Patents by Inventor Robert E. Thomas, Jr.

Robert E. Thomas, Jr. 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: 11834887
    Abstract: Movable barrier monitoring apparatus and methods are provided for rapidly responding to barrier travel obstructions and other abnormal occurrences to cause the movable barrier operator to halt barrier travel or stop and reverse barrier travel, while ignoring typical and normal impediments to barrier travel. Alternate methods are described for programming the barrier operator controller to compare characteristics of the monitored barrier run over the defined travel path with the characteristics of a good barrier run without interruption to barrier travel, with the degree of differentiation of such characteristics determinative of whether the operator controller is to interrupt barrier travel or not.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: GMI Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Brent Buescher, Mike Dragomier, Robert E. Thomas, Jr.
  • Patent number: 11823560
    Abstract: A moveable barrier system may include a moveable barrier configured to provide selective access to a space; a barrier operator configured to manipulate the moveable barrier between a closed position and an open position; a light; and a control station comprising a multi-function button configured to initiate more than one action by the barrier operator and by the light, the multi-function button being configured to initiate actions of: stopping an auto-close timer in response to receiving a first user input at the multi-function button; and toggling the light between an off state and an on state in response to receiving a second user input at the multi-function button.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: GMI HOLDINGS, INC.
    Inventors: Joshua S. Jones, Robert E. Thomas, Jr., Walter J. Connare
  • Publication number: 20230279719
    Abstract: A garage door status monitoring and control system for a jackshaft operator may include a control module comprising a programmable platform configured to: receive a change-door-status command to change a position of a door; in response to the change-door-status command, generate and communicate a light or sound command to a wireless controller; delay a period of time after communicating the light or sound command to the wireless controller; and only after the delay, generate a door command corresponding to said change-door-status command to change the position of the door.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2023
    Publication date: September 7, 2023
    Inventors: Tim Ikeler, LeRoy G. Krupke, Brent Buescher, Brent A. Rauscher, Gregory D. Matias, Michael Dragomier, Robert E. Thomas, JR., Daniel Punchak, Robert Merwin, Jerry B. Chrane
  • Patent number: 11746584
    Abstract: A garage door status monitoring and control system for a jackshaft operator may include a control module comprising a programmable platform configured to: receive a change-door-status command to change a position of a door; in response to the change-door-status command, generate and communicate a light or sound command to a wireless controller; delay a period of time after communicating the light or sound command to the wireless controller; and only after the delay, generate a door command corresponding to said change-door-status command to change the position of the door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: GMI Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Tim Ikeler, LeRoy G. Krupke, Brent Buescher, Brent A. Rauscher, Gregory D. Matias, Michael Dragomier, Robert E. Thomas, Jr., Daniel Punchak, Robert Merwin, Jerry B. Chrane
  • Publication number: 20230260391
    Abstract: A moveable barrier system may include a moveable barrier configured to provide selective access to a space; a barrier operator configured to manipulate the moveable barrier between a closed position and an open position; a light; and a control station comprising a multi-function button configured to initiate more than one action by the barrier operator and by the light, the multi-function button being configured to initiate actions of: stopping an auto-close timer in response to receiving a first user input at the multi-function button; and toggling the light between an off state and an on state in response to receiving a second user input at the multi-function button.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2022
    Publication date: August 17, 2023
    Inventors: JOSHUA S. JONES, ROBERT E. THOMAS, JR., WALTER J. CONNARE
  • Publication number: 20210180387
    Abstract: Movable barrier monitoring apparatus and methods are provided for rapidly responding to barrier travel obstructions and other abnormal occurrences to cause the movable barrier operator to halt barrier travel or stop and reverse barrier travel, while ignoring typical and normal impediments to barrier travel. Alternate methods are described for programming the barrier operator controller to compare characteristics of the monitored barrier run over the defined travel path with the characteristics of a good barrier run without interruption to barrier travel, with the degree of differentiation of such characteristics determinative of whether the operator controller is to interrupt barrier travel or not.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2021
    Publication date: June 17, 2021
    Inventors: Brent Buescher, Mike Dragomier, Robert E. Thomas, JR.
  • Patent number: 10968676
    Abstract: Movable barrier monitoring apparatus and methods are provided for rapidly responding to barrier travel obstructions and other abnormal occurrences to cause the movable barrier operator to halt barrier travel or stop and reverse barrier travel, while ignoring typical and normal impediments to barrier travel. Alternate methods are described for programming the barrier operator controller to compare characteristics of the monitored barrier run over the defined travel path with the characteristics of a good barrier run without interruption to barrier travel, with the degree of differentiation of such characteristics determinative of whether the operator controller is to interrupt barrier travel or not.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: GMI Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Brent Buescher, Mike Dragomier, Robert E. Thomas, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20200340288
    Abstract: A garage door status monitoring and control system for a jackshaft operator may include a control module comprising a programmable platform configured to: receive a change-door-status command to change a position of a door; in response to the change-door-status command, generate and communicate a light or sound command to a wireless controller; delay a period of time after communicating the light or sound command to the wireless controller; and only after the delay, generate a door command corresponding to said change-door-status command to change the position of the door.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2020
    Publication date: October 29, 2020
    Inventors: Tim Ikeler, LeRoy G. Krupke, Brent Buescher, Brent A. Rauscher, Gregory D. Matias, Michael Dragomier, Robert E. Thomas, JR., Daniel Punchak, Robert Merwin, Jerry B. Chrane
  • Publication number: 20190323279
    Abstract: Movable barrier monitoring apparatus and methods are provided for rapidly responding to barrier travel obstructions and other abnormal occurrences to cause the movable barrier operator to halt barrier travel or stop and reverse barrier travel, while ignoring typical and normal impediments to barrier travel. Alternate methods are described for programming the barrier operator controller to compare characteristics of the monitored barrier run over the defined travel path with the characteristics of a good barrier run without interruption to barrier travel, with the degree of differentiation of such characteristics determinative of whether the operator controller is to interrupt barrier travel or not.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2019
    Publication date: October 24, 2019
    Applicant: GMI Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Brent Buescher, Mike Dragomier, Robert E. Thomas,, JR.
  • Patent number: D519547
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2006
    Assignee: BancTec, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeya K. Kumar, Hongwei Sun, Eric L. Johnson, Rogelio Cabello, Walter K. Logan, John H. Hassard, Robert E. Thomas, Jr., Marwan M. Azhari, Dennis E. Hauser, Jason D. Dunn, Kenneth T. Lovelady, James H. Wicker, James C. Yarrington, Evan D. Samuel, III