Patents by Inventor Robert A. Samples
Robert A. Samples 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: 9533483Abstract: Apparatus for shaping a segment of material includes a forming member having a curved sidewall shaped complementary to a desired shape of the segment of material, and a conforming member having an applicator side and an engagement side disposed for engagement with the curved sidewall of the forming member. The conforming member includes a plurality of attachment regions disposed on the applicator side. Each attachment region is adapted to hold the segment of material on the conforming member. Engagement of the conforming member with the forming member causes the attachment regions to move from a first shape profile to a second shape profile, the second shape profile being the desired shape of the segment of material.Type: GrantFiled: September 26, 2014Date of Patent: January 3, 2017Assignee: KIMBERLY-CLARK WORLDWIDE, INC.Inventors: Joseph Daniel Coenen, Caleb E. Ihrig, Joseph J. Sina, Gerald Sosalla, Charles Robert Sample
-
Publication number: 20160089870Abstract: Apparatus for shaping a segment of material includes a forming member having a curved sidewall shaped complementary to a desired shape of the segment of material, and a conforming member having an applicator side and an engagement side disposed for engagement with the curved sidewall of the forming member. The conforming member includes a plurality of attachment regions disposed on the applicator side. Each attachment region is adapted to hold the segment of material on the conforming member. Engagement of the conforming member with the forming member causes the attachment regions to move from a first shape profile to a second shape profile, the second shape profile being the desired shape of the segment of material.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 26, 2014Publication date: March 31, 2016Inventors: Joseph Daniel Coenen, Caleb E. Ihrig, Joseph J. Sina, Gerald Sosalla, Charles Robert Sample
-
Publication number: 20150173879Abstract: A method of manufacture for a vaginal insert. The vaginal insert may have a core, a cover, and a removal element. In various embodiments, the cover can be conformed to the vaginal insert.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 20, 2013Publication date: June 25, 2015Applicant: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.Inventors: Scott A. Adler, Scott A. Ainsworth, Tod W. Heleniak, Charles Robert Sample, Brian Wayne Tomac
-
Patent number: 8939445Abstract: A vacuum roll includes an inner rotor, an intermediate stator, and an outer shell roll. The inner rotor has open and closed portions and is adapted to rotate within the intermediate stator which is rotationally fixed and also has open and closed portions. The outer shell roll has open and closed portions and is adapted to move around the intermediate stator. Together the inner rotor and the intermediate stator define an internal rotary valve interface adapted to control fluid communication between the interior chamber and the outer shell.Type: GrantFiled: May 30, 2013Date of Patent: January 27, 2015Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.Inventors: Adam Nicholas Schoultz, Steven Todd Moore, Joseph John Sina, Charles Robert Sample, Gerald Keith Sosalla
-
Publication number: 20140353123Abstract: A vacuum roll includes an inner rotor, an intermediate stator, and an outer shell roll. The inner rotor has open and closed portions and is adapted to rotate within the intermediate stator which is rotationally fixed and also has open and closed portions. The outer shell roll has open and closed portions and is adapted to move around the intermediate stator. Together the inner rotor and the intermediate stator define an internal rotary valve interface adapted to control fluid communication between the interior chamber and the outer shell.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 30, 2013Publication date: December 4, 2014Inventors: Adam Nicholas Schoultz, Steven Todd Moore, Joseph John Sina, Charles Robert Sample, Gerald Keith Sosalla
-
Patent number: 8708002Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for the volumetric metering and depositing of a food product comprising a plurality of particles or flowable particles. The plurality of food particles are transported upon a discharge conveyor having a first rate of speed, the plurality of particles arranged uniformly from passing beneath a product leveling device. When the plurality of particles reach the end of the discharge conveyor, the particles fall from the end of the conveyor under the operation of gravity and are deposited in a shuttle while the shuttle travels at a second rate of speed from a position at least partially below the conveyor to collect the falling particles in cells or receiving receptacles. The relationship between the first rate of speed of the conveyor and the second rate of speed of the shuttle define a metered amount of particles collected in each of the receiving receptacles.Type: GrantFiled: September 16, 2010Date of Patent: April 29, 2014Assignee: Kraft Foods Group Brands LLCInventors: Mark E. Malenke, Charles Robert Sample, Brian Charles Adamski, Brian Wayne Tomac, David Hess, Tod Wesley Heleniak
-
Publication number: 20120067451Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for the volumetric metering and depositing of a food product comprising a plurality of particles or flowable particles. The plurality of food particles are transported upon a discharge conveyor having a first rate of speed, the plurality of particles arranged uniformly from passing beneath a product leveling device. When the plurality of particles reach the end of the discharge conveyor, the particles fall from the end of the conveyor under the operation of gravity and are deposited in a shuttle while the shuttle travels at a second rate of speed from a position at least partially below the conveyor to collect the falling particles in cells or receiving receptacles. The relationship between the first rate of speed of the conveyor and the second rate of speed of the shuttle define a metered amount of particles collected in each of the receiving receptacles.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 16, 2010Publication date: March 22, 2012Inventors: Mark E. MALENKE, Charles Robert SAMPLE, Brian Charles ADAMSKI, Brian Wayne TOMAC, David HESS, Tod Wesley HELENIAK
-
Patent number: 7249497Abstract: A test fixture, test apparatus, and test method utilize a radially cut tire section that is mounted and sealed to a test jig in a airtight manner such that an air chamber is formed between an innerliner surface of the radial tire section and a recessed portion of the jig body such that the tire section may be pressurized on the test jig. A test surface is provided and either the test surface or the test jig is moveable relative to the other to the other to provide a dynamic load to the radial tire sections.Type: GrantFiled: July 21, 2004Date of Patent: July 31, 2007Assignee: Akron Rubber Development Laboratory, Inc.Inventors: C. Robert Samples, Blake E. Matthies, Walter B. Samples, Uday Prakash Karmarker
