Patents by Inventor Man Lai

Man Lai 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: 20150033950
    Abstract: A cooking appliance includes an upper housing, a lower housing operatively connected to the upper housing, and a removable baking attachment received on the lower housing. The baking attachment has a bottom surface, a substantially open top and peripheral sidewalls defining a baking cavity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2013
    Publication date: February 5, 2015
    Applicant: Conair Corporation
    Inventors: Kam Fai Fung, Kin Man Lai
  • Publication number: 20150037482
    Abstract: A cooking appliance includes an upper housing having a first heating plate, a lower housing having a second heating plate, and a temperature probe extending through one of the first heating plate and the second heating plate for detecting an internal temperature of a food item.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2013
    Publication date: February 5, 2015
    Inventors: KAM FAI FUNG, KIN MAN LAI
  • Publication number: 20150033528
    Abstract: A cooking appliance includes an upper housing having a first heating plate and a lower housing having a second heating plate. A handle is connected to the upper housing and is operable to move the upper housing between an open position and a closed position. The cooking appliance further includes a drip tray that is slidably received in said lower housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2013
    Publication date: February 5, 2015
    Inventors: Kam Fai Fung, Kin Man Lai
  • Publication number: 20150037471
    Abstract: A temperature sensing system for a cooking appliance includes a control unit having a receiver. The control unit and the receiver are housed within the cooking appliance. The temperature sensing system further includes a wireless temperature sensing probe having a temperature sensor and a wireless transmitter module. The wireless temperature sensing probe is configured to wirelessly communicate with the control unit housed within the cooking appliance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2013
    Publication date: February 5, 2015
    Inventors: Kam Fai Fung, Kin Man Lai
  • Publication number: 20150033953
    Abstract: A cooking appliance includes a lower housing having a first heating plate, a pair of opposed frame members operatively connected to the lower housing, the frame members including a guide track formed therein, and an upper housing having a second heating plate and a guiding wheel on opposed sides of the upper housing. The guiding wheel is received in the guide track such that the upper housing is selectively movable along the guide track.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2013
    Publication date: February 5, 2015
    Applicant: Conair Corporation
    Inventors: Kam Fai Fung, Kin Man Lai
  • Publication number: 20150033955
    Abstract: A cooking appliance includes a lower housing having a lower heating element, an upper housing having an upper heating element, opposed frame members disposed between the upper housing and the lower housing and operatively connecting the lower housing to the upper housing. The cooking appliance further includes a food mounting assembly. The food mounting assembly includes a bracket extending between the opposed frame members for retaining a means for supporting food items over the lower heating element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2013
    Publication date: February 5, 2015
    Applicant: CONAIR CORPORATION
    Inventors: KAM FAI FUNG, KIN MAN LAI
  • Publication number: 20150033952
    Abstract: A cooking appliance includes a lower housing having a lower heating surface, an upper housing operatively connected to the lower housing and having an upper heating surface, and a smoke exhaust system. The smoke exhaust system includes an air inlet in a lower surface of the upper housing adjacent to the upper heating surface, an exhaust vent formed in the upper housing, and a fan disposed in the upper housing. The fan is configured to draw air through the inlet, into the upper housing, and expel the air through the exhaust vent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2013
    Publication date: February 5, 2015
    Inventors: Kam Fai Fung, Kin Man Lai
  • Publication number: 20150033956
    Abstract: A cooking appliance includes an upper housing having a first heating surface, a lower housing operatively connected to the upper housing, the lower housing having a second heating surface, and a splash guard having a plurality of peripheral sidewalls. The splash guard is nestable within the lower housing and extendable therefrom to a position wherein the splash guard substantially surrounds the second heating surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2013
    Publication date: February 5, 2015
    Inventors: Kam Fai Fung, Kin Man Lai
  • Publication number: 20150033957
    Abstract: A cooking appliance includes a lower housing having a lower heating surface and an upper housing operatively connected to the lower housing. The upper housing has an upper heating surface and an air inlet at least partially surrounding the upper heating surface. The cooking appliance further includes a filter disposed in the air inlet. The filter is configured to remove particulates from air passing through the air inlet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2013
