Patents by Inventor Robert D. Schaefer

Robert D. Schaefer 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: 11536310
    Abstract: A precision adjustment fastener mechanism comprises a base, a platform, and a locking push-pull fastener assembly. The base has a first aperture and the platform has a second aperture. The fastener assembly is disposed within the second aperture. The fastener assembly comprises a clamping fastener having a portion positioned in the first aperture, a sleeve having a third aperture extending along an axis of the sleeve. The clamping fastener is positioned within the third aperture. The sleeve comprises a first portion moveable relative to a second portion along the axis. The first portion and the second portion each comprise outer threads. An axial displacement portion separates the first and second portions and transmits a torque between the first and second portions. The axial displacement portion facilitates movement of the first and second portions to bind threads of the first and second portions with the threads of the platform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: Robert D. Schaefer, Andrew L. Bullard, Brian R. Schaefer, Michael C. Barr
  • Publication number: 20210190126
    Abstract: A precision adjustment fastener mechanism comprises a base, a platform, and a locking push-pull fastener assembly. The base has a first aperture and the platform has a second aperture. The fastener assembly is disposed within the second aperture. The fastener assembly comprises a clamping fastener having a portion positioned in the first aperture, a sleeve having a third aperture extending along an axis of the sleeve. The clamping fastener is positioned within the third aperture. The sleeve comprises a first portion moveable relative to a second portion along the axis. The first portion and the second portion each comprise outer threads. An axial displacement portion separates the first and second portions and transmits a torque between the first and second portions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2019
    Publication date: June 24, 2021
    Inventors: Robert D. Schaefer, Andrew L. Bullard, Brian R. Schaefer, Michael C. Barr
  • Publication number: 20200254179
    Abstract: Systems, components, and methods are disclosed for withdrawing drug from a liquid drug container and transferring drug to a medical device. One or more components may have keying features so that only the correct liquid drug container and medical device are accessed, making sure the medical device is filled with the correct drug. A syringe needle hub may have keying features corresponding to keying features on a cap on the liquid drug container and on the medical device. An alignment device facilitates easy-to-operate filling of a medical device. The alignment device aligns a liquid drug container over a fill port of the medical device and can include components for moving the liquid drug container into engagement with the medical device and for automatically initiating drug transfer to the medical device. A retractable skirt or needle cover protects the needle and is unlocked only when the skirt or needle cover is close to or touching the medical device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2020
    Publication date: August 13, 2020
    Inventors: David NAZZARO, Maureen MCCAFFREY, Robert F. RIOUX, Michael Philip GRAFFEO, Ian MCLAUGHLIN, Nicholas JANSKY, Sam ROSENBLUM, David CLARE, Robert D. SCHAEFER, Daniel P. ALLIS, Bryan DILLON, Steven BARLETTA, Bryan CHOATE, Raymond DOBRY, John LEFAVOUR
  • Patent number: 10661012
    Abstract: Systems, components, and methods are disclosed for withdrawing drug from a liquid drug container and transferring drug to a medical device. One or more components may have keying features so that only the correct liquid drug container and medical device are accessed, making sure the medical device is filled with the correct drug. A syringe needle hub may have keying features corresponding to keying features on a cap on the liquid drug container and on the medical device. An alignment device facilitates easy-to-operate filling of a medical device. The alignment device aligns a liquid drug container over a fill port of the medical device and can include components for moving the liquid drug container into engagement with the medical device and for automatically initiating drug transfer to the medical device. A retractable skirt or needle cover protects the needle and is unlocked only when the skirt or needle cover is close to or touching the medical device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: Insulet Corporation
    Inventors: David Nazzaro, Maureen McCaffrey, Robert F. Rioux, Michael Philip Graffeo, Ian McLaughlin, Nicholas Jansky, Sam Rosenblum, David Clare, Robert D. Schaefer, Daniel P. Allis, Bryan Dillon, Steven Barletta, Bryan Choate, Raymond Dobry, John LeFavour
  • Patent number: 10234075
