Patents by Inventor Carson Payne
Carson Payne 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: 11779982Abstract: An edge leveler for leveling an edge of a plate includes a plurality of first rollers and a plurality of second rollers. The plurality of first rollers and the plurality of second rollers are cooperatively arranged to receive only a first edge of a plate between the plurality of first rollers and the plurality of second rollers to straighten the first edge relative to the rest of the plate. The edge leveler is configured to slidably couple to a track and to slide along the track to straighten the first edge of the plate while the plate is stationary.Type: GrantFiled: June 14, 2022Date of Patent: October 10, 2023Assignee: FUELCELL ENERGY, INC.Inventors: Benjamin Aldrich, Carson Payne, Steve Rulli, Marc Gizzie, Steve Ayres
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Publication number: 20220305540Abstract: An edge leveler for leveling an edge of a plate includes a plurality of first rollers and a plurality of second rollers. The plurality of first rollers and the plurality of second rollers are cooperatively arranged to receive only a first edge of a plate between the plurality of first rollers and the plurality of second rollers to straighten the first edge relative to the rest of the plate. The edge leveler is configured to slidably couple to a track and to slide along the track to straighten the first edge of the plate while the plate is stationary.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 14, 2022Publication date: September 29, 2022Inventors: Benjamin ALDRICH, Carson PAYNE, Steve RULLI, Marc GIZZIE, Steve AYRES
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Patent number: 11400502Abstract: An edge leveler for leveling an edge of a plate includes a first frame, a plurality of first rollers rotatably mounted along the first frame; a second frame, and a plurality of second rollers rotatably mounted along the second frame. The second rollers are offset relative to the first rollers. A width of a gap between an adjacent pair of first and second rollers on a first end portion of the edge leveler is greater than a width of a gap between an adjacent pair of first and second rollers in a middle portion of the edge leveler.Type: GrantFiled: September 9, 2019Date of Patent: August 2, 2022Assignee: FuelCell Energy, Inc.Inventors: Benjamin Aldrich, Carson Payne, Steve Rulli, Marc Gizzie, Steve Ayres
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Publication number: 20200086370Abstract: An edge leveler for leveling an edge of a plate includes a first frame, a plurality of first rollers rotatably mounted along the first frame; a second frame, and a plurality of second rollers rotatably mounted along the second frame. The second rollers are offset relative to the first rollers. A width of a gap between an adjacent pair of first and second rollers on a first end portion of the edge leveler is greater than a width of a gap between an adjacent pair of first and second rollers in a middle portion of the edge leveler.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 9, 2019Publication date: March 19, 2020Inventors: Benjamin ALDRICH, Carson PAYNE, Steve RULLI, Marc GIZZIE, Steve AYRES
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Patent number: 8261486Abstract: This invention provides a system and methods for providing liquid to a plant or a seed that can germinate into a plant. The system includes: a liquid delivery device; an actuator; a vessel; and a vessel support; wherein the actuator is operable to cause the liquid delivery device to deliver the liquid to the plant or seed only when the vessel is brought into proximity with the vessel support.Type: GrantFiled: January 16, 2007Date of Patent: September 11, 2012Assignee: AeroGrow International, Inc.Inventors: W. Michael Bissonnette, Robert E. Wainwright, Carson Payne, John Thompson, Robert Bromley, Curt Morgan
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Publication number: 20080282610Abstract: A soilless garden includes a chamber including a sealed lower portion for storing liquid nutrient solution, and an upper portion including a support structure; soilless growth medium supported by the support structure and adapted to support at least one plant having roots; a removable germination cap located above the soilless growth medium; a conduit having a first end located substantially adjacent to the soilless growth medium, and a second end opposite to the first end; and a pump in the chamber, including an input for receiving the liquid nutrient solution from the lower portion of the chamber, and an output to deliver liquid nutrient solution through the conduit into the soilless growth medium. The support structure includes an opening directed toward the lower portion of the chamber for the liquid nutrient solution to drip from the roots of the at least one plant into the lower portion of the chamber.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 12, 2008Publication date: November 20, 2008Applicant: AeroGrow International, Inc.Inventors: W. Michael Bissonnette, Robert E. Wainwright, John Thompson, Carson Payne, Sylvia Bernstein, Curt Morgan, Robert Bromley, Andrew R. Bridgeman, Laura Conley, Ann Forsthoefel, Robert Showalter, Frederic Wiedemann
