Patents by Inventor Kara L. Lakatos

Kara L. Lakatos 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: 8882496
    Abstract: A container candle having improved burn performance and fragrance delivery is described. The container candle includes a container, a non-cylindrical insert with wick, and a fill material. The non-cylindrical insert provides auto-centering of the wick in the container candle and even burning of the candle by centrally positioning and retention of the wick in the container. The non-cylindrical insert has a top surface which transitions into tapered side walls which in turn transition to a base having a bottom surface, with the top surface being of a lesser diameter than the diameter of the bottom surface. An upper portion of the wick extends beyond the top surface of the insert. The fill material is situated in the container around the insert in an amount at least substantially sufficient to cover the insert but not cover the upper portion of the wick extending out of the insert.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: S.C. Johnson & Son, Inc.
    Inventors: Bradley J. Dickmann, Steven W. Ivanisko, Kara L. Lakatos
  • Patent number: 8733670
    Abstract: A wick assembly for use in a dispenser for a volatile liquid includes a wick having an external surface and a discontinuity in the surface providing a location in the wick of less resistance to a force applied to the wick than a location adjacent to the discontinuity. In one embodiment, the wick is adapted to be positioned to extend from an inside of a container, through an opening defined in the container, to an outside of the container, and the wick is formed such that a portion of the wick will block the opening when the wick is broken at the discontinuity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: S.C. Johnson & Son, Inc.
    Inventors: Kara L. Lakatos, Ralph Schwarz, Tyler D. Duston
  • Publication number: 20120270164
    Abstract: A container candle having improved burn performance and fragrance delivery is described. The container candle includes a container, a non-cylindrical insert with wick, and a fill material. The non-cylindrical insert provides auto-centering of the wick in the container candle and even burning of the candle by centrally positioning and retention of the wick in the container. The non-cylindrical insert has a top surface which transitions into tapered side walls which in turn transition to a base having a bottom surface, with the top surface being of a lesser diameter than the diameter of the bottom surface. An upper portion of the wick extends beyond the top surface of the insert. The fill material is situated in the container around the insert in an amount at least substantially sufficient to cover the insert but not cover the upper portion of the wick extending out of the insert.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2011
    Publication date: October 25, 2012
    Inventors: Bradley J. Dickmann, Steven W. Ivanisko, Kara L. Lakatos
  • Patent number: 7850444
    Abstract: A fuel charge for use with a melting plate candle assembly includes an outer shell of fuel material surrounding an inner core of fuel material having different properties than the fuel material of the outer shell. The outer shell is substantially solid and may contain fuel additive that slows capillary flow of liquid fuel to the flame through the wick. The inner core may include liquid fuel, discrete solid fuel particles, or a solid fuel mass. The fuel additive is disposed in the fuel charge so as to slow migration of liquefied fuel to a flame on a wick only after a substantial portion of the fuel charge has been liquefied by heat from the flame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2010
    Assignee: S.C. Johnson & Son, Inc.
    Inventors: Chris A. Kubicek, Thomas J. Szymczak, Kara L. Lakatos, Padma Prabodh Varanasi, Joel E. Adair, Paul E. Furner
  • Publication number: 20100147972
    Abstract: A wick assembly for use in a dispenser for a volatile liquid includes a wick having an external surface and a discontinuity in the surface providing a location in the wick of less resistance to a force applied to the wick than a location adjacent to the discontinuity. In one embodiment, the wick is adapted to be positioned to extend from an inside of a container, through an opening defined in the container, to an outside of the container, and the wick is formed such that a portion of the wick will block the opening when the wick is broken at the discontinuity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2010
    Publication date: June 17, 2010
    Inventors: Kara L. Lakatos (nee Kotary), Ralph Schwarz, Tyler D. Duston
  • Patent number: 7731492
    Abstract: A fuel charge for use with a melting plate candle assembly includes an outer shell of fuel material surrounding an inner core of fuel material having different properties than the fuel material of the outer shell. The outer shell is substantially solid and may contain fuel additive that slows capillary flow of liquid fuel to the flame through the wick. The inner core may include liquid fuel, discrete solid fuel particles, or a solid fuel mass. The fuel additive is disposed in the fuel charge so as to slow migration of liquefied fuel to a flame on a wick only after a substantial portion of the fuel charge has been liquefied by heat from the flame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2010
    Assignee: S.C. Johnson & Son, Inc.
    Inventors: Chris A. Kubicek, Thomas J. Szymczak, Kara L. Lakatos, Padma Prabodh Varanasi, Joel E. Adair, Paul E. Fumer
  • Patent number: 7568912
    Abstract: A candle fuel element includes a wick-holder assembly including a wick spaced from a heat-conductive element, a first fuel charge surrounding the wick, and a second fuel charge slidably engaging and at least partly surrounding the first fuel charge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2009
    Assignee: S.C. Johnson & Son, Inc.
    Inventors: Chris A Kubicek, Cory J Nelson, Brian Wagers, Paul E Furner, Kara L Lakatos, Thomas J Szymczak, Padma Prabodh Varanasi, Joel E Adair
  • Publication number: 20080318176
    Abstract: A fuel charge for use with a melting plate candle assembly includes an outer shell of fuel material surrounding an inner core of fuel material having different properties than the fuel material of the outer shell. The outer shell is substantially solid and may contain fuel additive that slows capillary flow of liquid fuel to the flame through the wick. The inner core may include liquid fuel, discrete solid fuel particles, or a solid fuel mass. The fuel additive is disposed in the fuel charge so as to slow migration of liquefied fuel to a flame on a wick only after a substantial portion of the fuel charge has been liquefied by heat from the flame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2008
    Publication date: December 25, 2008
    Inventors: Chris A. Kubicek, Thomas J. Szymczak, Kara L. Lakatos, Padma Prabodh Varanasi, Joel E. Adair
  • 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: 7309024
    Abstract: An interference fit assembly comprises a wick constructed of a porous polymer and a wall constructed of a polymer for interference engagement with the wick. The wick has a weight of 3.3 grams.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2007
    Assignee: S.C. Johnson & Son, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffory S. Hansen, Kara L. Lakatos, Jeffrey J. Christianson, Mary Beth Adams
  • Patent number: 7281670
    Abstract: A wick-based delivery system includes a container for holding a liquid that has an opening therein. A porous wick is positioned in the container so that a lower region of the wick is in contact with the liquid in the container and an upper region of the wick is exposed to the ambient air. The porous wick has discrete inner and outer concentric cylindrical sections, the inner cylindrical section being made of a sand-based material and the outer cylindrical section being made of a plastic material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2007
    Assignee: S.C. Johnson & Son, Inc.
    Inventors: Kara L. Lakatos, Adam Hagop Buchaklian, Robert J. Kopanic, Jr., Padma Prabodh Varanasi
  • 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
  • Publication number: 20040262420
    Abstract: An interference fit assembly comprises a wick constructed of a porous polymer and a wall constructed of a polymer for interference engagement with the wick. The wick has a weight of 3.3 grams.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2003
    Publication date: December 30, 2004
    Inventors: Jeffory S. Hansen, Kara L. Lakatos, Jeffrey J. Christianson, Mary Beth Adams