Patents by Inventor Robert Theodore Cruz

Robert Theodore Cruz 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: 11166449
    Abstract: A cage type animal trap having an enclosure with an animal access opening into a vacant interior sized to receive an animal to be trapped. The access opening is closed by a door that is movable from a closed to an opened position by an actuating mechanism having a flexible actuating member with one end secured to the door and the other end releasably held by a latch mechanism. The latch mechanism is configured to move the door to the opened position by tensioning the actuating member and, in response to a trigger mechanism, to release the second end of the actuating member and allow the door to move from the opened position to the closed position thereby trapping the animal in the animal enclosure. A door lock in abutment with the outer surface of the door prevents the door from being opened by a trapped animal. A part of the actuating mechanism is in engagement with the door lock when the door is closed such that the door lock is automatically disengaged when the actuating member is tensioned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: Woodstream Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher T. Rich, Robert Theodore Cruz, Edward J. Holliday, Marko Konstantin Lubic
  • Publication number: 20200077638
    Abstract: A cage type animal trap having an enclosure with an animal access opening into a vacant interior sized to receive an animal to be trapped. The access opening is closed by a door that is movable from a closed to an opened position by an actuating mechanism having a flexible actuating member with one end secured to the door and the other end releasably held by a latch mechanism. The latch mechanism is configured to move the door to the opened position by tensioning the actuating member and, in response to a trigger mechanism, to release the second end of the actuating member and allow the door to move from the opened position to the closed position thereby trapping the animal in the animal enclosure. A door lock in abutment with the outer surface of the door prevents the door from being opened by a trapped animal. A part of the actuating mechanism is in engagement with the door lock when the door is closed such that the door lock is automatically disengaged when the actuating member is tensioned.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2019
    Publication date: March 12, 2020
    Applicant: Woodstream Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher T. Rich, Robert Theodore Cruz, Edward J. Holliday, Marko Konstantin Lubic
  • Patent number: 10455827
    Abstract: A cage type animal trap having an enclosure with an animal access opening into a vacant interior sized to receive an animal to be trapped. The access opening is closed by a door that is movable from a closed to an opened position by an actuating mechanism having a flexible actuating member with one end secured to the door and the other end releasably held by a latch mechanism. The latch mechanism is configured to move the door to the opened position by tensioning the actuating member and, in response to a trigger mechanism, to release the second end of the actuating member and allow the door to move from the opened position to the closed position thereby trapping the animal in the animal enclosure. A door lock in abutment with the outer surface of the door prevents the door from being opened by a trapped animal. A part of the actuating mechanism is in engagement with the door lock when the door is closed such that the door lock is automatically disengaged when the actuating member is tensioned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: WOODSTREAM CORPORATION
    Inventors: Christopher T. Rich, Robert Theodore Cruz, Edward J. Holliday, Marko Konstantin Lubic
  • Patent number: 10085427
    Abstract: A top-fill hummingbird feeder is provided having a liquid container with a liquid flow opening at a lower end and a removable cap at an upper end, a feeding basin positioned below the liquid container, and a valve or sealing mechanism associated with the liquid flow opening and the feeding basin. The feeding basin includes an upwardly extending cylindrical well that receives the lower end of the liquid container, and the valve or sealing mechanism includes a float valve associated with the well. The feeding basin is filled by gravity feed of the liquid in the container through the liquid flow opening when the sealing mechanism is open. When the feeding basin reaches a full position, the liquid nectar raises the float valve which, in turn, acts to close the liquid flow opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: WOODSTREAM CORPORATION
    Inventors: Andrew Gauker, Christopher J. Kamery, Marko Konstantin Lubic, Robert Theodore Cruz
  • Patent number: 9934890
