Patents by Inventor Chip W. Curtis

Chip W. Curtis 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: 11930970
    Abstract: Exemplary power systems for dynamically controlling a dispenser drive motor for dispensing soap, sanitizing or lotion. An exemplary soap, sanitizing or lotion dispenser includes a housing, a receptacle for receiving a container for holding a soap, sanitizing or lotion, a container of soap, sanitizing or lotion and a pump secured to the container. The exemplary soap, sanitizing or lotion dispenser includes a power source, a motor and an actuator that couples the motor to the pump. In addition, the exemplary soap, sanitizing or lotion dispenser includes pulse width modulation circuitry in circuit communication with the power source and the motor. Movement of the actuator one actuation cycle dispenses a dose of soap, sanitizing or lotion. The pulse width modulation circuitry provides a plurality of voltage pulses to the motor to move the actuator one actuation cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: GOJO Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: John J. McNulty, Donald R. Harris, Mark A. Bullock, Chip W. Curtis
  • Publication number: 20230081854
    Abstract: Exemplary power systems for dynamically controlling a dispenser drive motor for dispensing soap, sanitizing or lotion. An exemplary soap, sanitizing or lotion dispenser includes a housing, a receptacle for receiving a container for holding a soap, sanitizing or lotion, a container of soap, sanitizing or lotion and a pump secured to the container. The exemplary soap, sanitizing or lotion dispenser includes a power source, a motor and an actuator that couples the motor to the pump. In addition, the exemplary soap, sanitizing or lotion dispenser includes pulse width modulation circuitry in circuit communication with the power source and the motor. Movement of the actuator one actuation cycle dispenses a dose of soap, sanitizing or lotion. The pulse width modulation circuitry provides a plurality of voltage pulses to the motor to move the actuator one actuation cycle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2022
    Publication date: March 16, 2023
    Inventors: John J. McNulty, Donald R. Harris, Mark A. Bullock, Chip W. Curtis
  • Patent number: 11596271
    Abstract: Exemplary power systems for dynamically controlling a dispenser drive motor for dispensing soap, sanitizing or lotion. An exemplary soap, sanitizing or lotion dispenser includes a housing, a receptacle for receiving a container for holding a soap, sanitizing or lotion, a container of soap, sanitizing or lotion and a pump secured to the container. The exemplary soap, sanitizing or lotion dispenser includes a power source, a motor and an actuator that couples the motor to the pump. In addition, the exemplary soap, sanitizing or lotion dispenser includes pulse width modulation circuitry in circuit communication with the power source and the motor. Movement of the actuator one actuation cycle dispenses a dose of soap, sanitizing or lotion. The pulse width modulation circuitry provides a plurality of voltage pulses to the motor to move the actuator one actuation cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: GOJO Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: John J. McNulty, Donald R. Harris, Mark A. Bullock, Chip W. Curtis
  • Patent number: 11547250
    Abstract: Exemplary dispensers that receive power from a wireless focused power signal and methods of charging such dispensers are disclosed herein. An exemplary dispenser for dispensing soap or sanitizer includes a housing, a receptacle for retaining a supply of soap or sanitizer, a processor, and a focused energy signal receiver. The focused energy signal receiver includes a reflector for reflecting at least a portion of the focused energy signal back to a transmission source and a converter for converting at least a portion of the focused energy signal into an output voltage. The dispenser further includes charge control circuitry and one or more capacitors. The charge control circuitry monitors the output voltage of the converter. If the output voltage of the converter is above a threshold, the one or more capacitors receive a charging current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: GOJO Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Jackson W. Wegelin, Chip W. Curtis, Mark T. Smith, Alexander Slepoy
  • Publication number: 20220211223
    Abstract: Exemplary dispensers that receive power from a wireless focused power signal and methods of charging such dispensers are disclosed herein. An exemplary dispenser for dispensing soap or sanitizer includes a housing, a receptacle for retaining a supply of soap or sanitizer, a processor, and a focused energy signal receiver. The focused energy signal receiver includes a reflector for reflecting at least a portion of the focused energy signal back to a transmission source and a converter for converting at least a portion of the focused energy signal into an output voltage. The dispenser further includes charge control circuitry and one or more capacitors. The charge control circuitry monitors the output voltage of the converter. If the output voltage of the converter is above a threshold, the one or more capacitors receive a charging current.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2022
