With Display, Inspecting, Or Illuminating Means Patents (Class 34/88)
  • Publication number: 20100205820
    Abstract: The invention relates to a laundry treating appliance and method for controlling the operation of the laundry treating appliance by determining the surface area of the laundry based on image data of the laundry.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2009
    Publication date: August 19, 2010
    Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: FARHAD ASHRAFZADEH, JAMES P. CAROW, SHREECHARAN KANCHANAVALLY
  • Publication number: 20100205826
    Abstract: A laundry treating appliance having a rotatable drum defining a laundry treating chamber, where the laundry in the laundry treating chamber may be imaged and a motion condition of the laundry determined based on the imaging of the laundry. The operation of the laundry treating appliance may be based on the determined motion condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2009
    Publication date: August 19, 2010
    Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: FARHAD ASHRAFZADEH, JAMES P. CAROW, SHREECHARAN KANCHANAVALLY
  • Patent number: 7765715
    Abstract: A drying apparatus and a controlling method thereof are provided. During an initial phase of drying operation according to a selected drying cycle, a point of terminating the drying operation is calculated based on a moisture level sensed by a moisture sensor and a moisture output quantity stored in the storage. Drying is performed up to the calculated point of drying operation termination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2010
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Sang Doo Kim
  • Publication number: 20100180462
    Abstract: A holding assembly for reducing the bacteria on a washcloth. The bacteria reducing cleaning device holding assembly comprising: a housing; at least one fan connected to the housing; the fan electrically connected to a power source; a holding device connected to the housing for holding a cleaning device; and a control device connected to the fan such that when the control device is activated the fan moves air over the holding device thereby drying the cleaning device held by the holding device. This provides the advantage of providing a device to hold a user's washcloth after use that helps to dry the washcloth thus reducing the bacteria count on the washcloth.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2010
    Publication date: July 22, 2010
    Inventors: Christopher Adam Proskey, Mark R. Hinshaw
  • Publication number: 20100174668
    Abstract: A clothes dryer is provided comprising one or more power consuming functions and a controller in signal communication with an associated utility. The controller can receive and process a signal from the associated utility indicative of current cost of supplied energy. The controller operates the clothes dryer in one of a normal operating mode and an energy savings mode based on the received signal. The controller is configured to change the power consuming functions by adjusting one or more of an operation schedule, an operation delay, an operation adjustment, and a selective deactivation of at least one of the one or more power consuming functions to reduce power consumption of the clothes dryer in the energy savings mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2009
    Publication date: July 8, 2010
    Inventors: MICHAEL F. FINCH, John K. Besore, Jeff Donald Drake, Darin Franks, Chad Michael Helms, Jerrod Aaron Kappler, Steven Keith Root, Natarajan Venkatakrishnan, Eric K. Watson, Joshua S. Wiseman
  • Publication number: 20100146809
    Abstract: A condensation dryer includes a drying chamber for objects to be dried, a process air channel, a heater in the process air channel for heating the process air, a heat exchanger in the process air channel for cooling the process air after passing through the drying chamber, a fan in the process air channel for conveying the process air, a rinsing container connected to a water supply, and a controller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2009
    Publication date: June 17, 2010
    Applicant: BSH BOSCH UND SIEMENS HAUSGERATE GMBH
    Inventors: Klaus Grunert, Uwe-Jens Krausch, Günter Steffens
  • Publication number: 20100122470
    Abstract: A dehumidifier is used for restoring a water damaged electronic device. The dehumidifier comprises a sealable watertight container having a wall with an inside surface. The container has an interior chamber, and an open end. The open end has a releasable seal. The wall has an anti-static property, which prevents electrostatic charges from damaging the electronic device. The wall is a moisture barrier. The interior chamber is large enough to receive the electronic device. A desiccant material is placed within a water vapor-permeable enclosure, which is disposed within the interior chamber. The desiccant material is a hydrophilic material such as silica gel, calcium carbonate, molecular sieve, activated clay, or alumina. The container wall is generally transparent. A humidity indicator is placed within the interior chamber. An optional heater is placed within the interior chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2009
    Publication date: May 20, 2010
    Inventors: Bradley C. Davis, Gregory Montgomery
  • Publication number: 20100088917
    Abstract: Disclosed are a clothes dryer and a door thereof. The door includes a glass assembly provided with a door glass; and a door cover connected to the glass assembly. The door cover has a vertically symmetrical structure, and is rotated against the glass assembly and then connected to the glass assembly, when the opening and closing direction of the door is changed. Thereby, when the opening and closing direction of the door is changed, only the door cover is rotated, and thus the opening and closing direction of the door is easily changed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2009
