In Wall, Ceiling, Or Floor Patents (Class 34/233)
  • Patent number: 7360481
    Abstract: A roaster for roasting coffee beans includes a roasting chamber having a top and a bottom. A cover is seated on the top of the roasting chamber and a bottom of the roasting chamber is seated on a base. A hot air supply is provided in the base for supplying hot airflow into the roasting chamber for heating the coffee beans. At least one air opening is formed on the bottom for enabling the airflow to enter the roasting chamber. A wind tunnel is provided over the air opening for increasing the speed of the airflow in the roasting chamber as the airflow passes through the wind tunnel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2008
    Assignee: Hearthware Home Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Jung S. Moon, Rong Liu, Kitak Chae, Jongrok Kim
  • Patent number: 7338359
    Abstract: A roof system for a grain storage structure. The roof system includes a plurality of enclosures defined between adjacent roof panel surfaces. Each enclosure includes opposed exterior and interior wall segments oriented at an angle relative to the panel surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2008
    Assignee: CTB IP, Inc.
    Inventors: Rodney B. Grossman, Mark S. Dingeldein, Justin Holmes
  • Patent number: 7278225
    Abstract: A foot-drying device includes a body including first and second vertical sides, and an open front face sloping upward away from a front edge thereof. The body is hollow, forming a chamber that extends from a bottom surface to a top surface thereof, and has a rear panel hingedly coupled thereto. A foot pad is seated over the open front face and is provided with apertures for draining water therethrough. A mechanism is included for diverting the water outwardly from the chamber as the water drips down through the apertures of the foot pad. A mechanism is included for introducing heated air into the chamber such that the heated air is quickly engaged with the user foot. The heated air is evenly discharged from the apertures such that the water on the user foot is completely expelled away therefrom. The air heating mechanism is disposed above the water diverting mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2007
    Inventor: Roman Espinosa
  • Patent number: 7191546
    Abstract: A low temperature clothes dryer having a drying chamber provides removable horizontal screens supporting clothing items and a hanging bar for hanging clothes to be dried. A timing control allows setting the time of operation of the drying cabinet. An electric heater with thermostat is provided to initially raise and maintain the air temperature within the drying chamber to at least about 90 degrees F. The dehumidifier is then operated, providing for circulation through the ducts and drying cabinet by an internal fan. The dehumidifier has an evaporator through which warm, humid air is passed, thereby cooling the air and condensing water therefrom, the water being collected in a removable container or drained through a drain hose. The fan forces the cooled, dried air through a condenser which heats the dried air for recirculation through the drying chamber by means of ducts, thereby drying the clothing therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2007
    Inventor: Robert E. Maruca
  • Patent number: 7100303
    Abstract: There is provided an apparatus and a method for heat treatment of lignocellulosic material. The apparatus comprises a treatment chamber and devices for circulating and recovering gases from the treatment chamber such as to provide a uniform temperature within the chamber and allow efficient drying of the material. This is achieved by injecting and recovering the gases from at least two sides of the treatment chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2006
    Assignee: PCI Industries Inc.
    Inventors: Jean-Pierre Bernon, Bernard Robert, Fabrice Robert, Jacky Drevet
  • Patent number: 7076887
    Abstract: A body drying apparatus includes a housing for dissipating heated air outwardly therefrom and is situated within a plenum having at least one rear wall abutted against an interior surface of the plenum. The housing further has a front wall including a vent formed therein and a top wall provided with an opening in fluid communication with the vent. The vent is provided with a grill for channeling the heated air. The present invention further includes a power unit and a plurality of flexible conduits for directing ambient air into the power unit and for directing the heated air out from the power unit. The power unit is electrically coupled to an external power supply source. A mechanism is included for remotely operating the power unit such that a user may toggle the apparatus between on and off modes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2006
    Inventor: Jesse C. Camberos
  • Patent number: 6990749