    Publication date: July 7, 2022
    Inventors: Jackson W. Wegelin, Chip W. Curtis, Mark T. Smith
  • Patent number: 11266276
    Abstract: Exemplary dispensers that receive power from a wireless focused power signal and methods of charging such dispensers are disclosed herein. An exemplary dispenser for dispensing soap or sanitizer includes a housing, a receptacle for retaining a supply of soap or sanitizer, a processor, and a focused energy signal receiver. The focused energy signal receiver includes a reflector for reflecting at least a portion of the focused energy signal back to a transmission source and a converter for converting at least a portion of the focused energy signal into an output voltage. The dispenser further includes charge control circuitry and one or more capacitors. The charge control circuitry monitors the output voltage of the converter. If the output voltage of the converter is above a threshold, the one or more capacitors receive a charging current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: GOJO Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Jackson W. Wegelin, Chip W. Curtis, Mark T. Smith
  • Patent number: 11259671
    Abstract: A radio frequency identification (RFID) dispenser that includes low cost electronic components that can read and write to the tag of a refill cartridge. In one embodiment, the reader utilizes a multi band pass filter to convert the radio frequency identification into a digital signal that is processed by a controller to perform a dispensing function representative to the code of the tag. In another embodiment, the controller utilizes an internal comparator to convert the radio frequency identification into a digital signal that is processed by a controller to perform a dispensing function representative to the code of the tag. The dispenser in both embodiments also includes a pair of transistors that write to the RFID tag of the refill cartridge. A dispenser according to the invention also includes the capability to read and/or write to tags upon cartridges employed by the dispenser, and augmenting the operation of the dispenser as a function thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: GOJO Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Jackson W. Wegelin, Aaron R. Reynolds, Chip W. Curtis
  • Publication number: 20210378458
    Abstract: Exemplary power systems for dynamically controlling a dispenser drive motor for dispensing soap, sanitizing or lotion. An exemplary soap, sanitizing or lotion dispenser includes a housing, a receptacle for receiving a container for holding a soap, sanitizing or lotion, a container of soap, sanitizing or lotion and a pump secured to the container. The exemplary soap, sanitizing or lotion dispenser includes a power source, a motor and an actuator that couples the motor to the pump. In addition, the exemplary soap, sanitizing or lotion dispenser includes pulse width modulation circuitry in circuit communication with the power source and the motor. Movement of the actuator one actuation cycle dispenses a dose of soap, sanitizing or lotion. The pulse width modulation circuitry provides a plurality of voltage pulses to the motor to move the actuator one actuation cycle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2021
    Publication date: December 9, 2021
    Inventors: John J. McNulty, Donald R. Harris, Mark A. Bullock, Chip W. Curtis
  • Patent number: 10977886
    Abstract: An exemplary embodiment of a modular people counter includes a base and a communications module. The base has a people counter processor, memory, a power supply having one or more batteries, a passive sensor that detects whether a badge and/or a person has entered into a selected area and is within the sensing range and a first connector. The first connector is in circuit communication with the people counter processor. The communications module has a second connector for connecting to the first connector and wireless communications circuitry. The wireless communications module is configured to receive one or more signals from the people counter processor when the first connector is connected to the second connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: GOJO Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Jackson W. Wegelin, Chip W. Curtis, Dennis K. Jenkins, Mark A. Bullock
  • Publication number: 20210099004
    Abstract: A dispenser for dispensing a material includes a circuit in communication with a battery and a rechargeable energy storage device. The circuit places the battery and the rechargeable energy storage device in series during a dispense event such that an actuator that facilitates dispensing the material during the dispense event receives power from the battery and the rechargeable energy storage device during the dispense event.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2020
    Publication date: April 1, 2021
    Inventors: Jackson William Wegelin, Chip W. Curtis
  • Publication number: 20210068594
