Patents by Inventor Kristopher J. Stathakis
Kristopher J. Stathakis 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).
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Patent number: 6889003Abstract: The present invention achieves advancement in the art by providing a method and apparatus for selective positioning of a wick material in a vapor-dispensing device that facilitates effective fragrance vapor delivery while offering significant advantages in manufacture, assembly, product performance, and product safety. In one embodiment, the wick is suitably selected and positioned such that sufficient surface area of the wick material is suitably exposed to the heating unit to enable effective evaporation of a vaporizable liquid, but the wick height relative to the heating element minimizes the amount of surface area of the wick in proximity to the heating element. Additionally, the positioning can reduce the need for protective overcaps and other apparatus for protecting the wick.Type: GrantFiled: September 18, 2003Date of Patent: May 3, 2005Assignee: The Dial CorporationInventors: Carl Triplett, Mengtao Pete He, Christopher J. Wolpert, Kristopher J. Stathakis, Debra Park
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Patent number: 6810204Abstract: A vapor dispensing device is provided which is less noticeable as a dispensing device to observers of the device. For example, in this context, the dispensing device may have the general appearance of a standard electrical wall outlet and have the ability to use the outlets into which the dispensing device is plugged.Type: GrantFiled: September 18, 2003Date of Patent: October 26, 2004Assignee: The Dial CorporationInventors: Ralf Grone, Christopher Bryan Schmidt, Debra Park, Mengtao Pete He, Kristopher J. Stathakis
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Patent number: 6792199Abstract: The present invention suitably provides a method and apparatus for controlling the temperature of a liquid vaporizer heating element, and thereby the rate of evaporation and level of fragrance delivery from the same. In accordance with one exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the device may include a switch that suitably allows the temperature of various types of heating elements to be controlled for different levels of fragrance output. For example, an exemplary embodiment may include a two-pronged plug adaptable to typical outlets that might be found in residential homes or businesses. In accordance With another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the electrical switch generally provides varying resistance values to the electric circuitry of the vaporizer such that, by changing the switch setting, the operating temperature of the wick is controlled and thus the rate of fragrance evaporation from the vaporizer.Type: GrantFiled: June 16, 2003Date of Patent: September 14, 2004Assignee: The Dial CorporationInventors: Lawrence T. Levine, Kristopher J. Stathakis, Christopher J. Wolpert, Carl Triplett, Mengtao Pete He, Debra Park
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Patent number: 6768865Abstract: A liquid vaporizer is provided which includes a housing stabilization system for stabilizing the vaporizer when it is plugged into a wall outlet. In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the stabilization system comprises one or more projections which abut the wall or outlet to which the vaporizer is inserted. The liquid vaporizer stabilization system may also serve to prevent dispensing of vaporized material proximate to the electrical outlet.Type: GrantFiled: May 24, 2002Date of Patent: July 27, 2004Assignee: The Dial CorporationInventors: Kristopher J. Stathakis, Christopher Wolpert, Lawrence T. Levine, Carl Triplett, Mengtao Pete He, Debra Park
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Publication number: 20040071456Abstract: The present invention suitably provides a method and apparatus for controlling the temperature of a liquid vaporizer heating element, and thereby the rate of evaporation and level of fragrance delivery from the same. In accordance with one exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the device may include a switch that suitably allows the temperature of various types of heating elements to be controlled for different levels of fragrance output. For example, an exemplary embodiment may include a two-pronged plug adaptable to typical outlets that might be found in residential homes or businesses. In accordance With another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the electrical switch generally provides varying resistance values to the electric circuitry of the vaporizer such that, by changing the switch setting, the operating temperature of the wick is controlled and thus the rate of fragrance evaporation from the vaporizer.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 16, 2003Publication date: April 15, 2004Inventors: Lawrence T. Levine, Kristopher J. Stathakis, Christopher J. Wolpert, Carl Triplett, Mengtao Pete He, Debra Park
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Publication number: 20040062531Abstract: The present invention achieves advancement in the art by providing a method and apparatus for selective positioning of a wick material in a vapor-dispensing device that facilitates effective fragrance vapor delivery while offering significant advantages in manufacture, assembly, product performance, and product safety. In one embodiment, the wick is suitably selected and positioned such that sufficient surface area of the wick material is suitably exposed to the heating unit to enable effective evaporation of a vaporizable liquid, but the wick height relative to the heating element minimizes the amount of surface area of the wick in proximity to the heating element. Additionally, the positioning can reduce the need for protective overcaps and other apparatus for protecting the wick.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 18, 2003Publication date: April 1, 2004Inventors: Carl Triplett, Mengtao Pete He, Christopher J. Wolpert, Kristopher J. Stathakis, Debra Park
