Patents by Inventor Charles A. Osborne

Charles A. Osborne 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).

  • Publication number: 20240315495
    Abstract: A dispenser system and method for dispensing metered doses of a foam or liquid is disclosed. The dispensing system can include a pumping device for pumping metered doses of a liquid from a liquid reservoir out through a nozzle. The pumping device can include an electronically commutated motor that provides greater accuracy and uniformity in dispensing metered doses. During operation of the pumping device, one or more electrical parameters can be monitored and based on the electrical parameters, the system can make adjustments in dispensing metered doses. In one aspect, the electrical parameter can be monitored to determine whether the liquid reservoir contains a low level of liquid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2021
    Publication date: September 26, 2024
    Inventors: Paul F. Tramontina, Anita Neidert, Charles A. Osborne, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20240298850
    Abstract: A motor driven spindle assembly for a dispenser includes a spindle that defines an interior volume. A motor is disposed within the interior volume of the spindle and is operable to rotate the spindle. A bracket includes a plate, a first leg, and a second leg. The plate of the bracket is positioned within the interior volume of the spindle. Proximal end portions of the first and second legs are positioned at the plate. A distal end portion of the first leg is positioned within a first opening of a bushing such that the distal end portion of the first leg is slidable within the first opening along a lateral direction. A distal end portion of the second leg is positioned within a second opening of the bushing such that the distal end portion of the second leg is slidable within the second opening along the lateral direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2021
    Publication date: September 12, 2024
    Inventors: Paul F. Tramontina, Charles A. Osborne, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20240225374
    Abstract: A reservoir assembly for use with a liquid dispenser is provided. The reservoir assembly includes a connecting member housing having a reservoir connecting surface and a switch. The reservoir connecting surface having a first switch contact surface disposed within a first protrusion member. The assembly also includes a container housing for holding a quantity of a liquid product. The container housing configured to be removably attached to the connecting member housing. The container housing includes a main container and a connecting member housing surface. The connecting member housing surface includes a second switch contact surface configured in a first weakened region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2021
    Publication date: July 11, 2024
    Inventors: Paul F. Tramontina, Charles A. Osborne, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20240130575
    Abstract: A reservoir assembly for use with a liquid dispenser is provided. The reservoir assembly includes a connecting member housing having a reservoir connecting surface and a switch. The reservoir connecting surface having a first switch contact surface disposed within a first protrusion member. The assembly also includes a container housing for holding a quantity of a liquid product. The container housing configured to be removably attached to the connecting member housing. The container housing includes a main container and a connecting member housing surface. The connecting member housing surface includes a second switch contact surface configured in a first weakened region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2021
    Publication date: April 25, 2024
    Inventors: Paul F. Tramontina, Charles A. Osborne, Jr.
  • Patent number: 11730324
    Abstract: The present disclosure is in one aspect to a dispenser for rolled sheet materials. The dispenser includes a feed roller that is rotatably mounted to a housing of the dispenser housing, and that is configured to feed a predetermined amount of sheet material from the supply of sheet material through a discharge provided along the housing of the dispenser. The dispenser also has a feed roller drive assembly with a drive motor, and a belt transmission assembly. The belt transmission assembly has a drive belt coupled to the drive motor and to the feed roller such that rotation of the feed roller is driven by operation of the drive motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: Valve Solutions, Inc.
    Inventor: Charles A. Osborne, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20210338018
    Abstract: The present disclosure is in one aspect to a dispenser for rolled sheet materials. The dispenser includes a feed roller that is rotatably mounted to a housing of the dispenser housing, and that is configured to feed a predetermined amount of sheet material from the supply of sheet material through a discharge provided along the housing of the dispenser. The dispenser also has a feed roller drive assembly with a drive motor, and a belt transmission assembly. The belt transmission assembly has a drive belt coupled to the drive motor and to the feed roller such that rotation of the feed roller is driven by operation of the drive motor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2021
    Publication date: November 4, 2021
    Inventor: Charles A. Osborne, JR.
  • Patent number: 10835086
    Abstract: A sheet material dispenser can include a sheet material transfer assembly operable to automatically transfer feeding or dispensing of sheet material between a plurality of supplies of sheet material. The sheet material transfer assembly can include a frame that is movable between a plurality of positions including a first position that facilitates feeding of the sheet material from a first supply of sheet material, and a second position that facilitates feeding or dispensing of sheet material from a second supply of sheet material. The frame of the sheet material transfer system can shift or move to the second position for dispensing sheet material from the second supply of sheet material when the first supply of sheet material is fully dispensed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Inventor: Charles A. Osborne, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20200229659
    Abstract: In one aspect, the present disclosure is directed to a sheet material dispenser. The dispenser can include support for supporting a supply of the sheet material, and a feed roller arranged along a feed path of the sheet material downstream from the supply of sheet material that is operable to pull the sheet material from the supply of sheet material for feeding thereof. Additionally, the dispenser can include a controller that is in communication with the feed roller and includes programming for monitoring rotation of the feed roller during a dispensing cycle for feeding a selected length of the sheet material from the supply of sheet material. A material supply monitoring system further can be in communication with the controller, and operative to detect a number of rotations or an angle of rotation of the supply sheet material during at least a series of dispensing cycles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2020
    Publication date: July 23, 2020
    Inventor: Charles A. Osborne, JR.