    Publication date: April 15, 2010
    Applicant: SAMSUNG LECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Hyung Sub Lim
  • Publication number: 20100077629
    Abstract: Disclosed are a liquid storage container and a clothes dryer having the same. The liquid storage container comprises: a reservoir installed at a clothes dryer, and configured to store liquid therein; a floating member floating on the liquid, and disposed on the reservoir with a rotation angle variable according to level change of the liquid inside the reservoir; and display means configured to display information corresponding to the rotation angle of the floating member. The rotation angle of the floating member may vary according to a remaining amount of the liquid. And, the remaining amount of the liquid may be informed to a user through the display means. Accordingly, the user may easily check the remaining amount of the liquid without checking the inside of the liquid storage container.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2009
    Publication date: April 1, 2010
    Inventors: Sang-Hun Bae, Min-Ji Kim, Ye-Ji Um, Myung-Shik Kim, Young-Soo Ha
  • Publication number: 20100077630
    Abstract: Disclosed are a liquid storage container and a clothes dryer having the same. The clothes dryer comprises: a body; a front supporter which forms a part of a front surface of the body, and configured to fix the drum; a door installed at the front supporter; a liquid storage container comprising a reservoir configured to store liquid therein, and an inlet unit through which liquid is introduced into the reservoir; and a remaining amount indicator configured to indicate a remaining amount of the liquid stored in the reservoir, wherein the remaining amount indicator is installed on a rear surface of the front supporter, and is exposed to the front surface of the body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2009
    Publication date: April 1, 2010
    Inventors: Sang-Hun Bae, Min-Ji Kim, Ye-Ji Um, Myung-Shik Kim, Young-Soo Ha
  • Publication number: 20100011605
    Abstract: A clothes dryer includes: a main body constituting an outer appearance; a drum rotatably installed within the main body; a front supporter supporting the drum at a front side; and a fragrance supply device configured to supply fragrance to the interior of the drum, wherein the fragrance supply device includes a liquid level detecting unit for detecting a liquid level of a fragrance liquid stored therein. The fragrance supply device includes a liquid level detecting unit. The liquid level detecting unit includes an electrode sensor installed in the chamber, a magnet attached to a floater, and a reed switch. With the presence of the liquid level detecting unit, when the fragrance liquid stored in the chamber is used up so it needs to be supplemented, the user can easily recognize that upon viewing an indication displayed on a control panel or the like.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2009
    Publication date: January 21, 2010
    Inventors: Min-Ji Kim, Sang-Hun Bae, Chul-Jin Choi
  • Publication number: 20100011609
    Abstract: A multiple laundry treating machine, in which an auxiliary laundry treating device (120) is coupled to a general laundry treating device (110), is disclosed. The multiple laundry treating machine includes a main laundry treating device (110) for washing or drying laundry contained in an interior of the main laundry treating device (110), an auxiliary laundry treating device (120) arranged at one side of the main laundry treating device (110), the auxiliary laundry treating device (120) having a volume and a height respectively smaller than a volume and a height of the main laundry treating device (110), and having a laundry container (121) formed in an interior of the auxiliary laundry treating device (120), and a connecting unit (300) for connecting the main and auxiliary laundry treating devices (110, 120), to enable communication or control operations between the main and auxiliary laundry treating devices (110, 120).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2007
    Publication date: January 21, 2010
    Inventors: Seong Ho Park, Phal Jin Lee, Seong Hae Jeong, Seong Jin Jo
  • Publication number: 20100005683
    Abstract: A method of controlling a spray dryer apparatus having a spray dryer chamber (1), an air inlet (2), an inlet air control system (11) including a fan (13) and an air heater (14), a feed inlet (3), and an exhaust air outlet (4), comprising determining a content (Y) of moisture of inlet air, determining an inlet air temperature set value (Tinlet) in dependence of the inlet air moisture content (Y), determining an inlet air temperature measured value of inlet air between the air heater (14) and the spray dryer chamber (1), and regulating the inlet air temperature in dependence of the inlet air temperature set value and the inlet air temperature measured value, and determining an outlet air temperature of the exhaust air and regulating an inlet air flow rate in dependence of the outlet air temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2006
    Publication date: January 14, 2010
    Applicant: GEA Process Engineering A/S
    Inventor: Peter Schultz Nielsen
  • Publication number: 20090211108
