Patents by Inventor Kyle Bradley Martin

Kyle Bradley Martin 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: 11927911
    Abstract: A replaceable unit for an electrophotographic image forming device includes a housing having a reservoir for holding toner. An electrical connector is positioned on a first side of the housing. The electrical connector includes an electrical contact for contacting a corresponding electrical contact in the image forming device. The electrical contact of the replaceable unit is electrically connected to processing circuitry mounted on the housing. The electrical connector is movable between a first position and a second position. The electrical contact of the replaceable unit moves outward from the first side of the housing along a side-to-side dimension of the housing when the electrical connector moves from the first position to the second position. The electrical contact of the replaceable unit faces downward when the electrical connector is in the second position permitting the corresponding electrical contact to contact the electrical contact of the replaceable unit from below.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: James Richard Leemhuis, Kyle Bradley Martin
  • Patent number: 11500325
    Abstract: A replaceable unit for an electrophotographic image forming device includes a housing having a reservoir for holding toner. An electrical connector is positioned on a first side of the housing. The electrical connector includes an electrical contact for contacting a corresponding electrical contact in the image forming device. The electrical contact of the replaceable unit is electrically connected to processing circuitry mounted on the housing. The electrical connector is movable between a first position and a second position. The electrical contact of the replaceable unit moves outward from the first side of the housing along a side-to-side dimension of the housing when the electrical connector moves from the first position to the second position. The electrical contact of the replaceable unit faces downward when the electrical connector is in the second position permitting the corresponding electrical contact to contact the electrical contact of the replaceable unit from below.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: James Richard Leemhuis, Kyle Bradley Martin
  • Patent number: 11036177
    Abstract: A replaceable unit for an electrophotographic image forming device includes a housing having a reservoir for holding toner. An electrical connector is positioned on a first side of the housing. The electrical connector includes an electrical contact for contacting a corresponding electrical contact in the image forming device. The electrical contact of the replaceable unit is electrically connected to processing circuitry mounted on the housing. The electrical connector is movable between a first position and a second position. The electrical contact of the replaceable unit moves outward from the first side of the housing along a side-to-side dimension of the housing when the electrical connector moves from the first position to the second position. The electrical contact of the replaceable unit faces downward when the electrical connector is in the second position permitting the corresponding electrical contact to contact the electrical contact of the replaceable unit from below.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: James Richard Leemhuis, Kyle Bradley Martin
  • Patent number: 10761476
    Abstract: A replaceable unit for an electrophotographic image forming device includes a housing having a reservoir for holding toner. An electrical connector is positioned on a first side of the housing. The electrical connector includes an electrical contact for contacting a corresponding electrical contact in the image forming device. The electrical contact of the replaceable unit is electrically connected to processing circuitry mounted on the housing. The electrical connector is movable between a first position and a second position. The electrical contact of the replaceable unit moves outward from the first side of the housing along a side-to-side dimension of the housing when the electrical connector moves from the first position to the second position. The electrical contact of the replaceable unit faces downward when the electrical connector is in the second position permitting the corresponding electrical contact to contact the electrical contact of the replaceable unit from below.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: LEXMARK INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventors: James Richard Leemhuis, Kyle Bradley Martin
  • Patent number: 10649401
    Abstract: A toner cartridge according to one embodiment includes a housing having first and second alignment guides that extend outward from a first side and a second side of the housing, respectively, and that run along a front-to-rear dimension of the housing. Third and fourth alignment guides extend outward from the first side of the housing. The third alignment guide is spaced toward the front of the housing from the fourth alignment guide. Bottom surfaces of the third and fourth alignment guides are unobstructed to sit on top of a corresponding guide surface in an image forming device to control a vertical position of the toner cartridge in the image forming device. The bottom surfaces of the third and fourth alignment guides are aligned with each other in a vertical dimension of the housing and are positioned higher than the first and second alignment guides.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Jason Paul Hale, Kyle Bradley Martin, Jeremy Keith Payne, Matthew Lee Rogers, Edward Lynn Triplett
  • Patent number: 10496027
