Patents by Inventor Kroy Everett Nernberger

Kroy Everett Nernberger 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).

  • Publication number: 20240251994
    Abstract: A method of controlling a heating appliance includes receiving a level selection at a controller, reading a starting parameter at an initiation of a heating process and providing a signal to the controller, accessing a memory including a matrix of heating parameters, selecting a first group of equations of the matrix at the controller based on the selected level, where the first group of equations include at least a first equation and a second equation corresponding to first and second starting parameter ranges, identifying an equation of the first group of equations of the matrix at the controller, the matrix having a corresponding starting parameter range based on the starting parameter, and performing the heating process according to the identified equation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2022
    Publication date: August 1, 2024
    Inventors: Boopalan Sampath, Lewis A. Lartey, Kevin B. Kinney, Michael S. Rubrich, Kroy Everett Nernberger, Peter Alan Steiner, Cole Salek
  • Patent number: 11971737
    Abstract: Embodiments of a heating appliance with control features such as knobs can provide tactile feedback to the user during knob operation. Tactile feedback through the knob, e.g., during rotation in one or more directions, can improve control precision. Beneficial control accuracy features, such as can be utilized during appliance operation and setting of parameters of the heating appliance. A user's desired setting, such as various cooking modes or an off position can therefore be input into the heating appliance with tactile control aspects. A user's desired setting can therefore be accurately set, including with the benefit of tactile control aspects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: Spectrum Brands, Inc.
    Inventors: Kroy Everett Nernberger, Peter Alan Steiner, Jacob Daniel Smith
  • Patent number: 11751721
    Abstract: A heating appliance includes a housing defining a food product compartment having at least a front door and a rear wall opposite the front door. The heating appliance also includes a rack configured to support a food product within the food product compartment. The heating appliance also includes a heating assembly disposed within the food product compartment and an elongate heating device having a first length, and an angled heat distribution member having a second length disposed between the heating device and the rack. The heat distribution member includes a pattern of apertures and the heat distribution member is configured to prevent infrared radiation produced by the heating device from directly reaching the rear wall of the housing, except for infrared radiation that passes through the apertures of the heat distribution member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: Spectrum Brands, Inc.
    Inventors: Kroy Everett Nernberger, Jacob Daniel Smith, Matthew James Hamilton
  • Publication number: 20230165408
    Abstract: A food preparation appliance, such as a blending, mixing, or food processing appliance, allows for rotatable blade movement by a drive and/or driven shaft relative to a jar holding contents along with movement of the jar relative to the blade in the axial direction of the drive and/or driven shaft. For example, a vertical or axial movement of the blade relative to the jar, or vice-versa can be guided within defined limits. Aspects provide the consumer with an intuitive and proactive way of preventing cavitation and improving the blending performance by allowing the user to manually and indirectly physically agitate the mixture with an up and down motion of the jar during a blending operation. This option for manual operation is part of the disclosed blender design, so is always and conveniently available to the consumer as an anti-cavitation method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2021
    Publication date: June 1, 2023
    Inventors: Kroy Everett Nernberger, Steven James Buth, Matthew Joseph Quock, Matthew James Hamilton, David William Everett Jr., Daniel Richard Strong
  • Patent number: 11618992
    Abstract: A steam generator includes a pre-heat chamber configured to heat incoming water to a temperature less than the boiling point of water, where the pre-heat chamber is configured to heat the water such that if the water contains a calcium compound, the calcium compound is caused to take a particulate form. The steam generator also includes a filter assembly in fluid communication with the pre-heat chamber, the filter assembly including a removable particulate filter element, where the filter element is reusable and cleanable. The steam generator also includes a water pump in fluid communication with the filter assembly, and operative to cause water flow through the steam generator and a boiler in fluid communication with the water pump, where the water pump is configured to cause water to flow to the boiler, and where the boiler is configured to boil water such that steam is produced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: Spectrum Brands, Inc.
    Inventors: Kroy Everett Nernberger, Boopalan Sampath, Daniel Richard Strong, Adam Joseph Mayer
  • Publication number: 20230050419
    Abstract: Embodiments of a heating appliance with control features such as knobs can provide tactile feedback to the user during knob operation. Tactile feedback through the knob, e.g., during rotation in one or more directions, can improve control precision. Beneficial control accuracy features, such as can be utilized during appliance operation and setting of parameters of the heating appliance. A user's desired setting, such as various cooking modes or an off position can therefore be input into the heating appliance with tactile control aspects. A user's desired setting can therefore be accurately set, including with the benefit of tactile control aspects.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2022
    Publication date: February 16, 2023
    Inventors: Kroy Everett Nernberger, Peter Alan Steiner, Jacob Daniel Smith
  • Patent number: 11422583
    Abstract: Embodiments of a heating appliance with control features such as knobs can provide tactile feedback to the user during knob operation. Tactile feedback through the knob, e.g., during rotation in one or more directions, can improve control precision. Beneficial control accuracy features, such as can be utilized during appliance operation and setting of parameters of the heating appliance. A user's desired setting, such as various cooking modes or an off position can therefore be input into the heating appliance with tactile control aspects. A user's desired setting can therefore be accurately set, including with the benefit of tactile control aspects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: Spectrum Brands, Inc.
