Patents by Inventor Michael M. Pierce

Michael M. Pierce 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: 11927472
    Abstract: Modular storage systems include load sensors disposed beneath or in association with platforms. The load sensors are pulse-sampled for signals corresponding to loads at time intervals, rather than continuously, in order to conserve electrical power. An item associated with a transaction is identified based on a change in the loads, as determined from the pulse-sampled signals. The platforms are aligned at horizontal or non-horizontal angles, and photovoltaic power sources with banks of photovoltaic cells are mounted to front edges of the platforms. When a user reaches over one of the photovoltaic cells to access an item on a platform, a level of power or voltage generated by the photovoltaic cell is diminished. The item closest to the photovoltaic cell having the diminished power or voltage, or a customer that accessed the item, may be identified accordingly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew Ray DesJardien, Chelsea Olson, Robert M. Riggs, Dan Beltzer, Paul Eugene Munger, Aaron M. McDaniel, Andrew James Pierce, Michael Mosman, Nathan Pius O'Neill
  • Publication number: 20180153343
    Abstract: A small cooking appliance comprises a bottom housing, a top housing, and a cooking assembly. The bottom housing has a top surface that forms a bottom cooking surface of the appliance. The top housing has a bottom surface that forms a top cooking surface of the appliance. The top housing is hingedly attached to the bottom housing and moveable between a closed position and an open position. The cooking assembly is positionable between the top and bottom cooking surfaces when the top housing is in its closed position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2017
    Publication date: June 7, 2018
    Inventors: Michael Garman, David L. Jackson, Abraham S. Longmire, George Stamper, Michael M. Pierce, Derek A. McCullough, Mark C. Steiner, Andrea L. Radford
  • Patent number: 9370275
    Abstract: A small cooking appliance comprises a bottom housing, a top housing, and a ring assembly. The bottom housing has a top surface that forms a bottom cooking surface. The top housing has a bottom surface that forms a top cooking surface. The top housing is movably attached to the bottom housing and moveable between a closed position and an open position. The ring assembly is positioned between the top and bottom cooking surfaces when the top housing is in its closed position. The ring assembly comprises a top ring, a bottom ring, and a center cooking plate. The center cooking plate is adapted to be removably inserted between the top ring and the bottom ring such that a space defined by the ring assembly is divided into top and bottom cooking cavities when the center cooking plate is inserted between the top ring and the bottom ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: Hamilton Beach Brands, Inc.
    Inventors: David L Jackson, Michael Garman, Abraham S Longmire, George Stamper, Michael M. Pierce, Derek A. McCullough, Mark C Steiner, Claire Ashley
  • Publication number: 20140217084
    Abstract: A small cooking appliance comprises a bottom housing, a top housing, and a ring assembly. The bottom housing has a top surface that forms a bottom cooking surface. The top housing has a bottom surface that forms a top cooking surface. The top housing is movably attached to the bottom housing and moveable between a closed position and an open position. The ring assembly is positioned between the top and bottom cooking surfaces when the top housing is in its closed position. The ring assembly comprises a top ring, a bottom ring, and a center cooking plate. The center cooking plate is adapted to be removably inserted between the top ring and the bottom ring such that a space defined by the ring assembly is divided into top and bottom cooking cavities when the center cooking plate is inserted between the top ring and the bottom ring.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2014
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Applicant: Hamilton Beach Brands, Inc.
    Inventors: David L. Jackson, Michael Garman, Abraham S. Longmire, George Stamper, Michael M. Pierce, Derek A. McCullough, Mark C. Steiner, Claire Ashley
  • Patent number: 7196885
    Abstract: An appliance leakage current interrupter (ALCI) cord set for powering an appliance includes an ALCI plug having a housing, an ALCI circuit disposed within the housing and two partially exposed contact blades coupled to an input of the ALCI circuit. The contact blades are configured to connect to an electrical receptacle. The ALCI cord set also includes a power cord and a nightlight. The power cord has a generally insulative jacket and two electrical conductors each having a first end electrically coupled to an output of the ALCI circuit and a second end electrically coupled to the appliance. The nightlight is mounted on an exterior of the housing of the ALCI plug. The nightlight is electrically coupled to the output of the ALCI circuit and is illuminated when the ALCI circuit is not tripped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2007
    Assignee: Hamilton Beach/Proctor-Silex, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael M. Pierce, Brian R. Sullivan, Roy B. Bates
  • Patent number: 6814323
    Abstract: A food processor for processing foodstuffs including a housing having a motor covering a base. The food processor further including a driveshaft, a bowl, a lid and a first tool. The driveshaft protrudes from the base and includes a first end proximate the base and a second end distal therefrom. The bowl is removably securable to the base. The lid is removably securable to the bowl creating a processing chamber between inner surfaces of the bowl and the lid. The first tool is rotatably securable to the driveshaft adjacent the first end in a first operating mode and is rotatably securable to the driveshaft adjacent the second end in a second operating mode. The food processor further includes a disk that is rotatably securable adjacent the second end creating a sub-processing chamber between the first surface and the inner surfaces in the second operating mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2004
    Assignee: Hamilton Beach/Proctor-Silex, Inc.
    Inventors: Dane Starr, Jeffery Thomas Mauch, Michael M. Pierce
  • Publication number: 20040212935
    Abstract: An appliance leakage current interrupter (ALCI) cord set for powering an appliance includes an ALCI plug having a housing, an ALCI circuit disposed within the housing and two partially exposed contact blades coupled to an input of the ALCI circuit. The contact blades are configured to connect to an electrical receptacle. The ALCI cord set also includes a power cord and a nightlight. The power cord has a generally insulative jacket and two electrical conductors each having a first end electrically coupled to an output of the ALCI circuit and a second end electrically coupled to the appliance. The nightlight is mounted on an exterior of the housing of the ALCI plug. The nightlight is electrically coupled to the output of the ALCI circuit and is illuminated when the ALCI circuit is not tripped.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2003
    Publication date: October 28, 2004
    Applicant: Hamilton Beach/Proctor-Silex,Inc.
    Inventors: Michael M. Pierce, Brian R. Sullivan, Roy B. Bates
  • Publication number: 20030226923
    Abstract: A food processor for processing foodstuffs including a housing having a motor covering a base. The food processor further including a driveshaft, a bowl, a lid and a first tool. The driveshaft protrudes from the base and includes a first end proximate the base and a second end distal therefrom. The bowl is removably securable to the base. The lid is removably securable to the bowl creating a processing chamber between inner surfaces of the bowl and the lid. The first tool is rotatably securable to the driveshaft adjacent the first end in a first operating mode and is rotatably securable to the driveshaft adjacent the second end in a second operating mode. The food processor further includes a disk that is rotatably securable adjacent the second end creating a sub-processing chamber between the first surface and the inner surfaces in the second operating mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2002
    Publication date: December 11, 2003
    Applicant: Hamilton Beach/Proctor-Silex, Inc.
    Inventors: Dane Starr, Jeffery Thomas Mauch, Michael M. Pierce