Patents by Inventor Robert C. Williams

Robert C. Williams 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: 20200221022
    Abstract: In embodiments of the present invention improved capabilities are described for producing background separated product images for print and on-line display. An image formation system provides lighting of a product to facilitate acquiring images that can be automatically processed to generate high resolution item-only images free of quality defects and imaging artifacts. Image processing programs accurately detect an outline of an item in a set of digital images taken using the image formation system and automatically store processed images in an image library. The images in the library may be repurposed for print, sales display, transmission to a user, on-line customer support, and the like. A user display configured with an adaptable user interface facilitates user interaction with images in the library.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2020
    Publication date: July 9, 2020
    Inventors: Matthew J. Wheeler, Steven R. Koontz, Robert C. Williams
  • Patent number: 10616477
    Abstract: In embodiments of the present invention improved capabilities are described for producing background separated product images for print and on-line display. An image formation system provides lighting of a product to facilitate acquiring images that can be automatically processed to generate high resolution item-only images free of quality defects and imaging artifacts. Image processing programs accurately detect an outline of an item in a set of digital images taken using the image formation system and automatically store processed images in an image library. The images in the library may be repurposed for print, sales display, transmission to a user, on-line customer support, and the like. A user display configured with an adaptable user interface facilitates user interaction with images in the library.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: PC Connection, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew J. Wheeler, Steven R. Koontz, Robert C. Williams
  • Publication number: 20190194853
    Abstract: A laundry treating appliance having a tub defining an interior, a basket located within the interior and rotatably mounted within the tub and having an upper and lower basket base portion, a balance ring mounted to the upper edge of the basket peripheral wall, a clothes mover rotatably mounted within the basket, a drive system comprising a motor operably coupled to the basket and the clothes mover and configured to selectively oscillate or rotate the basket or the clothes mover and a first and second drive shaft, and a drive attachment mechanism configured to couple the basket to the second drive shaft, with the drive attachment mechanism comprising a bushing assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2019
    Publication date: June 27, 2019
    Inventors: ERIC K. FARRINGTON, STEVEN FRICKE, NICHOLAS C. FUGAL, CHRISTINE L. STRAIN, PHILIP R. THOMPSON, ROBERT C. WILLIAMS
  • Publication number: 20190161899
    Abstract: A laundry appliance includes a rotating drum that receives laundry to be treated. A motor rotates a drive shaft about a vertical axis and engages the rotating drum at a base. A coupler is disposed within an upper portion of the base and that rests upon the drive shaft to transfer rotational forces from the drive shaft to the drum. A lower portion of the base engages an outer surface of the shaft to resist moment forces that are exerted against the drive shaft in an off-axis direction relative to the vertical axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2017
    Publication date: May 30, 2019
    Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Nicholas C. Fugal, Bradley D. Morrow, Joseph C. O'Connor, Prabhath KV, Jason S. Sabel, Christine L. Strain, Meredith A. Wagner, Robert C. Williams
  • Publication number: 20190109983
    Abstract: In embodiments of the present invention improved capabilities are described for producing background separated product images for print and on-line display. An image formation system provides lighting of a product to facilitate acquiring images that can be automatically processed to generate high resolution item-only images free of quality defects and imaging artifacts. Image processing programs accurately detect an outline of an item in a set of digital images taken using the image formation system and automatically store processed images in an image library. The images in the library may be repurposed for print, sales display, transmission to a user, on-line customer support, and the like. A user display configured with an adaptable user interface facilitates user interaction with images in the library.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2018
    Publication date: April 11, 2019
    Inventors: Matthew J. Wheeler, Steven R. Koontz, Robert C. Williams
  • Patent number: 10240272
    Abstract: A laundry treating appliance having a tub defining an interior, a basket located within the interior and rotatably mounted within the tub and having an upper and lower basket base portion, a balance ring mounted to the upper edge of the basket peripheral wall, a clothes mover rotatably mounted within the basket, a drive system comprising a motor operably coupled to the basket and the clothes mover and configured to selectively oscillate or rotate the basket or the clothes mover and a first and second drive shaft, and a drive attachment mechanism configured to couple the basket to the second drive shaft, with the drive attachment mechanism comprising a bushing assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Eric K. Farrington, Steven Fricke, Nicholas C. Fugal, Christine L. Strain, Philip R. Thompson, Robert C. Williams
  • Patent number: 10194075
    Abstract: In embodiments of the present invention improved capabilities are described for producing background separated product images for print and on-line display. An image formation system provides lighting of a product to facilitate acquiring images that can be automatically processed to generate high resolution item-only images free of quality defects and imaging artifacts. Image processing programs accurately detect an outline of an item in a set of digital images taken using the image formation system and automatically store processed images in an image library. The images in the library may be repurposed for print, sales display, transmission to a user, on-line customer support, and the like. A user display configured with an adaptable user interface facilitates user interaction with images in the library.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: PC Connection, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew J. Wheeler, Steven R. Koontz, Robert C. Williams
  • Patent number: 10072369
    Abstract: A laundry treating appliance for treating laundry according to a cycle of operation includes a rotatable basket defining a laundry treating space and having a bottom wall and a side wall. The bottom wall of the rotatable basket includes at least one drain hole. A centrifugally actuated valve comprising a weighted ball is positioned to selectively open and close the at least one drain hole as the basket rotates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Sarah Galea, Christopher A. Jones, Aaron A. Linden, Thomas D. Spicer, Meredith A. Wagner, Robert C. Williams
