US 11,717,106 B2
Vessel for transferring thermal energy to and inducing convection in a contained fluid
Richard J. Schoofs, Moraga, CA (US); and Gregory R. Schoofs, Moraga, CA (US)
Filed by Richard J. Schoofs, Moraga, CA (US); and Gregory R. Schoofs, Moraga, CA (US)
Filed on Feb. 4, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/167,601.
Application 17/167,601 is a continuation of application No. 16/559,259, filed on Sep. 3, 2019, granted, now 11,064,835.
Application 16/559,259 is a continuation of application No. 15/934,598, filed on Mar. 23, 2018, granted, now 10,398,250, issued on Sep. 3, 2019.
Application 15/934,598 is a continuation of application No. 14/599,131, filed on Jan. 16, 2015, granted, now 9,968,215, issued on May 15, 2018.
Application 14/599,131 is a continuation in part of application No. 14/331,119, filed on Jul. 14, 2014, abandoned.
Prior Publication US 2021/0153682 A1, May 27, 2021
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. A47J 27/21 (2006.01); A47J 36/02 (2006.01)
CPC A47J 27/21166 (2013.01) [A47J 36/02 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An article of manufacture comprising:
a wall portion having a wall inner surface and a wall outer surface;
a base portion having a base inner surface and a base outer surface, at least a portion of the wall portion and the base portion forming a vessel to retain fluid therein, at least part of the base portion configured to receive heat from a heating source; and
a plurality of shaped portions extending below the base outer surface, a top of each of the plurality of shaped portions being opposite a bottom of each of the plurality of shaped portions, the plurality of shaped portions of the base outer surface being shaped to have 1.2 or more times surface area than a surface of a corresponding flat surface, each shaped portion of the base outer surface including at least three sides extending from the bottom to the top, the plurality of shaped portions of the base outer surface including polygonal shaped tops of the plurality of shaped portions, and sides of the plurality of shaped portions assisting in uneven heat transfer from the heating source to the fluid retained in the article of manufacture to induce creation of a plurality of convection cells in contact with a surface of the fluid which increases heat transfer from the heating source to the fluid.