    Abstract: A radio frequency identification (RFID) dispenser that includes low cost electronic components that can read and write to the tag of a refill cartridge. In one embodiment, the reader utilizes a multi band pass filter to convert the radio frequency identification into a digital signal that is processed by a controller to perform a dispensing function representative to the code of the tag. In another embodiment, the controller utilizes an internal comparator to convert the radio frequency identification into a digital signal that is processed by a controller to perform a dispensing function representative to the code of the tag. The dispenser in both embodiments also includes a pair of transistors that write to the RFID tag of the refill cartridge. A dispenser according to the invention also includes the capability to read and/or write to tags upon cartridges employed by the dispenser, and augmenting the operation of the dispenser as a function thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2020
    Publication date: March 11, 2021
    Inventors: Jackson W. Wegelin, Aaron R. Reynolds, Chip W. Curtis
  • Patent number: 10800646
    Abstract: Among other things, one or more systems and/or techniques for labeling a refill contain and/or for enabling operation of the refill container by a dispensing system based upon one or more indicia of the label satisfying a dispensing key are provided. In an example, a label may be applied to a refill container. The label may comprise a first region having a first indicia that may correspond to a shape, color, and/or texture (e.g., a yellow star indicia). A dispensing system may enable operation of the refill container (e.g., installation and/or dispensing of material from the refill container) based upon the first indicia satisfying a dispensing key (e.g., a yellow key component and/or a star shape component). Otherwise, the dispensing system does not enable operation of the refill container (e.g., the refill container is not genuine or is not an appropriate refill container type).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: GOJO Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Jackson William Wegelin, Chip W. Curtis
  • Patent number: 10791881
    Abstract: A radio frequency identification (RFID) dispenser that includes low cost electronic components that can read and write to the tag of a refill cartridge. In one embodiment, the reader utilizes a multi band pass filter to convert the radio frequency identification into a digital signal that is processed by a controller to perform a dispensing function representative to the code of the tag. In another embodiment, the controller utilizes an internal comparator to convert the radio frequency identification into a digital signal that is processed by a controller to perform a dispensing function representative to the code of the tag. The dispenser in both embodiments also includes a pair of transistors that write to the RFID tag of the refill cartridge. A dispenser according to the invention also includes the capability to read and/or write to tags upon cartridges employed by the dispenser, and augmenting the operation of the dispenser as a function thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: GOJO Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Jackson W. Wegelin, Aaron R. Reynolds, Chip W. Curtis
  • Publication number: 20200138246
    Abstract: Exemplary embodiments of low power devices having an infrared transmitter for detecting an object in a sensing area and for transmitting data signals are disclosed herein. An exemplary low power device may be a soap, sanitizing or lotion dispenser. The soap, sanitizer or lotion dispenser includes a housing, a processor, memory, an infrared transmitter, an infrared receiver, and an actuator. The dispenser further includes logic stored on the memory for causing the infrared transmitter to transmit a signal into a sensing area to detect an object and for causing the infrared transmitter to transmit a modulated infrared signal wherein the modulated infrared signal is a data signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2019
    Publication date: May 7, 2020
    Inventors: Jackson W. Wegelin, Chip W. Curtis
  • Publication number: 20190359477
    Abstract: Among other things, one or more systems and/or techniques for labeling a refill contain and/or for enabling operation of the refill container by a dispensing system based upon one or more indicia of the label satisfying a dispensing key are provided. In an example, a label may be applied to a refill container. The label may comprise a first region having a first indicia that may correspond to a shape, color, and/or texture (e.g., a yellow star indicia). A dispensing system may enable operation of the refill container (e.g., installation and/or dispensing of material from the refill container) based upon the first indicia satisfying a dispensing key (e.g., a yellow key component and/or a star shape component). Otherwise, the dispensing system does not enable operation of the refill container (e.g., the refill container is not genuine or is not an appropriate refill container type).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2019
    Publication date: November 28, 2019
    Inventors: Jackson William Wegelin, Chip W. Curtis
  • Publication number: 20190251766