    Abstract: A nestable and stackable electric fence insulator is provided having a latching structure by which a plurality of insulators of like construction are oriented, at least partially nested and connected to one another in a secure, space-efficient and organized manner. A plurality of like electric fence insulators, each including a body having a mounting end and an electric fence wire engaging end and including at least one latching structure on an upper surface and at least one latching structure on a lower surface, may be stacked one on top of another in a connected and nested relationship. An electric fence insulator package is also provided that includes multiple electric fence insulators secured to one another in a stacked arrangement by a latching structure formed on each insulator, and a packaging surrounding and containing the stacked arrangement of insulators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: WOODSTREAM CORPORATION
    Inventors: Robert Theodore Cruz, Andrew Baker Woolworth
  • Publication number: 20180090244
    Abstract: A nestable and stackable electric fence insulator is provided having a latching structure by which a plurality of insulators of like construction are oriented, at least partially nested and connected to one another in a secure, space-efficient and organized manner. A plurality of like electric fence insulators, each including a body having a mounting end and an electric fence wire engaging end and including at least one latching structure on an upper surface and at least one latching structure on a lower surface, may be stacked one on top of another in a connected and nested relationship. An electric fence insulator package is also provided that includes multiple electric fence insulators secured to one another in a stacked arrangement by a latching structure formed on each insulator, and a packaging surrounding and containing the stacked arrangement of insulators.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2016
    Publication date: March 29, 2018
    Applicant: Woodstream Corporation
    Inventors: Robert Theodore CRUZ, Andrew Baker WOOLWORTH
  • Publication number: 20180042216
    Abstract: A cage type animal trap having an enclosure with an animal access opening into a vacant interior sized to receive an animal to be trapped. The access opening is closed by a door that is movable from a closed to an opened position by an actuating mechanism having a flexible actuating member with one end secured to the door and the other end releasably held by a latch mechanism. The latch mechanism is configured to move the door to the opened position by tensioning the actuating member and, in response to a trigger mechanism, to release the second end of the actuating member and allow the door to move from the opened position to the closed position thereby trapping the animal in the animal enclosure. A door lock in abutment with the outer surface of the door prevents the door from being opened by a trapped animal. A part of the actuating mechanism is in engagement with the door lock when the door is closed such that the door lock is automatically disengaged when the actuating member is tensioned.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2017
    Publication date: February 15, 2018
    Applicant: Woodstream Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher T. Rich, Robert Theodore Cruz, Edward J. Holliday, Marko Konstantin Lubic
  • Publication number: 20170280690
    Abstract: A top-fill hummingbird feeder is provided having a liquid container with a liquid flow opening at a lower end and a removable cap at an upper end, a feeding basin positioned below the liquid container, and a valve or sealing mechanism associated with the liquid flow opening and the feeding basin. The feeding basin includes an upwardly extending cylindrical well that receives the lower end of the liquid container, and the valve or sealing mechanism includes a float valve associated with the well. The feeding basin is filled by gravity feed of the liquid in the container through the liquid flow opening when the sealing mechanism is open. When the feeding basin reaches a full position, the liquid nectar raises the float valve which, in turn, acts to close the liquid flow opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2017
    Publication date: October 5, 2017
    Applicant: WOODSTREAM CORPORATION
    Inventors: Andrew GAUKER, Christopher J. KAMERY, Marko Konstantin LUBIC, Robert Theodore CRUZ
  • Publication number: 20170127655
    Abstract: A liquid bird feeder provides a liquid container having a sealable top opening and a bottleneck extension at its other end, and a liquid tray having a well adapted to receive the bottleneck extension and at least one feeding port. The sidewall of the well is provided with at least one drain hole and the sidewall of the bottleneck extension with at least one port. The container and bottleneck extension are rotatable within the well to selectively align and misalign the port with the well drain hole to respectively open and close the drain hole upon rotation of the container. In an alternate embodiment, the bottleneck extension is fitted with a collar rotatable with the container. The collar is received in the liquid tray well and includes at least one port. A liquid flow path is formed in the liquid tray for each feeding port to reduce the volume of nectar in the tray at any given time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2012
