Patents by Inventor Chris Collins

Chris Collins 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: 20240067052
    Abstract: A seat assembly comprises a seat adjuster; and a seat including: a seat bottom connectable to a track assembly; a seatback pivotably connected to the seat bottom; a calf rest pivotably connected to the seat bottom; and a headrest pivotably connected to the seatback. The seat adjuster includes one or more motors and is connected to the seat to adjust the seat to a first seat position and to a second seat position via adjusting the seatback, the calf rest, and the headrest about a plurality of pivot axes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2022
    Publication date: February 29, 2024
    Inventors: Darren Legh, Justin Meredith, James King, Kevin Farley, Jake Collins, Myriam Molina, Chris J. Edwards
  • Publication number: 20210324310
    Abstract: A device for automatically brewing beer that automates the tasks and operations of the brewing process. The device has an insulated enclosure, a brewing chamber positioned within the enclosure, a flexible brew pouch positioned below and fluidly interconnected to the brewing chamber, wherein the flexible brew pouch can be adjusted between a first volume and at least a second volume that is greater than the first volume, a yeast collection bin positioned below and interconnected to the brew pouch, and at least one source of heat positioned within the enclosure. A temperature sensor is associated with the brewing chamber. A pressure sensor, a near infrared sensor, and a heat exchanger are associated with the brew pouch. A controller operates the heat exchange assembly and the source of heat according to data received from the temperature sensor, the near infrared sensor, and the pressure sensor and a recipe that is uploaded to the controller by a user to automatically brew beer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2019
    Publication date: October 21, 2021
    Applicant: BREWJACKET, INC.
    Inventors: Aaron Walls, Matthew Goff, Evgeniy Tkachenko, Chris Collins
  • Publication number: 20210324308
    Abstract: A method of processing hops independently of the brewing process to produce hops that can be added to a brew to achieve a particular flavor and bitterness profile without the need for boiling after addition of the hops. A batch of hops is saturated in a liquid and adjusted to a predetermined pH. The pH adjusted batch is then heated to a predetermined temperature under a predetermined amount of pressure for a predetermined period of time to replicate the particular flavor and bitterness profile of conventionally boiled hops and wort. The processed hops may then be added during the brewing process to accurately and repeatedly reproduce a particular flavor and bitterness profile without having to undergo a boil.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2019
    Publication date: October 21, 2021
    Applicant: BREWJACKET, INC.
    Inventors: Aaron Walls, Matthew Goff, Evgeniy Tkachenko, Chris Collins
  • Publication number: 20160316926
    Abstract: A support cushion including a top surface, a bottom surface opposite top surface, a layer of flexible foam having plurality of cells defining a reticulated cellular structure, the reticulated cellular structure cells comprising a skeletal plurality of supports through which substantially open cell walls establish fluid communication between interior of the cell and interiors of adjacent cells, the layer of flexible foam having density no less than about 30 kg/m3 and no greater than about 175 kg/m3, and hardness of no less than about 20 N and no greater than about 150 N at 40% indentation force deflection measured at about 22 degrees Celsius, the layer of flexible foam comprising visco-elastic foam having at least one material property responsive to temperature change in range of 10-30° C., and layer of polyurethane foam located beneath layer of flexible foam, the layer of polyurethane foam having hardness of at least about 50 N.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2013
    Publication date: November 3, 2016
    Inventors: Chris Collins, Kelly W. Chandler, Tom D. Mikkelsen, Kenneth E. Mitchell
  • Patent number: 8902732
    Abstract: A node within a wireless mesh network is configured to select a primary path through an access point and to designate that access point as the primary access point for the node. The access point then transmits a failover message indicating that the node designated that access point as the primary access point for the node at a particular time. When another access point receives the failover message, the other access point may determine that the first node has also designated the other access point as the primary access point for the node, and may then de-register the node and stop advertising a primary path to the node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Silver Spring Networks, Inc.
    Inventors: Jana Van Gruenen, Sterling Hughes, Peter Hunt, Chris Collins
  • Publication number: 20140304921
    Abstract: A support cushion including a top surface, a bottom surface opposite top surface, a layer of flexible foam having plurality of cells defining a reticulated cellular structure, the reticulated cellular structure cells comprising a skeletal plurality of supports through which substantially open cell walls establish fluid communication between interior of the cell and interiors of adjacent cells, the layer of flexible foam having density no less than about 30 kg/m3 and no greater than about 175 kg/m3, and hardness of no less than about 20 N and no greater than about 150 N at 40% indentation force deflection measured at about 22 degrees Celsius, the layer of flexible foam comprising visco-elastic foam having at least one material property responsive to temperature change in range of 10-30° C., and layer of polyurethane foam located beneath layer of flexible foam, the layer of polyurethane foam having hardness of at least about 50 N.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2013
    Publication date: October 16, 2014
    Inventors: Chris Collins, Kelly W. Chandler, Tom D. Mikkelsen, Kenneth E. Mitchell
  • Publication number: 20140086042
    Abstract: A node within a wireless mesh network is configured to select a primary path through an access point and to designate that access point as the primary access point for the node. The access point then transmits a failover message indicating that the node designated that access point as the primary access point for the node at a particular time. When another access point receives the failover message, the other access point may determine that the first node has also designated the other access point as the primary access point for the node, and may then de-register the node and stop advertising a primary path to the node.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2012
    Publication date: March 27, 2014
    Applicant: SILVER SPRING NETWORKS, INC.
