Koninklijke Philips Corporation N.V.

Lang Manufacturing Company

Other

Gas Research Institute

Bruce E Taber

Joseph W Grez

Scott E Hall

Bradley Allen

Kevin Arnold Miller

Richard Taylor

Duane B Kutsch

William E Bryant

Craig D Hanela

Piet C J Van Rens

Jerry Wood

Bradley J Miner

Jeffrey Raymond Gueble

Devin M Nelson

Michael Quiring

Kurt Sadek

D I Stephan Leitner

Paul E George, Ii

John W Pace

Andreas Loibnegger

Richard E Wendorf

Paulus L W M Barten

Andreas Lolbneggar

Paul L W M Barten

A method for tuning resonant spring assembly systems used in appliances such as power toothbrushes, particularly leaf spring systems, includes the step of measuring the frequency-dependent amplitude of the appliance workpiece, and then removing a portion of the spring member so as to decrease its spring rate sufficiently that the resonant frequency of the spring member closely approximates the drive frequency of the appliance.

Apparatus for converting side-to-side driving motion to rotational motion with a spring assembly and system for tuning the spring assembly

A head portion of a nodally mounted rotating toothbrush is removable from a handle portion, which has a driving system therein. The head portion includes a spring assembly, having two spring sections, the spring assembly having a node point between the two ends and a nodal mount member at the node point which is connected to a cover member of the head portion. A driving assembly is arranged to drive the first spring section, the second section rotating in an opposing direction from the first spring section, the second spring section having a drive shaft extending therefrom, upon a free end of which a brushhead is mounted. When the head portion is removed from the handle, the spring assembly is removed therewith.

Disposable head portion for a nodally mounted rotating toothbrush

The apparatus for converting side-to-side to rotational motion for a workpiece includes a spring assembly with a movable base mounting element which is driven in a slightly arcuate reciprocal side-to-side motion and a fixed mounting element spaced apart from the base element and mounted in the appliance so that it does not rotate or move in operation of the apparatus. A spring member, such as two planar leaf springs positioned at an angle to each other, is mounted between the movable base element and the fixed mounting element. A drive shaft member extends from the movable base element through the fixed mounting element and beyond. A workpiece such as a brushhead is mounted on the distal end of the drive shaft. The spring member is configured so that it is substantially less resistant to twisting action than bending action, such that the side-to-side motion of the base element results in rotation of the workpiece. A method for tuning resonant spring assembly systems used in appliances such as power toothbrushes, particularly leaf spring systems, includes the step of measuring the frequency-dependent amplitude of the appliance workpiece, and then removing a portion of the spring member so as to decrease its spring rate sufficiently that the resonant frequency of the spring member closely approximates the drive frequency of the appliance.

The rotational spring includes a base member which is in the form of a ring and includes elements for fixedly attaching it to a body of an appliance, such as a power toothbrush, which includes a drive element such as a drive shaft portion of a motor. Also included is an upper member in the form of a disc having a central opening through which the drive shaft is fitted, such that the disc member rotates with rotation of the drive shaft. Three leg members extend between the upper disc member and the base ring member. The spring is made from a material and is so configured and arranged that it has a symmetric spring rate for clockwise and counter-clockwise rotation.

Spring member for rotational action

The vibrating toothbrush includes a first arm portion with a brushhead mounted at a free end and a second arm portion joined by a hinge-like portion. The first and second arm portions have first and second natural resonant frequencies. A spring member connects the second arm portion to the first arm portion, and a solenoid actuator is also connected between the first and second arm portions. A contact switch assembly is responsive to a DC battery voltage such that when the switch is closed, the first arm portion is drawn in one direction by the actuator, which results in compression of the spring and opening of the switch, with the compressed spring moving the first arm portion in the opposing direction until the switch again closes, so that the brushhead moves back and forth with the opening and closing of the switch. A pressure feedback arrangement makes use of the spring element and a nodal mount which extends from the spring at a selected point therealong to the handle of the toothbrush. The first and second natural resonant frequencies are selected such that when the brushhead is loaded with a selected amount of pressure, there is substantially no vibration transmitted to the handle.

