Patents by Inventor Donald E. Proffitt

Donald E. Proffitt 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: 20170329999
    Abstract: A method of programming an RFID tag in an image-forming device is disclosed. The RFID tag is programmed while media is paused in a duplex media path. The RFID tag is programmed using an antenna located between a simplex media path and the duplex media path. Other methods and systems are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2016
    Publication date: November 16, 2017
    Inventors: Jason P. Hale, Donald E. Proffitt
  • Patent number: 9818006
    Abstract: A method of programming an RFID tag in an image-forming device is disclosed. The RFID tag is programmed while media is paused in a duplex media path. The RFID tag is programmed using an antenna located between a simplex media path and the duplex media path. Other methods and systems are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Jason P. Hale, Donald E. Proffitt
  • Publication number: 20170320700
    Abstract: A removable media handling module includes a body that is horizontally slidable into and removable from an imaging apparatus. The media handling module includes a lower media guide extending between a front and a rear of the body. With the media handling module inserted into the imaging apparatus, the lower media guide is positioned parallel to and spaced from a corresponding upper media guide mounted in the imaging apparatus to form at least a portion of a duplex media path therebetween. A drive mechanism including a clutched gear is operably connected to a feed roll assembly of the media handling module. The clutched gear is freely rotatable in a first direction that causes the feed roll assembly to rotate in a media process direction for feeding a printed media sheet along the duplex media path and is restrained from rotating in a second direction opposite the first direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2016
    Publication date: November 9, 2017
    Inventors: DONALD E. PROFFITT, TODD A. QUINN, DANIEL LEE THOMAS
  • Patent number: 7908707
    Abstract: A floor cleaning apparatus includes a housing and a dirt collection vessel carried on that housing. The dirt collection vessel includes a dirty air inlet, a clean air inlet, a dirt collection chamber and a clean air outlet. A filter is received in the dirt collection vessel. A suction generator is carried on the housing. The floor cleaning apparatus also includes a flow control valve assembly. The flow control valve assembly is selectively displaceable between a first position wherein dirt and debris are captured in the dirt collection vessel and a second position wherein clean air is drawn through at least a portion of the filter to clean the filter. An activator is provided for automatically displacing the flow control valve assembly between the first and second positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation of North America
    Inventors: Michael S. Yacobi, Donald E. Proffitt, II
  • Publication number: 20110023261
    Abstract: A vacuum cleaner includes a body having a nozzle assembly including a suction inlet and a control assembly. A suction generator and a dirt collection vessel are both carried on the body. The dirt collection vessel includes a fine particle separator unit having at least one sling shot separator. Each sling shot separator includes a flow channel having an inlet, a debris discharge port and a clean air discharge port. The flow channel has a radius of curvature of between about 12 mm and about 25 mm and extends in an arc of less than 360° from the inlet to the clean air discharge outlet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2009
    Publication date: February 3, 2011
    Inventors: Donald E. Proffitt, II, Eric J. Streciwilk, Michael L. Fry
  • Patent number: 7752708
    Abstract: A floor cleaning apparatus includes a housing and a dirt collection vessel carried on that housing. The dirt collection vessel includes a first air inlet, a second air inlet, a dirt collection chamber, a filter chamber and a clean air outlet. A filter is received in the filter chamber. A suction generator is carried on the housing. The floor cleaning apparatus also includes a flow control valve assembly. The flow control valve assembly is selectively displaceable between a first or home position wherein dirt and debris are captured in the dirt collection vessel and a second or filter cleaning position wherein clean air is drawn through at least a portion of the filter to clean the filter. An activator is provided for automatically displacing the flow control valve assembly between the first and second positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2010
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation of North America
    Inventors: Nathan A. Gogel, Donald E. Proffitt, II, Alan T. Pullins, James Todd Crouch, Michael L. Fry, Eric J. Streciwilk, Michael S. Yacobi, Gary P. Charbonneau
  • Patent number: 7673369
