Patents by Inventor Douglas M. Sheffield

Douglas M. Sheffield 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: 10167995
    Abstract: An item holder, mountable by suction on a mounting surface, including a deformable body having a convex outer surface that is substantially free of protrusions, a concave inner surface, and an edge extending around the outer and the inner surfaces. The deformable body is shaped to form in the body an elongate void extending through the deformable body, between the concave inner surface and the convex outer surface, in a direction that is generally parallel to the mounting surface during use of the holder. The elongate void formed by the deformable body terminates at opposing openings including of a first opening opposite a second opening. The body also defines a suction portion needed for creating the suction between the body and the mounting surface. The holder also includes a link component extending into the first opening, through the elongate void, and out of the second opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Inventors: Douglas M. Sheffield, Tamara K. Sheffield
  • Patent number: 8308118
    Abstract: An item holder mountable by suction on a mounting surface including a deformable body having outer and inner surfaces and a periphery extending around the body. The holder further includes an appendage extending from the periphery and includes a connector attached to the appendage for connecting the appendage to the holder to form a loop for holding an item. The body is deformable from an undeformed shape to an actuated shape to mount the holder on the mounting surface by positioning the inner surface adjacent the mounting surface when the body is in its undeformed shape thereby forming a cavity between the body and the mounting surface and deforming the body to its actuated shape thereby sealing the body against the mounting surface and forcing fluid from the cavity to create a suction between the body and the mounting surface thereby securing them together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: We-Flex, LLC
    Inventors: Douglas M. Sheffield, Tamara K. Sheffield
  • Patent number: 7740221
    Abstract: A deformable device mountable by suction on a mounting surface including a body having an inner surface and a periphery. The inner surface has a concave portion and a suction portion contiguous with suction created to mount the body on the mounting surface. The inner surface includes a boundary defining the suction portion, an additional portion between the boundary and the periphery, and a bend adjacent the boundary at which the inner surface curves away from the mounting surface. The body is deformable from an undeformed shape to an actuated shape to mount the body on the mounting surface by positioning the inner surface of the undeformed body adjacent the mounting surface thereby forming a cavity and deforming the body to the actuated shape thereby sealing the body against the mounting surface and forcing fluid from the cavity to create suction between the body and the mounting surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2010
    Inventors: Douglas M. Sheffield, Jr., Tamara K. Sheffield
  • Patent number: 7641167
    Abstract: An item holder mountable by suction on a mounting surface including a deformable and transparent body. The body includes an outer surface, an inner surface, and a periphery extending around the body and surrounding the outer surface and the inner surface. The body further includes a compartment having an opening adjacent the periphery and extending between the inner and outer surfaces for removably holding an item. The body is deformable from an undeformed shape to an actuated shape to mount the holder on the mounting surface by positioning the inner surface of the body adjacent the mounting surface when the body is undeformed thereby forming a cavity between the body and the mounting surface and deforming the body to its actuated shape thereby sealing the body against the mounting surface and forcing fluid out of the cavity to create a suction between the body and the mounting surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2010
    Assignee: We-Flex, LLC
    Inventors: Douglas M. Sheffield, Jr., Tamara K. Sheffield
  • Publication number: 20080134421
    Abstract: A plunger for use in clearing clogged pipes including a flexible base formed from a first material. The base has an outer surface and an inner surface including a concave portion opposite the outer surface. The base further has a non-circular periphery extending around the base, surrounding the outer surface and the inner surface of the base. The plunger further includes a handle extending from the outer surface of the base.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2006
    Publication date: June 12, 2008
    Applicant: WE-FLEX, LLC
    Inventors: Douglas M. Sheffield, Tamara K. Sheffield
  • Publication number: 20080105760
    Abstract: A deformable aromatic device mountable by suction on a mounting surface including a body including a flexible base formed from a first material. The flexible base has an outer surface, an inner surface including a concave portion, and a periphery around the body. The body further includes a message formed on the body. The device further includes a second material selected to emit a desired aroma. The body is deformable from an undeformed shape to an actuated shape to mount the body on the mounting surface by positioning the inner surface adjacent the mounting surface when the body is undeformed thereby forming a cavity between the concave portion and the mounting surface and deforming the body to its actuated shape thereby sealing the body against the mounting surface and forcing fluid out of the cavity to create suction between the body and the mounting surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2006
    Publication date: May 8, 2008
    Inventors: Douglas M. Sheffield, Tamara K. Sheffield
  • Publication number: 20080087955