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Publication number: 20080276534Abstract: This invention provides adaptive growth technology, hydroponic and aeroponic gardens with adaptive growth technology, and methods for growing a plant or germinating a seed in with adaptive growth technology. An apparatus of this invention includes a vessel, a growing surface, a light source, a liquid measurement device, a controller in communication with the measurement device and a time that calculate the rate of consumption of the liquid in the vessel by seeds or plants and that adjust the liquid delivery rate, the liquid quality, the nutrient delivery rate, the nutrient quality, the photoradiation delivery rate, and/or the photoradiation quality based on the calculated rate of liquid usage. In an embodiment, the steps are performed automatically without human intervention.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 17, 2007Publication date: November 13, 2008Applicant: AeroGrow International, Inc.Inventors: W. Michael Bissonnette, John Thompson, Sylvia Bernstein, Laura L. Conley, Carson Payne, Robert E. Wainwright, Curt Morgan, Terry Robertson, Brian McGee
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Publication number: 20080222949Abstract: A gardening system includes a modular seed cartridge including a rigid, cup-shaped receptacle including an upper portion having an outer rim, a soilless growth medium located in the rigid, cup-shaped receptacle, and at least one seed in contact with the soilless growth medium. The gardening system also includes an aeroponic or hydroponic garden including a chamber including a lower portion for storing a liquid nutrient solution, a cover located above the chamber, the cover including a plant opening adapted to removably support the modular seed cartridge by the outer rim, and a pump located in the chamber and adapted to circulate the liquid nutrient solution from the lower portion of the chamber to the modular seed cartridge supported by the plant opening.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 12, 2008Publication date: September 18, 2008Applicant: AeroGrow International, Inc.Inventors: W. Michael Bissonnette, Robert E. Wainwright, John Thompson, Carson Payne, Sylvia Bernstein, Curt Morgan, Robert Bromley, Andrew R. Bridgeman, Laura Conley, Ann Forsthoefel, Robert Showalter, Frederic Wiedemann
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Publication number: 20070271841Abstract: This invention provides method and devices for receiving and/or delivering liquid to an object, devices for delivering liquid to a plant/seed/growing medium comprising: a conduit comprising: at least two about parallel plates one or more walls substantially sealing the plates and forming a substantially enclosed space, such that the devices are useful in hydroponic gardens. This invention also provides hydroponic gardens with such devices. The parallel plates and the walls can be rigid and hydrophobic.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 12, 2007Publication date: November 29, 2007Applicant: AeroGrow International, Inc.Inventors: W. Bissonnette, Robert Wainwright, Carson Payne, John Thompson, Robert Bromley, Terry Robertson
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Publication number: 20070271842Abstract: This invention provides a system and methods for providing liquid to a plant or a seed that can germinate into a plant, said system including: a liquid delivery device; an actuator; a vessel; and a vessel support; wherein said actuator is operable to cause said liquid delivery device to deliver said liquid to said plant or seed only when said vessel is brought into proximity with said vessel support.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 16, 2007Publication date: November 29, 2007Applicant: AeroGrow International, Inc.Inventors: W. Bissonnette, Robert Wainwright, Carson Payne, John Thompson, Robert Bromley, Curt Morgan
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Publication number: 20060272210Abstract: This invention provides smart garden devices for hydroponics growing systems, wherein the devices include a means for delivering electricity to the smart garden device; at least one timer; and means for determining, receiving, sending, or processing data regarding the status of a component or characteristic of the hydroponics device. This invention also provides smart garden kits and methods for using smart garden devices for growing plants.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 19, 2006Publication date: December 7, 2006Applicant: AeroGrow International, Inc.Inventors: W. Bissonnette, Robert Wainwright, Carson Payne, John Thompson, Curt Morgan, Sylvia Bernstein
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Publication number: 20060254138Abstract: This invention provides Adaptive Growth Technology, smart garden devices for gardening systems, including hydroponics systems, and methods for modifying plant growth regimes based on the liquid usage rate and/or the nutrient usage rate of the plant. Characteristics of the plant growth regimes that are modified include: liquid delivery rate and/or quality, nutrient delivery rate and/or quality, add nutrient rate and/or quality, display or display rate of add nutrient quality and/or quantity, and/or photoradiation delivery rate and/or quality. This invention provides methods for making the devices of this invention and provides methods for using the devices of this invention. In an embodiment, the hydroponics system includes the smart garden device or the smart garden device fits in a chamber of the hydroponics device. In an embodiment, the steps are performed automatically without human intervention.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 28, 2005Publication date: November 16, 2006Applicant: AeroGrow International, Inc.Inventors: W. Michael Bissonnette, John Thompson, Sylvia Bernstein, Laura Conley, Carson Payne, Robert Wainwright, Curt Morgan
