Patents by Inventor Kyle C. Smith

Kyle C. Smith 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: 12142880
    Abstract: A variety of active cover plate configurations with prongs configured to contact side screw terminals of electrical receptacles are described. In one illustrative embodiment, an active cover plate includes a multi-gang face plate configured to be installed over a multi-gang light switch installation, the multi-gang faceplate including at least two apertures sized to accept a manually manipulatable element of switches in the multi-gang light switch installation. Prongs extend rearward from the multi-gang faceplate around at least one of the apertures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2024
    Assignee: SnapRays, LLC
    Inventors: Jeremy C. Smith, R. Camden Robinson, Kyle Hill, Martin Johnson
  • Publication number: 20240293910
    Abstract: A power tool comprising: a housing including a motor case and a handle portion extending along a longitudinal axis of the housing from the motor case; an electric motor having a drive shaft and mounted within the motor case; a partitioning wall extending radially between the motor case and the handle portion and forming a bearing pocket therein; a rear bearing mounted on the drive shaft and received into the bearing pocket to support the drive shaft relative to the housing; two elongate walls extending rearwardly from the partitioning wall along two sides of the handle portion; a power control module supported by the two elongate walls within the handle portion, the power control module including a circuit board having a motor drive circuit configured to drive the electric motor; and at least one cover secured to the two elongate walls to cover the circuit board.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2024
    Publication date: September 5, 2024
    Applicant: Black & Decker Inc.
    Inventors: Zollie W. PRIVETT, JR., Craig A. OKTAVEC, David J. SMITH, Matthew J. VELDERMAN, Colin C. CROSBY, Pradeep PANT, Kyle J. CHRISTOPHERSEN, Daniel F. NACE, James H. STILES, III, Floyd E. MORELAND, IV
  • Publication number: 20240198338
    Abstract: A microfluidic device includes a particle sorting region having a first, second and third microfluidic channels, a first array of islands separating the first microfluidic channel from the second microfluidic channel, and a second array of islands separating the first microfluidic channel from the third microfluidic channel, in which the island arrays and the microfluidic channels are arranged so that a first fluid is extracted from the first microfluidic channel into the second microfluidic channel and a second fluid is extracted from the third microfluidic channel into the first microfluidic channel, and so that particles are transferred from the first fluid sample into the second fluid sample within the first microfluidic channel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2024
    Publication date: June 20, 2024
    Inventors: Ravi Kapur, Kyle C. Smith, Mehmet Toner
  • Publication number: 20240198339
    Abstract: A microfluidic device includes: a first microfluidic channel; a second microfluidic channel extending along the first microfluidic channel; and a first array of islands separating the first microfluidic channel from the second microfluidic channel, in which each island is separated from an adjacent island in the array by an opening that fluidly couples the first microfluidic channel to the second microfluidic channel, in which the first microfluidic channel, the second microfluidic channel, and the islands are arranged so that a fluidic resistance of the first microfluidic channel increases relative to a fluidic resistance of the second microfluidic channel along a longitudinal direction of the first microfluidic channel such that, during use of the microfluidic device, a portion of a fluid sample flowing through the first microfluidic channel passes through one or more of the openings between adjacent islands into the second microfluidic channel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2024
    Publication date: June 20, 2024
    Inventors: Ravi Kapur, Kyle C. Smith, Mehmet Toner
  • Patent number: 11944971
    Abstract: A microfluidic device includes a particle sorting region having a first, second and third microfluidic channels, a first array of islands separating the first microfluidic channel from the second microfluidic channel, and a second array of islands separating the first microfluidic channel from the third microfluidic channel, in which the island arrays and the microfluidic channels are arranged so that a first fluid is extracted from the first microfluidic channel into the second microfluidic channel and a second fluid is extracted from the third microfluidic channel into the first microfluidic channel, and so that particles are transferred from the first fluid sample into the second fluid sample within the first microfluidic channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: The General Hospital Corporation
    Inventors: Ravi Kapur, Kyle C. Smith, Mehmet Toner
  • Patent number: 11944972