  • Patent number: 10660486
    Abstract: In one aspect, the present disclosure is directed to a sheet material dispenser. The dispenser can include support for supporting a supply of the sheet material, and a feed roller arranged along a feed path of the sheet material downstream from the supply of sheet material that is operable to pull the sheet material from the supply of sheet material for feeding thereof. Additionally, the dispenser can include a controller that is in communication with the feed roller and includes programming for monitoring rotation of the feed roller during a dispensing cycle for feeding a selected length of the sheet material from the supply of sheet material. A material supply monitoring system further can be in communication with the controller, and operative to detect a number of rotations or an angle of rotation of the supply sheet material during at least a series of dispensing cycles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: Valve Solutions, Inc.
    Inventor: Charles A. Osborne, Jr.
  • Patent number: 10624503
    Abstract: Methods, systems and apparatus for operating a liquid dispenser based on the number of revolutions of the motor causing the dispensing operation and/or based on the linear distance traveled of the piston driving the dispensing pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul F. Tramontina, Charles A. Osborne, Jr.
  • Patent number: 10610064
    Abstract: An electronic dispenser for dispensing flexible sheet material. A control circuit receives a plurality of signals and controls dispensing of the sheet material. A tear bar is mounted within the housing for severance of sheet material by the user. A pivotally mounted pawl member is located proximate to the tear bar such that movement of sheet material into the tear bar for severance pivots the pawl member from a first position to a second position. Movement of the pawl member to the second position causes a signal to be sent to notify the control circuit that the sheet material has been removed. The dispensing mechanism is operative in a first mode to be responsive to a signal from a proximity sensor to dispense a sheet of material, and is operative in a second mode to dispense a next sheet in response to the signal generated by movement of the pawl member to the second position in response to dispensed sheet material being removed from the dispenser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: Valve Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles A. Osborne, Tsu-Ling Chang
  • Publication number: 20190307299
    Abstract: A sheet material dispenser can include a sheet material transfer assembly operable to automatically transfer feeding or dispensing of sheet material between a plurality of supplies of sheet material. The sheet material transfer assembly can include a frame that is movable between a plurality of positions including a first position that facilitates feeding of the sheet material from a first supply of sheet material, and a second position that facilitates feeding or dispensing of sheet material from a second supply of sheet material. The frame of the sheet material transfer system can shift or move to the second position for dispensing sheet material from the second supply of sheet material when the first supply of sheet material is fully dispensed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2018
    Publication date: October 10, 2019
    Inventor: Charles A. Osborne, JR.
  • Publication number: 20190254488
    Abstract: Methods, systems and apparatus for operating a liquid dispenser based on the number of revolutions of the motor causing the dispensing operation and/or based on the linear distance traveled of the piston driving the dispensing pump.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2016
    Publication date: August 22, 2019
    Inventors: Paul F. Tramontina, Charles A. Osborne, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20180263435
    Abstract: In one aspect, the present disclosure is directed to a sheet material dispenser. The dispenser can include support for supporting a supply of the sheet material, and a feed roller arranged along a feed path of the sheet material downstream from the supply of sheet material that is operable to pull the sheet material from the supply of sheet material for feeding thereof. Additionally, the dispenser can include a controller that is in communication with the feed roller and includes programming for monitoring rotation of the feed roller during a dispensing cycle for feeding a selected length of the sheet material from the supply of sheet material. A material supply monitoring system further can be in communication with the controller, and operative to detect a number of rotations or an angle of rotation of the supply sheet material during at least a series of dispensing cycles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2018
    Publication date: September 20, 2018
    Inventor: Charles A. Osborne, JR.
  • Publication number: 20140263812
    Abstract: An automatic electronic dispenser for dispensing a roll of paper product. A dispenser module drives paper from the roll through a discharge chute at the bottom of the module. A front cover hinged on each side rotates to an open position for loading a paper roll. A back cover enables mounting the electronic dispenser to a vertical surface such as a wall. A paper roll holder is attached to the sides of the dispenser module. A driving roller unrolls the paper from the paper holder in response to a signal from an electronic sensor. A plurality of pressing rollers engages the driving roller as paper is being dispensed along a path between the pressing and driving rollers to a discharge chute.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Inventor: Charles A. Osborne
  • Publication number: 20080100982
    Abstract: An electronic dispenser for dispensing a measured sheet from a roll of web material includes an antenna in conductive communication with at least one component of the dispenser that stores static charge generated by operation of the dispenser. The antenna is disposed so as to dissipate the static charge through a non-conductive material external to the dispenser housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2006
    Publication date: May 1, 2008
    Inventors: Richard P. Lewis, Paul Tramontina, Leslie Dobbins, Charles A. Osborne