Patents by Inventor Gerald L. Clark
Gerald L. Clark 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).
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Publication number: 20100170979Abstract: A sheet material dispenser includes a controller for automatically controlling the lengths of sheet materials dispensed from a continuous roll by identifying the type of sheet materials on the roll and dispensing suitable lengths of the identified sheet material. The dispenser desirably has a support for rotatably supporting a roll of sheet material carrying identification relating to the type of sheet material on the roll, and an identifier positioned in or adjacent the dispenser for identifying the type of sheet material on the roll. A processor receives data from the identifier, processes the data and generates an output command, and a controller controls the lengths of sheet material dispensed from the roll in response to the output command. In this way, more absorbent products may be dispensed in shorter lengths and less absorbent products may be dispensed in longer lengths.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 3, 2010Publication date: July 8, 2010Applicant: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.Inventors: Richard Paul Lewis, Paul Francis Tramontina, David W. Kapiloff, Stephen L. Phelps, Darrell R. Johnson, Gerald L. Clark
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Patent number: 7726599Abstract: A sheet material dispenser includes a controller for automatically controlling the lengths of sheet materials dispensed from a continuous roll by identifying the type of sheet materials on the roll and dispensing suitable lengths of the identified sheet material. The dispenser desirably has a support for rotatably supporting a roll of sheet material carrying identification relating to the type of sheet material on the roll, and an identifier positioned in or adjacent the dispenser for identifying the type of sheet material on the roll. A processor receives data from the identifier, processes the data and generates an output command, and a controller controls the lengths of sheet material dispensed from the roll in response to the output command. In this way, more absorbent products may be dispensed in shorter lengths and less absorbent products may be dispensed in longer lengths.Type: GrantFiled: December 31, 2003Date of Patent: June 1, 2010Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.Inventors: Richard Paul Lewis, Paul Francis Tramontina, David W. Kapiloff, Stephen L. Phelps, Darrell R. Johnson, Gerald L. Clark
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Patent number: 7510137Abstract: A dispenser adapted to vertically dispense sheet material therefrom is provided. The dispenser includes a housing, configured to support a sheet material product therein, a platform with an opening, and an exit plate. The exit plate is adapted to reposition when the sheet material is dispensed by the user at a deflection angle relative to the vertical dispensing axis of the dispenser.Type: GrantFiled: May 24, 2007Date of Patent: March 31, 2009Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.Inventors: Paul Francis Tramontina, Gerald L. Clark
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Publication number: 20080290210Abstract: A dispenser adapted to vertically dispense sheet material therefrom is provided. The dispenser includes a housing, configured to support a sheet material product therein, a platform with an opening, and an exit plate. The exit plate is adapted to reposition when the sheet material is dispensed by the user at a deflection angle relative to the vertical dispensing axis of the dispenser.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 24, 2007Publication date: November 27, 2008Inventors: Paul Francis Tramontina, Gerald L. Clark
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Patent number: 6592002Abstract: A dispenser for dispensing individual sheets of a paper product from a stack of sheets includes an external housing having a bottom opening. A module is slidably received in the compartment through the bottom opening. The module is sized for receipt of a stack of the folded paper products. The module is moveable vertically within the compartment between a loaded position wherein the module is inserted substantially entirely within the compartment, and a refill position wherein the module is slid vertically down and out of the compartment a sufficient distance for reloading the module with a refill stack of the sheets. A latch mechanism releasably holds the module within the housing at the loaded position.Type: GrantFiled: October 29, 2001Date of Patent: July 15, 2003Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.Inventors: Gerald L. Clark, Antwain D. Taylor
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Patent number: 6575329Abstract: A folded paper product dispenser for storing and dispensing a stack of folded paper products such as napkins or towels includes an outer housing defining an interior space to accommodate the stack of folded paper products. A dispensing face is defined by the housing adjacent a bottom of the interior space. A dispensing throat is defined in the dispensing face and extends longitudinally along the face. The dispensing throat has a forwardmost generally concave edge and a finger access portion at the widest width of the throat. A plurality of ribs are disposed in the interior of the housing and extend from a front wall of the housing towards a concave edge of the dispensing throat. The ribs include a central rib having a generally flat vertical end set back from the concave edge of the dispensing throat a first setback distance. Intermediate ribs are provided on each side of the central rib and have a generally curved end-that is set back from the concave edge of the dispensing throat a second distance.Type: GrantFiled: October 12, 2001Date of Patent: June 10, 2003Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.Inventor: Gerald L. Clark
