Patents by Inventor Robert F. Smith

Robert F. 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).

  • Publication number: 20240148217
    Abstract: A floor cleaning system having a flat headed mop is provided. The system includes a bucket having a wringing assembly. A blade including a first angled portion is provided for that is adjacent a plurality of first openings for compressing the flat headed mop as it is inserted in the wringing assembly to remove dirt and debris accumulated during use. A second angled portion is provided for adjacent a plurality of second openings for compressing the flat headed mop as it is withdrawn from the wringing assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2023
    Publication date: May 9, 2024
    Inventors: Robert F. Smith, Joseph K. Patterson, William Harrington, Paul H. Adams
  • Publication number: 20240123379
    Abstract: A device and system for purifying a fluid is provided. The system includes a tank having an interior space and a media container disposed within the interior space. A valve is provided that cooperates with an element within the interior, the valve being movable between an open and a closed position. The valve being biased to the open position when the element is not positioned within the interior space, wherein the interior space is fluidly coupled to the atmosphere in the open position. The valve further being configured to move to a closed position when the element is positioned within the interior space.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2023
    Publication date: April 18, 2024
    Inventors: Paul H. Adams, Stephen P. Huda, James M. Buckley, John Anthony Triunfo, Joseph K. Patterson, Michael T. La Tulippe, Robert Camp, Robert F. Smith
  • Patent number: 11950819
    Abstract: A bone positioning guide may include a main body member, a shaft, and a bone engagement member. The shaft can be movably connected to the main body member and have the bone engagement member rotatably coupled to its distal end. The bone engagement member can have a surface configured to engage a bone. The main body member can also include a tip opposite the bone engagement member for engaging a second bone. In use, the bone engagement member may be positioned in contact with a medial side of a first metatarsal while the tip is positioned in contact with a lateral side of a different metatarsal, such as a second metatarsal. The shaft can then be moved to advance the bone engagement member toward the tip, causing realignment of the first metatarsal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: Treace Medical Concepts, Inc.
    Inventors: W. Bret Smith, Paul Dayton, Sean F. Scanlan, F. Barry Bays, Carlos Eduardo Gil, John T. Treace, Robert D. Santrock, Daniel J. Hatch, Joe W. Ferguson
  • Patent number: 11934161
    Abstract: System and method provide wireless distributed lighting control systems implementing a secure peer-to-peer, self-organizing and self-healing mesh network of actuators and system inputs. The system and method can be designed specifically for indoor and outdoor lighting where actuators include in-fixture, on-fixture and circuit control modules with ON/OFF and full range dimming capabilities, and system inputs include occupancy/vacancy sensors, daylight sensors and switches. A unique messaging protocol facilitates wireless and wired communication between actuators and system inputs, and provides web-based commissioning and monitoring of the lighting control system using a wireless access point accessible from a local network or Internet which can provide an intuitive and easy to use Graphical User Interface (GUI).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: HLI SOLUTIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Theodore E. Weber, Terrence R. Arbouw, Ronald K. Bender, Ronald J. Cummings-Kralik, Michael D. Crane, Thomas J. Hartnagel, Robert A. Martin, Peter A. Moyle, Gregory F. Smith, Stephan K. Zitz
  • Publication number: 20240081843
    Abstract: Systems, techniques, and devices are described that may be used in a minimally invasive bone realignment procedure. In some examples, a method of performing a minimally invasive metatarsal correction procedure involves using a bone preparation guide having a guide surface with a length less than a diameter of a bone to be cut using the guide surface. The clinician can guide a bone preparation instrument along the guide surface and angle the bone preparation instrument beyond one or both ends of the guide surface to cut the end of the underlying bone beyond one or both of the ends.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2023
    Publication date: March 14, 2024
    Inventors: Adriaan Kuyler, Paul Dayton, Mark Erik Easley, William T. DeCarbo, Daniel J. Hatch, Jody McAleer, Robert D. Santrock, W. Bret Smith, Sean F. Scanlan, Jason May, Michael Stedham
  • Publication number: 20240081817
