Patents by Inventor Sean D. Smith

Sean D. 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).

  • Publication number: 20240261118
    Abstract: A flexible inner socket is fabricated by forming a pre-socket. The pre-socket includes a body formed with an opening and an enclosed end. The enclosed end is opposite to the opening. The body of the pre-socket has an outer circumference that is smaller than the inner circumference of the rigid prosthetic socket. Different portions of the body may have different thicknesses. The preform socket is heated. After the heating, the flexible inner socket is formed by molding the pre-socket onto the inner surface of the rigid prosthetic socket to form the flexible inner socket. The inner circumference of the rigid prosthetic socket is reduced by a thickness of the flexible inner socket when the flexible inner socket is attached to the inner surface of the rigid prosthetic socket. An opening of the flexible inner socket may be trimmed after the formation to fit contours of an opening of the rigid prosthetic socket.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2024
    Publication date: August 8, 2024
    Inventors: Mark C. Joseph, Sean D. Smith
  • Patent number: 11890209
    Abstract: A flexible inner socket is fabricated by forming a pre-socket. The pre-socket includes a body formed with an opening and an enclosed end. The enclosed end is opposite to the opening. The body of the pre-socket has an outer circumference that is smaller than the inner circumference of the rigid prosthetic socket. Different portions of the body may have different thicknesses. The preform socket is heated. After the heating, the flexible inner socket is formed by molding the pre-socket onto the inner surface of the rigid prosthetic socket to form the flexible inner socket. The inner circumference of the rigid prosthetic socket is reduced by a thickness of the flexible inner socket when the flexible inner socket is attached to the inner surface of the rigid prosthetic socket. An opening of the flexible inner socket may be trimmed after the formation to fit contours of an opening of the rigid prosthetic socket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Inventors: Mark C. Joseph, Sean D. Smith
  • Publication number: 20220409406
    Abstract: A flexible prosthetic inner socket that resides inside of a rigid prosthetic socket that is fabricated by forming a sized, injection molded, flexible inner pre-socket. The flexible inner pre-socket includes a body formed with an opening and an enclosed end. The Pre-socket can be heated and stretched over a prosthetic residual limb model and then a prosthetic rigid socket can be formed over it. It can also be heated and vacuum-formed inside of an existing hard prosthetic socket in order to provide global volume reduction intended to make the rigid prosthetic socket fit tighter onto the residual limb. The opening of the flexible inner socket may be trimmed after the formation to fit contours of an opening of the rigid prosthetic socket.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 1, 2022
    Publication date: December 29, 2022
    Inventors: Mark C. Joseph, Sean D. Smith
  • Publication number: 20210386565
    Abstract: A flexible inner socket is fabricated by forming a pre-socket. The pre-socket includes a body formed with an opening and an enclosed end. The enclosed end is opposite to the opening. The body of the pre-socket has an outer circumference that is smaller than the inner circumference of the rigid prosthetic socket. Different portions of the body may have different thicknesses. The preform socket is heated. After the heating, the flexible inner socket is formed by molding the pre-socket onto the inner surface of the rigid prosthetic socket to form the flexible inner socket. The inner circumference of the rigid prosthetic socket is reduced by a thickness of the flexible inner socket when the flexible inner socket is attached to the inner surface of the rigid prosthetic socket. An opening of the flexible inner socket may be trimmed after the formation to fit contours of an opening of the rigid prosthetic socket.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2020
    Publication date: December 16, 2021
    Inventors: Mark C. Joseph, Sean D. Smith
  • Publication number: 20130116581
    Abstract: This invention relates to a roll of pre-cut disposable protective covers for blood pressure cuffs provided in a continuous web of pre-cut disposable protective covers for sphygmomanometers formed from one inner layer of water impermeable material and another layer of absorbent material, and methods of preventing the spread of infection by the use of the disposable protective covers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2012
