Patents by Inventor William A. Groll

William A. Groll 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).

  • Publication number: 20080241582
    Abstract: Multi-ply composite cookware consisting of different metal combinations to include the beauty of copper on the exterior coupled with its excellent heat distribution/conductivity properties within the interior to provide thermally efficient, durable and cosmetically pleasing cookware. In several embodiments of the present invention, a layer of silver is also preferably employed in the interior thereof between adjacent aluminum layers to further improve thermal conductivity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2008
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Applicant: ALL-CLAD METALCRAFTERS LLC
    Inventor: William A. Groll
  • Patent number: 7353981
    Abstract: A composite metal sheet for use in making lightweight cookware or as a food warming tray comprising a layer of aluminum roll bonded to a layer of stainless steel defining a food-contacting surface on a first side. The food warming tray embodiment also includes a layer of stainless steel mesh roll bonded on a second side. A method of making a composite metal sheet for cookware comprising the steps of: providing a roll pack of ordered layers consisting of (a) a layer of Alclad aluminum, (b) a layer of stainless steel foil, (c) a reusable plate or platen of stainless steel, (d) a layer of stainless steel foil, and (e) a layer of Alclad aluminum; heating the roll pack to a rolling temperature of about 725°-775° F., preferably about 750° F.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2008
    Assignee: All-Clad Metalcrafters LLC
    Inventor: William A. Groll
  • Publication number: 20070275263
    Abstract: Cookware having improved uniform heat transfer over the entire cross section thereof, the cookware formed from a multi-layered composite metal having a layer of stainless steel roll bonded at or near the core of the composite to act as a thermal barrier and provide more uniform heat distribution on the cook surface. The stainless layer is roll bonded to layers of aluminum which, in turn, is roll bonded to layers of stainless steel or aluminum or copper. The layer of stainless steel adjacent to the cooking range may be a ferromagnetic grade of stainless steel if induction-type heating is desired. The cookware may include a non-stick surface applied thereto.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2007
    Publication date: November 29, 2007
    Applicant: All-Clad Metalcrafters LLC
    Inventor: William Groll
  • Publication number: 20070130912
    Abstract: A bleed duct is configured for bleeding fan air from the fan bypass duct in a turbofan aircraft engine. The bleed duct includes a tubular conduit having an inlet and outlet at opposite ends. The conduit is configured in flow area for recovering pressure from speeding fan air bled therethrough. A shroud extends forwardly from the duct inlet for suppressing dynamic pressure oscillations inside the conduit without degrading the pressure recovery.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2005
    Publication date: June 14, 2007
    Inventors: Robert Kraft, Nelson Gibbens, Rolf Hetico, William Groll, William Bailey, James Stoker
  • Patent number: 7208231
    Abstract: Cookware having improved uniform heat transfer over the entire cross section thereof, the cookware formed from a multi-layered composite metal having a layer of stainless steel roll bonded at or near the core of the composite. The stainless layer is roll bonded to layers of aluminum which, in turn, is roll bonded to layers of stainless steel or aluminum. The layer of stainless steel adjacent to the cooking range may be a ferromagnetic grade of stainless steel if induction-type heating is desired. The cookware may include a non-stick surface applied thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2007
    Assignee: All-Clad Metalcrafters LLC
    Inventor: William A. Groll
  • Patent number: 7168148
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing composite cookware or bakeware comprising the steps of (a) providing a bonded multi-layer composite sheet of material having at least one layer of an aluminum or aluminum alloy material; (b) forming a cookware vessel of a desired configuration having the aluminum or aluminum alloy layer exposed at least at an edge portion of the formed cookware vessel; and (c) treating at least the exposed edge of aluminum or aluminum alloy by a micro arc oxidation process to form an Al2O3 coating on at least the exposed edge of aluminum or aluminum alloy whereby chemical corrosion/erosion of the exposed edge by caustic cleaning agents is prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2007
    Assignee: All-Clad Metalcrafters LLC
    Inventor: William A. Groll
