Patents by Inventor Jerry Wayne Smith

Jerry Wayne Smith 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: 12313297
    Abstract: A tube heater for heating a fluid in an interior of the tube has a stainless steel cylindrical core. The core ranges about 3 to 300 mm in length and about 100 to 200 microns in thickness with an outer diameter of about 8 to 20 mm. An inner surface of the core has dimples and a conductive coating. A patterned resistive layer overlies the core in a thickness of about 9 to 15 microns. The resistive layer is thin- or thick-film printed about a circumference of the core. Two glass layers surround the resistive layer. Each glass layer is electrically insulative. The glass underlying the resistive layer has a thermal conductivity of more than 2 W/mK while the glass overlying the resistive layer has a thermal conductivity of less than or equal to 0.5 W/mK.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2025
    Assignee: LEXMARK INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventors: Jerry Wayne Smith, Makoto Aoki
  • Patent number: 11998133
    Abstract: A cooking vessel according to one example embodiment includes a food receptacle for holding food during cooking. The cooking vessel includes an inner shell and an outer shell. An outside surface of the inner shell forms the food receptacle. A portion of an inside surface of the inner shell is spaced from a portion of an inside surface of the outer shell forming a sealed volume between the inner shell and the outer shell. A heat pipe is positioned within the sealed volume between the inner shell and the outer shell for distributing heat through the sealed volume between the inner shell and the outer shell. Embodiments include those wherein each of the inner shell and the outer shell includes a respective bottom wall and a respective side wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2023
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2024
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventor: Jerry Wayne Smith
  • Patent number: 11903472
    Abstract: A hair iron according to one example embodiment includes a first arm and a second arm movable relative to each other between an open position and a closed position. A contact surface is positioned on an exterior of the first arm for contacting hair during use. The hair iron includes a heater having a ceramic substrate and an electrical resistor material thick film printed on a surface of the ceramic substrate. The heater generates heat by applying an electric current to the electrical resistor material. The heater is positioned to supply heat to the contact surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: LEXMARK INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventors: Peter Alden Bayerle, Russell Edward Lucas, Jerry Wayne Smith
  • Patent number: 11862366
    Abstract: A method of making a heater includes an aluminum nitride base having equal to or less than 1% impurities, particularly one embodiment having none of polybrominated biphenyl, polybrominated diphenyl ether, hexabromocyclododecane, polyvinyl chloride, chlorinated paraffin, phthalate, cadmium, hexavalent chromium, lead, and mercury. The base is fired in a heating unit before any layering. Thereafter, on a topside and backside of the base a conductor layer is layered and allowed to settle and dry before firing. Next, a resistive layer is layered on the base from a resistor paste such that the resistive layer connects to the conductor layer on the topside. The resistor paste is allowed to settle and dry and then the base with the conductor and resistor layers is fired. At least four layers of glass are layered next over the resistive layer, each instance thereof including layering a glass, drying the glass and firing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: LEXMARK INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventors: Makoto Aoki, Jerry Wayne Smith
  • Patent number: 11828490
    Abstract: An appliance for heating fluid includes a reservoir for holding the fluid during use. One or more ceramic heaters mount with the reservoir to heat the fluid. The heater includes electrically resistive traces thick-film printed on a substrate. The heaters optionally mount with a heat transfer element having a relatively large surface area. The heat transfer element typifies a conductive element, such as an aluminum plate of forged aluminum. The plate has cavities to retain the heaters or sections fitted about heaters. Holes through a thickness of the plate induce turbulent fluid flow as the fluid freely passes there through during use. Heater control and mounting are still other aspects of the technology.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: LEXMARK INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventors: Jerry Wayne Smith, David Anthony Schneider, Jichang Cao, Virgil Johnson, Jr.
