Patents Issued in January 2, 2003
  • Publication number: 20030000901
    Abstract: A selection room display facilitates a casket selection by a customer of a funeral home. The display includes a vertical back wall and a pair of vertical, spaced apart wing walls cooperating with the back wall to form an alcove. A plurality of casket portions are displayed in the alcove. A vertical signage column may be positioned in the alcove. Information modules are also displayed in the alcove. The modules correspond to the casket portions. The casket portions are supported on shelves which are removably secured to the back wall. The information modules are similarly removably secured to the back wall. The display may incorporate “themes” to feature the various casket choices. The theme technique may also be utilized in the funeral home viewing room.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2002
    Publication date: January 2, 2003
    Applicant: Batesville Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Randall S. Salatin, Laios L. Szabo, Marcus R. Szabo, Terry L. Carpenter, Judith C. Steele
  • Publication number: 20030000902
    Abstract: A holder for receiving and retailing tools, writing utensils, kitchen utensils and the like elongated articles (42) comprises a housing with an elongated slit (2, 3) for receiving the articles (42). Each slit (2, 3) is defined by a flexible lip (9 to 24) projecting from the respective elongated sides of said slit, and which are adapted to abut both sides of the article(s) in question. The holder comprises several rows of lips (9 to 24) extending substantially in parallel, where the lips are arranged in pairs opposite one another and present a mutually complementary, substantially wavy shape. The crests (25) and troughs (26) of each pair of lips (9 to 24) engage one another.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2002
    Publication date: January 2, 2003
    Inventors: Anders Keis, Tore Hermansen
  • Publication number: 20030000903
    Abstract: A multi-level support stand (10) including an enlarged base member (20) having a central aperture (21) that is dimensioned to receive the closed lower end (31) of an elongated cylindrical support member (30) having an open end (32) and an interior receptacle (33); wherein, the elongated cylindrical support member (303) is dimensioned to be received through central apertures (42) formed in a plurality of support tray members (40) (40′) (40″) each having an upper surface provided with a plurality of recesses (43) and downwardly depending stem elements (41) which vertically space the support tray members (40) (40′) etc., from the base member (20) and each other in a rotatable relationship with the cylindrical support member (30).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2001
    Publication date: January 2, 2003
    Inventors: Anna L. Mondragon, Perez Mondragon
  • Publication number: 20030000904
    Abstract: A kiosk includes multiple poles with a plurality of independently rotatable components disposed on each pole. Each component comprises a hollow supporting body made rotatable by way of bushings disposed on the top and bottom of the body and bearings disposed adjacent to each bushing. The component further includes a pair of slat boards removably coupled to the supporting body. Even though each slat board may have a different configuration of protrusions extending from the front surface for holding goods, clips on the back surface of each board are similarly configured to enable any board to be removably coupled to a supporting body. Related methods are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2001
    Publication date: January 2, 2003
    Inventors: Laura R. Lung, Louise M. Grimm
  • Publication number: 20030000905
    Abstract: A display rack includes an upright that supports a crosspiece and one or more shelves. Each shelf includes two clips, and each clip includes a lip element configured to fit over and to engage an upper surface of the crosspiece, and a spring element configured to snap-lock against a lower, opposed side of the crosspiece. The first and second clips are positioned on the shelf such as the shelf is mountable on the crosspiece in three different positions: a first position, in which each clip is disposed on a respective side of the upright; a second position, in which both clips are disposed on a first side of the upright; and a third position, in which both clips are disposed on the other side of the upright.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2001
    Publication date: January 2, 2003
    Applicant: Astoria Wire Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard L. Zidek
  • Publication number: 20030000906
    Abstract: The present invention is for a portable hoist assembly that includes a base member, an upright support member and a boom. A winch and line are attached to the hoist assembly with an engagement member for lifting objects. The base member attaches to a receiving member. The receiving member may be a trailer hitch on a vehicle. The boom and base member pivot with respect to the support member to a collapsed storage position. The boom and base member extend substantially parallel to the support member, and an end of the boom attaches to the base member. The engagement member is inserted within the base member for storage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2001
    Publication date: January 2, 2003
    Inventors: Scott Perkins, Don Hamilton
  • Publication number: 20030000907
