Patents by Inventor Amy Carol Buckalter
Amy Carol Buckalter 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).
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Patent number: 10433372Abstract: A portable device heats a fluid within a reservoir. The device includes a housing, a cavity, and an energizing element. The housing includes a first longitudinal end, a second longitudinal end, and outer surfaces of the device. The outer surfaces extend from an outer portion of the first longitudinal end to an outer portion of the second longitudinal end. The cavity extends from a cavity port that is positioned on an inner portion of the first longitudinal end to a cavity terminal positioned intermediate the first and second longitudinal ends. Inner lateral surfaces are adjacent the cavity and extend from the inner portion of the first longitudinal end to an outer portion of the cavity terminal. The energizing element is around the cavity. The cavity is positioned intermediate a first energizing element portion and a second energizing element portion. The energizing element provides energy to the cavity.Type: GrantFiled: October 8, 2015Date of Patent: October 1, 2019Assignee: Toaster Labs, Inc.Inventors: Amy Carol Buckalter, David Oscar Iverson, Garet Glenn Nenninger, Roland David Horth
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Patent number: 10189038Abstract: In various embodiments, a fluid delivery pod includes a first surface, a second surface that opposes the first surface, a reservoir body, an outlet port, a heating structure, and a valve assembly. The reservoir body is between the first and the second surfaces. The reservoir body is configured to house a fluid. The outlet port is positioned on a surface of the pod. The surface is between the first and the second surfaces. The heating structure is thermally coupled to the fluid housed within the reservoir body. The heating structure wirelessly receives energy from an energy source that is external to the fluid delivery pod. The wirelessly received energy heats the fluid housed within the reservoir body. In response to an application of compression forces on the first and the second surfaces, the valve assembly dispenses the heated fluid through the outlet port and out of the fluid delivery pod.Type: GrantFiled: October 8, 2015Date of Patent: January 29, 2019Assignee: Toaster Labs, Inc.Inventors: Amy Carol Buckalter, David Oscar Iverson, Garet Glenn Nenninger, Roland David Horth
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Patent number: 10144032Abstract: A fluid reservoir includes a reservoir body, a heating structure, a piston, and an outlet port. The reservoir body includes a cross section, and a translation axis. The cross section is uniform along the translation axis. When fluid is housed in the reservoir, the heating structure is thermally coupled to the fluid. The heating structure energizes the fluid housed in the reservoir. The piston translates along the translation axis. An available volume of the reservoir to house the fluid is defined by a distance between the piston and an end of the reservoir body. When the piston is translated along the translation axis toward the end, a volume of the fluid that has been energized by the heating structure flows from the reservoir and through the outlet port. The volume of energized fluid is linearly proportional to a length of the translation of the piston.Type: GrantFiled: October 31, 2014Date of Patent: December 4, 2018Assignee: Toaster Labs, Inc.Inventors: Amy Carol Buckalter, David Oscar Iverson, Garet Glenn Nenninger, Roland David Horth, Jonathan B. Hadley
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Patent number: 10098510Abstract: A dispenser includes a housing, an aperture within the housing, a receptacle within the housing, and a pneumatically driven actuator. The receptacle removably receives a reservoir, such that when the reservoir is received by the receptacle, an outlet port of the reservoir is exposed through the aperture. When the pneumatically driven actuator is actuated, the pneumatically driven actuator provides a dispensing force that induces a flow of a predetermined volume of fluid within the reservoir through the exposed outlet port of the reservoir and dispenses the predetermined volume through the aperture. In some embodiments, the dispenser includes an internal pneumatic source. The internal pneumatic source may include an air compressor. The dispenser may include a pneumatic input port that receives a pneumatic hose. The dispensing force translates a piston in the reservoir a predetermined distance. The predetermined distance may be linearly proportional to the predetermined volume of dispensed fluid.Type: GrantFiled: October 23, 2014Date of Patent: October 16, 2018Assignee: Toaster Loabs, Inc.Inventors: Amy Carol Buckalter, Jonathan B. Hadley, Alexander M. Diener, Kristin M. Will, Gordon Cohen
