Patents by Inventor Stephen C. Hoeting

Stephen C. Hoeting 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: 8721479
    Abstract: A belt tensioning device (10) prevents excess belt tension when installing a belt (16) between a driver axis (28) and a spindle axis (22). A clutch (48) supported on a fixed structure (14, 46) includes an engagement member (52, 64) and a rod (32). Rotating the engagement member (52, 64) in a first direction moves the rod (32) and the driver axis (28) in a direction away from the spindle axis (22), until further rotation causes the engagement member (52, 64) to disengage preventing further movement of the driver axis (28) in the direction away, and subsequent rotational movement of the engagement member (52, 64) in a second rotational direction moves the driver axis (28) toward the spindle axis (22).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Setco Sales Company
    Inventors: Stephen C. Hoeting, Brian P. Schloemer
  • Patent number: 8714559
    Abstract: A cartridge-type bearing seal includes removably connected stator and rotor sections. The stator section supports a distribution ring that divides an internal annular volume into radially outside and inside portions. The ring has at least one tangentially oriented duct. When pressurized purge fluid is supplied to the outside portion, the fluid flows through the ducts to induce tangential fluid flow within the inside portion, which causes circumferentially uniform fluid pressure in the annular volume adjacent the rotating shaft. The pressurized fluid traverses a flow path along the shaft and eventually out of the bearing housing, to prevent contaminant ingress between the rotating shaft and the bearing housing. This bearing seal eliminates the need to machine a tangentially oriented passage in the bearing housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Setco Sales Company
    Inventor: Stephen C. Hoeting
  • Publication number: 20110165980
    Abstract: A belt tensioning device (10) prevents excess belt tension when installing a belt (16) between a driver axis (28) and a spindle axis (22). A clutch (48) supported on a fixed structure (14, 46) includes an engagement member (52, 64) and a rod (32). Rotating the engagement member (52, 64) in a first direction moves the rod (32) and the driver axis (28) in a direction away from the spindle axis (22), until further rotation causes the engagement member (52, 64) to disengage preventing further movement of the driver axis (28) in the direction away, and subsequent rotational movement of the engagement member (52, 64) in a second rotational direction moves the driver axis (28) toward the spindle axis (22).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2009
    Publication date: July 7, 2011
    Applicant: SETCO SALES COMPANY
    Inventors: Stephen C. Hoeting, Brian P. Schloemer
  • Publication number: 20100052258
    Abstract: An improved cartridge-type bearing seal includes removably connected stator and rotor sections. The stator section supports a distribution ring that divides an internal annular volume into radially outside and inside portions. The ring has a sufficient number of tangentially oriented ducts to permit fluid communication between the outside and inside portions. With this structure, when pressurized purge fluid is supplied to the outside portion, the fluid flows through the ducts, to induce a desired tangential fluid flow within the inside portion. This in turn causes circumferentially uniform fluid pressure in the annular volume that resides between the rotating shaft and the bearing housing, and the pressurized fluid traverses a flow path out of the bearing. This circumferentially uniform fluid pressure, by itself or in combination with a flexible lip, prevents contaminant ingress between the rotating shaft and the bearing housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2008
    Publication date: March 4, 2010
    Applicant: SETCO SALES COMPANY
    Inventor: Stephen C. Hoeting
  • Patent number: 7628672
    Abstract: A stand for supporting at least one figurine generally comprises a lower body member configured to rest on a support surface, an upper body member operatively coupled to the lower body member, and a vibration drive operatively coupled to the upper and lower body members. The figurine is supported on the upper body member, and the vibration drive is configured to move the upper body member relative to the lower body member in a cyclical manner so that the figurine has a vibratory reaction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2009
    Inventors: Stephen C. Hoeting, Kevin J. Hoeting
  • Publication number: 20090014957
    Abstract: A game piece for transferring an object across the surface of a board game or the like. The game piece generally comprises a carrier body having an upper end, a lower end, an entry opening proximate the lower end, and a socket in communication with the entry opening. The entry opening is sized to allow the transfer object to pass therethrough so that the transfer object is thereafter retained within the socket. Additionally, the socket is adapted to receive a second game piece having a similarly configured socket and entry opening. When the entry opening of the second game piece is pushed over the transfer object, the object is transferred from the socket of the original game piece to the socket of the second game piece.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2008
    Publication date: January 15, 2009
    Applicant: DESIGNOMITE, L.L.C.
