Patents by Inventor John C. Estill

John C. Estill 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).

  • Microwavable system and method of facilitating microwave heating of liquids
    Patent number: 6403938
    Abstract: A system and method for facilitating microwave heating of a liquid includes the use of a generally cylindrical holder for receiving the liquid to be heated. A shielding sleeve at least partially composed of high microwave reflectivity material, blocks microwave energy from entering a selected interior portion only of the holder to prevent direct microwave heating of the liquid in the selected portion. As a result, there are shielded and unshielded portions of the liquid being heated to cause the liquid to be heated to a substantially uniform temperature throughout the liquid being heated. A mechanism enables the sleeve to be positioned such that the blocking portion of the sleeve is positioned at or above the level of the liquid disposed within the interior of the holder so that the top layer of the liquid is shielded from direct microwave heating to prevent unwanted super heating of a portion of the liquid and thus causing hot spots.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2002
    Assignee: Medical Indicators, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert J. Witonsky, John W. Scarantino, John C. Estill, Ronald M. Benincasa, Robert A. Barish
  • Microwavable system and method of facilitating microwave heating of liquids
    Publication number: 20010042748
    Abstract: A system and method for facilitating microwave heating of a liquid includes the use of a generally cylindrical holder for receiving the liquid to be heated. A shielding sleeve at least partially composed of high microwave reflectivity material, blocks microwave energy from entering a selected interior portion only of the holder to prevent direct microwave heating of the liquid in the selected portion. As a result, there are shielded and unshielded portions of the liquid being heated to cause the liquid to be heated to a substantially uniform temperature throughout the liquid being heated. A mechanism enables the sleeve to be positioned such that the blocking portion of the sleeve is positioned at or above the level of the liquid disposed within the interior of the holder so that the top layer of the liquid is shielded from direct microwave heating to prevent unwanted super heating of a portion of the liquid and thus causing hot spots.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2001
    Publication date: November 22, 2001
    Inventors: Robert J. Witonsky, John W. Scarantino, John C. Estill, Ronald M. Benincasa, Robert A. Barish