Patents by Inventor Bruce A. Bennett

Bruce A. Bennett 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: 9829299
    Abstract: Device and method for determining and comparing distances between balls in the game of bocce in which a marker block is magnetically attached to a measuring tape in a position corresponding to the distance between a first thrown ball and a target ball, and the tape with the marker attached is then used to compare that distance with the distance between a second thrown ball and the target ball to determine which of the two thrown balls is closer to the target ball.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Inventor: Bruce A. Bennett
  • Patent number: 9746020
    Abstract: Lock mechanism for preventing unwanted rotation of a jam nut on a threaded connection between a rod end and a connecting rod. The mechanism includes a lock collar which can be moved axially of the rod end and the connecting rod between a retracted position out of contact with the jam nut and a locking position in which the collar engages the jam nut and prevents the jam nut from turning, and a retainer for keeping the lock collar in the locking position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Inventor: Bruce A. Bennett
  • Patent number: 9188149
    Abstract: Locking fastener consisting of a threaded fastener having a head of noncircular contour, a lock plate having an opening in which the head of the fastener is received and constrained from rotating, and a retaining screw threadedly attached to the head of the fastener to retain the lock plate in position on the head. In the disclosed embodiments, the retaining screw is a tamper-proof security screw that requires a special tool or key for installation and removal. The fastener is particularly suitable for use in securing covers to utility boxes, and an adapter is included for use on existing boxes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Inventor: Bruce A. Bennett
  • Publication number: 20150226252
    Abstract: Locking fastener consisting of a threaded fastener having a head of noncircular contour, a lock plate having an opening in which the head of the fastener is received and constrained from rotating, and a retaining screw threadedly attached to the head of the fastener to retain the lock plate in position on the head. In the disclosed embodiments, the retaining screw is a tamper-proof security screw that requires a special tool or key for installation and removal. The fastener is particularly suitable for use in securing covers to utility boxes, and an adapter is included for use on existing boxes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2014
    Publication date: August 13, 2015
    Inventor: Bruce A. Bennett
  • Patent number: 8276285
    Abstract: Notepad accessory for use with a hand tool such as a carpenter's rafter angle square having a generally planar body with an opening between major surfaces on opposite sides of the body. The notepad comprises a pair of generally planar members of greater lateral extent than the opening, a writing surface on one side of each of the generally planar members, and means engagable through the opening for securing the two members together on opposite sides of the body with the writing surfaces facing away from the tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Inventor: Bruce A. Bennett
  • Patent number: 7708509
    Abstract: Retainer for threaded fasteners such as the cap screws that secure the end caps of roller bearing assemblies to railroad axles. A locking plate is constrained against rotation relative to the fastener, a lock ring having a plurality of openings disposed along a circular path is placed over the head of the fastener, with the fastener being received in a non-circular central opening in the ring and thereby constrained against rotation relative to the ring, and tabs extending from the locking plate and engaging the lock ring through the openings to retain the lock ring on the fastener and prevent the lock ring and fastener from turning. In the disclosed embodiments, the ring can be placed on the fastener in different rotative positions, and the number of tab openings is either a prime number or another number that is not divisible by factors of the number of ring positions, whereby the fastener can be selectively locked in a relatively large number of different positions no more than a few degrees apart.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2010
    Inventor: Bruce A. Bennett
  • Patent number: 7463946
    Abstract: A mail processing machine comprises a first holding location that is adapted to hold a stack of first pages. A card is coupled to each of the first pages, and each first page includes an identifier. A second holding location is adapted to hold a stack of second pages that each have an identifier. A first advancing mechanism is adapted to separately advance each first page from the stack, and a second advancing mechanism is adapted to separately advance each second page from the stack. First and second scanning devices read the identifiers on the first and second pages upon their advancement. A controller is configured to control the first and second advancing mechanism to permit the first and second pages to be scanned by the first and second scanners and to match the first pages with the second pages if the identifier on one of the advanced first pages corresponds with the identifier on one of the advanced second pages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2008
    Assignee: First Data Corporation
    Inventors: Scott J. Smith, Jeffrey G. Nowlin, Bruce A. Bennett, Ronald L. Prchal
  • Patent number: 7380715