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Patent number: 6714725Abstract: A vapor dispensing device is provided which is less noticeable as a dispensing device to observers of the device. For example, in this context, the dispensing device may have the general appearance of a standard electrical wall outlet and have the ability to use the outlets into which the dispensing device is plugged.Type: GrantFiled: February 12, 2002Date of Patent: March 30, 2004Assignee: The Dial CorporationInventors: Ralf Grone, Christopher Bryan Schmidt, Debra Park, Mengtao Pete He, Kristopher J. Stathakis
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Publication number: 20040057706Abstract: A vapor dispensing device is provided which is less noticeable as a dispensing device to observers of the device. For example, in this context, the dispensing device may have the general appearance of a standard electrical wall outlet and have the ability to use the outlets into which the dispensing device is plugged.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 18, 2003Publication date: March 25, 2004Inventors: Ralf Grone, Christopher Bryan Schmidt, Debra Park, Mengato Pete He, Kristopher J. Stathakis
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Patent number: 6697571Abstract: The present invention achieves advancement in the art by providing a method and apparatus for selective positioning of a wick material in a vapor-dispensing device that facilitates effective fragrance vapor delivery while offering significant advantages in manufacture, assembly, product performance, and product safety. In one embodiment, the wick is suitably selected and positioned such that sufficient surface area of the wick material is suitably exposed to the heating unit to enable effective evaporation of a vaporizable liquid, but the wick height relative to the heating element minimizes the amount of surface area of the wick in proximity to the heating element. Additionally, the positioning call reduce the need for protective overcaps and other apparatus for protecting the wick.Type: GrantFiled: March 11, 2002Date of Patent: February 24, 2004Assignee: The Dial CorporationInventors: Carl Triplett, Mengato Pete He, Christopher J. Wolpert, Kristopher J. Stathakis, Derba Park
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Patent number: 6661967Abstract: The present invention suitably provides a method and apparatus for controlling the temperature of a liquid vaporizer heating element, and thereby the rate of evaporation and level of fragrance delivery from the same. In accordance with one exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the device may include a switch that suitably allows the temperature of various types of heating elements to be controlled for different levels of fragrance output. For example, an exemplary embodiment may include a two-pronged plug adaptable to typical outlets that might be found in residential homes or businesses. In accordance with another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the electrical switch generally provides varying resistance values to the electric circuitry of the vaporizer such that, by changing the switch setting, the operating temperature of the wick is controlled and thus the rate of fragrance evaporation from the vaporizer.Type: GrantFiled: February 23, 2001Date of Patent: December 9, 2003Assignee: The Dial CorporationInventors: Lawrence T. Levine, Kristopher J. Stathakis, Christopher J. Wolpert, Carl Triplett, Mengtao Pete He, Debra Park
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Publication number: 20030170014Abstract: The present invention achieves advancement in the art by providing a method and apparatus for selective positioning of a wick material in a vapor-dispensing device that facilitates effective fragrance vapor delivery while offering significant advantages in manufacture, assembly, product performance, and product safety. In one embodiment, the wick is suitably selected and positioned such that sufficient surface area of the wick material is suitably exposed to the heating unit to enable effective evaporation of a vaporizable liquid, but the wick height relative to the heating element minimizes the amount of surface area of the wick in proximity to the heating element. Additionally, the positioning can reduce the need for protective overcaps and other apparatus for protecting the wick.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 11, 2002Publication date: September 11, 2003Inventors: Carl Triplett, Mengtao Pete He, Christopher J. Wolpert, Kristopher J. Stathakis, Debra Park
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Publication number: 20030168520Abstract: An emanator for evaporation of a liquid therefrom is provided. The emanator includes a first material and a second material that is disposed adjacent to the first material. The emanator is configured such that a liquid travels through the emanator at a rate no less than a rate at which it would travel through the first material alone and no less than a rate at which it would travel through the second material alone.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 5, 2002Publication date: September 11, 2003Inventors: Carl Triplett, Kristopher J. Stathakis