    Abstract: A beverage container is provided with a hydrophobic vent consisting of a relatively thick and rigid disc-shaped piece of macroporous plastic having pore sizes averaging from 7-350 microns. The vent can be welded, molded or secured to the sidewall, bottom or cap of a plastic beverage container thus eliminating all moving parts. The macroporous plastic is resistant to oxidative abrasion, contamination and wetting and is strong enough to resist breakage. In one embodiment a baby bottle is provided which consists of a plastic bottle body, a nipple, and means for fastening the nipple to the bottle body. The bottle body is provided with a macroporous plastic vent which can be welded, molded or secured to the sidewall or bottom of the bottle body thus eliminating all moving parts. The bottle body can be washed repeatedly as a single unit with the vent intact.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2002
    Publication date: January 2, 2003
    Inventors: Gregory Kevorkian, Dan Smolko, Vladimir Levitin
  • Publication number: 20030000908
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a security closure for bottles for liquor and the like having a neck, comprising a stopper cap having an end wall, a skirt, and a longitudinal axis X-X perpendicular to said end wall of the stopper cap, a security seal attached to said skirt, a groove in the outer surface of said neck axially positioned onto said neck, said sleeve being provided with an upper edge and said upper edge snap-fitting into said groove of the neck, stop means on said skirt radially extending towards said longitudinal axis X-X, said stop means providing a bearing surface for an abutment present on said sleeve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2002
    Publication date: January 2, 2003
    Applicant: Guala Closures S.p.A.
    Inventor: Piero Battegazzore
  • Publication number: 20030000909
    Abstract: In a plastic container manufactured by melting blow molding a heated and molten parison extruded from an extruder, a mouth 3 and/or a specified part of a body 2 has a thicker thickness than the body proper. One or more thick parts of the body 2 are continuously or discontinuously formed over part or all a peripheral, height or helical direction of the body of the container. The container enjoys enhanced rigidity, appearance and functionality even when the thickness of its body is considerably reduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2002
    Publication date: January 2, 2003
    Inventors: Toshiki Sakaguchi, Yuzuru Maruyama, Kenjiro Tanaka
  • Publication number: 20030000910
    Abstract: Disclosed is a cap for a packing-bottle capable of packing other auxiliary internal medicine than a liquid medicine. The cap can accommodate a capsule, a tablet, a granular medicine and a powdered medicine, and the cap has a structure easy to use and treat. The cap includes an extension part on an upper circumference of a main cap that is coupled with a bottle finish of the packing-bottle containing the liquid medicine, and a cover formed on the extension part. An inside space of the cover and the extension part defines an accommodating part for accommodating the auxiliary internal medicine. Here, the accommodating part is separately provided from the main cap, and may be disposed on an auxiliary cap that is detachably coupled with the main cap. The auxiliary cap includes a skirt part forcedly fit to the main cap, an extension part formed on the skirt part, and a cover coupled to the extension part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2002
    Publication date: January 2, 2003
    Inventors: Tae Soun Jang, Min Young Jang
  • Publication number: 20030000911
    Abstract: A plastic blow molded bottle or wide mouth jar useful in containing hot-filled beverages or food products. The container has a multi-sided sidewall which is capable of accommodating vacuum associated with hot filling, capping and cooling of the container, which is reinforced to resist unwanted deformation, and which enables a label to be aesthetically displayed on the container sidewall. To this end, the sidewall comprises a plurality of panels which include outwardly bowed arcuate sections, as formed, which flatten to accommodate induced vacuum. Thus, a label can be supported on the sidewall with very few voids, or like sunken areas, behind the label to ensure that the label is prominently displayed on the aesthetically appealing novel container configuration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2002
    Publication date: January 2, 2003
    Inventors: Paul kelley, Scott Moersdorf
  • Publication number: 20030000912
    Abstract: A blow-molded plastic container is provided suitable for hot-filling under pressurize-fill conditions, and under gravity-fill conditions. The container includes opposing handgrips within panels, which lack hinges and thus do not function as conventional vacuum panels as the inward deformation is spread beyond the panels. The hand grip includes a distal, relatively stiffened portion formed by a sidewall that forms a thumb piece and a proximal, relatively un-stiffened portion the smooth merges into a cylindrical sidewall of the container.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2002
    Publication date: January 2, 2003
    Inventors: Donald Deubel, Satya Kamineni, Philip G. Kraft, Richard G. Kraft
  • Publication number: 20030000913