    Abstract: A microfluidic device includes: a first microfluidic channel; a second microfluidic channel extending along the first microfluidic channel; and a first array of islands separating the first microfluidic channel from the second microfluidic channel, in which each island is separated from an adjacent island in the array by an opening that fluidly couples the first microfluidic channel to the second microfluidic channel, in which the first microfluidic channel, the second microfluidic channel, and the islands are arranged so that a fluidic resistance of the first microfluidic channel increases relative to a fluidic resistance of the second microfluidic channel along a longitudinal direction of the first microfluidic channel such that, during use of the microfluidic device, a portion of a fluid sample flowing through the first microfluidic channel passes through one or more of the openings between adjacent islands into the second microfluidic channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: The General Hospital Corporation
    Inventors: Ravi Kapur, Kyle C. Smith, Mehmet Toner
  • Patent number: 11891017
    Abstract: An under hood storage system of a vehicle includes an under hood storage compartment located in an under hood area of a vehicle, and a hood assembly that, when in a closed position closes the under hood storage compartment. The hood assembly includes an under hood panel having a first portion formed from a first material, and a second portion surrounding the first portion defining an outer perimeter of the under hood panel. The second portion is formed from a second material softer than the first material. One or more attachment features secure the under hood panel to the hood assembly. The under hood panel interacts with the under hood storage compartment to close the under hood storage compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Robert J. Kukla, Kyle C. Smith, Andre Hormiz
  • Patent number: 11725180
    Abstract: Microfluidic devices are described that include a microfluidic channel, a first array of one or more magnets above the microfluidic channel, each magnet in the first array having a magnetic pole orientation opposite to a magnetic pole orientation of an adjacent magnet in the first array, and a second array of one or more magnets beneath the microfluidic channel, each magnet in the second array having a magnetic pole orientation opposite to a magnetic pole orientation of an adjacent magnet in the second array. The first array is aligned with respect to the second array such that magnetic fields emitted by the first array and second array generate a magnetic flux gradient profile extending through the channel. An absolute value of the profile includes a first maximum and a second maximum that bound a local minimum. The local minimum is located within the microfluidic channel or less than 5 mm away from a wall of the microfluidic channel. Methods of using the new devices are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: The General Hospital Corporation
    Inventors: Philipp S. Spuhler, Kyle C. Smith, Fabio Fachin, Thomas Alan Barber, Ravi Kapur, Mehmet Toner, Vincent Pai, Nezihi Murat Karabacak
  • Publication number: 20230234512
    Abstract: An under hood storage system of a vehicle includes an under hood storage compartment located in an under hood area of a vehicle, and a hood assembly that, when in a closed position closes the under hood storage compartment. The hood assembly includes an under hood panel having a first portion formed from a first material, and a second portion surrounding the first portion defining an outer perimeter of the under hood panel. The second portion is formed from a second material softer than the first material. One or more attachment features secure the under hood panel to the hood assembly. The under hood panel interacts with the under hood storage compartment to close the under hood storage compartment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2022
    Publication date: July 27, 2023
    Inventors: Robert J. Kukla, Kyle C. Smith, Andre Hormiz
  • Patent number: 11446664
    Abstract: Extracting and concentrating particles from a first fluid sample includes: providing the first fluid sample to a fluid exchange module of a microfluidic device, providing a second fluid sample to the fluid exchange module, in which the first fluid sample and the second fluid sample are provided under conditions such that particle-free portions of the first fluid sample are shifted, and an inertial lift force causes the particles in the first fluid sample to cross streamlines and transfer into the second fluid sample; passing the second fluid sample containing the transferred particles to a particle concentration module under conditions such that particle-free portions of the second fluid sample are shifted, and such that the particles within the second fluid sample are focused to a streamline within the particle concentration module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: The General Hospital Corporation
    Inventors: Ravi Kapur, Kyle C. Smith, Mehmet Toner
  • Publication number: 20220106553
