Patents by Inventor Robert Schaefer

Robert Schaefer 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: 20180207819
    Abstract: A personal care product having a handle is provided. The handle has a handle resting plane and at least one docking magnet positioned within an end portion. The docking magnet has an axis of polarity that intersects the handle resting plane at an included angle of less than 35 degrees.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2018
    Publication date: July 26, 2018
    Inventors: Robert Schaefer, Christoph Zegula, Matthias Paschold, Christian Litterst, Judith von Dahlen
  • Publication number: 20180207820
    Abstract: A personal care product system having a personal care product stand and a handle is provided. The handle can be docked with the personal care product stand when not in use. The position of the handle relative to the personal care product stand is maintained by a docking magnet in the handle and a docking magnet in the personal care product stand. The handle is tilted with respect to a vertical axis and a majority of the handle is unsupported.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2018
    Publication date: July 26, 2018
    Inventors: Robert Schaefer, Christoph Zegula, Matthias Paschold, Christian Litterst, Judith von Dahlen
  • Publication number: 20180212465
    Abstract: A personal care product system is provided. The personal care product system has a stand that has a first and second stand permanent docking magnet. A stand inductive charging coil is also positioned within the stand. A handle that has first and second handle permanent docking magnets is removably mounted to the stand. A handle inductive charging coil is positioned within the handle. The handle has a first handle flux guiding member and a second handle flux guiding member. The stand has a first stand flux guiding member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2018
    Publication date: July 26, 2018
    Inventors: Robert Schaefer, Klaus Heubach, Jian Wang, Norbert Broemse
  • Publication number: 20180207821
    Abstract: A personal care product system is provided. The personal care product system has a stand that has a first stand permanent docking magnet. A stand inductive charging coil is also positioned within the stand. A handle that has a first handle permanent docking magnet is removably mounted to the stand. A handle inductive charging coil is positioned within the handle. A handle flux guiding member having at least a portion positioned within the handle inductive charging coil directs a magnetic field of the handle inductive charging coil. A stand flux guiding member having at least a portion positioned within the stand inductive charging coil directs a magnetic field of the stand inductive charging coil.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2018
    Publication date: July 26, 2018
    Inventors: Robert Schaefer, Klaus Heubach, Jian Wang, Norbert Broemse
  • Patent number: 10031010
    Abstract: A method for operating an ultrasonic device comprising a first and second ultrasonic transducers, includes driving the first and second transducers at a driving frequency such that the first and second transducers generate a first and a second signals, respectively. The method also includes sensing the second signal at the first transducer to produce a first measurement signal and sensing the first signal at the second transducer to produce a second measurement signal. The method further includes identifying a first set of data-points in the first measurement signal and a second set of data-points in the second measurement signal. The method also includes generating a frequency data-series using the first set of data-points and a corresponding data-point in the second set of data-points. The method also includes performing statistical operations based on the frequency data-series and configuring an operating frequency for driving the first and second transducers using the operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Torben Amby Christensen, Robert Schaefer
  • Patent number: 9981260
    Abstract: The present invention is concerned with a method of coating a carrier which is used in automotive exhaust catalysis. The carrier is subjected to introducing a coating liquid into its channels. In order to check the height of the coated area a thermographic imaging device is used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: UMICORE AG & CO.KG
    Inventors: Robert Schaefer, Louis Wall
  • Publication number: 20180125603
    Abstract: An introducer system for use with a navigation probe. The introducer system has an introducer and a probe retainer configured to selectively connect to the introducer. The probe retainer includes a receiver configured to receive a navigation probe shaft and limit movement of the navigation probe shaft in the lateral direction. A first clamp and a second clamp are connected to the receiver with the receiver located between the first clamp and the second clamp. Each of the first clamp and the second clamp is selectively engageable with respective portions of the introducer sidewall to hold the receiver at a fixed location relative to the introducer. The receiver, the first clamp, and the second clamp are configured to provide a visual path through the probe retainer and into the introducer passage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2017
    Publication date: May 10, 2018
    Inventors: David Cantor, Robert Schaefer
  • Publication number: 20180125471
