Patents by Inventor Kurt F. Hafeken

Kurt F. Hafeken 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: 20090120469
    Abstract: A dishwasher assembly is disclosed including one or more racks for retaining one or more dishware items to be washed. A washer system is provided for respectively washing and drying the dishware item. A dishwasher housing is used for retaining the rack and the washer system. The dishwasher housing includes a door for accessing the rack, to enable the inserting and removing the dishware item. Preferably, the rack is a rotary rack that cooperates with a rotation assembly for rotating the rack. Also, the dishwasher housing preferably includes a first wall-facing side and a second wall-facing side. The first and second wall-facing sides are preferably formed at a desired angle, so as to fit into a corner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2008
    Publication date: May 14, 2009
    Applicant: AMERICAN TRIM, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Robert M. Byrne, Kurt F. Hafeken, SR.
  • Patent number: 7228653
    Abstract: The present invention provides a kitchen appliance that includes a food mixer and a recipe card holding device. The recipe card holding device includes a first end that is attached to the food mixer and a second end that holds a recipe card.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2007
    Assignee: American Trim, LLC
    Inventors: Robert M. Byrne, Kurt F. Hafeken, Sr.
  • Patent number: 6869373
    Abstract: The present invention provides a metal ball bat and a method of forming the same. The metal ball bat includes a tubular metal body including a barrel and a handle. The handle includes a gripping zone and an end. The metal ball bat also includes a collar having a first opening defined by a first edge, a second opening defined by a second edge, and an inner wall extending between the first edge and the second edge that defines an interior chamber. Part of the end of the handle extends through the first opening into the interior chamber of the collar and is flared against the inner wall of the collar to mechanically secure the collar to the handle and form a knob.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2005
    Assignee: American Trim, LLC
    Inventors: Robert M. Byrne, Kurt F. Hafeken, Sr.
  • Patent number: 6837555
    Abstract: An end cap for preliminary attachment of a control panel to a main body of an appliance includes a generally planar body having a front side and first and second supporting sides. The supporting sides are disposed at a rear and bottom of the planar body and are adapted for securement to the appliance main body. Each of the supporting sides has a plurality of securing tabs extending therefrom. The securing tabs are adapted to extend through an opening in the appliance main body and to engage the main body to preliminarily secure the control panel to the main body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2005
    Assignee: American Trim, LLC
    Inventors: Robert M. Byrne, Kurt F. Hafeken, Sr., Richard J. Pfeifer
  • Patent number: 6821218
    Abstract: The present invention provides a ball bat having a knob, a handle portion extending from the knob, a barrel portion extending from the handle portion, and an inflatable grip disposed on the handle portion. The inflatable grip includes an inflatable tubular sleeve through which the handle portion extends, an inflator in fluid communication with the inflatable tubular sleeve for pumping air into the inflatable tubular sleeve, and a release valve in fluid communication with the inflatable tubular sleeve for releasing air from the inflatable tubular sleeve. The ball bat according to the invention allows a batter to selectively pressurize the inflatable tubular sleeve to adjust the rigidity and size of the grip, which improves batter comfort and reduces the amount of shock and vibration transferred from the ball bat to the batter's hands.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2004
    Assignee: American Trim, LLC
    Inventors: Robert M. Byrne, Kurt F. Hafeken, Sr.
  • Publication number: 20040110581
    Abstract: The present invention provides a ball bat having a knob, a handle portion extending from the knob, a barrel portion extending from the handle portion, and an inflatable grip disposed on the handle portion. The inflatable grip includes an inflatable tubular sleeve through which the handle portion extends, an inflator in fluid communication with the inflatable tubular sleeve for pumping air into the inflatable tubular sleeve, and a release valve in fluid communication with the inflatable tubular sleeve for releasing air from the inflatable tubular sleeve. The ball bat according to the invention allows a batter to selectively pressurize the inflatable tubular sleeve to adjust the rigidity and size of the grip, which improves batter comfort and reduces the amount of shock and vibration transferred from the ball bat to the batter's hands.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2003
    Publication date: June 10, 2004
    Applicant: American Trim, LLC
    Inventors: Robert M. Byrne, Kurt F. Hafeken
  • Publication number: 20040049961
    Abstract: The present invention provides a recipe card holding device for attachment to a food mixer. The device includes a first end and a second end. The first end attaches to the food mixer, and the second end holds a recipe card. In a first embodiment of the invention, the first end is attached to a food mixer by a mounting portion that is configured to contact a portion of the housing of the food mixer adjacent to the power take off. In other embodiments, the mounting portion is configured to attach to other portions of the housing. An orifice is provided in the mounting portion through which an accessory mounting screw of the food mixer is passed. The second end preferably includes three generally parallel fingers that extend away from an arm that connects the first end and the second end. A recipe card is then inserted between the fingers in an alternating manner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2003
    Publication date: March 18, 2004
    Inventors: Robert M. Byrne, Kurt F. Hafeken
