Patents by Inventor Thomas P. Berg

Thomas P. Berg 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: 8313707
    Abstract: A product housing for use with a vacuum breaker, a solid product dispenser, and a solid product having a bottom surface comprises a product holder, an overflow outlet, and a flood plane. The product holder has a bottom and is configured and arranged to receive the solid product with the bottom surface proximate the bottom. The bottom of the product holder is positioned proximate above the solid product dispenser and proximate below the vacuum breaker. The overflow outlet is proximate the bottom, and the flood plane is proximate the overflow outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Assignee: Ecolab USA Inc.
    Inventors: Scott R. Limback, Thomas P. Berg, Kristine J. Williams, Brian P. Carlson
  • Publication number: 20110284575
    Abstract: A method of dispensing a first solid product and a second solid product with a solid product dispenser includes placing the first solid product in a product housing of the dispenser and placing the second solid product in the product housing on top of the first solid product, the first and second solid products being different products. A portion of the first solid product is dispensed during at least a first cycle of the dispenser until the first solid product has been partially depleted to a size small enough to allow the second solid product to also be dispensed, then a portion of the first solid product and a portion of the second solid product are dispensed during at least a second cycle of the dispenser until the first solid product has been completely depleted, and then a portion of the second solid product is dispensed during at least a third cycle of the dispenser.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2011
    Publication date: November 24, 2011
    Inventors: Kristine J. Williams, Thomas P. Berg, Karen O. Rigley
  • Publication number: 20110225755
    Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to a cleaning tool, a tool system, and specific tool head designs. The disclosure is useful for cleaning fryers in restaurants.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2011
    Publication date: September 22, 2011
    Applicant: ECOLAB USA INC.
    Inventors: Brian P. Carlson, Ryan Chernik, Michael Brown, Thomas P. Berg, Kyle Anthony Gallo
  • Patent number: 8020578
    Abstract: A dispenser (10) uses first and second flow controls (70, 73). The flow controls maintain first and second flow ranges independent of diluent pressure within a pressure range, wherein the use solution's concentration is maintained over the pressure range. A third flow control (75) may also be utilized in a third diluent passageway for maintaining a third flow range independent of the diluent pressure within the pressure range. A bypass valve assembly (41) is operatively connected to the third incoming diluent passageway. The bypass valve has a temperature control valve. The temperature control valve having a bypass passageway, wherein additional diluent is added to the use solution, thereby controlling the use solution's concentration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignee: Ecolab USA Inc.
    Inventors: John E. Thomas, Robert J. Plantikow, Thomas P. Berg, Thomas J. Batcher, Daniel F. Brady, Scott T. Russell, Terrence P. Everson
  • Publication number: 20110210139
    Abstract: A product housing for use with a vacuum breaker, a solid product dispenser, and a solid product having a bottom surface comprises a product holder, an overflow outlet, and a flood plane. The product holder has a bottom and is configured and arranged to receive the solid product with the bottom surface proximate the bottom. The bottom of the product holder is positioned proximate above the solid product dispenser and proximate below the vacuum breaker. The overflow outlet is proximate the bottom, and the flood plane is proximate the overflow outlet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2011
    Publication date: September 1, 2011
    Inventors: Scott R. Limback, Thomas P. Berg, Kristine J. Williams, Brian P. Carlson
  • Patent number: 7993579
    Abstract: A method of dispensing a first solid product and a second solid product with a solid product dispenser includes placing the first solid product in a product housing of the dispenser and placing the second solid product in the product housing on top of the first solid product, the first and second solid products being different products. A portion of the first solid product is dispensed during each cycle of the dispenser until the first solid product has been partially depleted to a size small enough to allow the second solid product to also be dispensed, then a portion of the first solid product and a portion of the second solid product are dispensed during each cycle of the dispenser until the first solid product has been completely depleted, and then a portion of the second solid product is dispensed during each cycle of the dispenser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: Ecolab USA Inc.
    Inventors: Kristine J. Williams, Thomas P. Berg, Karen O. Rigley
  • Patent number: 7988929
    Abstract: A solid product dispenser includes a housing and a product holder. The housing includes a concentrated solution outlet, a diluent outlet, and an outlet tube in which concentrated solution from the concentrated solution outlet and diluent from the diluent outlet are mixed to form a use solution. Proximate the housing and the product holder is an overflow outlet from which a vacuum breaker is at least 3.50 inches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignee: Ecolab USA Inc.
    Inventors: Scott R Limback, Thomas P. Berg, Kristine J. Williams, Brian P Carlson
  • Publication number: 20100172804
    Abstract: A dispenser (10) uses first and second flow controls (70, 73). The flow controls maintain first and second flow ranges independent of diluent pressure within a pressure range, wherein the use solution's concentration is maintained over the pressure range. A third flow control (75) may also be utilized in a third diluent passageway for maintaining a third flow range independent of the diluent pressure within the pressure range. A bypass valve assembly (41) is operatively connected to the third incoming diluent passageway. The bypass valve has a temperature control valve. The temperature control valve having a bypass passageway, wherein additional diluent is added to the use solution, thereby controlling the use solution's concentration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2010
    Publication date: July 8, 2010
    Applicant: ECOLAB INC.