    Abstract: An oxide etching process, particularly useful for selectively etching oxide over a feature having a non-oxide composition, such as silicon nitride and especially when that feature has a corner that is prone to faceting during the oxide etch. The invention uses a heavy perfluorocarbon, for example, hexafluorobutadiene (C4F6) or hexafluorobenzene (C6F6). The fluorocarbon together with a substantial amount of a noble gas such as argon is excited into a high-density plasma in a reactor which inductively couples plasma source power into the chamber and RF biases the pedestal electrode supporting the wafer. A more strongly polymerizing fluorocarbon such as difluoromethane (CH2F2) is added in the over etch to protect the nitride corner. Oxygen or nitrogen may be added to counteract the polymerization. The same chemistry can be used in a magnetically enhanced reactive ion etcher (MERIE) or with a remote plasma source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2002
    Publication date: January 2, 2003
    Inventors: Hoiman Hung, Joseph P. Caulfield, Hongqing Shan, Ruiping Wang, Gerald Zheyao Yin
  • Publication number: 20030000914
    Abstract: A method of forming a pattern in a layer of material on a substrate, comprising providing a plurality of spheres, covering the layer on the substrate with the plurality of spheres to form a mask, reducing the diameter of at least one sphere of the plurality of spheres, etching the layer on the substrate using at least one sphere having a reduced diameter as a mask, and etching the substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2002
    Publication date: January 2, 2003
    Inventors: Eric J. Knappenberger, Aaron R. Wilson
  • Publication number: 20030000915
    Abstract: In a semiconductor device having a front surface where circuits are formed and a back surface, a hemispherical solid immersion lens is formed at the back surface of the semiconductor device in a body with the semiconductor device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2002
    Publication date: January 2, 2003
    Applicant: NEC Corporation
    Inventor: Hideki Kitahata
  • Publication number: 20030000916
    Abstract: A method and device can be used to pattern both regions of a printed circuit board which are provided for coarse conductor structures and regions which are provided for relatively fine conductor structures of the printed circuit board. In each case, this can be done via laser processing. Both regions are firstly coated with a continuous metallization layer and covered with an etch resistor. The coarse conductor structures are predefined with a laser beam with a relatively long wavelength by exposing the metal surfaces which are not required. In addition, the fine conductor structures are also pre-shaped by processing the etch resist with a laser beam with a relatively short wavelength. Then, in a common etching process, all the exposed surface regions of the metal layer are etched away so that only the coarse and fine conductor track structures which are covered by the remaining etch resist are left.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2002
    Publication date: January 2, 2003
    Inventors: Hubert De Steur, Marcel Heerman, Eddy Roelants
  • Publication number: 20030000917
    Abstract: In a semiconductor device having a front surface where circuits are formed and a back surface, a hemispherical solid immersion lens is formed at the back surface of the semiconductor device in a body with the semiconductor device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2002
    Publication date: January 2, 2003
    Applicant: NEC Corporation
    Inventor: Hideki Kitahata
  • Publication number: 20030000918
    Abstract: In a planar lightwave circuit, a method of making an optical waveguide that resists core deformation. The method includes a step of forming a core layer on a bottom clad. A waveguide core is formed from the core layer using an etching process. The waveguide core is fabricated to have a higher refractive index than the bottom clad. A silica glass cap layer is then formed over the waveguide core and the bottom clad. A top clad is then formed over the waveguide core, the silica glass cap layer, and the bottom clad. The waveguide core has a higher refractive index than the top clad. The silica glass cap layer maintains the shape of the waveguide core during an anneal process of the top clad. The silica glass cap layer can be deposited using PECVD (plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition). The silica glass cap layer can be between 0.3 to 2 microns thick. The silica glass cap layer can be undoped silica glass.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2001
    Publication date: January 2, 2003
    Inventors: Nizar S. Kheraj, Pamela S. Trammel, Fan Zhong, Jonathan G. Bornstein
  • Publication number: 20030000919
    Abstract: A method for smoothing one or more surfaces on an optical component is disclosed. The method includes obtaining an optical component having one or more surfaces and performing a wet etch so as to smooth the one or more surfaces.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2001
    Publication date: January 2, 2003
    Inventor: James R. Velebir
  • Publication number: 20030000920
