Patents by Inventor Eric J. Wangler

Eric J. Wangler 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).

  • Publication number: 20180220846
    Abstract: A self-standing container for holding and pre-soaking a cooking plank in a soaking liquid includes flexible walls forming a bag-like container with a chamber to receive the plank and the liquid. The container includes a deployable standing structure to enable the container to be placed in an upright position to conserve counter space. The container with a plank and liquid may be packaged for retail sale and later reuse.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2018
    Publication date: August 9, 2018
    Inventors: Eric J. Wangler, David P. Prior
  • Publication number: 20180125295
    Abstract: A device for supporting and flavoring a food during cooking, such as grilling, baking or roasting, including a packaging structure with an interior; and a wooden plank removably located within the packaging structure interior; wherein the wooden plank includes a quantity of liquid such as water, broth or juice. The wooden plank is made of a food-safe wood, such as but not limited to oak wood, maple wood, pine wood, cedar wood, alder wood, cherry wood, hickory wood or ash wood. The wooden plank is pre-soaked in the liquid, such that the wooden plank smolders during the cooking process, thereby smoking the food. The pre-soaked wooden plank is packaged, so that is will not dry out substantially before use by the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2015
    Publication date: May 10, 2018
    Inventors: Eric J. Wangler, David P. Prior
  • Patent number: 9962849
    Abstract: An improved food slice stacker is coupled to a meat slicer to automatically stack the slices from the slicer. The stacker includes a frame with a pair of spaced apart parallel supports that support a sprocket roller with axially spaced sets of sprocket teeth and a pulley roller with a plurality of axially spaced pulley members. The pulley members are aligned with the sets of sprocket teeth. A plurality of slice transport chains respectively engage the sets of sprocket teeth and the pulley members. The sprocket roller is motorized to enable the chains to transport food slices. The pulley roller is monolithically formed of a friction-free material to provide smooth surfaces that reduce retention of food particles thereon during washing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Inventors: Eric J Wangler, David P Prior, Hermann Scharfen
  • Publication number: 20180098663
    Abstract: A grilling plank assembly includes a substantially liquid impervious bag, a grilling plank positioned within the bag, a soaking liquid positioned within the bag of a quantity to substantially immerse the plank therein, and the bag having a rupturable seal to secure the plank and liquid therein and to enable selective opening to remove the plank therefrom and thereafter resealing of the bag. The bag may be provided with more than one planks, with separator devices separating the planks within the bag.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2017
    Publication date: April 12, 2018
    Inventors: Eric J. Wangler, David P. Prior
  • Patent number: 9924831
    Abstract: A grill cover that is rain-impermeable and reversibly stretchable, and formed of a dual-layer sheet. The cover is substantially stretchable to a size sufficient to cover a grill, such as a gas grill. Rain runs off of the installed cover, while condensation on the grill evaporates through the sheet without absorbing to the sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Inventor: Eric J Wangler
  • Publication number: 20180071941
    Abstract: An improved food slice stacker is coupled to a meat slicer to automatically stack the slices from the slicer. The stacker includes a frame with a pair of spaced apart parallel supports that support a sprocket roller with axially spaced sets of sprocket teeth and a pulley roller with a plurality of axially spaced pulley members. The pulley members are aligned with the sets of sprocket teeth. A plurality of slice transport chains respectively engage the sets of sprocket teeth and the pulley members. The sprocket roller is motorized to enable the chains to transport food slices. The pulley roller is monolithically formed of a friction-free material to provide smooth surfaces that reduce retention of food particles thereon during washing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2017
    Publication date: March 15, 2018
    Inventors: Eric J. Wangler, David P. Prior, Hermann Scharfen
  • Publication number: 20180002067
    Abstract: A latching removable can handle includes an elongated handle, a lower retainer structure to engage a lower rim of a can, and an upper attachment mechanism to releasably engage an upper rim of the can and including latch member mounting structure. The attachment mechanism includes a single latch member directly engaged with the mounting structure which and movable between a released position and a latched position. The attachment mechanism may include a lock member movable between an unlocked position and a locked position in which it retains the latch member in its latched position. The lower retainer structure includes separate retainers to engage lower rims of multiple sizes of cans.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2017
    Publication date: January 4, 2018
    Applicant: Jaccard Corporation
    Inventors: Eric J. Wangler, David P. Prior
  • Patent number: 9796507
    Abstract: A latching removable can handle includes an elongated handle, a lower retainer structure to engage a lower rim of a can, and an upper attachment mechanism to releasably engage an upper rim of the can and including latch member mounting structure. The attachment mechanism includes a single latch member directly engaged with the mounting structure which and movable between a released position and a latched position. The attachment mechanism may include a lock member movable between an unlocked position and a locked position in which it retains the latch member in its latched position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: Jaccard Corporation
    Inventors: Eric J Wangler, David P Prior
  • Patent number: 9770840
