Patents by Inventor Paul M. Blankenship
Paul M. Blankenship 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: 11571083Abstract: A cooking appliance includes: a base; a heater basin mounted above the base and comprising a floor and a side wall that form a cavity configured to hold water, the side wall having a perimeter edge; a heating element mounted beneath the floor of the heater basin and configured to be connected to a power source; an egg cup unit comprising a main panel and at least one cup depending from the main panel, the main panel having a perimeter edge, the at least one cup having a floor that contacts the floor of the heater basin; and a lid attached to the base and configured to cover the egg cup unit. The perimeter edge of the heater basin and the perimeter edge of the egg cup unit are in contact, the interaction of the perimeter edge of the egg cup unit and the perimeter edge of the heater basin configured to impede flow of steam generated by boiling water in the cavity of the heater basin.Type: GrantFiled: June 14, 2019Date of Patent: February 7, 2023Assignee: Hamilton Beach Brands, Inc.Inventors: Michael Garman, Derek A McCullough, Elena A Marentes, Paul M Blankenship
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Publication number: 20200390266Abstract: A cooking appliance includes: a base; a heater basin mounted above the base and comprising a floor and a side wall that form a cavity configured to hold water, the side wall having a perimeter edge; a heating element mounted beneath the floor of the heater basin and configured to be connected to a power source; an egg cup unit comprising a main panel and at least one cup depending from the main panel, the main panel having a perimeter edge, the at least one cup having a floor that contacts the floor of the heater basin; and a lid attached to the base and configured to cover the egg cup unit. The perimeter edge of the heater basin and the perimeter edge of the egg cup unit are in contact, the interaction of the perimeter edge of the egg cup unit and the perimeter edge of the heater basin configured to impede flow of steam generated by boiling water in the cavity of the heater basin.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 14, 2019Publication date: December 17, 2020Inventors: Michael Garman, Derek A McCullough, Elena A Marentes, Paul M Blankenship
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Patent number: 8550378Abstract: An automated sprayer for spraying the walls of a shower enclosure with a liquid cleanser dispenses the cleanser using a pumping system and rotatable spray head. The sprayer has a showerhead mountable housing with an adjustable hanger. There is a portion of the housing for supporting a bottle of cleanser in an inverted fashion. The bottle is vented through a piercing post. A single motor both drives the pump and rotates the spray head.Type: GrantFiled: October 15, 2010Date of Patent: October 8, 2013Assignee: S.C. Johnson & Son, Inc.Inventors: Amber N. Mazooji, Terry M. Kovara, Peter M. Neumann, Michael W. Allen, Stephen D. Beverley, Paul M. Blankenship, Mark K. Romandy
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Publication number: 20130029019Abstract: An ice pop making apparatus for rapid or “on demand” ice pop production involves an apparatus and method whereby one or more mold inserts are removable from the ice pop making apparatus subsequent to an edible product being frozen in the mold insert. The mold insert is exposed to ambient conditions or a fluid bath or stream to release the edible material from the mold insert. The mold insert may be cleaned and/or filled remotely from the ice pop making apparatus so that the ice pop making apparatus will be kept clean and there is no cross-contamination of edible products or flavors between consecutive batches of ice pops.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 31, 2012Publication date: January 31, 2013Inventors: Ernest B. Pryor, JR., Michael G. Sandford, Paul M. Blankenship
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Publication number: 20110024466Abstract: An automated sprayer for spraying the walls of a shower enclosure with a liquid cleanser dispenses the cleanser using a pumping system and rotatable spray head. The sprayer has a showerhead mountable housing with an adjustable hanger. There is a portion of the housing for supporting a bottle of cleanser in an inverted fashion. The bottle is vented through a piercing post. A single motor both drives the pump and rotates the spray head.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 15, 2010Publication date: February 3, 2011Inventors: Amber N. Mazooji, Terry M. Kovara, Peter M. Neumann, Michael W. Allen, Stephen D. Beverley, Paul M. Blankenship, Mark K. Romandy