    Abstract: An orthopedic implant system can be used to fixate two bones (e.g., to portions of a single bone) relative to each other during a surgical procedure. In some configurations, the implant system includes a staple having at least two legs separated by a bridge. The staple can include at least two couplings on either side of the bridge accessible through a top surface of the staple connectable to two corresponding coupling shafts. The coupling shafts can attach through the top surface of the staple without extending below an underside of the staple. The coupling shafts can be used to bias the at least two legs of the staple away from each other for insertion into holes formed into two bones. By attaching the coupling shafts through the top of the staple, the staple can be inserted flush with the two bones before releasing the shafts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2023
    Publication date: March 14, 2024
    Inventors: W. Bret Smith, Madeline Lindemann, Bryan Wilcox, Sean F. Scanlan, Jason May, Adriaan Kuyler, Robert D. Santrock, Mark Erik Easley
  • Publication number: 20240082015
    Abstract: An orthopedic implant system can be used to fixate two vertebral bones relative to each other during a surgical procedure. In some configurations, the implant system includes a staple having at least two legs separated by a bridge. The staple can include at least two couplings on either side of the bridge accessible through a top surface of the staple connectable to two corresponding coupling shafts. The coupling shafts can attach through the top surface of the staple without extending below an underside of the staple. The coupling shafts can be used to bias the at least two legs of the staple away from each other for insertion into holes formed into two bones. By attaching the coupling shafts through the top of the staple, the staple can be inserted flush with the two bones before releasing the shafts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2023
    Publication date: March 14, 2024
    Inventors: W. Bret Smith, Madeline Lindemann, Bryan Wilcox, Sean F. Scanlan, Jason May, Adriaan Kuyler, Robert D. Santrock, Mark Erik Easley
  • Publication number: 20240081816
    Abstract: An orthopedic implant system can be used to fixate two bones (e.g., to portions of a single bone) relative to each other during a surgical procedure. In some configurations, the implant system includes a staple having at least two legs separated by a bridge. The staple can include at least two couplings on either side of the bridge accessible through a top surface of the staple connectable to two corresponding coupling shafts. The coupling shafts can attach through the top surface of the staple without extending below an underside of the staple. The coupling shafts can be used to bias the at least two legs of the staple away from each other for insertion into holes formed into two bones. By attaching the coupling shafts through the top of the staple, the staple can be inserted flush with the two bones before releasing the shafts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2023
    Publication date: March 14, 2024
    Inventors: W. Bret Smith, Madeline Lindemann, Bryan Wilcox, Sean F. Scanlan, Jason May, Adriaan Kuyler, Robert D. Santrock, Mark Erik Easley
  • Patent number: 11911720
    Abstract: A device and system for purifying a fluid is provided. The system includes a tank having an interior space and a media container disposed within the interior space. A valve is provided that cooperates with an element within the interior, the valve being movable between an open and a closed position. The valve being biased to the open position when the element is not positioned within the interior space, wherein the interior space is fluidly coupled to the atmosphere in the open position. The valve further being configured to move to a closed position when the element is positioned within the interior space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: Unger Marketing International, LLC
    Inventors: Paul H. Adams, Stephen P. Huda, James M. Buckley, John Anthony Triunfo, Joseph K. Patterson, Michael T. La Tulippe, Robert Camp, Robert F. Smith
  • Patent number: 11896180
    Abstract: A floor cleaning system having a flat headed mop is provided. The system includes a bucket having a plurality of compartments. At least one compartment is provided for cleaning the flat headed mop to remove dirt and debris accumulated during use. A second compartment is provided for recharging the mop pad with water or a cleaning solution. At least one wringing device is operably coupled to one of the plurality of compartments. The at least one wringing device having an extractor element to remove at least a portion of water or cleaning solution from the mop pad.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: Unger Marketing International, LLC
    Inventors: Robert F. Smith, Joseph K. Patterson, William Harrington, Paul H. Adams
  • Publication number: 20240032767
    Abstract: A hard surface cleaning and conditioning assembly is provided that includes a pole having a lower section and an upper section; an adjusting device securing the upper and lower sections to one another in a telescoping manner; a tool depending from the lower section; a conditioning agent dispensing device depending from the lower section; a trigger depending from the upper section; and a telescoping trigger assembly operatively connecting the dispensing device to the trigger.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2023
