Patents by Inventor Robert Downs

Robert Downs 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: 20080085221
    Abstract: The invention provides an apparatus and methods for high throughput screening of alloys and other materials to identify those that have desired gas storage properties.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2007
    Publication date: April 10, 2008
    Applicant: WILDCAT DISCOVERY TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventor: Robert Downs
  • Publication number: 20070178019
    Abstract: The invention provides an apparatus and methods for conducting ball milling operations in a high throughput manner. Also provided are devices and methods for high throughput screening of alloys and other materials to identify those that have desired gas storage properties.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2007
    Publication date: August 2, 2007
    Applicant: WILDCAT DISCOVERY TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventor: Robert Downs
  • Publication number: 20070105214
    Abstract: High throughput and automated cellular disruption systems that substantially uniformly disrupt cells as part of cellular motility assays as wells as other assay types are provided. In addition, various system components, including holding blocks, holding block loading devices, and system software, are also provided. Moreover, related methods that utilize these systems and system components are additionally provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2005
    Publication date: May 10, 2007
    Applicants: IRM, LLC, THE SCRIPPS RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Kenneth Micklash, Jiyong Hong, James Mainquist, Sheng Ding, Robert Downs, Peter Schultz
  • Publication number: 20070031963
    Abstract: Cell culture flasks that are readily conducive to various automated processing applications, including introducing and removing fluid from the flasks are provided. Automated cell culture flask processing systems, system components, and related methods are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2006
    Publication date: February 8, 2007
    Inventors: Jim Chang, James Mainquist, Robert Downs, Randal Wayne, Daniel Sipes
  • Publication number: 20070031295
    Abstract: The invention provides an apparatus and methods for conducting ball milling operations in a high throughput manner. Also provided are devices and methods for high throughput screening of alloys and other materials to identify those that have desired gas storage properties.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2005
    Publication date: February 8, 2007
    Inventor: Robert Downs
  • Publication number: 20070005182
    Abstract: The present invention provides grasping mechanisms, gripper apparatus/systems, and related methods. Grasping mechanisms that include stops, support surfaces, and height adjusting surfaces to determine three translational axis positions of a grasped object are provided. In addition, grasping mechanisms that are resiliently coupled to other gripper apparatus components are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2006
    Publication date: January 4, 2007
    Inventors: Robert Downs, Mark Weselak, James Mainquist
  • Publication number: 20060270027
    Abstract: The invention provides efficiently automated incubation devices that reduce the number of powered moving parts in the devices and the amount of air transfer between environments that are internal and external to the devices. Related systems are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2005
    Publication date: November 30, 2006
    Applicant: IRM LLC
    Inventors: Christopher Shaw, Robert Downs
  • Publication number: 20060257999
    Abstract: High throughput compound profiling systems, and related devices and sub-systems that can be used to perform various compound profiling processes are provided. These systems typically include work perimeters that are organized for optimum efficiency and processing accuracy. Further, these systems are readily adaptable for performing a wide array of assays, as many different system components are easily incorporated or interchangeable in a particular system. System components that are provided by the invention include cell culture dissociators, which can be used, e.g., to effect cell wetting, dissociation, and/or agitation applications. In some embodiments, these cell culture dissociators are included as components of automated cell culture passaging stations. Dispensing devices that permit on-the-fly fluid temperature regulation are also provided. In addition, various compound profiling methods, cell dissociation methods, uniform cell concentration dispensing methods, among other processes, are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2006
    Publication date: November 16, 2006
    Inventors: Jim Chang, James Mainquist, Robert Downs, Jeremy Caldwell, Frederick King
  • Publication number: 20060051247
    Abstract: The present invention provides fluid removal heads and related multi-well container processing systems for the efficient removal of fluids from multi-well containers. Methods of removing fluid from multi-well containers are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2005
    Publication date: March 9, 2006
    Applicant: IRM, LLC
    Inventors: Kenneth Micklash, Robert Downs, Jim Chang, James Mainquist
  • Patent number: 7005061
    Abstract: A drain filter device includes a body formed from wire mesh having a plurality of side edge portions integral with each other and forming a substantially square shape. The body further has substantially planar top and bottom surfaces and includes a plurality of elongated support rods having opposed end portions extending along the plurality of side edge portions respectively. The device further includes a top section having a substantially cylindrical shape and connected to the body. The top section is adaptable to be positioned substantially centrally about drain and for filtering out particulate materials suspended in water entering the drain. Advantageously, the top section traps and maintains particulate materials about a perimeter of a drain and not directly above same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2006
    Inventors: Robert Downs, Mark C. Downs
  • Publication number: 20060028802
