Patents by Inventor Frank Richard

Frank Richard 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: 10738513
    Abstract: A flush mounted handle assembly for a vehicle is provided, operable with both power and manual modes of opening and closing a slide door. The flush mounted handle assembly may include a case configured to be fixed in a recess of a power slide door of a vehicle. A dual-directional handle base may be provided, pivotally coupled to the case. The handle base may have a first end and a second opposing end. The first and seconds ends may be configured for a selective pivotal movement in opposite directions about a pivot axis. A bell crank may be provided, coupled to the case, and configured to rotate upon engagement with the handle base in order to actuate a switch assembly and to coordinate different operations of the power slide door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Tarakorn Soonthornwinate, Yoshiki Ishikawa, Frank A. Richards, Takahiro Iwama, Hideto Suzuki
  • Publication number: 20200238800
    Abstract: An actuation assembly for actuating a door of a sliding door assembly of a vehicle includes a motor inside a motor housing, a mid-pulley assembly comprising a mid-pulley wheel, a guide pulley assembly comprising a guide-pulley wheel, and a cable anchored to the vehicle and operatively coupling the mid-pulley assembly, the guide pulley assembly, and the motor. The motor turns to move the door along the cable and at least some portion of the cable is encased in a unitary casing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2019
    Publication date: July 30, 2020
    Applicant: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Frank A. Richards, Tarakorn Soonthornwinate
  • Patent number: 10692098
    Abstract: Methods and systems for predicting content consumption are provided herein. An application log of a user, comprising a user's application data, and a viewing log of the user, comprising the user's viewing data (e.g., television programs watched by the user), may be evaluated over a time period to construct a model. The model may comprise a correlation between the viewing log and the application log during the time period (e.g., what applications the user interacts with while watching a program). Second application data, regarding application usage of a second user, may be extracted. The model may be applied to the second application data to identify an expected viewing action of the second user (e.g., what program the second user is likely to watch during the time period based upon applications used by the second user). The second user may be provided with content related to the expected viewing action.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: Oath Inc.
    Inventors: Christian Holz, Frank Richard Bentley, Ayman Farahat
  • Publication number: 20200171520
    Abstract: A disposable coating applicator container for applying a coating of a therapeutic agent upon an object to be coated. The disposable coating applicator container includes a sealable container, the sealable container having a container bottom, the container bottom having upwardly extending walls, each upwardly extending wall terminating in an upper edge, and a closure for sealing a device compartment formed in part by the upwardly extending walls, the closure adjacent to the upper edges of the upwardly extending walls; and a therapeutic agent positioned in fluid communication with the device compartment, wherein the disposable coating applicator container comprises a flexible material and is in the form of a bag-like structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 27, 2019
    Publication date: June 4, 2020
    Applicant: Ethicon, Inc.
    Inventors: Frank Richard Cichocki, Robert J. Tannhauser, Leo B. Kriksunov
  • Publication number: 20200171209
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a coating apparatus and method for applying a coating of a therapeutic agent, comprising an openable and sealable device compartment, a therapeutic agent positioned in communication with the device compartment, a thermal source for vaporizing the therapeutic agent, and a vacuum source in fluid communication with the device compartment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 27, 2019
    Publication date: June 4, 2020
    Applicant: Ethicon, Inc.
    Inventors: Frank Richard Cichocki, Duan Li Ou
  • Publication number: 20200171198
    Abstract: Novel, lubricious coatings for medical devices are disclosed. The coatings provide improved lubricity and durability and are readily applied in coating processes a low temperatures that do not deform the device. The present invention is also directed to a novel platinum catalyst for use in such coatings. The catalyst provides for rapid curing, while inhibiting cross-linking at ambient temperatures, thereby improving the production pot life of the coatings.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 27, 2019
    Publication date: June 4, 2020
    Applicant: Ethicon, Inc.
