KEITH JOHN LAKEN
Pilots at County Rd 7, Wilson, MN

2002004, Apr 11, 2002

Feb 12, 2001

09/782352

Keith Laken - Winona MN, US
John Schlesselman - Fountain City WI, US
Theodore Arx - La Crescent MN, US

H05B003/68, H05B003/36

219/544000, 219/466100, 219/468100, 219/549000

A heating element assembly in the form of a heating shelf and a method of manufacturing heating shelf assemblies. The heating shelf may be used in display cabinets to heat ready made foods such as cookies, muffins, donuts, pizza, sandwiches and the like. The preferred heating shelf includes thermochromic materials, or an LED indicator, which provide a visual indica of shelf temperature. The preferred heating shelf provides intimate contact with the heated food products, thus optimizing heat transfer between the heating shelf and the food products. Optionally provided, varied surface watt density in the heating shelf allows for accurate heat placement such that the food products can be evenly warmed while avoiding over warming. In another embodiment, the heating shelf includes two resistance heating elements. The first heating element is a temperature booster used for defrosting and heating, while the second heating element is a maintenance heater to maintain heated food at a serving temperature.

6748646, Jun 15, 2004

Feb 21, 2002

10/080047

Theodore Von Arx - La Crescent MN
Keith Laken - Winona MN
John W. Schlesselman - Fountain City WI
Ronald E. Papenfuss - Winona MN

Watlow Polymer Technologies - Winona MN

H01C 1702

29613, 29611, 29619, 29621, 219438

A heated element assembly and method of manufacturing heated element assemblies is provided. The heated element assembly including a first and second molded sections shaped to mate with each other is provided. A resistance heating element is secured between the first and second molded sections by an interference fit. The resistance heating element includes a piercable supporting substrate and a resistance wire sewn thereon. The resistance wire is disposed in a predetermined circuit path which is substantially encompassed by the first and second molded sections. The resistance heating element is easily fixed in a position between the first and second molded sections and is capable of providing heat on vertical, horizontal and contoured surfaces.

6392206, May 21, 2002

Aug 4, 2000

09/633179

Theodore Von Arx - La Crescent MN
Keith Laken - Winona MN

Waltow Polymer Technologies - Winona MN

H05B 368

2194681, 219540, 219544, 392467

A modular fluid heating apparatus may be assembled from a plurality of modular heating components. Each modular heating component includes a first molded section defining a first opening therethrough and a second molded section defining a second opening therethrough. The molded sections are mated and define an enclosed area between the molded sections. The first and second openings are aligned to form a fluid tight passage through the modular heating component. A resistance heating element is secured between the first and second molded sections in the enclosed area. The resistance heating element includes a supporting substrate having a first surface thereon and an electrical resistance heating material fastened to the first surface of the supporting substrate. The resistance heating material forms a predetermined circuit path having a pair of terminal end portions fixed to a pair of electrical connectors. The modular heating components are sealably mated to define a fluid collection area between adjacent modular heating components where a passage of a first modular heating component provides and inlet to the collection area for a fluid and a passage of a second modular component provides an outlet from the collection area.

6519835, Feb 18, 2003

Aug 18, 2000

09/642215

Theodore Von Arx - La Crescent MN
Keith Laken - Winona MN
John W. Schlesselman - Fountain City WI

Watlow Polymer Technologies - Winona MN

H05B 300

29611, 296101, 29612, 219544, 219528, 219529

A semi-rigid heated element assembly and method of manufacturing semi-rigid heated element assemblies is provided. A heated element assembly includes a first thermoplastic sheet, a second thermoplastic sheet, and a resistance heating element laminated between the first and second thermoplastic sheets. The resistance heating element includes a supporting substrate having a first surface thereon and an electrical resistance heating material forming a predetermined circuit path having a pair of terminal end portions. The circuit path continues onto at least one flap portion that is capable of rotating about a first axis of rotation. The reformable continuous element structure may be formed into a final element assembly configuration whereby at least the flap portion is rotated along its axis of rotation to provide resistance heating in at least two planes. Semi-rigid heating elements may be formed into heated containers, heated bags, and other objects with complex heat planes.

6539171, Mar 25, 2003

Jan 8, 2001

09/756162

Theodore VonArx - La Crescent MN
Clifford D. Tweedy - St. Charles MO
Keith Laken - Winona MN
David Adank - Fountain City WI

Watlow Polymer Technologies - Winona MN

F24H 118

392451, 392450, 392497, 219487

The present invention provides heating elements and methods for their fabrication and use. The heating elements of this invention include a spirally shaped structure having a plurality of spiral forms, and may contain a thermally conductive, electrically insulated polymeric coating, such as a fluorocarbon resinous coating of about 0. 001-0. 020 in. in thickness. The preferred spirally shaped heating elements of this invention provide a lower, preferably substantially lower, flux or watt density than that for a Tubular Heating Element of substantially similar Active Element Volume (in ), wherein said spirally shaped heating element has the same or greater overall wattage rating (total watts) than the Tubular Heating Element. The heating elements of this invention preferably have an Effective Relative Heated Surface Area of about 5-60 in /in , with a target range of about 20-30 in /in , but can generate a heat flux of about 10-50 w/in.

