Patents by Inventor Patrick J. Smith

Patrick J. 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).

  • Publication number: 20250077600
    Abstract: A method of providing access to flight-related data of aircraft includes correlating a plurality of data sets that are different from each other and each contain flight-related data for one or more aircraft engines, to determine a plurality of flights of the one or more aircraft engines that correspond to the plurality of data sets. At least a portion of the flight-related data describes operation of the aircraft engines during the plurality of flights. The correlating is performed based on metadata of the plurality of data sets, and the plurality of data sets includes a plurality of first data sets that utilize a plurality of different schemas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 1, 2023
    Publication date: March 6, 2025
    Inventors: Ibrahim Brown, Cami L. Santor, Roger Aiudi, Patrick J. Smith, Fidel Galano
  • Publication number: 20240335762
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides toy building blocks that easily stack and break apart. The blocks may include posts that nest inside receptacles to facilitate stacking of the blocks. The blocks may be figure 8-shaped, and may include bevels and/or protrusions to facilitate decoupling of stacked blocks without any tools.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2023
    Publication date: October 10, 2024
    Inventor: Patrick J. Smith
  • Publication number: 20220397118
    Abstract: A stable discharge pressure of compressed hydrogen gas generated from the electrolysis of water is achieved and maintained at the outlet of a “hybrid” multistage compression system comprising at least a first section comprising at least one centrifugal compressor powered at least in part by electricity generated from at least one renewable energy source and a further section downstream of the first section, wherein the further section comprises at least one reciprocating compressor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2021
    Publication date: December 15, 2022
    Applicant: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory W. Henzler, Nicolas John Haryett, Ghassan Altimany, Patrick J. Smith
  • Publication number: 20220397117
    Abstract: Operation of a multistage compression system comprising at least one centrifugal compressor having a dry gas seal with opposed seal faces, for compressing a gas feed having a variable flow rate is improved by operating the or at least one centrifugal compressor in a low power mode where the opposed faces of the dry gas seal are not in contact during periods when gas flow through the centrifugal compressor(s) is not sufficient for normal operation. Such operation not only reduces damage to the dry gas seals and hence improves reliability, but also reduces the overall power requirement of the overall compression system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2021
    Publication date: December 15, 2022
    Applicant: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory W. Henzler, Nicolas John Haryett, Ghassan Altimany, Patrick J. Smith
  • Patent number: 10624470
    Abstract: A banded cutlery system for loading stacks of plastic cutlery into dispensers is described. The banded cutlery system includes a front tab and a rear tab, and at least one of the front tab and the rear tab comprises a contour that mates with a contour on the adjacent side of the cutlery pieces. The front tab may releasably attach to the rear tab by a fastener that may be located under the stack of cutlery pieces. The front tab may be configured to pivot relative to the rear tab from a locked position in which the front tab is generally parallel to the stack height (and the front and rear tabs are attached by the fastener) to an unlocked position in which the front tab is not parallel the stack height (and the front and rear tabs are not attached by the fastener).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Inventor: Patrick J. Smith
  • Patent number: 10455952
    Abstract: A lockable skewer for loading stacks of plastic cutlery into dispensers is described. The skewer comprises a vertical shaft that passes through holes in the cutlery. The vertical shaft includes a flange located below the bottom of the stack. The vertical shaft is configured to rotate between an unlocked position in which the flange is configured to pass through the holes in the cutlery pieces and a locked position in which the flange is not configured to pass through the holes in the cutlery pieces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Inventor: Patrick J. Smith
  • Publication number: 20190281996
    Abstract: A lockable skewer for loading stacks of plastic cutlery into dispensers is described. The skewer comprises a vertical shaft that passes through holes in the cutlery. The vertical shaft includes a flange located below the bottom of the stack. The vertical shaft is configured to rotate between an unlocked position in which the flange is configured to pass through the holes in the cutlery pieces and a locked position in which the flange is not configured to pass through the holes in the cutlery pieces.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2017
    Publication date: September 19, 2019
    Inventor: Patrick J. Smith
  • Patent number: 10390631
    Abstract: A skewer for loading stacks of plastic cutlery into dispensers. The skewer includes a vertical shaft that protrudes through holes in the stacked cutlery pieces and a front tab that may be removably attached to the vertical shaft. In some embodiments, the front tab is rotatable relative to the vertical shaft. The front tab may have a locked position in which the front tab is fixed to the vertical shaft and extends along the height of the stack and an unlocked position in which the front tab is disengaged from the vertical shaft and rotates forwardly relative to the stack and the vertical shaft to allow the user to remove the skewer after loading the stack into a dispenser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: JADE GROUP INTERNATIONAL LLC
    Inventor: Patrick J. Smith
  • Publication number: 20190150635
    Abstract: A plastic cutlery dispenser having a base and a cartridge is described. The cartridge may be slideable relative to the base. In some embodiments, the base has a base dispensing mechanism and the cartridge has a cartridge dispensing mechanism configured to mate with the base dispensing mechanism. In some embodiments, when the base and cartridge dispensing mechanisms mate, the cutlery dispenser is configured to dispense cutlery located within the cartridge one piece of cutlery at a time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2017
