Patents by Inventor Patrick J. Smith

Patrick J. Smith 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: 9757886
    Abstract: A method for forming a container having an injection-molded feature. The method includes obtaining a blank, forming the blank into a three-dimensional article having at least one sidewall, and forming the injection-molded feature extending around the perimeter of the article. The injection-molded feature comprises an anchor portion and a flange portion. The anchor portion is in contact with an interior surface of the at least one sidewall and the flange portion extends from the anchor portion outwardly from the at least one sidewall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: Graphic Packaging International, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott W. Middleton, Mark R. Sinclair, Brian R. O'Hagan, Patrick H. Wnek, Terrence P. Lafferty, Peter W. Blaas, Kevin J. Hjort, Patrick J. Smith
  • Patent number: 9555568
    Abstract: A tool and method for forming a container from a construct. The tool comprising a cavity for receiving a construct, a core operatively associated with the cavity and being operable to move into the cavity, an injection cavity for receiving injection-molding material and directing injection-molding material around at least a portion of the perimeter of the construct, and a clamping feature. The clamping feature is operatively connected to at least one of the cavity and the core and is for clamping a peripheral portion of the construct as the core moves into the cavity to form the construct into the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: Graphic Packaging International, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott W. Middleton, Mark Sinclair, Brian R. O'Hagan, Patrick H. Wnek, Terrence P. Lafferty, Peter W. Blaas, Kevin J. Hjort, Patrick J. Smith
  • Patent number: 9237815
    Abstract: A cutlery dispenser comprises a storage chamber adapted to retain a plurality of cutlery therein; an ejector for sequentially ejecting the plurality of cutlery from the storage chamber; an actuator for driving the ejector; and a sensor for triggering the actuator in response to an event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2016
    Assignee: DIXIE CONSUMER PRODUCTS LLC
    Inventor: Patrick J. Smith
  • Publication number: 20150001235
    Abstract: A cutlery dispenser comprises a storage chamber adapted to retain a plurality of cutlery therein; an ejector for sequentially ejecting the plurality of cutlery from the storage chamber; an actuator for driving the ejector; and a sensor for triggering the actuator in response to an event.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2012
    Publication date: January 1, 2015
    Applicant: DIXIE CONSUMER PRODUCTS LLC
    Inventor: Patrick J. Smith
  • Publication number: 20140374953
    Abstract: A method for forming a container having an injection-molded feature. The method includes obtaining a blank, forming the blank into a three-dimensional article having at least one sidewall, and forming the injection-molded feature extending around the perimeter of the article. The injection-molded feature comprises an anchor portion and a flange portion. The anchor portion is in contact with an interior surface of the at least one sidewall and the flange portion extends from the anchor portion outwardly from the at least one sidewall.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2014
    Publication date: December 25, 2014
    Inventors: Scott W. Middleton, Mark R. Sinclair, Brian R. O'Hagan, Patrick H. Wnek, Terrence P. Lafferty, Peter W. Blaas, Kevin J. Hjort, Patrick J. Smith
  • Publication number: 20140117036
    Abstract: A cutlery dispenser comprises a storage chamber adapted to retain a plurality of cutlery therein; an ejector for sequentially ejecting the plurality of cutlery from the storage chamber; an actuator for driving the ejector; and a sensor for triggering the actuator in response to an event.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2012
    Publication date: May 1, 2014
    Applicant: DIXIE CONSUMER PRODUCTS LLC
    Inventor: Patrick J. Smith
  • Patent number: 8667254
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a network device is disclosed. For example, in one embodiment of the present invention, the device comprises a processor and a core memory having a receive buffer and a transmit buffer. The device comprises a bus coupled to the processor and the core memory. The device comprises at least one co-processor coupled to the core memory via a direct link, wherein the at least one co-processor is capable of accessing at least one of: the receive buffer, or the transmit buffer, without assistance from the processor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Xilinx, Inc.
    Inventors: Carl F. Rohrer, Patrick J. Smith, Stacey Secatch
  • Publication number: 20140015164
    Abstract: A tool and method for forming a container from a construct. The tool comprising a cavity for receiving a construct, a core operatively associated with the cavity and being operable to move into the cavity, an injection cavity for receiving injection-molding material and directing injection-molding material around at least a portion of the perimeter of the construct, and a clamping feature. The clamping feature is operatively connected to at least one of the cavity and the core and is for clamping a peripheral portion of the construct as the core moves into the cavity to form the construct into the container.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2013
    Publication date: January 16, 2014
    Inventors: Scott W. Middleton, Mark Sinclair, Brian R. O'Hagan, Patrick H. Whek, Terrence P. Lafferty, Peter W. Blaas, Kevin J. Hjort, Patrick J. Smith
  • Patent number: 8339898
    Abstract: To process seismic data, a combined four-dimensional (4D) binning and regularization procedure is performed on the seismic data, where the combined 4D binning and regularization procedure includes computing measures associated with regularization of the seismic data, computing measures associated with 4D binning, and processing the seismic data according to the regularization measures and 4D binning measures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: WesternGeco L.L.C.