    Inventors: Jana VAN GRUENEN, Sterling HUGHES, Peter HUNT, Chris COLLINS
  • Publication number: 20130163425
    Abstract: One embodiment of the present disclosure sets forth an improved way for a node to manage beacon traffic. Specifically, the node determines that a new message is to be transmitted to one or more neighboring nodes. The node assigns a value to the message based on certain message characteristics. The node utilizes this message value to determine whether to unicast the message to each one of the subscribing nodes or to add the message to the node's beacon. If adding the message to the node's beacon results in a beacon length that is above a desired limit, then the node may add a second beacon to carry the new message. One advantage of this approach is that beacon transmission times are kept low in order to reduce the likelihood that the beacon encounters interference from artificial or natural sources, including interference from beacons transmitted by other nodes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2011
    Publication date: June 27, 2013
    Inventors: Sterling HUGHES, Peter HUNT, Jana VAN GREUNEN, Chris COLLINS
  • Patent number: 8233181
    Abstract: In a system and method for processing a form comprising a plurality of entry markings, an area-array image sensor may capture an image of the form in free-space without requiring relative movement of the sensor and the form. A processor may interpret the captured image to determine at least a first entry selection based, at least in part, on the position of at least one of the plurality of entry markings with respect to at least one other marking in the image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: GTECH Rhode Island Corporation
    Inventors: John Abraitis, Steve Bozzi, Chris Collins, Richard Sean Meehan, Frank Metayer
  • Publication number: 20110289689
    Abstract: A pillow assembly including a foam core having a top surface, side surface, and bottom surface, and an outer layer covering the top surface and side surface and leaving the bottom surface substantially exposed. The foam core has a higher hardness and a higher density than the outer layer. The foam core and the outer layer comprise reticulated or non-reticulated visco-elastic foam. The outer layer covers a majority of the foam core and has a substantially constant thickness across the top surface. The foam core includes a front side and a back side, both of which are covered by the outer layer and left and right sides of the foam core, which are exposed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2009
    Publication date: December 1, 2011
    Inventors: Tom D. Mikkelsen, Chris Collins
  • Patent number: 8062735
    Abstract: Retroreflective material is used to create security features in secure documents. Retroreflective material in the document or sheets used for document creation is laser engraved to create optically variable images, identification quality grayscale images, different directional images viewable at corresponding angles of incidence, multidimensional images, and floating images. High refractive index glass beads are selectively applied to areas of a document surface using a variety of techniques. The beads may be applied in the form of a pre-determined or personalized pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: L-1 Secure Credentialing, Inc.
    Inventors: Daoshen Bi, Robert L. Jones, Chris Collins
  • Patent number: 8002763
    Abstract: A mandrel includes a mandrel body with a proximal major diameter barrel section, a diameter reducing/tapered portion and a distal minor diameter barrel section. The tapered portion connects the proximal major diameter barrel section and distal minor diameter barrel section. The proximal major diameter barrel section has a major diameter, the distal minor diameter barrel section has a minor diameter, the minor diameter less than the major diameter. The minor diameter is less than a diameter of an inner lumen of a coaxial catheter, and the major diameter exceeds the inner diameter of the outer lumen guidewire exit port of the coaxial catheter, and the tapered portion is sized to form a fluid seal the inner diameter of the outer lumen guidewire exit port. The distal minor diameter barrel section of the mandrel occupies and substantially seals and prevent flow through it to the catheter distal end guidewire entry port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: Medtronic Vascular, Inc.