    Abstract: A floor cleaning apparatus includes a dirt collection vessel and a suction generator carried on the housing. The dirt collection vessel includes a dirty air inlet, a dirt collection chamber and a clean air outlet. A filter is received in the dirt collection vessel. The filter includes multiple sections. Each section provides a discrete airflow pathway. In addition, the floor cleaning apparatus includes a flow control valve assembly including a clean air inlet. The flow control valve assembly is selectively displaceable between two positions. In the first position dirty air is serially moved by the suction generator through the dirty air inlet, the dirt collection chamber, the filter and the clean air outlet so that dirt is collected in the dirt collection chamber. In the second position clean air is moved by the suction generator through the clean air inlet, a selected one of the sections of the filter, back through the other sections of the filter and then through the clean air outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2010
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation of North America
    Inventors: Nathan A. Gogel, Yasushi Kondo, Donald E. Proffitt
  • Patent number: 7647670
    Abstract: A vacuum cleaner is provided including a housing having a nozzle assembly with a suction inlet and a canister assembly with a dirt collection vessel receiver. A suction generator is carried on the housing. A dirt collection vessel is received in the receiver. A final filtration compartment is provided on the housing. The final filtration compartment includes an air inlet having a cross sectional surface area A and an air outlet having a cross sectional surface area B where the ratio of B to A is at least 0.8 to 1. The vacuum cleaner also includes a final filter received in the final filtration compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2010
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation of North America
    Inventors: Ryan T. Dant, Donald E. Proffitt, II
  • Publication number: 20090178237
    Abstract: A vacuum cleaner includes a housing having a suction inlet, a dirt collection vessel carried on the housing and a suction generator carried on the housing. The dirt collection vessel includes a dirt collection chamber and a spiral air guide providing a spiral air path to improve cleaning efficiency. The spiral air guide includes an inlet at a first end and a split outlet at a second end. The split outlet includes a head wall at a particular included angle with respect to the airflow path. The suction generator is provided in fluid communication with the suction inlet, the dirt collection vessel and the spiral air guide.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2008
    Publication date: July 16, 2009
    Inventors: Donald E. Proffitt,, II, Michael S. Yacobi
  • Patent number: 7555810
    Abstract: A floor care apparatus includes a housing having a nozzle assembly and a canister assembly. A suction inlet is provided on the nozzle assembly. A dirt collection vessel, a suction generator and a wand receiver are carried on the housing. A first air flow pathway connects the suction inlet to the dirt collection vessel and the suction generator. An air flow control valve includes a valve body received in the first air flow pathway and an actuator having at least a portion thereof extending into the wand receiver. A cleaning wand assembly is displaceable between a first storage position wherein a first end of the cleaning wand assembly is held in the wand receiver engaging the actuator and opening the valve and a second position wherein the cleaning wand assembly is withdrawn from the wand receiver for cleaning with the cleaning wand assembly thereby disengaging the actuator and closing the valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2009
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation of North America
    Inventors: Alan T. Pullins, Shannon D. Phegley, Donald E. Proffitt, II, Eric J. Streciwilk
  • Publication number: 20090049641
    Abstract: A floor care apparatus includes a housing having a nozzle assembly and a canister assembly. A suction inlet is provided on the nozzle assembly. A dirt collection vessel, a suction generator and a wand receiver are carried on the housing. A first air flow pathway connects the suction inlet to the dirt collection vessel and the suction generator. An air flow control valve includes a valve body received in the first air flow pathway and an actuator having at least a portion thereof extending into the wand receiver. A cleaning wand assembly is displaceable between a first storage position wherein a first end of the cleaning wand assembly is held in the wand receiver engaging the actuator and opening the valve and a second position wherein the cleaning wand assembly is withdrawn from the wand receiver for cleaning with the cleaning wand assembly thereby disengaging the actuator and closing the valve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2008
    Publication date: February 26, 2009
    Inventors: Alan T. Pullins, Shannon D. Phegley, Donald E. Proffitt, II, Eric J. Strecrwilk
  • Patent number: 7386917
    Abstract: A vacuum cleaner includes a housing carrying a suction generator and a dirt collection vessel. In addition the vacuum cleaner includes a cleaning nozzle including a wand receiver, a tubular wand, a latch releasably securing an end of the wand to the wand receiver and a latch release carried on the wand or the cleaning nozzle. The latch release is characterized by a lever, a cam carried on the lever and a cam guide track. The lever is displaceable between a first or home position and a second or wand release position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2008
