Patents by Inventor John A. Hoffmann

John A. Hoffmann 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: 20050016700
    Abstract: A sclereid concentrator is an apparatus designed to concentrate sclereids found in pulp. The sclereid concentrator is based around a mini-hydrocyclone. When a slush pulp sample is passed through the mini-hydrocyclone, practically all the sclereids are removed by the reject port. The reject sample is then collected, screened and the sclereids are then manually counted or an image analysis system is used to automatically count the sclereids. This count, expressed on the basis of the original sample mass, gives an accurate measurement of the sclereid contamination level in the pulp. There is provided a sclereid concentrator device, a procedure to produce almost pure sclereids and a method to count sclereids manually or by image analysis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2004
    Publication date: January 27, 2005
    Inventors: John Hoffmann, Robert Gooding
  • Publication number: 20030136537
    Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus and method for producing articles (5) from moulded pulp material that are laminated with a plastic film (4). Thus an environmental friendly and water-resistant package for food products and for other moulded pulp products such as packages for industrial products is provided. The apparatus comprises a moulding line 1 and a laminating line (3). The moulding line (1) comprises a suction moulding station (20) with a pulp vat (25) and a number of suction moulds (22), a drying oven (28) and conveying means (26,28) for transporting the moulded pulp articles through the moulding line (1). The articles are transported in line by a conveyor 10 from the moulding line (1) to the laminating line (3), the laminating line (3) comprises a plastic film supply unit (47), a heating station (69) a laminating station (80) and conveying means (56) for conveying the articles (5) through the laminating line (3).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2002
    Publication date: July 24, 2003
    Inventors: John Hoffmann Frederiksen, Torben Rasmussen
  • Patent number: 6212220
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for creating non-interfering signals to be simultaneously transmitted over a common frequency in a wireless communication systems, such as a CDMA system, without the use of orthogonal codes and/or orthogonal code generation techniques. The system provides a pseudorandom combiner that receives the information signal and a pseudorandom code sequence and combines the information signal with the pseudorandom code sequence to produce the first combined signal. A channel sequence combiner receives the first combined signal and a repetitive maximum length channel sequence and combines these signals to produce a second combined signal. A selector receives the first combined signal, the second combined signal and a repetitive strobe signal, and selects either the first combined signal or the second combined signal to produce a modulated signal based upon a value of the repetitive strobe signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2001
    Assignee: Tantivy Communications, Inc.
    Inventors: James A. Proctor, Jr., John Hoffmann, Antoine Rouphael
  • Patent number: 6098315
    Abstract: An insert for a shoe comprises a pouch having a moldable, thixotropic material and a shell having a catalyst. The shell is capable of being ruptured by massaging the pouch to allow the catalyst to be released from the shell and mixed with the material. A pressure sensitive adhesive is on the bottom of the pouch to secure it to the inner sole of a shoe, and a nylon layer is on the top of the pouch to absorb moisture and provide an aesthetic appearance. In use, the pouch is massaged to mix the catalyst and moldable material and is then placed in a shoe. The user places a foot in the shoe and applies a light weight to the foot so that the pouch assumes the shape of the foot bottom and fills that space between the foot and the shoe. Then, the foot is removed to allow the material to cure. When the material is cured the insert prevents excessive collapse of the foot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2000
    Assignee: Comfort Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: John A. Hoffmann, III
  • Patent number: 5704500
    Abstract: A dispensing-sealing arrangement (10) is disclosed for a container (12) comprising a resiliently deformable dispensing apparatus typically in the form of a teat (14) connected about opening (16) of the container (12). The teat (14) is provided with an outlet (18) for dispensing matter contained in the container (12). Cap (20) is provided with a skirt (22) for insertion into the opening (16) for sealing the container (12). Sealing is achieved by the skirt (22) deforming the teat (14) in the manner so that a first portion (24) of the teat is sandwiched between the opening (16) and the skirt (22). The skirt (22) is configured so that sufficient pressure is applied to the teat (14) to ensure positive sealing between the teat and the first skirt (22). The skirt (22) is located in board of the periphery of, and depends from, upper wall (26) of cap (20).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 6, 1998
    Inventors: David John Hoffmann, Robert Anthony James Hunter
  • Patent number: 5129395
    Abstract: An insert for a shoe or a shoe interior comprises a central portion which prevents excess pronation, a front portion which extends arcuately and transversely across the foot to support the transverse metatarsal arch, a rear portion which extends transversely across the foot and contacts the forward edge of the heel, a lateral, slanted edge which is aligned parallel to the longitudinal axis of the arch and support the fifth metatarsal shaft of the foot, and a fourth portion which slopes medially. The device is designed to fit the area of void on the plantar side of the human foot to support the structure of the foot to prevent excess pronation and to substantially reduce foot morbidity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 1991
    Date of Patent: July 14, 1992
    Inventor: John A. Hoffmann
  • Patent number: 3935780
    Abstract: A band saw drive arrangement including relatively large driven and idler pulleys and a relatively small drive pulley. The pulleys are all V-grooved pulleys and are mounted in coplanar relationship for rotation about spaced, parallel axes, with the drive pulley positioned between the driven and idler pulleys. The drive pulley is motor driven and an endless flexible V-belt is trained about the drive and driven pulleys. A V-belt is also secured in the groove of the idler pulley. An endless flexible saw band is trained about the driven and idler pulleys with its inner surface in frictional driving engagement with the outer surfaces of the V-belts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 1975
    Date of Patent: February 3, 1976
    Inventor: John A. Hoffmann