Patents by Inventor Nicholas O. Thomas

Nicholas O. Thomas 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: 11814249
    Abstract: In some embodiments, apparatuses and methods are provided herein useful to automatically balance and buffer the return of empty containers or other totes to a plurality of areas. In some embodiments, a control circuit employs a logic system in which empty totes are directed along primary, secondary, or tertiary paths depending on information gathered from sensors regarding the availability of space for empty totes at a plurality of potential destinations. In this way, the return of empty totes to one or more points of origin may be buffered to balance the number of empty totes in one or more areas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: Walmart Apollo, LLC
    Inventors: Nicholas O. Thomas, Jason Scott Coyle, Jessica L. Solana, Mustafa A. Harcar
  • Publication number: 20220135339
    Abstract: In some embodiments, apparatuses and methods are provided herein useful to automatically balance and buffer the return of empty containers or other totes to a plurality of areas. In some embodiments, a control circuit employs a logic system in which empty totes are directed along primary, secondary, or tertiary paths depending on information gathered from sensors regarding the availability of space for empty totes at a plurality of potential destinations. In this way, the return of empty totes to one or more points of origin may be buffered to balance the number of empty totes in one or more areas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2022
    Publication date: May 5, 2022
    Inventors: Nicholas O. Thomas, Jason Scott Coyle, Jessica L. Solana, Mustafa A. Harcar
  • Patent number: 11254513
    Abstract: In some embodiments, apparatuses and methods are provided herein useful to automatically balance and buffer the return of empty containers or other totes to a plurality of areas. In some embodiments, a control circuit employs a logic system in which empty totes are directed along primary, secondary, or tertiary paths depending on information gathered from sensors regarding the availability of space for empty totes at a plurality of potential destinations. In this way, the return of empty totes to one or more points of origin may be buffered to balance the number of empty totes in one or more areas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: Walmart Apollo, LLC
    Inventors: Nicholas O. Thomas, Jason Scott Coyle, Jessica L. Solana, Mustafa A. Harcar
  • Publication number: 20200115161
    Abstract: In some embodiments, apparatuses and methods are provided herein useful to automatically balance and buffer the return of empty containers or other totes to a plurality of areas. In some embodiments, a control circuit employs a logic system in which empty totes are directed along primary, secondary, or tertiary paths depending on information gathered from sensors regarding the availability of space for empty totes at a plurality of potential destinations. In this way, the return of empty totes to one or more points of origin may be buffered to balance the number of empty totes in one or more areas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2019
    Publication date: April 16, 2020
    Inventors: Nicholas O. Thomas, Jason Scott Coyle, Jessica L. Solana, Mustafa A. Harcar
  • Patent number: 10507975
    Abstract: In some embodiments, apparatuses and methods are provided herein useful to automatically balance and buffer the return of empty containers or other totes to a plurality of areas. In some embodiments, a control circuit employs a logic system in which empty totes are directed along primary, secondary, or tertiary paths depending on information gathered from sensors regarding the availability of space for empty totes at a plurality of potential destinations. In this way, the return of empty totes to one or more points of origin may be buffered to balance the number of empty totes in one or more areas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: Walmart Apollo, LLC
    Inventors: Nicholas O. Thomas, Jason Scott Coyle, Jessica L. Solana, Mustafa A. Harcar
  • Publication number: 20180215551
    Abstract: In some embodiments, apparatuses and methods are provided herein useful to automatically balance and buffer the return of empty containers or other totes to a plurality of areas. In some embodiments, a control circuit employs a logic system in which empty totes are directed along primary, secondary, or tertiary paths depending on information gathered from sensors regarding the availability of space for empty totes at a plurality of potential destinations. In this way, the return of empty totes to one or more points of origin may be buffered to balance the number of empty totes in one or more areas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2018
    Publication date: August 2, 2018
    Inventors: Nicholas O. Thomas, Jason Scott Coyle, Jessica L. Solana, Mustafa A. Harcar