    Abstract: An oven assembly for drying paint on a product transported by a conveyor includes a plurality of modules positioned in a generally abutting relationship. Each of the modules includes a roof, side walls, and a floor having a length and a width. The floor is formed from abutting floor panels reinforced by a plurality of support members spaced along the length of the floor and having a length greater than the width of the floor. The side walls include an inner side wall panel disposed in an overlapping relationship with the floor and a side wall cladding panel supported by the support members along the width of the floor thereby concealing thermal insulating material disposed between the inner side wall panel and the side wall cladding panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2006
    Assignee: Dürr Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Bruce Roesler, Lawrence A. Cook, Douglas G. Smith, David J. Cole, Jeffrey C. Andrews
  • Patent number: 6962005
    Abstract: A shower dryer system includes a dryer tower with nozzles for directing heated air into a shower enclosure interior. A programmed controller controls the rate of air flow and the temperature of air flow to and through the air nozzles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2005
    Assignee: Jacuzzi, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Khosropour, Harold Leung, Jim R. Pauls, Bob A. Davis
  • Patent number: 6959502
    Abstract: A drying furnace contains therein hot plates which are disposed in a plurality of stages in a vertical direction, on each of which is seated a platelike workpiece. A gateway for the workpiece is disposed on a front side of the drying furnace and is normally left open to face the plurality of stages of hot plates. A chamber casing is disposed on a rear side of the drying furnace. An exhaust chamber is defined in the chamber casing and has a flow dividing plate which has formed therein a plurality of ventilation holes each facing a gap between the plurality of stages of hot plates. The exhaust chamber is forcibly exhausted by an exhaust blower.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2005
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Shinichi Nakamura, Yoshiaki Yamada
  • Patent number: 6935052
    Abstract: The invention relates to a dryer for objects, in particular for motor vehicle bodies (1). Known dryers comprise a drying tunnel (6), located within an insulated housing (2), a number of nozzles (25) being arranged in the lateral walls (8) of said tunnel. These nozzles are used to direct hot circulatory air against the objects (1). The circulatory air is extracted from the drying tunnel (6) by means of extraction openings (7) below the objects (1) and is supplied to two air chambers (13) located at the sides of the drying tunnel (6). The circulatory air is extracted upwards via said chambers with the help of fans (18). A heat register (26) is located in each of the two air chambers (13) and is aligned in a substantially vertical direction, said registers consisting of a number of intercommunicating pipe sections that are traversed by hot primary air and are surrounded by the circulatory air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2005
    Assignee: Eisenmann Maschinenbau KG
    Inventors: Harald Sonner, Achim Vogt
  • Patent number: 6922908
    Abstract: A dryer is constructed and arranged to dry vegetable product, such as coffee beans. The dryer includes a thermal collector that is constructed and arranged to convert solar energy to heat energy, a heat transfer system, and a housing that defines a drying chamber. The thermal collector is positioned toward a light source and is thermally connected to the heat transfer system. The heat transfer system is also in thermal communication with the drying chamber. Therefore heat is able to move from the thermal collector to the drying chamber. Convective forces, or flow, can be used to move air inside the drying chamber, but photovoltaic energy could also be used to enhance this effect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2005
    Inventor: Raul Raudales
  • Patent number: 6829841
    Abstract: A drying cabinet is used to dry a person's body after bathing or showering. The drying cabinet includes a plurality of adjustable air-dispensing nozzles on two sides and on the rear wall of the cabinet. The nozzles are fluidically connected to each other and to a source of hot dry air by manifolds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2004
    Inventor: Jonathan G. Edwards
  • Patent number: 6742276
    Abstract: A plastic suit drying system comprises a drying chamber with an air warmer, and a mobile dryer rack. The mobile rack has a wheeled air plenum base, a number of drying positions (each comprising three perforated air pipes protruding up from the base), and a flanged air inlet in the back of the base that mates with a connection flange in the drying chamber. Through this flanged connection hot air is forced into the base/plenum and then into the perforated pipes. For use, wet plastic suits are placed upside down on the drying positions. Then, the mobile rack is rolled into the drying chamber so that the rack's flange mates with the drying cabinet's connection flange. Next, the drying chamber doors are closed, and the drying cycle started, during which heated air is blown into the mobile rack plenum and up into the air pipes extending into the suits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2004