    Abstract: A system includes a device, a support structure, and a flexure bearing configured to connect the device to the support structure. The flexure bearing includes an outer hub and an inner hub, where the hubs are configured to be secured to the support structure and to the device. The flexure bearing also includes multiple sets of flexure arms connecting the outer hub and the inner hub, where each set of flexure arms includes symmetric flexure arms. The flexure bearing further includes multiple bridges, where each bridge connects one of the flexure arms in one set of flexure arms to one of the flexure arms in an adjacent set of flexure arms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: Theodore J. Conrad, Robert D. Schaefer, Andrew L. Bullard, Brian R. Schaefer, Ryan Yates
  • Publication number: 20180224059
    Abstract: A system includes a device, a support structure, and a flexure bearing configured to connect the device to the support structure. The flexure bearing includes an outer hub and an inner hub, where the hubs are configured to be secured to the support structure and to the device. The flexure bearing also includes multiple sets of flexure arms connecting the outer hub and the inner hub, where each set of flexure arms includes symmetric flexure arms. The flexure bearing further includes multiple bridges, where each bridge connects one of the flexure arms in one set of flexure arms to one of the flexure arms in an adjacent set of flexure arms.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2017
    Publication date: August 9, 2018
    Inventors: Theodore J. Conrad, Robert D. Schaefer, Andrew L. Bullard, Brian R. Schaefer, Ryan Yates
  • Publication number: 20170189270
    Abstract: Systems, components, and methods are disclosed for withdrawing drug from a liquid drug container and transferring drug to a medical device. One or more components may have keying features so that only the correct liquid drug container and medical device are accessed, making sure the medical device is filled with the correct drug. A syringe needle hub may have keying features corresponding to keying features on a cap on the liquid drug container and on the medical device. An alignment device facilitates easy-to-operate filling of a medical device. The alignment device aligns a liquid drug container over a fill port of the medical device and can include components for moving the liquid drug container into engagement with the medical device and for automatically initiating drug transfer to the medical device. A retractable skirt or needle cover protects the needle and is unlocked only when the skirt or needle cover is close to or touching the medical device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 4, 2017
    Publication date: July 6, 2017
    Inventors: David Nazzaro, Maureen McCaffrey, Robert F. Rioux, Michael Philip Graffeo, Ian McLaughlin, Nicholas Jansky, Sam Rosenblum, David Clare, Robert D. Schaefer, Daniel P. Allis, Bryan Dillon, Steven Barletta, Bryan Choate, Raymond Dobry, John LeFavour
  • Patent number: 9285073
    Abstract: A system includes a device, a support structure, and a flexure bearing configured to connect the device to the support structure. The flexure bearing includes an outer hub and an inner hub, where the hubs are configured to be secured to the support structure and to the device. The flexure bearing also includes multiple sets of flexure arms connecting the outer and inner hubs. Each set of flexure arms includes symmetric flexure arms. The flexure bearing could include three sets of flexure arms positioned radially around a central axis of the flexure bearing and having a spacing of about 120°. Each flexure arm can follow a substantially curved path between the outer hub and the inner hub. The symmetric flexure arms in each set can be configured such that twisting of one flexure arm in one set is substantially counteracted by twisting of another flexure arm in that set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: Michael J. Ellis, Lowell A. Bellis, Brian R. Schaefer, Robert D. Schaefer, Marco K. Kwan
  • Publication number: 20150041619
    Abstract: A system includes a device, a support structure, and a flexure bearing configured to connect the device to the support structure. The flexure bearing includes an outer hub and an inner hub, where the hubs are configured to be secured to the support structure and to the device. The flexure bearing also includes multiple sets of flexure arms connecting the outer and inner hubs. Each set of flexure arms includes symmetric flexure arms. The flexure bearing could include three sets of flexure arms positioned radially around a central axis of the flexure bearing and having a spacing of about 120°. Each flexure arm can follow a substantially curved path between the outer hub and the inner hub. The symmetric flexure arms in each set can be configured such that twisting of one flexure arm in one set is substantially counteracted by twisting of another flexure arm in that set.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2013
    Publication date: February 12, 2015
    Applicant: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: Michael J. ELLIS, Lowell A. BELLIS, Brian R. SCHAEFER, Robert D. SCHAEFER, Marco K. KWAN
  • Patent number: 5765718
