Patents by Inventor Christopher T. Schaafsma

Christopher T. Schaafsma has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11851008
    Abstract: A bracket assembly for mounting a camera to a vehicle includes a bracket body and a glare shield that extends along the bracket body. A longitudinal axis is centrally disposed between a first sidewall and a second sidewall of the glare shield. At least one slit extends through the glare shield and spans between the first sidewall and the second sidewall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Karly R. Miller, Prasun K. Majumdar, Christopher T. Schaafsma, Edward F. Bulgajewski
  • Publication number: 20220289120
    Abstract: A bracket assembly for mounting a camera to a vehicle includes a bracket body and a glare shield that extends along the bracket body. A longitudinal axis is centrally disposed between a first sidewall and a second sidewall of the glare shield. At least one slit extends through the glare shield and spans between the first sidewall and the second sidewall.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2022
    Publication date: September 15, 2022
    Inventors: Karly R. Miller, Prasun K. Majumdar, Christopher T. Schaafsma, Edward F. Bulgajewski
  • Publication number: 20220289126
    Abstract: A bracket assembly for a vehicle includes a bracket body having a glare shield and a circuit. The bracket assembly further includes an electrical device that is electrically connected to the circuit of the bracket body. The circuit comprises a plurality of leads extending along the bracket body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2022
    Publication date: September 15, 2022
    Inventors: Karly R. Miller, Christopher T. Schaafsma, Craig W. Gurtatowski, Danny C.F. Leitao, Dennis M. Mark, Edward F. Bulgajewski, Scott Bair
  • Patent number: 9821546
    Abstract: A digital cliché pad printing system includes a conveyor for conveying a substantially non-elastic support medium, a material deposition jetting device for depositing a curable material onto the support in a desired pattern, the desired pattern having at least one void space, means for curing the material in the desired pattern, the cured material defining a cliché having a top surface, an ink delivery system for depositing ink in the at least one void space and for wiping ink from the top surface and a pad configured to contact the cliché to transfer ink from the void space to the pad the pad also configured to move into contact with an object to which the ink is transferred. A digital cliché media and method are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.
    Inventors: Christopher T. Schaafsma, Christopher J. Sobaszek
  • Patent number: 8607699
    Abstract: A rotating cliché pad printer includes a frame, a flat cliché operably mounted to the frame, an ink cup configured to reside on the cliché and a pad applicator. The cliché includes at least one etched region and is adapted to receive ink thereon in the etched region. The ink cup is configured to reside on the cliché and to deposit ink into the at least one etched region. The cliché and ink cup are rotatably movable relative to one another. The pad applicator includes at least one pad adapted to move into and out of contact with the at least one etched region to receive ink from the etched region. The pad is further configured to contact an associated object to transfer the received ink to the associated object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Dana Pulvino, Tracy Kucaba, Christopher T. Schaafsma
  • Patent number: 8463574
    Abstract: A method for aligning a sphere to a desired orientation includes imaging a non-surface alignment feature of the sphere and calculating a current orientation of the sphere based on an image of the non-surface alignment feature. Using these calculations, a relationship between the current orientation of the sphere and the desired orientation of the sphere is calculated and communicated to a motion control device, and aligning the sphere into the desired orientation using the motion control device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher T. Schaafsma, Robert F. Hitchcock
  • Patent number: 8408122
    Abstract: An auto alignment pad printer for transferring print to an associated object includes a frame, a fixture for supporting the associated object and a cliché operably mounted to the frame. The cliché includes at least one etched region and is adapted to receive ink in the etched region. An ink cup is configured to deposit ink into the etched region. A pad applicator includes a pad support having at least one pad thereon. The pad is adapted to move into and out of contact with the etched region to receive ink from the etched region and to contact an object to transfer the received ink to the object. A pad applicator alignment assembly includes a first set of cooperating projections and receivers mounted to the pad applicator and to the cliché and/or the frame near to the cliché, and a second set of cooperating projections and receivers mounted to the pad applicator and to the fixture for supporting the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Marc C. Piscitello, Christopher T. Schaafsma, Gerald L. Voegele, Jesse C. Darley
  • Publication number: 20100175571
    Abstract: A digital cliché pad printing system includes a conveyor for conveying a substantially non-elastic support medium, a material deposition jetting device for depositing a curable material onto the support in a desired pattern, the desired pattern having at least one void space, means for curing the material in the desired pattern, the cured material defining a cliché having a top surface, an ink delivery system for depositing ink in the at least one void space and for wiping ink from the top surface and a pad configured to contact the cliché to transfer ink from the void space to the pad the pad also configured to move into contact with an object to which the ink is transferred. A digital cliché media and method are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2010
    Publication date: July 15, 2010
    Applicant: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.
    Inventors: Christopher T. Schaafsma, Christopher J. Sobaszek
  • Publication number: 20090277347
    Abstract: An auto alignment pad printer for transferring print to an associated object includes a frame, a fixture for supporting the associated object and a cliché operably mounted to the frame. The cliché includes at least one etched region and is adapted to receive ink in the etched region. An ink cup is configured to deposit ink into the etched region. A pad applicator includes a pad support having at least one pad thereon. The pad is adapted to move into and out of contact with the etched region to receive ink from the etched region and to contact an object to transfer the received ink to the object. A pad applicator alignment assembly includes a first set of cooperating projections and receivers mounted to the pad applicator and to the cliché and/or the frame near to the cliché, and a second set of cooperating projections and receivers mounted to the pad applicator and to the fixture for supporting the object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2009
    Publication date: November 12, 2009
    Applicant: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.
    Inventors: Marc C. Piscitello, Christopher T. Schaafsma, Gerald L. Voegele, Jesse C. Darley
  • Publication number: 20090281763
    Abstract: A method for aligning a sphere to a desired orientation includes imaging a non-surface alignment feature of the sphere and calculating a current orientation of the sphere based on an image of the non-surface alignment feature. Using these calculations, a relationship between the current orientation of the sphere and the desired orientation of the sphere is calculated and communicated to a motion control device, and aligning the sphere into the desired orientation using the motion control device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2009
    Publication date: November 12, 2009
    Applicant: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.
    Inventors: Christopher T. Schaafsma, Robert F. Hitchcock
  • Publication number: 20090277349
    Abstract: A rotating cliché pad printer includes a frame, a flat cliché operably mounted to the frame, an ink cup configured to reside on the cliché and a pad applicator. The cliché includes at least one etched region and is adapted to receive ink thereon in the etched region. The ink cup is configured to reside on the cliché and to deposit ink into the at least one etched region. The cliché and ink cup are rotatably movable relative to one another. The pad applicator includes at least one pad adapted to move into and out of contact with the at least one etched region to receive ink from the etched region. The pad is further configured to contact an associated object to transfer the received ink to the associated object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2009
    Publication date: November 12, 2009
    Applicant: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.
    Inventors: Dana Pulvino, Tracy Kucaba, Christopher T. Schaafsma