Patents by Inventor Robert J. Schafer

Robert J. Schafer 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: 20240171216
    Abstract: A device includes a first housing having a first end configured to couple to an electric meter and a second end configured to couple to an electric meter socket. A power module is disposed at least partially within the first housing and is configured to couple to electrical wiring at a premises. The device includes a second housing having an antenna array, a feed network communicatively coupled to the power module and configured to split power and distribute the power to at least one element of one or more sub-arrays of the antenna array, a wireless wide area network (WWAN) module communicatively coupled to the antenna array and the power module, and a broadband over powerline (BPL) interface communicatively coupled to the WWAN module and the power module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2023
    Publication date: May 23, 2024
    Inventors: David Gregory Schafer, Robert J. Conley, Mark Wayne Gustafson, Cao Ming
  • Publication number: 20160040451
    Abstract: A decorative door handle comprising a flexible material configured in the shape of a door handle and a malleable stiffener material to maintain the handle in a desired useful looking configuration. In one aspect the flexible material is a magnetic vinyl. In another aspect, a decorative door handle comprising molded resin having at least one magnetic insert in the back surface. In another aspect, a decorative hinge element comprising molded resin having at least one magnetic insert in the back surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2014
    Publication date: February 11, 2016
    Inventor: Robert J. Schafer
  • Patent number: 7963086
    Abstract: A package unbundling station receives bundles of articles to be unwrapped. The station includes a clamp for holding a bundle in a fixed position and a pair of spaced-apart movable cutter assemblies which cut at least one of wrapping and banding on at least two sides of the bundle, resulting in an “open envelope” which is transferred to a work station for easy removal of the articles which are then conveyed for subsequent sorting. In one embodiment, an unbundling station is coupled with a package sorting system and receives banded and/or wrapped bundles of articles and includes at least a pair of spaced-apart movable cutter assemblies which cut at least one of the banding and/or wrapping materials of the bundle and subsequently outputs the opened bundle to an output station for subsequent processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2011
    Assignee: Porter Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Dale G. Porter, Dan C. Porter, Robert J. Schafer, Larry R. Magnuson
  • Publication number: 20090113853
    Abstract: A package unbundling station receives bundles of articles to be unwrapped. The station includes a clamp for holding a bundle in a fixed position and a pair of spaced-apart movable cutter assemblies which cut at least one of wrapping and banding on at least two sides of the bundle, resulting in an “open envelope” which is transferred to a work station for easy removal of the articles which are then conveyed for subsequent sorting. In one embodiment, an unbundling station is coupled with a package sorting system and receives banded and/or wrapped bundles of articles and includes at least a pair of spaced-apart movable cutter assemblies which cut at least one of the banding and/or wrapping materials of the bundle and subsequently outputs the opened bundle to an output station for subsequent processing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2008
    Publication date: May 7, 2009
    Applicant: Porter Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Dale G. Porter, Dan C. Porter, Robert J. Schafer, Larry R. Magnuson
  • Publication number: 20080264002
    Abstract: A de-packaging system for removing film and bands from packages includes a first conveyor configured to move packages. The de-packaging system also includes a loading station for loading packages onto the conveyor, and a film cutting station associated with the first conveyor. The film cutting station includes a cutter having an elongated cutting element that can be heated to cut film on packages. A band cutting station includes a cutter for cutting bands wrapped around packages. A clamp device includes a clamp configured to clamp bands on packages for removal of the bands. The de-packaging system further includes a second conveyor having an upstream end adjacent a downstream end of the first conveyor. A device applies force to packages to move packages from the first conveyor to the second conveyor, and at least one friction member strips film from packages as they are moved from the first conveyor to the second conveyor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2008
    Publication date: October 30, 2008
    Inventors: Dan C. Porter, Larry R. Magrueon, Robert J. Schafer
  • Publication number: 20080248492
