Patents by Inventor Greg E. Schrank

Greg E. Schrank 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: 11865380
    Abstract: A fall-protection apparatus comprising a rotationally-activated braking device that comprises at least one flexure-borne pawl.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventor: Greg E Schrank
  • Patent number: 11779783
    Abstract: A fall-protection apparatus with a drum and a rotationally-activated braking device including at least one velocity-actuated pawl that is mounted on a pawl-support plate that is rotatable relative to the drum through a predetermined range between a first position and a second position. The pawl-support plate is rotatable relative to the drum from the first position to the second position upon the pawl-support plate experiencing a rotational acceleration that is above a predetermined threshold value of rotational acceleration. When the pawl-support plate is in the second position, the velocity-actuated pawl can be actuated by a rotational velocity that is lower than a rotational velocity required to actuate the pawl when the pawl-support plate is in the first position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventor: Greg E. Schrank
  • Patent number: 11759662
    Abstract: A fall-protection apparatus with a rotationally-activated braking device including at least one first pawl that is a velocity-actuated pawl and at least one second pawl that is an acceleration-actuated pawl, the at least one first pawl and the at least one second pawl being independently actuated and independently functioning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventor: Greg E. Schrank
  • Publication number: 20230271038
    Abstract: A fall-protection apparatus with a drum and a rotationally-activated braking device including at least one velocity-actuated pawl that is mounted on a pawl-support plate that is rotatable relative to the drum through a predetermined range between a first position and a second position. The pawl-support plate is rotatable relative to the drum from the first position to the second position upon the pawl-support plate experiencing a rotational acceleration that is above a predetermined threshold value of rotational acceleration. When the pawl-support plate is in the second position, the velocity-actuated pawl can be actuated by a rotational velocity that is lower than a rotational velocity required to actuate the pawl when the pawl-support plate is in the first position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2021
    Publication date: August 31, 2023
    Inventor: GREG E. SCHRANK
  • Publication number: 20230241423
    Abstract: A fall-protection apparatus with a rotationally-activated braking device including at least one first pawl that is a velocity-actuated pawl and at least one second pawl that is an acceleration-actuated pawl, the at least one first pawl and the at least one second pawl being independently actuated and independently functioning.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2021
    Publication date: August 3, 2023
    Inventor: GREG E. SCHRANK
  • Patent number: 11713219
    Abstract: A confined-space davit, including a vertical, elongate mast provided by at least one annular tube; and, a boom that is pivotally connected to an upper end portion of the mast and that extends forwardly from the mast. The tube comprises a forward wall and an opposing rearward wall and comprises left and right opposing lateral sidewalls that each connect the forward wall to the rearward wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Greg E. Schrank, Andrew C. Strauss
  • Publication number: 20230228305
    Abstract: A fall-protection apparatus comprising a rotationally-activated braking device that comprises at least one flexure-borne pawl and at least one buttress that is on a sidewall of a rotatable drum of the braking device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2021
    Publication date: July 20, 2023
    Inventors: GREG E. SCHRANK, Daniel C. Lewis
  • Publication number: 20210053801
    Abstract: A confined-space davit, including a vertical, elongate mast provided by at least one annular tube; and, a boom that is pivotally connected to an upper end portion of the mast and that extends forwardly from the mast. The tube comprises a forward wall and an opposing rearward wall and comprises left and right opposing lateral sidewalls that each connect the forward wall to the rearward wall.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2020
    Publication date: February 25, 2021
    Inventors: Greg E. Schrank, Andrew C. Strauss
  • Patent number: 10865076
    Abstract: A confined-space davit, including a vertical, elongate mast provided by at least one annular tube; and, a boom that is pivotally connected to an upper end portion of the mast and that extends forwardly from the mast. The tube comprises a forward wall and an opposing rearward wall and comprises left and right opposing lateral sidewalls that each connect the forward wall to the rearward wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Greg E. Schrank, Andrew C. Strauss
  • Publication number: 20200385247
    Abstract: A confined-space davit, including a vertical, elongate mast provided by at least one annular tube; and, a boom that is pivotally connected to an upper end portion of the mast and that extends forwardly from the mast. The tube comprises a forward wall and an opposing rearward wall and comprises left and right opposing lateral sidewalls that each connect the forward wall to the rearward wall.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2018
    Publication date: December 10, 2020
    Inventors: Greg E. Schrank, Andrew C. Strauss
  • Publication number: 20200113729
    Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure provide for a patient warming system having a heating device configured to transfer heat to a patient based on a body heat score that indicates whether the patient is likely to sweat. The heating device includes a heater circuit configured to produce heat, the heater circuit thermally coupled to the patient. The heating device also includes a controller communicatively coupled to the heater circuit. The controller has one or more processors configured to receive one or more physiological indicators of the patient, determine the body heat score from one or more physiological indicators, determine whether the body heat score meets a score threshold, direct the heater circuit to produce a first amount of heat based on whether the body heat score meets a score threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2018
