Patents by Inventor John Patrick Laitala

John Patrick Laitala 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: 20230284841
    Abstract: Dual roll sheet product dispensers of a compact design are provided herein. A sheet product dispenser comprises a first roll holder for a first product roll and a second roll holder for a second product roll. A housing includes a base portion and a cover that is movable relative to the base portion to define an open position and a closed position. A chassis is mounted between the first roll holder and the second roll holder and movable between a retracted position and an extended position. The chassis is movable to the extended position when the cover is in the open position. The chassis includes a first dispensing mechanism and a second dispensing mechanism.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2023
    Publication date: September 14, 2023
    Inventors: John Patrick Laitala, Jeremy John Wittig, Kyle Andrew Pfeifer, Russell William Diamond, Aaron Lee Sinclair, Ted Allen Casper, Brian Scott Borke, Ryan Joseph Schuh
  • Patent number: 11395566
    Abstract: Some example product dispensers that accommodate two full paper towel rolls are provided herein. The product dispenser may employ separate dispensing mechanisms for each product roll and may include roll holders that articulate out from the housing to facilitate easy loading and access to replacement and loading of the other product roll. A roll partition may be utilized to separate the web paths of the two product rolls and enable rotation of front roll holders. Example funnel covers and nip covers can aid with intuitive installation. Example roll holders with retention mechanisms help prevent unintentional dropping of the installed product roll. Other beneficial features include utilizing motor operation sensing to dispense a desired sheet length, automatic/assisted loading into the dispensing mechanism, automatic switching between dispensing of product rolls, and always dispensing from the smaller product roll first. Many other features/structures of example product dispensers are also described herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2022
    Assignee: GPCP IP HOLDINGS LLC
    Inventors: Brian Scott Borke, Ted Allen Casper, Jacob Charles Dahl, R. Mitchel Edwards, John William Grosz, Jr., Alan Joseph Johnson, John Patrick Laitala, Nickolas Everett Madsen, Tammy Lynn Miller, David Warren Murphy, Mark Edwin Peters, Kyle Andrew Pfeifer, Ryan Joseph Schuh, Aaron Lee Sinclair, Robert Paul Stuedemann, Kevin Michael Swanson, Karl Daniel Kissinger
  • Publication number: 20210085136
    Abstract: An example sheet product dispenser is configured to dispense from a sheet product roll that includes a plurality of predetermined portions that are designed for providing a toilet seat cover. A line of perforations separates consecutive portions. A motor operates to drive the drive roller to cause movement of the sheet product along a dispensing pathway to position a leading predetermined portion of the sheet product into a dispensing position such that the trailing edge of the leading predetermined portion is positioned within the housing and the leading edge of the leading predetermined portion is positioned outside of the dispensing chute to enable removal of the leading predetermined portion. Staged dispensing is utilized to help maintain hygiene, while still quickly providing the dispense. Perforation tear assist features are provided to aid in proper separation of the line of perforations, such as to help maintain integrity of the dispensed portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2020
    Publication date: March 25, 2021
    Inventors: DANIEL JOSEPH BARTMAN, JOHN PATRICK LAITALA, JOHN WILLIAM GROSZ, JR., TIMOTHY ANDREW ROBERTSON, TED ALLEN CASPER, JACOB CHARLES DAHL
  • Patent number: 10660485
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatuses regarding an improved sheet product dispenser are provided herein. Example sheet product dispensers include a rotatable carriage that holds two full size product rolls. Upon substantial depletion of one of the product rolls, the sheet product dispenser is configured to enable the carriage to rotate to present the depleted product roll to the janitor for easy and intuitive replacement. For example, a carriage with a depleted product roll may be configured to automatically rotate upon opening of the cover. Additional features for intuitive and reliable installation of the product roll are also provided herein, such as roll holder slot guides and a retention mechanism that maintains installation of a product roll during rotation of the carriage. Such example sheet product dispensers help to eliminate product waste, reduce confusion while loading, and reduce the time and effort required to load the sheet product dispenser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: GPCP IP HOLDINGS LLC
    Inventors: Alan Joseph Johnson, Brian Scott Borke, John Patrick Laitala, Nickolas Everett Madsen, Paul James Ruthven
  • Publication number: 20190328924
