Patents by Inventor David A. Steffey

David A. Steffey 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: 20240159906
    Abstract: A method of operating a coordinate measurement device includes selecting an operating mode on the coordinate measurement device. A first light is emitted from at least one light source of the coordinate measurement device. At least two angles associated with the emitting of the first light are measured. A second light is received with an optical detector of the coordinate measurement device. The second light is a reflection of the first light off of at least one of the retroreflector and the surface. A first distance is determined based at least in part on a mode of the coordinate measurement device that is selected, the emitting of the first light, and the receiving of the second light. Three dimensional coordinates of a point in the environment is determined based on the measuring of the at least two angles and at least one of the first distance and the second distance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2023
    Publication date: May 16, 2024
    Inventors: Kenneth Steffey, Robert E. Bridges, David H. Parker
  • Patent number: 5888310
    Abstract: A system and method for cleaning a drive train of a bicycle, e.g., a mountain bike, that includes a novel stand, cleaning axle, tweezer brush, water nozzle, and gear cleaner used to clean the entire drive train of the bicycle or other cycle having a chain-driven drive train and a removable wheel that is driven by the chain. The stand has a base, an upright, and a pig tail hook having at least two surface portions that contact a seat post of the mountain bike, with the pig tail hook characterized in that gravity provides a retaining force for the pig tail hook to retain the seat post. The cleaning axle replaces the chain driven wheel and provides tension to the chain, allowing the chain to be cycled with the pedals and rapidly cleaned while the chain is cycled. The tweezer brush has two cleaning surfaces oppositely disposed to evenly grip the chain on opposite sides. The water nozzle has a wand to be inserted into cleaning ports in the cleaning axle to direct a cleaning fluid, e.g.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 30, 1999
    Inventor: David Steffey
  • Patent number: 5195707
    Abstract: An optic positioning device for holding an optical element which has a center and for adjustng the optical element relative to its center. The optic positioning device includes a supporting base which has an upwardly facing concave spherical surface and a holding body for supporting the optical element. The holding body has a downwardly facing spherical surface which is slidably mounted on the concave spherical surface of the supporting base. The radial centers of the concave and convex spherical surfaces are at the center of the optical element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 23, 1993
    Inventors: Wayne R. Ignatuk, David A. Steffey