-
Publication number: 20060238018Abstract: This invention is a safety wheel for 18-wheel trucks and is bolted to their steer/drive wheels using the existing studs and nuts. It is made from a ?? steel disc and a smaller secondary ?? steel disc with the same external diameter, the periphery being supported by a ?? steel ring and by ?? steel triangular braces The extreme outside of the device is covered by a hard rubber “tire”. The diameter of the safety wheel is 4? less than the diameter of the truck tire, and in the event of a blowout, the safety wheel only allows the truck wheel to drop 2? instead of going flat, thereby facilitating the driver to maintain the control necessary and helping to prevent the truck from rolling over or swerving into the on-coming traffic.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 20, 2005Publication date: October 26, 2006Inventor: Robert Sample
-
Patent number: 6692107Abstract: The invention relates to an ink cartridge body which is removably mountable in a printer carriage area of an ink jet printer and an alignment and latching mechanism for the ink cartridge body. The printer carriage area includes at least first and second spaced-apart elongate guide rails and the ink cartridge body includes a printhead and at least two bearing points at predetermined locations on the ink cartridge body, each of the bearing points disposed on the cartridge body for separately engaging at least one of the elongate guide rails for aligning and maintaining the printhead in a predetermined orientation relative to the print media in the printer. The invention substantially reduces the number of parts and tolerances thereof required for aligning a printhead relative to a print media by directly aligning the cartridge body rather than the carrier in the carriage area of the printer.Type: GrantFiled: May 25, 2001Date of Patent: February 17, 2004Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.Inventors: Michael D. Lattuca, James P. Harden, Larry S. Foster, Frank M. Hughes, Darren W. Tosh, Michael S. Leiter, Benjamin A. Askren, David A. Ward, Brian D. Smith, Robert A. Samples, Donn D. Bryant, Paul D. Horrall, David M. Cseledy
-
Publication number: 20030153390Abstract: A seal for a mass transit power transmission coupling. The seal is made at least partially of a polymeric material and configured such that the sealing surface moves radially outward under the centrifugal force created by rotation of the coupling beyond a predetermined speed. When the rotational speed of the coupling drops below the predetermined speed, the sealing surface moves radially inward and seals the coupling to prevent loss of the oil lubrication typically used on such couplings.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 12, 2003Publication date: August 14, 2003Applicant: Akron Rubber Development Laboratory, Inc.Inventor: C. Robert Samples
-
Publication number: 20010048453Abstract: The invention relates to an ink cartridge body which is removably mountable in a printer carriage area of an ink jet printer and an alignment and latching mechanism for the ink cartridge body. The printer carriage area includes at least first and second spaced-apart elongate guide rails and the ink cartridge body includes a printhead and at least two bearing points at predetermined locations on the ink cartridge body, each of the bearing points disposed on the cartridge body for separately engaging at least one of the elongate guide rails for aligning and maintaining the printhead in a predetermined orientation relative to the print media in the printer. The invention substantially reduces the number of parts and tolerances thereof required for aligning a printhead relative to a print media by directly aligning the cartridge body rather than the carrier in the carriage area of the printer.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 25, 2001Publication date: December 6, 2001Inventors: Michael D. Lattuca, James P. Harden, Larry S. Foster, Frank M. Hughes, Darren W. Tosh, Michael S. Leiter, Benjamin A. Askren, David A. Ward, Brian D. Smith, Robert A. Samples, Donn D. Bryant, Paul D. Horrall, David M. Cseledy
-
Patent number: 6296349Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for aligning a TAB circuit on first and second intersecting surfaces of a print head. The methods comprise aligning a chip portion of the TAB circuit on the first surface and applying a progressive force along the contact pad portion of the TAB circuit to align the contact pad portion on the second surface of the print head. The apparatus comprise a machine for aligning the chip portion of the TAB circuit on the first surface and roller for applying a progressive force along the contact pad portion of the TAB circuit to align the contact pad portion on the second surface.Type: GrantFiled: December 17, 1999Date of Patent: October 2, 2001Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.Inventor: Robert Samples
-
Patent number: 5568670Abstract: An improved windshield wiper blade insert for mounting on a wiper blade carrier arm comprises a base portion, a shank portion and a wiping portion. The shank portion comprises an elastic response enhancing material. The material is preferably a metal that exhibits substantially total elastic recovery under the flexural stress and service conditions encountered by the wiper blade insert. In one embodiment, the shank portion contains a ribbon of spring metal with a thickness in the range of about 0.001 to about 0.004 inches. In a second embodiment, the elastic response member is an essentially rectangular solid formed from spring metal wire with a diameter in the range of about 0.001 to about 0.006 inches.Type: GrantFiled: May 20, 1994Date of Patent: October 29, 1996Inventors: Timothy W. Samples, C. Robert Samples
-
Patent number: 5368930Abstract: A thin elastomeric sheet material with enhanced puncture resistance is prepared by embedding thin plate-like non-elastomeric particles in an elastomeric matrix so that the non-elastomeric particles form lamellae of overlapping plates. The interaction of the embedded particles and the matrix results in a composite sheet material have puncture resistance, at a load application rate in the relevant range for a surgical needle or the like, far superior to either the particles or an elastomeric sheet of equivalent thickness.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 1993Date of Patent: November 29, 1994Inventor: C. Robert Samples