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of etching using a photoresist etch barrier formed by an exposure with a light source of which wavelength is in the range of 157 nm to 193 nm, such as an argon fluoride(ArF) laser or fluorine laser(F2 laser), the method includes the steps of coating a photoresist layer on a etch target layer; forming photoresist pattern by developing the photoresist layer after exposing the photoresist layer with a light source of which wavelength is in the range of 157 nm to 193 nm; forming a polymer layer and etching a portion of the etch target layer simultaneously with a mixture of fluorine-based gas, an Ar gas and an O2 gas, wherein the fluorine-based gas is CxFy or CaHbFb, and wherein x, y, a, b and c range from 1 to 10, respectively; and etching the etch target layer using the polymer layer and the photoresist pattern as the etch mask.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2002
    Publication date: January 2, 2003
    Inventor: Sung-Kwon Lee
  • Publication number: 20030000921
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a method of fabricating and repairing a mask without damage and an apparatus including a holder to mount a substrate; a stage to position the holder in a chamber; a pumping system to evacuate the chamber; an imaging system to locate an opaque defect in the substrate; a gas delivery system to dispense a reactant gas towards the defect; and an electron delivery system to direct electrons towards the opaque defect.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2001
    Publication date: January 2, 2003
    Inventors: Ted Liang, Alan Stivers
  • Publication number: 20030000922
    Abstract: A system for characterizing an etch process via scatterometry based real time imaging is provided. The system includes one or more light sources, each light source directing light to one or more features and/or gratings on a wafer. Light reflected from the features and/or gratings is collected by a measuring system, which processes the collected light. The collected light is indicative of the etch results achieved at respective portions of the wafer. The measuring system provides etching related data to a processor that determines the desirability of the etching of the respective portions of the wafer. The system also includes one or more etching devices, each such device corresponding to a portion of the wafer and providing for the etching thereof. The processor produces a real time etch image to characterize the progress of the etching and, in one example, produces suggested adaptations to the etch process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2001
    Publication date: January 2, 2003
    Inventors: Ramkumar Subramanian, Bharath Rangarajan, Bhanwar Singh, Michael K. Templeton
  • Publication number: 20030000923
    Abstract: A method for enhancing the fabrication process of a self-aligned contact (SAC) structure is provided. The method includes forming a transistor structure on a surface of a substrate. The method also includes forming a dielectric layer directly over the surface of the substrate without forming an etch stop layer on the surface of the substrate. Also included in the method is plasma etching a contact hole through the dielectric layer in a plasma processing chamber. The method also includes monitoring a bias compensation voltage of the plasma processing chamber during the plasma etching process and discontinuing the plasma etching process upon detecting an endpoint signaling change in the bias compensation voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2001
    Publication date: January 2, 2003
    Inventors: Jun-Cheng Ko, Young-Tong Tsai
  • Publication number: 20030000924
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for gas injection sequencing in order to increase the gas injection total pressure while satisfying an upper limit to the process gas flow rate, thereby achieving gas flow uniformity during a sequence cycle and employing practical orifice configurations. The gas injection system includes a gas injection electrode having a plurality of regions, through which process gas flows into the process chamber. The gas injection system further includes a plurality of gas injection plenums, each independently coupled to one of the aforesaid regions and a plurality of gas valves having an inlet end and an outlet end, where the outlet end is independently coupled to one of the aforesaid plurality of gas injection plenums. The gas injection system includes a controller coupled to the plurality of gas valves for sequencing the flow of process gas through the aforesaid plurality of regions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2002
    Publication date: January 2, 2003
    Applicant: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventor: Eric J. Strang
  • Publication number: 20030000925
    Abstract: An arc chamber for low-voltage circuit breakers, whose particularity consists of the fact that it comprises: multiple substantially U-shaped metallic plates; an enclosure made of insulating material which is substantially shaped like a parallelepiped and comprises two side walls, a bottom wall, a top wall and a rear wall, the side walls having, on the inside, multiple mutually opposite slots for the insertion of the metal plates, the bottom and top walls each having at least one opening and the enclosure being open at the front.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2002
    Publication date: January 2, 2003
    Inventors: Lucio Azzola, Michele Ferrari
  • Publication number: 20030000926