  • Patent number: 11791074
    Abstract: A heater includes an aluminum nitride base having equal to or less than 1% impurities, particularly one embodiment having none of polybrominated biphenyl, polybrominated diphenyl ether, hexabromocyclododecane, polyvinyl chloride, chlorinated paraffin, phthalate, cadmium, hexavalent chromium, lead, and mercury. At least one resistive trace of silver and palladium overlies the base as does a conductor of silver and platinum or palladium that electrically connects to the resistive trace to apply an external voltage to the resistive trace for heating thereof. At least four, but optionally five, layers of glass overlie the resistive trace and part of the conductor. A first two consecutive layers of the glass layers define a first glass having a solid content of more than 65% and a viscosity of 100 Pa·s or less. The following two or three consecutive layers of the five layers define a second glass dissimilar to the first.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: LEXMARK INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventors: Makoto Aoki, Jerry Wayne Smith
  • Patent number: 11692754
    Abstract: An ice maker includes an ice mold having an inner surface and an outer surface. The inner surface of the ice mold is configured to retain water for forming ice cubes in the ice mold. The ice mold includes a plurality of ice lobes each shaped to form a respective ice cube in the ice mold. A heater assembly is positioned on the outer surface of the ice mold. In some embodiments, each of a plurality of heating elements of the heater assembly is aligned with a corresponding lobe of the plurality of lobes for supplying heat to ice cubes formed in the lobes for releasing the ice cubes from the ice mold. In some embodiments, the heater assembly includes a heater having a ceramic substrate and one or more electrically resistive traces and electrically conductive traces thick film printed on the ceramic substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Jerry Wayne Smith, Russell Edward Lucas, Calvin Dale Murphy, Peter Alden Bayerle
  • Patent number: 11676746
    Abstract: A method of making a heater includes an aluminum nitride base having equal to or less than 1% impurities, particularly one embodiment having none of polybrominated biphenyl, polybrominated diphenyl ether, hexabromocyclododecane, polyvinyl chloride, chlorinated paraffin, phthalate, cadmium, hexavalent chromium, lead, and mercury. The base is fired in a heating unit before any layering. Thereafter, on a topside and backside of the base a conductor layer is layered and allowed to settle and dry before firing. Next, a resistive layer is layered on the base from a resistor paste such that the resistive layer connects to the conductor layer on the topside. The resistor paste is allowed to settle and dry and then the base with the conductor and resistor layers is fired. At least four layers of glass are layered next over the resistive layer, each instance thereof including layering a glass, drying the glass and firing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: LEXMARK INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventors: Makoto Aoki, Jerry Wayne Smith
  • Patent number: 11666170
    Abstract: A cooking vessel according to one example embodiment includes a food receptacle for holding food during cooking. The cooking vessel includes an inner shell and an outer shell. An outside surface of the inner shell forms the food receptacle. A portion of an inside surface of the inner shell is spaced from a portion of an inside surface of the outer shell forming a sealed volume between the inner shell and the outer shell. A heat pipe is positioned within the sealed volume between the inner shell and the outer shell for distributing heat through the sealed volume between the inner shell and the outer shell. Embodiments include those wherein each of the inner shell and the outer shell includes a respective bottom wall and a respective side wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventor: Jerry Wayne Smith
  • Patent number: 11576944
    Abstract: Provided are liquid and powder grape extracts having elevated phenolic content. The extracts can be made from grape seeds, grape skins, or a combination thereof. In some instances, extracts may be blends of grape seed extracts and grape skin extracts. Methods of manufacturing such extracts area also provided. Such methods involve controlled temperature conditions to increase yield of phenolic compounds in the extracts. Methods of using the extraction for treating subjects are also provided, including treatment of cancer and end-organ damage relating to hypertension.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: Piedmont Research & Development Corporation
    Inventor: Jerry Wayne Smith
  • Publication number: 20210393729
    Abstract: Provided are liquid and powder grape extracts having elevated phenolic content. The extracts can be made from grape seeds, grape skins, or a combination thereof. In some instances, extracts may be blends of grape seed extracts and grape skin extracts. Methods of manufacturing such extracts area also provided. Such methods involve controlled temperature conditions to increase yield of phenolic compounds in the extracts. Methods of using the extraction for treating subjects are also provided, including treatment of cancer and end-organ damage relating to hypertension.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2021
    Publication date: December 23, 2021
    Inventor: Jerry Wayne Smith
  • Patent number: 11135261
    Abstract: Provided are liquid and powder grape extracts having elevated phenolic content. The extracts can be made from grape seeds, grape skins, or a combination thereof. In some instances, extracts may be blends of grape seed extracts and grape skin extracts. Methods of manufacturing such extracts area also provided. Such methods involve controlled temperature conditions to increase yield of phenolic compounds in the extracts. Methods of using the extraction for treating subjects are also provided, including treatment of cancer and end-organ damage relating to hypertension.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignee: PIEDMONT RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION
    Inventor: Jerry Wayne Smith
  • Publication number: 20190183958