  • Publication number: 20060272517
    Abstract: A cooking or food warming appliance having a heated heat sink plate situated in a vacuum environment within an outer shell. A food vessel intimately engages the heat sink plate along a food contacting surface thereof by virtue of the vacuum. The vacuum eliminates air gaps between the food contacting surface of the food vessel and the heat sink plate so as to provide instantaneous and uniform heating of the food vessel. The vacuum environment also provides thermal insulation for the heat sink plate whereby heat loss by convection is virtually eliminated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2006
    Publication date: December 7, 2006
    Applicant: All-Clad Metalcrafters LLC
    Inventor: William Groll
  • Patent number: 7093340
    Abstract: A method of making a stick resistant cook surface or cooking vessel having the stick resistance in which a hard substrate metal is treated by mechanical buffing/polishing and/or by electropolishing to a high luster surface finish of less than 20 microinches and then coated with a layer of a ceramic nitride, such as zirconium nitride. The electropolishing step is particularly suited for treating non-round shapes or deep drawn cooking vessels having high side walls, such as pots and pans, or square or rectangular shapes which are otherwise difficult to mechanically buff in the interior due to the side wall geometry and/or corners.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2006
    Assignee: All-Clad Metalcrafters LLC
    Inventor: William A. Groll
  • Publication number: 20060107842
    Abstract: A composite griddle plate comprising a first sheet of metal defining a cook surface and a core plate of a metal having a relatively high coefficient of heat conductivity wherein the first sheet remains in intimate contact with an upper surface of the core plate with the aid of a vacuum.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2005
    Publication date: May 25, 2006
    Applicant: All-Clad Metalcrafters LLC
    Inventor: William Groll
  • Publication number: 20050271894
    Abstract: Cookware having improved uniform heat transfer over the entire cross section thereof, the cookware formed from a multi-layered composite metal having a layer of stainless steel roll bonded at or near the core of the composite. The stainless layer is roll bonded to layers of aluminum which, in turn, is roll bonded to layers of stainless steel or aluminum. The layer of stainless steel adjacent to the cooking range may be a ferromagnetic grade of stainless steel if induction-type heating is desired. The cookware may include a non-stick surface applied thereto.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2005
    Publication date: December 8, 2005
    Inventor: William Groll
  • Publication number: 20050208272
    Abstract: A non-stick surface comprising a porous, hard metal-ceramic coating such as chromium oxide applied to the cook surface of a cooking utensil by arc or plasma spraying. The pores of the coating are impregnated under vacuum with an inert release agent of low viscosity such as food grade liquid silicon resin. After vacuum impregnation, the impregnate is thermally cured and the cook surface is mechanically abraded/polished to remove the protruding peaks of metal-ceramic material to expose flattened bare metal portions interspersed between and substantially co-planar with the surfaces of the impregnated release agent residing in the valleys/pores.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2004
    Publication date: September 22, 2005
    Inventor: William Groll
  • Patent number: 6926971
    Abstract: Cookware having improved uniform heat transfer over the entire cross section thereof, the cookware formed from a multi-layered composite metal having a layer of titanium roll bonded at or near the core of the composite. The titanium layer is roll bonded to layers of aluminum which, in turn, is roll bonded to layers of stainless steel. The layer of stainless steel adjacent to the cooking range may be a ferritic stainless steel if induction-type heating is desired. The multi-layered composite is also suitable for making a sole plate for an iron. Both the cookware and sole plate may include a non-stick surface applied thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2005
    Assignee: All-Clad Metalcrafters LLC
    Inventor: William A. Groll
  • Publication number: 20050158576