6541744, Apr 1, 2003

Feb 12, 2001

09/781457

Theodore Von Arx - La Crescent MN
Keith Laken - Winona MN
John W. Schlesselman - Fountain City WI
Clifford D. Tweedy - St. Charles MO

Watlow Polymer Technologies - Winona MN

H05B 316

219544

A heated container is formed from a substantially continuous element structure. The substantially continuous element structure includes an electrically insulative first and second polymeric layers and a resistance heating layer laminated between the first and second polymeric layers. An interior surface of the container includes the first polymeric layer, and the first polymeric layer is thermally conductive. The resistance heating layer has a pair of terminal end portions that may be coupled to a pair of external power leads to energize the resistance heating layer.

2002003, Apr 4, 2002

Feb 12, 2001

09/782351

Keith Laken - Winona MN, US
John Schlesselman - Fountain City WI, US
Theodore Arx - La Crescent MN, US

H05B003/36, H05B003/68

219/544000, 219/543000, 219/549000, 219/553000, 219/450100, 219/452110

A heating element assembly in the form of a heating tray and a method of manufacturing heating tray assemblies. The heating tray may be used for defrosting and heating pans such as so-called “half-pans” of frozen food products. The preferred heating tray is configured to fit precisely around a standard thin foil half-pan container, thus optimizing heat transfer between the heating tray and the food product. The varied surface watt density of the heating tray allows for accurate heat placement such that the food product can be evenly warmed while avoiding over warming or burning, particularly at the corners and edges. A preferred embodiment of the heating tray includes two resistance heating elements. The first heating element is a temperature booster used for defrosting and heating, while the second heating element is a maintenance heater to maintain heated food at a serving temperature.

2002003, Apr 4, 2002

Oct 11, 2001

09/975493

Keith Laken - Winona MN, US
John Schlesselman - Fountain City WI, US
Theodore Arx - La Crescent MN, US
Jose Gutierrez - Kent CT, US
Balakrishna Reddy - Ridgefield CT, US
Robert Greene - Bridgewater CT, US

H05B003/00

219/476000, 219/535000, 392/432000

A heating element assembly and a method of manufacturing heating assemblies. The heating assembly may be used for heating food products, including polypropylene bags containing cheese sauce or hot fudge, for example. The preferred heating assembly is configured to fit precisely around a standard cheese sauce bag, thus optimizing heat transfer between the heating assembly and the food product. The varied surface watt density of the heating assembly allows for accurate heat placement such that the food product can be efficiently and evenly warmed. A preferred embodiment of the heating element assembly includes two resistance heating elements. The first heating element is a temperature booster, while the second heating element is a maintenance heater to maintain heated food at a serving temperature.

2002003, Apr 4, 2002

Feb 12, 2001

09/782350

Keith Laken - Winona MN, US
John Schlesselman - Fountain City WI, US
Theodore Arx - La Crescent MN, US

H05B003/00

219/476000, 219/535000, 392/432000

A heating element assembly and a method of manufacturing heating assemblies. The heating assembly may be used for heating food products, including polypropylene bags containing cheese sauce or hot fudge, for example. The preferred heating assembly is configured to fit precisely around a standard cheese sauce bag, thus optimizing heat transfer between the heating assembly and the food product. The varied surface watt density of the heating assembly allows for accurate heat placement such that the food product can be efficiently and evenly warmed. A preferred embodiment of the heating element assembly includes two resistance heating elements. The first heating element is a temperature booster, while the second heating element is a maintenance heater to maintain heated food at a serving temperature.

2003012, Jul 3, 2003

Dec 18, 2002

10/323173

Theodore Arx - La Crescent MN, US
Keith Laken - Winona MN, US
John Schlesselman - Fountain City WI, US

H05B003/44

029/611000, 029/610100, 219/544000, 219/548000

A semi-rigid heated element assembly and method of manufacturing semi-rigid heated element assemblies is provided. A heated element assembly includes a first thermoplastic sheet, a second thermoplastic sheet, and a resistance heating element laminated between the first and second thermoplastic sheets. The resistance heating element includes a supporting substrate having a first surface thereon and an electrical resistance heating material forming a predetermined circuit path having a pair of terminal end portions. The circuit path continues onto at least one flap portion that is capable of rotating about a first axis of rotation. The reformable continuous element structure may be formed into a final element assembly configuration whereby at least the flap portion is rotated along its axis of rotation to provide resistance heating in at least two planes. Semi-rigid heating elements may be formed into heated containers, heated bags, and other objects with complex heat planes.