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Publication number: 20060179711Abstract: This invention provides methods, devices, and kits for growing a plant or germinating a seed into a plant; methods and devices for delivering oxygen to a plant or a seed which will germinate into a plant; methods and devices for delivering liquid to a plant; methods and devices for increasing the dissolved oxygen concentration in a liquid to be delivered to a plant; methods and devices for increasing the dissolved oxygen concentration in a liquid within a hydroponics device; terraced oxygenators; aspirators, downdraft venturis, net baskets; germination caps, sets of germination caps; methods for increasing the likelihood of germination of a seed; seed-bearing support media; methods for germinating a seed; and smart garden devices for hydroponics growing systems.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 15, 2004Publication date: August 17, 2006Applicant: AEROGROW INTERNATIONAL, INC.Inventors: W Bissonnette, Robert Wainwright, John Thompson, Carson Payne, Sylvia Bernstein, Gurt Morgan, Robert Bromley, Andrew Bridgeman, Laura Conley, Ann Forsthoefel, Robert Showaller, Frederic Wiedemann
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Publication number: 20050257424Abstract: This invention provides methods, devices, and kits for growing a plant or germinating a seed into a plant; methods and devices for delivering oxygen to a plant or a seed which will germinate into a plant; methods and devices for delivering liquid to a plant; methods and devices for increasing the dissolved oxygen concentration in a liquid to be delivered to a plant; methods and devices for increasing the dissolved oxygen concentration in a liquid within a hydroponics device; terraced oxygenators; aspirators, downdraft venturis, net baskets; germination caps, sets of germination caps; methods for increasing the likelihood of germination of a seed; seed-bearing support media; methods for germinating a seed; and smart garden devices for hydroponics growing systems.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 22, 2005Publication date: November 24, 2005Applicant: AeroGrow International, Inc.Inventors: W. Bissonnette, Robert Wainwright, John Thompson, Carson Payne, Sylvia Bernstein, Curt Morgan, Robert Bromley, Andrew Bridgeman, Laura Conley, Ann Forsthoefel, Robert Showalter, Frederic Wiedemann
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Publication number: 20050246955Abstract: This invention provides methods, devices, and kits for growing a plant or germinating a seed into a plant; methods and devices for delivering oxygen to a plant or a seed which will germinate into a plant; methods and devices for delivering liquid to a plant; methods and devices for increasing the dissolved oxygen concentration in a liquid to be delivered to a plant; methods and devices for increasing the dissolved oxygen concentration in a liquid within a hydroponics device; terraced oxygenators; aspirators, downdraft venturis, net baskets; germination caps, sets of germination caps; methods for increasing the likelihood of germination of a seed; seed-bearing support media; methods for germinating a seed; and smart garden devices for hydroponics growing systems.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 21, 2005Publication date: November 10, 2005Applicant: AeroGrow International, Inc.Inventors: W. Bissonnette, Robert Wainwright, John Thompson, Carson Payne, Sylvia Bernstein, Curt Morgan, Robert Bromley, Andrew Bridgeman, Laura Conley, Ann Forsthoefel, Robert Showalter, Frederic Wiedemann
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Publication number: 20050246954Abstract: This invention provides methods, devices, and kits for growing a plant or germinating a seed into a plant; methods and devices for delivering oxygen to a plant or a seed which will germinate into a plant; methods and devices for delivering liquid to a plant; methods and devices for increasing the dissolved oxygen concentration in a liquid to be delivered to a plant; methods and devices for increasing the dissolved oxygen concentration in a liquid within a hydroponics device; terraced oxygenators; aspirators, downdraft venturis, net baskets; germination caps, sets of germination caps; methods for increasing the likelihood of germination of a seed; seed-bearing support media; methods for germinating a seed; and smart garden devices for hydroponics growing systems.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 4, 2005Publication date: November 10, 2005Applicant: AeroGrow International, Inc.Inventors: W. Bissonnette, Robert Wainwright, John Thompson, Carson Payne, Sylvia Bernstein, Curt Morgan, Robert Bromley, Andrew Bridgeman, Laura Conley, Ann Forsthoefel, Robert Showalter, Frederic Wiedemann