Patents by Inventor James A. Hofman

James A. Hofman 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: 8459472
    Abstract: An aperture board assembly includes a panel having an array of apertures, a modular array of receivers attached to the panel, and hook assemblies for detachably engaging the receivers. The modular array is attached to the panel so that each receiver is substantially aligned with a corresponding aperture in the panel. Each hook assembly passes at least partially through an aperture in the panel and into a receiver aligned with the aperture. Each receiver in the modular array includes spring clips that are equally spaced apart around a perimeter of the receiver. Each spring clip includes a pair of opposing spring fingers disposed in a spring clip aperture. Each pair of opposing spring fingers detachably engage the hook assembly as the hook assembly is rotated with respect to the receiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: Top-Wok Metals Co. Ltd.
    Inventor: James A. Hofman
  • Publication number: 20110155875
    Abstract: An aperture board assembly includes a panel having an array of apertures, a modular array of receivers attached to the panel, and hook assemblies for detachably engaging the receivers. The modular array is attached to the panel so that each receiver is substantially aligned with a corresponding aperture in the panel. Each hook assembly passes at least partially through an aperture in the panel and into a receiver aligned with the aperture. Each receiver in the modular array includes spring clips that are equally spaced apart around a perimeter of the receiver. Each spring clip includes a pair of opposing spring fingers disposed in a spring clip aperture. Each pair of opposing spring fingers detachably engage the hook assembly as the hook assembly is rotated with respect to the receiver.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2009
    Publication date: June 30, 2011
    Applicant: TOP-WOK METALS CO. LTD.
    Inventor: James A. Hofman
  • Publication number: 20090078591
    Abstract: There is provided a travel shower case including a tray. The tray includes a lip on one side of the tray. A cover is pivotally coupled to the tray. A lock member is slidingly coupled to the cover. The lock member is movable from a first position to a second position. The lock member includes a catch portion configured to engage the lip of the tray when the lock member is in the first position. The lock member includes a hook portion operative when the lock member is in the second position, wherein the hook portion will support the tray.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2007
    Publication date: March 26, 2009
    Inventor: James A. Hofman
  • Patent number: 6651827
    Abstract: A display holder for displaying a stack of flexible material including a curved front wall extending from a base. A spring extends from a center portion of a rear wall to bias the stack of material toward the front wall and to impart a curvature in the stack of flexible material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2003
    Assignee: Berol Corporation
    Inventors: Brian T. Eberwein, James A. Hofman
  • Patent number: 6474008
    Abstract: A soft label holder for covering the edge of a rigid file having a front surface and a top edge includes a soft member having a front surface, a rear surface, a top edge, a bottom edge, a first end, and a second end. An aperture extends through the front and rear surfaces. The soft member is secured to the front surface of the rigid file with the top edge of the soft member located proximate to the top edge of the file to cover the top edge of the rigid file.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2002
    Assignee: Berol Corporation
    Inventors: James A. Hofman, Steven H. Demsien, Stephen C. Zielke
  • Patent number: 6431386
    Abstract: A corner bucket for storing items within a bathing unit. The caddy includes a substantially L-shaped bucket to fit in a corner and a bracket for hanging the bucket. The bracket includes bracket portions for each of the walls which may be secured using fasteners or suction cups. The bracket includes hooks which are received by corresponding openings in the bucket such that the bucket detachably hangs from the bracket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2002
    Assignee: Zenith Products Corp.
    Inventors: James A. Hofman, Paul H. Winter, Paul Wojtowicz
  • Patent number: 6082573
    Abstract: A shower caddy bucket having a rotatable standoff for positioning a bottom portion of the bucket away from the wall to which the caddy is mounted. The bucket has a tapered configuration with a narrower bottom end. The standoff has an elongated configuration and is selectively rotatable between a stored position parallel to the wall and a standoff position perpendicular to the wall. In the standoff position, an end of the standoff will engage the wall to maintain the bottom end of the caddy bucket spaced away from the wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2000
    Assignee: Zenith Manufacturing Corp.
    Inventors: James A. Hofman, Paul Winter, Paul Wojtowicz
  • Patent number: D436480
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2001
    Assignee: Zenith Products Corp.
    Inventors: Paul H. Winter, James A. Hofman
  • Patent number: D438042
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2001
    Assignee: Zenith Products Corp.
    Inventors: James A. Hofman, David Walker
  • Patent number: D438043
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2001
    Assignee: Zenith Products Corp.
    Inventor: James A. Hofman
  • Patent number: D458640
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2002
    Assignee: Berol Corporation
    Inventor: James A. Hofman
  • Patent number: D481761
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2003
    Assignee: Berol Corporation
    Inventors: Monica L. Walsh, James A. Hofman
  • Patent number: D491358
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2004
    Assignee: Silk Road Gifts, Inc.
    Inventors: James A. Hofman, Karl Niemi
  • Patent number: D604925
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2009
    Assignee: Dongguan Shichang Metals Factory Co. Ltd
    Inventors: James A. Hofman, Patrick W. Kessenich
  • Patent number: D419655
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2000
    Assignee: Zenith Products Corp.
    Inventors: Zvi Yemini, James A. Hofman
  • Patent number: D421692
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2000
    Assignee: Zenith Products Corp.
    Inventors: Paul Wojtowicz, James A. Hofman
  • Patent number: D429934
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2000
    Assignee: Zenith Products Corp.
    Inventor: James A. Hofman
  • Patent number: D431405
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2000
    Assignee: Zenith Products Corp.
    Inventors: Paul Henry Winter, James A. Hofman
  • Patent number: D858785
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: Zippo Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Brian J. Barber, Justan D. Studley, James A. Hofman
  • Patent number: D908989
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: ZIPPO MANUFACTURING COMPANY
    Inventors: Brian J. Barber, Shaun M. Panek, Howard Tripp, James A. Hofman