Patents by Inventor Francis Joseph Mills, IV

Francis Joseph Mills, IV 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: 6920282
    Abstract: A vapor-dispensing device exhibiting a range of evaporation rates corresponding to a discernable range of sensory fragrance intensity levels. The vapor-delivery device includes one or more control structure (e.g., a heat control, a vent control, and/or the like) configured to allow a user to specify the evaporation rate of the vapor-dispensing device over a continuous or discretized range of values. In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the two extremes of operation correspond to a range of sensory fragrance intensity values that span at least three minimum perceivable intensity zones.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2005
    Assignee: The Dial Corporation
    Inventors: Mengtao Pete He, Carl Triplett, Mary Conway, David Rinaldis, Michael Strasser, Francis Joseph Mills, IV
  • Patent number: 6901215
    Abstract: A vapor dispensing device having a high transverse loading stability includes a relatively low profile with respect to the supporting wall or electrical receptacle such that the frequency and impact of accidental physical contact with the device are appropriately reduced. To achieve a low profile, the housing of a vapor dispensing device is designed such that the distance from the outlet face of the wall receptacle to a worst-case transverse loading point (dL) is less than the distance from the plug to a worst-case support point (dS).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2005
    Assignee: The Dial Corporation
    Inventors: Mengtao Pete He, Carl Triplett, Mary Conway, David Rinaldis, Michael Strasser, Francis Joseph Mills, IV
  • Patent number: 6895177
    Abstract: A vapor dispensing device having a high transverse loading stability includes a relatively low profile with respect to the supporting wall or electrical receptacle such that the frequency and impact of accidental physical contact with the device are appropriately reduced. To achieve a low profile, the housing of a vapor dispensing device is designed such that the distance from the outlet face of the wall receptacle to a worst-case transverse loading point (dL) is less than the distance from the plug to a worst-case support point (dS).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2005
    Assignee: The Dial Corporation
    Inventors: Mengtao Pete He, Carl Triplett, Mary J. Conway, David Rinaldis, Michael Strasser, Francis Joseph Mills, IV