    Publication date: May 23, 2019
    Inventor: Patrick J. Smith
  • Publication number: 20190038045
    Abstract: A banded cutlery system for loading stacks of plastic cutlery into dispensers is described. The banded cutlery system includes a front tab and a rear tab, and at least one of the front tab and the rear tab comprises a contour that mates with a contour on the adjacent side of the cutlery pieces. The front tab may releasably attach to the rear tab by a fastener that may be located under the stack of cutlery pieces. The front tab may be configured to pivot relative to the rear tab from a locked position in which the front tab is generally parallel to the stack height (and the front and rear tabs are attached by the fastener) to an unlocked position in which the front tab is not parallel the stack height (and the front and rear tabs are not attached by the fastener).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2017
    Publication date: February 7, 2019
    Inventor: Patrick J. SMITH
  • Publication number: 20190029443
    Abstract: A skewer for loading stacks of plastic cutlery into dispensers is described. The skewer includes a vertical shaft that protrudes through holes in the stacked cutlery pieces and a front tab that may be removably attached to the vertical shaft. In some embodiments, the front tab is rotatable relative to the vertical shaft. The front tab may have a locked position in which the front tab is fixed to the vertical shaft and extends along the height of the stack and an unlocked position in which the front tab is disengaged from the vertical shaft and rotates forwardly relative to the stack and the vertical shaft to allow the user to remove the skewer after loading the stack into a dispenser.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2017
    Publication date: January 31, 2019
    Inventor: Patrick J. Smith
  • Patent number: 10051976
    Abstract: A plastic cutlery dispenser having a base and a cartridge is described. The cartridge may be slideable relative to the base. In some embodiments, the base has a base dispensing mechanism and the cartridge has a cartridge dispensing mechanism configured to mate with the base dispensing mechanism. In some embodiments, when the base and cartridge dispensing mechanisms mate, the cutlery dispenser is configured to dispense cutlery located within the cartridge one piece of cutlery at a time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: JADE GROUP INTERNATIONAL LLC
    Inventor: Patrick J. Smith
  • Patent number: 10010195
    Abstract: A configuration of disposable cutlery comprises a plurality of disposable cutlery pieces suitable for loading in a disposable cutlery dispenser, wherein the plurality is not constrained by a cartridge when loaded into the cutlery dispenser, wherein the plurality is in a substantially unfanned orientation after loading of the plurality into a cutlery dispenser, and wherein each piece comprises a solid handle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: GPCP IP Holdings LLC
    Inventors: Patrick J. Smith, Andy L. Kirkpatrick, Michael R. Kilgore, David G. Honan
  • Publication number: 20180000261
    Abstract: A plastic cutlery dispenser having a base and a cartridge is described. The cartridge may be slideable relative to the base. In some embodiments, the base has a base dispensing mechanism and the cartridge has a cartridge dispensing mechanism configured to mate with the base dispensing mechanism. In some embodiments, when the base and cartridge dispensing mechanisms mate, the cutlery dispenser is configured to dispense cutlery located within the cartridge one piece of cutlery at a time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2017
    Publication date: January 4, 2018
    Inventor: Patrick J. Smith
  • Patent number: 9757886
    Abstract: A method for forming a container having an injection-molded feature. The method includes obtaining a blank, forming the blank into a three-dimensional article having at least one sidewall, and forming the injection-molded feature extending around the perimeter of the article. The injection-molded feature comprises an anchor portion and a flange portion. The anchor portion is in contact with an interior surface of the at least one sidewall and the flange portion extends from the anchor portion outwardly from the at least one sidewall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: Graphic Packaging International, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott W. Middleton, Mark R. Sinclair, Brian R. O'Hagan, Patrick H. Wnek, Terrence P. Lafferty, Peter W. Blaas, Kevin J. Hjort, Patrick J. Smith
  • Patent number: 9555568
    Abstract: A tool and method for forming a container from a construct. The tool comprising a cavity for receiving a construct, a core operatively associated with the cavity and being operable to move into the cavity, an injection cavity for receiving injection-molding material and directing injection-molding material around at least a portion of the perimeter of the construct, and a clamping feature. The clamping feature is operatively connected to at least one of the cavity and the core and is for clamping a peripheral portion of the construct as the core moves into the cavity to form the construct into the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: Graphic Packaging International, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott W. Middleton, Mark Sinclair, Brian R. O'Hagan, Patrick H. Wnek, Terrence P. Lafferty, Peter W. Blaas, Kevin J. Hjort, Patrick J. Smith
  • Patent number: 9237815
    Abstract: A cutlery dispenser comprises a storage chamber adapted to retain a plurality of cutlery therein; an ejector for sequentially ejecting the plurality of cutlery from the storage chamber; an actuator for driving the ejector; and a sensor for triggering the actuator in response to an event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2016
    Assignee: DIXIE CONSUMER PRODUCTS LLC
    Inventor: Patrick J. Smith
  • Publication number: 20150001235
    Abstract: A cutlery dispenser comprises a storage chamber adapted to retain a plurality of cutlery therein; an ejector for sequentially ejecting the plurality of cutlery from the storage chamber; an actuator for driving the ejector; and a sensor for triggering the actuator in response to an event.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2012
    Publication date: January 1, 2015
    Applicant: DIXIE CONSUMER PRODUCTS LLC
    Inventor: Patrick J. Smith
  • Patent number: D732946
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2015
    Inventor: Patrick J. Smith
  • Patent number: D917256
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: Smithline Inc.
    Inventor: Patrick J. Smith