    Publication date: May 11, 2017
    Applicant: WOODSTREAM CORPORATION
    Inventors: William R. VAUGHN, JR., Christopher J. KAMERY, Robert Theodore CRUZ, Andrew GAUKER
  • Patent number: 9161515
    Abstract: A custom-shaped wireless fence system is provided that contains one or more dogs in a user-defined containment area without the need for a physical fence or underground wire. The system, which is easy to set up and use, includes at least three base units and at least one collar and, preferably, a remote controller. Each of the base units and the at least one collar includes a component for reducing clock speed variation between the base and collar units, preferably to +/?5 ppm, to effectively eliminate communication errors between the base and collar units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: WOODSTREAM CORPORATION
    Inventors: Alan Paul Dutcher, Robert Theodore Cruz, Gary Roulston
  • Patent number: 9161516
    Abstract: A radial-shaped wireless fence system is provided that contains one or more dogs in a user-defined area without the need for a physical fence or underground wire. The system includes a base unit and at least one collar, and is easy to set up and use. Each of the base unit and the one collar include a component for reducing clock speed variation between the base and collar units, preferably to +/?5 ppm, to effectively eliminate communication errors between the base and collar units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: WOODSTREAM CORPORATION
    Inventors: Alan Paul Dutcher, Robert Theodore Cruz, Gary Roulston
  • Publication number: 20140311421
    Abstract: A custom-shaped wireless fence system is provided that contains one or more dogs in a user-defined containment area without the need for a physical fence or underground wire. The system, which is easy to set up and use, includes at least three base units and at least one collar and, preferably, a remote controller. Each of the base units and the at least one collar includes a component for reducing clock speed variation between the base and collar units, preferably to +/?5 ppm, to effectively eliminate communication errors between the base and collar units.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2014
    Publication date: October 23, 2014
    Applicant: WOODSTREAM CORPORATION
    Inventors: Alan Paul DUTCHER, Robert Theodore CRUZ, Gary ROULSTON
  • Publication number: 20140311422
    Abstract: A radial-shaped wireless fence system is provided that contains one or more dogs in a user-defined area without the need for a physical fence or underground wire. The system includes a base unit and at least one collar, and is easy to set up and use. Each of the base unit and the one collar include a component for reducing clock speed variation between the base and collar units, preferably to +/?5 ppm, to effectively eliminate communication errors between the base and collar units.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2014
    Publication date: October 23, 2014
    Applicant: WOODSTREAM CORPORATION
    Inventors: Alan Paul DUTCHER, Robert Theodore CRUZ, Gary ROULSTON
  • Publication number: 20140158056
    Abstract: A liquid bird feeder provides a liquid container having a sealable top opening and a bottleneck extension at its other end, and a liquid tray having a well adapted to receive the bottleneck extension and at least one feeding port. The sidewall of the well is provided with at least one drain hole and the sidewall of the bottleneck extension with at least one port. The container and bottleneck extension are rotatable within the well to selectively align and misalign the port with the well drain hole to respectively open and close the drain hole upon rotation of the container. In an alternate embodiment, the bottleneck extension is fitted with a collar rotatable with the container. The collar is received in the liquid tray well and includes at least one port. A liquid flow path is formed in the liquid tray for each feeding port to reduce the volume of nectar in the tray at any given time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2012
    Publication date: June 12, 2014
    Applicant: WOODSTREAM CORPORATION
    Inventors: William R. VAUGHN, JR., Christopher J. KAMERY, Robert Theodore CRUZ
  • Patent number: 8726846
    Abstract: A custom-shaped wireless fence system is provided that contains one or more dogs in a user-defined containment area without the need for a physical fence or underground wire. The system, which is easy to set up and use, includes at least three base units and at least one collar and, preferably, a remote controller. Each of the base units and the at least one collar includes a component for reducing clock speed variation between the base and collar units, preferably to +/?5 ppm, to effectively eliminate communication errors between the base and collar units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Woodstream Corporation
