Patents by Inventor John O. H. Niswonger

John O. H. Niswonger 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: 10238475
    Abstract: A flosser is described that includes a take-up spool for winding a plurality of layers of used floss, a shell for forming a chamber around the take-up spool and enclosing the plurality of layers of used floss windings within the chamber, and helical grooves disposed in an inner surface of the shell for preventing jamming of the take-up spool by accumulated floss windings. The flosser further includes a retie assembly having a groove disposed in a fin for trapping floss against a take-up aperture upon alignment of the groove and aperture, and for urging floss into take-up aperture and wrapping the floss around the take-up spool as the fin rotates further.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Inventors: N. Michelle Borg, John O. H. Niswonger
  • Patent number: 9517118
    Abstract: An orthodontic flosser comprising an elongated handle and a head coupled to the handle is disclosed. A projection extend for suspending floss is sized for insertion of floss between a wire affixed to a tooth and the tooth. A source spool of fresh floss is configured to feed fresh floss incrementally into suspension from the projection while a take-up bobbin is configured for taking up used floss and applying tension to the suspended floss. A button may be used for releasing the source spool to rotate, and for holding the source spool against rotation. The source spool and take-up bobbin may be disposed in separated chambers to reduce cross contamination. A retie flange in the take-up bobbin and a retie slot in a take-up chamber are configured for retiying broken floss around a spindle of the take-up bobbin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Inventors: N. Michelle Borg, John O. H. Niswonger
  • Patent number: 9403356
    Abstract: A frame and panel for tensioning fabric such as a silkscreen mesh is described. The panel includes locking strips secured to the edges using stitching through the mesh and locking strips. A method for fabricating the frame and panel, and tensioning the panel on a frame is also described. Locking strips may be stitched to edges of the fabric or mesh.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Inventor: John O. H. Niswonger
  • Patent number: 9358774
    Abstract: A system for attaching mesh to a frame and applying tension to the mesh is described. The system includes a locking strip slot in a movable frame member that permits mesh and an attached locking strip to be inserted into the slot from the top. The locking strip may be asymmetric. The system further includes a rigid frame that can hold the movable frame member under tension. The system also includes gripping the movable frame member at the locking strip slot to apply tension to the mesh. A simple hand tool may be used for engaging the locking strip slot and leveraging against the rigid portion of the frame to apply the tension. A simple hand tool may be used for separating the movable frame member from the rigid frame to remove the mesh.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Inventor: John O. H. Niswonger
  • Patent number: 8997648
    Abstract: A system for attaching mesh to a frame and applying tension to the mesh is described. The system includes a locking strip slot in a movable frame member that permits mesh and an attached locking strip to be inserted into the slot from the top. The locking strip may be asymmetric. The system further includes a rigid frame that can hold the movable frame member under tension. The system also includes gripping the movable frame member at the locking strip slot to apply tension to the mesh. A simple hand tool may be used for engaging the locking strip slot and leveraging against the rigid portion of the frame to apply the tension. A simple hand tool may be used for separating the movable frame member from the rigid frame to remove the mesh.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Inventor: John O. H. Niswonger
  • Publication number: 20150040782
    Abstract: A screen-printing panel comprising a locking strip sewn to a screen-printing mesh is described. The mesh along an edge of the panel is folded around the locking strip and secured using a line of stitching. A gap between the end of the locking strip and the edge of the mesh contributes to corner softening. Another gap between the end of the stitching and the end of the locking strip also contributes to corner softening. Locking strips have various cross sections including rectangular, triangular, and complex curves. Two colors of thread may be used to aid in orienting the panel. An adhesive may be used to hold the mesh to the locking strip for convenience during handling and sewing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2014
    Publication date: February 12, 2015
    Inventor: John O.H. NISWONGER
  • Publication number: 20150040370
    Abstract: A frame and panel for tensioning fabric such as a silkscreen mesh is described. The panel includes locking strips secured to the edges using stitching through the mesh and locking strips. A method for fabricating the frame and panel, and tensioning the panel on a frame is also described. Locking strips may be stitched to edges of the fabric or mesh.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2014
    Publication date: February 12, 2015
    Inventor: JOHN O.H. NISWONGER
  • Patent number: 8869693
    Abstract: A panel for tensioning fabric such as a silkscreen mesh is described. The panel includes locking strips secured to the edges using stitching through the mesh and locking strips. A method for fabricating the panel and tensioning the panel on a frame is also described. Locking strips may be stitched to edges of the fabric or mesh.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Inventor: John O. H. Niswonger
