Patents by Inventor Christopher Gene Vowels

Christopher Gene Vowels 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: 20130170871
    Abstract: An shutter having an overmolded seal for use in controlling the flow of toner through a port in a toner containing supply items for an imaging apparatus. In one form the shutter is overmolded with a seal comprised of a sleeve and one or more integrally molded angled endless ribs projecting outwardly from the sleeve. With the shutter installed in the supply item, the ribs deflect creating an sealing interface with the housing of the supply item to prevent toner leakage between the shutter and the housing of the supply item.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2011
    Publication date: July 4, 2013
    Inventors: John Andrew Buchanan, James Anthany Carter, II, Benjamin Keith Newman, Matthew Lee Rogers, Christopher Gene Vowels
  • Publication number: 20130170868
    Abstract: A toner cartridge according to one example embodiment includes a housing that defines a reservoir for containing toner. An exit port in fluid communication with the reservoir faces downward on the front of the housing near a first side. A shutter positioned at the exit port is movable between an open position and a closed position. A toner delivery system for transferring toner from the reservoir includes a main interface gear exposed on the front of the housing near the top of the second side. A rearward facing opening is positioned near the first side of the housing for receiving a first engagement feature in an image forming device for opening and closing the shutter. A forward facing slot is positioned near the first side of the housing for receiving a second engagement feature in the image forming device for locking and unlocking the shutter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2011
    Publication date: July 4, 2013
    Inventors: Benjer Albaran Acosta, Mark William Amann, James Anthany Carter, II, Gary Neal Hackney, Katrina Rosit Lactuan, James Richard Leemhuis, Benjamin Keith Newman, Matthew Lee Rogers, Rodney Evan Sproul, Jason Hale, Harald Portig, Keith Seaman, Bryan Christopher Scharf, Christopher Gene Vowels
  • Publication number: 20130170867
    Abstract: A toner cartridge for use in an image forming device according to one example embodiment includes a housing having a reservoir for containing toner therein. The housing has an exit port in fluid communication with the reservoir to permit toner from the reservoir to pass out of the housing. A first leg and a second leg each project from a bottom portion of the housing to limit the side-to-side travel of the toner cartridge during insertion into the image forming device. Wing guides are positioned on opposite side surfaces of the housing. A stop extends from each wing guide to limit the forward travel of the toner cartridge in the image forming device. Rounded projections extending from the bottom surfaces of the wing guides define contact points to control the vertical position of the toner cartridge in the image forming device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2011
    Publication date: July 4, 2013
    Inventors: Benjer Albaran Acosta, James Richard Leemhuis, Matthew Lee Rogers, Bryan Christopher Scharf, James Anthany Carter, II, Gary Neal Hackney, Katrina Rosit Lactuan, Keith Seaman, Christopher Gene Vowels, Jason Hale
  • Publication number: 20130170864
    Abstract: A toner cartridge for use in an image forming device according to one example embodiment includes a housing having a reservoir for containing toner therein. The housing has an exit port in fluid communication with the reservoir. A shutter is positioned at the exit port that is movable between an open position and a closed position. The shutter is biased toward the closed position. A linkage is operatively connected to the shutter to open the shutter upon being actuated by a first engagement feature in the image forming device. An interlock is operatively engaged with the linkage and biased toward a locked position preventing the linkage from opening the shutter. The interlock is movable to an unlocked position that is disengaged with the linkage when the interlock is actuated by a second engagement feature in the image forming device permitting the linkage to open the shutter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2011
    Publication date: July 4, 2013
    Inventors: BENJAMIN KEITH NEWMAN, MATTHEW LEE ROGERS, CHRISTOPHER GENE VOWELS
  • Publication number: 20130170866
    Abstract: A toner cartridge according to one example embodiment includes a housing having a reservoir for containing toner and an exit port in fluid communication therewith. A movable shutter is positioned at the exit port. A linkage is operatively connected to the shutter to open the shutter upon being actuated by a first engagement feature in the image forming device. The linkage includes a first linkage member positioned to receive the first engagement feature and a second linkage member connected to the shutter. An interlock is operatively engaged with the linkage and biased toward a locked position preventing the second linkage member from opening the shutter but permitting the first linkage member to move relative to the second linkage member. The interlock is movable to an unlocked position upon being actuated by a second engagement feature in the image forming device that permits the second linkage member to open the shutter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2011