    Abstract: A laminated structure having two or more layers, wherein at least one layer is a metal substrate and at least one other layer is a coating comprising at least one rare earth element. For structures having more than two layers, the coating and metal substrate layers alternate. In one embodiment of the invention, the structure is a two-layer laminate having a rare earth coating electrospark deposited onto a metal substrate. In another embodiment of the invention, the structure is a three-layer laminate having the rare earth coating electrospark deposited onto a first metal substrate and the coating subsequently bonded to a second metal substrate. The bonding of the coating to the second metal substrate may be accomplished by hot pressing, hot rolling, high deformation rate processing, or combinations thereof. The laminated structure may be used in nuclear components where reactivity control or neutron absorption is desired and in non-nuclear applications such as magnetic and superconducting films.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2002
    Publication date: January 2, 2003
    Inventors: David J. Senor, Roger N. Johnson, Bruce D. Reid, Edward F. Love, Sandra Larson, Andrew W. Prichard
  • Publication number: 20030000927
    Abstract: A laser beam machining apparatus forms blind holes at predetermined intervals in a workpiece by intermittently irradiating a laser beam from a laser nozzle to the workpiece while the laser nozzle and the workpiece being moved relatively. During the time the workpiece is subjected to machining, the electrostatic capacity between the support member and the laser nozzle is detected by an electrostatic capacity sensor while the workpiece made of conductive material is supported on the support member. The irradiation output power is controlled by a control unit which operates to vary the number of output pulses from the laser nozzle each time one hole is formed according to the result detected in response to variation in the thickness of the workpiece.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2002
    Publication date: January 2, 2003
    Applicant: NIPPEI TOYAMA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shuso Kanaya, Yuichi Morita
  • Publication number: 20030000928
    Abstract: A multi-axis machine method and apparatus for the control of the motion of a material processing device is disclosed. The device has supply element and the apparatus has a supply co-ordination element. The motion of the processing device can be co-ordinated with the motion of the apparatus such that the loading or twisting forces on the supply element is substantially reduced. The supply co-ordination element includes an angle drive mechanism and rotator housing assembly. An angle drive mechanism for setting the angle of a processing device, the mechanism includes a linear actuator connected to a rod and the rod is pivotally connected at a first end to the actuator and connected at a second end to a device support, the actuator being connected to the rod such that movement of the actuator causes the rod to move the processing device relative to the device support, in the device support.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2002
    Publication date: January 2, 2003
    Inventor: Murray Forlong
  • Publication number: 20030000929
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for forming simulated wear patterns and designs in denim pants using laser rays. The apparatus includes an indexable carousel having a plurality of circumferentially spaced pant-supporting mandrels that are sequentially indexable to a plurality of stations located about the carousel, including a loading station, a laser station, and an unloading station. The mandrels each comprise articulated linkage that is selectively actuatable between a retractable condition that permits positioning of a pair of pants onto the mandrel at the loading station and an expanded condition that tautly supports the pants in predetermined position at the laser station such that a laser generated pattern can be formed at predetermined locations on the pants.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2001
    Publication date: January 2, 2003
    Applicant: Ellis Corporation
    Inventors: Roland D. Bowker, Jorge Michel, Dan Noltin, Thomas Schumacher, Richard Franzen, Dave Loranca
  • Publication number: 20030000930
    Abstract: A mask 10 comprises a mask member layer 12 having a laser processing pattern and comprising a metallic material and first and second substrate members 11 and 13 holding the mask member on two faces thereof and comprising a material that transmits laser light.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2002
    Publication date: January 2, 2003
    Inventor: Shiro Hamada
  • Publication number: 20030000931
    Abstract: A control method for arc welding wherein position control of an electrode or a torch is performed while adjusting welding conditions on the basis of optical information obtained from arc light generated during an arc welding process. Illuminance, which forms the optical information obtained from the arc light, has a certain mutual relationship with the arc length or the torch height, so that the weld control is accomplished based on the illuminance. The control method includes a step of comparing illuminance with reference information based on the mutual relationship, and a step of adjusting the welding conditions on the basis of a result of comparison.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2002
    Publication date: January 2, 2003
    Inventors: Koji Ueda, Manabu Murakami, Akira Yanagita, Takeshi Yamagami, Katsuya Kugai, Yusuke Niimura, Akinobu Izawa, Rintaro Chinen
  • Publication number: 20030000932
    Abstract: The invention relates to a stream nozzle (13) for an inert gas welding torch (B). The inventive nozzle is provided with a coating (S) that adheres to at least a part of the surface of said nozzle in a material fit and consists of silver, especially galvanically mounted contact silver.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2002
