Patents by Inventor Jill Zmrhal

Jill Zmrhal 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: 8973490
    Abstract: A cooking apparatus including a pan and a detachable support and a method for using the same to cook and flavor food are provided. The pan includes a bottom and a plurality of perforations arranged therein. The detachable cylinder includes a bottom surface, a generally circular sidewall extending upward from the bottom surface, and a plurality of fasteners formed on the bottom surface. The plurality of fasteners are sized and arranged to correspond with a sizing and arrangement of a subset of the perforations. The detachable cylinder is optionally secured to the pan by coupling the fasteners to the subset of perforations and by rotating the detachable cylinder in a first direction to move the fasteners into a locked position. The detachable cylinder is optionally disengaged from the pan by rotating the detachable cylinder in a second direction to move the fasteners into an unlocked position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Columbia Insurance Company
    Inventors: Roland Sudmalis, James C. Hand, Brian Saarnio, Jill Zmrhal, Nigel Wang
  • Patent number: 8955353
    Abstract: A device for storing food and displaying food for service includes a base with a side wall extending upwardly from the base and a puck assembly removably disposed therein. The puck assembly has a generally flat plate surface on one side and a functional surface with a plurality of food receptacles formed thereon on the opposite side, a sealed cavity disposed between the plate surface and the functional surface, and a cooling substance disposed in the sealed cavity. A food tray is disposed proximate the puck assembly, and a lid shaped to alternatively fit on the top surface of the wall of the base and to fit on the external surface of the bottom of the base such that the base can nest in the lid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: Columbia Insurance Company
    Inventors: E. Mark Harris, Frances M. Coursey, Jill Zmrhal
  • Publication number: 20130216691
    Abstract: A cooking apparatus including a pan and a detachable support and a method for using the same to cook and flavor food are provided. The pan includes a bottom and a plurality of perforations arranged therein. The detachable cylinder includes a bottom surface, a generally circular sidewall extending upward from the bottom surface, and a plurality of fasteners formed on the bottom surface. The plurality of fasteners are sized and arranged to correspond with a sizing and arrangement of a subset of the perforations. The detachable cylinder is optionally secured to the pan by coupling the fasteners to the subset of perforations and by rotating the detachable cylinder in a first direction to move the fasteners into a locked position. The detachable cylinder is optionally disengaged from the pan by rotating the detachable cylinder in a second direction to move the fasteners into an unlocked position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2012
    Publication date: August 22, 2013
    Applicant: Columbia Insurance Company
    Inventors: Roland Sudmalis, James C. Hand, Brian Saarnio, Jill Zmrhal, Nigel Wang
  • Publication number: 20110259897
    Abstract: A device for storing food and displaying food for service includes a base with a side wall extending upwardly from the base and a puck assembly removably disposed therein. The puck assembly has a generally flat plate surface on one side and a functional surface with a plurality of food receptacles formed thereon on the opposite side, a sealed cavity disposed between the plate surface and the functional surface, and a cooling substance disposed in the sealed cavity. A food tray is disposed proximate the puck assembly, and a lid shaped to alternatively fit on the top surface of the wall of the base and to fit on the external surface of the bottom of the base such that the base can nest in the lid. The device provides a multitude of optional arrangements of these elements to provide maximum flexibility to the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2011
    Publication date: October 27, 2011
    Applicant: Columbia Insurance Company
    Inventors: Frances M. Coursey, E. Mark Harris, Jill Zmrhal
  • Patent number: D632526
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Assignee: Columbia Insurance Company
    Inventors: Frances M. Coursey, E. Mark Harris, Jill Zmrhal
  • Patent number: D671355
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: Columbia Insurance Company
    Inventor: Jill Zmrhal
  • Patent number: D694016
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: Columbia Insurance Company
    Inventors: Jill Zmrhal, Lisa M. Phelps
  • Patent number: D702046
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Columbia Insurance Company
    Inventors: Jill Zmrhal, Lisa M. Phelps