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).
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Patent number: 11927472Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: June 26, 2019Date of Patent: March 12, 2024Assignee: 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
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Publication number: 20180153343Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: October 30, 2017Publication date: June 7, 2018Inventors: Michael Garman, David L. Jackson, Abraham S. Longmire, George Stamper, Michael M. Pierce, Derek A. McCullough, Mark C. Steiner, Andrea L. Radford
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Patent number: 9370275Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: February 21, 2014Date of Patent: June 21, 2016Assignee: 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
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Publication number: 20140217084Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: February 21, 2014Publication date: August 7, 2014Applicant: 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
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Patent number: 7196885Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: April 23, 2003Date of Patent: March 27, 2007Assignee: Hamilton Beach/Proctor-Silex, Inc.Inventors: Michael M. Pierce, Brian R. Sullivan, Roy B. Bates
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Patent number: 6814323Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: June 7, 2002Date of Patent: November 9, 2004Assignee: Hamilton Beach/Proctor-Silex, Inc.Inventors: Dane Starr, Jeffery Thomas Mauch, Michael M. Pierce
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Publication number: 20040212935Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: April 23, 2003Publication date: October 28, 2004Applicant: Hamilton Beach/Proctor-Silex,Inc.Inventors: Michael M. Pierce, Brian R. Sullivan, Roy B. Bates
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Publication number: 20030226923Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: June 7, 2002Publication date: December 11, 2003Applicant: Hamilton Beach/Proctor-Silex, Inc.Inventors: Dane Starr, Jeffery Thomas Mauch, Michael M. Pierce