    Abstract: A replaceable unit for an electrophotographic image forming device according to one example includes a housing having a toner reservoir. An electrical connector mounted on the housing is movable between a retracted position and an operative position. The electrical connector includes an electrical contact for contacting a corresponding electrical contact in the image forming device. The electrical contact is electrically connected to processing circuitry on the housing. In the retracted position, the electrical connector is tucked into a portion of the housing. In the operative position, the electrical connector is exposed to permit the electrical contact to contact the corresponding electrical contact in the image forming device. A linkage is operatively connected to the electrical connector and includes an engagement surface accessible on an exterior of the housing to receive an actuation force. Movement of the linkage moves the electrical connector between the retracted position and the operative position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Scott Carpenter, Kyle Bradley Martin, Randal Scott Williamson
  • Patent number: 10429790
    Abstract: A replaceable unit for an electrophotographic image forming device according to one example includes a housing having a toner reservoir. An electrical connector mounted on the housing is movable between a retracted position and an operative position. The electrical connector includes an electrical contact for contacting a corresponding electrical contact in the image forming device. The electrical contact is electrically connected to processing circuitry on the housing. In the retracted position, the electrical connector is tucked into a portion of the housing. In the operative position, the electrical connector is exposed to permit the electrical contact to contact the corresponding electrical contact in the image forming device. A linkage is operatively connected to the electrical connector and includes an engagement surface accessible on an exterior of the housing to receive an actuation force. Movement of the linkage moves the electrical connector between the retracted position and the operative position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: LEXMARK INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventors: Brian Scott Carpenter, Kyle Bradley Martin, Randal Scott Williamson
  • Patent number: 10222740
    Abstract: A toner cartridge according to one embodiment includes a housing having first and second alignment guides that extend outward from a first side and a second side of the housing, respectively, and that run along a front-to-rear dimension of the housing. Third and fourth alignment guides extend outward from the first side of the housing. The third alignment guide is spaced toward the front of the housing from the fourth alignment guide. Bottom surfaces of the third and fourth alignment guides are unobstructed to sit on top of a corresponding guide surface in an image forming device to control a vertical position of the toner cartridge in the image forming device. The bottom surfaces of the third and fourth alignment guides are aligned with each other in a vertical dimension of the housing and are positioned higher than the first and second alignment guides.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Jason Paul Hale, Kyle Bradley Martin, Jeremy Keith Payne, Matthew Lee Rogers, Edward Lynn Triplett
  • Patent number: 10197964
    Abstract: A replaceable unit for an electrophotographic image forming device according to one example includes a housing having a toner reservoir. An electrical connector mounted on the housing is movable between a retracted position and an operative position. The electrical connector includes an electrical contact for contacting a corresponding electrical contact in the image forming device. The electrical contact is electrically connected to processing circuitry on the housing. In the retracted position, the electrical connector is tucked into a portion of the housing. In the operative position, the electrical connector is exposed to permit the electrical contact to contact the corresponding electrical contact in the image forming device. A linkage is operatively connected to the electrical connector and includes an engagement surface accessible on an exterior of the housing to receive an actuation force. Movement of the linkage moves the electrical connector between the retracted position and the operative position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Scott Carpenter, Kyle Bradley Martin, Randal Scott Williamson
  • Patent number: 9989917
    Abstract: A toner cartridge according to one embodiment includes a housing having first and second alignment guides that extend outward from a first side and a second side of the housing, respectively, and that run along a front-to-rear dimension of the housing. Third and fourth alignment guides extend outward from the first side of the housing. The third alignment guide is spaced toward the front of the housing from the fourth alignment guide. Bottom surfaces of the third and fourth alignment guides are unobstructed to sit on top of a corresponding guide surface in an image forming device to control a vertical position of the toner cartridge in the image forming device. The bottom surfaces of the third and fourth alignment guides are aligned with each other in a vertical dimension of the housing and are positioned higher than the first and second alignment guides.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Jason Paul Hale, Kyle Bradley Martin, Jeremy Keith Payne, Matthew Lee Rogers, Edward Lynn Triplett
  • Patent number: 9971295
    Abstract: An electrophotographic image forming device according to one example includes a toner cartridge having a housing that includes a toner reservoir. An electrical connector on the housing is movable between a retracted position and an operative position. The electrical connector includes an electrical contact for contacting a corresponding electrical contact in the image forming device. The electrical contact is electrically connected to processing circuitry on the housing. The electrical connector and the electrical contact of the toner cartridge move upward toward the top of the housing when the electrical connector moves from the retracted position to the operative position. The electrical contact of the toner cartridge is positioned within a pocket of the electrical connector. The pocket includes an opening that faces upward when the electrical connector is in the operative position permitting the corresponding electrical contact in the image forming device to enter the pocket from above.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Scott Carpenter, Kyle Bradley Martin, Randal Scott Williamson
