Patents by Inventor Lowell C. Zeller

Lowell C. Zeller 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: 8438687
    Abstract: A system for cleaning a hot food preparation includes a cleaning tool including a handle and a detachable base. The handle and detachable base comprise a polymeric material, where the melting point of the polymeric material in the handle is lower than the melting point of the polymeric material in the base. The system includes a scrubbing pad support member that is configured to engage and secure a scrubbing pad and connect the scrubbing pad to a handle or a base of a cleaning tool. The handle of the tool is constructed to be reused numerous times whereas the detachable accessories, e.g., the scrubbing pad support member and/or a scrubbing pad, are disposable. A method of molding the scrubbing pad support member is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Eric R. Cybulski, Arthur V. Lang, Jacob J. Orak, Adriana Paiva, Lowell C. Zeller
  • Patent number: 7915211
    Abstract: A solid cleaner for heated surfaces is disclosed. The solid cleaner includes a solidifying agent including wax, and a cleaning agent. The solid cleaner is solid at room temperature and liquid at an elevated temperature. Methods of cleaning a heated surface and cleaning articles are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Lowell C. Zeller, Duane D. Fansler, Gerald R. Hofmann, Adriana Paiva, Smarajit Mitra, Terry R. Hobbs, Naiyong Jing, Augustine C. Liu, Mitchell T. Johnson
  • Publication number: 20090199868
    Abstract: A heated surface cleaning pad that can be attached to a bottom portion of a hand tool configured to be used to scrub a heated food preparation surface. According to an embodiment, the cleaning pad is configured to clean a hot griddle surface that has a number of parallel raised ridges. According to another embodiment, the cleaning pad includes a non-woven construction that is impregnated with abrasive particles and/or a liquid cleaner or a dissolvable solid cleaner. In addition, a method of cleaning a hot food preparation surface is provided. According to one embodiment, the method includes the steps of attaching a scrubbing pad to a cleaning tool, contacting the openings in the cleaning surface of the scrubbing pad with the raised ridges of a griddle surface, and scrubbing the griddle surface with the pad until the surface is clean. Moreover, a method of constructing a cleaning pad for cleaning a hot griddle surface is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2007
    Publication date: August 13, 2009
    Applicant: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Eric R. Cybulski, Arthur V. Lang, Jacob J. Orak, Adriana Paiva, Lowell C. Zeller
  • Publication number: 20090188061
    Abstract: A system for cleaning a hot food preparation surface is provided. According to an embodiment, the system includes a cleaning tool including a handle and a detachable base. In one embodiment the handle and detachable base comprise a polymeric material, where the melting point of the polymeric material in the handle is lower than the melting point of the polymeric material in the base. According to another embodiment, the system includes a scrubbing pad support member that is configured to engage and secure a scrubbing pad and connect the scrubbing pad to a handle or a base of a cleaning tool. In some embodiments, the handle of the tool is constructed to be reused numerous times whereas the detachable accessories, e.g., the scrubbing pad support member and/or a scrubbing pad, are constructed to be disposable. A method of molding the scrubbing pad support member is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2007
    Publication date: July 30, 2009
    Inventors: Eric R. Cybulski, Arthur V. Lang, Jacob J. Orak, Adrians Paiva, Lowell C. Zeller
  • Publication number: 20090145458
    Abstract: A solid cleaner for heated surfaces is disclosed. The solid cleaner includes a solidifying agent including wax, and a cleaning agent. The solid cleaner is solid at room temperature and liquid at an elevated temperature. Methods of cleaning a heated surface and cleaning articles are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2006
    Publication date: June 11, 2009
    Inventors: Lowell C. Zeller, Duane D. Fansler, Gerald R. Hofmann, Adriana Paiva, Smarajit Mitra, Terry R. Hobbs, Naiyong Jing, Augustine C. Liu, Mitchell T. Johnson
  • Patent number: 5013473
    Abstract: The use of frangible microcapsules in cleansing creams and cold creams and other cosmetic products improves their cleansing, cleaning, and removal properties without damage to the skin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 1988
    Date of Patent: May 7, 1991
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Robert J. Norbury, Robert W. H. Chang, Lowell C. Zeller
  • Patent number: D544775
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2007
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Eric R. Cybulski, Arthur V. Lang, Jacob J. Orak, Adriana Paiva, Lowell C. Zeller
  • Patent number: D544776
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2007
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properities Company
    Inventors: Eric R. Cybulski, Arthur V. Lang, Jacob J. Orak, Adriana Paiva, Lowell C. Zeller
  • Patent number: D552444
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2007
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Eric R. Cybulski, Arthur V. Lang, Jacob J. Orak, Adriana Paiva, Lowell C. Zeller
  • Patent number: D552445
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2007
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Eric R. Cybulski, Arthur V. Lang, Jacob J. Orak, Adriana Paiva, Lowell C. Zeller
  • Patent number: D552446
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2007
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Eric R. Cybulski, Arthur V. Lang, Jacob J. Orak, Adriana Paiva, Lowell C. Zeller
  • Patent number: D552816
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2007
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Eric R. Cybulski, Arthur V. Lang, Jacob J. Orak, Adriana Paiva, Lowell C. Zeller
  • Patent number: D556537
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2007
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Eric R. Cybulski, Arthur V. Lang, Jacob J. Orak, Adriana Paiva, Lowell C. Zeller