Patents by Inventor Donald J. Hoffman

Donald J. Hoffman 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: 7346858
    Abstract: A data display comprises a window that shows a tree map display having menu information surrounding a field array of differently sized and colored or shaded areas that represent product offering possibilities that conform with user criteria entered through the surrounding menu windows. A Web site that uses the display technique may receive user criteria and retrieve a portion of collected data and display it to the user, so that the retrieved data describes a data subset that is responsive to the user criteria. The retrieved Web pages may be viewed to facilitate review of product offering information, and to facilitate purchase decisions that are transmitted from the Web site visitors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2008
    Assignee: The Hive Group
    Inventors: Peter R. Berg, Andrew J. Bradley, Jeffrey B. Burton, James H. Cooley, Donald J. Hoffman, Susan J. Maruyama, Kenneth J. Winchester
  • Patent number: 5880063
    Abstract: Coverage of a chromogenic reaction product over a substrate is improved by incorporating a color developer in the substrate and coating the substrate with a color former to form a colored reaction product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1999
    Assignee: Wallace Computer Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald J. Hoffman, John C. H. Chang
  • Patent number: 5227606
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for laser cutting of multiple stacked metal worksheets is disclosed wherein the tendency of the sheets to separate during the cutting operation is restrained. In one embodiment the laser head is pressed downwardly against the stacked worksheets which are supported on a ball-transfer work table. In other embodiments where it is not possible to press the laser head against the stacked worksheets because of the construction of the work table, the worksheets are coated with a viscous fluid so as to increase surface tension effects and thereby generate adhesive forces between adjacent sheets sufficient to resist the pressure of cutting assist gases which would otherwise cause separation of the sheets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 1992
    Date of Patent: July 13, 1993
    Assignee: U.S. Amada Ltd.
    Inventors: Theodore R. Weeks, Robert R. Lopez, John J. Burgardt, Donald J. Hoffman
  • Patent number: 5215775
    Abstract: A pizza dough shell container which makes up into a package having a plurality of similar containers supporting a single pizza dough shell in each container so that by forming a package of many containers the pizza dough shells are protected during transit to a place of sale and at the same time the shells are free to relax and undergo some shrinkage but are free to be removed from the containers to supply the demand.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 1990
    Date of Patent: June 1, 1993
    Assignee: Gap Container Corporation
    Inventor: Donald J. Hoffman, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5197009
    Abstract: Apparatus for employing a computer program through a console having a touch screen operated CRT and related memory to produce a route map with customer address, delivery route instructions and directions on an area map which relates the location of the store from which a customer's order is made up for delivery to that customer. The make up of the apparatus includes an audio system for voice input and output to the motherhood of the CPU, and a modem which allows the computer to communicate to the outside world for purposes of updating the software and map data from a remote data base source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 23, 1993
    Assignee: Mid America Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald J. Hoffman, Jr., Robert D. Covington
  • Patent number: 5076434
    Abstract: A pizza dough shell container which makes up into a package having a plurality of similar containers supporting a single pizza dough shell in each container so that by forming a package of many containers the pizza dough shells are protected during transit to a place of sale and at the same time the shells are free to relax and undergo some shrinkage but are free to be removed from the containers to supply the demand.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 1990
    Date of Patent: December 31, 1991
    Assignee: Gap Container Corporation
    Inventor: Donald J. Hoffman, Jr.