Patents by Inventor Robert A. St. John

Robert A. St. John 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).

  • Publication number: 20080179028
    Abstract: The present invention provides an automatic control system, method and paper manufacturing machine using such control system for automatically controlling the amount of press section dewatering via the metered application of chemical dewatering agents applied to a paper web in a paper manufacturing process. The control system includes a feedback controller for controlling the amount of chemical dewatering agent applied to a paper web, and a monitoring device for obtaining a measurement of the moisture of the paper web exiting the press section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2008
    Publication date: July 31, 2008
    Inventors: David Ira Weinstein, Michael Robert St. John, Rodney H. Banks, James L. Thomas
  • Publication number: 20080053278
    Abstract: A manually operable impact tool is provided that includes an elongated rigid handle and an impact head disposed at one longitudinal end portion of the handle structure. A cushioning grip is disposed over a second longitudinal end portion of the handle structure. The cushioning grip includes an inner layer of thermoplastic rubber having a Shore A durometer in the range of about 10 to about 40, and an outer layer of thermoplastic rubber disposed over the inner layer having a Shore A durometer in the range of about 55 to about 90.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2006
    Publication date: March 6, 2008
    Applicant: THE STANLEY WORKS
    Inventors: Robert St. John, Michael Marusiak
  • Publication number: 20080000031
    Abstract: A stapler capable of dispensing staples therefrom and comprising a head and a handle. The head comprises a staple dispenser configured to dispense a staple from the stapler when a compressive force is applied to the staple dispenser, and a blade carriage that carries a blade and is configured such that the blade is extendable from the head of the stapler and is retractable into the head of the stapler. The handle is attached to the head, and permits the stapler to be swung like a hammer to drive staples dispensed from the staple dispenser.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2006
    Publication date: January 3, 2008
    Applicant: THE STANLEY WORKS
    Inventors: John Delneo, Robert Jennings, Stephen Crosby, Thomas Pelletier, Robert St. John
  • Publication number: 20070221698
    Abstract: An electromagnetic stapler includes a driver for driving fasteners into a workpiece, and a solenoid for providing power to the driver. The solenoid has a coil, and a core that is operatively connected to the driver. The stapler also includes a manually adjustable depth adjuster for adjusting a depth of drive of the fasteners. The depth adjuster is movable between a plurality of predefined positions, including a maximum depth of drive position, a minimum depth of drive position, and at least one intermediate depth of drive position. The depth adjuster includes a cam having a cam surface that interacts with the core so as to define an upper position of the core, an adjustment knob operatively connected to the cam, and a detent mechanism for securing the cam at one of the plurality of predefined positions to thereby define the upper position of the core.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2006
    Publication date: September 27, 2007
    Applicant: THE STANLEY WORKS
    Inventors: Robert St. John, Thomas Pelletier, Scott Fong
  • Patent number: 6553717
    Abstract: A retrofit power door assembly for installation on a manual door assembly. One aspect is related to a retrofit power door assembly having an axial operator. Another aspect relates to a retrofit power door assembly having a clutch with a manually engageable release member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2003
    Assignee: The Stanley Works
    Inventors: Robert A. St. John, Thomas M. Kowalczyk, Quan H. Nguyen
  • Publication number: 20020026750
    Abstract: The present application discloses a retrofit power door assembly for installation on a manual door assembly. One aspect of the application related to a retrofit power door assembly having an axial operator. Another aspect of the application relates to a retrofit power door assembly having a clutch with a manually engageable release member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2001
    Publication date: March 7, 2002
    Inventors: Robert A. St. John, Thomas M. Kowalczyk, Quan H. Nguyen
  • Patent number: 6311588
    Abstract: Self-adjusting pliers including first and second members each handle portions and jaw portions. The first member defines a rack having a plurality of teeth. A rack engagement structure is mounted to an intermediate portion of the second member and positioned adjacent the rack. During initial manual movement of the handle portions towards one another, the rack engagement structure travels in disengaged, spaced relation with respect to the rack. Then, after the jaw portions engage opposing sides of a workpiece, continued movement of the handle portions towards one another causes movement of the rack engagement structure toward the rack until the rack engagement structure engages the rack. The rack engagement structure has a movement restrictive portion being cooperable with the rack so as to limit the movement of the rack engagement structure toward the rack when the jaw portions contact one another in the absence of a workpiece therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2001
    Assignee: The Stanley Works
    Inventors: Robert A. St. John, Keith Lombardi
  • Patent number: 6079865
    Abstract: A hand mixer 30 is formed with a housing 32 and a handle 34 extending in one direction from the housing. A pair of beaters 58 and 60 can be assembled with the hand mixer 30 and rotated by a motor 88 under the control of a sensory actuator 92. A slidable compliant switch pad 44 provides an external facility for an operator to selectively position the sensory actuator 92 to operate the motor 88, and the beaters 58 and 60, at the different speeds. The sensory actuator 92 provides a tactile response to the operator during selection of the different speeds. The hand mixer 30 is provided with a first embodiment of a beater ejection mechanism 192, or a second embodiment of a beater ejection mechanism 242, for facilitating ejection of the beaters 58 and 60 from the hand mixer. A button 52 located externally on top of the housing 32 provides operational access to the operator to initiate the beater ejection process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2000
    Assignee: HP Intellectual Corp.