    Abstract: The present invention provides exemplary mail processing systems and methods, including systems and methods for retrieving paper sheets, statements, inserts and/or cards, and inserting same into an envelope. In one embodiment, an apparatus (200) includes a paper feeding mechanism (210) to feed sheets of paper into a collection bin (220) that is adapted to receive in a stack the sheets of paper. The apparatus includes a retrieval mechanism (230) to remove a bottom one of said sheets of paper from the stack, and a deionizer (240) that reduces static electricity in the vicinity of the stack. In this manner, the deionizer helps facilitate removal by the retrieval mechanism of only one of the sheets of paper at a time, by reducing static electricity on the sheets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2008
    Assignee: First Data Corporation
    Inventors: Bruce A. Bennett, Karl S. Wetzstein, William C. Badalucco
  • Patent number: 7059521
    Abstract: The present invention provides exemplary mail processing systems and methods, including systems and methods for retrieving paper sheets, statements, inserts and/or cards, and inserting same into an envelope. In one embodiment, an apparatus (200) includes a paper feeding mechanism (210) to feed sheets of paper into a collection bin (220) that is adapted to receive in a stack the sheets of paper. The apparatus includes a retrieval mechanism (230) to remove a bottom one of said sheets of paper from the stack, and a deionizer (240) that reduces static electricity in the vicinity of the stack. In this manner, the deionizer helps facilitate removal by the retrieval mechanism of only one of the sheets of paper at a time, by reducing static electricity on the sheets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2006
    Assignee: First Data Corporation
    Inventors: Bruce A. Bennett, Karl S. Wetzstein, William C. Badalucco
  • Patent number: 7021470
    Abstract: A mail processing device includes a reorientation arrangement that, when the mail processing device is in a first position, is configured to sequentially receive mail items from an upstream process and reorient each item such that the top side of a particular item from the upstream process becomes the bottom side of the item when placed in a downstream process. The device also includes a receiving arrangement configured to receive mail items from the upstream process and guide the mail items into the reorientation arrangement. The device also includes a controller that is programmed to cause the reorientation arrangement to reorient a mail item in response to the detection of the mail item by a sensor. The controller is further programmed to cause the mail item to be moved toward the downstream process after each mail item is reoriented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2006
    Assignee: First Data Corporation
    Inventors: Bruce A. Bennett, Ron Prchal
  • Patent number: 6974034
    Abstract: A mail processing machine comprises a first holding location that is adapted to hold a stack of first pages. A card is coupled to each of the first pages, and each first page includes an identifier. A second holding location is adapted to hold a stack of second pages that each have an identifier. A first advancing mechanism is adapted to separately advance each first page from the stack, and a second advancing mechanism is adapted to separately advance each second page from the stack. First and second scanning devices read the identifiers on the first and second pages upon their advancement. A controller is configured to control the first and second advancing mechanism to permit the first and second pages to be scanned by the first and second scanners and to match the first pages with the second pages if the identifier on one of the advanced first pages corresponds with the identifier on one of the advanced second pages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2005
    Assignee: First Data Corporation
    Inventors: Scott J. Smith, Jeffery G. Nowlin, Bruce A. Bennett, Ronald L. Prchal
  • Patent number: 6802500
    Abstract: The present invention provides exemplary mail processing systems and methods, including systems and methods for retrieving paper sheets, statements, inserts and/or cards, and inserting same into an envelope. In one embodiment, an apparatus (200) includes a paper feeding mechanism (210) to feed sheets of paper into a collection bin (220) that is adapted to receive in a stack the sheets of paper. The apparatus includes a retrieval mechanism (230) to remove a bottom one of said sheets of paper from the stack, and a deionizer (240) that reduces static electricity in the vicinity of the stack. In this manner, the deionizer helps facilitate removal by the retrieval mechanism of only one of the sheets of paper at a time, by reducing static electricity on the sheets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2004
    Assignee: First Data Corporation
    Inventors: Bruce A. Bennett, Karl S. Wetzstein, William C. Badalucco
  • Patent number: 6763997
    Abstract: A card destruction system includes a reader to read identification information from a card. A controller is coupled to the reader to receive the identification information and to determine whether the card is to be destroyed. A delivery sensor is coupled to the controller to sense when the aid is delivered to a card destruction device. The controller is also configured to produce a record of the destruction based on a signal from the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2004
    Assignee: First Data Corporation
    Inventors: Bruce A. Bennett, Scott J. Smith, Henry Abelman, Kenneth Algiene, Mike Jeronimus
  • Patent number: 6758392
    Abstract: A card destruction system includes a reader to read identification information from a card. A controller is coupled to the reader to receive the identification information and to determine whether the card is to be destroyed. A delivery sensor is coupled to the controller to sense when the card is delivered to a card destruction device. The controller is also configured to produce a record of the destruction based on a signal from the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2004
    Assignee: First Data Corporation
