droplets fall according to a predetermined relationship. Also, the suitability of a liquid for evaporation in a vibrating plate atomizer is determined by measuring the rate of size decrease and the surface tension of a pendant drop of the liquid after a predetermined amount of the liquid has evaporated from the drop.Type: GrantFiled: June 28, 2004Date of Patent: July 4, 2006Assignee: S.C. Johnson & Son, Inc.Inventors: Heather R. Schramm, Edward J. Martens, III, Susan M. Clausen, Padma P. Varanasi, Jesse Ben Crandall
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Patent number: 7017829Abstract: A replacement reservoir assembly (30) for an atomizing device (20), which uses a vibratable orifice plate (37) for atomizing liquid, includes a container (31), which contains a liquid to be atomized, and an elongated wick (56) having a lower end which is immersed in the liquid within the container (31) and an upper end located above the container (31). The wick (56) includes a dimensionally stable material having capillary passages for drawing liquid out of the container (31) to the upper end of the wick (56), which is outside the container (31). The upper end of the wick (56) has at least one surface that is configured to provide an unobstructed passage to the atmosphere from a region between a top surface of the wick (56) and a facing surface of the vibratable orifice plate (37) when the replacement reservoir is positioned in the atomizing device (20).Type: GrantFiled: April 14, 2003Date of Patent: March 28, 2006Assignee: S. C. Johnson & Son, Inc.Inventors: Edward J. Martens, III, Scott D. Walter, Thomas A. Helf, David A. Tomkins
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Patent number: 6969008Abstract: A fragrance sampling system for use in a store comprises a piezoelectrically vibrated orifice plate atomizer mounted to extend from a support structure in the store, such as a shelf and operated to emit puffs of very small droplets of the liquid fragrance and eject them upwardly into the atmosphere such that they become fully evaporated before contacting any supporting surface. The atomizer is controlled by electrical circuits which limit the times during which atomization occurs.Type: GrantFiled: January 29, 2003Date of Patent: November 29, 2005Assignee: S. C. Johnson & Son, Inc.Inventors: Thomas A. Helf, Edward J. Martens, III, Scott D. Walter, William D. Perez, Thomas Jaworski
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Patent number: 6857580Abstract: A piezoelectrically actuated liquid atomizer device which applies alternating voltages from an ordinary wall outlet to a piezoelectric actuator intermittently and at a high rate sufficient to cause an atomization plate which is vibrated by the actuator to form small droplets from liquid which is supplied to the plate. The intermittent application of voltages to the piezoelectric actuator is carried out according to a duty cycle in which the off times are adjustable. An override of the duty cycle is provided so that the piezoelectric actuator operates continuously for intervals which are manually or automatically controlled.Type: GrantFiled: December 3, 2001Date of Patent: February 22, 2005Assignee: S.C. Johnson & Son, Inc.Inventors: Scott D. Walter, Thomas A. Helf, Edward J. Martens, III, Luke Stonis, John J. Knittle, Chris von Dohlen, Dennis J. Denen
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Patent number: 6843430Abstract: A battery operated atomizer device comprising, in a housing (22), a liquid reservoir (30) from which a capillary type liquid delivery system (38) extends to contact a piezoelectric actuator an atomization plate assembly (34), the assembly (34) being supported by means of wire-like elements (36) in cantilever fashion over the liquid delivery system, the liquid delivery system comprising an outer tubular member (52) and a solid rod (56) which have facing surfaces configured to define between them, longitudinal capillary liquid passages.Type: GrantFiled: May 24, 2002Date of Patent: January 18, 2005Assignee: S. C. Johnson & Son, Inc.Inventors: John A. Boticki, James L. Bournoville, Paul J. Larson, Thomas A. Helf, Edward J. Martens, III, David J. Schram, David A. Tomkins, Stephen M. Doerr, Thomas Jaworski
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Publication number: 20040251314Abstract: An atomizer 10 atomizes a multi-component liquid from a reservoir 20 into a cloud 14 comprising small droplets 38 which are ejected into the atmosphere to a certain height and allowed to fall toward a surface 12. Essentially complete evaporation is assured by maintaining the size of the droplets, the liquid's component vapor pressures and the height through which the droplets fall according to a predetermined relationship. Also, the suitability of a liquid for evaporation in a vibrating plate atomizer is determined by measuring the rate of size decrease and the surface tension of a pendant drop of the liquid after a predetermined amount of the liquid has evaporated from the drop.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 28, 2004Publication date: December 16, 2004Applicant: S.C. JOHNSON & SON, INC.Inventors: Heather R. Schramm, Edward J. Martens, Susan M. Clausen, Padma P. Varanasi, Jesse Ben Crandall
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Publication number: 20040200907Abstract: A replacement reservoir assembly (30) for an atomizing device (20), which uses a vibratable orifice plate (37) for atomizing liquid, includes a container (31), which contains a liquid to be atomized, and an elongated wick (56) having a lower end which is immersed in the liquid within the container (31) and an upper end located above the container (31). The wick (56) includes a dimensionally stable material having capillary passages for drawing liquid out of the container (31) to the upper end of the wick (56), which is outside the container (31). The upper end of the wick (56) has at least one surface that is configured to provide an unobstructed passage to the atmosphere from a region between a top surface of the wick (56) and a facing surface of the vibratable orifice plate (37) when the replacement reservoir is positioned in the atomizing device (20).Type: ApplicationFiled: April 14, 2003Publication date: October 14, 2004Inventors: Edward J. Martens, Scott D. Walter, Thomas A. Helf, David A. Tomkins
