Patents by Inventor Stephen C. P. Joseph

Stephen C. P. Joseph 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: 7798426
    Abstract: A spray gun (1) has a fluid reservoir (11) which contains a removable liner (13). The liner (13), which may be thermo/vacuum-formed from a plastic material, is a close fit within the interior of the reservoir and collapses as fluid is withdrawn from within the liner during operation of the gun. Preferably, the liner has a comparatively-rigid base and is capable of standing, unsupported, outside the reservoir. The side walls of the liner are preferably thin in comparison to the base and can be collapsed for disposal of the liner. The reservoir (11) has a removable lid (15) and is capable of standing, inverted, on its own so that it can be filled with fluid. The lid (15) also functions to secure the liner (13) in the reservoir and, at the end of a spraying operation, the lid (15) and the liner (13) are removed together from the reservoir (11) and discarded, thereby simplifying the cleaning of the spray gun.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Stephen C. P. Joseph, Malcolm F. Douglas, Alan F. Butler
  • Patent number: 7798425
    Abstract: A spray gun (1) has a fluid reservoir (11) which contains a removable liner (13). The liner (13), which may be thermo/vacuum-formed from a plastic material, is a close fit within the interior of the reservoir and collapses as fluid is withdrawn from within the liner during operation of the gun. Preferably, the liner has a comparatively-rigid base and is capable of standing, unsupported, outside the reservoir. The side walls of the liner are preferably thin in comparison to the base and can be collapsed for disposal of the liner. The reservoir (11) has a removable lid (15) and is capable of standing, inverted, on its own so that it can be filled with fluid. The lid (15) also functions to secure the liner (13) in the reservoir and, at the end of a spraying operation, the lid (15) and the liner (13) are removed together from the reservoir (11) and discarded, thereby simplifying the cleaning of the spray gun.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Stephen C. P. Joseph, Alan F. Butler
  • Patent number: 7798427
    Abstract: A spray gun (1) has a fluid reservoir (11) with a removable liner (13) received in a container (12) having a detachable lid (15). The liner (13), which may be thermo/vacuum-formed from a planar material, has a shape that corresponds to and is a close fit within the interior of the container (12) and collapses as fluid is withdrawn from within the liner (13) during operation of the spray gun (1). The lid (15) has an outlet (16) connected to an inlet on the spray gun (1) for transfer of liquid from the reservoir (11) to the spray gun (1) and the container (12) has a vent (12A) in the base end for admitting air between the container (12) and the liner (13) as liquid is withdrawn from within the liner (13).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Stephen C. P. Joseph, Malcolm F. Douglas, Alan F. Butler
  • Patent number: 7712682
    Abstract: A reservoir (402) for connection to a spray gun has a lid (410) provided with an outlet spout (415) that is rotatably received in a socket of an inlet adaptor (419) connectable to the spray gun. The lid (410) has a spring leg (425) spaced from the outlet spout (415) with a projection (426) at the distal end for self-latching engagement with a flange (423) of the adaptor (419) to secure releasably the reservoir (402) to the spray gun. The engagement of the projection (426) and flange (423) enables the reservoir (401) to be rotated through 360° to adjust the position of the reservoir (402) while attached to the spray gun.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2010
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Stephen C. P. Joseph, Daniel E. Siltberg
  • Patent number: 7484676
    Abstract: A spray gun 101 has a spray head 150 connected to a body 102 of the spray gun 101 and a reservoir 156 connected to the spray head 150 for supplying liquid to a spray nozzle 153 of the spray head 150. The spray head 150 is arranged so that liquid from the reservoir 156 is delivered to the spray nozzle 153 without passing through the spray gun body 102 in response to actuation of the spray gun 101 via a trigger 105. The spray head 150 is releasably secured and can be detached from the spray gun body 102 and thrown away after use. The reservoir 156 is mounted on the spray head 150 and can be removed and thrown away with the spray head 150 after use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2009
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Stephen C. P. Joseph, Russell E. Blette
  • Patent number: 7374111
    Abstract: A spray gun (1) has a fluid reservoir (11) with a removable liner (13) received in a container (12) having a detachable lid (15). The liner (13), which may be thermo/vacuum-formed from a planar material, has a shape that corresponds to and is a close fit within the interior of the container (12) and collapses as fluid is withdrawn from within the liner (13) during operation of the spray gun (1). The lid (15) has an outlet (16) connected to an inlet on the spray gun (1) for transfer of liquid from the reservoir (11) to the spray gun (1) and the container (12) has a vent (12A) in the base end for admitting air between the container (12) and the liner (13) as liquid is withdrawn from within the liner (13).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Stephen C. P. Joseph, Malcolm F. Douglas, Alan F. Butler
  • Publication number: 20070269341