    Abstract: A method for drying sensitive articles, essentially textiles made of wool, which are to be dried in the washing drum of a clothes dryer using a computer program. According to known methods for protecting sensitive articles to be dried during a drying program, the articles to be dried are introduced into a protective device which, filled with the articles to be dried, is then inserted into the washing drum before the start of the drying program. In order to prevent damage to the sensitive articles to be dried whenever the protective device is not used, a warning signal is generated prior to the start of the drying program when the protective device containing the sensitive articles to be dried is not properly fixed to the clothes dryer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2006
    Publication date: August 27, 2009
    Applicant: BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgerate GmbH Carl-Wery-Str. 34
    Inventors: Harald Moschütz, Ulrich Nehring
  • Publication number: 20090199427
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a dryer, and a method for controlling the same. The method includes the steps of sensing an amount of laundry in the dryer, setting a primary drying time period T of the dryer with reference to the amount of laundry sensed thus, setting a secondary drying time period T in the middle of drying according to the primary drying time period set thus, and drying the laundry according to the secondary drying time period T set thus, whereby permitting setting of a more accurate drying time period because the drying time period of the dryer is set two times.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2007
    Publication date: August 13, 2009
    Inventor: Jong Hye Han
  • Publication number: 20090172969
    Abstract: A drying apparatus and a controlling method thereof are provided. During an initial phase of drying operation according to a selected drying cycle, a point of terminating the drying operation is calculated based on a moisture level sensed by a moisture sensor and a moisture output quantity stored in the storage. Drying is performed up to the calculated point of drying operation termination.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2005
    Publication date: July 9, 2009
    Inventor: Sang Doo Kim
  • Publication number: 20090145001
    Abstract: A display device of a dryer, which can achieve the reliability of a function to display a clogging degree in the dryer, is disclosed. The display device includes a display unit for displaying a clogging degree of an air passage through at least one level indicator, and a controller for controlling the display unit when power is supplied, such that the level indicator flickers for a predetermined time, and then displays the clogging degree of the air passage. The display for the clogging degree of the air passage is executed, following the display of a normal operation state of the display unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2008
    Publication date: June 11, 2009
    Inventors: Chang Hun OH, Seon Il Heo, Yang Hwan Kim, Yeong Sik Choi, Seog Ho Ko, Ju Han Yoon
  • Publication number: 20090090020
    Abstract: Dryer and method for controlling a drying time period which enables to indicate an increased remained drying time period to a user. The method includes the steps of re-setting a remained drying time period, and informing user an increased remained drying time period, whereby permitting to prevent the user from misunderstanding that the dryer is out of order.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2007
    Publication date: April 9, 2009
    Inventors: Yeon Sik Choi, Myoung Jong Kim
  • Publication number: 20090044420
    Abstract: A light directing hand dryer mainly includes a casing which has an air outlet and a light directing board exposed outside the casing. The casing houses an electric power unit, a sensor, a control switch and a blower. The blower has an airflow directing member corresponding to the air outlet, and at least one standby light and at least one operation light located on an outer side thereof. The standby light and operation light are located at one edge of the light direction board. The electric power unit provides required electric power to the hand dryer. The sensor can detect user's hands outside the casing so that the control switch can trigger the blower to operate and generate airflow, while the standby light and operation light generate light to be directed in the light directing board.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2007
    Publication date: February 19, 2009
    Inventor: Chi-Chin Hsu
  • Patent number: 6941674
    Abstract: In a method and an apparatus for detecting a residual drying time of a clothes dryer, by detecting a quantity of moisture contained in clothes in a clothes dryer and displaying a residual clothes drying time on the basis of the detected moisture quantity, a residual clothes drying time can be displayed accurately.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2005
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Dae-Yun Park, Kyung-Seop Hong, Young-Hwan Park, In-Cheol Jeong, Soo-Young Oh, Si-Moon Jeon
  • Patent number: 6508085
    Abstract: A door for a horizontal axis laundry appliance that includes an inner panel that closes the appliance and an outer panel spaced from the inner panel. The inner and outer panels are connected adjacent their upper edges by an upper panel. The inner panel includes a first window in the form of a wide-angle lens. The upper panel includes a second window. Light-transmissive devices including a negative mirror are disposed between the inner and outer panels so as to direct light received through the lens upwardly and outwardly through the second window. The interior of the appliance is illuminated by low-voltage halogen lights mounted on the inner panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2003
    Assignee: American Trim, LLC
    Inventor: Robert M. Byrne
  • Patent number: 6119678