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Patent number: 6793149Abstract: An atomizer 10 atomizes a multi-component liquid from a reservoir 20 into a cloud 14 comprising small droplets 38 which are ejected into the atmosphere to a certain height and allowed to fall toward a surface 12. Essentially complete evaporation is assured by maintaining the size of the droplets, the liquid's component vapor pressures and the height through which the droplets fall according to a predetermined relationship. Also, the suitability of a liquid for evaporation in a vibrating plate atomizer is determined by measuring the rate of size decrease and the surface tension of a pendant drop of the liquid after a predetermined amount of the liquid has evaporated from the drop.Type: GrantFiled: February 4, 2002Date of Patent: September 21, 2004Assignee: S. C. Johnson & Son, Inc.Inventors: Heather R. Schramm, Edward J. Martens, III, Susan M. Clausen, Padma P. Varanasi, Jesse Ben Crandall
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Publication number: 20040144853Abstract: A fragrance sampling system for use in a store comprises a piezoelectrically vibrated orifice plate atomizer mounted to extend from a support structure in the store, such as a shelf and operated to emit puffs of very small droplets of the liquid fragrance and eject them upwardly into the atmosphere such that they become fully evaporated before contacting any supporting surface. The atomizer is controlled by electrical circuits which limit the times during which atomization occurs.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 29, 2003Publication date: July 29, 2004Inventors: Thomas A. Helf, Edward J. Martens, Scott D. Walter, William D. Perez, Thomas Jaworski
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Patent number: 6752327Abstract: A vibratory plate liquid atomization device (10) having a tilted orifice plate (34) which is vibrated by a piezoelectric actuator (36); and a novel replaceable liquid reservoir (40) having a vertically extending, dimensionally stable, liquid delivery system (44) with a non-horizontal upper surface (44a).Type: GrantFiled: October 16, 2002Date of Patent: June 22, 2004Assignee: S. C. Johnson & Son, Inc.Inventors: Edward J. Martens, III, Thomas A. Helf, David A. Tomkins
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Publication number: 20040074984Abstract: A vibratory plate liquid atomization device (10) having a tilted orifice plate (34) which is vibrated by a piezoelectric actuator (36); and a novel replaceable liquid reservoir (40) having a vertically extending, dimensionally stable, liquid delivery system (44) with a non-horizontal upper surface (44a).Type: ApplicationFiled: October 16, 2002Publication date: April 22, 2004Inventors: Edward J. Martens, Thomas A. Helf, David A. Tomkins
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Publication number: 20030218077Abstract: A battery operated atomizer device comprising, in a housing (22), a liquid reservoir (30) from which a capillary type liquid delivery system (38) extends to contact a piezoelectric actuator an atomization plate assembly (34), the assembly (34) being supported by means of wire-like elements (36) in cantilever fashion over the liquid delivery system, the liquid delivery system comprising an outer tubular member (52) and a solid rod (56) which have facing surfaces configured to define between them, longitudinal capillary liquid passages.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 24, 2002Publication date: November 27, 2003Inventors: John A. Boticki, James L. Bournoville, Paul J. Larson, Thomas A. Helf, Edward J. Martens, David J. Schram, David A. Tomkins, Stephen M. Doerr, Thomas Jaworski
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Publication number: 20030146292Abstract: An atomizer 10 atomizes a multi-component liquid from a reservoir 20 into a cloud 14 comprising small droplets 38 which are ejected into the atmosphere to a certain height and allowed to fall toward a surface 12. Essentially complete evaporation is assured by maintaining the size of the droplets, the liquid's component vapor pressures and the height through which the droplets fall according to a predetermined relationship. Also, the suitability of a liquid for evaporation in a vibrating plate atomizer is determined by measuring the rate of size decrease and the surface tension of a pendant drop of the liquid after a predetermined amount of the liquid has evaporated from the drop.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 4, 2002Publication date: August 7, 2003Inventors: Heather R. Schramm, Edward J. Martens, Susan M. Clausen, Padma P. Varanasi, Jesse Ben Crandall
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Publication number: 20030102384Abstract: A piezoelectrically actuated liquid atomizer device which applies alternating voltages from an ordinary wall outlet to a piezoelectric actuator intermittently and at a high rate sufficient to cause an atomization plate which is vibrated by the actuator to form small droplets from liquid which is supplied to the plate. The intermittent application of voltages to the piezoelectric actuator is carried out according to a duty cycle in which the off times are adjustable. An override of the duty cycle is provided so that the piezoelectric actuator operates continuously for intervals which are manually or automatically controlled.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 3, 2001Publication date: June 5, 2003Inventors: Scott D. Walter, Thomas A. Helf, Edward J. Martens, Luke Stonis, John J. Knittle, Chris von Dohlen, Dennis J. Denen