    Publication date: April 16, 2020
    Applicant: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: DANIEL P. DORAN, JIA HU, VINOD P. MENON, GREG E. SCHRANK, WINSTON T. TAN, TRUNG VU
  • Patent number: 9737378
    Abstract: A device for dispensing a dental material has a cartridge with a dispensing end. The dispensing end has a dispensing opening for the dental material. The dispensing end further has in essence an axially symmetric shape with a truncation. The truncation provides the dispensing end with a generally flat dispensing surface through which the dispensing opening extends. The device has further a cap received on the dispensing end. The cap and the dispensing end are rotatable relative to each other between an open position, in which an orifice in the cap uncovers the dispensing surface, and a closed position, in which a closed space is formed between the cap and the dispensing surface. The device allows for a relatively convenient dispensation of dental material, in particular for a dispensation of a dental composite filling material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Inventors: Bruce R. Broyles, Christopher J. Claypool, Marc Peuker, Greg E. Schrank
  • Publication number: 20160278881
    Abstract: Systems and methods of manufacturing dental restorative material packaged articles. A loaded barrel is retrieved from a plurality of identical loaded barrels, each including a universal barrel containing dental material and having a plunger coupling feature. A desired plunger assembly is selected from supplies of first and second plunger assemblies each including a plunger shaft, an auxiliary device, and a complimentary coupling feature. The first plunger assemblies differ from the second plunger assemblies. The selected plunger assembly is assembled to the loaded barrel, including engagement between the plunger coupling feature and the complimentary coupling feature. The resultant construction provides a packaged article that is operable to progressively dispense material by manipulation of the plunger assembly. Optionally, an outer sleeve and/or a cap is selected and assembled to the universal barrel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2014
    Publication date: September 29, 2016
    Inventors: Bruce R. BROYLES, Greg E. SCHRANK
  • Publication number: 20160166356
    Abstract: A device for dispensing a dental material has a cartridge with a dispensing end. The dispensing end has a dispensing opening for the dental material. The dispensing end further has in essence an axially symmetric shape with a truncation. The truncation provides the dispensing end with a generally flat dispensing surface through which the dispensing opening extends. The device has further a cap received on the dispensing end. The cap and the dispensing end are rotatable relative to each other between an open position, in which an orifice in the cap uncovers the dispensing surface, and a closed position, in which a closed space is formed between the cap and the dispensing surface. The device allows for a relatively convenient dispensation of dental material, in particular for a dispensation of a dental composite filling material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2014
    Publication date: June 16, 2016
    Inventors: Bruce R. Broyles, Christopher J. Claypool, Marc Peuker, Greg E. Schrank
  • Publication number: 20150093718
    Abstract: Described herein is a housing that releasably connects a dental prosthetic device, such as a full or partial denture, to a dental implant. The housing is at least partially constructed of a resilient material, at least providing the denture with machinability relative to prior art metal housings. A method of manufacturing a housing for a dental implant and a method of retrofitting a housing for a dental implant are described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: April 2, 2015
    Inventors: Greg E. Schrank, Sam L. Lintereur, Steven J. Maxa, Kimberly A. Prenosil
  • Patent number: 7510462
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a cutting tool assembly used for creating grooves in a microreplication tool is described. The cutting tool assembly includes a mounting structure and multiple diamonds mounted in the mounting structure. For example, first and second tool shanks having first and second diamond tips can be positioned in the mounting structure such that a cutting location of a diamond cutting tip of the first tool shank is a defined distance from a cutting location of a diamond cutting tip of the second tool shank. The defined distance may correspond to an integer number of pitch spacings, and may be accurate to within a tolerance of less than approximately 10 microns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2009
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: William J. Bryan, Nelson D. Sewall, Jeffrey E. Clements, Greg E. Schrank, Jennifer L. Trice, Timothy L. Hoopman, Charles N. DeVore
  • Publication number: 20040045419
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a cutting tool assembly used for creating grooves in a microreplication tool is described. The cutting tool assembly includes a mounting structure and multiple diamonds mounted in the mounting structure. For example, first and second tool shanks having first and second diamond tips can be positioned in the mounting structure such that a cutting location of a diamond cutting tip of the first tool shank is a defined distance from a cutting location of a diamond cutting tip of the second tool shank. The defined distance may correspond to an integer number of pitch spacings, and may be accurate to within a tolerance of less than approximately 10 microns.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2002
    Publication date: March 11, 2004
    Inventors: William J. Bryan, Nelson D. Sewall, Jeffrey E. Clements, Greg E. Schrank
  • Patent number: D733870
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Bruce R. Broyles, Christopher J. Claypool, Greg E. Schrank, Steven J. Maxa, Andreas Boehm
  • Patent number: D739934
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2015
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Bruce R. Broyles, Christopher J. Claypool, Greg E. Schrank, Steven J. Maxa, Andreas J. Boehm, Stefan Eckstein, Remus Feldman
  • Patent number: D747466
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Bruce R. Broyles, Christopher J. Claypool, Greg E. Schrank, Steven J. Maxa, Andreas Boehm, Stefan Eckstein, Remus Feldman