    Abstract: Microfluidic devices are described that include a microfluidic channel, a first array of one or more magnets above the microfluidic channel, each magnet in the first array having a magnetic pole orientation opposite to a magnetic pole orientation of an adjacent magnet in the first array, and a second array of one or more magnets beneath the microfluidic channel, each magnet in the second array having a magnetic pole orientation opposite to a magnetic pole orientation of an adjacent magnet in the second array. The first array is aligned with respect to the second array such that magnetic fields emitted by the first array and second array generate a magnetic flux gradient profile extending through the channel. An absolute value of the profile includes a first maximum and a second maximum that bound a local minimum. The local minimum is located within the microfluidic channel or less than 5 mm away from a wall of the microfluidic channel. Methods of using the new devices are also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2021
    Publication date: April 7, 2022
    Inventors: Philipp S. Spuhler, Kyle C. Smith, Fabio Fachin, Thomas Alan Barber, Ravi Kapur, Mehmet Toner, Vincent Pai, Nezihi Murat Karabacak
  • Patent number: 11155779
    Abstract: Microfluidic devices are described that include a microfluidic channel, a first array of one or more magnets above the microfluidic channel, each magnet in the first array having a magnetic pole orientation opposite to a magnetic pole orientation of an adjacent magnet in the first array, and a second array of one or more magnets beneath the microfluidic channel, each magnet in the second array having a magnetic pole orientation opposite to a magnetic pole orientation of an adjacent magnet in the second array. The first array is aligned with respect to the second array such that magnetic fields emitted by the first array and second array generate a magnetic flux gradient profile extending through the channel. An absolute value of the profile includes a first maximum and a second maximum that bound a local minimum. The local minimum is located within the microfluidic channel or less than 5 mm away from a wall of the microfluidic channel. Methods of using the new devices are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignee: The General Hospital Corporation
    Inventors: Philipp S. Spuhler, Kyle C. Smith, Fabio Fachin, Thomas Alan Barber, Ravi Kapur, Mehmet Toner, Vincent Pai, Nezihi Murat Karabacak
  • Publication number: 20210283610
    Abstract: A microfluidic device includes: a first microfluidic channel; a second microfluidic channel extending along the first microfluidic channel; and a first array of islands separating the first microfluidic channel from the second microfluidic channel, in which each island is separated from an adjacent island in the array by an opening that fluidly couples the first microfluidic channel to the second microfluidic channel, in which the first microfluidic channel, the second microfluidic channel, and the islands are arranged so that a fluidic resistance of the first microfluidic channel increases relative to a fluidic resistance of the second microfluidic channel along a longitudinal direction of the first microfluidic channel such that, during use of the microfluidic device, a portion of a fluid sample flowing through the first microfluidic channel passes through one or more of the openings between adjacent islands into the second microfluidic channel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2021
    Publication date: September 16, 2021
    Inventors: Ravi Kapur, Kyle C. Smith, Mehmet Toner
  • Publication number: 20210252514
    Abstract: A microfluidic device includes a particle sorting region having a first, second and third microfluidic channels, a first array of islands separating the first microfluidic channel from the second microfluidic channel, and a second array of islands separating the first microfluidic channel from the third microfluidic channel, in which the island arrays and the microfluidic channels are arranged so that a first fluid is extracted from the first microfluidic channel into the second microfluidic channel and a second fluid is extracted from the third microfluidic channel into the first microfluidic channel, and so that particles are transferred from the first fluid sample into the second fluid sample within the first microfluidic channel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2021
    Publication date: August 19, 2021
    Inventors: Ravi Kapur, Kyle C. Smith, Mehmet Toner
  • Patent number: 11053142
    Abstract: The exemplary embodiments provides a desalination device comprising an electrochemical cell comprising a porous positive electrode, a porous negative electrode, and a membrane positioned between the porous positive electrode and the porous negative electrode, the electrodes comprising a network of conductive material comprising a plurality of electrode active materials dispersed throughout the conductive material, the porous negative electrode and the porous positive electrode have the same electrode active material, a power supply to supply a current to the electrochemical cell, an inlet for providing a feed stream to the electrochemical cell, a first outlet line for removing a concentrated effluent and a second outlet line for removing a desalinated effluent. Also provided is a desalination device having a plurality of electrochemical channels with alternating anion and cation selective membranes, and a porous negative and positive electrode having the same electrode active material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS
    Inventors: Kyle C. Smith, Rylan Doyle Dmello
  • Patent number: 11052393
    Abstract: A microfluidic device includes: a first microfluidic channel; a second microfluidic channel extending along the first microfluidic channel; and a first array of islands separating the first microfluidic channel from the second microfluidic channel, in which each island is separated from an adjacent island in the array by an opening that fluidly couples the first microfluidic channel to the second microfluidic channel, in which the first microfluidic channel, the second microfluidic channel, and the islands are arranged so that a fluidic resistance of the first microfluidic channel increases relative to a fluidic resistance of the second microfluidic channel along a longitudinal direction of the first microfluidic channel such that, during use of the microfluidic device, a portion of a fluid sample flowing through the first microfluidic channel passes through one or more of the openings between adjacent islands into the second microfluidic channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: The General Hospital Corporation
    Inventors: Ravi Kapur, Kyle C. Smith, Mehmet Toner
  • Patent number: 11027280
    Abstract: A microfluidic device includes a particle sorting region having a first, second and third microfluidic channels, a first array of islands separating the first microfluidic channel from the second microfluidic channel, and a second array of islands separating the first microfluidic channel from the third microfluidic channel, in which the island arrays and the microfluidic channels are arranged so that a first fluid is extracted from the first microfluidic channel into the second microfluidic channel and a second fluid is extracted from the third microfluidic channel into the first microfluidic channel, and so that particles are transferred from the first fluid sample into the second fluid sample within the first microfluidic channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: The General Hospital Corporation
    Inventors: Ravi Kapur, Kyle C. Smith, Mehmet Toner
  • Patent number: 10934758
    Abstract: An adjustable bumper assembly includes a bumper assembly insert having a bumper head, a threaded portion connected to the bumper head and a ratchet portion extending from the threaded portion. A coupling ring is threadably connected to the threaded portion. The coupling ring has a ratchet device with a tooth biased into contact with the ratchet portion. A base member includes multiple retention arms homogeneously connected to the base member extending away from a face of the base member. The coupling ring when slidably received in a through passage created in the face of the base member contacts the retention arms. The coupling ring is non-rotatably engaged to the base member such that axial rotation of the bumper assembly insert with respect to the coupling ring axially extends or retracts the bumper assembly insert with respect to the base member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Ryan Cahill, Kyle C. Smith, Robert J. Hood
  • Patent number: 10875021
    Abstract: A microfluidic device includes a particle sorting region having a first, second and third microfluidic channels, a first array of islands separating the first microfluidic channel from the second microfluidic channel, and a second array of islands separating the first microfluidic channel from the third microfluidic channel, in which the island arrays and the microfluidic channels are arranged so that a first fluid is extracted from the first microfluidic channel into the second microfluidic channel and a second fluid is extracted from the third microfluidic channel into the first microfluidic channel, and so that particles are transferred from the first fluid sample into the second fluid sample within the first microfluidic channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: The General Hospital Corporation
    Inventors: Ravi Kapur, Kyle C. Smith, Mehmet Toner
  • Patent number: 10668470
    Abstract: This disclosure describes microfluidic devices that include one or more magnets, each magnet being operable to emit a magnetic field; and a magnetizable layer adjacent to the one or more magnets, in which the magnetizable layer is configured to induce a gradient in the magnetic field of at least one of the magnets. For example, the gradient can be at least 103 T/m at a position that is at least 20 ?m away from a surface of the magnetizable layer. The magnetizable layer includes a first high magnetic permeability material and a low magnetic permeability material arranged adjacent to the high magnetic permeability material. The devices also include a microfluidic channel arranged on a surface of the magnetizable layer, wherein a central longitudinal axis of the microfluidic channel is arranged at an angle to or laterally offset from an interface between the high magnetic permeability material and the low magnetic permeability material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: The General Hospital Corporation
    Inventors: Kyle C. Smith, Ramin Haghgooie, Thomas Alan Barber, Ismail Emre Ozkumur, Ravi Kapur, Mehmet Toner