  • Patent number: 9746815
    Abstract: A replaceable unit for an electrophotographic image forming device according to one example includes a housing having a toner reservoir. An electrical connector mounted on the housing is movable between a retracted position and an operative position. The electrical connector includes an electrical contact for contacting a corresponding electrical contact in the image forming device. The electrical contact is electrically connected to processing circuitry on the housing. In the retracted position, the electrical connector is tucked into a portion of the housing. In the operative position, the electrical connector is exposed to permit the electrical contact to contact the corresponding electrical contact in the image forming device. A linkage is operatively connected to the electrical connector and includes an engagement surface accessible on an exterior of the housing to receive an actuation force. Movement of the linkage moves the electrical connector between the retracted position and the operative position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Scott Carpenter, Kyle Bradley Martin, Randal Scott Williamson
  • Patent number: 9563169
    Abstract: A replaceable unit for an electrophotographic image forming device according to one example includes a housing having a toner reservoir. An electrical connector mounted on the housing is movable between a retracted position and an operative position. The electrical connector includes an electrical contact for contacting a corresponding electrical contact in the image forming device. The electrical contact is electrically connected to processing circuitry on the housing. In the retracted position, the electrical connector is tucked into a portion of the housing. In the operative position, the electrical connector is exposed to permit the electrical contact to contact the corresponding electrical contact in the image forming device. A linkage is operatively connected to the electrical connector and includes an engagement surface accessible on an exterior of the housing to receive an actuation force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Scott Carpenter, Kyle Bradley Martin, Randal Scott Williamson
  • Patent number: 9551974
    Abstract: An image forming device according to one example embodiment includes a first electrical connector mounted on a frame of the image forming device. The first electrical connector is movable between a home position retracted against the frame and an operative position of the first electrical connector. A replaceable unit is removably installable in the image forming device along a direction of insertion of the replaceable unit into the image forming device. The replaceable unit includes a second electrical connector that is matable with the first electrical connector. The replaceable unit includes a guide on an exterior of the replaceable unit. Insertion of the replaceable unit into the image forming device along the direction of insertion causes the guide to move the first electrical connector from the home position to the operative position of the first electrical connector aligned with the second electrical connector of the replaceable unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Kyle Bradley Martin, Jeremy Keith Payne, Matthew Lee Rogers, Edward Lynn Triplett
  • Patent number: 9316944
    Abstract: A toner cartridge for use with a developer unit of an image forming device includes a housing having a front, a rear, a top, a bottom, a first side and a second side. The housing has a reservoir for holding toner. An outlet port is positioned on the housing for transferring toner from the reservoir to the developer unit. An alignment slot on the front of the housing is open at a bottom end of the alignment slot to receive an alignment pin of the developer unit. The alignment slot has a width that narrows from the bottom end of the alignment slot to a middle section of the slot and that widens from the middle section of the alignment slot to a top end of the alignment slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Kyle Bradley Martin, Randal Scott Williamson, David Lee Merrifield
  • Publication number: 20150234317
    Abstract: A toner cartridge for use with a developer unit of an image forming device includes a housing having a front, a rear, a top, a bottom, a first side and a second side. The housing has a reservoir for holding toner. An outlet port is positioned on the housing for transferring toner from the reservoir to the developer unit. An alignment slot on the front of the housing is open at a bottom end of the alignment slot to receive an alignment pin of the developer unit. The alignment slot has a width that narrows from the bottom end of the alignment slot to a middle section of the slot and that widens from the middle section of the alignment slot to a top end of the alignment slot.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2015
    Publication date: August 20, 2015
    Inventors: Kyle Bradley Martin, Randal Scott Williamson, David Lee Merrifield
  • Patent number: D841730
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: James Daniel Anderson, Jr., Masahito Cho, Jason Paul Hale, Kyle Bradley Martin, Robert Watson McAlpine, Jeremy Keith Payne, Matthew Lee Rogers
  • Patent number: D852880
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: James Daniel Anderson, Jr., Jason Paul Hale, Kyle Bradley Martin, Jeremy Keith Payne, Edward Lynn Triplett
  • Patent number: D854078
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: James Daniel Anderson, Jr., Brian Scott Carpenter, Masahito Cho, Jason Paul Hale, Kyle Bradley Martin, Robert Watson McAlpine, Jeremy Keith Payne, Thomas Eugene Pangburn, Matthew Lee Rogers, Edward Lynn Triplett
  • Patent number: D952030
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Scott Carpenter, Gregory Alan Cavill, James Richard Leemhuis, Kyle Bradley Martin, Jay Scott Siekmann, Jeffrey Lawrence Tonges, Randal Scott Williamson, Trey Dustin Gilliam