Patents by Inventor Ralph Weimer

Ralph Weimer 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: 5546967
    Abstract: An apparatus for washing balls in a cleaning fluid includes a container for storing soiled balls, a cleaning unit for washing and rinsing the balls, and a clean ball hopper for storing washed balls. A soiled ball conveyor conveys the balls from the soiled ball hopper to the cleaning unit, while a pneumatic conveyor conveys clean balls from the cleaning unit to the clean ball hopper. A fluid supply system provides recirculated cleaning and rinsing fluids to the cleaning unit, and helps prevent the balls from becoming clogged in foam. The cleaning unit includes three vertical substantially transparent cylindrical housings. Upper and lower enclosures are opaque and remove from sight the top and bottom longitudinal axial ends of the cylindrical housings to provide an exciting visual effect as the balls are conveyed through the transparent elongated housings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 20, 1996
    Assignee: Discovery Zone, Inc.
    Inventors: Ralph Weimer, Duane R. Acker
  • Patent number: 5542440
    Abstract: An apparatus for washing balls in a cleaning fluid includes a container for storing soiled balls, a cleaning unit for washing and rinsing the balls, and a clean ball hopper for storing washed balls. A soiled ball conveyor conveys the balls from the soiled ball hopper to the cleaning unit, while a pneumatic conveyor conveys clean balls from the cleaning unit to the clean ball hopper. A fluid supply system provides recirculated cleaning and rinsing fluids to the cleaning unit, and helps prevent the balls from becoming clogged in foam. The cleaning unit includes three vertical substantially transparent cylindrical housings. Upper and lower enclosures are opaque and remove from sight the top and bottom longitudinal axial ends of the cylindrical housings to provide an exciting visual effect as the balls are conveyed through the transparent elongated housings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 6, 1996
    Assignee: Discovery Zone, Inc
    Inventors: Ralph Weimer, Duane R. Acker
  • Patent number: 5529082
    Abstract: An apparatus for washing balls in a cleaning fluid includes a container for storing soiled balls, a cleaning unit for washing and rinsing the balls, and a clean ball hopper for storing washed balls. A soiled ball conveyor conveys the balls from the soiled ball hopper to the cleaning unit, while a pneumatic conveyor conveys clean balls from the cleaning unit to the clean ball hopper. A fluid supply system provides recirculated cleaning and rinsing fluids to the cleaning unit, and helps prevent the balls from becoming clogged in foam. The cleaning unit includes three vertical substantially transparent cylindrical housings. Upper and lower enclosures are opaque and remove from sight the top and bottom longitudinal axial ends of the cylindrical housings to provide an exciting visual effect as the balls are conveyed through the transparent elongated housings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 25, 1996
    Assignee: Discovery Zone, Inc.
    Inventors: Ralph Weimer, Duane R. Acker
  • Patent number: 5499641
    Abstract: An apparatus for washing balls in a cleaning fluid includes a container for storing soiled balls, a cleaning unit for washing and rinsing the balls, and a clean ball hopper for storing washed balls. A soiled ball conveyor conveys the balls from the soiled ball hopper to the cleaning unit, while a pneumatic conveyor conveys clean balls from the cleaning unit to the clean ball hopper. A fluid supply system provides recirculated cleaning and rinsing fluids to the cleaning unit, and helps prevent the balls from becoming clogged in foam. The cleaning unit includes three vertical substantially transparent cylindrical housings. Upper and lower enclosures are opaque and remove from sight the top and bottom longitudinal axial ends of the cylindrical housings to provide an exciting visual effect as the balls are conveyed through the transparent elongated housings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 19, 1996
    Assignee: Discovery Zone, Inc.
    Inventors: Ralph Weimer, Duane R. Acker
  • Patent number: 4961508
    Abstract: A condiment dispenser is provided having a length of resilient elastic tubing with an upper tube section and a lower tube section. An arm is pivotally mounted adjacent the tubing and moveable through dispensing and return strokes. The arm has an upper arm portion adjacent the upper tube section and a lower arm portion adjacent the lower tube section. During the dispensing stroke, the upper arm portion moves to compress the upper tube section against a wall on the opposite side of the tubing while the lower arm position retracts from the lower tube section to cause the condiment to be dispensed. The return stroke is caused by the return of the compressed upper tube section to a less compressed section, causing the lower arm section to compress and close the tubing at the lower tube section against the wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 1989
    Date of Patent: October 9, 1990
    Assignee: Restaurant Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Ralph Weimer, Louis Porcaro
  • Patent number: 4669373
    Abstract: A compact two-sided cooking device is disclosed for use with an existing grill to permit two-sided cooking of food products, such as hamburger patties, on a relatively limited basis. The device includes a cooking assembly having an electrically-powered cooking platen which can be selectively positioned on food products on the grill for effecting accelerated two-sided cooking thereof. The present cooking device has been particularly configured for use in conjunction with, and for rocking movement on, a commercially-sized restaurant grill, and provides greatly reduced cooking times so that a customer's order can be freshly and efficiently prepared even during relatively slow business hours.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 1986
    Date of Patent: June 2, 1987
    Assignee: Restaurant Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Ralph Weimer, Thaddeus J. Kalowski, Richard W. Dorr, Robert A. Novy