    Assignee: UniFirst Corporation
    Inventors: Kent D. Anderson, Les Case, Michael R. Fuller, David K. Welcher, II, Richard F. Tardy
  • Patent number: 6689180
    Abstract: A heat-shrinking film packaging machine includes a conveyor for transporting an article to be packaged through a heating device to have a heat-shrinking film surrounding the article heated and shrunk and thus tightly packaging the article. The heating device includes a hot air flow control device including two air supply devices located on opposite sides of the conveyor to define a channel through which the article is transported. Each air supply device has a surface in which an array of openings is defined and arranged in rows and columns for supplying hot air toward the article. A blocking bar is movably mounted to the surface of each air supply device and associated with each row of the openings. The blocking bar is movable with respect to the openings to selectively and partially block the openings for controlling hot air flow through the openings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2004
    Assignee: Benison & Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Benker Liao
  • Patent number: 6678968
    Abstract: A critical point drying apparatus for sample preparation in electron microscopy and semiconductor wafer production includes a computer system to automate the operational modes in drying the specimen. These operational modes controlled by the computer system are: cooling, in which a drying chamber is cooled; starting, in which the specimen chamber is filled with a transitional fluid; purging, in which the transitional fluid purges an intermediary fluid from the drying chamber and the purged intermediary fluid is collected by a collector condenser; heating, in which the drying chamber is heated to elevate the transitional fluid to its critical point temperature and pressure; and bleeding, in which the drying chamber is depressurized to atmospheric pressure at a very slow rate until the drying chamber is completely vented, which signals the end of the drying operation. The computer system interfaces with a remote client terminal to update the status of the operation of the critical point drying apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2004
    Assignee: Tousimis Research Corporation
    Inventors: Anastasios J. Tousimis, Chris Tousimis
  • Patent number: 6647866
    Abstract: A processing device for coffee beans to undergo a de-husking, bean-halving, membrane removing and roasting device to proceed with a de-husking, bean-halving, membrane removing and roasting step of coffee beans, wherein the de-husking, bean-halving and membrane-removing device comprises: a first beating mechanism having a plurality of rotating blades with hard rubber at the surface thereof to beat and remove the dried husk, flesh and inner skin of coffee beans; a second beating mechanism having a plurality of rotating blades with soft rubber at the surface thereof to beat and remove the silvery skin of the inner layer of the bean; a first separating mechanism mounted with a lower for separating the coffee bean from skin and debris; and the roasting device including a rolling container mounted with a spiral conductive plate and a burner at the bottom section of the rolling container for roasting of coffee beans after the coffee beans have been de-husked, halved and membrane-removed for appropriate stiring for e
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2003
    Inventor: Chen Kuo Chih
  • Publication number: 20030159308
    Abstract: Machines and methods for curing ultraviolet (UV) curable floor coatings are provided. In one embodiment, the machine includes a UV radiation source having one or more lamps where each lamp is operable to simultaneously emit UV radiation at two or more wavelengths and at relatively low power consumption, e.g., no more than about 75 watts per inch of cured coating width. The floor coating includes components that are reactive to these two or more wavelengths such that substantial or complete curing of the floor coating may occur upon simultaneous exposure to the two or more wavelengths. Preferably, the UV radiation emitted by each of the one or more lamps is greater at the two or more wavelengths than at wavelengths other than the two or more wavelengths.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2002
    Publication date: August 28, 2003
    Applicant: TENNANT COMPANY
    Inventors: Bruce F. Field, Earl O.F. Krueger
  • Publication number: 20030131492
    Abstract: A preferred embodiment of the invention includes a vessel having a first end and a second end. A first cap is releasably mounted on the first end. A second cap is releasably mounted on the second end. The vessel is configured to prevent crushing and promote ventilating thereof. The first cap and/or second cap may have an aperture for ventilating the vessel. A fan may be fixed relative to, for ventilating, the vessel. The may be mounted on a cap. The fan may be energizable with a battery. A switch may provide for selectably supplying energy to the fan. If a fan is provided, a barrier may be disposed in the vessel configured to protect an object in the vessel from the fan. The barrier should have an aperture for ventilating the vessel. The invention may include a handle connected to, for carrying, the vessel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2003