    Inventors: Patrick J. Smith, Anthony D. Curtis
  • Publication number: 20120292813
    Abstract: A method of forming a container from a construct. The method includes obtaining a tool having a cavity, a core, and an articulated section for being moveable within the cavity relative to the cavity and the core. The method further includes placing a construct between the cavity and the core, moving the core relative to the cavity so that the articulated section at least partially initially grips a portion of the construct, and further moving the core into the cavity. The portion of the construct remains gripped by the articulated section in the cavity during the further moving of the core.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2012
    Publication date: November 22, 2012
    Inventors: Scott W. Middleton, Mark R. Sinclair, Brian R. O'Hagan, Patrick H. Wnek, Terrence P. Lafferty, Peter W. Blaas, Kevin J. Hjort, Patrick J. Smith
  • Publication number: 20120279895
    Abstract: A tray having at least one sidewall having a top edge, an interior surface, an exterior surface, and a bottom surface adjacent to the sidewall. The bottom surface and the interior surface combine to form a product receiving space of the tray. The tray has an injection-molded feature having an anchor portion and a flange portion. The anchor portion is adjacent the interior surface of the at least one sidewall, and the flange portion extends from the anchor portion and is adjacent the top edge of the at least one sidewall.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2012
    Publication date: November 8, 2012
    Inventors: Scott W. Middleton, Mark R. Sinclair, Brian R. O'Hagan, Patrick H. Wnek, Terrence P. Lafferty, Peter W. Blaas, Kevin J. Hjort, Patrick J. Smith
  • Patent number: 8297473
    Abstract: A cutlery dispenser comprises a storage chamber adapted to retain a plurality of cutlery therein; an ejector for sequentially ejecting the plurality of cutlery from the storage chamber; an actuator for driving the ejector; and a sensor for triggering the actuator in response to an event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: Dixie Consumer Products LLC
    Inventor: Patrick J. Smith
  • Patent number: 8210364
    Abstract: The present invention relates to dispensers for disposable cutlery. The invention also relates to pluralities of disposable cutlery that can be used in the cutlery dispenser of the present invention, as well as other cutlery dispensers that do not use a cartridge therein. The present invention also relates to disposable cutlery that has been adapted to make it better suited to stacking, such as for use in cutlery dispensers that do not include a cartridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: Dixie Consumer Products LLC
    Inventors: Patrick J. Smith, Andy L. Kirkpatrick, Michael R. Kilgore, David G. Honan, Thomas J. Sorensen, Vito Lore, Timothy D. Jadin
  • Patent number: 8194573
    Abstract: A directional access network can include a plurality of nodes and wireless links between ones of the nodes. Topology management of the network can discover when network fragmentation exists, identify nodes positioned to heal the fragmentation, and establish new active links between the identified nodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: L-3 Communications, Corp.
    Inventors: Patrick J. Smith, Michael J. Hurst, Daniel G. Watt, Dennis C. Pulsipher
  • Patent number: 8157228
    Abstract: A tool for positioning molding, such as crown molding, during installation, has a base member adapted to be releasably hung on a wall near the ceiling. A retaining member is vertically slidably mounted on the base member and has an upper end portion disposed at an acute angle to hold a piece of molding at a desired attitude between the retaining member and the wall. The retaining member is slid and locked in vertically and locked in position to hold the molding in place while it is fastened to the wall, after which the tool is removed from the wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: Smithworks, Inc.
    Inventor: Patrick J. Smith
  • Patent number: 8152004
    Abstract: The present invention relates to dispensers for disposable cutlery. The invention also relates to banded packets of disposable cutlery that can be used in the cutlery dispenser of the present invention, as well as other cutlery dispensers that do not use a cartridge therein. The present invention also relates to disposable cutlery that has been adapted to make it better suited to stacking, such as for use in cutlery dispensers that do not include a cartridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: Dixie Consumer Products LLC
    Inventors: Patrick J. Smith, Andy L. Kirkpatrick, Michael R. Kilgore, David G. Honan, Thomas J. Sorensen, Vito Lore, Timothy D. Jadin
  • Publication number: 20120080444
    Abstract: A configuration of disposable cutlery comprises a plurality of disposable cutlery pieces suitable for loading in a disposable cutlery dispenser, wherein the plurality is not constrained by a cartridge when loaded into the cutlery dispenser, wherein the plurality is in a substantially unfanned orientation after loading of the plurality into a cutlery dispenser, and wherein each piece comprises a solid handle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2011
    Publication date: April 5, 2012
    Applicant: DIXIE CONSUMER PRODUCTS LLC
    Inventors: Patrick J. Smith, Andy L. Kirkpatrick, Michael R. Kilgore, David G. Honan
  • Patent number: 8070013
    Abstract: A cutlery utensil dispenser has a dispensing tray with a floor and a region housing a cutlery utensil. The cutlery utensil has first and second portions and is moved by an engagement portion of an actuator from a first orientation to a second orientation. In the first orientation, the cutlery utensil rests on the floor in the region and is within the cutlery utensil dispenser, inaccessible to a user. In the second orientation, the second portion of the cutlery utensil projects from the cutlery utensil dispenser and is accessible to the user. A wall of the region has a fulcrum end dimensioned to engage the cutlery utensil. The cutlery utensil rotates about the fulcrum end responsive to the engagement portion toward an exit of the dispenser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: Dixie Consumer Products LLC
    Inventors: Christopher M. Reinsel, Patrick J. Smith
  • Publication number: 20110278762
    Abstract: A tool and method for forming a container from a construct. The tool comprising a cavity for receiving a construct, a core operatively associated with the cavity and being operable to move into the cavity, an injection cavity for receiving injection-molding material and directing injection-molding material around at least a portion of the perimeter of the construct, and a clamping feature. The clamping feature is operatively connected to at least one of the cavity and the core and is for clamping a peripheral portion of the construct as the core moves into the cavity to form the construct into the container.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2011
    Publication date: November 17, 2011
    Inventors: Scott W. Middleton, Mark R. Sinclair, Brian R. O'Hagan, Patrick H. Wnek, Terrence P. Lafferty, Peter W. Blaas, Kevin J. Hjort, Patrick J. Smith
  • Patent number: D732946
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2015
    Inventor: Patrick J. Smith