Patents by Inventor Brad Johnston

Brad Johnston 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).

  • System for cutting shapes preset in a continuous stream of sheet material
    Patent number: 7154530
    Abstract: Method and apparatus enable cutting out shapes (S) preset in moving sheet material (10) by locating coordinates of one or more fiducials (F,F2 . . . ) in the sheet material (10) with a vision system (12). The fiducials (F,F2 . . . ) correspond to a pattern (P) for the preset shape (S). A cutting system (11) superimposes the pattern (P) relative to the located one or more fiducials (F,F2 . . . ) for cutting out the preset shape (S) while the vision system (12) is concurrently locating subsequent one or more fiducials (F,F2 . . . ) in the moving sheet material (10). The concurrent processes of cutting and locating subsequent fiducials (F,F2 . . . ) are repeated substantially continuously. Preferably, using two or more fiducials (F,F2 . . . ), distortion is detected and the pattern (P) can be remapped before cutting for accurate superposition of the pattern (P) and distorted preset shape (S).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2006
    Assignee: Lacent Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Randall G. Andrews, Mary M. Bourke, Brian D. Sawatzky, Andrew Z. Reif, Brad Johnston, Cedar Mah
  • System for cutting shapes preset in a continuous stream of sheet material
    Publication number: 20030118229
    Abstract: Method and apparatus enable cutting out shapes (S) preset in moving sheet material (10) by locating coordinates of one or more fiducials (F,F2 . . . ) in the sheet material (10) with a vision system (12). The fiducials (F,F2 . . . ) correspond to a pattern (P) for the preset shape (S). A cutting system (11) superimposes the pattern (P) relative to the located one or more fiducials (F,F2 . . . ) for cutting out the preset shape (S) while the vision system (12) is concurrently locating subsequent one or more fiducials (F,F2 . . . ) in the moving sheet material (10). The concurrent processes of cutting and locating subsequent fiducials (F,F2 . . . ) are repeated substantially continuously. Preferably, using two or more fiducials (F,F2 . . . ), distortion is detected and the pattern (P) can be remapped before cutting for accurate superposition of the pattern (P) and distorted preset shape (S).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2002
    Publication date: June 26, 2003
    Inventors: Randall G. Andrews, Mary M. Bourke, Brian D. Sawatzky, Andrew Z. Reif, Brad Johnston, Cedar Mah
  • Accessory for charcoal grill
    Patent number: 5823589
    Abstract: A food-handling device for grillers which utilizes a unique pivoting structure to rotate a tined array about a center axis allowing relatively fragile food items such as fish to be turned over and removed from the grill surface without sticking or breaking apart.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 20, 1998
    Inventor: Brad Johnston
  • One-handed opening device
    Patent number: 5482208
    Abstract: A handle for an 1170/K-type United States Postal Service mail collection box which is configured and positioned so as to cause a hand which grasps its end to have enhanced access to the opening of the box, so that the same hand which opens the collection box can also effect a deposit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 9, 1996
    Inventor: Brad Johnston