    Publication date: July 17, 2003
    Inventor: Dennis J. Zuccaro
  • Patent number: 6580060
    Abstract: A foot warmer mat including an electrical heater element embedded in the mat combined with a heater air circulation emanating from a detachable hood at one end of the mat. A vibrator is also embedded in the mat to stimulate the soles of a user's feet. An automotive electrical adapter is used to power the electrical components to allow controlled activation by a vehicle passenger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2003
    Inventors: Derrick M. Inman, Carla B. Inman
  • Patent number: 6564470
    Abstract: An appliance for thermally processing granular material, especially for roasting food items such as coffee beans. The granular material lies on a perforated base through which gas flows upwardly to create a fluidized bed. The exhaust gas is fed to a cyclone separator for separation of entrained solid particles. Preferably, the base is located in an inner chamber which is at least partially enclosed in an outer chamber forming the cyclone separator. The exhaust gas is fed into a top opening of the outer chamber thereby providing a rotary gas flow. Alternatively, the base is located in an outer chamber in which at least the area above the base is designed as the cyclone separator. The outer chamber at least partially encloses an inner chamber through which gas is fed to create a rotary gas flow. In both cases, an extremely compact roaster design is realized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2003
    Assignee: Alfred C. G. Nolte KG
    Inventor: Andreas Krueger
  • Patent number: 6558640
    Abstract: A sanitizer which utilizes hot air to destroy bacteria upon household products such as nursery, bathroom and kitchen items. The sanitizer includes a base, heating element, fan, and a sanitizing chamber with spacers which allow optimal placement of the products being sanitized. The sanitizer includes a vented cover which allows operation within a set temperature range and fast cool down when the sanitizing process is complete.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2003
    Assignee: Novalabs, LLC
    Inventors: John R. Nottingham, Christopher Riker, John W. Spirk, Marc L. Vitantonio
  • Patent number: 6499228
    Abstract: An apparatus for drying and conveying pistachios comprises a plurality of fixed and moveable slotted plates. The moveable plates are interleaved with the fixed plates and reciprocate to push pistachio nuts along the surface of the plates. Heated air is blown through the plates to dry the pistachios.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2002
    Inventor: Mohammad Nakhei-Nejad
  • Patent number: 6493964
    Abstract: A critical point drying apparatus for sample preparation in electron microscopy and semiconductor wafer production includes a computer system to automate the operational modes in drying the specimen. These operational modes controlled by the computer system are: cooling, in which a drying chamber is cooled; starting, in which the specimen chamber is filled with a transitional fluid; purging, in which the transitional fluid purges an intermediary fluid from the drying chamber and the purged intermediary fluid is collected by a collector condenser; heating, in which the drying chamber is heated to elevate the transitional fluid to its critical point temperature and pressure; and bleeding, in which the drying chamber is depressurized to atmospheric pressure at a very slow rate until the drying chamber is completely vented, which signals the end of the drying operation. The drying chamber incorporates concave surfaces for pressure dispersal and to facilitate purging the intermediary fluid completely.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2002
    Assignee: Tousimis Research Corp.
    Inventors: Anastasios J. Tousimis, Chris Tousimis
  • Patent number: 6477786
    Abstract: Liquid is removed from batches of substrates by apparatus and methods for drying substrates that have been wet in an elongated liquid bath. The substrates are moved relative to the bath and an elongated gas-filled volume at rates of movement selected according to the location of the batches of substrates in the bath or the volume. As an example, the substrates and the bath are separated at a controlled rate to form a thin layer of liquid on each substrate as each substrate enters the gas-filled volume. The gas-filled volume is defined by an elongated hot chamber and hot gas directed into the volume and across the substrates and out of the volume continuously transfers thermal energy to the substrates . The flow rate of the gas into the volume is related to introduction of the substrates into the bath to avoid disturbing the liquid in the bath.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2002
    Assignees: Lam Research Corporation, Oliver Design, Inc.