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Publication number: 20020172512Abstract: A liquid vaporizer is provided which includes a housing stabilization system for stabilizing the vaporizer when it is plugged into a wall outlet. In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the stabilization system comprises one or more projections which abut the wall or outlet to which the vaporizer is inserted. The liquid vaporizer stabilization system may also serve to prevent dispensing of vaporized material proximate to the electrical outlet.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 24, 2002Publication date: November 21, 2002Inventors: Kristopher J Stathakis, Christhoper Wolpert, Lawrence T Levine, Carl Triplett, Mengtao Pete He, Debra Park
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Publication number: 20020136542Abstract: The present invention relates generally to the fastening of a fluid transport mechanism to a fluid reservoir, and optionally, to various mechanisms which increase the effectiveness of the vaporizing units within which such devices may be employed. For example, the fluid transport mechanism is suitably fastened to the reservoir and removal of the transport mechanism is substantially inhibited by a retaining force provided by one or more fastening features. That is, the transport mechanism is fabricated or suitably augmented such that once it has been inserted into the reservoir, it is not easily removable without significant force or through the use of tools.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 9, 2001Publication date: September 26, 2002Inventors: Mengtao Pete He, Carl Triplett, Christopher J. Wolpert, Kristopher J. Stathakis, Debra Park
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Publication number: 20020136886Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of porous materials, for transporting liquids from a reservoir in a vapor dispensing device which addresses many of the shortcomings of the prior art, by selecting pore sizes and void volume ratios of the various wicking materials to fall within an effective range to obtain effective control of liquid delivery. For example, in accordance various aspects of the present invention, a porous polymeric wick is comprised of various polymeric materials having pore sizes less than about 250 microns and void volume ratios from about 25 to about 60%.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 9, 2001Publication date: September 26, 2002Inventors: Mengtao Pete He, Carl Triplett, Debra Park, Christopher J. Wolpert, Kristopher J. Stathakis
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Publication number: 20010053283Abstract: The present invention suitably provides a method and apparatus for controlling the temperature of a liquid vaporizer heating element, and thereby the rate of evaporation and level of fragrance delivery from the same. In accordance with one exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the device may include a switch that suitably allows the temperature of various types of heating elements to be controlled for different levels of fragrance output. For example, an exemplary embodiment may include a two-pronged plug adaptable to typical outlets that might be found in residential homes or businesses. In accordance with another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the electrical switch generally provides varying resistance values to the electric circuitry of the vaporizer such that, by changing the switch setting, the operating temperature of the wick is controlled and thus the rate of fragrance evaporation from the vaporizer.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 23, 2001Publication date: December 20, 2001Inventors: Lawrence T. Levine, Kristopher J. Stathakis, Christopher J. Wolpert, Carl Triplett, Mengtao Pete He, Debra Park
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Patent number: 6104867Abstract: A liquid vaporizer is provided which includes a guidance system between a refill bottle and a housing unit to aid in guiding the refill bottle unit relative to the housing unit and center a wick contained in the refill bottle unit relative to a heating element contained within the housing unit when the refill bottle is inserted into the housing unit. In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the guidance system comprises one or more projections and corresponding indentations contained on a wall of the housing unit and a wall of the refill bottle unit. The liquid vaporizer may also include a stabilization system to stabilize the refill bottle with respect to the housing when the refill bottle is contained therewithin which generally comprises opposing securement mechanisms.Type: GrantFiled: June 16, 1999Date of Patent: August 15, 2000Assignee: The Dial CorporationInventors: Kristopher J. Stathakis, Christopher J. Wolpert
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Patent number: D440291Type: GrantFiled: November 8, 1999Date of Patent: April 10, 2001Assignee: The Dial CorporationInventors: Christopher J. Wolpert, Donald C. Schreer, Carl Triplett, Kristopher J. Stathakis, Mengtao Pete He, Debra Park
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Patent number: D466204Type: GrantFiled: May 15, 2000Date of Patent: November 26, 2002Assignee: The Dial CorporationInventors: Christopher Wolpert, Kristopher J. Stathakis, Carl Triplett, Mengtao Pete He, Debrah Park