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation of North America
    Inventors: Nathan A. Gogel, Donald E. Proffitt
  • Publication number: 20080022489
    Abstract: A vacuum cleaner includes a housing carrying a suction generator and a dirt collection vessel. In addition the vacuum cleaner includes a cleaning nozzle including a wand receiver, a tubular wand, a latch releasably securing an end of the wand to the wand receiver and a latch release carried on the wand or the cleaning nozzle. The latch release is characterized by a lever, a cam carried on the lever and a cam guide track. The lever is displaceable between a first or home position and a second or wand release position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2006
    Publication date: January 31, 2008
    Inventors: Nathan A. Gogel, Donald E. Proffitt
  • Publication number: 20070209142
    Abstract: A floor care apparatus includes a housing having a nozzle assembly and a canister assembly. A suction inlet is provided on the nozzle assembly. A dirt collection vessel, a suction generator and a wand receiver are carried on the housing. A first air flow pathway connects the suction inlet to the dirt collection vessel and the suction generator. An air flow control valve includes a valve body received in the first air flow pathway and an actuator having at least a portion thereof extending into the wand receiver. A cleaning wand assembly is displaceable between a first storage position wherein a first end of the cleaning wand assembly is held in the wand receiver engaging the actuator and opening the valve and a second position wherein the cleaning wand assembly is withdrawn from the wand receiver for cleaning with the cleaning wand assembly thereby disengaging the actuator and closing the valve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2007
    Publication date: September 13, 2007
    Inventors: Alan T. Pullins, Shannon D. Phegley, Donald E. Proffitt, Eric J. Streciwilk
  • Publication number: 20070209148
    Abstract: A floor cleaning apparatus includes a housing and a dirt collection vessel carried on that housing. The dirt collection vessel includes a dirty air inlet, a clean air inlet, a dirt collection chamber and a clean air outlet. A filter is received in the dirt collection vessel. A suction generator is carried on the housing. The floor cleaning apparatus also includes a flow control valve assembly. The flow control valve assembly is selectively displaceable between a first position wherein dirt and debris are captured in the dirt collection vessel and a second position wherein clean air is drawn through at least a portion of the filter to clean the filter. An activator is provided for automatically displacing the flow control valve assembly between the first and second positions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2006
    Publication date: September 13, 2007
    Inventors: Michael S. Yacobi, Donald E. Proffitt
  • Publication number: 20070209151
    Abstract: A floor cleaning apparatus includes a housing and a dirt collection vessel carried on that housing. The dirt collection vessel includes a first air inlet, a second air inlet, a dirt collection chamber, a filter chamber and a clean air outlet. A filter is received in the filter chamber. A suction generator is carried on the housing. The floor cleaning apparatus also includes a flow control valve assembly. The flow control valve assembly is selectively displaceable between a first or home position wherein dirt and debris are captured in the dirt collection vessel and a second or filter cleaning position wherein clean air is drawn through at least a portion of the filter to clean the filter. An activator is provided for automatically displacing the flow control valve assembly between the first and second positions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2007
    Publication date: September 13, 2007
    Inventors: Nathan A. Gogel, Donald E. Proffitt, Alan T. Pullins, James Todd Crouch, Michael L. Fry, Eric J. Streciwilk, Michael S. Yacobi, Gary P. Charbonneau
  • Publication number: 20070209150
    Abstract: A floor cleaning apparatus includes a housing and a dirt collection vessel carried on that housing. The dirt collection vessel includes a first air inlet, a second air inlet, a dirt collection chamber, a filter chamber and a clean air outlet. A filter is received in the filter chamber. A suction generator is carried on the housing. The floor cleaning apparatus also includes a flow control valve assembly. The flow control valve assembly is selectively displaceable between a first or home position wherein dirt and debris are captured in the dirt collection vessel and a second or filter cleaning position wherein clean air is drawn through at least a portion of the filter to clean the filter. An activator is provided for automatically displacing the flow control valve assembly between the first and second positions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2006
    Publication date: September 13, 2007
    Inventors: Nathan A. Gogel, Donald E. Proffitt, Alan T. Pullins, James Todd Crouch, Michael L. Fry, Eric J. Streciwilk, Michael S. Yacobi, Gary P. Charbonneau