Patents by Inventor James A. Schaffer

James A. Schaffer 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: 20190136332
    Abstract: The invention provides methods and compositions for producing plants with fruit having increased post-harvest storage life, the method comprising reducing the expression or activity in the plant, of a polypeptide with the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1, or a variant of the polypeptide. The invention provides host cells, plant cells and plants transformed with the polynucleotides of the invention. The invention also provides methods for selecting plants with fruit having increased post-harvest storage life. The invention also provides plants produced and selected by the methods of the invention.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2018
    Publication date: May 9, 2019
    Inventors: Ross Graham ATKINSON, Robert James SCHAFFER, Kularajathevan GUNASEELAN, Roswitha SCHRODER
  • Publication number: 20170240913
    Abstract: The invention provides materials and methods for producing coreless fruit, or plants that produce coreless fruit. The invention involves combining reduced expression of AGAMOUS (AG) with parthenocarpy. Parthenocarpy can be induced by hormone treatment, or can be provided by reduced or eliminated expression of PISTILATA (PI) or APETALA3 (AP3). The invention provides methods and materials for producing the plants and coreless fruit by genetic modification (GM) and non-GM means. The invention also provides the plants and coreless fruit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2015
    Publication date: August 24, 2017
    Applicant: The New Zealand Institute for Plant and Food Research Limited
    Inventors: Robert James SCHAFFER, Hilary Sara IRELAND, Jia-Long YAO
  • Publication number: 20160150723
    Abstract: A system for planting cover crop seeds in fields with standing row crops. A high-clearance agricultural vehicle is provided with a high-clearance toolbar. A plurality of ground-engaging arm assemblies depend from the toolbar. The toolbar is provided with a plurality of seeders that may be provided on the arm assemblies. The arm assemblies are provided with trailing portions to which are attached soil sealers. The system travels through the field, delivering seeds between rows of standing crops. The soil sealers cover the seeds with soil.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2015
    Publication date: June 2, 2016
    Applicant: Hagie Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Matthew W. Dames, James A. Schaffer, James R. Williams
  • Patent number: 9346497
    Abstract: A system and method for varying the tread width of a vehicle. The system includes extensible shafts coupled to the wheels of the vehicle. Eccentric cylinders rotate out of frictional locking engagement with the extensible shafts to allow the extensible shafts to be extended or refracted to adjust the tread width of the vehicle. The eccentric cylinders rotate into frictional locking engagement with the extensible shafts to reduce undesired travel of the extensible shafts during vehicle operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: Hagie Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Matthew W. Dames, James A. Schaffer
  • Publication number: 20160120099
    Abstract: A system for planting cover crop seeds in fields with standing row crops. A high-clearance agricultural vehicle is provided with a high-clearance toolbar. A plurality of ground-engaging arm assemblies depend from the toolbar. The toolbar is provided with a plurality of seeders that may be provided on the arm assemblies. The arm assemblies are provided with trailing portions to which are attached soil sealers. The system travels through the field, delivering seeds between rows of standing crops. The soil sealers cover the seeds with soil.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2015
    Publication date: May 5, 2016
    Applicant: Hagie Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Matthew W. Dames, James A. Schaffer, James R. Williams
  • Publication number: 20150291233
    Abstract: A system and method for varying the tread width of a vehicle. The system includes extensible shafts coupled to the wheels of the vehicle. Eccentric cylinders rotate out of frictional locking engagement with the extensible shafts to allow the extensible shafts to be extended or refracted to adjust the tread width of the vehicle. The eccentric cylinders rotate into frictional locking engagement with the extensible shafts to reduce undesired travel of the extensible shafts during vehicle operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2014
    Publication date: October 15, 2015
    Applicant: Hagie Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Matthew W. Dames, James A. Schaffer
  • Publication number: 20150195986
    Abstract: A system for planting cover crop seeds in fields with standing row crops. A high-clearance agricultural vehicle is provided with a high-clearance toolbar. A plurality of ground-engaging arm assemblies depend from the toolbar. The toolbar is provided with a plurality of seeders that may be provided on the arm assemblies. The arm assemblies are provided with trailing portions to which are attached soil sealers. The system travels through the field, delivering seeds between rows of standing crops. The soil sealers cover the seeds with soil.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2014