    Abstract: Provided are liquid and powder grape extracts having elevated phenolic content. The extracts can be made from grape seeds, grape skins, or a combination thereof. In some instances, extracts may be blends of grape seed extracts and grape skin extracts. Methods of manufacturing such extracts area also provided. Such methods involve controlled temperature conditions to increase yield of phenolic compounds in the extracts. Methods of using the extraction for treating subjects are also provided, including treatment of cancer and end-organ damage relating to hypertension.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2017
    Publication date: June 20, 2019
    Inventors: Jerry Wayne Smith, Patricia E. Gallagher, E. Ann Tallant
  • Patent number: 10025244
    Abstract: A method and system for fusing toner to media sheets in an imaging device are disclosed. The system includes a fuser heater having a first heating element and a second heating element, the fuser heater providing heat to a fuser nip; and heat control circuitry coupled to the fuser heater for passing current through the first and second heating elements of the fuser heater to generate heat therefrom. The system further includes a controller coupled to the heat control circuitry, the controller controlling the heat control circuitry for passing current through the first heating element during a warm up operation and passing current through the second heating element during a fusing operation following the warm up operation, the fusing operation fusing toner to a sheet of media.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Clark Campbell, Paul Wesley Etter, James Adrian Riley, Jerry Wayne Smith
  • Patent number: 9801409
    Abstract: The present invention provides moist snuff compositions and methods of making and using the same. In some embodiments, the present invention provides moist snuff compositions comprising grape tissue and a humectant, wherein the grape tissue comprises ground grape skins, ground grape pulp and/or ground grape seeds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Inventor: Jerry Wayne Smith
  • Patent number: 9551962
    Abstract: A fuser heater member for an electrophotographic imaging device, including a heater member. According to an example embodiment, the heater member includes positive temperature coefficient (PTC) material disposed along a width of a fuser nip of the fuser assembly; first and second electrodes disposed along disposed surfaces of the PTC material; an intermediate layer disposed over the second electrode; and at least one resistive trace disposed along the intermediate layer along the width of the fuser nip. The heater member includes a plurality of wire segments coupled to the first and second electrodes and the resistive elements for use in generating heat from at least one of the PTC material and the at least one resistive trace during a fusing operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: LEXMARK INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventors: Michael Clark Campbell, Paul Wesley Etter, James Adrian Riley, Jerry Wayne Smith
  • Patent number: 9417572
    Abstract: A heating element for the fuser for an electrophotographic imaging device. The heating element includes a panel of positive temperature coefficient material having electrodes coupled to opposed surfaces thereof. The positive temperature coefficient material serves to stabilize the temperature of the heating element so as to prevent damage due to overheating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas Campbell Hamilton, Jerry Wayne Smith
  • Patent number: 9201366
    Abstract: An image-forming device includes a belt based fuser for fixing an image to a media substrate. The fuser includes a heater having a base component with at least one heating element disposed thereon. The heater further includes a covering layer covering the at least one heating element providing a substantially even surface to abut a belt. Unevenness, which may be present on the substantially even surface, has a height, defined by a base and a peak, of less than about 10 ?m. A process for producing the heater is also disclosed. The process includes disposing one or more heating elements on a base component of the heater, covering the heating elements of the fuser heater with a covering layer and providing a substantially even outer surface to abut a fuser belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory Daniel Creteau, James Douglas Gilmore, Michael David Maul, Miranda Elizabeth Oaks, Katherine Mary Mulloy, Niko Jay Murrell, Jerry Wayne Smith, Scott Shiaoshin Wu
  • Publication number: 20150083706
    Abstract: A fuser heater member for an electrophotographic imaging device, including a heater member. According to an example embodiment, the heater member includes positive temperature coefficient (PTC) material disposed along a width of a fuser nip of the fuser assembly; first and second electrodes disposed along disposed surfaces of the PTC material; an intermediate layer disposed over the second electrode; and at least one resistive trace disposed along the intermediate layer along the width of the fuser nip. The heater member includes a plurality of wire segments coupled to the first and second electrodes and the resistive elements for use in generating heat from at least one of the PTC material and the at least one resistive trace during a fusing operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2013
    Publication date: March 26, 2015
    Applicant: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Clark Campbell, Paul Wesley Etter, James Adrian Riley, Jerry Wayne Smith
  • Publication number: 20150086232
    Abstract: A method and system for fusing toner to media sheets in an imaging device. The system includes a fuser heater having a first heating element and a second heating element, the fuser heater providing heat to a fuser nip; and heat control circuitry coupled to the fuser heater for passing current through the first and second heating elements of the fuser heater to generate heat therefrom. The system further includes a controller coupled to the heat control circuitry, the controller controlling the heat control circuitry for passing current through the first heating element during a warm up operation and passing current through the second heating element during a fusing operation following the warm up operation, the fusing operation fusing toner to a sheet of media.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2013
    Publication date: March 26, 2015
    Applicant: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Clark Campbell, Paul Wesley Etter, James Adrian Riley, Jerry Wayne Smith