Patents by Inventor Richard R. Ruffolo

Richard R. Ruffolo 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: 6805300
    Abstract: An automotive air freshener for insertion into a cigarette lighter socket of a vehicle has an elongated housing having first and second ends and opposite sides. First and second electrical contacts are in the first end of the housing and are adapted for insertion into the cigarette lighter socket so that the first and second electrical contacts can be in electrical contact with the socket. An internal circuit board has a switch and an operating current in contact with the first and second electrical contacts. Power is conveyed through the electrical contacts to the circuit board to provide heat at varying degrees to heat a fragrance pad and to operate a fragrance emitting phenomenon. A cover is connected to the circuit board to protect a user from burns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2004
    Assignee: Aeron North America, LLC
    Inventors: Kevin J. Munroe, Jeffrey L. Smith, Cheriyan B. Thomas, Jeffrey J. Grote, Bradley D. Pesu, Richard R. Ruffolo
  • Publication number: 20030160106
    Abstract: An automotive air freshener for insertion into a cigarette lighter socket of a vehicle has an elongated housing having first and second ends and opposite sides. First and second electrical contacts are in the first end of the housing and are adapted for insertion into the cigarette lighter socket so that the first and second electrical contacts can be in electrical contact with the socket. An internal circuit board has a switch and an operating current in contact with the first and second electrical contacts. Power is conveyed through the electrical contacts to the circuit board to provide heat at varying degrees to heat a fragrance pad and to operate a fragrance emitting phenomenon. A cover is connected to the circuit board to protect a user from burns.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2002
    Publication date: August 28, 2003
    Inventors: Kevin J. Munroe, Jeffrey L. Smith, Cheriyan B. Thomas, Jeffrey J. Grote, Bradley D. Pesu, Richard R. Ruffolo
  • Patent number: 6236807
    Abstract: A vapor emanation system includes a plastic housing having a socket portion and an electric plug portion. A decorative miniaturize container containing liquid to be evaporated by heat, has a body for storing the liquid and a neck connected to the body for engaging the socket portion of the housing for supporting the container on the housing. The neck has a passage there through and a retaining ring is fixed in the passage. A hole extends through the ring. A wick having an upper portion extending through the hole of the retaining ring also has a lower portion extending down into the body of the container for absorbing liquid from the container and for moving the liquid into the upper portion of the wick by capillary action. A tangential electric heater in the housing heats the upper portion of the wick above the neck to evaporate liquid from the wick.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2001
    Assignee: Bath & Body Works, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard R. Ruffolo, Anthony Zembrodt, Roberto Zaraboza