    Inventors: John E. Thomas, Robert J. Plantikow, Thomas P. Berg, Thomas Batcher, Daniel F. Brady, Scott T. Russell, Terrence P. Everson
  • Patent number: 7708023
    Abstract: A dispenser (10) uses first and second flow controls (70, 73). The flow controls maintain first and second flow ranges independent of diluent pressure within a pressure range, wherein the use solution's concentration is maintained over the pressure range. A third flow control (75) may also be utilized in a third diluent passageway for maintaining a third flow range independent of the diluent pressure within the pressure range. A bypass valve assembly (41) is operatively connected to the third incoming diluent passageway. The bypass valve has a temperature control valve. The temperature control valve having a bypass passageway, wherein additional diluent is added to the use solution, thereby controlling the use solution's concentration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2010
    Assignee: Ecolab Inc.
    Inventors: John E. Thomas, Robert J. Plantikow, Thomas P. Berg, Thomas Batcher, Daniel F. Brady, Scott T. Russell, Terrence P. Everson
  • Patent number: 7597861
    Abstract: A dispenser (10) uses first and second flow controls (70, 73). The flow controls maintain first and second flow ranges independent of diluent pressure within a pressure range, wherein the use solution's concentration is maintained over the pressure range. A third flow control (75) may also be utilized in a third diluent passageway for maintaining a third flow range independent of the diluent pressure within the pressure range. A bypass valve assembly (41) is operatively connected to the third incoming diluent passageway. The bypass valve has a temperature control valve. The temperature control valve having a bypass passageway, wherein additional diluent is added to the use solution, thereby controlling the use solution's concentration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2009
    Assignee: Ecolab Inc.
    Inventors: John E. Thomas, Robert J. Plantikow, Thomas P. Berg, Thomas Batcher, Daniel F. Brady, Scott T. Russell, Terrence P. Everson
  • Publication number: 20080011774
    Abstract: A method of dispensing a first solid product and a second solid product with a solid product dispenser includes placing the first solid product in a product housing of the dispenser and placing the second solid product in the product housing on top of the first solid product, the first and second solid products being different products. A portion of the first solid product is dispensed during each cycle of the dispenser until the first solid product has been partially depleted to a size small enough to allow the second solid product to also be dispensed, then a portion of the first solid product and a portion of the second solid product are dispensed during each cycle of the dispenser until the first solid product has been completely depleted, and then a portion of the second solid product is dispensed during each cycle of the dispenser.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2006
    Publication date: January 17, 2008
    Inventors: Kristine J. Williams, Thomas P. Berg, Karen O. Rigley
  • Publication number: 20070253876
    Abstract: A solid product dispenser includes a housing and a product holder. The housing includes a concentrated solution outlet, a diluent outlet, and an outlet tube in which concentrated solution from the concentrated solution outlet and diluent from the diluent outlet are mixed to form a use solution. Proximate the housing and the product holder is an overflow outlet from which a vacuum breaker is at least 3.50 inches.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2006
    Publication date: November 1, 2007
    Inventors: Scott R. Limback, Thomas P. Berg, Kristine J. Williams, Brian P. Carlson
  • Patent number: 6848596
    Abstract: An upright product outlet bag evacuation packaging (100, 200) includes a flexible, collapsible bag (101, 201) and a spout (116, 216) that contains and dispenses a liquid (118, 218). The bag (101, 201) includes a first wall (102, 202) and a second wall (104, 204) that are operatively connected by a seam (106, 206). When the bag (101, 201) is filled with liquid (118, 218), the first wall (102, 202) and the second wall (104, 204) are pushed away from one another thereby pulling a first side (109, 209) inward and causing an indentation (114, 214) to form. The indentation (114, 214) hinders flush contact between the first wall (102, 202) and the second wall (104, 204) as the bag (101, 201) progressively collapses as the liquid (118, 218) is dispensed. A housing (300, 400) for use with a dispenser may be used to create and reinforce the indentation (114, 214). The housing (300, 400) includes a cavity (303, 403) configured and arranged to receive the bag (101, 201).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2005
    Assignee: Ecolab Inc.
    Inventors: Eric R. Balz, Thomas P. Berg, John E. Thomas
  • Publication number: 20040079764
    Abstract: An upright product outlet bag evacuation packaging (100, 200) includes a flexible, collapsible bag (101, 201) and a spout (116, 216) that contains and dispenses a liquid (118, 218). The bag (101, 201) includes a first wall (102, 202) and a second wall (104,204) that are operatively connected by a seam (106, 206). When the bag (101, 201) is filled with liquid (118, 218), the first wall (102, 202) and the second wall (104, 204) are pushed away from one another thereby pulling a first side (109, 209) inward and causing an indentation (114, 214) to form. The indentation (114, 214) hinders flush contact between the first wall (102, 202) and the second wall (104, 204) as the bag (101, 201) progressively collapses as the liquid (118, 218) is dispensed. A housing (300, 400) for use with a dispenser may be used to create and reinforce the indentation (114, 214). The housing (300, 400) includes a cavity (303, 403) configured and arranged to receive the bag (101, 201).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2002
    Publication date: April 29, 2004
    Inventors: Eric R. Balz, Thomas P. Berg, John E. Thomas
  • Patent number: D648911
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: Ecolab USA Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Brown, Thomas P. Berg
  • Patent number: D716511
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: Ecolab USA Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Brown, Thomas P. Berg