    Abstract: A composite metal sheet for use in making lightweight cookware or as a food warming tray comprising a layer of aluminum roll bonded to a layer of stainless steel defining a food-contacting surface on a first side. The food warming tray embodiment also includes a layer of stainless steel mesh roll bonded on a second side. A method of making a composite metal sheet for cookware comprising the steps of: providing a roll pack of ordered layers consisting of (a) a layer of Alclad aluminum, (b) a layer of stainless steel foil, (c) a reusable plate or platen of stainless steel, (d) a layer of stainless steel foil, and (e) a layer of Alclad aluminum; heating the roll pack to a rolling temperature of about 725°-775° F., preferably about 750° F.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2005
    Publication date: July 21, 2005
    Inventor: William Groll
  • Publication number: 20050076516
    Abstract: A cookie cutter comprising (a) a silhouette formed in a desired shape and carrying a dough cutting shape at a front face; (b) a plaque formed to conform with the shape of the silhouette and positioned at a rear face of said silhouette, said plaque having an outer surface and an inner surface; and (c) a polymeric adhesive material positioned on an inside surface of the plaque and joining the silhouette and plaque together.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2003
    Publication date: April 14, 2005
    Inventors: William Groll, John Milnthorp
  • Publication number: 20050045624
    Abstract: A food cooking or warming apparatus (10) has a water-containing vessel (12) with an inductor portion for heating the water by way of a portable induction heating unit. The inductor portion (20) is made from a selected Ni—Fe alloy having a predetermined Curie temperature for maintaining the water temperature in the food warming apparatus between about 180°-200° F. (82°-99° C.).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2002
    Publication date: March 3, 2005
    Inventor: William Groll
  • Publication number: 20040229079
    Abstract: Induction cookware made from a composite metal sheet comprising a layer of a ferromagnetic material and an outer decorative metal layer of copper, anodized, brushed or polished aluminum, or the like. The decorative outer layer has a thickness at least on the bottom wall thereof of between 0.0002 to 0.003 inch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2003
    Publication date: November 18, 2004
    Inventor: William A. Groll
  • Publication number: 20040206744
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing composite cookware or bakeware comprising the steps of (a) providing a bonded multi-layer composite sheet of material having at least one layer of an aluminum or aluminum alloy material; (b) forming a cookware vessel of a desired configuration having the aluminum or aluminum alloy layer exposed at least at an edge portion of the formed cookware vessel; and (c) treating at least the exposed edge of aluminum or aluminum alloy by a micro arc oxidation process to form an Al2O3 coating on at least the exposed edge of aluminum or aluminum alloy whereby chemical corrosion/erosion of the exposed edge by caustic cleaning agents is prevented.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2004
    Publication date: October 21, 2004
    Applicant: Clad Metals LLC
    Inventor: William A. Groll
  • Publication number: 20040149142
    Abstract: Bakeware having an embossed textured pattern formed on the food-contacting surface and on the exterior surface. In the preferred embodiment, the textured pattern on the food-contacting surface is made up of a plurality of spaced-apart raised diamond-shaped surfaces separated by depressed grooves. The textured pattern of the exterior surface consists of a plurality of spaced-apart depressed diamond-shaped surfaces separated by raised ridges.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2003
    Publication date: August 5, 2004
    Inventor: William A. Groll
  • Publication number: 20040137260
    Abstract: A method of making a composite metal material comprising the steps of providing two outer layers of copper pre-bonded to a pure aluminum such as 1100 series aluminum or to an aluminum alloy such as 3003 aluminum alloy; providing a core layer of alclad aluminum, comprising a composite having a core of aluminum alloy pre-bonded to outer layers of substantially pure 1100 series aluminum; placing the outer layers of copper pre-bonded material on either side of the alclad core layer such that the aluminum layer carried by each copper layer is facing the alclad core layer to form a stacked pack; heating the stacked pack assembled in step (c) to a suitable rolling temperature, such as about 650° F.; and hot rolling the stacked pack in a rolling mill at incremental reductions to roll bond the layers to a desired finished thickness.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2003
    Publication date: July 15, 2004
    Applicant: CLAD METALS LLC
    Inventors: William A. Groll, John Milnthorp
  • Patent number: D539598
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Assignee: All-Clad Metalcrafters LLC
    Inventor: William A. Groll