    Abstract: A center pull towel dispenser includes two housing members which pivot about a vertical pivot axis. A support plate supports the coreless roll product on end with the lead end of the coreless roll product passing through a bottom wall disposed under the support plate. Various structural elements of the apparatus cooperate to provide ease of threading of a roll product lead end into a dispensing member including a downwardly converging, generally cone-shaped wall and to resist inadvertent pinching of the sheet product to be dispensed when the housing members form a closed interior.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 16, 1998
    Assignee: Fort James Corporation
    Inventors: Kamala J. Grasso, Robert D. Schaefer, John R. Moody
  • Patent number: 5368271
    Abstract: A gimbal vibration isolation system suitable for use with an inertial platform to enable accurate positioning of the platform independently of a presence of vibratory translational movement upon a gimbal housing enclosing the platform employs a frame assembly centrally located within platform for pivoting the platform and for isolating the platform from vibration. The gimbal housing includes a drive ring rotatable about a central axis and encircling the frame assembly which is connected to the drive ring. A central portion of the frame assembly carries a pivot which pivotally supports the platform. An electromagnetic actuator is located at each of a plurality of positions located circumferentially around the central axis wherein each actuator has a first part connecting with the frame and a second part connecting with of the platform to accomplish a pivoting between platform and frame assembly upon activation of each actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 29, 1994
    Assignee: Hughes Aircraft Company
    Inventors: Paul C. Kiunke, Robert D. Schaefer
  • Patent number: 5049740
    Abstract: Images of two fields of view of one or two scenes in a radiation sensor are generated by use of a single detector and common signal process circuitry. The two imaged fields of view, typically a narrow view and a wide view, are provided by two independent telescopes (18, 20), and are combined by use of a field-of-view switch (32) comprising a chopper wheel (34) or an optical switch in synchronized operation with a mirror scanner (22). The same field-of-view switch is employed in performing detector non-uniformity correction functions, such as automatic responsivity control and direct current restoration. Folding optics couples scanned radiation from the scanner to the switch. An additional field of view may be introduced by displacing a folding mirror of the folding optics. Also, a portion of a reflecting surface of the switch may be tilted to admit a reference beam of radiation useful in performing the functions of responsivity control and D.C. restoration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 1986
    Date of Patent: September 17, 1991
    Assignee: Hughes Aircraft Company
    Inventors: Michael Y. Pines, Themi H. Demas, Robert D. Schaefer
  • Patent number: 4929073
    Abstract: An optical element (10) is mounted and aligned with minimum strain and distortion within a support (12) to which at least three mounts (14) are attached and spaced 120.degree. about the periphery of the optical element. Each mount comprises a spherical disc (16) spherically contacting a spherical surface (30) on a seat (20) which is linearly moveable within a housing (18). Each disc abuts and supports the optical element. Any loading exerted on the support causes the discs to rotate with respect to the seats and the seats to reciprocate with respect to the annular disc-retaining housings to prevent such loadings from being transmitted to the optical element, thereby enabling the optical element to maintain a chosen, strain-free orientation with pressure on the spherical disc being evenly distributed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 1988
    Date of Patent: May 29, 1990
    Assignee: Hughes Aircraft Company
    Inventors: John A. La Plante, Robert D. Schaefer
  • Patent number: 4701602
    Abstract: An optical sensor system (10), including a two degree of freedom gyro (32) and a beam expander (38) having a predetermined magnification level, is rigidly secured internally to a housing (20). Also mounted within the housing is a prime sensor beam expander (14, 16), having a magnification level equal to that of the gyro beam expander, and a prime sensor detector (30) which form a primary sensor optical path. A steering mirror (24) is interposed between the gyro and prime sensor beam expander. An autocollimator (50), including an angle detector (56), is secured internally to the housing and projects a light beam off one surface (25) of the steering mirror onto the gyro rotor (34), the position of the stabilized reflected light beam being adjusted with respect to a null point on the autocollimator sensor thus to control the steering mirror and, accordingly, to stabilize the primary optical path with respect to the target being detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 1984
    Date of Patent: October 20, 1987
    Assignee: Hughes Aircraft Company
    Inventors: Robert D. Schaefer, Paul C. Kiunke
  • Patent number: D403543
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 5, 1999
    Assignee: Fort James Corporation
    Inventors: Kamala J. Grasso, Robert D. Schaefer, Ronald Vish, John R. Moody