Patents by Inventor James Schaefer

James Schaefer 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: 9475072
    Abstract: A chute assembly may include a chute having an inlet and an outlet and an adjustment mechanism. The adjustment mechanism may be used to move the chute to adjust the outlet: forward to back with respect to a spinner disc; and/or, (2) side to side with respect to the spinner disc in order to change the spreading characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: Swenson Spreader, LLC
    Inventors: Christopher Norkus, James Schaefer
  • Patent number: 9371621
    Abstract: A spreader assembly may include a hopper having a receptacle for holding salt, or the like, and at least one chamber formed between the receptacle and an outer surface of the hopper. The chamber may hold a liquid used to pre-wet the salt before it contacts a ground surface. The hopper may be an insert hopper formed as a one piece plastic component in a rotational molding operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: Swenson Spreader, LLC
    Inventors: Christopher Norkus, James Schaefer
  • Publication number: 20160023223
    Abstract: A chute assembly may include a chute having an inlet and an outlet and an adjustment mechanism. The adjustment mechanism may be used to move the chute to adjust the outlet: forward to back with respect to a spinner disc; and/or, (2) side to side with respect to the spinner disc in order to change the spreading characteristics.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2015
    Publication date: January 28, 2016
    Applicant: Swenson Spreader, LLC
    Inventors: Christopher Norkus, James Schaefer
  • Publication number: 20150259867
    Abstract: A spreader assembly may include a hopper having a receptacle for holding salt, or the like, and at least one chamber formed between the receptacle and an outer surface of the hopper. The chamber may hold a liquid used to pre-wet the salt before it contacts a ground surface. The hopper may be an insert hopper formed as a one piece plastic component in a rotational molding operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2015
    Publication date: September 17, 2015
    Applicant: LOUIS BERKMAN COMPANY
    Inventors: Christopher Norkus, James Schaefer
  • Patent number: 9128835
    Abstract: Various embodiments are directed to a gaming device including a background memory validation system. The background memory validation system includes a background kernel thread that validates read-only pages on the gaming device. Additionally, the background kernel thread also minimizes potential timing problems because this process only validates page content in memory that is fully-loaded and functional.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Assignee: Bally Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald A. Cadima, Anand Singh, James Schaefer
  • Patent number: 9085862
    Abstract: A spreader assembly may include a hopper having a receptacle for holding salt, or the like, and at least one chamber formed between the receptacle and an outer surface of the hopper. The chamber may hold a liquid used to pre-wet the salt before it contacts a ground surface. The hopper may be an insert hopper formed as a one piece plastic component in a rotational molding operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2015
    Assignee: Swenson Spreader LLC
    Inventors: Christopher Norkus, James Schaefer
  • Patent number: 9085863
    Abstract: A chute assembly may include a chute having an inlet and an outlet and an adjustment mechanism. The adjustment mechanism may be used to move the chute to adjust the outlet: forward to back with respect to a spinner disc; and/or, (2) side to side with respect to the spinner disc in order to change the spreading characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2015
    Assignee: Swenson Spreader LLC
    Inventors: Christopher Norkus, James Schaefer
  • Patent number: 8926429
    Abstract: Various embodiments are directed to gaming machines having multi-monitor support for controlling up to four monitors on a gaming device. According to one embodiment, the gaming device includes a first display for presenting a primary game. The gaming device also includes a second display. The second display is used to present a secondary game. The gaming device further includes a multi-core processor in communication with a first video chipset and a second video chipset, wherein the first and second video chipsets support the first and second monitors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Bally Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Nathan K. Harvey, Pravinkumar Patel, James Schaefer, Michael N. Dubose
  • Publication number: 20140224840
    Abstract: A granular spreader assembly may include a hopper, a granular material moving mechanism, a material guide that is positioned within the hopper and a vibrator. One end of the material guide may extend toward the vibrator and may be separated from the inner surface of the hopper by an empty space.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2014
    Publication date: August 14, 2014
    Applicant: Meyer Products, LLC
    Inventors: CHRISTOPHER ANDREW WILLIAMS NORKUS, JAMES SCHAEFER
  • Publication number: 20140149676
    Abstract: Various embodiments are directed to a gaming device including a background memory validation system. The background memory validation system includes a background kernel thread that validates read-only pages on the gaming device. Additionally, the background kernel thread also minimizes potential timing problems because this process only validates page content in memory that is fully-loaded and functional.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2014
    Publication date: May 29, 2014
    Inventors: Ronald A. Cadima, Anand Singh, James Schaefer
  • Patent number: 8683272
    Abstract: Various embodiments are directed to a gaming device including a background memory validation system. The background memory validation system includes a background kernel thread that validates read-only pages on the gaming device. Additionally, the background kernel thread also minimizes potential timing problems because this process only validates page content in memory that is fully-loaded and functional.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Bally Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald A. Cadima, Anand Singh, James Schaefer
  • Publication number: 20140073404