    Abstract: Membrane-based assays using surface detector array devices suitable for use with a biosensor are disclosed. The device is formed of a substrate having a surface defining a plurality of distinct bilayer-compatible surface regions separated by one or more bilayer barrier regions. The bilayer-compatible surface regions carry on them, separated by an aqueous film, supported fluid bilayers. The bilayers may contain selected receptors or biomolecules. A bulk aqueous phase covers the bilayers on the substrate surface. Arrays may be engineered to display natural membrane materials in a native fluid bilayer configuration, permitting high-throughput discovery of drugs that target and affect membrane components. The membrane-based assays detect binding events by monitoring binding-induced changes in one or more physical properties of fluid bilayers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 31, 2007
    Publication date: October 9, 2008
    Applicants: SYNAMEM CORPORATION, a California Corporation
    Inventors: Victoria Yamazaki, Robert J. Schafer, Morrison Ulman, John T. Groves
  • Patent number: 7407768
    Abstract: Membrane-based assays using surface detector array devices suitable for use with a biosensor are disclosed. The device is formed of a substrate having a surface defining a plurality of distinct bilayer-compatible surface regions separated by one or more bilayer barrier regions. The bilayer-compatible surface regions carry on them, separated by an aqueous film, supported fluid bilayers. The bilayers may contain selected receptors or biomolecules. A bulk aqueous phase covers the bilayers on the substrate surface. Arrays may be engineered to display natural membrane materials in a native fluid bilayer configuration, permitting high-throughput discovery of drugs that target and affect membrane components. The membrane-based assays detect binding events by monitoring binding-induced changes in one or more physical properties of fluid bilayers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2008
    Assignee: Synamem Corporation
    Inventors: Victoria Yamazaki, Robert J. Schafer, Morrison Ulman, John T. Groves
  • Publication number: 20080176759
    Abstract: Membrane-based assays using surface detector array devices suitable for use with a biosensor are disclosed. The device is formed of a substrate having a surface defining a plurality of distinct bilayer-compatible surface regions separated by one or more bilayer barrier regions. The bilayer-compatible surface regions carry on them, separated by an aqueous film, supported fluid bilayers. The bilayers may contain selected receptors or biomolecules. A bulk aqueous phase covers the bilayers on the substrate surface. Arrays may be engineered to display natural membrane materials in a native fluid bilayer configuration, permitting high-throughput discovery of drugs that target and affect membrane components. The membrane-based assays detect binding events by monitoring binding-induced changes in one or more physical properties of fluid bilayers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 31, 2007
    Publication date: July 24, 2008
    Applicant: Synamem Corporation
    Inventors: Victoria Yamazaki, Robert J. Schafer, Morrison Ulman, John T. Groves
  • Patent number: 7174695
    Abstract: A de-packaging system for removing film and bands from packages includes a first conveyor configured to move packages. The de-packaging system also includes a loading station for loading packages onto the conveyor, and a film cutting station associated with the first conveyor. The film cutting station includes a cutter having an elongated cutting element that can be heated to cut film on packages. A band cutting station includes a cutter for cutting bands wrapped around packages. A clamp device includes a clamp configured to clamp bands on packages for removal of the bands. The de-packaging system further includes a second conveyor having an upstream end adjacent a downstream end of the first conveyor. A device applies force to packages to move packages from the first conveyor to the second conveyor, and at least one friction member strips film from packages as they are moved from the first conveyor to the second conveyor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2007
    Inventors: Dan C. Porter, Larry R. Magnuson, Robert J. Schafer
  • Publication number: 20040250670
    Abstract: A de-packaging system for removing film and bands from packages includes a first conveyor configured to move packages. The de-packaging system also includes a loading station for loading packages onto the conveyor, and a film cutting station associated with the first conveyor. The film cutting station includes a cutter having an elongated cutting element that can be heated to cut film on packages. A band cutting station includes a cutter for cutting bands wrapped around packages. A clamp device includes a clamp configured to clamp bands on packages for removal of the bands. The de-packaging system further includes a second conveyor having an upstream end adjacent a downstream end of the first conveyor. A device applies force to packages to move packages from the first conveyor to the second conveyor, and at least one friction member strips film from packages as they are moved from the first conveyor to the second conveyor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2004
