23 patents
Utility
Vacuum sealer and method of sealing same
12 Sep 23
A vacuum sealer includes: a housing comprising a vacuum chamber therein; a vacuum pump in fluid communication with the vacuum chamber; a sealing mechanism adjacent a periphery of the vacuum chamber; a valve positioned and configured to releasably seal the vacuum chamber, the valve movable between a first position, in which the valve forms a seal with the sealing chamber, and a second position, in which the valve does not form a seal with the sealing chamber; and a controller operatively connected with the vacuum pump, the sealing mechanism, and the valve.
David Matthew Schandel
Filed: 8 Nov 21
Utility
Iron-steamer appliance
23 May 23
An iron-steamer appliance includes: a housing including an internal water reservoir; a sole plate attached under the housing, the sole plate including first vents; first and second steam chambers in fluid communication with the water reservoir, wherein the first steam chamber is in fluid communication with the first vents; and a steamer nozzle in fluid communication with the second steam chamber, the steamer nozzle including second vents.
Brandon Sung-Hwan Song, Drew Carlson
Filed: 16 Apr 19
Utility
Appliance and method for cooking eggs and other foodstuffs
7 Feb 23
A cooking appliance includes: a base; a heater basin mounted above the base and comprising a floor and a side wall that form a cavity configured to hold water, the side wall having a perimeter edge; a heating element mounted beneath the floor of the heater basin and configured to be connected to a power source; an egg cup unit comprising a main panel and at least one cup depending from the main panel, the main panel having a perimeter edge, the at least one cup having a floor that contacts the floor of the heater basin; and a lid attached to the base and configured to cover the egg cup unit.
Michael Garman, Derek A McCullough, Elena A Marentes, Paul M Blankenship
Filed: 14 Jun 19
Utility
Methods for measuring usage of consumables in kitchen appliances
27 Dec 22
Automated replenishment of consumables is a growing area of interest for customers and businesses alike, in that it has the potential to both improve customer satisfaction and create a steady stream of orders for a consumable service or product.
Adam Hanes, Patrick T Mulvaney
Filed: 18 Oct 19
Utility
Electric hand mixer
16 Aug 22
An electric hand mixer comprises a housing having at least a bottom surface and a rear heel surface, a motor within the housing, one or more holes defined in the bottom surface for receiving a respective rotatable beater, and a power cord extending outward from the housing.
Drew Carlson
Filed: 2 Jul 19
Utility
Immersion mixer with trigger manipulable from multiple grasping locations
26 Jul 22
An immersion mixer includes: a housing; a drive motor residing within the housing; a shaft attached to the motor and configured to rotate relative to the housing; blades attached to and rotatable with the shaft; a handle attached to the housing, the handle including a first segment and a second segment attached to the first segment and to the housing; and a trigger attached to the handle and operatively associated with the motor.
Joseph R Elliott
Filed: 10 Aug 18
Utility
Stand mixer with mechanism to lift head
14 Jun 22
A stand mixer includes: a lower assembly comprising a base and a lower support arm extending upwardly from the base; an upper assembly comprising a generally horizontal head positioned above the base and an upper support arm extending downwardly from the head, the lower and upper support arm assemblies forming a generally vertical support arm, the head configured to provide a mounting location for a beater; and a head-raising mechanism that moves the head relative to the base between raised and lowered positions, the head remaining generally horizontal in the raised position.
Benjamin H Branson, III, Koen Aidan Ambrose
Filed: 25 Jan 19
Utility
Iron with heat control display on handle
29 Mar 22
An iron includes: a housing; a handle attached to an upper portion of the housing; a sole plate attached to a lower portion of the housing; a heating element positioned within the housing to heat the sole plate; a controller operatively connected with the heating element to regulate heat produced by the heating element; and a display mounted on one of the housing and the handle, the display operatively connected with the controller, the display configured such that manipulation of the display selects a heat level associated with the sole plate.
Brandon Sung-Hwan Song
Filed: 5 Sep 19
Utility
Transitional electric can opener
24 Aug 21
An electric can opener comprises an upper opening portion and lower base portion.