  • Patent number: 8869694
    Abstract: A screen-printing panel comprising a locking strip sewn to screen-printing mesh is described. The mesh along an edge of the panel is folded around the locking strip and secured using a line of stitching. A gap between the end of the locking strip and the edge of the mesh contributes to corner softening. Another gap between the end of the stitching and the end of the locking strip also contributes to corner softening. Locking strips have various cross sections including rectangular, triangular, and complex curves. Two colors of thread may be used to aid in orienting the panel. An adhesive may be used to hold the mesh to the locking strip for convenience during handling and sewing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Inventor: John O. H. Niswonger
  • Patent number: 8671958
    Abstract: An orthodontic flosser comprising an elongated handle and a head coupled to the handle at a vertical angle is disclosed. A first and second projection extend from the head for suspending floss, the first projection is sized for insertion of floss between a wire affixed to a tooth and the tooth. A source spool of fresh floss is configured to feed fresh floss incrementally into suspension between the first and second projections while a take-up bobbin is configured for taking up used floss and applying tension to the suspended floss. A button may be used for releasing the source spool to rotate, and for holding the source spool against rotation. The source spool and take-up bobbin may be disposed in separated chambers to reduce cross contamination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Inventors: N. Michelle Borg, John O. H. Niswonger
  • Publication number: 20140000466
    Abstract: A panel for tensioning fabric such as a silkscreen mesh is described. The panel includes locking strips secured to the edges using stitching through the mesh and locking strips. A method for fabricating the panel and tensioning the panel on a frame is also described. Locking strips may be stitched to edges of the fabric or mesh.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2013
    Publication date: January 2, 2014
    Inventor: John O.H. Niswonger
  • Patent number: 8607700
    Abstract: Mesh may be stretched between rollers of a roller frame using a tool to grip a locking strip slot in the roller at about the middle of the roller and turning the roller using the tool. A rectangular frame may support the roller frame in a planer configuration during stretching. A jack coupled to the rectangular frame may be used to apply rotational force to the tool for rotating the roller. A triangular locking strip may be stitched to the mesh for insertion into the locking strip slot from the top instead of the end of the slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Inventor: John O. H. Niswonger
  • Patent number: 8544384
    Abstract: A screen-printing panel comprising a locking strip sewn to screen-printing mesh is described. The mesh along an edge of the panel is folded around the locking strip and secured using a line of stitching. A gap between the end of the locking strip and the edge of the mesh contributes to corner softening. Another gap between the end of the stitching and the end of the locking strip also contributes to corner softening. Locking strips have various cross sections including rectangular, triangular, and complex curves. Two colors of thread may be used to aid in orienting the panel. An adhesive may be used to hold the mesh to the locking strip for convenience during handling and sewing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Inventor: John O. H. Niswonger
  • Patent number: 8522681
    Abstract: A panel for tensioning fabric such as a silkscreen mesh is described. The panel includes locking strips secured to the edges using stitching through the mesh and locking strips. A method for fabricating the panel and tensioning the panel on a frame is also described. Locking strips may be stitched to edges of the fabric or mesh.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Inventor: John O. H. Niswonger
  • Patent number: 8453566
    Abstract: A system for attaching mesh to a frame and applying tension to the mesh is described. The system includes a locking strip slot in a movable frame member that permits mesh and an attached locking strip to be inserted into the slot from the top. The locking strip may be asymmetric. The system further includes a rigid frame that can hold the movable frame member under tension. The system also includes gripping the movable frame member at the locking strip slot to apply tension to the mesh. A simple hand tool may be used for engaging the locking strip slot and leveraging against the rigid portion of the frame to apply the tension. A simple hand tool may be used for separating the movable frame member from the rigid frame to remove the mesh.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Inventor: John O. H. Niswonger
  • Patent number: D806490
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Inventor: John O. H. Niswonger
  • Patent number: D827400
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Inventor: John O. H. Niswonger
  • Patent number: D828890
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2018
    Inventor: John O. H. Niswonger
  • Patent number: D870944
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2019
    Inventor: John O. H. Niswonger
  • Patent number: D877839
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2020
    Inventor: John O. H. Niswonger