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Patent number: 7837132Abstract: An automated sprayer for spraying the walls of a shower enclosure with a liquid cleanser dispenses the cleanser using a pumping system and rotatable spray head. The sprayer has a showerhead mountable housing with an adjustable hanger. There is a portion of the housing for supporting a bottle of cleanser in an inverted fashion. The bottle is vented through a piercing post. A single motor both drives the pump and rotates the spray head.Type: GrantFiled: May 16, 2003Date of Patent: November 23, 2010Assignee: S.C. Johnson & Son, Inc.Inventors: Amber N. Mazooji, Terry M. Kovara, Peter M. Neumann, Michael W. Allen, Stephen D. Beverley, Paul M. Blankenship, Mark K. Romandy
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Patent number: 7635097Abstract: An automated sprayer for spraying the walls of a shower enclosure with a liquid cleanser dispenses the cleanser using a pump and rotatable spray head. A motor drives the pump and rotates the spray head. The sprayer has a showerhead mountable housing with a hanger. The housing supports a bottle of cleanser in an inverted fashion. Cleanser is delivered from the bottle through a cleanser conduit in the piercing post into a well of the housing. The bottle is vented from the well through an air vent path in the piercing post or from a well vent outlet through the air vent path in the piercing post. An outlet valve in the well permits outflow of cleanser from the well. Various bottle caps and bottle closures are also provided to improve venting and/or limit cleanser leakage from the bottle when the bottle is installed in the housing.Type: GrantFiled: October 30, 2007Date of Patent: December 22, 2009Assignee: S.C. Johnson & Son, Inc.Inventors: Amber N. D. Mazooji, Terry M. Kovara, Peter M. Neumann, David H. Leifheit, Michael W. Allen, Paul M. Blankenship, Lawrence M. Pillion
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Patent number: 7308990Abstract: An automated sprayer for spraying the walls of a shower enclosure with a liquid cleanser dispenses the cleanser using a pump and rotatable spray head. A motor drives the pump and rotates the spray head. The sprayer has a showerhead mountable housing with a hanger. The housing supports a bottle of cleanser in an inverted fashion. Cleanser is delivered from the bottle through a cleanser conduit in the piercing post into a well of the housing. The bottle is vented from the well through an air vent path in the piercing post or from a well vent outlet through the air vent path in the piercing post. An outlet valve in the well permits outflow of cleanser from the well. Various bottle caps and bottle closures are also provided to improve venting and/or limit cleanser leakage from the bottle when the bottle is installed in the housing.Type: GrantFiled: March 16, 2006Date of Patent: December 18, 2007Assignee: S.C. Johnson & Son, Inc.Inventors: Amber N. D. Mazooji, Terry M. Kovara, Peter M. Neumann, David H. Leifheit, Michael W. Allen, Paul M. Blankenship, Lawrence M. Pillion
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Patent number: 7189945Abstract: A toaster for heating foodstuffs includes a chassis having a cavity therein and having at least one chassis opening for accessing the cavity. A door is movable with respect to the chassis between a closed position in which the door substantially covers the chassis opening, and an open position in which the cavity is accessible through the chassis opening. A carriage with at least one slot is movable between a first position disposed completely within the cavity and a second position extending at least partially from the cavity through the chassis opening. The toaster has a heating configuration in which the carriage is in the first position and the door is in the closed position to confine the foodstuff being heated and create a generally enclosed chamber within the cavity in which heat and moisture loss is controlled.Type: GrantFiled: February 14, 2005Date of Patent: March 13, 2007Assignee: Hamilton Beach/Proctor-Silex, Inc.Inventors: William D. Starr, Nhiem V. Nguyen, Terry L. Myers, Paul M. Blankenship, Adam D. Steinman
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Patent number: 7021494Abstract: An automated sprayer for spraying the walls of a shower enclosure with a liquid cleanser dispenses the cleanser using a pump and rotatable spray head. A motor drives the pump and rotates the spray head. The sprayer has a showerhead mountable housing with a hanger. The housing supports a bottle of cleanser in an inverted fashion. Cleanser is delivered from the bottle through a cleanser conduit in the piercing post into a well of the housing. The bottle is vented from the well through an air vent path in the piercing post or from a well vent outlet through the air vent path in the piercing post. An outlet valve in the well permits outflow of cleanser from the well. Various bottle caps and bottle closures are also provided to improve venting and/or limit cleanser leakage from the bottle when the bottle is installed in the housing.Type: GrantFiled: April 18, 2003Date of Patent: April 4, 2006Assignee: S. C. Johnson & Son, Inc.Inventors: Amber N. D. Mazooji, Terry M. Kovara, Peter M. Neumann, David H. Leifheit, Michael W. Allen, Paul M. Blankenship, Lawrence M. Pillion
