Patents by Inventor Rodney S. Smith

Rodney S. Smith 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).

  • Method of using product pickup to create direct marketing opportunities
    Patent number: 7020625
    Abstract: A method is defined to create marketing opportunities with the knowledge that an individual will be visiting a retail outlet to pick up a product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2006
    Inventors: Stephen D. Tiley, Rodney S. Smith
  • Dunnage air bag with improved adhesive bonding of paper plies within the vicinity of the inflation valve
    Patent number: 7008155
    Abstract: A dunnage or cargo air bag has incorporated therein a pair of glue or adhesive bonding strips which are located within the immediate vicinity of the inflation valve assembly so as to operatively cooperate with a folded edge portion of the dunnage or cargo air bag and a stitched or sewn edge portion of the dunnage or cargo air bag and thereby effectively surround or circumscribe the inflation valve assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2006
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Rodney S. Smith, Thomas C. Keenan
  • Method of providing an automated package receptacle for the receipt, storage and pickup of a package at a retail site and for providing marketing and other communications to package recipients
    Patent number: 6950803
    Abstract: A method of package storage and retrieval by providing within a retail outlet a receptacle with a compartment capable of receiving, retaining and releasing at least one package deposited by a sender for pick-up by a recipient thereby beginning a transaction. A sender is provided access to the receptacle to deposit a pre-ordered package within the receptacle for a recipient. A recipient is provided access to the receptacle to retrieve the package and thereby completing a transaction such that the compartment may be used for another transaction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2005
    Inventors: Stephen D. Tiley, Rodney S. Smith
  • Inflation valve assembly for a dunnage or cargo air bag
    Patent number: 6823905
    Abstract: An inflation valve assembly, for a dunnage or cargo air bag, comprises an annular flange member which is adapted to be heat-sealed to an interior surface portion of one of the plies of the inflatable bladder of the air bag, and an externally threaded nipple portion for fluidic connection to a source of pressurized fluid for inflating the bladder of the dunnage or cargo air bag. A flapper valve member, having a substantially circular configuration, has an end portion which is adapted to be fixedly secured upon an arcuate portion of the upper surface portion of the annular flange member by a fixation bar which extends along a chordal extent of the annular flange member. Opposite end portions of the fixation bar project radially inwardly toward each other so as to effectively define a pair of oppositely disposed detents for maintaining the flapper valve member in its OPENED state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2004
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Rodney S. Smith, Thomas C. Keenan
  • Method of using product pickup to create direct marketing opportunities
    Publication number: 20010054275
    Abstract: A method is defined to create marketing opportunities with the knowledge that an individual will be visiting a retail outlet to pick up a product.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2001
    Publication date: December 27, 2001
    Inventors: Stephen D. Tiley, Rodney S. Smith
  • Method of providing an automated package receptacle for the receipt, storage and pickup of a package at a retail site and for providing marketing and other communications to package recipients
    Publication number: 20010032443
    Abstract: A method of package storage and retrieval by providing within a retail outlet a receptacle with a compartment capable of receiving, retaining and releasing at least one package deposited by a sender for pick-up by a recipient thereby beginning a transaction. A sender is provided access to the receptacle to deposit a pre-ordered package within the receptacle for a recipient. A recipient is provided access to the receptacle to retrieve the package and thereby completing a transaction such that the compartment may be used for another transaction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 2, 2001
    Publication date: October 25, 2001
    Inventors: Stephen D. Tiley, Rodney S. Smith