    Abstract: Various embodiments are directed to gaming machines having multi-monitor support for controlling up to four monitors on a gaming device. According to one embodiment, the gaming device includes a first display for presenting a primary game. The gaming device also includes a second display. The second display is used to present a secondary game. The gaming device further includes a multi-core processor in communication with a first video chipset and a second video chipset, wherein the first and second video chipsets support the first and second monitors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2013
    Publication date: March 13, 2014
    Applicant: Bally Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Nathan K. Harvey, Pravinkumar Patel, James Schaefer, Michael N. Dubose
  • Patent number: 8613663
    Abstract: Various embodiments are directed to gaming machines having multi-monitor support for controlling up to four monitors on a gaming device. According to one embodiment, the gaming device includes a first display for presenting a primary game. The gaming device also includes a second display and a third display where the second display is positioned above the third display. The second and third displays are used in combination to present a secondary game. The gaming device further includes a multi-core processor in communication with a first video chipset and a second video chipset, wherein the first and second video chipsets support the first, second and third monitors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2013
    Assignee: Bally Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Nathan K. Harvey, Pravinkumar Patel, James Schaefer, Michael N. Dubose
  • Publication number: 20130233938
    Abstract: A chute assembly may include a chute having an inlet and an outlet and an adjustment mechanism. The adjustment mechanism may be used to move the chute to adjust the outlet: forward to back with respect to a spinner disc; and/or, (2) side to side with respect to the spinner disc in order to change the spreading characteristics.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2013
    Publication date: September 12, 2013
    Applicant: SWENSON SPREADER, LLC
    Inventors: Christopher Norkus, James Schaefer
  • Publication number: 20130233937
    Abstract: A spreader assembly may include a hopper having a receptacle for holding salt, or the like, and at least one chamber formed between the receptacle and an outer surface of the hopper. The chamber may hold a liquid used to pre-wet the salt before it contacts a ground surface. The hopper may be an insert hopper formed as a one piece plastic component in a rotational molding operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2013
    Publication date: September 12, 2013
    Applicant: SWENSON SPREADER, LLC
    Inventors: Christopher Norkus, James Schaefer
  • Patent number: 8429464
    Abstract: Various embodiments are directed to a gaming device including a background memory validation system. The background memory validation system includes a background kernel thread that validates read-only pages on the gaming device. Additionally, the background kernel thread also minimizes potential timing problems because this process only validates page content in memory that is fully-loaded and functional.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: Bally Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald A. Cadima, Anand Singh, James Schaefer
  • Publication number: 20110119474
    Abstract: Various embodiments disclosed herein are directed to a serial peripheral interface-based (SPI-based) BIOS system for improved upgrading of a BIOS software image in a gaming machine. The system includes a flash BIOS chip and a SPI BIOS chip. The flash BIOS chip is operable to be written to by an Intel chipset for storage of an onboard Ethernet controller's information, wherein the flash BIOS chip may contain a new BIOS software image. The SPI BIOS chip comprises a traditional BIOS including gaming extensions to the BIOS. The SPI BIOS chip can be disabled from write actions at a jumper/circuit level. When a SPI BIOS write enable jumper circuit is ON, a write protect pin of the serial peripheral interface BIOS is in the disabled state. In this regard, when the write protect pin is in the disabled state, the SPI BIOS content may be updated to the new BIOS software image from a BIOS install compact flash.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2009
    Publication date: May 19, 2011
    Applicant: BALLY GAMING, INC.
    Inventors: Anand Singh, Pravinkumar Patel, Darren LeBlanc, Robert W. Crowder, JR., James Schaefer, George Mayfield
  • Publication number: 20110117994
    Abstract: Various embodiments are directed to gaming machines having multi-monitor support for controlling up to four monitors on a gaming device. According to one embodiment, the gaming device includes a first display for presenting a primary game. The gaming device also includes a second display and a third display where the second display is positioned above the third display. The second and third displays are used in combination to present a secondary game. The gaming device further includes a multi-core processor in communication with a first video chipset and a second video chipset, wherein the first and second video chipsets support the first, second and third monitors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2009
    Publication date: May 19, 2011
    Applicant: BALLY GAMING, INC.
    Inventors: Nathan K. Harvey, Pravinkumar Patel, James Schaefer, Michael N. Dubose
  • Publication number: 20110111865
    Abstract: Various embodiments are directed to a gaming device including a background memory validation system. The background memory validation system includes a background kernel thread that validates read-only pages on the gaming device. Additionally, the background kernel thread also minimizes potential timing problems because this process only validates page content in memory that is fully-loaded and functional.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2009
    Publication date: May 12, 2011
    Applicant: BALLY GAMING, INC.
    Inventors: Ronald A. CADIMA, Anand SINGH, James SCHAEFER
  • Publication number: 20060133945
    Abstract: A balancing system for different compressors utilizes a counterweight having a common exterior configuration. The mass of the counterweight is optimized for each compressor by changing the size of a recess located in the counterweight. In one embodiment, the recess is an arcuately shaped recess; and in another embodiment, the recess is a plurality of holes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2004
    Publication date: June 22, 2006
    Inventors: Keith Reinhart, James Schaefer, Eric Cavender