Patents by Inventor Paul F. Stephan

Paul F. Stephan 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: 6244366
    Abstract: A power operated vehicle, of the type guided by a walking attendant, for conveying a plurality of nestable carts. The vehicle has a main body portion and is supported by a front rotatable caster and two rear drive wheels mounted on an axle. The drive wheels are in differential and are driven by a motor connected to a power supply. A control handle is offset to the side for controlling the operation of the vehicle. An adjustable hitch is attached to the rear for accepting the lead nestable cart. The adjustable hitch pivots at a point proximal the axle. The adjustable hitch pivots independent of the movement of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2001
    Assignee: Smarte Carte, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel L. Otterson, Paul F. Stephan
  • Patent number: 5690710
    Abstract: A cloth bag filter is formed with a generally cylindrical porous sidewall through which a vacuum is drawn for filtering of contaminant from an air stream, an open upper end for connection to the vacuum source, and a generally closed but optionally porous lower end portion. The sidewall is sufficiently flexible such that it collapses radially inwardly when air is flowing therethrough, simultaneously causing the lower end portion of the bag to be drawn upwardly toward the upper end portion. Upper and lower rings are secured to the upper and lower end portions of the bag for radially supporting the end portions. The weight of the lower ring causes the lower portion of the bag to automatically drop when the vacuum source is turned off, thus causing the sidewall to automatically expand outwardly to a generally vertically hanging position, disrupting the cohesion of the contaminant collected thereon, and causing such contaminant to break-up and fall from the filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 25, 1997
    Inventor: Paul F. Stephan
  • Patent number: D492572
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2004
    Assignee: Newell Operating Company
    Inventors: Michael D. Smith, Paul F. Stephan
  • Patent number: D413550
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 7, 1999
    Assignee: Smarte Carte, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel L. Otterson, Paul F. Stephan