    Abstract: A deformable device mountable by suction on a smooth mounting surface. The device includes a body having an outer surface, a non-circular periphery extending around the body, surrounding the outer surface of the body and an inner surface opposite the outer surface having a concave portion. The device also includes a protrusion extending from the outer surface of the body including an exterior surface having a non-circular periphery. The body is deformable from an undeformed shape to an actuated shape to mount the body on the mounting surface by positioning the inner surface of the body adjacent the mounting surface when the body is undeformed thereby forming a cavity between the concave portion and the mounting surface and deforming the body to its actuated shape thereby sealing the body against the mounting surface and forcing fluid out of the cavity to create suction between the body and the mounting surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2006
    Publication date: April 17, 2008
    Inventors: Douglas M. Sheffield, Tamara K. Sheffield
  • Publication number: 20080035818
    Abstract: An item holder mountable by suction on a mounting surface including a deformable body. The body includes an outer surface and an inner surface having a concave portion. The body further includes a periphery extending around the body and surrounding the outer and inner surfaces. The body also includes a hole extending through the body between the outer and inner surfaces for holding an item. The body is deformable from an undeformed shape to an actuated shape to mount the holder on the mounting surface by positioning the inner surface adjacent the mounting surface when the body is in its undeformed shape thereby forming a cavity between the body and the mounting surface and deforming the body to its actuated shape thereby sealing the body against the mounting surface and forcing fluid from the cavity to create a suction between the body and the mounting surface thereby securing them together.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2006
    Publication date: February 14, 2008
    Inventors: Douglas M. Sheffield, Tamara K. Sheffield
  • Publication number: 20080017768
    Abstract: A deformable device mountable by suction on a mounting surface including a body having an inner surface and a periphery. The inner surface has a concave portion and a suction portion contiguous with suction created to mount the body on the mounting surface. The inner surface includes a boundary defining the suction portion, an additional portion between the boundary and the periphery, and a bend adjacent the boundary at which the inner surface curves away from the mounting surface. The body is deformable from an undeformed shape to an actuated shape to mount the body on the mounting surface by positioning the inner surface of the undeformed body adjacent the mounting surface thereby forming a cavity and deforming the body to the actuated shape thereby sealing the body against the mounting surface and forcing fluid from the cavity to create suction between the body and the mounting surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2006
    Publication date: January 24, 2008
    Inventors: Douglas M. Sheffield, Tamara K. Sheffield
  • Publication number: 20080017769
    Abstract: A display device mountable by suction on a generally smooth mounting surface. The display device includes a deformable body having an outer surface, an inner surface having a concave portion, and a periphery extending around the body and surrounding the outer and inner surfaces. The body is deformable from an undeformed shape to an actuated shape to mount the device on the mounting surface by positioning the inner surface of the body adjacent the mounting surface when the body is in its undeformed shape thereby forming a cavity between the body and the mounting surface and deforming the body to its actuated shape thereby sealing the body against the mounting surface and forcing fluid out of the cavity to create a suction between the body and the mounting surface thereby securing the body to the mounting surface The device further includes a display formed on the body including an image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2006
    Publication date: January 24, 2008
    Inventors: Douglas M. Sheffield, Tamara K. Sheffield
  • Publication number: 20080017767
    Abstract: An item holder mountable by suction on a mounting surface including a deformable and transparent body. The body includes an outer surface, an inner surface, and a periphery extending around the body and surrounding the outer surface and the inner surface. The body further includes a compartment having an opening adjacent the periphery and extending between the inner and outer surfaces for removably holding an item. The body is deformable from an undeformed shape to an actuated shape to mount the holder on the mounting surface by positioning the inner surface of the body adjacent the mounting surface when the body is undeformed thereby forming a cavity between the body and the mounting surface and deforming the body to its actuated shape thereby sealing the body against the mounting surface and forcing fluid out of the cavity to create a suction between the body and the mounting surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2006
    Publication date: January 24, 2008
    Inventors: Douglas M. Sheffield, Tamara K. Sheffield
  • Patent number: 6136392
    Abstract: Improved vacuum actuated display ornaments which adhere to surfaces by self-suction are improved by a wall thickness at the center of mass thicker than their peripheral wall thickness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2000
    Inventors: Douglas M. Sheffield, Jr., Tamara K. Sheffield
  • Patent number: RE40244
    Abstract: Improved vacuum actuated display ornaments which adhere to surfaces by self-suction are improved by a wall thickness at the center of mass thicker than their peripheral wall thickness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2008
    Assignee: We-Flex, LLC
    Inventors: Douglas M. Sheffield, Jr., Tamara K. Sheffield