    Abstract: An appliance, such as a cooking range, a clothes dryer, a clothes washer, an oven or the like, includes a console along a rear edge of the appliance which can pivot between an upright in-use position and a lower shipping, repair and/or servicing position. The console is preferably of a two-part construction including a front housing body having an integrally injection molded encapsulation or frame peripherally retaining a touch sensor control panel which can be readily accessed when the console is in its lower repair position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2000
    Assignee: Gemtron Corporation
    Inventor: Brian F. Marchand
  • Patent number: 5974683
    Abstract: A sheet inspection apparatus for a sheet-fed offset printing press includes an endless conveying unit, a plurality of gripper units, and an inspection unit. The conveying unit has a conveying path and a return path and conveys a sheet delivered from a printing unit. The gripper units are supported by the conveying unit at a predetermined interval along a sheet conveying direction to grip one end of the sheet. The inspection unit is arranged on an opposite side of the conveying path with respect to the return path to optically inspect a printed state of the sheet conveyed on the conveying path. The inspection unit is arranged at a position where an optical inspection operation for the sheet at an inspection position on the conveying path is not impeded by the gripper units traveling on the return path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 2, 1999
    Assignee: Komori Corporation
    Inventor: Satoshi Shibata
  • Patent number: 5540152
    Abstract: An extractor and a ventilation control window are coupled to the housing of a sheet delivery conveyor to extract unwanted heat, moisture, volatile vapors and obnoxious odors from the conveyor housing to eliminate the need for a separate venting system above the sheet delivery stacker. The suction airflow is varied by adjusting the speed of a vacuum source or motor driven fans, or by adjusting a ventilation window. A sheet control ventilation window is covered by a slidable, transparent panel which permits the operator to observe the orientation of the freshly printed sheets as the suction airflow is adjusted to precision. The sheet control window is also covered by a slidable screened panel which prevents introduction of objects into the press. Volatile vapors, moisture laden air and the like are also extracted from laterally opposite sides of the sheet delivery path, thus helping to control air turbulence at the delivery sheet stacker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 30, 1996
    Inventor: Howard W. DeMoore
  • Patent number: 5505009
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a food storage, display, and warming apparatus having a first storage compartment for holding bulk food at a predetermined temperature above ambient temperature and including one or more door members for accessing the bulk food therein, a second storage and display compartment for holding and displaying a plurality of individualized food portions and including one or more transparent door members for viewing and accessing the individualized food portions therein, a heater and blower arrangement for circulating heated air between the first and second storage compartments, a thermostat for sensing the temperature in the first storage compartment and for discontinuing operation of the heater when a maximum temperature is sensed to avoid overheating the bulk food.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 9, 1996
    Assignee: Six Corners Development Company
    Inventors: Andrew M. Stein, Andrew Jinks
  • Patent number: 5497563
    Abstract: A clothes dryer including a control circuit for controlling the operation of the dryer and for preventing the dryer from operating unless the dryer lint screen is cleaned periodically. The control circuit disables the dryer either after every drying cycle, after a predetermined amount of time, or after the lint filter becomes clogged. The control circuit re-enables the dryer after the lint screen has been removed from the lint screen compartment and cleaned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 12, 1996
    Assignee: Charles D. Johnson
    Inventor: Alfred B. Mayfield
  • Patent number: 5456023
    Abstract: An advanced cure paint spray booth in which a high volume flow of air is directed over the surfaces of a freshly painted workpiece such as an automobile to accelerate drying. A squirrel cage blower or other high volume blower directs a flow of spray booth air through a plurality of nozzles to flow over the surfaces of the workpiece. The nozzles are individually aimed at surface areas on the workpiece by placing a handle of a directional light source in a nozzle air passage and manipulating the handle to simultaneously direct the light beam and the nozzle at the surface area to be dried. A plurality of nozzles, an air handling manifold and a blower may be formed into a module which is easily retrofitted to existing paint spray booths. When a plurality of modules are mounted in a spray booth, the modules may be independently controlled for increasing air flow only on a a painted area of a workpiece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 10, 1995
    Assignee: Ransburg Corporation
    Inventor: Richard S. Farnan
  • Patent number: 5345694
    Abstract: A clothes drying machine has a drum where clothes to be dried are placed. A detection electrodes of a degree-of-dryness detecting circuit are positioned in the drum, by which a microcomputer determines whether the clothes are dried. The drying machine has a preset function for in advance setting a time when a drying operation is to be completed. A display, which displays a specific mode when a time reaches the set time, clothes are not dried enough, and the drying operation continues, is provided in the drying machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 13, 1994
