Patents by Inventor Robert R. Shepard

Robert R. Shepard 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: 6742285
    Abstract: An air knife constructed in accordance with the present invention directs a curtain of air across a region and most typically is used to direct the stream of air against a surface. In an exemplary embodiment of the invention the air knife includes an elongated housing having an inlet for receiving air into the housing. The housing includes an elongated gap that extends along the housing that allows air entering the housing through the inlet to exit the housing and form a curtain of air. The elongated housing is made from a piece of sheet metal bent to define a hollow region into which air is forced. The sheet metal defines a gap along a length of the housing from which the air exits. The elongated air knife forms an angle with respect to a direction of travel of glass sheets passing the air knife so that a leading edge of those glass sheets passes progressively different parts of the air knife.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2004
    Assignee: Glass Equipment Development, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert R. Shepard
  • Patent number: 5117451
    Abstract: A voice messaging system for use with a telephone system. The preferred embodiment comprises a voice messaging system which interfaces to a PBX through a feature phone interface, the voice messaging system emulating a feature phone. The PBX supplies information to the voice messaging system such as information on the origination and history of the call. The present invention discloses improved methods of handling calls directed to the voice messaging system based on the information supplied by the PBX.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 1990
    Date of Patent: May 26, 1992
    Assignee: VMX/OPCOM
    Inventors: David J. Ladd, Gregory E. Pounds, Tim J. Kusumi, Peter A. Bonee, Robert R. Shepard
  • Patent number: 4926462
    Abstract: A voice messaging system for use with a telephone system. The preferred embodiment comprises a voice messaging system which interfaces to a PBX through a feature phone interface, the voice messaging system emulating a feature phone. The PBX supplies information to the voice messaging system such as information on the origination and history of the call. The present invention discloses improved methods of handling calls directed to the voice messaging system based on the information supplied by the PBX.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 1988
    Date of Patent: May 15, 1990
    Assignee: VMX/OPCOM
    Inventors: David J. Ladd, Gregory E. Pounds, Tim J. Kusumi, Peter A. Bonee, Robert R. Shepard
  • Patent number: 4313037
    Abstract: An improved telephone station set for use with a switching system which senses flashing is disclosed. A separate flash key is included on the set. Depression of the flash key causes decoupling of the set for a predetermined time which corresponds to the flash window. Depression of the hook switch, assures decoupling of the set for a sufficiently long period of time so that a hang-up is detected even if the hook switch is immediately released.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 1980
    Date of Patent: January 26, 1982
    Assignee: Rolm Corporation
    Inventor: Robert R. Shepard
  • Patent number: D489848
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2004
    Assignee: Glass Equipment Development, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert R. Shepard, II, Brett R. Dickerson, Timothy R. Hall