  • Patent number: 10070693
    Abstract: A tensile strand element for an article of footwear is disclosed. The tensile strand element includes one or more tensile strands secured at their endpoints between the sole and upper of an article of footwear, creating one or more looped portions. The unsecured looped portions may extend into the fastening region of the footwear and engage with a fastening system to tighten the footwear upper snugly against a wearer's foot to provide added support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas G. Bell, Bryan N. Farris, Kevin W. Hoffer, James C. Meschter, Robert C. Williams, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20180228268
    Abstract: An apparatus for dispensing a fluid comprises a housing and a resilient liner adapted to hold the fluid disposed in the housing. A fluid transfer mechanism is in fluid communication between the liner and an applicator assembly mounted on the housing for dispensing the fluid on the skin of the user. The applicator assembly includes an actuator movable relative to the housing so as to activate the fluid transfer mechanism when the actuator is reciprocated. A fluid delivery element is held in contact against skin of a user for applying the fluid onto the skin. The fluid delivery element is supported on the actuator to be movable together with the actuator by varying contact pressure with the skin. Each movement of the actuator generates continuous negative pressure within the liner for drawing fluid through the fluid transfer mechanism and collapsing the liner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2018
    Publication date: August 16, 2018
    Inventors: Arianna Megaro, Matthew Megaro, Robert C. Williams, III, Brad Forrest, Matt Khare
  • Patent number: 9987439
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a system, method, and computer program product for controlling the supply of a distending media (such as an insufflating gas) from a distending media source to an endoscopic device so as to prevent the excess venting and/or waste of distending media. More specifically, the present invention provides for the detection of a pressure level within a lumen of an endoscopic device and adjusts a supply parameter of the distending media based at least in part on the detected pressure level, and in some cases, on the relationship between the detected pressure level and a user-defined threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: UNITED STATES ENDOSCOPY GROUP, INC.
    Inventors: Robert C. Williams, Jr., Peter M. Kurzyna, Kenneth E. Wolcott, Jeffrey B. Cushner
  • Publication number: 20180070677
    Abstract: An article of footwear may have an upper with a knitted component. Alone or in combination, the knitted component may include regions with different degrees of stretch-resistance; the knitted component forms a collar with a half-gauge knit; the upper includes a strand with sections that are inlaid within the knitted component, and the sections are positioned immediately adjacent to each other; the strand forms a plurality of loops, pairs of the loops are positioned immediately adjacent to each other and configured to receive a lace; and the knitted component includes a thermoplastic polymer material, and the strand is unbonded to the thermoplastic polymer material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2017
    Publication date: March 15, 2018
    Applicant: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel A. Podhajny, Benjamin A. Shaffer, Erin E. Toraya, Robert C. Williams, JR.
  • Patent number: 9907384
    Abstract: An apparatus for dispensing a fluid comprises a housing and a resilient liner adapted to hold the fluid disposed in the housing. A fluid transfer mechanism is in fluid communication between the liner and an applicator assembly mounted on the housing for dispensing the fluid on the skin of the user. The applicator assembly includes an actuator movable relative to the housing so as to activate the fluid transfer mechanism when the actuator is reciprocated. A fluid delivery element is held in contact against skin of a user for applying the fluid onto the skin. The fluid delivery element is supported on the actuator to be movable together with the actuator by varying contact pressure with the skin. Each movement of the actuator generates continuous negative pressure within the liner for drawing fluid through the fluid transfer mechanism and collapsing the liner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: BlokRok, Inc.
    Inventors: Arianna Megaro, Matthew Megaro, Robert C. Williams, III, Brad Forrest, Matt Khare
  • Patent number: 9861160
    Abstract: An article of footwear may have an upper with a knitted component. Alone or in combination, the knitted component may include regions with different degrees of stretch-resistance; the knitted component forms a collar with a half-gauge knit; the upper includes a strand with sections that are inlaid within the knitted component, and the sections are positioned immediately adjacent to each other; the strand forms a plurality of loops, pairs of the loops are positioned immediately adjacent to each other and configured to receive a lace; and the knitted component includes a thermoplastic polymer material, and the strand is unbonded to the thermoplastic polymer material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel A. Podhajny, Benjamin A. Shaffer, Erin E. Toraya, Robert C. Williams, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20170327989
    Abstract: A laundry treating appliance having a tub defining an interior, a basket located within the interior and rotatably mounted within the tub and having an upper and lower basket base portion, a balance ring mounted to the upper edge of the basket peripheral wall, a clothes mover rotatably mounted within the basket, a drive system comprising a motor operably coupled to the basket and the clothes mover and configured to selectively oscillate or rotate the basket or the clothes mover and a first and second drive shaft, and a drive attachment mechanism configured to couple the basket to the second drive shaft, with the drive attachment mechanism comprising a bushing assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2016
    Publication date: November 16, 2017
    Inventors: ERIC K. FARRINGTON, STEVEN FRICKE, NICHOLAS C. FUGAL, CHRISTINE L. STRAIN, PHILIP R. THOMPSON, ROBERT C. WILLIAMS
  • Patent number: 9808048
    Abstract: A tensile strand element for an article of footwear is disclosed. The tensile strand element includes one or more tensile strands secured at their endpoints between the sole and upper of an article of footwear, creating one or more looped portions. The unsecured looped portions may extend into the fastening region of the footwear and engage with a fastening system to tighten the footwear upper snugly against a wearer's foot to provide added support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas G. Bell, Bryan N. Farris, Kevin W. Hoffer, James C. Meschter, Robert C. Williams, Jr.
  • Patent number: D809272
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert C. Williams, Jr.
  • Patent number: D826533
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert C. Williams, Jr.
  • Patent number: D827277
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert C. Williams, Jr.
  • Patent number: D855301
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert C. Williams, Jr.