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Patent number: 9974416Abstract: A dispenser includes a housing, an aperture, a receptacle, a heating element, and an actuator. When a reservoir is received within the receptacle, an outlet port of the reservoir is exposed through the aperture. The heating element heats fluid housed within the reservoir. The actuator provides a dispensing force that induces a flow of the heated fluid. In some embodiments, the heater is an inductive heater. In other embodiments, the heater is a resistive heater. The dispenser dispenses the fluid through the aperture. Another embodiment of a dispenser may include a housing, an aperture, a receptacle within the housing, an actuator configured to receive a fluid reservoir, and a power source. The power source provides power to the actuator. The power source includes an alternating current source.Type: GrantFiled: October 31, 2014Date of Patent: May 22, 2018Assignee: Toaster Labs, INc.Inventors: Amy Carol Buckalter, David Oscar Iverson, Garet Glenn Nenninger, Roland David Horth, Jonathan B. Hadley
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Patent number: 9801505Abstract: A motion-activated dispenser includes a housing having a base and top defining a gap sized to receive a human hand. The top portion defining cavity sized to receive a fluid reservoir and an opening extending directly through a lower surface of the top portion to the cavity, a neck of the fluid reservoir extending through the opening. A pressing member is positioned within the cavity and an actuator is coupled to the pressing member and configured to urge the pressing member toward and away from the opening. The pressing member may include, for example, a sliding member positioned opposite a stop face; a roller moved by the actuator toward the opening; a plunger positioned above the opening and driven by an actuator toward the opening; or a pair of rods spanning the cavity and urged by the actuator through the cavity, the rods pressing against sides of the reservoir.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2013Date of Patent: October 31, 2017Assignee: Toaster Labs, Inc.Inventors: Amy Carol Buckalter, Jonathan B. Hadley, Alexander M. Diener, Kristin M. Will, Lilac Muller, Jeanine E. Spence
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Publication number: 20160234887Abstract: A portable device heats a fluid within a reservoir. The device includes a housing, a cavity, and an energizing element. The housing includes a first longitudinal end, a second longitudinal end, and outer surfaces of the device. The outer surfaces extend from an outer portion of the first longitudinal end to an outer portion of the second longitudinal end. The cavity extends from a cavity port that is positioned on an inner portion of the first longitudinal end to a cavity terminal positioned intermediate the first and second longitudinal ends. Inner lateral surfaces are adjacent the cavity and extend from the inner portion of the first longitudinal end to an outer portion of the cavity terminal. The energizing element is around the cavity. The cavity is positioned intermediate a first energizing element portion and a second energizing element portion. The energizing element provides energy to the cavity.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 8, 2015Publication date: August 11, 2016Inventors: Amy Carol Buckalter, David Oscar Iverson, Garet Glenn Nenninger, Roland David Horth
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Publication number: 20160228897Abstract: In various embodiments, a fluid delivery pod includes a first surface, a second surface that opposes the first surface, a reservoir body, an outlet port, a heating structure, and a valve assembly. The reservoir body is between the first and the second surfaces. The reservoir body is configured to house a fluid. The outlet port is positioned on a surface of the pod. The surface is between the first and the second surfaces. The heating structure is thermally coupled to the fluid housed within the reservoir body. The heating structure wirelessly receives energy from an energy source that is external to the fluid delivery pod. The wirelessly received energy heats the fluid housed within the reservoir body. In response to an application of compression forces on the first and the second surfaces, the valve assembly dispenses the heated fluid through the outlet port and out of the fluid delivery pod.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 8, 2015Publication date: August 11, 2016Inventors: Amy Carol Buckalter, David Oscar Iverson, Garet Glenn Nenninger, Roland David Horth
