Patents by Inventor Kwamena Gyakye deGraft-Johnson

Kwamena Gyakye deGraft-Johnson 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: 10098978
    Abstract: Wearable devices for dispensing insect repellents, fragrances, and/or other chemicals along the outside of the clothing of a human are disclosed. They are of the type that are clipped onto a belt or the like, and use a powered fan to dispense active. They are configured with fan rotor arrangements to minimize power use while still achieving acceptable air flow rates. These changes permit use of smaller batteries and more compact arrangements for battery positioning. This in turn permits a much more compact and lightweight construction to achieve the desired results. The devices are also provided with a rotatable clip structure to render use of the device more comfortable when the user is seated and to provide greater control over the direction of the dispensing. Further, they are provided with modified lids to facilitate active refill replacement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: S. C. Johnson & Son, Inc.
    Inventors: Saleh A. Saleh, David C. Belongia, Nitin Sharma, Paul E. Furner, Kwamena Gyakye degraft-Johnson, Raymund J. Alfaro, Donald J. Schumacher
  • Publication number: 20160256588
    Abstract: Wearable devices for dispensing insect repellents, fragrances, and/or other chemicals along the outside of the clothing of a human are disclosed. They are of the type that are clipped onto a belt or the like, and use a powered fan to dispense active. They are configured with fan rotor arrangements to minimize power use while still achieving acceptable air flow rates. These changes permit use of smaller batteries and more compact arrangements for battery positioning. This in turn permits a much more compact and lightweight construction to achieve the desired results. The devices are also provided with a rotatable clip structure to render use of the device more comfortable when the user is seated and to provide greater control over the direction of the dispensing. Further, they are provided with modified lids to facilitate active refill replacement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2016
    Publication date: September 8, 2016
    Applicant: S. C. Johnson & Son, Inc.
    Inventors: Saleh A. Saleh, David C. Belongia, Nitin Sharma, Paul E. Furner, Kwamena Gyakye degraft-Johnson, Raymund J. Alfaro, Donald J. Schumacher
  • Patent number: 9364574
    Abstract: Wearable devices for dispensing insect repellents, fragrances, and/or other chemicals along the outside of the clothing of a human are disclosed. They are of the type that are clipped onto a belt or the like, and use a powered fan to dispense active. They are configured with fan rotor arrangements to minimize power use while still achieving acceptable air flow rates. These changes permit use of smaller batteries and more compact arrangements for battery positioning. This in turn permits a much more compact and lightweight construction to achieve the desired results. The devices are also provided with a rotatable clip structure to render use of the device more comfortable when the user is seated and to provide greater control over the direction of the dispensing. Further, they are provided with modified lids to facilitate active refill replacement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: S. C. Johnson & Son, Inc.
    Inventors: Saleh A. Saleh, David C. Belongia, Nitin Sharma, Paul E. Furner, Kwamena Gyakye deGraft-Johnson, Raymund J. Alfaro, Donald J. Schumacher
  • Patent number: 8602261
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are insect repellant wrist and ankle bands. The bands contain a space within which a substrate that has been impregnated with an insect control repellant can be heated by a heater such as a pouch providing an exothermic chemical reaction. Thus, the bands can efficiently act as repellant dispensers without the need for the user to apply the repellant directly to the user's skin or clothing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: S.C. Johnson & Son, Inc.
    Inventors: Tara L. Koele, Kwamena Gyakye deGraft-Johnson, Brian T. Davis
  • Publication number: 20120131986
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods for measuring the concentration of volatile air treatment chemicals in the air. These methods can be used to evaluate the effectiveness of, and/or optimize, dispensers that dispenses a volatile air treatment chemical into a test area. One runs side by side sampling of air using both sorbent tube and solid phase micro extraction fiber collectors to develop a correlation curve between air treatment chemical concentration results from the sorbent tube sampling and amount readings from the SPME sampling. One then uses SPME collectors to measure in a passive manner the performance of the volatile dispensers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2008
    Publication date: May 31, 2012
    Inventors: Padma Prabodh Varanasi, Anne T. Maghasi, Kwamena Gyakye deGraft-Johnson, Yemi Susan Bullen
  • Patent number: 7917018
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are wearable devices for dispensing insect repellents, fragrances, and/or other chemicals along the outside of the clothing of a human, to avoid the need to apply such chemicals directly to clothing or to human's skin. The devices have an on/off switch that automatically controls a shutter which enables and restricts air flow, while also controlling fan operation and covering of a use-up cue. The device also is designed to prevent fan operation when an impregnated slab is not present. Also disclosed are preferred refills for use with such devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignee: S.C. Johnson & Son, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald J. Schumacher, Raymund J. Alfaro, Dirk K. Nickel, Tyler D. Duston, Michael T. Hudak, Sean P. Kingston, Anne T. Maghasi, Kwamena Gyakye deGraft-Johnson
  • Patent number: 7892487
    Abstract: A useful life indicator is provided to display an indication of the remaining useful life of an associated product such as an impregnated substrate of an air treatment chemical dispenser. The cue is preferably a well having a volatile indicator material positioned therein. The well's cavity is configured to achieve clumping of the remaining indicator material as some volatizes due to capillary attraction. This presents a shrinking display that can be coordinated with the level of use of the air treatment chemical dispenser. The cue may also be used in connection with monitoring other products such as perishable products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Assignee: S.C. Johnson & Son, Inc.