    Inventors: Oliver David Jones, Kenneth C. McMahon, Jonathan Borkowski, Scott Petersen, Donald Stephens, Yassin Mehmandoust, James M. Olivas
  • Patent number: 6382087
    Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a coffee bean roaster with recirculated, filtered exhaust airflow. The coffee bean roaster includes a roasting drum sized and configured to receive coffee beans for roasting therein. The roasting drum has a drum airflow inlet and a drum airflow outlet for exhausting airflow from the roasting drum. The coffee bean roaster further includes a blower configured to blow airflow through the drum airflow inlet for venting the roasting drum. The coffee bean roaster includes a fluid filter having a filter airflow inlet and a filter airflow outlet. The filter airflow inlet is in fluid communication with the drum airflow outlet. The fluid filter is configured to filter airflow from the roasting drum. The filter airflow outlet is in fluid communication with the blower for recirculating airflow into the roasting drum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2002
    Inventor: Sadamu Iiyama
  • Patent number: 6349484
    Abstract: A body dryer is provided including a housing having an elongated height. Also included is a mirror mounted on the housing. A heating mechanism is situated along the height of the housing for expelling heated air therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2002
    Inventor: Sol Cohen
  • Patent number: 6324770
    Abstract: An improved apparatus and method for the hot air roasting of coffee beans is provided and includes structure for inhibiting contaminants from entering the hot air stream used in the roasting of coffee beans, structure for obtaining a uniform roast of the coffee beans, unitary structure for mounting a handle to a roasting chamber and removably and releasably mounting a cover to the roasting chamber, structure for initiating a roasting cycle and terminating the roasting cycle for a predetermined cooling period at any point during the roasting cycle, structure for double sealing a cover to a roasting chamber, structure for assembling a vessel, a metallic base, and a plastic mount ring into an integral roasting chamber, structure for releasably and removably mounting a roasting vessel to a main housing, dual filters for preventing the blockage of a hot air stream through a hull and chaff collector, and a “fan based” method for controlling the roasting temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2001
    Assignee: Hearthware Home Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Jung S. Moon, Rong Liu, Alan R. Kelley
  • Patent number: 6263591
    Abstract: The portable sports equipment drying container comprised: a box shaped body; a cover for the body; the body having opposed side walls and opposed end walls; an input fan mounted in one of the walls; an output fan mounted in a another one of the walls; a heating pad in the box shaped body; perforated or porous insulating structure between the heating pad and clothing or equipment placed in the box shaped body; and electrical circuitry for energizing the fans and the heating pad for drying moist or wet clothing or equipment placed in said container and for circulating air through the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2001
    Inventor: Victor M. La Porte
  • Patent number: 6260479
    Abstract: Control of the roasting fluidized bed of coffee. It is governed by determining when the pyrolysis of the roasted batch is at its peak. The roasting is then stopped after a predetermined period of time. The following of the commencement of pyrolysis accurately and uniformly determines the starting period for the timing of the stoppage of the process to obtain uniform roasting result. The process is not vulnerable to variations in roasting such as moisture, temperature of the roasting air etc. Air circulation control conduit is provided with a vent port for gases and an inlet port for fresh air, the two ports can be simultaneously opened or closed while the control conduit is simultaneously closed or opened, respectively. Additional air circulation and discharge systems are disclosed and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2001
    Inventors: Jaromir Friedrich, Raymond Lemaire
  • Patent number: 6185835
    Abstract: Apparatus is provided for the conditioning of a commodity (12) such as clothing suitable for vacuum packing in which there is provided a conditioning tunnel (2) including a floor (4), a ceiling (6) and two side walls (8), through which tunnel runs a conveyor system (10) for transporting the commodity. The tunnel is provided with air inlets (14) for directing streams of air into tunnel, and means for extracting and transporting air from the tunnel to apparatus for dehumidifying the air. There is further provided means for conveying the dehumidified air to the air inlets. Means are provided on at least one side wall for influencing the flow path of the air passing from the inlet to the outlet. Use of the apparatus conditions the commodity so that when vacuum packed, the commodity does not crease.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2001
    Assignee: Qualpak UK Limited
    Inventors: Sven Äke Enbom, Alex Tin Sing Lee, John Anderson Mitchell
  • Patent number: 6182374
    Abstract: A drying machine includes a rectangular housing, a plurality of tubular heater spacedly disposed on lower portion of the housing, a plurality of seasoning containers releasibly disposed above the tubular heaters, a plurality of electrical fans rotatably disposed above the seasoning containers and uniformly operated by a motor on the top of the housing and a heat exchanger on the top of the housing to form a hot air circulation to dry meat inside the housing. The housing farther includes a plurality of controllable air vents, a plurality of visual windows and a control panel which controls the operation of the elements to be worked in high quality control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2001
    Inventor: Chin-Pei Yen
  • Patent number: 6176024
    Abstract: A plurality of bags (16), each of a substantially rectangular cross-section defined by spaced and parallel bag panels (18) interconnected by shorter sides (20), have inlets respectively connected to a support plenum (12) and extend to a distal end (22). An elongated nozzle (24) extends across each bag (16) at the distal end (22) between the sides (20) and converges from the bag panels (18) to a nozzle opening (26) for directing air toward the object. The assembly is characterized by a plurality of nozzle gussets (32) each including two layers (34) of flexible material suspended between the first and second nozzle panels (30) for bulging away from one another and toward the next adjacent nozzle gusset. Consequently, the spaced layers (34) of next adjacent nozzle gussets (32) bulge toward one another in response to air flow through the nozzle (24) to create a restriction and increased velocity of the air flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2001
    Assignee: Proto-Vest, Inc.
