Patents by Inventor Robert W. Collins

Robert W. Collins 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: 20090032097
    Abstract: Plasmon enhancement of a dye-stained matrix for use in a photovoltaic cell. The matrix includes nanoparticles of a charge accepting semiconductor; a sensitizer coating the charge accepting semiconductor; and metal nanoparticles capable of plasmon resonance. Another aspect of the invention relates to a plasmon-enhanced photovoltaic cell. The solar photovoltaic cell includes a plurality of nanoparticles of charge accepting semiconductor; a coating of sensitizer on the plurality of nanoparticles of charge accepting semiconductor; and a plurality of metal nanoparticles capable of plasmon resonance in communication with the sensitizer coating. An additional aspect relates to a method of making plasmon-enhanced material suitable for use in a photovoltaic cell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2008
    Publication date: February 5, 2009
    Inventors: Terry P. Bigioni, Robert W. Collins
  • Patent number: 7387113
    Abstract: A breather for a motorcycle engine separates and traps oil droplets entrained with crankcase gases. The breather has a container with a removable lid, an inlet for crankcase gases and entrained oil droplets extending through the lid into the container, filter media within the container to trap entrained oil droplets in the crankcase gases in the container, and outlet ports in the lid allowing gases to escape from within the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2008
    Inventor: Robert W. Collins
  • Publication number: 20080092863
    Abstract: A breather for a motorcycle engine separates and traps oil droplets entrained with crankcase gases. The breather has a container with a removable lid, an inlet for crankcase gases and entrained oil droplets extending through the lid into the container, filter media within the container to trap entrained oil droplets in the crankcase gases in the container, and outlet ports in the lid allowing gases to escape from within the container.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2006
    Publication date: April 24, 2008
    Inventor: Robert W. Collins
  • Publication number: 20040238607
    Abstract: An envelope, bag or other mailing device for preventing the shifting of an item located within the envelope and a method for making the same is provided. The envelope includes a front panel, a back panel and at least one protrusion. The back panel is coupled to the front panel to form an interior portion formed between opposed interior surfaces of the front and back panels. The protrusion is coupled to one of the opposed interior surfaces and extends into the interior portion of the envelope. In another embodiment, a second protrusion is coupled to the other side of opposed interior surfaces and extends into the interior portion of the envelope. The protrusions are adapted to associate with one another to protect items contained within the envelope from external forces and prevent the item from moving around within the interior portion of the envelope.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2004
    Publication date: December 2, 2004
    Inventor: Robert W. Collins
  • Patent number: 6779666
    Abstract: An envelope, bag or other mailing device for preventing the shifting of an item located within the envelope and a method for making the same is provided. The envelope includes a front panel, a back panel and at least one protrusion. The back panel is coupled to the front panel to form an interior portion formed between opposed interior surfaces of the front and back panels. The protrusion is coupled to one of the opposed interior surfaces and extends into the interior portion of the envelope. In another embodiment, a second protrusion is coupled to the other side of opposed interior surfaces and extends into the interior portion of the envelope. The protrusions are adapted tp associate with one another to protect items contained within the envelope from external forces and prevent the item from moving around within the interior portion of the envelope.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2004
    Assignee: Winkler + Dunnebier, AG
    Inventor: Robert W. Collins
  • Patent number: 6766733
    Abstract: A flexible die is provided which incorporates a base die and a superimposed interchangeable cutting or embossing die. The base die is generally planar and is adapted to securely receiving the superimposed interchangeable die thereon. Protruding upwardly from the outer face of the base die is a raised cutting portion, a raised embossing portion, or both, which raised portion is adapted to cut, form, or emboss the outer periphery of a blank or substrate. The superimposed interchangeable die is generally planar, and includes a raised cutting or embossing portion protruding upwardly from the outer face thereof, which raised portion is adapted to cut, form or emboss a portion of the blank or substrate. At least a portion of the superimposed interchangeable die is adapted to be received onto at least a portion of the base die.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2004
    Assignee: Winkler + Dunnebier, AG
    Inventor: Robert W. Collins
  • Patent number: 6725587
    Abstract: A combination envelope and greeting card having a detachable card structure which is removable from the envelope and can function separately as a greeting card. Portions of some of the panels of the envelope can be separated from the envelope along lines of perforation, forming cards having two or more panels. The combination envelope and greeting card structure can also comprise a detachable display strip which includes an adhesive display assembly for securing the card structure when displayed in a standing position. Photograph retaining structures can also be included on one or more card panels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2004
    Assignee: Winkler & Dunnebrier, AG
    Inventor: Robert W. Collins
  • Publication number: 20030029767
    Abstract: An envelope, bag or other mailing device for preventing the shifting of an item located within the envelope and a method for making the same is provided. The envelope includes a front panel, a back panel and at least one protrusion. The back panel is coupled to the front panel to form an interior portion formed between opposed interior surfaces of the front and back panels. The protrusion is coupled to one of the opposed interior surfaces and extends into the interior portion of the envelope. In another embodiment, a second protrusion is coupled to the other side of opposed interior surfaces and extends into the interior portion of the envelope. The protrusions are adapted tp associate with one another to protect items contained within the envelope from external forces and prevent the item from moving around within the interior portion of the envelope.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2001