    Inventors: Daniel J. Plavcan, Paul Holbrook, Robert A. St. John
  • Patent number: 6059445
    Abstract: A blender 30 includes a base housing 32, a jar mount 34 which nests on the housing, and a jar 36, which is threadedly attached to the jar mount. A motor 66 is contained within the base housing 32 and drives a blending implement 74 located within the base of the jar 36. The jar mount 34 rests on a plurality of compliant pads 88 to support the jar mount and the jar 36 during operation of the blender 30. An extension 42 of the base housing 32 provides an enclosure for a switch assembly 68 which includes four switches 96 for facilitating external control of the operation of the motor 66 and the blender 30. Each of four compliant actuator pads 54 extend through respective openings 148 in a cover 50 of the extension 42 and engage a respective actuator block 158 which is mounted on a pivotable panel 152.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2000
    Assignee: HP Intellectual Corp.
    Inventors: Robert A. St John, John D. McNair, Wong Man Bun, Siu Kwai Keung
  • Patent number: 6010030
    Abstract: A metal container 30 includes a container portion 34 and a handle 44. The container portion 34 is formed with a base floor 36, a side wall 38 and an opening 40 surrounded by an edge 42. The handle 44 is formed by two shell sections 64 and 66 which are assembled and secured, mechanically and adhesively, to form the handle. Soft, non-slip attachments 130 are secured to an inboard side of the exterior of the handle 44. Brackets 46 and 50 are secured to a side wall 38 of the container portion 34 and provide for threaded attachment of opposite ends of the handle 44 with the container portion of the container 30.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2000
    Assignee: HP Intellectual Corp.
    Inventors: Robert A. St. John, Wong Man Bun
  • Patent number: 5996450
    Abstract: A pliers comprises a pair of elongated members having jaw portions, handle portions, and neck portions therebetween with the neck portions overlying each other and the jaw portions thereof having opposed clamping faces. The elongated members have oppositely arching slots in their neck portions and pivot pins which slide in the slot of the other member. The elongated members of the pliers may be fabricated as laminates of sheet metal with one neck portion extending through a passage in the other neck portion. Solid jaw inserts may be secured to the jaw portions of the sheet metal elements to provide the clamping surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 7, 1999
    Assignee: The Stanley Works
    Inventor: Robert A. St. John
  • Patent number: 5988419
    Abstract: A glass container 30 includes a container portion 34 and a handle 44. The container portion 34 is formed with a base floor 36, a side wall 38 and an opening 40 surrounded by an edge 42 which is formed with a pouring lip 46. The handle 44 is formed by two shell sections 52 and 54 which are assembled and secured, mechanically and adhesively, about a glass support 48 which is formed integrally with the glass container portion 34. A soft, non-slip attachment 110 is secured to an inboard side of the exterior of the handle 44.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1999
    Assignee: HP Intellectual Corp.
    Inventor: Robert A. St John
  • Patent number: 5957578
    Abstract: A food mixing appliance has a mixing head pivotably supported on a pedestal. The appliance includes a mechanism for locking the head relative to the pedestal in several discrete positions and for enabling the user to pivot the head relative to the pedestal into a selected one of the discrete positions. A mechanism includes a user actuated pivotable lever and first and second pivotable pawls. A member is fixed in position relative to the lever and includes slots defining a plurality of discrete positions for the pivotable head. Each of the pawls selectively engage a selected one of the slots corresponding to angular positions of 0.degree., 45.degree. and 90.degree. for the head relative to the pedestal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 28, 1999
    Assignee: HP Intellectual Corp.