    Inventor: Christopher Patrick McElroy
  • Patent number: 6173506
    Abstract: A roaster and method for roasting utilizing a tangential flow reducing structure which directs and guides airflow from a blower device into a roasting vessel with minimal swirl and circular flow. The tangential flow reducing structure is preferably one or more baffles, and is preferably located within a plenum in the base of the roaster. More preferably, the roaster has a number of substantially vertical baffles channeling airflow into a vertical and reduced-swirl flow entering the roasting vessel. The roaster also preferably has a unique connection between the roasting vessel and a base upon which the roasting vessel rests, with a flat washer-shaped gasket maintaining a fluid tight seal between the roasting vessel and the base. To tighten the seal, the roaster also preferably includes a cover which is pivotably attached to a support structure supporting the cover in position over the roasting vessel when the roasting vessel is on top of the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2001
    Assignee: Premark WB Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Annette T. Kruepke, William C. Dobson
  • Patent number: 6161310
    Abstract: An elbow for use in connecting the exhaust vent of a clothes dryer to an exhaust duct. The elbow having a depth equal to or less than the exhaust duct diameter while maintaining a constant exhaust airflow velocity. Preferably, the elbow comprises a rectangular portion connected to the dryer exhaust vent and an adapter portion extending from the rectangular portion and connecting to the exhaust duct.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2000
    Assignee: Builder's Best, Inc.
    Inventors: W. Gregory Tuggle, Robert Kenrick
  • Patent number: 6148539
    Abstract: A body drier system is provided including an enclosure having a pair of opposed side walls and a top face coupled between top edges of the side walls. The side walls and the top face are each defined by an outer wall and an inner wall being spaced to define a hollow interior. Also included is a channel positioned within the side walls and the top face of the stall. Next provided is a plurality of vent assemblies mounted on an interior of the side walls and remaining in communication with the channel. Also included is a blower assembly including a fan for directing air through the channel and out of the vent assemblies upon the actuation thereof and a plurality of heating elements mounted within a flow of the air the fan for heating the air upon the actuation thereof. A control panel is provided for actuating the fan and the heating elements upon the depression thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2000
    Inventors: Judith A. Hatfield, Mel E. Hatfield, III
  • Patent number: 6134806
    Abstract: A portable sport equipment bag having an air distributor is connected with a hose to blower and ozone generator operable to move air and ozone under pressure into the air distributor. The air distributor has one or more manifolds located within the bag. The manifolds have a plurality of holes to allow air and ozone in the manifolds to flow into the bag to dry sport equipment and objects within the bag and destroy bacteria, molds and fungus in the bag. One or more air filters mounted on the bag remove odors and foreign matter from the air flow from the bag into the environment adjacent the bag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2000
    Inventor: Gregory L. Dhaemers
  • Patent number: 6131303
    Abstract: A body dryer for drying the body with blown warm air. The body dryer includes a blower housing with inlet and outlet openings. The blower housing has a heater and a fan therein for drawing air into the blower via the inlet opening and out of the blower housing via the outlet opening. An elongate outer tube has an elongate inner tube disposed therein. An upper end of the inner tube is in communication with the outlet opening of the blower housing. The outer tube has a plurality of spaced apart vent holes arranged in a row extending between the upper and lower ends of the outer tube. The inner tube has an elongate full vent slot extending between the upper and lower ends of the inner tube and a plurality of spaced apart partial vent slots arranged in a pair of rows extending between the upper and lower ends of the inner tube adjacent the full vent slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2000
    Inventor: Mike Roper
  • Patent number: 6112644
    Abstract: A coffee bean roaster having an annular coffee bean receptacle, an air passageway extending from a source of outside air to the annular coffee bean receptacle, and a fan positioned in the air passageway operative to draw air from the outside source through the air passageway and into the annular coffee bean receptacle. An air heater is positioned in the air passageway so as to heat air propelled through the air passageway by the fan prior to entering the annular coffee bean receptacle. A chaff receptacle is positioned adjacent the annular coffee bean receptacle so as to receive chaff from beans roasted in the annular coffee bean receptacle and an air exhaust passageway extends from the annular coffee bean receptacle to a region proximate to the chaff receiving receptacle and is operative to establish an exhaust air flow that carries the chaff to the chaff receptacle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2000