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Publication number: 20040217197Abstract: An automated sprayer for spraying the walls of a shower enclosure with a liquid cleanser dispenses the cleanser using a pump and rotatable spray head. A motor drives the pump and rotates the spray head. The sprayer has a showerhead mountable housing with a hanger. The housing supports a bottle of cleanser in an inverted fashion. Cleanser is delivered from the bottle through a cleanser conduit in the piercing post into a well of the housing. The bottle is vented from the well through an air vent path in the piercing post or from a well vent outlet through the air vent path in the piercing post. An outlet valve in the well permits outflow of cleanser from the well. Various bottle caps and bottle closures are also provided to improve venting and/or limit cleanser leakage from the bottle when the bottle is installed in the housing.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 18, 2003Publication date: November 4, 2004Inventors: Amber N.D. Mazooji, Terry M. Kovara, Peter M. Neumann, David H. Leifheit, Michael W. Allen, Paul M. Blankenship, Lawrence M. Pillion
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Publication number: 20040050959Abstract: An automated sprayer for spraying the walls of a shower enclosure with a liquid cleanser dispenses the cleanser using a pumping system and rotatable spray head. The sprayer has a showerhead mountable housing with an adjustable hanger. There is a portion of the housing for supporting a bottle of cleanser in an inverted fashion. The bottle is vented through a piercing post. A single motor both drives the pump and rotates the spray head.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 16, 2003Publication date: March 18, 2004Inventors: Amber N. Mazooji, Terry M. Kovara, Peter M. Neumann, Michael W. Allen, Stephen D. Beverley, Paul M. Blankenship, Mark K. Romandy
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Patent number: 6667465Abstract: A toaster having an electronic circuit including a chip-on-board ASIC that controls the operation of toaster heating elements and an electromagnet to which relatively high voltage is applied to hold an armature carried by a bread carriage and toaster-operating assembly. The armature is freely suspended from a bread carriage and toaster-operating assembly and accurately guided onto the electromagnet when the bread carriage is lowered. The toaster has a one-piece main frame that includes both a base frame plate and a rear frame plate. Several economies are obtained by virtue the construction of the toaster. A one-piece control support member is mounted on the base frame plate that supports both mechanical and electronic assemblies for controlling the operation of the toaster in predetermined relative positions.Type: GrantFiled: August 6, 2002Date of Patent: December 23, 2003Assignee: Hamilton Beach/Proctor-Silex, Inc.Inventors: Alan M. Garber, Paul M. Blankenship, James R. Gaynor, Derwood S. DeLong, Nhiem V. Nguyen
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Publication number: 20020190053Abstract: A toaster having an electronic circuit including a chip-on-board ASIC that controls the operation of toaster heating elements and an electromagnet to which relatively high voltage is applied to hold an armature carried by a bread carriage and toaster-operating assembly. The armature is freely suspended from a bread carriage and toaster-operating assembly and accurately guided onto the electromagnet when the bread carriage is lowered. The toaster has a one-piece main frame that includes both a base frame plate and a rear frame plate. Several economies are obtained by virtue the construction of the toaster. A one-piece control support member is mounted on the base frame plate that supports both mechanical and electronic assemblies for controlling the operation of the toaster in predetermined relative positions.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 6, 2002Publication date: December 19, 2002Inventors: Alan M. Garber, Paul M. Blankenship, James R. Gaynor, Derwood S. DeLong, Nhiem V. Nguyen