    Inventors: Bruce A. Bennett, Scott J. Smith
  • Publication number: 20040117327
    Abstract: A mail processing machine comprises a first holding location that is adapted to hold a stack of first pages. A card is coupled to each of the first pages, and each first page includes an identifier. A second holding location is adapted to hold a stack of second pages that each have an identifier. A first advancing mechanism is adapted to separately advance each first page from the stack, and a second advancing mechanism is adapted to separately advance each second page from the stack. First and second scanning devices read the identifiers on the first and second pages upon their advancement. A controller is configured to control the first and second advancing mechanism to permit the first and second pages to be scanned by the first and second scanners and to match the first pages with the second pages if the identifier on one of the advanced first pages corresponds with the identifier on one of the advanced second pages.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2003
    Publication date: June 17, 2004
    Applicant: FIRST DATA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Scott J. Smith, Jeffery G. Nowlin, Bruce A. Bennett, Ronald L. Prchal
  • Patent number: 6679489
    Abstract: The system is designed to provide a transport system with specified sheet-like material at a requested time. The system includes insert towers that provide the requested material at the appropriate time. Each insert tower contains multiple insert hoppers aligned vertically within the tower. Due to space constraints, the vertical arrangement of the hoppers enables the system to choose from significantly more different inserts than would be available from systems without vertical insert towers. The insert hoppers are loaded vertically within the insert hoppers which creates a horizontal queue of sheet-like material. Upon a request from a system computer, specified inserts are pulled and the insert tower delivers the insert to a transport system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2004
    Assignee: First Data Resources, Inc.
    Inventors: Fred C. Casto, Bruce A. Bennett, Mick P. McDonald, Jeff J. Schreiber, Corey Tunink
  • Patent number: 6670569
    Abstract: A mail processing machine comprises a first holding location that is adapted to hold a stack of first pages. A card is coupled to each of the first pages, and each first page includes an identifier. A second holding location is adapted to hold a stack of second pages that each have an identifier. A first advancing mechanism is adapted to separately advance each first page from the stack, and a second advancing mechanism is adapted to separately advance each second page from the stack. First and second scanning devices read the identifiers on the first and second pages upon their advancement. A controller is configured to control the first and second advancing mechanism to permit the first and second pages to be scanned by the first and second scanners and to match the first pages with the second pages if the identifier on one of the advanced first pages corresponds with the identifier on one of the advanced second pages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2003
    Assignee: First Data Corporation
    Inventors: Scott J. Smith, Jeffery G. Nowlin, Bruce A. Bennett, Ronald L. Prchal
  • Publication number: 20030146275
    Abstract: A card destruction system comprises a reader to read identification information from a card. A controller is coupled to the reader to receive the identification information and to determine whether the card is to be destroyed. A delivery sensor is coupled to the controller to sense when the card is delivered to a card destruction device. The controller is also configured to produce a record of the destruction based on a signal from the sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2002
    Publication date: August 7, 2003
    Applicant: First Data Corporation
    Inventors: Bruce A. Bennett, Scott J. Smith, Henry Abelman, Kenneth Algiene, Mike Jeronimus
  • Publication number: 20030146276
    Abstract: A card destruction system comprises a reader to read identification information from a card. A controller is coupled to the reader to receive the identification information and to determine whether the card is to be destroyed. A delivery sensor is coupled to the controller to sense when the card is delivered to a card destruction device. The controller is also configured to produce a record of the destruction based on a signal from the sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2002
    Publication date: August 7, 2003
    Applicant: First Data Corporation
    Inventors: Bruce A. Bennett, Scott J. Smith
  • Publication number: 20030085161
    Abstract: A mail processing machine comprises a first holding location that is adapted to hold a stack of first pages. A card is coupled to each of the first pages, and each first page includes an identifier. A second holding location is adapted to hold a stack of second pages that each have an identifier. A first advancing mechanism is adapted to separately advance each first page from the stack, and a second advancing mechanism is adapted to separately advance each second page from the stack. First and second scanning devices read the identifiers on the first and second pages upon their advancement. A controller is configured to control the first and second advancing mechanism to permit the first and second pages to be scanned by the first and second scanners and to match the first pages with the second pages if the identifier on one of the advanced first pages corresponds with the identifier on one of the advanced second pages.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2001
    Publication date: May 8, 2003
    Applicant: FIRST DATA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Scott J. Smith, Jeffery G. Nowlin, Bruce A. Bennett, Ronald L. Prchal