    Abstract: Sample preparation system for microbiological and/or other analyte testing is described. A method of preparing samples containing particulates for microbiological and/or other analyte analysis is described. Microorganisms and/or other analytes are suspended as a filtered liquid composition in a specialized sampling assembly that allows mixing, filtering and storing in the same assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2006
    Publication date: November 22, 2007
    Inventors: Kurt J. Halverson, Stephen C. P. Joseph, Matthew T. Scholz
  • Patent number: 7201336
    Abstract: The present invention provides a liquid spray gun with several improved features, including (1) non-cylindrical air passageways on air horns included in an air cap portion of a body assembly that provide improved shape and uniformity for the wide elongate stream of liquid formed by the spray gun; (2) the air cap portion of the body assembly being mounted for manual rotation on a nozzle portion of the body assembly between positions defined by stops and retained at those positions by friction; and (3) the body assembly through which passes liquid sprayed by the spray gun being molded of polymeric material and being manually releasable from a metal platform portion of the spray gun through which air is fed to passageways through the body assembly to spray the liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2007
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Russell E. Blette, Franklyn L. Frederickson, Stephen C. P. Joseph, Jameel R. Qiblawi
  • Patent number: 7188785
    Abstract: A paint reservoir has a fluid outlet (115) connectable to a spray gun (101) and a fluid inlet (131) provided with a removable screw cap (132) whereby the fluid inlet (131) is directly accessible for introducing paint to the reservoir while attached to the spray gun (101). The fluid outlet (115) and fluid inlet (131) may both be provided in an end wall of the reservoir with outlet (115) located on the longitudinal axis of the reservoir or offset to allow the size of the fluid inlet (131) to be increased for easier filling of the reservoir. The outlet (115) can be aligned with the longitudinal axis of the reservoir or it can be inclined relative to the longitudinal axis to provide greater clearance for access to the fluid inlet (131) when the reservoir is attached to the spray gun (101).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2007
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Stephen C. P. Joseph, Michael J. R. Adams, Antonio Bacciocchi, Malcolm F. Douglas, Daniel E. Siltberg
  • Patent number: 7143960
    Abstract: A single use, disposable reservoir of low volume for use in conjunction with a spray gun for spray painting small areas, for example ‘spray out’ cards for color matching a paint mix for spray painting a vehicle. The reservoir is in the form of a syringe body with a plunger having a sealing member slidable within the body for drawing paint into the body via an open end. The body has an aperture adjacent to a closed end and the plunger can be moved to position the sealing member between the aperture and closed end for releasing a partial vacuum created when the paint is drawn into the body and allow the paint to be withdrawn, in use, when the reservoir is connected to a spray gun without actuating the plunger. In other embodiments, the reservoir comprises a concertina-type body or a pipette body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2006
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Stephen C. P. Joseph, Malcolm F Douglas
  • Patent number: 7090148
    Abstract: An assembly for feeding liquid to the inlet port of a gravity feed sprayer. The assembly includes (1) a mixing cup of a known type commonly used to mix paint with solvent that is of stiff polymeric material and bears indicia on its side wall indicating the levels to which a plurality of different liquids should be sequentially poured into the cup to achieve a predetermined ratio between the liquids; (2) a first adapter comprising a central portion having a through opening and a transverse portion including a peripheral part defining a groove along its inner surface adapted for sealing engagement with a top end of the mixing cup; and (3) a second adapter having a through opening, a first end portion of which second adapter is adapted to releasably engage the inlet port of a gravity feed paint sprayer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2006
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Robert M. Petrie, Stephen C. P. Joseph, Keith C. Navis, David C. Roeker
  • Patent number: 7032839
    Abstract: The present invention provides a liquid spray gun with several improved features, including (1) a molded polymeric possibly disposable body assembly through which passes liquid sprayed by the spray gun that is manually releasable from a metal platform portion of the spray gun through which air is fed to passageways through the body assembly to spray the liquid; (2) non-cylindrical air passageways on air horns that provide improved shape and uniformity for the wide elongate stream of liquid formed by the spray gun, and (3) an air cap portion of the body assembly mounted for manual rotation on a nozzle portion of the body assembly between positions defined by stops and retained at those positions by friction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2006
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Russell E. Blette, Franklyn L. Frederickson, Stephen C. P. Joseph, Jameel R. Qiblawi
  • Patent number: 6971590