    Inventor: Stephen C. Hoeting
  • Patent number: 7441779
    Abstract: A game piece for transferring an object across the surface of a board game or the like. The game piece generally comprises a carrier body having an upper end, a lower end, an entry opening proximate the lower end, and a socket in communication with the entry opening. The entry opening is sized to allow the transfer object to pass therethrough so that the transfer object is thereafter retained within the socket. Additionally, the socket is adapted to receive a second game piece having a similarly configured socket and entry opening. When the entry opening of the second game piece is pushed over the transfer object, the object is transferred from the socket of the original game piece to the socket of the second game piece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2008
    Assignee: Designomite, L.L.C.
    Inventor: Stephen C. Hoeting
  • Publication number: 20080085654
    Abstract: A stand for supporting at least one figurine generally comprises a lower body member configured to rest on a support surface, an upper body member operatively coupled to the lower body member, and a vibration drive operatively coupled to the upper and lower body members. The figurine is supported on the upper body member, and the vibration drive is configured to move the upper body member relative to the lower body member in a cyclical manner so that the figurine has a vibratory reaction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2007
    Publication date: April 10, 2008
    Inventors: Stephen C. Hoeting, Kevin J. Hoeting
  • Patent number: 7090220
    Abstract: A cartridge type bearing seal facilitates the prevention of contaminant ingress between a spindle rotor and a spindle housing, particularly in situations where a circumferentially uniform fluid pressure is generated within the annular volume of the spindle housing. The cartridge includes ringlike rotor and stator sections which can be compressed axially to snap fit together, in a manner which enables relative rotation about a common axis. When interconnected, the sections define an inside surface and an outside surface, and a fluid flow path which extends radially outwardly therebetween, and which traverses a collar and tangs construction which enables the snap fit connection. The tangs are arcuate in shape and spaced equidistantly around the axis. The total arcuate space occupied by the tangs is relatively small, compared to the total arcuate space residing between the tangs, and bounded by the two sections adjacent the collar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2006
    Assignee: Setco Sales Co.
    Inventors: Stephen C. Hoeting, Bobby L. Hodge
  • Patent number: 6543284
    Abstract: A measuring vessel has cavity-defining wall structures and at least one ramp which rises from about the bottom of the wall structure toward the top of the wall structure. The at least one ramp has an upwardly directed surface with a lateral inner edge integral with portions of the wall structure below the ramp and a lateral outer edge integral with portions of the wall structure below the ramp. Indicia on the upwardly directed surface of the at least one ramp allows a user to look downwardly into the measuring vessel to visually detect the volume level of the contents in the vessel, thereby eliminating the need to look horizontally at the vessel at eye level. Preferably the vessel has two ramps, with at least one bearing indicia of standard English units, and another bearing indicia of metric units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2003
    Assignee: WKI Holding Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael G. Hoeting, Stephen C. Hoeting
  • Publication number: 20010042402
    Abstract: A measuring vessel has cavity-defining wall structures and at least one ramp which rises from about the bottom of the wall structure toward the top of the wall structure. The at least one ramp has an upwardly directed surface with a lateral inner edge integral with portions of the wall structure below the ramp and a lateral outer edge integral with portions of the wall structure below the ramp. Indicia on the upwardly directed surface of the at least one ramp allows a user to look downwardly into the measuring vessel to visually detect the volume level of the contents in the vessel, thereby eliminating the need to look horizontally at the vessel at eye level. Preferably the vessel has two ramps, with at least one bearing indicia of standard English units, and another bearing indicia of metric units.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2001
    Publication date: November 22, 2001
    Inventors: Michael G. Hoeting, Stephen C. Hoeting
  • Patent number: 6263732