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Publication number: 20150273513Abstract: A fluid reservoir includes a reservoir body, a heating structure, a piston, and an outlet port. The reservoir body includes a cross section, and a translation axis. The cross section is uniform along the translation axis. When fluid is housed in the reservoir, the heating structure is thermally coupled to the fluid. The heating structure energizes the fluid housed in the reservoir. The piston translates along the translation axis. An available volume of the reservoir to house the fluid is defined by a distance between the piston and an end of the reservoir body. When the piston is translated along the translation axis toward the end, a volume of the fluid that has been energized by the heating structure flows from the reservoir and through the outlet port. The volume of energized fluid is linearly proportional to a length of the translation of the piston.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 31, 2014Publication date: October 1, 2015Inventors: Amy Carol Buckalter, David Oscar Iverson, Garet Glenn Nenninger, Roland David Horth, Jonathan B. Hadley
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Publication number: 20150265107Abstract: A dispenser includes a housing, an aperture, a receptacle, a heating element, and an actuator. When a reservoir is received within the receptacle, an outlet port of the reservoir is exposed through the aperture. The heating element heats fluid housed within the reservoir. The actuator provides a dispensing force that induces a flow of the heated fluid. In some embodiments, the heater is an inductive heater. In other embodiments, the heater is a resistive heater. The dispenser dispenses the fluid through the aperture. Another embodiment of a dispenser may include a housing, an aperture, a receptacle within the housing, an actuator configured to receive a fluid reservoir, and a power source. The power source provides power to the actuator. The power source includes an alternating current source.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 31, 2014Publication date: September 24, 2015Inventors: Amy Carol Buckalter, David Oscar Iverson, Garet Glenn Nenninger, Roland David Horth, Jonathan B. Hadley
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Publication number: 20150259128Abstract: A dispenser includes a housing, an aperture within the housing, a receptacle within the housing, and a pneumatically driven actuator. The receptacle removably receives a reservoir, such that when the reservoir is received by the receptacle, an outlet port of the reservoir is exposed through the aperture. When the pneumatically driven actuator is actuated, the pneumatically driven actuator provides a dispensing force that induces a flow of a predetermined volume of fluid within the reservoir through the exposed outlet port of the reservoir and dispenses the predetermined volume through the aperture. In some embodiments, the dispenser includes an internal pneumatic source. The internal pneumatic source may include an air compressor. The dispenser may include a pneumatic input port that receives a pneumatic hose. The dispensing force translates a piston in the reservoir a predetermined distance. The predetermined distance may be linearly proportional to the predetermined volume of dispensed fluid.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 23, 2014Publication date: September 17, 2015Inventors: Amy Carol Buckalter, Jonathan B. Hadley, Alexander M. Diener, Kristin M. Will, Gordon Cohen
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Publication number: 20150173567Abstract: A motion-activated dispenser includes a housing having a base and top defining a gap sized to receive a human hand. The top portion defining cavity sized to receive a fluid reservoir and an opening extending directly through a lower surface of the top portion to the cavity, a neck of the fluid reservoir extending through the opening. A pressing member is positioned within the cavity and an actuator is coupled to the pressing member and configured to urge the pressing member toward and away from the opening. The pressing member may include, for example, a sliding member positioned opposite a stop face; a roller moved by the actuator toward the opening; a plunger positioned above the opening and driven by an actuator toward the opening; or a pair of rods spanning the cavity and urged by the actuator through the cavity, the rods pressing against sides of the reservoir.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 20, 2013Publication date: June 25, 2015Inventors: Amy Carol Buckalter, Jonathan B. Hadley, Alexander M. Diener, Kristin M. Will, Lilac Muller, Jeanine E. Spence
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Patent number: D766615Type: GrantFiled: October 30, 2014Date of Patent: September 20, 2016Assignee: Toaster Labs, IncInventors: Amy Carol Buckalter, Alexander M. Diener, Kristin M. Will, Roland Horth