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Publication number: 20030080137Abstract: A dispenser for dispensing individual sheets of a paper product from a stack of sheets includes an external housing having a bottom opening. A module is slidably received in the compartment through the bottom opening. The module is sized for receipt of a stack of the folded paper products. The module is moveable vertically within the compartment between a loaded position wherein the module is inserted substantially entirely within the compartment, and a refill position wherein the module is slid vertically down and out of the compartment a sufficient distance for reloading the module with a refill stack of the sheets. A latch mechanism releasably holds the module within the housing at the loaded position.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 29, 2001Publication date: May 1, 2003Applicant: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.Inventors: Gerald L. Clark, Antwain D. Taylor
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Publication number: 20030071050Abstract: A folded paper product dispenser for storing and dispensing a stack of folded paper products such as napkins or towels includes an outer housing defining an interior space to accommodate the stack of folded paper products. A dispensing face is defined by the housing adjacent a bottom of the interior space. A dispensing throat is defined in the dispensing face and extends longitudinally along the face. The dispensing throat has a forwardmost generally concave edge and a finger access portion at the widest width of the throat. A plurality of ribs are disposed in the interior of the housing and extend from a front wall of the housing towards a concave edge of the dispensing throat. The ribs include a central rib having a generally flat vertical end set back from the concave edge of the dispensing throat a first setback distance. Intermediate ribs are provided on each side of the central rib and have a generally curved end that is set back from the concave edge of the dispensing throat a second distance.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 12, 2001Publication date: April 17, 2003Applicant: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.Inventor: Gerald L. Clark
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Patent number: 4656792Abstract: A building system utilizes a combined roof/wall truss construction where each truss is made in a single U-shaped unit having spaced-apart wall truss subsystems interconnected with a roof truss subsystem. The trusses then are set up with the lowermost ends of the wall trusses resting on and attached to the foundation or building floor slab. The trusses are spaced apart at 32" intervals and are held in a vertical orientation by means of standard sheathing for the walls and roof. Window and door openings are formed in the spaces between the adjacent wall truss subsystems, and the depth of the wall truss subsystems is selected to provide space for built-in cabinets, closets, and unique window treatments.Type: GrantFiled: March 7, 1984Date of Patent: April 14, 1987Inventor: Gerald L. Clark
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Patent number: 4502675Abstract: Longitudinal folding of flexible web into four substantially equal sections without the occurrence of undesirable wrinkling of the surface of the folded sections is effected by a longitudinal folding board system. The folding board system employs a secondary folding board for initiating folding a first section of the web into parallel relationship with a second section to form a double-folded half section of the web. The web moves over the top surface of the secondary folding board; and the first section of the web is diverted from the remainder of the web along a given angular path.Type: GrantFiled: July 15, 1983Date of Patent: March 5, 1985Assignee: Kimberly-Clark CorporationInventors: Gerald L. Clark, Terry P. Ford
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Patent number: 4354077Abstract: A push-button panel assembly including an individually lighted push-button switch assembly constructed to be damage resistant and having a long life. The panel assembly utilizes the outer shell as the main structural member and mounts the push-button assemblies and a printed circuit board switching system in precise alignment. The push-button switch assemblies are individually illuminated or edge lighted and permit front relamping of the individually lighted switch. The push-button switch assembly coacts with a precision constructed moisture sealed snap disk system on a printed circuit board for closing a circuit in response to the actuation of the push-button.Type: GrantFiled: June 11, 1980Date of Patent: October 12, 1982Assignee: Jay-El Products IncorporatedInventors: Billy D. McMains, Richard G. Mendoza, Gerald L. Clark