    Abstract: A measuring cup has at least one ramp formed in relief radially inwardly on the inside surface of the measuring cup sidewall. At least one ramp rises from about the bottom edge of the sidewall to about the top edge of the sidewall. The indicia on an upwardly directed surface of the at least one ramp allows a user to look downwardly into the measuring cup to visually detect the volume level of the contents in the measuring cup, thereby eliminating the need to look horizontally at the cup at eye level. Preferably the cup has two ramps, with at least one of standard units, and another with metric units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2001
    Assignee: Bang Zoom Design
    Inventors: Michael G. Hoeting, Stephen C. Hoeting
  • Patent number: 6217219
    Abstract: A bearing seal includes a bearing housing which houses a rotatable shaft, with a flange of the shaft located outside the housing and an internal annular volume residing between the bearing housing and the shaft, the annular volume bounded at one axial end by the flange. A seal resides in a recess in an outer surface of the housing, the seal including an outwardly extending resilient lip which engages the flange to close off the annular volume at the first axial end, adjacent the flange. The bearing housing includes a fluid passage which extends from an outer surface thereof to the annular volume, the passage including an innermost section oriented tangential to the annular volume. Purge fluid supplied to the annular volume via the external passage causes circumferential flow and substantially radially uniform purge fluid pressure within the annular volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2001
    Assignee: Setco Sales Co.
    Inventor: Stephen C. Hoeting
  • Patent number: 5980115
    Abstract: A bearing seal includes a bearing housing which houses a rotatable shaft, with a flange of the shaft located outside the housing and an internal annular volume residing between the bearing housing and the shaft, the annular volume bounded at one axial end by the flange. A seal resides in a recess in an outer surface of the housing, the seal including an outwardly extending resilient lip which engages the flange to close off the annular volume at the first axial end, adjacent the flange. The bearing housing includes a fluid passage which extends from an outer surface thereof to the annular volume, the passage including an innermost section oriented tangential to the annular volume. Purge fluid supplied to the annular volume via the external passage causes circumferential flow and substantially radially uniform purge fluid pressure within the annular volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1999
    Assignee: Setco Sales Co.
    Inventor: Stephen C. Hoeting
  • Patent number: 5727095
    Abstract: A bearing seal includes a bearing housing which houses a rotatable shaft, with a flange of the shaft located outside the housing and an internal annular volume residing between the bearing housing and the shaft, the annular volume bounded at one axial end by the flange. A seal resides in a recess in an outer surface of the housing, the seal including an outwardly extending resilient lip which engages the flange to close off the annular volume at the first axial end, adjacent the flange. The bearing housing includes a fluid passage which extends from an outer surface thereof to the annular volume, the passage including an innermost section oriented tangential to the annular volume. Purge fluid supplied to the annular volume via the external passage causes circumferential flow and substantially radially uniform purge fluid pressure within the annular volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 10, 1998
    Assignee: Setco Sales Co.
    Inventor: Stephen C. Hoeting
  • Patent number: RE39827
    Abstract: A measuring vessel has cavity-defining wall structures and at least one ramp which rises from about the bottom of the wall structure toward the top of the wall structure. The at least one ramp has an upwardly directed surface with a lateral inner edge integral with portions of the wall structure below the ramp and a lateral outer edge integral with portions of the wall structure below the ramp. Indicia on the upwardly directed surface of the at least one ramp allows a user to look downwardly into the measuring vessel to visually detect the volume level of the contents in the vessel, thereby eliminating the need to look horizontally at the vessel at eye level. Preferably the vessel has two ramps, with at least one bearing indicia of standard English units, and another bearing indicia of metric units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2007
    Assignee: Helen of Troy Limited
    Inventors: Michael G. Hoeting, Stephen C. Hoeting