Katherine E Renner
Filed: 24 Apr 19
Utility
Beverage maker
10 Aug 21
A beverage maker includes a body and a cover movably attached to the body.
Adam Hanes, Patrick T Mulvaney, Stephen C Williamson
Filed: 21 May 18
Utility
Blender with baffle for reducing noise
20 Jul 21
A blender includes: a base unit, the base unit including a vent in fluid communication with external air; a motor mounted within the base unit and configured to drive blender blades; a cooling fan mounted in the base unit to draw air though the vent and past the motor; and a conduit formed within the base unit that provides an exit path for air drawn past the motor by the fan.
Paul Diaz
Filed: 20 Apr 18
Utility
Toaster with mechanical delay shut-off mechanism
1 Jun 21
A shut-off mechanism for a toaster includes a damper arm pivotally mounted on a frame that includes a damper unit.
William D Starr
Filed: 16 Apr 19
Utility
Kitchen appliance for preparing a beverage and method of operating same
1 Jun 21
A kitchen appliance for preparing beverage comprises a housing, a basket holder in cooperative engagement with the housing, a filter basket selectively insertable into the basket holder when the basket holder is in an open position, and a ground coffee hopper for holding ground coffee.
Larry Olson
Filed: 21 Jul 17
Utility
Blender jar with insert and blender jar insert
13 Apr 21
A blender jar comprises a container portion defining a blending chamber and having an open top end, a lid for selectively closing off the open top end of the container portion, one or more selectively rotatable blades extending into the blending chamber, and an insert selectively insertable into the blending chamber.
Kevin L Leppert
Filed: 26 Jul 18
Utility
Blender jar assembly and associated blender
14 Dec 20
A blender jar assembly comprises a container portion having an open end for receiving the foodstuff to be blended and for dispensing the foodstuff after blending and a base portion selectively coupled to the container portion.
Brian Bock, David Matthew Schandel, Paul Diaz, Benjamin H Branson, III
Filed: 30 May 18
Utility
Stand mixer with bowl lift
12 Oct 20
A stand mixer includes: a base, the base including a bowl lift framework having first lift features; a support arm attached to the base and extending upwardly therefrom; a head attached to an upper end of the support arm and extending generally horizontally therefrom above the base; and a bowl assembly comprising a bowl and a skirt mounted to the bowl, the skirt including second lift features.
Koen A Ambrose, Benjamin H Branson, III, Ernest B Pryor, Jr.
Filed: 12 Apr 18
Utility
Can opener with auto-shutoff and method of operating a can opener
10 Aug 20
An electric can opener comprises a motor, a controller, and a signal-detecting element monitoring at least one of (i) an audio signal and (ii) a motion-type signal during operation of the can opener.
David Keegan, Patrick T Mulvaney, Matthew T Carley
Filed: 25 Oct 17
Utility
Steam iron and methods for preparing a steam iron for shipment
25 May 20
The present disclosure describes a steam iron having a housing, a handle, a soleplate, a water reservoir comprising a water inlet port, a fill door comprising a plug sized to seal the water inlet port, and a blocking member configured to prevent the plug from sealing the water inlet port during shipment of the steam iron.
George W Stamper, III, Rachel Sacks
Filed: 19 Apr 18
Utility
Apparatus and method for making sandwich
25 May 20
An apparatus and method are provided for automatically making a pocket sandwich.
William D Starr, Amy Hollister, Drew Carlson
Filed: 17 Aug 17
Utility
Kitchen appliance noise baffle
20 Apr 20
A blender includes: a base unit, the base unit including a vent in fluid communication with external air; a motor mounted within the base unit and configured to drive blender blades; a cooling fan mounted in the base unit to draw air though the vent and past the motor into a reservoir; and a conduit formed within the base unit that provides an exit path for air drawn past an exit port at the rear of the base unit.
Paul Diaz, Koen Aidan Ambrose
Filed: 26 Apr 18