Patents by Inventor Jeffrey Ward

Jeffrey Ward 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: 12655620
    Abstract: Waste disposer systems and assemblies and related mechanisms and assemblies, and related methods, are disclosed. In an example embodiment, a food waste disposer includes a motor, a switch module coupled to the motor and operable to control a power flow to the motor, and a housing including a bottom housing portion and a top housing portion, where the switch module and motor are supported within an interior region within the housing. Each of the bottom housing portion and the switch module are configured to be capable of being coupled, at respectively a first time and a second time, to each of a terminal assembly by which the food waste disposer can receive first power from a hardwired power link, and a power cord assembly by which the food waste disposer can receive second power from a wall power outlet, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2025
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2026
    Assignee: INSINKERATOR LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey Ward, Kelly T. Gamble, Dane Hofmeister
  • Patent number: 12595646
    Abstract: Food waste disposer systems and related systems for coupling food waste disposer systems to electrical power sources, and related coupling and configuration methods, are disclosed herein. In at least one example embodiment, a food waste disposer system includes a motor, a switch module, a housing, and an appliance inlet power cord connection structure supported at least indirectly upon the housing, where the connection structure is either connected to or integrally formed with the switch module. Further, the food waste disposer system also includes a power cord including a first end with a first plug and a second end with a second plug, where the first plug is configured to be coupled to the connection structure. Additionally, the food waste disposer includes an adapter or first lead wires that are coupled at least indirectly to the connection structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2024
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2026
    Assignee: INSINKERATOR LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey Ward, Walter Bennage, Kelly T. Gamble, Fei Qi, Nicholas J. Hirsch, Grant Waldemer
  • Patent number: 12410595
    Abstract: Waste disposer systems and cover switch mechanisms for implementation in such systems, and related methods, are disclosed. In an example embodiment, a cover switch mechanism includes a cord, a body configured to be coupled to a top portion of a disposer, and connecting components. The connecting components include a terminal cover configured to be coupled to a bottom portion of the disposer, a switch interface connector, and a connection component. The cord extends between the body and cover, where an end of the cord extending into the cover includes first and second leads. The first lead is coupled to the interface connector, and the cover is configured to receive a second end of a power link. The interface connector is configured to be coupled to a third lead of the link, and the connection component is configured to couple the second lead with a fourth lead of the link.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2025
    Inventors: Jeffrey Ward, Kelly T. Gamble, Dane Hofmeister
  • Publication number: 20250179783
    Abstract: Waste disposer systems and assemblies and related mechanisms and assemblies, and related methods, are disclosed. In an example embodiment, a food waste disposer includes a motor, a switch module coupled to the motor and operable to control a power flow to the motor, and a housing including a bottom housing portion and a top housing portion, where the switch module and motor are supported within an interior region within the housing. Each of the bottom housing portion and the switch module are configured to be capable of being coupled, at respectively a first time and a second time, to each of a terminal assembly by which the food waste disposer can receive first power from a hardwired power link, and a power cord assembly by which the food waste disposer can receive second power from a wall power outlet, respectively.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2025
    Publication date: June 5, 2025
    Inventors: Jeffrey Ward, Kelly T. Gamble, Dane Hofmeister
  • Patent number: 12110672
    Abstract: Food waste disposer systems and related systems for coupling food waste disposer systems having permanent magnet (PM) motors to electrical power sources, and related coupling and configuration methods, are disclosed herein. In at least one example embodiment, a food waste disposer system includes a PM motor, an AC-to-DC converter having AC input and DC output ports, a housing, a power cord connection structure supported at least indirectly upon the housing, an adapter, and a power cord including a first plug configured to be coupled to the connection structure. The disposer system can be selectively implemented either in a first installation environment including a wall outlet by way of coupling the first plug to the connection structure, or in a second installation environment including a hardwired power cable by coupling additional lead wires of the hardwired power cable to the adapter and further coupling the adapter to the connection structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2024
    Assignee: INSINKERATOR LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey Ward, Walter Bennage, Dane Hofmeister
  • Publication number: 20240318416
    Abstract: Food waste disposer systems and related systems for coupling food waste disposer systems having permanent magnet (PM) motors to electrical power sources, and related coupling and configuration methods, are disclosed herein. In at least one example embodiment, a food waste disposer system includes a PM motor, an AC-to-DC converter having AC input and DC output ports, a housing, a power cord connection structure supported at least indirectly upon the housing, an adapter, and a power cord including a first plug configured to be coupled to the connection structure. The disposer system can be selectively implemented either in a first installation environment including a wall outlet by way of coupling the first plug to the connection structure, or in a second installation environment including a hardwired power cable by coupling additional lead wires of the hardwired power cable to the adapter and further coupling the adapter to the connection structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2024
    Publication date: September 26, 2024
    Inventors: Jeffrey Ward, Walter Bennage, Dane Hofmeister
  • Publication number: 20240309623
    Abstract: Food waste disposer systems and related systems for coupling food waste disposer systems to electrical power sources, and related coupling and configuration methods, are disclosed herein. In at least one example embodiment, a food waste disposer system includes a motor, a switch module, a housing, and an appliance inlet power cord connection structure supported at least indirectly upon the housing, where the connection structure is either connected to or integrally formed with the switch module. Further, the food waste disposer system also includes a power cord including a first end with a first plug and a second end with a second plug, where the first plug is configured to be coupled to the connection structure. Additionally, the food waste disposer includes an adapter or first lead wires that are coupled at least indirectly to the connection structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2024