    Publication date: May 9, 2013
    Inventors: Sean D. Smith, Christine A. Smith, Nancy T. Lord
  • Publication number: 20100295935
    Abstract: A sensor for sensing component offset and orientation when held on a nozzle of a pick and place machine is provided. The sensor includes a plurality of two-dimensional cameras, a backlight illuminator and a controller. Each camera has a field of view that includes a nozzle of the pick and place machine. The backlight illuminator is configured to direct illumination toward the plurality of two-dimensional cameras. The backlight illuminator is positioned on an opposite side of a nozzle from the plurality of two-dimensional cameras. The controller is coupled to the plurality of two-dimensional cameras and the backlight illuminator. The controller is configured to determine offset and orientation information of the component(s) based upon a plurality of backlit shadow images detected by the plurality of two-dimensional cameras. The controller provides the offset and orientation information to a controller of the pick and place machine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2010
    Publication date: November 25, 2010
    Inventors: Steven K. Case, Timothy A. Skunes, David W. Duquette, Sean D. Smith, Beverly Caruso
  • Patent number: 7627275
    Abstract: Embodiments for toner supply members, particularly toner supply member properties and architectures for controlling toner layer thickness supply to the developer member in image forming devices. In one embodiment the toner supply members have a foamed elastic body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Gerald Lee Fish, Sean D. Smith
  • Patent number: 6935734
    Abstract: An apparatus for ink-jet printing including an ink-jet print head to jet ink, a coating solid, and a coating holder to support the coating solid, wherein the coating holder transfers a portion of the coating solid onto a medium to form a coating solid layer. The coating holder and coating solid may be combined in a removable cartridge. In addition, the medium may be an intermediate transfer medium, a media support medium, a transfer medium, or media, such as paper. A method for inkjet printing also includes applying a coating solid to a medium to form a layer of the coating solid, in a solid form, having predetermined thickness, and applying ink to the medium. The layer of coating solid may interact with the applied ink to destabilize colorant in the ink.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2005
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Benjamin A. Askren, Ronald W. Baker, Ligia Aura Bejat, Charles J. Cheek, Gerald L. Fish, Hrishikesh Pramod Gogate, Bhaskar Gopalanarayanan, Jason Gordon, Philip J. Heink, John W. Kietzman, Michael C. Leemhuis, Claudia A. Marin, Sean D. Smith, Donald W. Stafford
  • Publication number: 20040246318
    Abstract: An apparatus for ink-jet printing including an ink-jet print head to jet ink, a coating solid, and a coating holder to support the coating solid, wherein the coating holder transfers a portion of the coating solid onto a medium to form a coating solid layer. The coating holder and coating solid may be combined in a removable cartridge. In addition, the medium may be an intermediate transfer medium, a media support medium, a transfer medium, or media, such as paper. A method for inkjet printing also includes applying a coating solid to a medium to form a layer of the coating solid, in a solid form, having predetermined thickness, and applying ink to the medium. The layer of coating solid may interact with the applied ink to destabilize colorant in the ink.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2003
    Publication date: December 9, 2004
    Inventors: Benjamin A. Askren, Ronald W. Baker, Ligia Aura Bejat, Charles J. Cheek, Gerald L. Fish, Hrishikesh Pramod Gogate, Bhaskar Gopalanarayanan, Jason Gordon, Philip J. Heink, John W. Kietzman, Michael C. Leemhuis, Claudia A. Marin, Sean D. Smith, Donald W. Stafford
  • Patent number: 5562876
    Abstract: Open-Cell urethane foam is thoroughly dried in a convection oven or controlled atmosphere and then compressed with heat to a felt immediately. Alternatively, the dried foam is sealed in a plastic bag until the felting step. The amount of non-volatile residue is significantly reduced to produce a foam for use to contain ink in an ink jet cartridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 8, 1996
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Bradley L. Beach, Donald L. Elbert, Terence E. Franey, Sean D. Smith