  • Publication number: 20030132686
    Abstract: An end cap for preliminary attachment of a control panel to a main body of an appliance includes a generally planar body having a front side and first and second supporting sides. The supporting sides are disposed at a rear and bottom of the planar body and are adapted for securement to the appliance main body. Each of the supporting sides has a plurality of securing tabs extending therefrom. The securing tabs are adapted to extend through an opening in the appliance main body and to engage the main body to preliminarily secure the control panel to the main body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2003
    Publication date: July 17, 2003
    Inventors: Robert M. Byrne, Kurt F. Hafeken, Richard J. Pfeifer
  • Patent number: 6572206
    Abstract: An end cap for preliminary attachment of a control panel to a main body of an appliance includes a generally planar body having a front side and first and second supporting sides. The supporting sides are disposed at a rear and bottom of the planar body and are adapted for securement to the appliance main body. Each of the supporting sides has a plurality of securing tabs extending therefrom. The securing tabs are adapted to extend through an opening in the appliance main body and to engage the main body to preliminarily secure the control panel to the main body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2003
    Assignee: American Trim, LLC
    Inventors: Robert M. Byrne, Kurt F. Hafeken, Sr., Richard J. Pfeifer
  • Publication number: 20030057811
    Abstract: An end cap for preliminary attachment of a control panel to a main body of an appliance includes a generally planar body having a front side and first and second supporting sides. The supporting sides are disposed at a rear and bottom of the planar body and are adapted for securement to the appliance main body. Each of the supporting sides has a plurality of securing tabs extending therefrom. The securing tabs are adapted to extend through an opening in the appliance main body and to engage the main body to preliminarily secure the control panel to the main body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2001
    Publication date: March 27, 2003
    Inventors: Robert M. Byrne, Kurt F. Hafeken, Richard J. Pfeifer
  • Patent number: 6443860
    Abstract: The present invention provides a ball bat including an elongated tubular metal body having a barrel portion at one end and a handle portion at an opposite end. The handle portion terminates a knob that includes a metal collar that extends from the handle portion and a plug that is retained in an opening in the collar. Preferably, the opening in the collar is substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the elongated tubular metal body and has a diameter that is greater than the diameter of the handle portion. The plug is preferably retained in the opening by means of a snap-fit connection between an edge that defines the opening and a groove in the plug or by means of a bayonet coupling between the plug-and the collar. A portion of the exposed surface of the plug can be used to provide an extended gripping surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2002
    Assignee: American Trim, LLC
    Inventors: Robert M. Byrne, Kurt F. Hafeken, Sr.
  • Patent number: 6293273
    Abstract: The present invention provides a portable gas grill for cooking food that burns LP gas stored in a 20# class vertical LP gas cylinder having a foot ring. The portable gas grill according to the invention includes a grill cart including a plurality of vertical posts supporting a fire box and a base that connects the vertical posts. The portable gas grill further includes a wheeled dolly including a generally horizontal loading platform that is adapted to receive the foot ring of a 20# class vertical LP gas cylinder. The loading platform is adapted to removably connect to the base of the grill cart. Preferably, the wheeled dolly further includes a generally vertical retractable frame member having a lower end that is fixedly connected to said loading platform. More preferably, the vertical frame member is retractable such that in a retracted position it is about the same height as a 20# class vertical LP gas cylinder having a foot ring received by the loading platform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2001
    Assignee: American Trim, LLC
    Inventors: Robert M. Byrne, Kurt F. Hafeken, Sr.
  • Patent number: 5490957
    Abstract: A portable humidifier that provides a visual indication of the internal water flow, with a motor for pumping water so that it provides a visible show, flows over at least one vertical filter, which provides uniform increased humidity for the filter area, which motor is also attached to a fan blade to disperse moisture into the environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 13, 1996
    Inventors: William E. Lasko, Charles Litvin, Kurt F. Hafeken, Leo Gonzales
  • Patent number: 5454661
    Abstract: A tubing connector to join together two pieces of hollow tubing, which connector includes a disk like separator ring with a first rib extending from each side, which rib each has flat sides with a second rib perpendicular thereto, with additional ribs with tapered sides on each side of the second rib, which ribs fit into the tubing pieces in compressed relation, for securely retaining the tubing pieces together, but which can be readily removed if required. The connector is made of molded plastic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 3, 1995
    Inventors: Charles Litvin, Kurt F. Hafeken
  • Patent number: D346019
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 12, 1994
    Inventors: Edward P. Cheslock, Kurt F. Hafeken
  • Patent number: D355483
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1993
    Date of Patent: February 14, 1995
    Assignee: Lasko Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles Litvin, Kurt F. Hafeken
  • Patent number: D396989
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 18, 1998
    Assignee: White Consolidated Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Subhash R. Deo, James E. Pryor, Kurt F. Hafeken, Sr.