    Abstract: Automated air freshener dispensers and cartridges therefor are provided herein. Air freshener dispensers include a housing having a cavity for receiving a cartridge containing an air freshening substance for release, a fan that induces an airflow through the housing and directs the airflow to an area outside of the air freshener dispenser, such that released air freshening substance is entrained in the airflow, a motor for driving the fan, at least one sensor, and a controller that receives a signal from the at least one sensor and directs operation of the fan in response thereto.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2019
    Publication date: October 31, 2019
    Inventors: Eric Paul Peterson, Todd Richard Lappi, Daniel M. D'Amico, John Patrick Laitala, Ryan David Carignan
  • Patent number: 10391193
    Abstract: Automated air freshener dispensers and cartridges therefor are provided herein. Air freshener dispensers include a housing having a cavity for receiving a cartridge containing an air freshening substance for release, a fan that induces an airflow through the housing and directs the airflow to an area outside of the air freshener dispenser, such that released air freshening substance is entrained in the airflow, a motor for driving the fan, at least one sensor, and a controller that receives a signal from the at least one sensor and directs operation of the fan in response thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: GPCP IP Holdings LLC
    Inventors: Eric Paul Peterson, Todd Richard Lappi, Daniel M. D'Amico, John Patrick Laitala, Ryan David Carignan
  • Publication number: 20190104895
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatuses regarding an improved sheet product dispenser are provided herein. Example sheet product dispensers include a rotatable carriage that holds two full size product rolls. Upon substantial depletion of one of the product rolls, the sheet product dispenser is configured to enable the carriage to rotate to present the depleted product roll to the janitor for easy and intuitive replacement. For example, a carriage with a depleted product roll may be configured to automatically rotate upon opening of the cover. Additional features for intuitive and reliable installation of the product roll are also provided herein, such as roll holder slot guides and a retention mechanism that maintains installation of a product roll during rotation of the carriage. Such example sheet product dispensers help to eliminate product waste, reduce confusion while loading, and reduce the time and effort required to load the sheet product dispenser.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2017
    Publication date: April 11, 2019
    Inventors: Alan Joseph Johnson, Brian Scott Borke, John Patrick Laitala, Nickolas Everett Madsen, Paul James Ruthven
  • Patent number: 9999326
    Abstract: Some example product dispensers that accommodate two full paper towel rolls are provided herein. The product dispenser may employ separate dispensing mechanisms for each product roll and may include roll holders that articulate out from the housing to facilitate easy loading and access to replacement and loading of the other product roll. A roll partition may be utilized to separate the web paths of the two product rolls and enable rotation of front roll holders. Example funnel covers and nip covers can aid with intuitive installation. Example roll holders with retention mechanisms help prevent unintentional dropping of the installed product roll. Other beneficial features include utilizing motor operation sensing to dispense a desired sheet length, automatic/assisted loading into the dispensing mechanism, automatic switching between dispensing of product rolls, and always dispensing from the smaller product roll first. Many other features/structures of example product dispensers are also described herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2018
    Assignee: GPCP IP HOLDINGS LLC
    Inventors: Brian Scott Borke, Jacob Charles Dahl, John William Grosz, Jr., Alan Joseph Johnson, John Patrick Laitala, Nickolas Everett Madsen, Ryan Joseph Schuh, Kevin Michael Swanson
  • Publication number: 20170296689
    Abstract: Automated air freshener dispensers and cartridges therefor are provided herein. Air freshener dispensers include a housing having a cavity for receiving a cartridge containing an air freshening substance for release, a fan that induces an airflow through the housing and directs the airflow to an area outside of the air freshener dispenser, such that released air freshening substance is entrained in the airflow, a motor for driving the fan, at least one sensor, and a controller that receives a signal from the at least one sensor and directs operation of the fan in response thereto.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 5, 2017
    Publication date: October 19, 2017
    Inventors: Eric Paul Peterson, Todd Richard Lappi, Daniel M. D'Amico, John Patrick Laitala, Ryan David Carignan
  • Publication number: 20170290472