    Publication date: February 5, 2015
    Inventors: KAM FAI FUNG, KIN MAN LAI
  • Publication number: 20150037472
    Abstract: A temperature sensing system for a cooking appliance having an upper housing having a first heating surface and a lower housing having a second heating surface includes a temperature sensing probe, a control panel and a control unit in electrical communication with the temperature sensing probe and the control panel. The temperature sensing probe is removably received by the upper housing and extends through said first heating surface. The control panel has one or more input buttons for allowing a user to select at least one input parameter including a desired internal temperature of a food item.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2013
    Publication date: February 5, 2015
    Applicant: CONAIR CORPORATION
    Inventors: KAM FAI FUNG, KIN MAN LAI
  • Patent number: 8821659
    Abstract: Real-time alignment of substrates is conducted by way of placing a first substrate together with a second substrate located over the first substrate in a fixed relative position onto a first substrate holder. The first substrate holder is operative to support the first substrate. A second substrate holder is operative to contact and control the position of the second substrate relative to the first substrate. A pattern recognition system is operative to view reference marks on the first and second substrates for determining their relative alignment, and a positioning mechanism coupled to the first substrate holder and/or the second substrate holder will align the first substrate relative to the second substrate based on their relative alignment as determined by the pattern recognition system. Thereafter, the substrates are fully laminated to secure them to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: ASM Technology Singapore Pte Ltd
    Inventors: Man Chung Ng, Man Lai Chau
  • Publication number: 20140057033
    Abstract: A beverage assembly includes a housing having a liquid reservoir, an inlet portion formed in the housing, a beverage container configured to be removably accommodated within the inlet portion and having a fracturable seal and containing a beverage ingredient of a first size, a grinding mechanism positioned within the housing and in fluid communication with the inlet portion, and a piercing assembly positioned within the housing, wherein the piercing assembly selectively pierces the fracturable seal thereby causing said beverage ingredient to enter the grinding mechanism. The grinding mechanism selectively transforms the beverage ingredient from the first size to a second size, the second size being smaller than the first size. The beverage assembly further includes a brewing area disposed beneath the grinding assembly and configured to removably accommodate the beverage container after the beverage container has been pierced by the piercing assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2013
    Publication date: February 27, 2014
    Applicant: CONAIR CORPORATION
    Inventors: KIN MAN LAI, KAM FAI FUNG, BARBARA LYNN SCHNABEL
  • Patent number: 8646379
    Abstract: A beverage appliance includes a housing having a liquid reservoir, a brewing station disposed within the housing and in fluid communication with the liquid reservoir, a grinding station disposed within the housing and being functionally separate from said brewing station, and a brewing carriage being selectively movable between a first position adjacent the grinding station and a second position adjacent the brewing station. Movement of the brewing carriage between the first and second position shifts a beverage ingredient in the brewing carriage from the first position to the second position and when the brewing carriage is in the in said second position, liquid is dispensed from the liquid reservoir and directed to the brewing carriage to produce a brewed beverage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: Conair Corporation
    Inventors: Kin Man Lai, Kam Fai Fung, Barbara Lynn Schnabel
  • Publication number: 20130299062
    Abstract: Real-time alignment of substrates is conducted by way of placing a first substrate together with a second substrate located over the first substrate in a fixed relative position onto a first substrate holder. The first substrate holder is operative to support the first substrate. A second substrate holder is operative to contact and control the position of the second substrate relative to the first substrate. A pattern recognition system is operative to view reference marks on the first and second substrates for determining their relative alignment, and a positioning mechanism coupled to the first substrate holder and/or the second substrate holder will align the first substrate relative to the second substrate based on their relative alignment as determined by the pattern recognition system. Thereafter, the substrates are fully laminated to secure them to each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2012
    Publication date: November 14, 2013
    Inventors: Man Chung NG, Man Lai CHAU
  • Patent number: 8573115
