Patents by Inventor William Y. Stafford

William Y. Stafford 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: 9030322
    Abstract: A method of using a security display apparatus for media content products in a retail store is disclosed. The method includes arranging sample media content containers in a side-by-side configuration on a front lip of a security display fixture, wherein each of the sample media content containers is anchored to the security display fixture with a security cable. The method further includes unlocking an access door of the security display fixture, in response to a consumer request, to provide access to an internal space defined by the security display fixture rearward of the sample media content containers, and retrieving one or more non-tethered media content containers from the internal space that are of a same title as one of the sample media content containers positioned immediately in front of the one or more non-tethered media content containers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: Target Brands, Inc.
    Inventors: Blake M. Johnson, William Donald Splain, David Joseph Floersch, Joseph H. Bowser, William Y. Stafford
  • Patent number: 8994798
    Abstract: A wall fixture supports at least one display screen and a display shelf. The display shelf is located adjacent the display screen and includes a holder for housing a pair of three-dimensional (3D) glasses that are tethered to the holder The display screen displays two-dimensional (2D) media content. In response to receiving an indication from a presence sensor that the 3D glasses located in a glasses holder of the display shelf have been removed from the glasses holder, 3D media content is displayed on the display monitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Target Brands, Inc.
    Inventors: Nick Q. Trinh, Joseph H. Bowser, William Y. Stafford, Thomas A. Schneider, Blake M. Johnson, Kevin Huljich
  • Publication number: 20150076093
    Abstract: A shelf-type display module includes a carrier tray assembly including a carrier tray having a top, a bottom, a plurality of tracks and at least one light. The plurality of tracks protrude from the top of the carrier tray and the at least one light is mounted to the bottom of the carrier tray. An insert tray includes a main body having components for holding products for display and components for mating with the plurality of tracks on the carrier tray. The components of the main body that mate with the plurality of tracks on the carrier tray slide along the plurality of tracks from a right side to a left side of the carrier tray or from the left side to the right side of the carrier tray.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2014
    Publication date: March 19, 2015
    Inventors: Jennifer A. Theisen, William Y. Stafford, Erin L. Zobel, Timothy J. Martell, Benjamin Weshler
  • Publication number: 20150068086
    Abstract: A label holder includes a base, a sign sleeve for receiving at least one printed price label and a living hinge coupling the base to the sign sleeve. The sign sleeve is defined by a main panel that is substantially planar and a return flange that is coupled to the main panel at a joined end. The return flange extends upward from the joined end and terminates at an end located along the main panel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2013
    Publication date: March 12, 2015
    Applicant: Target Brand, Inc.
    Inventors: Jennifer A. Theisen, Erin L. Zobel, William Y. Stafford, Robert M. Gray
  • Patent number: 8925745
    Abstract: A shelf-type display module includes a carrier tray assembly including a carrier tray having a top, a bottom, a plurality of tracks and at least one light. The plurality of tracks protrude from the top of the carrier tray and the at least one light is mounted to the bottom of the carrier tray. An insert tray includes a main body having components for holding products for display and components for mating with the plurality of tracks on the carrier tray. The components of the main body that mate with the plurality of tracks on the carrier tray slide along the plurality of tracks from a right side to a left side of the carrier tray or from the left side to the right side of the carrier tray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Target Brands, Inc.
    Inventors: Jennifer A. Theisen, William Y. Stafford, Erin L. Zobel, Timothy J. Martell, Benjamin Weshler
  • Publication number: 20140250749
    Abstract: A shelf-type display module includes a carrier tray assembly including a carrier tray having a top, a bottom, a plurality of tracks and at least one light. The plurality of tracks protrude from the top of the carrier tray and the at least one light is mounted to the bottom of the carrier tray. An insert tray includes a main body having components for holding products for display and components for mating with the plurality of tracks on the carrier tray. The components of the main body that mate with the plurality of tracks on the carrier tray slide along the plurality of tracks from a right side to a left side of the carrier tray or from the left side to the right side of the carrier tray.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2013
    Publication date: September 11, 2014
    Applicant: TARGET BRANDS, INC.
    Inventors: Jennifer A. Theisen, William Y. Stafford, Erin L. Zobel, Timothy J. Martell, Benjamin Weshler
  • Patent number: 8793913
    Abstract: A label holder includes a main panel having a top portion that is oriented at an angle from a substantially planar portion, a first sign sleeve and a second sign sleeve. The first sign sleeve is defined by the substantially planar portion of the main panel and a return flange coupled to the main panel at a joined end. The return flange extends upward from the joined end and terminates along and is biased against the substantially planar portion of the main panel. The second sign sleeve is defined by a front that extends from the top portion of the main panel and a back that is coupled to the front by the top portion of the main panel. The back extends from the top portion of the main panel and terminates along and is biased against the front.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Target Brands, Inc.
    Inventors: Erin L. Zobel, Timothy J. Martell, Jennifer A. Theisen, William Y. Stafford
  • Publication number: 20130227828
    Abstract: A method of using a security display apparatus for media content products in a retail store is disclosed. The method includes arranging sample media content containers in a side-by-side configuration on a front lip of a security display fixture, wherein each of the sample media content containers is anchored to the security display fixture with a security cable The method further includes unlocking an access door of the security display fixture, in response to a consumer request, to provide access to an internal space defined by the security display fixture rearward of the sample media content containers, and retrieving one or more non-tethered media content containers from the internal space that are of a same title as one of the sample media content containers positioned immediately in front of the one or more non-tethered media content containers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2013
    Publication date: September 5, 2013
    Applicant: TARGET BRANDS, INC.