    Inventors: Paul R. Holbrook, Robert A. St. John
  • Patent number: 5911505
    Abstract: A stand mixer comprising a drive shaft, a transmission shaft, and a coupling. The drive shaft is rotatably held in a first housing. The transmission shaft is held in a second housing. The second housing is pivotally mounted to the first housing so that the first housing may be pivoted relative to the second housing. The coupling connects the drive shaft to the transmission shaft when the first housing is in an operating position. The coupling includes a self aligning coupling. The self aligning coupling comprises a first member, a second member and a spring. The first member is inserted into and intermeshed with the second member to transfer power between the drive shaft and the transmission shaft. When the first housing is pivoted to the operating position the spring biases the first member against the second member to intermesh the first member with the second member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 15, 1999
    Assignee: HP Intellectual Corp.
    Inventors: Robert A. St. John, Ngai Ming Leung, Charles Z. Krasznai, John D. McNair
  • Patent number: 5908242
    Abstract: A stand mixer comprising a lower housing with a support rotatably mounted thereto and a mixing bowl removably connected to the support. Between the mixing bowl and the support is a self-locking connection. The self-locking connection comprises the support having an aperture and the mixing bowl having a member fixably connected to the mixing bowl. The member fixedly connected to the mixing bowl is adapted to be inserted into the aperture of the support. The member has an engagement surface formed therein. The support has a cam surface. Rotation of the support drives the cam surface upon the engagement surface of the member. This rotates the member in unison with the support and cams down the mixing bowl against the support to lock the mixing bowl to the support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 1, 1999
    Assignee: HP Intellectual Corp.
    Inventors: Robert A. St. John, Paul R. Holbrook, John D. McNair
  • Patent number: 5666735
    Abstract: A can opener having a housing, a cutting blade, a can moving system, and a lid retainer. The cutting blade is movably connected to the housing between a cutting position and a retracted position. The lid retainer is pivotably connected to the housing between a recessed position in a recess of the housing and an extended position. The cutting blade is located in front of the recess when it is in its retracted position to keep the lid retainer in the recess. However, when the cutting blade is moved to its cutting position, the cutting blade is moved out of the path of the recess to allow the lid retainer to move from its recessed position to its extended position. The cutting blade can also push the lid retainer back to its recessed position when the cutting blade is moved back to its retracted position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 16, 1997
    Assignee: Black & Decker Inc.
    Inventors: Richard B. Kosten, Robert A. St. John
  • Patent number: 5539856
    Abstract: An electric coffeemaker includes a first electric heater for heating water for brewing the coffee. A carafe is supported on a base portion of the housing of the coffeemaker. A second electric heater is mounted in heat transfer relation with the base portion for keeping the base portion warm when a coffee-laden carafe is positioned thereon. The operation of the second electric heater is controlled to reduce the heat delivered to the base portion when a relatively lesser quantity of coffee has been brewed and to increase the amount of heat delivered to the base portion when a relatively greater quantity of coffee has been brewed. The operation of the second heater may also be varied to satisfy specific consumer taste preferences.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 23, 1996
    Assignee: Black & Decker Inc.
    Inventors: Michael A. Andrew, Walter G. Birdsell, Stephen D. Mowers, Robert A. St. John, Charles Z. Krasznai
  • Patent number: 4979730
    Abstract: An envelope drive assembly for assuming displacement control over an envelope along a deck supported on a support assembly including a drive means for receiving the envelope traversing the deck and assuming displacement control over the envelope. The drive means has a shaft having a drive roller fixably mounted centrally around a portion of the shaft such that a radial portion of the drive roller extent into an opening in the deck. A motor drive is provided for rotating the shaft. A support member having at least one biasing roller rotatively mounted thereto is positioned radially opposite the drive roller. The support member is pivotally mounted and biased such that the biasing roller is biased against the drive roller. A processor controls the drive motor. A sensor is provided for sensing the presence of the leading and trailing edge of the envelope in the nip area of the biasing roller and drive roller and informing the processor thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 1989
    Date of Patent: December 25, 1990
    Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc.
    Inventors: Russell W. Holbrook, Kevin J. O'Dea, Robert A. St. John
  • Patent number: D409446
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 11, 1999
    Assignee: HP Intellectual Corp.
    Inventors: Robert A. St. John, Sui Kwai Keung