Patents by Inventor Heather R. Schramm

Heather R. Schramm 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: 7775459
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2010
    Assignee: S.C. Johnson & Son, Inc.
    Inventors: Edward J. Martens, III, Heather R. Schramm
  • Patent number: 7622073
    Abstract: An apparatus for dispensing active materials comprises a housing and control circuitry disposed within the housing. The control circuitry implements programming for a mode of operation in which during a first period of time a first active material is emitted, during a second period of time the first active material and a second active material are emitted, and during a third period of time the second active material is emitted, wherein during the second period of time, the first and second fragrances are alternated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2009
    Assignee: S.C. Johnson & Son, Inc.
    Inventors: Heather R Schramm, Jeffrey J Wolf
  • Patent number: 7610118
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2009
    Assignee: 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
  • Patent number: 7469844
    Abstract: A diffusion device comprises a bottom portion having a bottom cover disposed thereon. The device further includes a top portion having a top cover disposed atop the bottom portion and a pump assembly disposed between the top cover and the bottom cover. First, second, and third arm portions extend from the pump assembly, wherein the first, second, and third arm portions include first, second, and third piezoelectric devices, respectively, attached thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: S.C. Johnson & Son, Inc.
    Inventors: Simon M. Conway, Thomas Jaworski, Heather R. Schramm, Scott D. Walter, Jeffrey L. Crull, Lawrence J. Fenske, Jonathan M. Mick
  • Patent number: 7441360
    Abstract: A picture display frame includes front and rear sides. A recess is disposed within the rear side of the display frame. A volatile material holder is disposed within the recess of the rear side. The volatile material holder includes a reservoir and a vapor permeable membrane. A slot is disposed in a side wall of the display frame in communication with a portion of the recess. The portion of the recess is adapted to hold a decorative element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2008
    Assignee: S.C. Johnson & Son, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey J. Christianson, Simon M. Conway, Stacey L. Forkner, Kristopher W. Gerulski, Kara L. Lakatos, Stephen B. Leonard, Heather R. Schramm
  • Patent number: 7426799
    Abstract: A display frame with a refill holder comprises a transparent block with front and rear faces. A U-shaped mounting member is attached to the rear face about an outer periphery of same. The U-shaped mounting member has an inwardly extending wall. A channel is formed in a space between the rear face and the inwardly extending wall. A protrusion is attached to the rear face of the frame, wherein the protrusion in combination with the inwardly extending wall are configured to distance the rear face from a support surface when the frame is in a substantially horizontal position and provide a substantially unimpeded air passage adjacent the rear face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2008
    Assignee: S.C. Johnson & Son, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey J. Christianson, Marissa A. K. Schultz, Stephen B. Leonard, Stacey L. Forkner, Heather R. Schramm, Kara L. Lakatos
  • Patent number: 7213770
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2007
    Assignee: S. C. Johnson & Son, Inc.
    Inventors: Edward J. Martens, III, Stephen B. Leonard, Heather R. Schramm, Kara L. Lakatos
  • Patent number: 7070121
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2006
    Assignee: S.C. Johnson & Son, Inc.
    Inventors: Heather R. Schramm, Edward J. Martens, III, Susan M. Clausen, Padma P. Varanasi, Jesse Ben Crandall
  • Publication number: 20040251314
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2004
    Publication date: December 16, 2004
    Applicant: S.C. JOHNSON & SON, INC.
    Inventors: Heather R. Schramm, Edward J. Martens, Susan M. Clausen, Padma P. Varanasi, Jesse Ben Crandall
  • Patent number: 6793149
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2004
    Assignee: S. C. Johnson & Son, Inc.
    Inventors: Heather R. Schramm, Edward J. Martens, III, Susan M. Clausen, Padma P. Varanasi, Jesse Ben Crandall
  • Publication number: 20030146292
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2002
    Publication date: August 7, 2003
    Inventors: Heather R. Schramm, Edward J. Martens, Susan M. Clausen, Padma P. Varanasi, Jesse Ben Crandall
  • Patent number: 6576601
    Abstract: A method that produces a powdered fabric cleaner is disclosed. The cleaner has a reduced level of fines. One introduces at least one particulate material and at least one liquid material into a mixing vessel to form a mixture, blends the mixture for a first period of time, chops the mixture for at least a portion of the first period of time, and thereafter blends the mixture without chopping for a second period of time. In one form the cleaning composition has at least 80% by weight of inorganic salt carrier particulates, 1-10% by weight of flow agent particulates, and 0.1-15% by weight of a liquid active material, such as a fragrance, a surfactant, a solvent, or a pesticide. At least 90.0% of the composition particulates have a particle size greater than 0.105 millimeters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2003
    Assignee: S. C. Johnson & Son, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Mikic, Heather R. Schramm, Hans J. Weitkuhn, Dolores T. Rodriguez
  • Patent number: 4926879
    Abstract: A device for electrically stimulating the skin in response to an electrical signal includes a flexible substrate on one surface of which is formed an electrically conductive pattern having a number of electrodes. Each of the electrodes is coated with a layer of a corrosion resistive material, such as titanium. An insulating layer extends over this surface of the substrate and has apertures therethrough aligned with the electrodes. A conductive ground plane layer is then applied over the insulating layer and also has apertures therethrough which are aligned with each of the electrodes. The stimulator is placed against the user so that the coated electrodes are in contact with the skin. In response to the received electrical signal, each electrode is sequentially stimulated by a negative and a positive electrical pulse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 1989
    Date of Patent: May 22, 1990
    Assignee: Sevrain-Tech, Inc.
    Inventors: Christophe Jean-Paul Sevrain, Heather R. Schramm, Daniel G. Schmidt, Paul S. Hooper, Mary P. Thomas