    Inventors: Kroy Everett Nernberger, Peter Alan Steiner, Jacob Daniel Smith
  • Patent number: 11311134
    Abstract: Systems and methods herein relate to an easy assemble centrifugal juicer. The centrifugal juicer includes a top section having a juice spout and pulp spout, wherein the top section defines a cavity with a first mating surface and a second mating surface; a strainer section having a strainer, a drive member, and a projection, the projection structured to engage with the first mating surface to couple the strainer section to the top section; and a motor housing structured to house a motor, wherein the motor is operatively coupled to a motor adapter structured to engage with the drive member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: Spectrum Brands, Inc.
    Inventors: Javier Barquin, Rolando Antonio Cavazos Jimenez, Joseph Krebs, Randy Miller, Kroy Everett Nernberger, James Saunders, Jacob Smith
  • Publication number: 20210349493
    Abstract: Embodiments of a heating appliance with control features such as knobs can provide tactile feedback to the user during knob operation. Tactile feedback through the knob, e.g., during rotation in one or more directions, can improve control precision. Beneficial control accuracy features, such as can be utilized during appliance operation and setting of parameters of the heating appliance. A user's desired setting, such as various cooking modes or an off position can therefore be input into the heating appliance with tactile control aspects. A user's desired setting can therefore be accurately set, including with the benefit of tactile control aspects.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2021
    Publication date: November 11, 2021
    Inventors: Kroy Everett Nernberger, Peter Alan Steiner, Jacob Daniel Smith
  • Publication number: 20210015300
    Abstract: A heating appliance includes a housing defining a food product compartment having at least a front door and a rear wall opposite the front door. The heating appliance also includes a rack configured to support a food product within the food product compartment. The heating appliance also includes a heating assembly disposed within the food product compartment and an elongate heating device having a first length, and an angled heat distribution member having a second length disposed between the heating device and the rack. The heat distribution member includes a pattern of apertures and the heat distribution member is configured to prevent infrared radiation produced by the heating device from directly reaching the rear wall of the housing, except for infrared radiation that passes through the apertures of the heat distribution member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2020
    Publication date: January 21, 2021
    Inventors: Kroy Everett Nernberger, Jacob Daniel Smith, Matthew James Hamilton
  • Patent number: 10849461
    Abstract: A food preparation appliance has a base, a blade member rotatable in a direction of rotation, and a container with a closed bottom, an open top and a tubular sidewall together defining an interior space of the container. The top of the container is configured for releasable connection with the base, with the blade member disposed within the interior space of the container. The sidewall has a rib projecting inward of the interior space of the container and extending lengthwise along at least a portion of the sidewall from the top of the container toward the bottom of the container. The rib has, in the direction of rotation of the blade member, a peak defined as the shortest transverse dimension measured from the center of the container to the sidewall at a respective height along the portion of the sidewall having the rib, the rib being asymmetric in transverse cross-section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: Spectrum Brands, Inc.
    Inventors: Kroy Everett Nernberger, Jacob Daniel Smith, David William Everett
  • Patent number: 10791872
    Abstract: A heating appliance includes a housing defining a food product compartment having at least a front door and a rear wall opposite the front door. The heating appliance also includes a rack configured to support a food product within the food product compartment. The heating appliance also includes a heating assembly disposed within the food product compartment and an elongate heating device having a first length, and an angled heat distribution member having a second length disposed between the heating device and the rack. The heat distribution member includes a pattern of apertures and the heat distribution member is configured to prevent infrared radiation produced by the heating device from directly reaching the rear wall of the housing, except for infrared radiation that passes through the apertures of the heat distribution member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: Spectrum Brands, Inc.
    Inventors: Kroy Everett Nernberger, Jacob Daniel Smith, Matthew James Hamilton
  • Patent number: 10765260
    Abstract: A food preparation appliance has a base, a blade member rotatable in a direction of rotation, and a container with a closed bottom, an open top and a tubular sidewall together defining an interior space of the container. The top of the container is configured for releasable connection with the base, with the blade member disposed within the interior space of the container. The sidewall has a rib projecting inward of the interior space of the container and extending lengthwise along at least a portion of the sidewall from the top of the container toward the bottom of the container. The rib has, in the direction of rotation of the blade member, a peak defined as the shortest transverse dimension measured from the center of the container to the sidewall at a respective height along the portion of the sidewall having the rib, the rib being asymmetric in transverse cross-section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: Spectrum Brands, Inc.