    Abstract: An improved food slice stacker that can be coupled to a meat slicer, to automatically stack the slices on food into stacks, wherein the stacker can be easily washed and sanitized to remove food particles therefrom. The stacker includes a frame with a pair of spaced apart parallel supports that support a transport mechanism. The transport mechanism includes a plurality endless transport chains, an integrally formed sprocket sleeve with sprocket portions that engage and drive the chains and an integrally formed pulley sleeve with a smooth surface an a plurality of pulley members that also engage the transport chains, wherein the sprocket and pulley sleeves are spaced apart from each other, and wherein the pulley sleeve engages the transport member. The pulley sleeve is integrally formed of a friction-free material so as to provide for smooth surfaces that substantially prevent retention of food particles thereon during washing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Inventors: Eric J Wangler, David P Prior, Hermann Scharfen
  • Publication number: 20170253379
    Abstract: A latching removable can handle includes an elongated handle, a lower retainer structure to engage a lower rim of a can, and an upper attachment mechanism to releasably engage an upper rim of the can and including latch member mounting structure. The attachment mechanism includes a single latch member directly engaged with the mounting structure which and movable between a released position and a latched position. The attachment mechanism may include a lock member movable between an unlocked position and a locked position in which it retains the latch member in its latched position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2016
    Publication date: September 7, 2017
    Inventors: Eric J. Wangler, David P. Prior
  • Publication number: 20170150744
    Abstract: An apparatus for marinating a food in a marinade, storing the food during marination, keeping the food warm after cooking, and supporting the food for cutting is provided, the apparatus including a vacuum-sealable marination chamber; a warming chamber; and a cutting board.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2017
    Publication date: June 1, 2017
    Inventor: Eric J. Wangler
  • Publication number: 20160338533
    Abstract: A skewer with a glow-in-the-dark handle for holding food over a flame includes an elongate wooden body with a sharpened first end and a second end covered by a sleeve or cap formed of a phosphorescent material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2015
    Publication date: November 24, 2016
    Inventor: Eric J. Wangler
  • Publication number: 20160325456
    Abstract: An improved food slice stacker that can be coupled to a meat slicer, to automatically stack the slices on food into stacks, wherein the stacker can be easily washed and sanitized to remove food particles therefrom. The stacker includes a frame with a pair of spaced apart parallel supports that support a transport mechanism. The transport mechanism includes a plurality endless transport chains, an integrally formed sprocket sleeve with sprocket portions that engage and drive the chains and an integrally formed pulley sleeve with a smooth surface an a plurality of pulley members that also engage the transport chains, wherein the sprocket and pulley sleeves are spaced apart from each other, and wherein the pulley sleeve engages the transport member. The pulley sleeve is integrally formed of a friction-free material so as to provide for smooth surfaces that substantially prevent retention of food particles thereon during washing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2016
    Publication date: November 10, 2016
    Inventors: Eric J. Wangler, David P. Prior, Hermann Scharfen
  • Publication number: 20160206150
    Abstract: A device for supporting and flavoring a food during cooking, such as grilling, baking or roasting, including a packaging structure with an interior; and a wooden plank removably located within the packaging structure interior; wherein the wooden plank includes a quantity of liquid such as water, broth or juice. The wooden plank is made of a food-safe wood, such as but not limited to oak wood, maple wood, pine wood, cedar wood, alder wood, cherry wood, hickory wood or ash wood. The wooden plank is pre-soaked in the liquid, such that the wooden plank smolders during the cooking process, thereby smoking the food. The pre-soaked wooden plank is packaged, so that is will not dry out substantially before use by the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2015
    Publication date: July 21, 2016
    Inventors: Eric J. Wangler, David P. Prior
  • Publication number: 20160183727
    Abstract: A grill cover that is rain-impermeable and reversibly stretchable, and formed of a dual-layer sheet. The cover is substantially stretchable to a size sufficient to cover a grill, such as a gas grill. Rain runs off of the installed cover, while condensation on the grill evaporates through the sheet without absorbing to the sheet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2015
    Publication date: June 30, 2016
    Inventor: Eric J. Wangler
  • Publication number: 20150342403
    Abstract: A self-standing container for holding and pre-soaking a cooking plank in a soaking liquid includes flexible walls forming a bag-like container with a chamber to receive the plank and the liquid. The container includes a deployable standing structure to enable the container to be placed in an upright position to conserve counter space. The container with a plank and liquid may be packaged for retail sale and later reuse.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2015
    Publication date: December 3, 2015
    Inventor: Eric J. Wangler
  • Publication number: 20140311361
    Abstract: An apparatus for marinating a food in a marinade, storing the food during marination, keeping the food warm after cooking, and supporting the food for cutting is provided, the apparatus including a vacuum-sealable marination chamber; a warming chamber; and a cutting board.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2013
    Publication date: October 23, 2014
    Inventor: Eric J. Wangler
  • Patent number: 8752500
    Abstract: A non-metallic pop-up “doneness” indicator to indicate that a food item has reached a desired temperature, including a housing, a stem, button indicator and an actuation subassembly. Methods of manufacture are included.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Inventors: Eric J. Wangler, Thomas O. Pierce, David P. Prior
  • Publication number: 20120285365
    Abstract: A non-metallic pop-up “doneness” indicator to indicate that a food item has reached a desired temperature, including a housing, a stem, button indicator and an actuation subassembly. Methods of manufacture are included.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2011
    Publication date: November 15, 2012
    Inventors: Eric J. Wangler, Thomas O. Pierce, David P. Prior
  • Patent number: D808233
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Inventor: Eric J Wangler