Patents by Inventor John F. Roberts

John F. Roberts 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: 8523012
    Abstract: A merchandise display hook has a time delay mechanism for increasing the amount of time required to dispense items of merchandise from a display arm, while permitting bulk loading of the items of merchandise onto the display arm. The time delay mechanism includes a housing, a helix extending from the housing in a rearward direction, and a rotatable handle extending from the housing in a forward direction. Rotation of the handle causes the helix to rotate about the display arm to thereby dispense the items of merchandise from the display arm in the forward direction. The time delay mechanism further includes a lock mechanism having a secured position for attaching the time delay mechanism to the display arm and an unsecured position for allowing the time delay mechanism to be detached from the display arm to permit bulk loading.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: InVue Security Products Inc.
    Inventors: Justin A. Richardson, Michael R. Johnston, John F. Roberts
  • Patent number: 8286454
    Abstract: A locking device for a merchandise display hook has an upper rod disposed along a longitudinal axis and a lower rod disposed generally parallel to the longitudinal axis and the upper rod. The locking device includes a housing having a vertical slot adapted to receive the upper rod and the lower rod of the display hook. A bayonet is movable between a locked position in which a portion of the bayonet extends into the slot and restricts movement of at least one of the upper rod and the lower rod within the slot, and an unlocked position in which the bayonet does not extend into the slot and thereby permits movement of the upper rod and the lower rod within the slot. An elongate nose depending outwardly from the housing defines a channel that intersects the slot of the housing and receives the upper rod of the display hook with the upper rod and the lower rod disposed within the slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: InVue Security Products Inc.
    Inventors: Justin A. Richardson, John F. Roberts, Michael R. Johnston, Gregory C. Schultz
  • Publication number: 20120188082
    Abstract: A merchandise display security device for displaying and protecting an article of merchandise includes a mounting element adapted to be mounted on a support surface with the mounting element defining an opening over a hole formed through the support surface. A base having a cable collection tube is configured to be received within the opening of the mounting element and passed through the hole to a location beneath the support surface. The base is releasably attached to the mounting element so that the base can be detached from the mounting element and the collection tube passed through the hole to provide access to the collection tube above the support surface. The collection tube may be movably disposed on the base so that the cable collection tube can be positioned at any desired angular location beneath the support surface relative to the base.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2012
    Publication date: July 26, 2012
    Applicant: InVue Security Products Inc.
    Inventors: David N. Berglund, Larry K. Hooks, JR., John F. Roberts, Michael R. Johnston
  • Patent number: 8061164
    Abstract: An anti-theft device for protecting a laptop computer or similar portable electronic product from theft or unauthorized removal includes at least one retaining assembly including a laterally extending retaining arm terminating in a retaining hook for engaging a lateral edge of the laptop computer or similar portable electronic product, a retaining leg depending from the retaining arm and a retaining base for receiving the retaining leg in a locked configuration. The retaining arm is adjustable to accommodate laptop computers or similar portable electronic products having various widths and a lock mechanism includes a shuttle fixed to a collar made of a magnetically attractive material and a biasing spring for biasing the shuttle into engagement with the retaining leg of the retaining arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: InVue Security Products Inc.
    Inventors: Michael R. Johnston, John F. Roberts
  • Publication number: 20110100073
    Abstract: An anti-theft device for protecting a laptop computer or similar portable electronic product from theft or unauthorized removal includes at least one retaining assembly including a laterally extending retaining arm terminating in a retaining hook for engaging a lateral edge of the laptop computer or similar portable electronic product, a retaining leg depending from the retaining arm and a retaining base for receiving the retaining leg in a locked configuration. The retaining arm is adjustable to accommodate laptop computers or similar portable electronic products having various widths and a lock mechanism includes a shuttle fixed to a collar made of a magnetically attractive material and a biasing spring for biasing the shuttle into engagement with the retaining leg of the retaining arm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2009
    Publication date: May 5, 2011
    Applicant: INVUE SECURITY PRODUCTS INC.