    Inventors: Blake M. JOHNSON, William Donald SPLAIN, David Joseph FLOERSCH, Joseph H. BOWSER, William Y. STAFFORD
  • Publication number: 20130128013
    Abstract: A wall fixture supports at least one display screen and a display shelf. The display shelf is located adjacent the display screen and includes a holder for housing a pair of three-dimensional (3D) glasses that are tethered to the holder The display screen displays two-dimensional (2D) media content. In response to receiving an indication from a presence sensor that the 3D glasses located in a glasses holder of the display shelf have been removed from the glasses holder, 3D media content is displayed on the display monitor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2011
    Publication date: May 23, 2013
    Applicant: TARGET BRANDS, INC.
    Inventors: Nick Q. Trinh, Joseph H. Bowser, William Y. Stafford, Thomas A. Schneider, Blake M. Johnson, Kevin Huljich
  • Patent number: 8413821
    Abstract: Some embodiments of an apparatus for displaying media content products may provide consumers with the convenience of browsing front and rear faces of the sample media content products while all of the media content products (including the sample packages) can be secured in a manner that hinders theft. In particular embodiments, the media content products can be secured without requiring the store workers to insert each and every media content product into a security box or security tether system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: Target Brands, Inc.
    Inventors: Blake M. Johnson, William Donald Splain, David Joseph Floersch, Joseph H. Bowser, William Y. Stafford
  • Patent number: 8256628
    Abstract: A shelving system includes a product, a base, a tray insert, a template, and a placement clip. The base has a top surface forming a receptacle and includes a hanger assembly for securing the base to a shelving unit. The tray insert is secured into the receptacle formed in the top surface of the base. The tray insert has a plurality of slots spaced along a length of the insert. The template is received over the tray insert to cover the insert. The template has openings through the tray insert to selectively expose a desired subset of slots. The placement clip is secured through one of the openings in the template into a pair of the desired subset of slots. The placement clip acts to secure the template to the tray insert and is adapted to maintain the product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: Target Brands, Inc.
    Inventors: William Y. Stafford, Nick Quang Trinh, Benjamin Weshler
  • Patent number: 8256151
    Abstract: A signage structure includes a first drum, a valance and a plurality of bracket assemblies. The first drum is suspended from a ceiling and includes a first frame supporting a first material having an outer circumferential surface for displaying indicia. The first frame has an upper frame ring and a lower frame ring. The valance is located outwardly from the outer circumferential surface of the first drum and includes at least one curved section having a plurality of spaced apart lights positioned along the interior side of the valance. The plurality of bracket assemblies include arms that couple the upper frame ring of the first drum to the valance. A first end of each arm is configured to attach to the upper frame ring of the first drum and a second end of each arm is configured to attach to the valance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: Target Brands, Inc.
    Inventors: William Y. Stafford, Cheryl J. Penkivech, John P. Farinola, Charles J. Babboni, Krzysztof Sosniak
  • Publication number: 20120137550
    Abstract: A signage structure includes a first drum, a valance and a plurality of bracket assemblies. The first drum is suspended from a ceiling and includes a first frame supporting a first material having an outer circumferential surface for displaying indicia. The first frame has an upper frame ring and a lower frame ring. The valance is located outwardly from the outer circumferential surface of the first drum and includes at least one curved section having a plurality of spaced apart lights positioned along the interior side of the valance. The plurality of bracket assemblies include arms that couple the upper frame ring of the first drum to the valance. A first end of each arm is configured to attach to the upper frame ring of the first drum and a second end of each arm is configured to attach to the valance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2010
    Publication date: June 7, 2012
    Applicant: TARGET BRANDS, INC.
    Inventors: William Y. Stafford, Cheryl J. Penkivech, John P. Farinola, Charles J. Babboni, Krzysztof Sosniak
  • Patent number: D687252
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: Target Brands, Inc.
    Inventors: Mitchell Knoll, Robert P. Stoltz, David J. Floersch, William Y. Stafford, Robert D. Peota
  • Patent number: D693611
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: Target Brands, Inc.
    Inventors: William Y. Stafford, John D. Griffith
  • Patent number: D707066
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: Target Brands, Inc.
    Inventors: Jennifer A. Theisen, Erin L. Zobel, William Y. Stafford, Timothy J. Martell
  • Patent number: D713659
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: Target Brands, Inc.
    Inventors: William Y. Stafford, Timothy J. Martell, Grant M. Gay, Jeremy A. Clark, Robert D. Peota, April E. Jackson
  • Patent number: D717085
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Target Brands, Inc.
    Inventors: Nick Q. Trinh, William Y. Stafford, Blake M. Johnson, Timothy J. Martell, Robert D. Peota
  • Patent number: D721524
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Target Brands, Inc.
    Inventors: Jennifer A. Theisen, Erin L. Zobel, William Y. Stafford
  • Patent number: D727068
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Target Brands, Inc.
    Inventors: Jennifer A. Theisen, William Y. Stafford, Erin L. Zobel, Timothy J. Martell