    Inventors: Duan Li Ou, Christophe Vailhe, Frank Richard Cichocki
  • Publication number: 20200172740
    Abstract: Novel, lubricious antimicrobial coatings for medical devices are disclosed. The coatings provide improved lubricity and durability and are readily applied in coating processes at low temperatures that do not deform the device and preserves the antimicrobial effectiveness of the antimicrobial agent. The present invention is also directed to a novel platinum catalyst for use in such coatings. The catalyst provides for rapid curing, while inhibiting cross-linking at ambient temperatures, thereby improving the production pot life of the coatings.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 27, 2019
    Publication date: June 4, 2020
    Applicant: Ethicon, Inc.
    Inventors: Duan Li Ou, Frank Richard Cichocki
  • Publication number: 20200171532
    Abstract: Novel apparatus and methods for coating surgical needles in batch processes are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2020
    Publication date: June 4, 2020
    Inventors: Alexander M. Cannara, Frank Richard Cichocki, JR., Duan Li Ou
  • Publication number: 20200171528
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a coating applicator operable to apply a coating of a therapeutic agent upon an object comprising an openable and sealable device compartment, a therapeutic agent positioned in communication with the device compartment, an atomizer operable to atomize the therapeutic agent, and a source of vacuum in communication with the device compartment. The coating applicator may further comprise a drier, and the drier may comprise an arrangement to operate the source of vacuum for a time sufficient to promote drying of applied therapeutic agent. Deposition of the atomized therapeutic agent may be promoted by contacting the atomized therapeutic agent while the object is in a chilled condition and by contacting the object with atomized therapeutic agent while the atomized therapeutic agent is in a heated condition. Related methods are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 27, 2019
    Publication date: June 4, 2020
    Applicant: Ethicon, Inc.
    Inventors: Frank Richard Cichocki, Duan Li Ou
  • Patent number: 10655370
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for preventing the unintentional operation of a flush mounted handle assembly for a power slide door of a vehicle. A dual-directional handle base may be provided, pivotally coupled to a case fixed in a recess of a power slide door of a vehicle. The handle base may have a first end and a second opposing end. The first and seconds ends may be configured for a selective pivotal movement in opposite directions about a pivot axis. A bell crank may be provided, coupled to the case, and configured to rotate upon engagement with the handle base in order to actuate a switch assembly sending a signal to an ECU. Methods may include determining, at the ECU, that the signal was not transmitted as a result of a vehicle impact. After such determination, the method includes activating operation of the power slide door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Frank A. Richards, Tarakorn Soonthornwinate, Yoshiki Ishikawa
  • Patent number: 10655371
    Abstract: A self-centering handle assembly is provided for a vehicle door. The handle assembly includes a pivoting handle base coupled to the vehicle door at a pivot axis, and includes a front face having a first and second opposing ends. The first and seconds ends are configured for a selective pivotal movement in opposite directions about the pivot axis. First and second drive arms are provided extending a distance from a rear portion of the handle base and configured for coordinated movement with the respective first and second ends of the handle base. A bell crank is provided, coupled to the handle assembly, and configured to rotate about a second pivot axis. Rotation of the bell crank is driven by movement of the first and second drive arms. A biasing member is in contact with the bell crank and urges the bell crank to a return to a self-centering, rest position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Tarakorn Soonthornwinate, Yoshiki Ishikawa, Frank A. Richards
  • Patent number: 10589313
    Abstract: Novel apparatus and methods for coating surgical needles in batch processes are disclosed. The apparatus and methods are particularly useful for applying uniform silicone lubricious coatings to surgical needles in bulk quantities using a novel separation and spray coating system and method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: Ethicon, Inc.