    Publication date: February 1, 2024
    Inventors: William Harrington, John A. Triunfo, JR., Paul H. Adams, Robert F. Smith, Joseph K. Patterson
  • Patent number: 11849835
    Abstract: Cleaning devices are provided that have a surface with areas that provide different cleaning states. The areas of different cleaning states are connected to one another by a deflection member that provides tactile and/or audible feedback to the user when transitioning between the different cleaning states.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Inventors: William Harrington, James M. Buckley, Robert F. Smith, Paul Adams
  • Publication number: 20230404353
    Abstract: A floor cleaning system and a method of cleaning a floor are provided. The cleaning system includes a flat headed mop. The system also includes a frame and at least one compartment removably coupled to the frame. A wringing assembly is fluidly coupled to the at least one compartment, the wringing assembly comprising a fixed extractor element and at least one roller movable from a first position when the mop head is being inserted to a second position when the mop head is being withdrawn.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2023
    Publication date: December 21, 2023
    Inventors: William Harrington, Robert F. Smith, Joseph K. Patterson, Paul H. Adams
  • Patent number: 11806647
    Abstract: A device, system, and method for purifying a fluid is provided. The fluid purification device includes a tank, a cover and a release assembly. The tank having a hollow interior. The cover is sealingly coupled to the tank. The release assembly is pivotally coupled to the cover, the release assembly having a relief valve fluidly coupled to the hollow interior, the release assembly being movable between a first position and a second position, the relief valve being movable between an operating position, a released position and a non-operational position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: Unger Marketing International, LLC
    Inventors: Stephen P. Huda, Paul H. Adams, Robert F. Smith, Qinxue Zhuo, Joseph K. Patterson
  • Patent number: 11759084
    Abstract: A hard surface cleaning and conditioning assembly is provided that includes a pole having a lower section and an upper section; an adjusting device securing the upper and lower sections to one another in a telescoping manner; a tool depending from the lower section; a conditioning agent dispensing device depending from the lower section; a trigger depending from the upper section; and a telescoping trigger assembly operatively connecting the dispensing device to the trigger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: Unger Marketing International, LLC
    Inventors: William Harrington, John A. Triunfo, Jr., Paul H. Adams, Robert F. Smith, Joseph K. Patterson
  • Patent number: 11759085
    Abstract: A floor cleaning system and a method of cleaning a floor are provided. The cleaning system includes a flat headed mop. The system also includes a frame and at least one compartment removably coupled to the frame. A wringing assembly is fluidly coupled to the at least one compartment, the wringing assembly comprising a fixed extractor element and at least one roller movable from a first position when the mop head is being inserted to a second position when the mop head is being withdrawn.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: Unger Marketing International, LLC
    Inventors: William Harrington, Robert F. Smith, Joseph K. Patterson, Paul H. Adams
  • Publication number: 20230234213
    Abstract: A reaching and grabbing tool is provided. The tool includes a trigger assembly having at least one trigger and a handle. A jaw assembly is provided having at least one jaw operably connected to the at least one trigger to move the at least one jaw. A hinge assembly is disposed between the trigger assembly and the jaw assembly, the hinge assembly being selectively lockable between an operating position and a folded position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2023
    Publication date: July 27, 2023
    Inventors: Robert F. Smith, James M. Buckley, Joseph K. Patterson
  • Publication number: 20230114133
    Abstract: A reaching and grabbing tool is provided. The tool includes a trigger assembly having a trigger and a handle. A jaw assembly is provided having at least one jaw operably connected to the trigger to move the at least one jaw. A hinge assembly is disposed between the trigger assembly and the jaw assembly, the hinge assembly being selectively lockable between an operating position and a folded position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2022
    Publication date: April 13, 2023
    Inventors: Robert F. Smith, James M. Buckley, Joseph K. Patterson
  • Patent number: D986017
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: Unger Marketing International
    Inventors: Robert F. Smith, James M. Buckley, Joseph K. Patterson
  • Patent number: D1015668
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: Unger Marketing International, LLC
    Inventors: William Harrington, Robert F. Smith