    Publication date: September 19, 2024
    Inventors: Jeffrey Ward, Walter Bennage, Kelly T. Gamble, Fei Qi, Nicholas J. Hirsch, Grant Waldemer
  • Patent number: 12012736
    Abstract: Food waste disposer systems and related systems for coupling food waste disposer systems to electrical power sources, and related coupling and configuration methods, are disclosed herein. In at least one example embodiment, a food waste disposer system includes a motor, a switch module, a housing, and an appliance inlet power cord connection structure supported at least indirectly upon the housing, where the connection structure is either connected to or integrally formed with the switch module. Further, the food waste disposer system also includes a power cord including a first end with a first plug and a second end with a second plug, where the first plug is configured to be coupled to the connection structure. Additionally, the food waste disposer includes an adapter or first lead wires that are coupled at least indirectly to the connection structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2024
    Assignee: INSINKERATOR LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey Ward, Walter Bennage, Kelly T. Gamble, Fei Qi, Nicholas J. Hirsch, Grant Waldemer
  • Publication number: 20240052618
    Abstract: Waste disposer systems and cover switch mechanisms for implementation in such systems, and related methods, are disclosed. In an example embodiment, a cover switch mechanism includes a cord, a body configured to be coupled to a top portion of a disposer, and connecting components. The connecting components include a terminal cover configured to be coupled to a bottom portion of the disposer, a switch interface connector, and a connection component. The cord extends between the body and cover, where an end of the cord extending into the cover includes first and second leads. The first lead is coupled to the interface connector, and the cover is configured to receive a second end of a power link. The interface connector is configured to be coupled to a third lead of the link, and the connection component is configured to couple the second lead with a fourth lead of the link.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2022
    Publication date: February 15, 2024
    Inventors: Jeffrey Ward, Kelly T. Gamble, Dane Hofmeister
  • Publication number: 20050161960
    Abstract: An electric door strike for installation in residential wood frame door frames permits “hands-free” home access. An installation jig used to form an aperture in the door frame and a cavity in the underlying stud in which the door strike is mounted. A remote control circuit transmitter actuates the door strike to an unlatched position and a time delay circuit returns the door strike to a latched position after a predetermined delay time period. The transmitter can be used to interrupt the predetermined delay time period and immediately return the door strike to the latched position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2005
    Publication date: July 28, 2005
    Inventor: Jeffrey Ward
  • Patent number: 6896536
    Abstract: A smart connector for automotive accessories comprising injection molded plastic first and second components, the first component being adapted to receive a printed circuit board with edge contacts therein. Multiple position assurance features are provided so that the PCB can only be fully inserted in the proper orientation and can only be latched in place if fully inserted. Spring terminals are crimped to the wires leading to and from the connector assembly and contactingly engage the edge contacts on the surfaces of the PCB adjacent the leading and trailing edges thereof. The first and second connector components are releasably latched together by means of an exterior detent and spring arm combination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2005
    Assignee: Yazaki North America
    Inventors: Truong Nguyen, David Kwang, Chris Shelly, James L. Jones, III, Arkady Zerebilov, Jeffrey Ward
  • Publication number: 20050044027
    Abstract: A system and method of trading option contracts, such as foreign currency option contracts, is described. In one embodiment, a system and method for web-based or network-based interactive trading of currency options is described. Users of the system provide volatility runs of currency options, deal on existing offers to sell or bids to buy, or may improve on existing offers to sell or bids to buy. Option contracts may be priced in units of volatility. Users of the system described include banks of all sizes and traders or dealers employed by banks or other financial institutions. The system and method provide automatic price quotations for a requested option contract by polling internal volatility surfaces of users for prices on the requested contract.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2004
    Publication date: February 24, 2005
    Inventors: Kevin Rodgers, Jeffrey Ward
  • Patent number: 5305512
    Abstract: A method of producing a truck-like conversion van starts with a conventional, cargo van, and vertically cuts the conventional van only partially along a vertical section of the main frame of the vehicle, just rearwardly of the side doors of the van. Thereafter, a horizontal cut is made starting from the bottom of the vertical cut and progressing rearwardly all the way through the frame or existing floor of the van. Thus a rectangular-shaped slab or cutout of the conventional van is removed. The horizontal plane in which the horizontal cut is made is above the top of the rear tail lights, so that, not only are all of the mechanical parts of the original van retained, but also the same, original tail lights are also retained. After the slab has been cut away and removed, a truck-bed liner-insert of the invention is inserted into the cut-away, rear portion of the van, which rear portion is partially hollow, by which the liner-insert may be received therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 26, 1994
    Inventor: Jeffrey Ward
  • Patent number: 5288124
    Abstract: A method of producing a truck-like conversion van starts with a conventional, cargo van, and vertical section of the main frame of the vehicle, just rearwardly of the side doors of the van. Thereafter, a horizontal cut is made starting from the bottom of the vertical cut and progressing rearwardly all the way through the frame or existing floor of the van. Thus, a rectangular-shaped slab or cutout of the conventional van is removed. The horizontal plane in which the horizontal cut is made is above the top of the rear tail lights, so that, not only are all of the mechanical parts of the original van retained, but also the same, original tail lights are also retained. After the slab has been cut away and removed, a truck-bed liner-insert of the invention is inserted into the cut-away, rear portion of the van, which rear portion is partially hollow, by which the liner-insert may be received therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 1992
    Date of Patent: February 22, 1994
    Inventor: Jeffrey Ward
  • Patent number: D464547
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2002
    Assignee: Campbell Hausfeld/Scott Fetzer Company
    Inventors: Gary S. Bass, Christopher E. Martini, Jeffrey Ward