    Abstract: The present invention provides a liquid spray gun with several improved features, including (1) an air cap portion of a body assembly mounted for manual rotation on a nozzle portion of the body assembly between positions defined by stops and retained at those positions by friction; (2) non-cylindrical air passageways on air horns included in the air cap portion of the body assembly that provide improved shape and uniformity for the wide elongate stream of liquid formed by the spray gun; and (3) the body assembly through which passes liquid sprayed by the spray gun being molded of polymeric material and being manually releasable from a metal platform portion of the spray gun through which air is fed to passageways through the body assembly to spray the liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2005
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Russell E. Blette, Franklyn L. Frederickson, Stephen C. P. Joseph, Jameel R. Qiblawi
  • Patent number: 6953155
    Abstract: An assembly for feeding liquid to the inlet port of a liquid spraying device or spray gun. The assembly includes a stiff container that defines an opening into a cavity in the container, and a flexible liner positioned within the cavity in the container has an outer surface generally corresponding in shape to the inner surface of the container, an inner surface defining a cavity in the liner, and an annular lip along the top end of the side wall defining an opening into the cavity in the liner. An included adapter assembly has a central portion with a through opening that is adapted to engage the inlet port of a liquid spraying device, a transverse portion including a peripheral part adapted for engagement within the flexible liner adjacent said top end of the container, and means for sealing the flexible liner around the peripheral part of the adapter assembly. An air supply assembly connected to the container supplies air at a relatively low pressure (e.g., in the range of about 0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2005
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Stephen C. P. Joseph, Gary Brotherton, Robert J. Rothrum
  • Patent number: 6942126
    Abstract: A reservoir for use with a spray gun has a body and a flexible diaphragm that define a chamber for liquid to be supplied to the spray gun. The body has an outlet opening leading to a spout connectable to the spray gun and the diaphragm deflects to reduce the volume of the chamber as liquid is withdrawn from the reservoir. The diaphragm gradually conforms to the internal surface of the body as the liquid is withdrawn to prevent pockets forming in which the liquid may be trapped so that substantially all the liquid can be dispensed. The reservoir may be supplied pre-filled with the liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2005
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Malcolm F. Douglas, Phillip J. Bouic, Stephen C. P. Joseph
  • Publication number: 20040256484
    Abstract: A spray gun (1) has a fluid reservoir (11) which contains a removable liner (13). The liner (13), which may be thermo/vacuum-formed from a plastic material, is a close fit within the interior of the reservoir and collapses as fluid is withdrawn from within the liner during operation of the gun. Preferably, the liner has a comparatively-rigid base and is capable of standing, unsupported, outside the reservoir. The side walls of the liner are preferably thin in comparison to the base and can be collapsed for disposal of the liner. The reservoir (11) has a removable lid (15) and is capable of standing, inverted, on its own so that it can be filled with fluid. The lid (15) also functions to secure the liner (13) in the reservoir and, at the end of a spraying operation, the lid (15) and the liner (13) are removed together from the reservoir (11) and discarded, thereby simplifying the cleaning of the spray gun.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2004
    Publication date: December 23, 2004
    Applicant: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Stephen C. P. Joseph, Malcolm F. Douglas, Alan F. Butler
  • Publication number: 20040256485
    Abstract: A spray gun (1) has a fluid reservoir (11) which contains a removable liner (13). The liner (13), which may be thermo/vacuum-formed from a plastic material, is a close fit within the interior of the reservoir and collapses as fluid is withdrawn from within the liner during operation of the gun. Preferably, the liner has a comparatively-rigid base and is capable of standing, unsupported, outside the reservoir. The side walls of the liner are preferably thin in comparison to the base and can be collapsed for disposal of the liner. The reservoir (11) has a removable lid (15) and is capable of standing, inverted, on its own so that it can be filled with fluid. The lid (15) also functions to secure the liner (13) in the reservoir and, at the end of a spraying operation, the lid (15) and the liner (13) are removed together from the reservoir (11) and discarded, thereby simplifying the cleaning of the spray gun.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2004
    Publication date: December 23, 2004
    Applicant: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Stephen C. P. Joseph, Alan F. Butler
  • Patent number: D535727
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2007
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Stephen C. P. Joseph, Neil Delbridge
  • Patent number: D542375
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2007
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properites Company
    Inventors: Russell E. Blette, Franklyn L. Frederickson, Stephen C. P. Joseph, Jameel R. Qiblawi
  • Patent number: D542376
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2007
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties company
    Inventors: Russell E. Blette, Franklyn L. Frederickson, Stephen C. P. Joseph, Jameel R. Qiblawi