    Publication date: February 13, 2003
    Applicant: WINKLER + DUNNEBIER, AG
    Inventor: Robert W. Collins
  • Publication number: 20030000118
    Abstract: A combination envelope and greeting card having a detachable card structure which is removable from the envelope and can function separately as a greeting card. Portions of some of the panels of the envelope can be separated from the envelope along lines of perforation, forming cards having two or more panels. The combination envelope and greeting card structure can also comprise a detachable display strip which includes an adhesive display assembly for securing the card structure when displayed in a standing position. Photograph retaining structures can also be included on one or more card panels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2001
    Publication date: January 2, 2003
    Applicant: Winkler + Dunnebier, AG
    Inventor: Robert W. Collins
  • Publication number: 20020164088
    Abstract: A multi-functional bag/envelope for carrying and/or mailing an item is provided. The bag/envelope includes a front panel, a back panel, a seal flap and a pair of side flaps that couple the front panel with the back panel. The front panel includes a first weakened portion that is at least partially overlapped with a second weakened portion that is defined in the seal flap. A third weakened portion is defined in the back panel and overlaps with said first and second weakened portions. The weakened portions may be broken to form a handle assembly that is hingedly coupled to the front panel, back panel and the seal flap. Breaking the weakened portions allow a user to carry the bag/envelope. Further, the punch flaps are capable of being resealed to the front panel, back panel and seal flap to hold the item within the bag/envelope during mailing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2002
    Publication date: November 7, 2002
    Inventor: Robert W. Collins
  • Patent number: 6402015
    Abstract: A self-sealing envelope having an adhesive assembly positioned in such a manner so as to both adhesively secure the seal flap and adhere the envelope to another surface. When the seal flap of the envelope is in its closed position, the seal flap is received by, and only partially covers, a first portion of the adhesive assembly, with a second portion of the adhesive assembly remaining exposed. This first portion of the adhesive receives and seals the closed seal flap. The exposed second portion of the adhesive assembly is adapted to adhesively receive a surface, such as a package, another envelope, or other suitable surface, thereby retaining the envelope on such surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2002
    Assignee: Winkeler + Dunnebrier, AG
    Inventor: Robert W. Collins
  • Patent number: 5782156
    Abstract: An improved flexible die and cylinder for mounting such die. The flexible die consists of a substantially planar, flexible, sheet of metal which has been etched to form a cutting edge. The ends of the die include a plurality of spaced holes for mounting the die to the cylinder. A pair of depressions in the exterior of the cylinder mount lock bars. The lock bars include a plurality of pins which engage the holes in the die. The cylinder includes a support segment and a transport segment. Air passages in the cylinder open onto an angularly extending selector groove at each end of the cylinder. A selector collar is mounted at each end of the cylinder and includes an air passage therethrough which will mate at one end with the selector groove, and at the other end with one of a series of discrete air channels extending longitudinally through the support segment. These channels in turn communicate with associated rows of the apertures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 21, 1998
    Assignee: Winkler & Dunnebier
    Inventor: Robert W. Collins
  • Patent number: 4847749
    Abstract: A recovery mechanism restarts jobs following correction of a system failure and automatically marks the jobs for interruption at a logical boundary. The logical boundary is above logical file updating functions such that logical files are in a known state when jobs reach the boundary. When a system failure is detected which has not yet resulted in lost data, an image of working memory, including hardware status is saved on nonvolatile storage. After the failure has been resolved, the system is initially loaded with operating programs (IPL) and working memory is reloaded from the nonvolatile storage. All jobs which were reloaded are marked for interrupt at a machine instruction boundary, and processing is started. After all jobs have reached the boundary, or a predetermined time has elapsed, processing is stopped and the system is re-IPLed. There are few system index recoveries to be performed, since most jobs reached a point where logical files were synchronized with corresponding data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 1986
    Date of Patent: July 11, 1989
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Robert W. Collins, William S. Davidson, Steven M. Dickes, James S. Effle, Carle J. Larson, Russell J. Weinschenk, Peter M. Wottreng
  • Patent number: 4277826
    Abstract: An apparatus provides synchronization for page replacement control in a paged, virtual memory environment in which either the CPU or the I/O devices may pin and unpin pages to control their replacement by the paging supervisor. Pinning and unpinning of pages by the I/O devices occurs independently of pinning and unpinning performed by the CPU. Synchronization is achieved by means of a virtual address translation mechanism which is common to the CPU and the I/O devices. The virtual address translation mechanism includes a primary directory having entries for each page in main storage, with each entry containing a field in which the pinning and unpinning operations by the CPU and the I/O devices are registered. In particular, this field is a counter which is incremented when a page is pinned by either the CPU or an I/O device and decremented when a page is unpinned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 1978
    Date of Patent: July 7, 1981
    Inventors: Robert W. Collins, Roy L. Hoffman, Larry W. Loen, Glen R. Mitchell, Frank G. Soltis
  • Patent number: D405046
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 2, 1999
    Inventor: Robert W. Collins