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Kinya Hayashi
  • Patent number: 5175944
    Abstract: A device for displaying cyclically heating an article of clothing placed thereover to a temperature at which color-changeable ink imprinted on the clothing either changes color or becomes invisible. The preferred embodiment simulates an upper torso and is formed of transparent plastic panels to snugly receive a shirt thereover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 1991
    Date of Patent: January 5, 1993
    Inventor: William L. Fruehauf
  • Patent number: 5123178
    Abstract: A free standing apparatus for warming popcorn is disclosed comprising a storage compartment having a plurality of shelves for holding food containers, a base portion housing means for providing heated air to the storage compartment and a conduit for returning the heated air from the storage compartment to the base portion for recirculation. The shelves are formed with a plurality of apertures to allow the heated air to circulate through the storage compartment within a close proximity to the food portions. The heating means is a combination of heater, diffuser and blower to circulate the heated air throughout the unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 1990
    Date of Patent: June 23, 1992
    Assignee: Six Corners Development Company
    Inventor: Andrew M. Stein
  • Patent number: 5097606
    Abstract: A microprocessor controlled clothes dryer wherein the posture of a switch in the lint filter system is monitored and a signal to CHECK FILTER is displayed if the switch posture has not changed. The switched is a reed switch mounted stationary on the lint filter assembly and a magnet operator is attached to the removable filter screen. Movement of the filter screen into and out of filtering position in the lint filter assembly of the exhaust duct changes the posture of the magnet operated reed switch. Change of posture of the switch through its cycle impresses a change of voltage on the microprocessor. The microprocessor effects control over the CHECK FILTER signal that is visually illuminated on a VFD tube; such that, if the microprocessor sees the cycling of the switch the CHECK FILTER signal is extinguished.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 1990
    Date of Patent: March 24, 1992
    Assignee: Maytag Corporation
    Inventors: Gregory K. Harmelink, Pamela M. Kuecker, Michael D. Lafrenz, J. Christopher Millet
  • Patent number: 5052127
    Abstract: A vent bag for a clothes dryer is provided and consists of a pouch with an air filter at its distal end that is releasably secured on a vent pipe of the clothes dryer so that the air filter can catch lint coming out of the vent pipe and recirculate the warm moist exhausted air from the vent pipe for energy conservation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 1, 1991
    Inventors: Charles Blake, George Spector
  • Patent number: 5042170
    Abstract: A lint collecting device, particularly suited for use in a clothes dryer has an access opening through a front wall of the dryer above the horizontal access of the dryer and laterally offset and spaced from a vertical line passing through the access. The lint collecting device includes a lint screen held horizontally in a lint collecting zone formed in an air duct within the dryer cabinet and a viewing window is provided in the air duct and the dryer cabinet to render a portion of the lint screen visible from the exterior of the cabinet. A light source may be provided for illuminating a portion of the lint screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 1990
    Date of Patent: August 27, 1991
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Dennis W. Hauch, Kurt Werner
  • Patent number: 4899264
    Abstract: A lamp assembly for a clothes dryer for illuminating the interior of the dryer drum. The lamp socket assembly includes a pivotable socket whereby the assembly may be serviced by first pivoting the socket so that the lightbulb installed in the socket extends into the dryer drum. Positive stop and detent means are provided for positively indicating the operating and service positions of the lamp assembly. Furthermore, a handle is provided to pivot the lamp socket and the handle interferes with the installation of a protective lens for the assembly when the lightbulb has not been fully retracted to the operating position. The bracket for mounting the lamp assembly is formed integrally with reflectors for reflecting the light from the lightbulb into the dryer drum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 1989
    Date of Patent: February 6, 1990
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Stuart W. Ries, Irene M. Shembarger
  • Patent number: 4850120
    Abstract: A food storage and warming apparatus comprising a first compartment for holding an amount of bulk food at a predetermined temperature above room temperature; a second compartment for holding a plurality of individualized food portions; an air heating device for warming the first compartment; a heat transfer plate having apertures which allow heated air to flow from the first compartment to the second compartment for warming thereof; and means for returning heated air from the second compartment to the first compartment to recycle the heated air, thus conserving energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 1987
    Date of Patent: July 25, 1989
    Assignee: Six Corners Development Company
    Inventor: Andrew M. Stein
  • Patent number: 4803921