    Abstract: The present invention provides modular object storage devices that include object storage modules and support elements that include object storage module receiving areas that are structured to receive the object storage modules. The modular object storage devices also include position adjustment components that are structured to move the object storage modules into contact with elevated alignment surfaces of the object storage module receiving areas to align the object storage module in desired positions. The invention also provides systems and related methods of positioning object storage modules.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2005
    Publication date: February 9, 2006
    Applicant: IRM, LLC
    Inventors: Christopher Shaw, Robert Downs
  • Publication number: 20060002824
    Abstract: The present invention provides dispensing systems that include peristaltic pumps and other pressure sources for the efficient delivery of accurate volumes of fluidic materials into the wells of multi-well containers or onto substrate surfaces. These systems are typically configured to dispense volumes of fluid having substantially uniform densities. Related computer program products and methods of dispensing fluidic materials are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2005
    Publication date: January 5, 2006
    Applicant: IRM, LLC
    Inventors: Jim Chang, Kenneth Micklash, Robert Downs, James Mainquist, Christopher Shaw
  • Publication number: 20050232743
    Abstract: The present invention provides grasping mechanisms, gripper apparatus/systems, and related methods. Grasping mechanisms that include stops, support surfaces, and height adjusting surfaces to determine three translational axis positions of a grasped object are provided. In addition, grasping mechanisms that are resiliently coupled to other gripper apparatus components are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2005
    Publication date: October 20, 2005
    Applicant: IRM LLC
    Inventors: Robert Downs, Mark Weselak, James Mainquist
  • Publication number: 20050232823
    Abstract: A method and system to deposit rapidly, accurately and efficiently liquid droplets onto a sample plate. A liquid from which the droplet is formed contains sample molecules, matrix molecules or a mixture of both sample and matrix molecules. A sample plate is positioned with respect to a position below a portion of the liquid, such as a droplet. A power supply forms an electric field between the sample plate and the liquid, which pulls the droplet to a target location on the sample plate. A plurality of capillary columns is provided for simultaneous or successive multiple depositions via application of one or more high voltage pulses between the liquid sample array and a sample plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2005
    Publication date: October 20, 2005
    Applicant: IRM LLC
    Inventors: Ansgar BROCK, Christopher SHAW, Robert DOWNS
  • Publication number: 20050163637
    Abstract: This invention provides material conveying systems that are configured to convey substantially uniform quantities of material to and/or from the material sites and to minimize periodic variation among the conveyed quantities of material. Related computer program products and methods are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2004
    Publication date: July 28, 2005
    Applicant: IRM, LLC
    Inventors: Jim Chang, James Mainquist, Robert Downs, Chris Petersen, Daniel Sipes
  • Publication number: 20050150508
    Abstract: This invention relates to providing nail-art systems for improved fingernail and/or toenail decoration. The nail-art nail system comprises flexible, computer-printed nail-art appliqués used to decorate fingernails and/or toenails. They are preferably cut from self-adhesive vinyl film of the sort commonly used in the art of sign-making. They are preferably computer-printed with decorative designs, and computer-cut into the correct nail shapes. Metallic nail-art appliqués of the nail-art system are also preferably manufactured, preferably from self-adhesive metallized sign-lettering film. Gold, silver, aluminum, and other metals may be used. A business systems, kits, and methods of manufacture are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2004
    Publication date: July 14, 2005
    Inventors: Kim Downs, Robert Downs
  • Publication number: 20050058577
    Abstract: The present invention provides material removal heads and devices for noninvasively removing materials from the wells of multi-well plates. The material removal heads of the invention are structured to prevent cross-contamination among wells of multi-well plates as materials are removed from the plates. The invention also provides dispense heads and devices that include angled dispensers. Related systems, kits, and methods are additionally provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 7, 2004
    Publication date: March 17, 2005
    Applicant: IRM, LLC
    Inventors: Kenneth Micklash, Robert Downs, Jim Chang, James Mainquist
  • Patent number: 6492818
    Abstract: An apparatus for determining component fault conditions associated with a capacitive discharge ignition system for an internal combustion engine includes a number of AC coupling circuits connected to a spark detection circuit, wherein the combination is responsive to a corresponding number of primary coil voltage signals to produce digital pulses indicative of reflected spark events from the various secondary coils to the respective primary coils of the ignition system. A number of level shifting circuits are also included and provide a pulse width circuit with a corresponding number of level-shifted primary coil voltage signals. A pulse width circuit is responsive to the number of level-shifted primary coil voltage signals to produce appropriate digital pulses timed to match the non-zero voltage times of the various primary coil voltage signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2002
    Assignee: Cummins, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert A. Downs
  • Patent number: D441263
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Assignees: Snap-on Technologies, Inc., Trek Bicycle Corporation
    Inventors: Mark J. Hasenberg, Glenn A. Kaufman, Gerald A. Wridt, Robert Downs