    Abstract: A surgical introducer system having a sidewall that forms an introducer passage, and a probe receptacle located at the distal end of the introducer. The probe receptacle has an inner surface having a first lateral size at a proximal receptacle end and a second lateral size in the lateral direction at the distal receptacle end, and the first lateral size is greater than the second lateral size. The inner surface receives the distal tip of a navigation probe and restricts movement of the distal probe tip in the lateral direction, and the sidewall is spaced from the navigation probe shaft to allow the shaft to move in the lateral direction within the passage when the distal probe tip is positioned in the probe receptacle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2016
    Publication date: May 10, 2018
    Inventor: Robert Schaefer
  • Publication number: 20180019650
    Abstract: A linear motor includes an armature mounted for driven linear oscillation substantially along a longitudinal direction; a secondary mass mounted for linear oscillation substantially along the longitudinal direction; and a coupling unit for coupling the armature and the secondary mass. The coupling unit includes at least two coupling spring assemblies and at least a coupling element, the coupling spring assemblies being arranged in planes perpendicular to the longitudinal direction and being spaced apart from each other, and the coupling element being fixedly connected with the coupling spring assemblies.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2017
    Publication date: January 18, 2018
    Inventors: Uwe Schober, Frank Ziegler, Robert Schaefer
  • Patent number: 9806591
    Abstract: A linear motor is disclosed. The linear motor includes an armature mounted for driven linear oscillation substantially along a longitudinal direction; a secondary mass mounted for linear oscillation substantially along the longitudinal direction; and a coupling unit for coupling the armature and the secondary mass. The coupling unit includes at least two coupling spring assemblies and at least a coupling element, the coupling spring assemblies being arranged in planes perpendicular to the longitudinal direction and being spaced apart from each other, and the coupling element being fixedly connected with the coupling spring assemblies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: BRAUN GMBH
    Inventors: Uwe Schober, Frank Ziegler, Robert Schaefer
  • Patent number: 9791345
    Abstract: Fluid leaks are identified and located by successively monitoring changes in fluid flow and sound velocities of fluid at a plurality of locations in the pipe with flow meters, such as with ultrasonic flow meters. Preferably the successive monitoring sampling rates are sufficiently high to measure instantaneous velocity changes. A controller coupled to the meters associates changes in monitored fluid flow and sound velocities in two locations along the pipe with a leak event occurring between those locations. The controller identifies the association event at each location and correlates pipe leak location based at least in part on difference in time between the respective location events. The method may be used in liquid and gas pipeline transmission systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Robert Schaefer, Dennis J. Diorio, James M. Doorhy
  • Publication number: 20170165658
    Abstract: The present invention is concerned with a method of coating a carrier which is used in automotive exhaust catalysis. The carrier is subjected to introducing a coating liquid into its channels. In order to check the height of the coated area a thermographic imaging device is used.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 24, 2014
    Publication date: June 15, 2017
    Applicant: UMICORE AG & CO. KG
    Inventors: Robert SCHAEFER, Louis WALL
  • Patent number: 9625305
    Abstract: An ultrasonic transit-time flowmeter and a method for detecting a failure in an ultrasonic transit-time flowmeter are provided. The flowmeter includes a first ultrasonic transducer and a second ultrasonic transducer, wherein the transducers each are configured to transmit and receive signals, wherein the signals are transmitted between the transducers and measurements of transit-times of the signals and a transit-time difference based upon the transit-times are used to calculate a fluid flow velocity. Further, the flowmeter has a first reference element and a second reference element, wherein the first and second reference elements each provide a reference signal, and an electronic controller, wherein a predetermined value is stored in a memory of the controller. A reference value based upon the reference signals is compared with the predetermined value and a failure of the ultrasonic flowmeter is identified based upon a comparison of the reference value with the predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Robert Schaefer, Joseph Chilleme, Steven Fierro
  • Publication number: 20160331120
    Abstract: A personal hygiene device has a handle, a treatment head mounted for relative movement of at least a portion thereof with respect to the handle against a restoring force when a treatment force is applied in at least one direction onto the treatment head, a treatment-force-measurement unit for determining the applied treatment force comprising a light-emitting element, a light-sensitive element, and a light-changing element arranged at least partly in the light path between the light-emitting element and the light-sensitive element, wherein the light-changing element and at least one of the light-emitting element and light-sensitive element are arranged to be moved relatively to each other when at least the portion of the treatment head is moved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2016