    Publication date: January 2, 2003
    Inventor: Hans Hoffmann
  • Publication number: 20030000933
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus including a fixing device that has a rotatable endless belt, a contacting member to contact the rotatable endless belt, a rotatable pressing member contacting the contacting member via the rotatable endless belt to form a nip region, a heating member to heat the rotatable endless belt, a detecting device to detect a temperature of the heating member, a controlling device to control a temperature of the heating member based on a detection result of the detecting device, and a determining device to determine that the sheet-like recording medium has passed through the fixing device. The controlling device controls such that the temperature of the heating member set for the fixing operation is decreased to a temperature set when the sheet-like recording medium has passed through the fixing device, immediately after a last sheet-like recording medium in a series of a job has passed through the fixing device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2002
    Publication date: January 2, 2003
    Inventors: Hiroshi Yoshinaga, Motokazu Yasui, Hideo Furukawa, Masanao Ehara, Hirofumi Ogawa
  • Publication number: 20030000934
    Abstract: There is disclosed a heat-sealing method including: feeding a fusible fiber sheet (12) into the clearance between a pair of rolls (1, 5), at least one of which has sealing ridges (2, 6) of a predetermined pattern on its outer circumference; and heating and pressing the fiber sheet (12) with the sealing ridges (2, 6), to form fused portions corresponding to the pattern of the sealing ridges (2, 6), in the fiber sheet (12). An insulator (4) is disposed to cover the outer circumference of the rolls (1, 5), as lacking the sealing ridges. The insulator (4) is made of a material which has a lower thermal conductivity than that of the sealing ridges and which can be elastically contracted by the pressure of the rolls (1, 5). The fiber sheet (12) to be fed into the clearance between the rolls (1, 5) rotating is compressed by the insulator (4) to discharge its internal air and is then heated and pressed by the sealing ridges (2, 6) so that it is heat-sealed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2002
    Publication date: January 2, 2003
    Inventors: Yoshinori Tanaka, Yasuhiko Kenmochi
  • Publication number: 20030000935
    Abstract: A merchandiser and method for displaying and warming previously baked dough products, such as cookies, under controlled drying conditions, including an enclosure having one or more wall members that define an interior space, with at least a portion of one of the wall members being transparent, an aperture for access into the interior space, at least one support surface for supporting one or more previously baked dough products that contain a predetermined average moisture level therein, and at least one mounting structure associated with the enclosure for mounting and positioning each support surface at a user accessible location in the interior space of the enclosure, and a heat source for providing heated air in the enclosure wherein the support surface contacts at least a portion of the previously baked products so that those portions are shielded from direct contact with the heated air such that the drying of moisture in the baked products is controlled to maintain the organoleptic and/or texture properti
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2001
    Publication date: January 2, 2003
    Inventors: Eileen Roehr, Mark O. Foster, Hua Zhang, Antonio Gutierrez, Mark A. Gaj, Giinping I. Schmidt
  • Publication number: 20030000936
    Abstract: A heating chamber which can be used during a reflow process to form a metal wiring having a multi-layered writing structure and a method of heating a wafer using the same, are provided. The heating chamber is movable upward and downward between the upper process position and the lower loading position, and includes a pedestal having a supporting surface for supporting a wafer, a cover installed above the pedestal to form a processing area together with the supporting surface when the pedestal is placed in its raised process position and a heating unit for heating the waver. In the method of heating the wafer, the temperature in the processing area is maintained suitable for heating the wafer before the wafer is loaded onto the supporting surface, the wafer is loaded onto the supporting surface and the loaded wafer is heating in the processing area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2002
    Publication date: January 2, 2003
    Applicant: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Byung-Hee Kim, Jong-Myeong Lee, Myoung-Bum Lee, Ju-Young Yun, Gil-Heyun Choi
  • Publication number: 20030000937
    Abstract: A ceramic heater comprises a ceramic substrate; and a heat-generation pattern on a surface of the ceramic substrate or within said ceramic substrate, wherein the ceramic substrate has a thickness of 18 mm or less and the ceramic substrate is made of at least one selected from the group consisting of aluminum nitride and ceramic carbide; and the heat-generation pattern has a bending portion which describes an arc.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2002
    Publication date: January 2, 2003
    Applicant: Ibiden Co. Ltd.