    Publication date: December 16, 2004
    Inventors: Dan C. Porter, Larry R. Magnuson, Robert J. Schafer
  • Publication number: 20040053337
    Abstract: Membrane-based assays using surface detector array devices suitable for use with a biosensor are disclosed. The device is formed of a substrate having a surface defining a plurality of distinct bilayer-compatible surface regions separated by one or more bilayer barrier regions. The bilayer-compatible surface regions carry on them, separated by an aqueous film, supported fluid bilayers. The bilayers may contain selected receptors or biomolecules. A bulk aqueous phase covers the bilayers on the substrate surface. Arrays may be engineered to display natural membrane materials in a native fluid bilayer configuration, permitting high-throughput discovery of drugs that target and affect membrane components. The membrane-based assays detect binding events by monitoring binding-induced changes in one or more physical properties of fluid bilayers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2003
    Publication date: March 18, 2004
    Applicant: Synamem Corporation, a California Corporation
    Inventors: Miki Yamazaki, Robert J. Schafer, Morrison Ulman, John T. Groves
  • Patent number: 4814379
    Abstract: Compositions useful as a material for fuel lines comprising an intimate blend of:(I) from 45 to 55% by weight of a polyamide and(II) from 55 to 45% by weight of a mixture of(a) From 70 to 90% by weight of high density polyethylene grafted with an alpha, beta-olefinically unsaturated dicarboxylic acid anhydride,(b) From 5 to 15% by weight of linear low density polyethylene grafted with an alpha, beta-olefinically unsaturated dicarboxylic acid anhydride, and(c) From 5 to 15% by weight of ethylene/propylene/diene rubber grafted with an alpha, beta-olefinically unsaturated dicarboxylic acid anhydrideare described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 1988
    Date of Patent: March 21, 1989
    Assignee: Ashland Oil, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul W. Flood, John E. Corn, Robert J. Schafer
  • Patent number: 4448907
    Abstract: No Bake foundry cores and molds for casting metals are prepared by using a binder comprising a polyol generally derived from alkoxylating an amine compound and a polyisocyanate. The binder is especially useful for casting non-ferrous metals, for example, the casting of aluminum, magnesium and other light weight metals. The cores and molds produced for casting aluminum and other light weight metals exhibit excellent shakeout while retaining other desirable core and mold properties. In addition the binders of this invention would have been observed to have an autocatalytic nature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 1983
    Date of Patent: May 15, 1984
    Assignee: Ashland Oil, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert J. Schafer
  • Patent number: 4370463
    Abstract: No Bake foundry cores and molds for casting metals are prepared by using a binder comprising a polyol generally derived from alkoxylating an amine compound and a polyisocyanate. The binder is especially useful for casting non-ferrous metals, for example, the casting of aluminum, magnesium and other light weight metals. The cores and molds produced for casting aluminum and other light weight metals exhibit excellent shakeout while retaining other desirable core and mold properties. In addition the binders of this invention would have been observed to have an autocatalytic nature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 1981
    Date of Patent: January 25, 1983
    Assignee: Ashland Oil, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert J. Schafer
  • Patent number: 4193909
    Abstract: Disclosed is a resin-aggregate mixture comprising polyurethane resin, aggregate (sand), silane compounds, iron oxide and powdered thermoplastic resins. Flower pots from this composition are cured either with a tertiary amine, base, or metallic ion. The cured pots subsequently are baked at a temperature sufficient to fuse the thermoplastic resin to provide a pot having air permeability but resistance to the permeation of water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 1978
    Date of Patent: March 18, 1980
    Assignee: Ashland Oil, Inc.
    Inventors: John A. Lundberg, Robert J. Schafer, Richard H. Toeniskoetter, Richard L. Pelfrey
  • Patent number: 4124556
    Abstract: Molding composition particularly suited for molding foundry cores and molds is obtained by mixing the components of a polyurethane resin with aggregate (sand), a silane, and iron oxide, molding the mixture to a desired shape and curing it.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 1977
    Date of Patent: November 7, 1978
    Assignee: Ashland Oil, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert J. Schafer, Richard H. Toeniskoetter