    Abstract: This invention relates to a food receptacle and heating apparatus to receive food products therein for receiving, displaying, and maintaining at a proper serving temperature which includes (1) a main container housing; (2) a food support assembly mounted within the main container housing to receive and transfer the food product therein; and (3) an air flow and temperature control assembly to provide for the flow of heated air therethrough. The main container housing includes a generally rectangular box shape basic housing assembly having a top lid member pivotally connected thereto. The food support assembly includes (1) a clean out tray member for receiving debris and food particles thereon; (2) a first inclined screen member to receive the food product thereon about to be removed therefrom; and (3) a second inclined screen member to hold the food product for initial heating before moving downwardly onto the first inclined screen member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 1987
    Date of Patent: February 14, 1989
    Inventor: Carol E. Nuss
  • Patent number: 4352248
    Abstract: A bonnet type steamer including an ultrasonic atomizer for generating a mist at room temperature and an electric heater for heating the mist for the generation of steam before the mist enters into the interior of a bonnet where the customer's head is inserted for hair treatment. Specifically, the steam is ejected from the entire periphery of the bonnet while running upward within the bonnet. Control circuitry made up of a microprocessor senses and regulates the temperature of the steam with the aid of a temperature sensor. The temperature of the steam and the duration of operation of the steamer are easily selectable and adjustable by the use of manual switches. A hot air generator is provided for generating hot air for drying purposes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1980
    Date of Patent: October 5, 1982
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takehiro Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 4273992
    Abstract: An electric heating apparatus for preventing recrystallization or to dissolve existing crystals of pharmaceutical compositions, such as mannitol, which tend to recrystallize during storage. Single dose sealed vials of the pharmaceutical are received in a receptacle having an open top, closed bottom and reflective inner surfaces. A light bulb is supported in the receptacle above the vials and the radiant energy therefrom reflected from the inner surfaces of the receptacle heats the vials.The light bulb and support therefor are of such dimension that visual observation of the vials through the open top is not obstructed. The support for the light bulb includes a swivel joint permitting horizontal movement of the light bulb to provide access to the interior of the receptacle for removal of the vials. The temperature within the receptacle is controlled by a control means, such as a thermostat, in circuit with the light bulb.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 1979
    Date of Patent: June 16, 1981
    Inventor: Arend J. Thomas
  • Patent number: 4255871
    Abstract: A nail polish dryer comprising an upwardly open bowl shaped body having a centrally located upward extension spaced inwardly from the periphery. The extension is provided with a support for the hand of the user which will position the nails of the thumb and fingers generally adjacent an annular space between the upward extension and the periphery of the body. Ports are provided surrounding the upward extension to direct drying air against the nails of the user. Preferably a switch activator is provided at the top of the upward extension adapted to be activated by the weight of the user's hand. A blower and preferably heating means are provided within the body and the blower directs heated air against the nails of the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 1979
    Date of Patent: March 17, 1981
    Inventor: John J. Sigman
  • Patent number: 4242810
    Abstract: Hair styling apparatus including a cross frame member, support members extending upwardly from the cross frame member, a central power section associated with the cross frame member, light emitting members associated with the central power section, a plurality of rigid arm sections associated with the central power section, rigid cross arm members pivotally connected adjacent the free ends of the rigid arm sections, the pivotable connections between the rigid arm sections and the rigid cross arm members including mechanisms for adjusting the ease of movement between the respective sections, flexible conduit members extending from each of the cross arm members, electrical appliances disposed on the free ends of the flexible conduit members, the electrical appliances including light emitting members, hot air conveying members and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 1979
    Date of Patent: January 6, 1981
    Inventor: David M. Blanco
  • Patent number: 4206556
    Abstract: A device used for the application of fingernail polish and the like comprises a housing, a finger insert for positioning a finger on the housing, lighting means in the housing for providing direct illuminatin on the finger insert, a motorized fan for drying a polished fingernail, means for actuating the lighting means and the motorized fan, an air inlet in the housing for supplying air to the fan and an air outlet in the housing for directing air blown by the fan at the finger insert so that when a fingernail is polished it is quickly and easily dried without moving the finger to a new location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 1978
    Date of Patent: June 10, 1980
    Inventors: Paul F. Sabo, Margaret B. Spicer