Patents by Inventor Eric Eugene Rolfe

Eric Eugene Rolfe 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: 20200114481
    Abstract: A docking assembly and method for docking and retrieving a filament holding device includes a motor casing rod defining a recess, filament holders and docking stations. Each filament holder defines a filament receiver channel for receiving the rod and a stop member that is selectively engaged with the recess of the rod, thus coupling a filament holder to the rod for retrieval of the filament holder. Each docking station includes a deployment latch operable to rotate when the rod is inserted into the docking receiver channel so that the deployment latch urges the stop member to the deployed configuration for coupling together the rod and the filament holder. Thus, a filament holder is captured for removal from the docking station. The docking apparatus includes a release lever that operates in reverse of the deployment latch so as to release a filament holder from the rod back to its docking station.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2019
    Publication date: April 16, 2020
    Inventors: Samuel J. Steeb, Eric Eugene Rolfe
  • Patent number: 10464178
    Abstract: A docking assembly for docking and retrieving a filament holding device includes a motor casing rod defining a recess, filament holders and docking stations. Each filament holder defines a filament receiver channel for receiving the rod and a stop member that is selectively engaged with the recess of the rod, thus coupling a filament holder to the rod for retrieval of the filament holder. Each docking station includes a deployment latch operable to rotate when the rod is inserted into the docking receiver channel so that the deployment latch urges the stop member to the deployed configuration for coupling together the rod and the filament holder. Thus, a filament holder is captured for removal from the docking station. The docking apparatus includes a release lever that operates in reverse of the deployment latch so as to release a filament holder from the rod back to its docking station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Inventors: Samuel J. Steeb, Eric Eugene Rolfe