    Abstract: A beverage assembly includes a housing having a liquid reservoir, an inlet portion formed in the housing, a beverage container configured to be removably accommodated within the inlet portion and having a fracturable seal and containing a beverage ingredient of a first size, a grinding mechanism positioned within the housing and in fluid communication with the inlet portion, and a piercing assembly positioned within the housing, wherein the piercing assembly selectively pierces the fracturable seal thereby causing said beverage ingredient to enter the grinding mechanism. The grinding mechanism selectively transforms the beverage ingredient from the first size to a second size, the second size being smaller than the first size. The beverage assembly further includes a brewing area disposed beneath the grinding assembly and configured to removably accommodate the beverage container after the beverage container has been pierced by the piercing assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: Conair Corporation
    Inventors: Kin Man Lai, Kam Fai Fung, Barbara Lynn Schnabel
  • Patent number: 8538826
    Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments for applying restrictions to items. Multiple rejection rules are applied to each item in a catalog of items. Each of the rejection rules is associated with one or more conditions in a geographic area. The respective item is designated as restricted for the geographic area when the conditions are met.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Chin Man Lai, Somana P. Konganda, Marcella H. Nieswandt
  • Patent number: 8495068
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for classifying a new item for purposes of estimating import fees associated with shipping the item internationally. In some embodiments, the classification is determined by calculating a similarity score for each of a plurality of previously classified items, each similarity score representing the similarity between a given previously classified item and the new item, identifying a similar item match for the new item, the similar item match corresponding to the previously classified item having the highest similarity score among the plurality of previously classified items, and assigning an item classification code associated with the similar item match to the new item.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Kimberly Reuter Awalt, Venkatram Pramod, Christian Peter Bongiorno, Peggy Pui-ki Cheung, Somana P. Konganda, Chin Man Lai, Marcella H. Nieswandt
  • Publication number: 20120171332
    Abstract: A beverage appliance includes a housing having a liquid reservoir and a receptacle in the housing dimensioned to receive a container containing at least one drink ingredient having particles of a first size. The receptacle is pivotable from a first position in which the receptacle is angled towards a front of the appliance and a second position in which the receptacle is aligned with a brew head and contacts the brew head. The beverage appliance further includes a mechanism for transforming the particles of the drink ingredient from the first size to a second size within the container, the second size being smaller than the first size.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2011
    Publication date: July 5, 2012
    Applicant: CONAIR CORPORATION
    Inventors: KIN MAN LAI, KAM FAI FUNG, BARBARA LYNN SCHNABEL
  • Publication number: 20120121764
    Abstract: A brewed beverage appliance uses a specialized pre-packaged beverage container and a related method of brewing a beverage. The container comprises a cup-shaped base having openings at the bottom. A plurality of roasted, whole coffee beans are contained therein. The appliance has a blade that punctures the cup and then grinds the beans while they are still in the cup. Heated water is delivered to the cup and passes through the ground coffee causing brewed coffee to emit from the openings in the bottom of the cup and into a container such as a coffee mug.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2011
    Publication date: May 17, 2012
    Applicant: CONAIR CORPORATION
    Inventors: KIN MAN LAI, KAM FAI FUNG, BARBARA LYNN SCHNABEL
  • Publication number: 20120121779
    Abstract: A beverage assembly includes a housing having a liquid reservoir, an inlet portion formed in the housing, a beverage container configured to be removably accommodated within the inlet portion and having a fracturable seal and containing a beverage ingredient of a first size, a grinding mechanism positioned within the housing and in fluid communication with the inlet portion, and a piercing assembly positioned within the housing, wherein the piercing assembly selectively pierces the fracturable seal thereby causing said beverage ingredient to enter the grinding mechanism. The grinding mechanism selectively transforms the beverage ingredient from the first size to a second size, the second size being smaller than the first size. The beverage assembly further includes a brewing area disposed beneath the grinding assembly and configured to removably accommodate the beverage container after the beverage container has been pierced by the piercing assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2011
    Publication date: May 17, 2012
    Applicant: CONAIR CORPORATION
    Inventors: KIN MAN LAI, KAM FAI FUNG, BARBARA LYNN SCHNABEL