    Inventor: Eugene Song
  • Patent number: 6094839
    Abstract: A footwear drying apparatus, comprises a housing having vertical front, rear and side walls, a top section, a drying section, and a base section. A fan is mounted within the top section, so that to blow air to the drying section. A heater is mounted adjacent to the fan, so that to heat air. A thermostat is mounted adjacent to the heater. At the top of the apparatus is mounted a control console having a timer, a fan switch, a heater switch and a thermostat knob. Air inlets are formed in the top section. An air outlet is mounted within the base section. A mud screen is fixed at the entrance of the air outlet, so that to prevent from mud entering into the air outlet. An air filter is mounted at the exit of the air outlet. A door is secured to the front wall, so that to provide access to the drying section. A mud collector is removably mounted at the bottom of the drying section, so that to collect mud from unclean footwear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2000
    Inventor: Dimitar Nikolov Nikolov
  • Patent number: 6085439
    Abstract: An apparatus for airing grains stored in bulk on a floor of a depot, including a tunnel comprising a duct made of half cylindrical shaped corrugated sheets. The corrugations are approximately sine-wave shaped and provide adequate reinforcement for supporting the weight of grain stored on top. Aprons anchor the duct to the floor, and the duct is connected to a blower which supplies air to the duct. The duct has an inner surface, an outer surface, and two longitudinal edges, with each of the longitudinal edges extending substantially parallel to one another and bear on the respective aprons anchored to the floor. The duct is provided with air outlet openings for injecting air into the grain, wherein the openings are located adjacent or near the longitudinal edges of the duct. Each apron comprises a substantially horizontal wing for anchoring the apron to the floor, thereby forming an air channel between the floor and the inner surface of the duct.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2000
    Assignee: Haletec S.A.
    Inventor: Juan Carlos Skaarup
  • Patent number: 6067725
    Abstract: The invention relates to a personal or communal drying cubicle (1), which comprises an outer wall (2) provided with an opening (3) which can be connected up to a duct for supplying drying air, and an inner wall (4) pierced with outlet orifices (7) for distributing the drying air inside the drying cubicle (1), the outer and inner walls (2, 4), which have the shape of a portion of a cylinder, are arranged one with respect to the other in such a way as to delimit between them an internal space (6) with a substantially crescent-shaped transverse section in order to obtain a uniform distribution of the drying air through the outlet orifices (7) with a minimum drop in pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2000
    Assignee: Shell Research Limited
    Inventor: Michel Moser
  • Patent number: 6053093
    Abstract: A device for roasting coffee beans in small quantities. The device includes a housing, coffee bean roasting basket, chaff collector, heater and fan to conduct the roasting operation. Thermosensors are located within the roasting basket whose output is provided to a microprocessor which, in turn, controls the roasting process by controlling roasting parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2000
    Inventors: Wayne Gerhardt, Wayne Cook
  • Patent number: 5996480
    Abstract: An improved apparatus for roasting raw coffee beans includes a main housing (10) having an air inlet (24). A blower assembly (18,20,22) is disposed within the housing (10) and is in fluid communication with the inlet (24). The blower assembly has a discharge location (32) whereat an electric heater (34) is located. A coffee bean receiving vessel (12) is removably mounted on the main housing (10) and in turn, a hull collector (14) disposed on the vessel (12). A control (FIG. 3), including a sensor (38,136), is located in the air stream upstream of the inlet (56,58) to the vessel (12) and downstream of the electric heating element (34).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 7, 1999
    Assignee: Hearthware Home Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Alan R. Kelley, J. R. Kim, Jay S. Moon, Daryl Osberg
  • Patent number: 5930915
    Abstract: A portable sport equipment bag having an air distributor is connected with a hose to blower operable to move air under pressure into the air distributor. The air distributor has one or more manifolds located within the bag. The manifolds have a plurality of holes to allow air in the manifolds to flow into the bag to dry sport equipment and objects within the bag. One or more air filters mounted on the bag remove odors and foreign matter from the air flow from the bag into the environment adjacent the bag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 3, 1999
    Inventor: Gregory L. Dhaemers
  • Patent number: 5926968
    Abstract: A wood drying system to eliminate the discharge of liquid kiln water includes a kiln which is heated to dry a batch of wood, a basin to collect the water driven from the wood, and an evaporator in which the collected water is converted into steam. The steam is provided to the kiln to balance the drying and alleviate the splitting, warping, etc. caused by over drying. The steam is ultimately vented harmlessly into the atmosphere to effectively eliminate any discharge of the kiln water as a liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 27, 1999
