Patents by Inventor Jean-Pierre Houel

Jean-Pierre Houel 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: 7314000
    Abstract: A toaster composed of a case having lateral walls that constitute the outer cover of the toaster, the case containing a frame forming a toasting chamber having an opening at an upper part of the case and an opening at a lower part of the case, a base removably connectable to the case and facing the opening at the lower part of the case, and a heating unit for the chamber having heating elements situated in proximity to the chamber and connected to a device for supplying electric power and for controlling the heating elements. The base is completely removable from the case, and the base and the case have respective elements that interact with one another when the case is disposed on the base, such that withdrawal of the case from the base suppresses the interaction to prevent the supply of electric power to the heating elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2008
    Assignee: SEB S.A.
    Inventor: Jean-Pierre Houel
  • Publication number: 20040226453
    Abstract: A toaster composed of a case having lateral walls that constitute the outer cover of the toaster, the case containing a frame forming a toasting chamber having an opening at an upper part of the case and an opening at a lower part of the case, a base removably connectable to the case and facing the opening at the lower part of the case, and a heating unit for the chamber having heating elements situated in proximity to the chamber and connected to a device for supplying electric power and for controlling the heating elements. The base is completely removable from the case, and the base and the case have respective elements that interact with one another when the case is disposed on the base, such that withdrawal of the case from the base suppresses the interaction to prevent the supply of electric power to the heating elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2004
    Publication date: November 18, 2004
    Applicant: SEB S.A.
    Inventor: Jean-Pierre Houel
  • Patent number: 5901638
    Abstract: A bread toaster comprising: a frame; a bread-supporting carriage mounted in the frame for vertical movement between a toasting portion and a first bread discharge position, the carriage having an extension; first cushioning means for cushioning arrival of the carriage at the first bread discharge position; return means mounted between the frame and the extension of the carriage; and a control means having an abutment and being movable in the frame for limiting ascent of the carriage to a second position by interaction of the abutment with a part of the carriage, wherein: the second position is a second bread discharge position for discharging bread having a first size and the first bread discharge position is a position for discharging bread having a size smaller than the first size; and one of the abutment and the part of the carriage which interacts with the abutment is provided with second cushioning means for cushioning arrival of the carriage at the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 11, 1999
    Assignee: SEB S.A.
    Inventor: Jean-Pierre Houel