    Inventors: Alexander M. Cannara, Frank Richard Cichocki, Jr., Duan Li Ou
  • Publication number: 20200022700
    Abstract: A swaging system for attaching surgical needles to sutures and testing the attachment strength includes a bottom swaging die and a top swaging die that is configured to move up and down along a swaging axis that is in alignment with the bottom swaging die. The bottom swaging die includes a swaging tool mounted thereon that extends toward the top swaging die along the swaging axis. The swaging tool includes an upper end having a top surface with a swaging notch for swaging a needle to a suture to form an armed surgical needle, and a testing notch, adjacent the swaging notch, for conducting a pull test on the armed surgical needle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2019
    Publication date: January 23, 2020
    Inventors: Frank Richard Cichocki, JR., Alexander M. Cannara
  • Publication number: 20190340580
    Abstract: One or more computing devices, systems, and/or methods for future event recommendation are provided. For example, messages of a user account of a user are parsed to identify messages corresponding to events attended by the user. Event features are extracted from the messages, where an event feature is descriptive of an aspect of an event. An event database of future events is queried using the event features to identify future events having one or more of the event features. A description of the future events is constructed and provided to the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2018
    Publication date: November 7, 2019
    Inventor: Frank Richard Bentley
  • Patent number: 10448947
    Abstract: A swaging system for attaching surgical needles to sutures and testing the attachment strength includes a frame, a bottom swaging die mounted on the frame, and a top swaging die mounted on the frame and being moveable up and down along a swaging axis that is aligned with the bottom swaging die. The bottom swaging die includes a hinge mechanism with a bottom plate mounted to the frame and a top plate overlying the bottom plate. The top and bottom plates are pivotally connected for enabling the top plate to pivot relative to the bottom plate. The bottom swaging die includes a swaging tool that extends toward the top swaging die along the swaging axis, and a load cell disposed between the top and bottom plates for monitoring load. The system includes a control system having one or more pull test programs stored therein for evaluating pull tests on armed surgical needles to determine if the armed surgical needles are acceptable or unacceptable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: Ethicon, Inc.
    Inventors: Frank Richard Cichocki, Jr., Alexander M. Cannara
  • Patent number: 10331752
    Abstract: One or more systems and/or methods for determining a query date range and/or searching a content corpus are provided. A set of content items (e.g., digital images, videos, etc.), associated with an event, may be identified from a content corpus. The set of content items may be evaluated to identify temporal features (e.g., digital time stamps) for the set of content items. A query date range for the event may be determined based upon the temporal features (e.g., users may capture photos that are related to Christmas from December 4th to December 27th). In an example, responsive to receiving a search query, associated with the event, the search query may be adjusted based upon the query date range to create an adjusted search query. The content corpus may be searched using the adjusted search query to create search query results for the search query.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: Oath Inc.
    Inventors: Frank Richard Bentley, Joseph Nathaniel Kaye, David Ayman Shamma, John Alexis Guerra Gomez
  • Publication number: 20190146635
    Abstract: One or more computing devices, systems, and/or methods for graphically presenting messages are provided. For example, a plurality of messages, associated with a messaging account, comprising a first message and a second message may be received. A first graphical object may be generated by a device, such as a server and/or a client device of a user, based upon the first message. A second graphical object may be generated by the device based upon the second message. In response to receiving a request to access the messaging account, the device may present the first graphical object. In response to receiving one or more user inputs corresponding to the first graphical object, an action may be performed and/or the second graphical object may be presented.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2017
    Publication date: May 16, 2019
    Inventors: Sebastian Muehl, Anthony Richard Murphy, Frank Richard Bentley, Bryan Sze Pui Wong, Danny Javier Espinoza, Vince Borja Magistrado
  • Publication number: 20180353990
    Abstract: Novel apparatus and methods for coating surgical needles in batch processes are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2017
    Publication date: December 13, 2018
    Inventors: Alexander M. Cannara, Frank Richard Cichocki, JR., Duan Li Ou
  • Publication number: 20180271518
    Abstract: A swaging system for attaching surgical needles to sutures and testing the attachment strength includes a frame, a bottom swaging die mounted on the frame, and a top swaging die mounted on the frame and being moveable up and down along a swaging axis that is aligned with the bottom swaging die. The bottom swaging die includes a hinge mechanism with a bottom plate mounted to the frame and a top plate overlying the bottom plate. The top and bottom plates are pivotally connected for enabling the top plate to pivot relative to the bottom plate. The bottom swaging die includes a swaging tool that extends toward the top swaging die along the swaging axis, and a load cell disposed between the top and bottom plates for monitoring load. The system includes a control system having one or more pull test programs stored therein for evaluating pull tests on armed surgical needles to determine if the armed surgical needles are acceptable or unacceptable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2017
    Publication date: September 27, 2018
    Inventors: Frank Richard Cichocki, JR., Alexander M. Cannara
  • Patent number: D878192
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Inventors: Frank Richard Markusic, Mark Daniel Smith