    Inventors: William Berthiaume, Don Tran, Chris Collins
  • Publication number: 20110176180
    Abstract: In a system and method for processing a form comprising a plurality of entry markings, an area-array image sensor may capture an image of the form in free-space without requiring relative movement of the sensor and the form. A processor may interpret the captured image to determine at least a first entry selection based, at least in part, on the position of at least one of the plurality of entry markings with respect to at least one other marking in the image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2011
    Publication date: July 21, 2011
    Inventors: John Abraitis, Steve Bozzi, Chris Collins, Richard Sean Meehan, Frank Metayer
  • Patent number: 7920299
    Abstract: In a system and method for processing a form comprising a plurality of entry markings, an area-array image sensor may capture an image of the form in free-space without requiring relative movement of the sensor and the form. A processor may interpret the captured image to determine at least a first entry selection based, at least in part, on the position of at least one of the plurality of entry markings with respect to at least one other marking in the image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2011
    Assignee: GTECH Rhode Island Corporation
    Inventors: John Abraitis, Steve Bozzi, Chris Collins, Richard Sean Meehan, Frank Metayer
  • Publication number: 20100324537
    Abstract: A mandrel includes a mandrel body with a proximal major diameter barrel section, a diameter reducing/tapered portion and a distal minor diameter barrel section. The tapered portion connects the proximal major diameter barrel section and distal minor diameter barrel section. The proximal major diameter barrel section has a major diameter, the distal minor diameter barrel section has a minor diameter, the minor diameter less than the major diameter. The minor diameter is less than a diameter of an inner lumen of a coaxial catheter, and the major diameter exceeds the inner diameter of the outer lumen guidewire exit port of the coaxial catheter, and the tapered portion is sized to form a fluid seal the inner diameter of the outer lumen guidewire exit port. The distal minor diameter barrel section of the mandrel occupies and substantially seals and prevent flow through it to the catheter distal end guidewire entry port.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2010
    Publication date: December 23, 2010
    Applicant: Medtronic Vascular, Inc.
    Inventors: William Berthiaume, Don Tran, Chris Collins
  • Publication number: 20100125324
    Abstract: A catheter inner member includes an inner member body, including a first side and a second side, the second side opposing the first side. The inner member body includes an inner surface defining an inner member inner lumen and an outer surface defining a surrounding environment. The inner member further includes at least a first flush port and a second flush port in the inner member body. The first flush port and second flush port provide fluid communication between the inner lumen and a surrounding environment. The first flush port disposed on the first side and the second flush port disposed on the second side, wherein the first flush port is axially displaced from the second flush port.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2008
    Publication date: May 20, 2010
    Applicant: Medtronic Vascular, Inc.
    Inventors: Chris Collins, Don Tran, Bijan Nafea, William Berthiaume, Jeremy Kinkade
  • Publication number: 20100088624
    Abstract: An animation tool which is configured to enable a user to generate one or more animations for subsequent execution on a computer platform is described. The animation tool provides a plurality of graphical integers which a user can use to generate an animation. The graphical integers are divisible into graphical elements and graphical element effects, the effects being applied by a user onto an element and defining the viewing properties of that element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2008
    Publication date: April 8, 2010
    Applicants: The Provost, Fellows and Scholars of the College of the Holy and Undivided Trinity of Queen Elizabe, University College Cork-National University of Ireland
    Inventors: James Bligh, Mark Tangney, Brendan Tangney, Chris Collins
  • Publication number: 20090270838
    Abstract: A mandrel includes a mandrel body with a proximal major diameter barrel section, a diameter reducing/tapered portion and a distal minor diameter barrel section. The tapered portion connects the proximal major diameter barrel section and distal minor diameter barrel section. The proximal major diameter barrel section has a major diameter, the distal minor diameter barrel section has a minor diameter, the minor diameter less than the major diameter. The minor diameter is less than a diameter of an inner lumen of a coaxial catheter, and the major diameter exceeds the inner diameter of the outer lumen guidewire exit port of the coaxial catheter, and the tapered portion is sized to form a fluid seal the inner diameter of the outer lumen guidewire exit port. The distal minor diameter barrel section of the mandrel occupies and substantially seals and prevent flow through it to the catheter distal end guidewire entry port.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2008
    Publication date: October 29, 2009
    Applicant: Medtronic Vascular, Inc.
    Inventors: William Berthiaume, Don Tran, Chris Collins
  • Publication number: 20090165213
    Abstract: A support cushion including a top surface, a bottom surface opposite top surface, a layer of flexible foam having plurality of cells defining a reticulated cellular structure, the reticulated cellular structure cells comprising a skeletal plurality of supports through which substantially open cell walls establish fluid communication between interior of the cell and interiors of adjacent cells, the layer of flexible foam having density no less than about 30 kg/m3 and no greater than about 175 kg/m3, and hardness of no less than about 20 N and no greater than about 150 N at 40% indentation force deflection measured at about 22 degrees Celsius, the layer of flexible foam comprising visco-elastic foam having at least one material property responsive to temperature change in range of 10-30° C., and layer of polyurethane foam located beneath layer of flexible foam, the layer of polyurethane foam having hardness of at least about 50 N.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2008
    Publication date: July 2, 2009
    Inventors: Chris Collins, Kelly W. Chandler, Tom D. Mikkelsen, Kenneth E. Mitchell
  • Publication number: 20060217821
    Abstract: In a system and method for processing form markings, and, in particular, playslip markings, an area-array image sensor may sense an image of a form that is in free-space, and a processor may interpret a marking in the image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2006
    Publication date: September 28, 2006
    Inventors: John Abraitis, Steve Bozzi, Chris Collins, Richard Meehan, Frank Metayer