    Assignee: Georgia-Pacific Corporation
    Inventor: George E. Gipson
  • Patent number: 5901461
    Abstract: An assembly for blowing liquids from the surfaces of a vehicle comprising support plenum (10) for distributing a stream of air to the surfaces of a vehicle, a blower (16) connected to said support plenum (10) for producing the stream of air, and an overhead bag (18) extending downwardly from the plenum (10) to a distal end. A nozzle is disposed at the distal end and includes a center section (20) having a length (Y) extending horizontally between ends for directing air against the top of a vehicle. The nozzle is characterized by including an inwardly directed end section (22) at each end of the center section (20) to define outward tips (24) of the nozzle for directing air downwardly and inwardly against the sides of a vehicle. A positioner (30) positions the vehicle to combine with the geometric configuration of the overhead bag (18) to assure that the stream of air emitted from the nozzle tips (24) impacts the sides of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 11, 1999
    Assignee: Proto-Vest, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy Patrick McElroy, Christopher Patrick McElroy, Lucian G. McElroy
  • Patent number: 5890418
    Abstract: A coffee bean roaster comprises a cylinder-shaped housing, a roasting vessel, a hemishpere-shaped lid, a guiding duct and a handle duct. The housing has a duct connections part protruded in one side. Corresponding to the housing, a lower plate is formed on a bottom face. A partition plate is formed in an upper end. A placement part having air inducing holes is placed above the partition plate. A fan is installed. A heater upper plate and a heater lower plate are placed in the upper end of the placement part. A heater coil is placed between the two plates to form a heater assembly. Corresponding to the roasting vessel, a guiding part is placed at the bottom face of a heated air blower. Blowing holes are formed on the outer perimeter surface of the heated air blower in the oblique direction, a spindle is formed therein. The coffee bean roaster has an excellent roasting capacity by a strong whirlwind, and easily removes the hulls of the raw beans.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 6, 1999
    Inventor: You Jin Song
  • Patent number: 5860221
    Abstract: A metering unloader (101) for unloading a fluent material from a flow path (11) is disclosed. The flow path has a fluent material outlet (27). The metering unloader comprises an unloader body (103) having an outer cylindric wall (105) and an inner cylindric wall (107) spaced radially inwardly from the outer wall with the walls defining a chamber (126) therebetween. Means (117) is provided for rotating the unloader body about a vertical axis. Outer wall (105) has a fluent material inlet opening (119) such that with the fluent material inlet opening (119) in register with the flow path fluent material outlet (27), the fluent material will flow by gravity through the fluent material inlet opening (119) in the outer wall into the chamber (126). The inner wall (107) has a fluent material outlet opening (127) therein such that the fluent material in the chamber (126) will flow by gravity from the chamber to a fluent material discharge outlet (15).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 19, 1999
    Assignee: The GSI Group, Inc.
    Inventors: David Wayne Morrison, Eugene B. Pollock
  • Patent number: RE37238
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for roasting raw coffee beans which apparatus can instantly roast a small quantity of raw coffee beans according to personal taste and provide a unique taste and fragrance of coffee, and in particular to an apparatus suitable for home use. The apparatus has a roasting vessel for containing raw coffee beans to be roasted. A plurality of air openings are provided for creating a whirling vertical motion to a heated airstream ascending therethrough, whereby the raw beans are roasted and also caused to have their hulls separated and caused to ascend upwardly with the airstream to a hull-receiving vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2001
    Assignee: Hearthware Home Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Eugene Song
  • Patent number: RE36728
    Abstract: A system for drying a large quantity of wood efficiently, which includes: a wood drying room capable of being sealed; a combustion-gas generator provided with an air-inlet conduit for introducing fresh air for combustion use into a combustion chamber provided in a lower area of the combustion-gas generator; a combustion-gas supplying passage extending from an upper area of the combustion-gas generator to an upper area of the wood drying room; an exhaust-gas discharging conduit extending from a bottom area of the wood drying room to a chimney; a combustion-gas recovery conduit extending from the bottom area of the wood drying room to the combustion-gas generator, and a gas flow-rate control unit provided in at least one of the exhaust-gas discharging conduit and the combustion-gas recovery conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2000
    Inventor: Sachio Ishii