Patents by Inventor Rick Fritz

Rick Fritz 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: 6212342
    Abstract: A device and method for reducing noise and/or vibration in an image forming apparatus. In a preferred form, an insert is disposed inside of a photosensitive drum, and the insert is a hollow tubular member including an elastic member having, in a relaxed state, an outer diameter larger than an inner diameter of the said inner surface of the photosensitive drum. The elastic member is configured such that when it is elongated in a longitudinal direction, the outer diameter of the elastic member may be elastically reduced to a diameter equal to or less than the inner diameter of the photosensitive drum, and after insertion, the overall diameter of the insert can be increased such that the outer surface of the insert comes into contact with an inner surface of the drum. As such, the insert can be anchored to the interior of the drum without using adhesive and can be easily removed for recycling purposes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2001
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Chemical America, Inc.
    Inventor: Rick Fritz