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Patent number: 6444954Abstract: A toaster oven has a sheet metal chassis and plastic, cool-wall support walls which support the chassis. Both a pivotally-mounted bottom panel and a slidable crumb tray may be provided. Parts of the chassis are connected together without the use of fasteners or welds by twist tabs. A sheet metal top panel and, optionally, a plastic top panel extend over the top of the chassis. One of the support walls has a pair of locking pins and the plastic top wall has a forwardly-facing hook engaged with one of said locking pins and a rearwardly-facing hook engaged with the other of said locking pins. Support pads on the inner faces of the plastic support walls may cooperate with mounting members for supporting the toaster oven on the bottom of a kitchen cabinet. A control compartment beside the oven chamber houses electrical controls including a heat sensing thermistor mounted in a porcelain tube held against the wall that separates the control compartment from the oven chamber.Type: GrantFiled: November 10, 1999Date of Patent: September 3, 2002Assignee: Hamilton Beach/Proctor-Silex, Inc.Inventor: Paul M. Blankenship
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Patent number: 6429407Abstract: A toaster having an electronic circuit including a chip-on-board ASIC that controls the operation of toaster heating elements and an electromagnet to which relatively high voltage is applied to hold an armature carried by a bread carriage and toaster-operating assembly. The armature is freely suspended from a bread carriage and toaster-operating assembly and accurately guided onto the electromagnet when the bread carriage is lowered. The toaster has a one-piece main frame that includes both a base frame plate and a rear frame plate. Several economies are obtained by virtue the construction of the toaster. A one-piece control support member is mounted on the base frame plate that supports both mechanical and electronic assemblies for controlling the operation of the toaster in predetermined relative positions.Type: GrantFiled: October 6, 1997Date of Patent: August 6, 2002Assignee: Hamilton Beach/Proctor-Silex, Inc.Inventors: Alan M. Garber, Paul M. Blankenship, Helmut G. Prager
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Patent number: 6298770Abstract: A coffee maker has a housing having an upstanding tower, a carafe support platform extending horizontally forward from the lower end of the tower, and a fixed, tubular filter basket support extending horizontally forward from the upper end of the housing above the platform. A horizontal filter basket cover, including a water spreader, is disposed above the filter basket support and carried by the housing for pivotal movement about a vertical axis. A cover pivotal about a horizontal axis is provided over a water reservoir defined by the housing. A valve mechanism is provided that operates upon pivoting of the filter basket cover to selectively permit heated water to be supplied to the water spreader, thereby preventing burns or the like from heated water when the water spreader is not located above the filter basket support. The coffee maker also includes an electronic controller having a control pad on the front surface of the housing platform.Type: GrantFiled: August 15, 2000Date of Patent: October 9, 2001Assignee: Hamilton Beach/Proctor-Silex, Inc.Inventors: Paul M. Blankenship, Martin Brady, Derwood S. DeLong, Michael J. Morecroft, Mark K. Romandy, Dean C. Warner
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Patent number: 6101924Abstract: A coffee maker has a housing having an upstanding tower, a carafe support platform extending horizontally forward from the lower end of the tower, and a fixed, tubular filter basket support extending horizontally forward from the upper end of the housing above the platform. A horizontal filter basket cover, including a water spreader, is disposed above the filter basket support and carried by the housing for pivotal movement about a vertical axis. A cover pivotal about a horizontal axis is provided over a water reservoir defined by the housing. A valve mechanism is provided that operates upon pivoting of the filter basket cover to selectively permit heated water to be supplied to the water spreader, thereby preventing burns from heated water when the water spreader is not located above the filter basket support. The coffee maker also includes an electronic controller having a control pad on the front surface of the housing platform. A pivotal cover is provided to shield the control pad from spilled coffee.Type: GrantFiled: August 24, 1999Date of Patent: August 15, 2000Assignee: Hamilton Beach/Proctor-Silex, Inc.Inventors: Paul M. Blankenship, Martin Brady, Derwood S. DeLong, Michael J. Morecroft, Mark K. Romandy, Dean C. Warner
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Patent number: D509738Type: GrantFiled: March 31, 2003Date of Patent: September 20, 2005Assignee: S.C. Johnson & Son, Inc.Inventors: Terry M. Kovara, Allen D. Miller, Peter M. Neumann, Michael W. Allen, Paul M. Blankenship
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Patent number: D499295Type: GrantFiled: March 31, 2003Date of Patent: December 7, 2004Assignee: S. C. Johnson & Son, Inc.Inventors: Marianne B. Grisdale, Elliott Hsu, Michael W. Allen, Paul M. Blankenship, Stephen D. Beverley, Nhiem V. Nguyen