    Inventor: Yasutaka Ito
  • Publication number: 20030000938
    Abstract: A ceramic heater in which a resistor is firmly fixed onto a ceramic substrate. The resistor comprises at least two or more kinds of noble metal particles, ruthenium dioxide, and a glass frit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2002
    Publication date: January 2, 2003
    Inventor: Yanling Zhou
  • Publication number: 20030000939
    Abstract: A temperature controlled system according to the present invention includes a housing with a compartment defined therein that includes a heating assembly with a generally ‘U’-shaped heating plate and corresponding heater. The heating plate is configured to evenly distribute heat to a medical item (e.g., a medical solution container, etc.) placed thereon, while a limit switch facilitates control of heater actuation in response to placement of a medical item on the heating plate. A controller facilitates entry of desired temperatures and controls the heating assembly based on a comparison of the desired temperature with a temperature of the medical item measured by a temperature sensor. The system housing may further include a storage compartment for receiving and retaining medical items prior to being heated within the heating compartment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2002
    Publication date: January 2, 2003
    Inventors: Durward I. Faries, Bruce R. Heymann, Calvin Blankenship, David Hendrix
  • Publication number: 20030000940
    Abstract: A heat dissipation device for a heater. The heater having a heater element portion, cold pin portions, and connectors. The cold pin portions are connected between the heater element portion and the connectors. The heat dissipation device is connected to the cold pin portions of the heater element to dissipate conducted heat from the heater element portion. This is done through convection to the surrounding air before the conducted heat reaches the connectors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2001
    Publication date: January 2, 2003
    Inventors: Sidney Furlong, Edward J. Zelazny, Joey A. Anderson
  • Publication number: 20030000941
    Abstract: A method of heating air, fluid or materials in dry or humid conditions, fed by low voltage alternate or continuous electrical current or TBTS.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2002
    Publication date: January 2, 2003
    Inventor: Jean-Claude Couraud
  • Publication number: 20030000942
    Abstract: The invention constitutes a device for heating a component (3) in a vehicle environment comprising a heating element (2) and means for feeding current (I) through the heating element (2). The invention is characterized in that the heating element (2) is constructed in the form of a heating wire which in turn comprises a number of strands (16) arranged together, of which a predetermined number of strands (16) comprises an individual electrical insulation (17). Using the invention an enhanced device for beating of a vehicle seat is acquired, with which help the risk of the so called “hot-spot” problem may be eliminated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2002
    Publication date: January 2, 2003
    Inventors: Lennart Holmberg, Gustav Westh
  • Publication number: 20030000943
    Abstract: An induction heating roller apparatus that varies temperature distribution in the axial direction of a heating roller. The apparatus includes a heating roller and a plurality of induction coils arranged separately along an axial direction of the heating roller. The heating roller includes a secondary coil that is air-core transfer coupled to the induction coils. The apparatus further includes a plurality of capacitors, each being connected to one of the induction coils to form a resonance circuit. At least one of the resonance circuits has a resonance point that differs from the remaining resonance circuits.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2002
    Publication date: January 2, 2003
    Applicant: Harison Toshiba Lighting Corp.
