Patents by Inventor Gerard P. Gilliland

Gerard P. Gilliland 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: 5458052
    Abstract: A toaster is disclosed capable of retaining a fire within the body of the toaster should such a fire commence for any reason, the toaster comprising an outer housing, an inner enclosure defining a toasting compartment, an open access slot enabling access to the toasting compartment, movable flameproof member means either closing the access slot or opening same, movable carriage means in the toasting compartment to carry a product to be toasted, and latch means to hold the movable flameproof member means closed until manually released thereby ensuring a person is at the toaster should a fire have commenced in the toasting chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 17, 1995
    Assignee: Black & Decker Inc.
    Inventors: John D. McNair, Howard C. Schulz, Aik P. Cheah, Gerard P. Gilliland
  • Patent number: 5423246
    Abstract: A cover for a toaster capable of retaining flame from a fire within the body of the toaster. The cover comprises a first wall adapted to overlie an access opening to a toaster compartment within the toaster, the first wall having a plurality of slot-like apertures formed therein with a second member partially or fully overlying each slot-like aperture but being located in a plane spaced from that of the first wall. The slot-like apertures are disposed transversely to a longitudinal axis of the toasting compartment whereby flame within the toasting compartment is substantially prevented from passing through the cover but convection heat from within the toasting compartment is capable of passing through the slot like apertures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 13, 1995
    Assignee: Black & Decker Inc.
    Inventors: John D. McNair, Gerard P. Gilliland