    Publication date: November 17, 2016
    Inventors: Jannik SCHEELE, Martin HAAS, Norbert SCHAEFER, Robert SCHÄFER, Sven Alexander FRANKE, Uwe SCHOBER, Ingo VETTER, Frank ZIEGLER
  • Publication number: 20160320226
    Abstract: An ultrasonic liquid level detector includes clamp-on transducers for a liquid level measurement by the clamp-on transducers instead of insertion type transducers. The ultrasonic liquid level detector measures a height of a liquid-liquid interface or a gas-liquid interface based on an acoustic attenuation of an acoustic pulse or a transit-time of the acoustic pulse using a pulse echo technique or a combination thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2015
    Publication date: November 3, 2016
    Inventors: Robert Schaefer, Stefan von Dosky, Wolfgang Ens
  • Publication number: 20160176059
    Abstract: The present invention relates to electric appliances for personal care, in particular electric shavers, comprising a magnetic linear drive unit having first and second drive components supported for linear displacement relative to each other and adapted to magnetically interact with each other, wherein a drive support is provided for supporting the drive unit onto a mounting structure. The drive support supporting the drive unit onto a mounting structure of the installation environment is adapted to provide for at least one axis of rotation for at least one of the drive components of the drive unit allowing said at least one drive component to rotate relative to the mounting structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2015
    Publication date: June 23, 2016
    Inventors: Martin Ring, Bernhard Kraus, Robert Schaefer
  • Publication number: 20160045045
    Abstract: A dual-action drink-through cup lid having a first drink-through opening on a first raised area and a fold-back tab substantially opposite the first drink-through opening and capable of exposing a second drink-through opening when the fold-back tab is folded back. A single-action drink-through cup lid is also disclosed having a fold-back tab that exposes a semicircular drink-through opening. Both dual-action and single-action lids disclosed herein have optional lock-back features to secure one or both drink-through openings in an open position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2014
    Publication date: February 18, 2016
    Applicant: M&N Plastics, Inc.
    Inventors: Ugo Mazzarolo, Robert Schaefer
  • Publication number: 20150260556
    Abstract: An ultrasonic transit-time flowmeter and a method for detecting a failure in an ultrasonic transit-time flowmeter are provided. The flowmeter includes a first ultrasonic transducer and a second ultrasonic transducer, wherein the transducers each are configured to transmit and receive signals, wherein the signals are transmitted between the transducers and measurements of transit-times of the signals and a transit-time difference based upon the transit-times are used to calculate a fluid flow velocity. Further, the flowmeter has a first reference element and a second reference element, wherein the first and second reference elements each provide a reference signal, and an electronic controller, wherein a predetermined value is stored in a memory of the controller. A reference value based upon the reference signals is compared with the predetermined value and a failure of the ultrasonic flowmeter is identified based upon a comparison of the reference value with the predetermined value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2014
    Publication date: September 17, 2015
    Applicant: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Robert Schaefer, Joseph Chilleme, Steven Fierro
  • Publication number: 20140331745
    Abstract: Fluid leaks are identified and located by successively monitoring changes in fluid flow and sound velocities of fluid at a plurality of locations in the pipe with flow meters, such as with ultrasonic flow meters. Preferably the successive monitoring sampling rates are sufficiently high to measure instantaneous velocity changes. A controller coupled to the meters associates changes in monitored fluid flow and sound velocities in two locations along the pipe with a leak event occurring between those locations. The controller identifies the association event at each location and correlates pipe leak location based at least in part on difference in time between the respective location events. The method may be used in liquid and gas pipeline transmission systems.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2014
    Publication date: November 13, 2014
    Inventors: Robert Schaefer, Dennis J. Diorio, James M. Doorhy
  • Patent number: 8850871
    Abstract: Fluid leaks are identified and located by successively monitoring changes in fluid flow and sound velocities of fluid at a plurality of locations in the pipe with flow meters, such as with ultrasonic flow meters. Preferably the successive monitoring sampling rates are sufficiently high to measure instantaneous velocity changes. A controller coupled to the meters associates changes in monitored fluid flow and sound velocities in two locations along the pipe with a leak event occurring between those locations. The controller identifies the association event at each location and correlates pipe leak location based at least in part on difference in time between the respective location events. The system and method may be used in liquid and gas pipeline transmission systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Robert Schaefer, Dennis J. Diorio, James M. Doorhy