    Inventors: Michael R. Johnston, John F. Roberts
  • Publication number: 20110036789
    Abstract: A merchandise display hook has a time delay mechanism for increasing the amount of time required to dispense items of merchandise from a display arm, while permitting bulk loading of the items of merchandise onto the display arm. The time delay mechanism includes a housing, a helix extending from the housing in a rearward direction, and a rotatable handle extending from the housing in a forward direction. Rotation of the handle causes the helix to rotate about the display arm to thereby dispense the items of merchandise from the display arm in the forward direction. The time delay mechanism further includes a lock mechanism having a secured position for attaching the time delay mechanism to the display arm and an unsecured position for allowing the time delay mechanism to be detached from the display arm to permit bulk loading.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2010
    Publication date: February 17, 2011
    Applicant: INVUE SECURITY PRODUCTS INC.
    Inventors: Justin A. Richardson, Michael R. Johnston, John F. Roberts
  • Publication number: 20100223965
    Abstract: A locking device for a merchandise display hook has an upper rod disposed along a longitudinal axis and a lower rod disposed generally parallel to the longitudinal axis and the upper rod. The locking device includes a housing having a vertical slot adapted to receive the upper rod and the lower rod of the display hook. A bayonet is movable between a locked position in which a portion of the bayonet extends into the slot and restricts movement of at least one of the upper rod and the lower rod within the slot, and an unlocked position in which the bayonet does not extend into the slot and thereby permits movement of the upper rod and the lower rod within the slot. An elongate nose depending outwardly from the housing defines a channel that intersects the slot of the housing and receives the upper rod of the display hook with the upper rod and the lower rod disposed within the slot.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2010
    Publication date: September 9, 2010
    Applicant: INVUE SECURITY PRODUCTS INC.
    Inventors: Justin A. Richardson, John F. Roberts, Michael R. Johnston, Gregory C. Schultz
  • Publication number: 20100206825
    Abstract: A merchandise display hook for supporting and displaying items of merchandise includes a universal adapter and a mounting bracket for mounting the display hook to a generally vertical support, for example slatwall. The universal adapter includes one of a pair of attachment tracks and attachment rails for engaging the other of a pair of attachment tracks and attachment rails on the mounting bracket to attach the universal adapter to the mounting bracket from a generally lateral direction. The universal adapter may further include a lower portion for engaging the support to prevent the display hook from being tilted in a downwards direction. The mounting bracket may include flanges on upper and lower portions of a rear wall for engaging a channel formed in the support. Alternatively, the mounting bracket may include a body portion and a mounting plate movably disposed on the body portion for engaging the channel formed in the support.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2010
    Publication date: August 19, 2010
    Inventors: Michael R. Johnston, Gregory C. Schultz, John F. Roberts
  • Publication number: 20100199538
    Abstract: A locking device for a merchandise display hook includes a housing disposed adjacent a free end of the merchandise hook and defining an interior cavity adapted for receiving an end portion of the display hook. A shuttle biased by a biasing spring secures the end portion of the display hook in a locked configuration within the interior cavity. A label holder mount is integrally formed with the housing and disposed adjacent the free end of the merchandise display hook. The label holder mount is adapted for mounting a plurality of different types of label holders on the display hook.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2010
    Publication date: August 12, 2010
    Applicant: INVUE SECURITY PRODUCTS INC.
    Inventors: John F. Roberts, Michael R. Johnston, Kai-Sheng Cheng, Gregory C. Schultz
  • Publication number: 20090266953
    Abstract: A conversion bracket for mounting a pegboard display hook on an alternate display structure includes a first mounting plate and a second mounting plate movably coupled to the first mounting plate so as to permit the conversion bracket to be guided over and positioned on the alternate display structure. The first mounting plate has at least one first mounting opening and the second mounting plate has at least one second mounting opening for receiving the mounting structure of the display hook. Each of the first mounting plate and the second mounting plate defines at least one cavity configured to receive a portion of the alternate display structure. The first mounting plate may include a pair of first mounting plates that are joined together by an integral arm extending therebetween, or alternatively, are independently rotatable relative to the second mounting plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2008
    Publication date: October 29, 2009
    Applicant: INVUE SECURITY PRODUCTS, INC.
    Inventors: Mitchell S. Goldstein, John F. Roberts, Christopher D. Cureton, Michael R. Johnston, Gregory C. Schultz
  • Patent number: 6001657
    Abstract: Antibodies that selectively bind to quadruplex nucleic acids are described. Isolated cells that produce such antibodies, and methods utilizing these antibodies, are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 14, 1999
    Assignees: North Carolina State University, Jackson Laboratories
    Inventors: Charles C. Hardin, Bernard A. Brown, II, John F. Roberts, Stephen C. Pelsue