    Inventor: Ichiro Yokozeki
  • Publication number: 20030000944
    Abstract: A fixing device for an electrophotography system, which is capable of efficiently and uniformly heating an object to be heated, which has a coil capable of being easily produced and which is capable of being stably fixing a fixed material, is provided by preventing the distance between the going and returning portions of a certain turn of the coil from being too close to each other, by preventing the diameter of the coil from changing when the coil is wound, by providing a uniform gap between the coil and the inside surface of the heating roller over the whole length, by preventing the fixing performed by the heating roller to be affected by the turning ON/OFF of a power supply, by preventing noises from being generated from the coil ejecting portion, and by devising the procedure for efficiently winding the coil.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2002
    Publication date: January 2, 2003
    Applicant: TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Osamu Takagi, Satoshi Kinouchi
  • Publication number: 20030000945
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for temperature control of an article is provided that utilizes both the resistive heat and inductive heat generation from a heater coil.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2001
    Publication date: January 2, 2003
    Inventors: James Pilavdzic, Stefan Von Buren, Valery G. Kagan
  • Publication number: 20030000946
    Abstract: An induction heater (14) for use in conjunction with an associated furnace (10) for material processing includes essentially straight induction coil (16, 50) arranged inside the furnace shell (12). The induction coil (16, 50) has an attachment end (32, 54) extending outside of the furnace shell through a first opening (40) therein. A replacement induction coil (54R) is selectively connected with the attachment end (32, 54) of the induction coil (16, 50) and slidably inserted into the furnace shell (12) whereby the essentially straight induction coil (16, 50) is simultaneously slidably pushed out of the furnace shell (12) through a second opening therein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2001
    Publication date: January 2, 2003
    Applicant: Ajax Magnethermic Corporation
    Inventor: David J. Hanton
  • Publication number: 20030000947
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a microwave oven, and more particularly, to a device and method for inputting recipe data in a microwave oven by which when a user adds a new recipe menu to the microwave oven, the user can input a recipe name suitable for the added recipe menu.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2002
    Publication date: January 2, 2003
    Applicant: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Tae-Sung Kim
  • Publication number: 20030000948
    Abstract: The heating effect of a microwave susceptor can be improved by providing a pattern of microwave transparent areas in the susceptor. The transparent areas are preferably circles having a diameter of about 0.5 inch. The distance between adjacent circles is preferably about 0.5 inch. The susceptor may be used to brown and crispen the crust of frozen pizza heated in a microwave oven. The crust of the pizza is browner, especially at its central area, than the crust of pizza heated using a conventional susceptor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2002
    Publication date: January 2, 2003
    Inventors: Lorin R. Cole, Terrence P. Lafferty
  • Publication number: 20030000949
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a watertight and thermally insulating tank built into a bearing structure comprising at least one wall having a variable width and forming oblique solid angles of intersection with the adjacent walls, the said tank comprising secondary insulating and watertightness barriers and a primary insulating barrier which are formed by panels fixed to the walls and able to hold a primary watertightness barrier, the said primary watertightness barrier comprises, at each variable-width wall, one or more central strake(s) (63) arranged longitudinally and each fixed to underlying panels (12), running strakes (66) being held mechanically, by a sliding joint, parallel to the oblique solid angles of intersection, on underlying panels and fixed at the ends to the central strakes, so that the tensile forces (F) experienced by the running strakes in their longitudinal dimension are transmitted to the bearing structure via the central strakes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2002
    Publication date: January 2, 2003
    Applicant: GAZ TRANSPORT & TECHNIGAZ
    Inventor: Jacques Dhellemmes
  • Publication number: 20030000950
    Abstract: A foldable transportation container comprises a container body formed into a box having a rectangular bottom, and a pair of first side walls and a pair of second side walls provided along the periphery of the bottom wall, rotating means provided on the lower ends of the side walls so that the side walls can be folded inward of the container body, an engagement member provided on the outside face of the first side wall. Engagement portions are provided on both ends of each second side wall. The first side walls are folded onto the upper face of the bottom wall and then the second side walls are folded onto the first side walls. An operation portion is provided at the substantial center of each engagement member. Engagement projections are provided at the ends of each engagement member. The engagement portions are engaged with the engagement projections to limit inward rotation of the first side walls.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2002
    Publication date: January 2, 2003
    Applicant: Gifu Plastic Kogyo Kabushiki Gaisha
    Inventors: Tetsuya Murakami, Hidetoshi Yamaguchi