    Inventors: Kroy Everett Nernberger, Jacob Daniel Smith, David William Everett
  • Publication number: 20200165769
    Abstract: A steam generator includes a pre-heat chamber configured to heat incoming water to a temperature less than the boiling point of water, where the pre-heat chamber is configured to heat the water such that if the water contains a calcium compound, the calcium compound is caused to take a particulate form. The steam generator also includes a filter assembly in fluid communication with the pre-heat chamber, the filter assembly including a removable particulate filter element, where the filter element is reusable and cleanable. The steam generator also includes a water pump in fluid communication with the filter assembly, and operative to cause water flow through the steam generator and a boiler in fluid communication with the water pump, where the water pump is configured to cause water to flow to the boiler, and where the boiler is configured to boil water such that steam is produced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2018
    Publication date: May 28, 2020
    Inventors: Kroy Everett Nernberger, Boopalan Sampath, Daniel Richard Strong, Adam Joseph Mayer
  • Patent number: 10575683
    Abstract: A base power unit for a blender includes a housing supporting a motor coupled to a drive shaft, the drive shaft coupled to a drive element. The base power unit also includes a fan coupled to the drive shaft, where the fan is located between the motor and the drive element. The housing defines an air flow path passing the motor, where the fan receives air after the air enters the housing through an intake vent, and the fan causes the air to pass out of the housing through an exit vent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: Spectrum Brands, Inc.
    Inventors: Kroy Everett Nernberger, Jacob Daniel Smith
  • Publication number: 20190290046
    Abstract: Systems and methods herein relate to an easy assemble centrifugal juicer. The centrifugal juicer includes a top section having a juice spout and pulp spout, wherein the top section defines a cavity with a first mating surface and a second mating surface; a strainer section having a strainer, a drive member, and a projection, the projection structured to engage with the first mating surface to couple the strainer section to the top section; and a motor housing structured to house a motor, wherein the motor is operatively coupled to a motor adapter structured to engage with the drive member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2019
    Publication date: September 26, 2019
    Applicant: Spectrum Brands, Inc.
    Inventors: Javier Barquin, Rolando Antonio Cavazos Jimenez, Joseph Krebs, Randy Miller, Kroy Everett Nernberger, James Saunders, Jacob Smith
  • Patent number: 10334979
    Abstract: Systems and methods herein relate to an easy assemble centrifugal juicer. The centrifugal juicer includes a top section having a juice spout and pulp spout, wherein the top section defines a cavity with a first mating surface and a second mating surface; a strainer section having a strainer, a drive member, and a projection, the projection structured to engage with the first mating surface to couple the strainer section to the top section; and a motor housing structured to house a motor, wherein the motor is operatively coupled to a motor adapter structured to engage with the drive member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: SPECTRUM BRANDS, INC.
    Inventors: Javier Barquin, Rolando Antonio Cavazos Jimenez, Joseph Krebs, Randy Miller, Kroy Everett Nernberger, James Saunders, Jacob Smith
  • Patent number: 10201737
    Abstract: The curling broom head is composed of a fabric section, flexible section, lower body, upper body, and a stem or stem assembly that is used to attach the broom head to the broom handle. The fabric section is a stand-alone piece of fabric that can easily be removed and replaced by the user. The fabric section is wrapped around the flexible section and lower body and is secured into place and ready for game play when the lower body is attached to the upper body. At any time, the curling fabric may be easily replaced by separating the upper and lower bodies, removing the old fabric from the lower body and replacing it with new fabric. The curling broom handle is an elongated member that is attached to the broom head on one end. A removable device(s) is attached or secured to the broom handle at a desired height and provide an easier profile to grip and/or extra surface area to exert downward force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Inventor: Kroy Everett Nernberger
  • Publication number: 20180263419
    Abstract: A base power unit for a blender includes a housing supporting a motor coupled to a drive shaft, the drive shaft coupled to a drive element. The base power unit also includes a fan coupled to the drive shaft, where the fan is located between the motor and the drive element. The housing defines an air flow path passing the motor, where the fan receives air after the air enters the housing through an intake vent, and the fan causes the air to pass out of the housing through an exit vent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2017
    Publication date: September 20, 2018
    Inventors: Kroy Everett Nernberger, Jacob Daniel Smith
  • Patent number: 9993110
    Abstract: A heating appliance generally includes a housing defining a food product compartment, and a rack configured to support a food product within the food product compartment. The heating appliance further includes a heating assembly disposed within the food product compartment. The heating assembly includes a heating element having a length, wherein the heating element is configured to have a temperature increase along the length during heating. The heating assembly further includes a heat distribution member disposed between the heating element and the rack, wherein the heat distribution member includes a pattern of apertures that tapers in accordance with the temperature increase of the heating element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: Spectrum Brands, Inc.
    Inventors: Jacob Daniel Smith, Kroy Everett Nernberger, Casey Aaron Klock, James Raymond Patullo, Joseph Valdon Krebs, David W. Everett, Jr., Milan Poidl