Power toothbrush with brushing pressure feedback

The present invention is a mobile bird feeder which is resistant to invasion and destruction by squirrels. The feeder relies upon a combination of slippery side panels made of polished methylmethacrylate (Lucite&trade;) and a simple geometric configuration to prevent scaling by squirrels or similar small rodents. The transparent Lucite&trade; guard element provides protection from the weather elements, allows viewing of birds while approaching and feeding, presents an aesthetic appearance while presenting a movable target for the approaching birds.

Squirrel-proof birdfeeder

A broiler assembly connectable to a cooking apparatus and provided with a broiler surface that generates a substantially even heat distribution pattern for cooking. The broiler assembly has a broiler housing defining a broiler interior area. Plenum members defining a plenum in the broiler interior area, wherein the plenum is connectable to a gas source and adapted to receive combustion gas from the gas source. A lower one of the plenum members is a burner tile holder that retains one or more burner tiles that define a broiler surface. The burner tiles have a plurality of burner apertures therein that communicate with the plenum to channel the combustion gas from the plenum to the broiler surface for ignition. The burner tiles form a burner portion having an outer set of burner apertures extending therethrough, an inner set of burner apertures extending therethrough, and a middle set of burner apertures between the outer and inner sets of burner apertures. Outer spacer portions having no apertures therein are positioned between the outer and middle sets of burner apertures, and inner spacer portions having no apertures therein are positioned between the middle and inner sets of burner apertures. Ignition pathways extend between the outer and middle sets of burner apertures and also between the middle and inner sets of burner apertures. The sets of burner apertures and the spacer portions provide a substantially non-uniform heat source distributed at a selected distance spaced apart from the broiler surface while providing a substantially uniform heat distribution pattern over the broiler surface during operation of the broiler assembly.

Broiler assembly

A conversion broiler assembly to adapt a single-sided cooking apparatus to a double-sided cooking apparatus. The conversion broiler assembly has a rear housing that is mountable to the single-sided cooking apparatus. The rear housing movably receives left and right stanchions that are pivotally attached to left and right support arms with a broiler positioned therebetween. The left and right stanchions and support arms are generally hollow and provide passageways for combustion air, exhaust air, gas lines and electrical lines to and from the broiler. A rail system having two rails with running surfaces and one rail with an inclined running surface support rollers on the left and right stanchions to provide for smooth and easy lateral translation of the broiler relative to the rear housing. The conversion broiler assembly has a flue system for directing air flow and high temperature exhaust away from the assembly when in use while maintaining a substantially cool rear wall of the assembly. The broiler has an improved burner pattern with burner tiles positioned in a perimeter set of tiles surrounding and spaced apart from a smaller central set of tiles to provided even heat distribution across the broiler surface.

Conversion broiler assembly

A pressure regulating valve 10 is provided in a housing 11 filled with oil 23 and having an inlet port 12 and an outlet port 13. A straight elongate vertical tube 14 having a lengthwise slot 19 near its lower end 15 is affixed to the housing and communicates with the inlet port. Closely fitting down into the tube is a piston 16, slidable between a lower position 29 with its lower end 17 below the slot and a substantially higher upper position. A coaxial annular weight 22, surrounding upper portions of the piston and the tube, is affixed to the piston to exert a downward force thereon by virtue of the gravitational attraction of the weight to the earth. When oil is supplied under pressure to the inlet port, the oil presses upward, and the weight presses downward, against the piston; and when the lower end of the piston is at a level between the ends of the slot, the oil flows in from the inlet port, through the open portion of the slot, into the other space in the housing, and out through the outlet port, at a substantially constant predetermined pressure.

Weight controlled valve

Growing community of inventors

Bothell, WA, United States of America

Bruce E Taber