Patents by Inventor Robert A. Karsten

Robert A. Karsten 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: 5809677
    Abstract: A sign wherein individual film panels bearing graphical information are interconnected as an uninterrupted web by way of interconnecting plastic zippers. The web, which is composed of a series of film panel transparencies, is wound and unwound from spaced apart rollers for presenting the individual panels for viewing through a window in a housing. The concept of releasably interconnecting film panels is also used in stationary signs such as menu boards in fast food restaurants to provide for easy interchange of the panels when it is desired to present different menu items and prices, for example.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 22, 1998
    Assignee: Everbrite, Inc.
    Inventors: Carl H. Wamser, Robert A. Karsten
  • Patent number: 5483765
    Abstract: Rectangular transparency panels form the sides of triangular units that are lighted from within. A gear train drives the units in synchronism. A base housing has a plurality of parallel aligned round posts projecting upwardly from it. The posts have a bore in which the lower end of a tubular lamp resides. Annular recesses around the posts have ring bushings in them. Gears having axially upwardly and downwardly projecting hub portions rotate concentrically to but not directly on the posts. The downwardly projecting hub portion has an annular shoulder that imparts a thrust load to the bushing and the hub extends through the bushing to be journaled for rotation. A gear cover arranged above the posts contains similar bushings that journal the upper hub portions and accept upward thrust load. The upper hub portions of the gears have axial slots.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 16, 1996
    Assignee: Everbrite, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert A. Karsten, Jon P. Strawbridge
  • Patent number: 5003717
    Abstract: A sign composed of modules mounted adjacent each other. Each module having laterally spaced apart side wall members and a pair of longitudinally spaced apart parallel rollers mounted between the side wall members for rotating. Opposite end portions of a web containing a series of indicia are wound on the rollers, respectively, such that a selected indicia can be positioned in viewing position by winding web on one roller while unwinding it on the other roller. There are motor means mounted inside of each of the rollers for rotating the rollers to translate the web. In the depicted embodiment, an electric motor means is mounted inside of one of the rollers and a constant force spring motor means is mounted on the inside of the other of the rollers. The motors oppose each other in such a way that the web is maintained taut between them.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 1989
    Date of Patent: April 2, 1991
    Assignee: Everbrite, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles E. Trame, Robert A. Karsten, Michael W. Hobach