Patents by Inventor Phillip Hoffman

Phillip Hoffman 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: 11958512
    Abstract: A vehicle monitoring device includes a camera or other optical sensor configured to be disposed at a trailing end of a first vehicle system. The camera or other optical sensor is configured to output one or more images or video of a field of view behind the first vehicle system. The monitoring device also includes a controller configured to receive output from one or more sensors and to activate the camera or other optical sensor to output the one or more images or video based on the output from the one or more sensors. The output from the one or more sensors indicates one or more of a change in movement of the first vehicle system, a temperature, an acoustic sound, or movement of a second vehicle system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: WESTINGHOUSE AIR BRAKE TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Carl L. Haas, Padam D. Swar, Danial Rice, Christopher Claussen, Joseph W. Gorman, James A. Oswald, Ann K. Grimm, Kevin Angel, James Trainor, Phillip A. Burgart, Kendrick W. Gawne, Robert Hoffman, Tim Gibson, Brian Kurz
  • Patent number: 11807982
    Abstract: A method of using an inspection processor includes receiving one or more articles at an inspection station, and identifying, by the inspection processor, one of the articles by reading a unique identifier associated with the one of the articles. The method also includes inspecting the article based on at least one quality criterion, and updating an article tracking system based on the result of the inspection and the identifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: CAASTLE, INC.
    Inventors: Ericka Ponte, Kashif Noor, Phillip Hoffman, Andrew Demaray
  • Publication number: 20210332311
    Abstract: A method of treatment of one or more articles may comprise locating a stain on an article based on a tag on the article; placing the stain on a nose of a spotting board; positioning a steam gun at least two or more inches away from the stain; simultaneously activating a steam supply and a vacuum supply of the spotting board; moving the steam gun in a defined motion relative to the stain for at least 30 seconds; simultaneously activating the vacuum supply and an air supply of the spotting board; moving the steam gun in the defined motion relative to the stain until the article is at least partially dry; and inspecting the stain.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2021
    Publication date: October 28, 2021
    Applicant: CaaStle, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Jerome JACKSON, Andrew DEMARAY, Phillip HOFFMAN, Ericka PONTE
  • Patent number: 11078449
    Abstract: A method of treatment of one or more articles may comprise locating a stain on an article based on a tag on the article; placing the stain on a nose of a spotting board; positioning a steam gun at least two or more inches away from the stain; simultaneously activating a steam supply and a vacuum supply of the spotting board; moving the steam gun in a defined motion relative to the stain for at least 30 seconds; simultaneously activating the vacuum supply and an air supply of the spotting board; moving the steam gun in the defined motion relative to the stain until the article is at least partially dry; and inspecting the stain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: CaaStle, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Jerome Jackson, Andrew Demaray, Phillip Hoffman, Ericka Ponte
  • Publication number: 20200332233
    Abstract: A method of treatment of one or more articles may comprise locating a stain on an article based on a tag on the article; placing the stain on a nose of a spotting board; positioning a steam gun at least two or more inches away from the stain; simultaneously activating a steam supply and a vacuum supply of the spotting board; moving the steam gun in a defined motion relative to the stain for at least 30 seconds; simultaneously activating the vacuum supply and an air supply of the spotting board; moving the steam gun in the defined motion relative to the stain until the article is at least partially dry; and inspecting the stain.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2019
    Publication date: October 22, 2020
    Inventors: Michael Jerome JACKSON, Andrew DEMARAY, Phillip HOFFMAN, Ericka PONTE
  • Publication number: 20200270803
    Abstract: A method of using an inspection processor includes receiving one or more articles at an inspection station, and identifying, by the inspection processor, one of the articles by reading a unique identifier associated with the one of the articles. The method also includes inspecting the article based on at least one quality criterion, and updating an article tracking system based on the result of the inspection and the identifier.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2020
    Publication date: August 27, 2020
    Inventors: Ericka PONTE, Kashif NOOR, Phillip HOFFMAN, Andrew DEMARAY
  • Patent number: 10655271
    Abstract: A method of using an inspection processor includes receiving one or more articles at an inspection station, and identifying, by the inspection processor, one of the articles by reading a unique identifier associated with the one of the articles. The method also includes inspecting the article based on at least one quality criterion, and updating an article tracking system based on the result of the inspection and the identifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: CAASTLE, INC.
    Inventors: Ericka Ponte, Kashif Noor, Phillip Hoffman, Andrew Demaray
  • Patent number: 10513674
    Abstract: A method of treatment of one or more articles may comprise locating a stain on an article based on a tag on the article; placing the stain on a nose of a spotting board; positioning a steam gun at least two or more inches away from the stain; simultaneously activating a steam supply and a vacuum supply of the spotting board; moving the steam gun in a defined motion relative to the stain for at least 30 seconds; simultaneously activating the vacuum supply and an air supply of the spotting board; moving the steam gun in the defined motion relative to the stain until the article is at least partially dry; and inspecting the stain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2019
    Assignee: CAASTLE, INC.
    Inventors: Michael Jerome Jackson, Andrew Demaray, Phillip Hoffman, Ericka Ponte
  • Patent number: 10494759
    Abstract: A method of using an inspection processor includes receiving one or more articles at an inspection station, and identifying, by the inspection processor, one of the articles by reading a unique identifier associated with the one of the articles. The method also includes inspecting the article based on at least one quality criterion, and updating an article tracking system based on the result of the inspection and the identifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: CAASTLE, Inc.
    Inventors: Ericka Ponte, Kashif Noor, Phillip Hoffman, Andrew Demaray