    Inventors: Joel E. Adair, Kwamena Gyakye deGraft-Johnson, Anne T. Maghasi, Brian T. Davis, Donald J. Schumacher, Padma Prabodh Varanasi
  • Publication number: 20110038761
    Abstract: Wearable devices for dispensing insect repellents, fragrances, and/or other chemicals along the outside of the clothing of a human are disclosed. They are of the type that are clipped onto a belt or the like, and use a powered fan to dispense active. They are configured with fan rotor arrangements to minimize power use while still achieving acceptable air flow rates. These changes permit use of smaller batteries and more compact arrangements for battery positioning. This in turn permits a much more compact and lightweight construction to achieve the desired results. The devices are also provided with a rotatable clip structure to render use of the device more comfortable when the user is seated and to provide greater control over the direction of the dispensing. Further, they are provided with modified lids to facilitate active refill replacement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2009
    Publication date: February 17, 2011
    Inventors: Saleh A. Saleh, David C. Belongia, Nitin Sharma, Paul E. Furner, Kwamena Gyakye deGraft-Johnson, Raymund J. Alfaro, Donald J. Schumacher
  • Patent number: 7833492
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are wearable devices for dispensing insect repellents, fragrances, and/or other chemicals along the outside of the clothing of a human, to avoid the need to apply such chemicals directly to clothing or to human's skin. The devices have an on/off switch that automatically controls a shutter which enables and restricts air flow, while also controlling fan operation and covering of a use-up cue. The device also is designed to prevent fan operation when an impregnated slab is not present. Also disclosed are preferred refills for use with such devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Assignee: S.C. Johnson & Son, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald J. Schumacher, Raymund J. Alfaro, Dirk K. Nickel, Tyler D. Duston, Michael T. Hudak, Sean P. Kingston, Anne T. Maghasi, Kwamena Gyakye deGraft-Johnson
  • Publication number: 20100270393
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are wearable devices for dispensing insect repellents, fragrances, and/or other chemicals along the outside of the clothing of a human, to avoid the need to apply such chemicals directly to clothing or to human's skin. The devices have an on/off switch that automatically controls a shutter which enables and restricts air flow, while also controlling fan operation and covering of a use-up cue. The device also is designed to prevent fan operation when an impregnated slab is not present. Also disclosed are preferred refills for use with such devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2010
    Publication date: October 28, 2010
    Inventors: Donald J. Schumacher, Raymund J. Alfaro, Dirk K. Nickel, Tyler D. Duston, Michael T. Hudak, Sean P. Kingston, Anne T. Maghasi, Kwamena Gyakye deGraft-Johnson
  • Publication number: 20100272767
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are insect repellant wrist and ankle bands. The bands contain a space within which a substrate that has been impregnated with an insect control repellant can be heated by a heater such as a pouch providing an exothermic chemical reaction. Thus, the bands can efficiently act as repellant dispensers without the need for the user to apply the repellant directly to the user's skin or clothing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2009
    Publication date: October 28, 2010
    Inventors: Tara L. Koele, Kwamena Gyakye deGraft-Johnson, Brian T. Davis
  • Publication number: 20090008411
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are wearable devices for dispensing insect repellents, fragrances, and/or other chemicals along the outside of the clothing of a human, to avoid the need to apply such chemicals directly to clothing or to human's skin. The devices have an on/off switch that automatically controls a shutter which enables and restricts air flow, while also controlling fan operation and covering of a use-up cue. The device also is designed to prevent fan operation when an impregnated slab is not present. Also disclosed are preferred refills for use with such devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2007
    Publication date: January 8, 2009
    Inventors: Donald J. Schumacher, Raymund J. Alfaro, Dirk K. Nickel, Tyler D. Duston, Michael T. Hudak, Sean P. Kingston, Anne T. Maghasi, Kwamena Gyakye deGraft-Johnson
  • Publication number: 20080141928
    Abstract: A useful life indicator is provided to display an indication of the remaining useful life of an associated product such as an impregnated substrate of an air treatment chemical dispenser. The cue is preferably a well having a volatile indicator material positioned therein. The well's cavity is configured to achieve clumping of the remaining indicator material as some volatizes due to capillary attraction. This presents a shrinking display that can be coordinated with the level of use of the air treatment chemical dispenser. The cue may also be used in connection with monitoring other products such as perishable products.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2006
    Publication date: June 19, 2008
    Inventors: Joel E. Adair, Kwamena Gyakye deGraft-Johnson, Anne T. Maghasi, Brian T. Davis, Donald J. Schumacher, Padma Prabodh Varanasi