    Abstract: An exemplary embodiment of a modular people counter includes a base and a communications module. The base has a people counter processor, memory, a power supply having one or more batteries, a passive sensor that detects whether a badge and/or a person has entered into a selected area and is within the sensing range and a first connector. The first connector is in circuit communication with the people counter processor. The communications module has a second connector for connecting to the first connector and wireless communications circuitry. The wireless communications module is configured to receive one or more signals from the people counter processor when the first connector is connected to the second connector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2019
    Publication date: August 15, 2019
    Inventors: Jackson W. Wegelin, Chip W. Curtis, Dennis K. Jenkins, Mark A. Bullock
  • Patent number: 10377624
    Abstract: Among other things, one or more systems and/or techniques for labeling a refill contain and/or for enabling operation of the refill container by a dispensing system based upon one or more indicia of the label satisfying a dispensing key are provided. In an example, a label may be applied to a refill container. The label may comprise a first region having a first indicia that may correspond to a shape, color, and/or texture (e.g., a yellow star indicia). A dispensing system may enable operation of the refill container (e.g., installation and/or dispensing of material from the refill container) based upon the first indicia satisfying a dispensing key (e.g., a yellow key component and/or a star shape component). Otherwise, the dispensing system does not enable operation of the refill container (e.g., the refill container is not genuine or is not an appropriate refill container type).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: GOJO Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Jackson William Wegelin, Chip W. Curtis
  • Publication number: 20190174969
    Abstract: A radio frequency identification (RFID) dispenser that includes low cost electronic components that can read and write to the tag of a refill cartridge. In one embodiment, the reader utilizes a multi band pass filter to convert the radio frequency identification into a digital signal that is processed by a controller to perform a dispensing function representative to the code of the tag. In another embodiment, the controller utilizes an internal comparator to convert the radio frequency identification into a digital signal that is processed by a controller to perform a dispensing function representative to the code of the tag. The dispenser in both embodiments also includes a pair of transistors that write to the RFID tag of the refill cartridge. A dispenser according to the invention also includes the capability to read and/or write to tags upon cartridges employed by the dispenser, and augmenting the operation of the dispenser as a function thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2019
    Publication date: June 13, 2019
    Inventors: Jackson W. Wegelin, Aaron R. Reynolds, Chip W. Curtis
  • Patent number: 10213063
    Abstract: A radio frequency identification (RFID) dispenser that includes low cost electronic components that can read and write to the tag of a refill cartridge. In one embodiment, the reader utilizes a multi band pass filter to convert the radio frequency identification into a digital signal that is processed by a controller to perform a dispensing function representative to the code of the tag. In another embodiment, the controller utilizes an internal comparator to convert the radio frequency identification into a digital signal that is processed by a controller to perform a dispensing function representative to the code of the tag. The dispenser in both embodiments also includes a pair of transistors that write to the RFID tag of the refill cartridge. A dispenser according to the invention also includes the capability to read and/or write to tags upon cartridges employed by the dispenser, and augmenting the operation of the dispenser as a function thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: GOJO Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Jackson W. Wegelin, Aaron R. Reynolds, Chip W. Curtis
  • Publication number: 20180179045
    Abstract: Among other things, one or more systems and/or techniques for labeling a refill contain and/or for enabling operation of the refill container by a dispensing system based upon one or more indicia of the label satisfying a dispensing key are provided. In an example, a label may be applied to a refill container. The label may comprise a first region having a first indicia that may correspond to a shape, color, and/or texture (e.g., a yellow star indicia). A dispensing system may enable operation of the refill container (e.g., installation and/or dispensing of material from the refill container) based upon the first indicia satisfying a dispensing key (e.g., a yellow key component and/or a star shape component). Otherwise, the dispensing system does not enable operation of the refill container (e.g., the refill container is not genuine or is not an appropriate refill container type).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2018
    Publication date: June 28, 2018
    Inventors: Jackson William Wegelin, Chip W. Curtis