    Abstract: Some example product dispensers that accommodate two full paper towel rolls are provided herein. The product dispenser may employ separate dispensing mechanisms for each product roll and may include roll holders that articulate out from the housing to facilitate easy loading and access to replacement and loading of the other product roll. A roll partition may be utilized to separate the web paths of the two product rolls and enable rotation of front roll holders. Example funnel covers and nip covers can aid with intuitive installation. Example roll holders with retention mechanisms help prevent unintentional dropping of the installed product roll. Other beneficial features include utilizing motor operation sensing to dispense a desired sheet length, automatic/assisted loading into the dispensing mechanism, automatic switching between dispensing of product rolls, and always dispensing from the smaller product roll first. Many other features/structures of example product dispensers are also described herein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2017
    Publication date: October 12, 2017
    Inventors: Brian Scott Borke, Ted Allen Casper, Jacob Charles Dahl, John William Grosz, JR., Alan Joseph Johnson, John Patrick Laitala, Nickolas Everett Madsen, David Warren Murphy, Ryan Joseph Schuh, Kevin Michael Swanson
  • Publication number: 20170290471
    Abstract: Some example product dispensers that accommodate two full paper towel rolls are provided herein. The product dispenser may employ separate dispensing mechanisms for each product roll and may include roll holders that articulate out from the housing to facilitate easy loading and access to replacement and loading of the other product roll. A roll partition may be utilized to separate the web paths of the two product rolls and enable rotation of front roll holders. Example funnel covers and nip covers can aid with intuitive installation. Example roll holders with retention mechanisms help prevent unintentional dropping of the installed product roll. Other beneficial features include utilizing motor operation sensing to dispense a desired sheet length, automatic/assisted loading into the dispensing mechanism, automatic switching between dispensing of product rolls, and always dispensing from the smaller product roll first. Many other features/structures of example product dispensers are also described herein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2017
    Publication date: October 12, 2017
    Inventors: Brian Scott Borke, Ted Allen Casper, Jacob Charles Dahl, R. Mitchel Edwards, John William Grosz, Jr., Alan Joseph Johnson, John Patrick Laitala, Nickolas Everett Madsen, Tammy Lynn Miller, David Warren Murphy, Mark Edwin Peters, Kyle Andrew Pfeifer, Ryan Joseph Schuh, Aaron Lee Sinclair, Robert Paul Stuedemann, Kevin Michael Swanson
  • Patent number: 9717815
    Abstract: Automated air freshener dispensers and cartridges therefor are provided herein. Air freshener dispensers include a housing having a cavity for receiving a cartridge containing an air freshening substance for release, a fan that induces an airflow through the housing and directs the airflow to an area outside of the air freshener dispenser, such that released air freshening substance is entrained in the airflow, a motor for driving the fan, at least one sensor, and a controller that receives a signal from the at least one sensor and directs operation of the fan in response thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Georgia-Pacific Consumer Products LP
    Inventors: Eric Paul Peterson, Todd Richard Lappi, Daniel M. D'Amico, John Patrick Laitala, Ryan David Carignan
  • Patent number: 8552340
    Abstract: Embodiments of an enclosed welder that includes a recess disposed at a depth in a rear panel of the enclosure are provided. The recess may include at least one of an engine air filter, a blower housing, and a recoil start. The depth at which the recess is set back from the rear panel may be such that the engine air filter, the blower housing, and the recoil start each do not extend outward beyond the rear panel. A first air source may be configured to enter the enclosed welder via the air filter and combust fuel within an engine. A second air source may further be configured to enter the welder via the blower housing and cool the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: John Patrick Laitala, Joel Raymond Ort
  • Publication number: 20100147817
    Abstract: Embodiments of an enclosed welder that includes a recess disposed at a depth in a rear panel of the enclosure are provided. The recess may include at least one of an engine air filter, a blower housing, and a recoil start. The depth at which the recess is set back from the rear panel may be such that the engine air filter, the blower housing, and the recoil start each do not extend outward beyond the rear panel. A first air source may be configured to enter the enclosed welder via the air filter and combust fuel within an engine. A second air source may further be configured to enter the welder via the blower housing and cool the engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2009
    Publication date: June 17, 2010
    Applicant: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: John Patrick Laitala, Joel Raymond Ort