    Publication date: July 4, 2013
    Inventors: James Anthany Carter, Matthew Lee Rogers, Benjamin Keith Newman, Gary Neal Hackney, Keith Seaman, Gregory Alan Cavill, Christopher Gene Vowels
  • Publication number: 20130170865
    Abstract: A toner cartridge according to one example embodiment includes a housing having a reservoir for containing toner and an exit port in fluid communication therewith. A movable shutter is positioned at the exit port. A linkage is operatively connected to the shutter to open the shutter upon being actuated by a first engagement feature in the image forming device. The linkage includes a first linkage member positioned to receive the first engagement feature and a second linkage member connected to the shutter. An interlock is operatively engaged with the linkage and biased toward a locked position preventing the second linkage member from opening the shutter but permitting the first linkage member to move relative to the second linkage member. The interlock is movable to an unlocked position upon being actuated by a second engagement feature in the image forming device that permits the second linkage member to open the shutter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2011
    Publication date: July 4, 2013
    Inventors: James Anthany Carter, Matthew Lee Rogers, Benjamin Keith Newman, Gary Neal Hackney, Keith Seaman, Gregory Alan Cavill, Christopher Gene Vowels
  • Patent number: 8406649
    Abstract: In an image forming device an apparatus is provided that supplies a continuous flow of an electrical charge between a photoconductive drum and a power supply. In one embodiment, an electrically conductive member receives a shaft of the photoconductive drum. An electrically conductive cap disposed on a first side of the electrically conductive member, aligned with an aperture of the electrically conductive member, and capable of being electrically coupled with the shaft via the electrically conductive member. There is also an electrically conductive resilient member having a leading end and a trailing end electrically couple with the electrically conductive member and the shaft in a manner that the leading end is disposed on the first side of the electrically conductive member and the trailing end is disposed on the second side of the electrically conductive member with at least a portion of the trailing end extending across the aperture of the electrically conductive member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory Alan Cavill, Gary Neal Hackney, Benjamin Keith Newman, Keith Seaman, Christopher Gene Vowels
  • Publication number: 20100290802
    Abstract: In an image forming device an apparatus is provided that supplies a continuous flow of an electrical charge between a photoconductive drum and a power supply. In one embodiment, an electrically conductive member receives a shaft of the photoconductive drum. An electrically conductive cap disposed on a first side of the electrically conductive member, aligned with an aperture of the electrically conductive member, and capable of being electrically coupled with the shaft via the electrically conductive member. There is also an electrically conductive resilient member having a leading end and a trailing end electrically couple with the electrically conductive member and the shaft in a manner that the leading end is disposed on the first side of the electrically conductive member and the trailing end is disposed on the second side of the electrically conductive member with at least a portion of the trailing end extending across the aperture of the electrically conductive member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2009
    Publication date: November 18, 2010
    Inventors: Gregory Alan Cavill, Gary Neal Hackney, Benjamin Keith Newman, Keith Seaman, Christopher Gene Vowels
  • Patent number: D645503
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: James Anthany Carter, II, Gregory Alan Cavill, Gary Neal Hackney, Benjamin Keith Newman, Richard Winston Thomas, Christopher Gene Vowels, Rebecca J. Perkins
  • Patent number: D654533
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: James Anthany Carter, II, Gregory Alan Cavill, Gary Neal Hackney, Benjamin Keith Newman, Richard Winston Thomas, Christopher Gene Vowels, Rebecca J. Perkins
  • Patent number: D693400
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Lester Boettcher, James Anthany Carter, II, Gregory Allan Cavill, Gary Neal Hackney, Jonathan David Kelley, Katrina Rosit Lactuan, James Richard Leemhuis, Benjamin Keith Newman, Matthew Lee Rogers, Bryan Christopher Scharf, Keith Seaman, Leighton De Leon Venezuela, Christopher Gene Vowels, Bryan Joseph Wiemers