    Publication date: July 16, 2015
    Applicant: HAGIE MANUFACTURING COMPANY
    Inventors: Matthew W. Dames, James A. Schaffer, James R. Williams
  • Patent number: 8827194
    Abstract: A fluorescent bulb compactor and mercury vapor recovery system that allows for the safe collection and disposal of crushed or broken fluorescent lamps, while recovering substantially 100% of the hazardous mercury vapors contained within the lamps. A fluorescent lamp is inserted within a drum and broken into fragments by one or more blades, with the fragment falling to the bottom of the drum. The mercury vapors that are emitted from the broken fluorescent lamps are forced out of the drum by negative positive pressure created by a vacuum/filter assembly. Once through the filter assembly, which includes a HEPA filter and activated carbon filter, the gases are permitted to escape into the environment virtually 100% free of mercury toxins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Killgerm Group Limited
    Inventors: Edward J. Domanico, John Greening, Chris Lawrence, Neil McGowan, James Schaffer
  • Publication number: 20110191902
    Abstract: The invention provides methods and compositions for producing plants with fruit having increased post-harvest storage life, the method comprising reducing the expression or activity in the plant, of a polypeptide with the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1, or a variant of the polypeptide. The invention provides host cells, plant cells and plants transformed with the polynucleotides of the invention. The invention also provides methods for selecting plants with fruit having increased post-harvest storage life. The invention also provides plants produced and selected by the methods of the invention.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2009
    Publication date: August 4, 2011
    Inventors: Ross Graham Atkinson, Robert James Schaffer, Kularajathevan Gunaseelan, Roswitha Schröder
  • Publication number: 20070291884
    Abstract: The disclosure includes a system and method for oversampling and digitally filtering RFID signals. In some implementations of the present disclosure, an RF receiver includes an ADC, a comb filter, and a mask filter. The ADC is operable to directly sample an RF signal independent of a band pass filter and convert the RF signal to a digital signal. The RF signal is sampled at a rate greater than or equal to 60 MHz. The comb filter is coupled to the ADC. The mask filter is coupled to the comb filter. The comb filter and frequency mask filter are configured to filter out-of-band noise in the digital signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2007
    Publication date: December 20, 2007
    Applicant: SIRIT Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Frederick, James Schaffer, Joseph Repke
  • Patent number: 6491306
    Abstract: A wheel support assembly comprising a leg coupled to a wheel and rotatably coupled within a journal, wherein the end of the leg opposite the wheel is provided with a lateral planar surface, and a base plate is provided over the journal with a collar secured to the base plate and having a substantially flat surface is secured around the inner leg with the substantially flat surface provided over the planar surface. The wheel support assembly is also provided with a spring secured to a spring plate and means for rotating the base plate relative to the spring plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2002
    Assignee: Hagie Manufacturing Co.
    Inventor: James A. Schaffer
  • Publication number: 20020053795
    Abstract: A wheel support assembly comprising a leg coupled to a wheel and rotatably coupled within a journal, wherein the end of the leg opposite the wheel is provided with a lateral planar surface, and a base plate is provided over the journal with a collar secured to the base plate and having a substantially flat surface is secured around the inner leg with the substantially flat surface provided over the planar surface. The wheel support assembly is also provided with a spring secured to a spring plate and means for rotating the base plate relative to the spring plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2001
    Publication date: May 9, 2002
    Inventor: James A. Schaffer
  • Patent number: 6371237
    Abstract: A steering mechanism for a ride height adjustable vehicle is provided having a leg which is coupled to a wheel and rotatably coupled within a journal. A base plate is secured to the leg and a pair of uprights are secured to the journal. The uprights are secured to the journal substantially parallel to one another. The uprights are secured to the top of a spring and the spring is secured to a spring plate. Means are provided for rotating the base plate relative to the spring plate, and the spring plate is slidably coupled to both the first upright and the second upright.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2002
    Assignee: Hagie Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: James A. Schaffer