    Inventors: Alan Paul Dutcher, Robert Theodore Cruz, Gary Roulston
  • Patent number: 8701600
    Abstract: A radial-shaped wireless fence system is provided that contains one or more dogs in a user-defined area without the need for a physical fence or underground wire. The system includes a base unit and at least one collar, and is easy to set up and use. Each of the base unit and the one collar include a component for reducing clock speed variation between the base and collar units, preferably to +/?5 ppm, to effectively eliminate communication errors between the base and collar units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Woodstream Corporation
    Inventors: Alan Paul Dutcher, Robert Theodore Cruz, Gary Roulston
  • Publication number: 20130092098
    Abstract: A radial-shaped wireless fence system is provided that contains one or more dogs in a user-defined area without the need for a physical fence or underground wire. The system includes a base unit and at least one collar, and is easy to set up and use. Each of the base unit and the one collar include a component for reducing clock speed variation between the base and collar units, preferably to +/?5 ppm, to effectively eliminate communication errors between the base and collar units.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Publication date: April 18, 2013
    Applicant: Woodstream Corporation
    Inventors: Alan Paul Dutcher, Robert Theodore Cruz, Gary Roulston
  • Patent number: 8333168
    Abstract: A liquid bird feeder provides a liquid container having a sealable top opening and a bottleneck extension at its other end, and a liquid tray having a well adapted to receive the bottleneck extension and at least one feeding port. The sidewall of the well is provided with at least one drain hole and the sidewall of the bottleneck extension with at least one port. The container and bottleneck extension are rotatable within the well to selectively align and misalign the port with the well drain hole to respectively open and close the drain hole upon rotation of the container. In an alternate embodiment, the bottleneck extension is fitted with a collar rotatable with the container. The collar is received in the liquid tray well and includes at least one port. A liquid flow path is formed in the liquid tray for each feeding port to reduce the volume of nectar in the tray at any given time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: Woodstream Corporation
    Inventors: William R. Vaughn, Jr., Christopher J. Kamery, Robert Theodore Cruz, Andrew Gauker
  • Publication number: 20120079988
    Abstract: A liquid bird feeder provides a liquid container having a sealable top opening and a bottleneck extension at its other end, and a liquid tray having a well adapted to receive the bottleneck extension and at least one feeding port. The sidewall of the well is provided with at least one drain hole and the sidewall of the bottleneck extension with at least one port. The container and bottleneck extension are rotatable within the well to selectively align and misalign the port with the well drain hole to respectively open and close the drain hole upon rotation of the container. In an alternate embodiment, the bottleneck extension is fitted with a collar rotatable with the container. The collar is received in the liquid tray well and includes at least one port. A liquid flow path is formed in the liquid tray for each feeding port to reduce the volume of nectar in the tray at any given time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 1, 2011
    Publication date: April 5, 2012
    Inventors: William R. Vaughn, JR., Christopher J. Kamery, Robert Theodore Cruz, Andrew Gauker
  • Patent number: 8011323
    Abstract: A liquid bird feeder provides a liquid container having a sealable top opening and a bottleneck extension at its other end, and a liquid tray having a well adapted to receive the bottleneck extension and at least one feeding port. The sidewall of the well is provided with at least one drain hole and the sidewall of the bottleneck extension with at least one port. The container and bottleneck extension are rotatable within the well to selectively align and misalign the port with the well drain hole to respectively open and close the drain hole upon rotation of the container. In an alternate embodiment, the bottleneck extension is fitted with a collar rotatable with the container. The collar is received in the liquid tray well and includes the at least one port. A liquid flow path is formed in the liquid tray for each feeding port to reduce the volume of nectar in the tray at any given time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: Woodstream Corporation
    Inventors: William R. Vaughn, Jr., Christopher J. Kamery, Robert Theodore Cruz, Andrew Gauker