Patents by Inventor Stephen J. Dieter

Stephen J. Dieter 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: 20220400875
    Abstract: A merchandiser for storing at least one product for purchase by a customer is provided. The merchandiser includes: a housing defining a cavity configured to receive the at least one product; an opening defined by the housing, the opening providing access to the cavity; and a door coupled to the housing and movable between a first position and a second position. The door substantially covers the opening in the first position and the door is positioned away from the opening in the second position such that the cavity is accessible. The merchandiser further includes a control system operable in a plurality of modes including at least a run mode and a setup mode. In the run mode, purchase of the at least one product is permitted. In the setup mode, one or more run mode provisions that control operation of the merchandiser in the run mode are received.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2022
    Publication date: December 22, 2022
    Applicant: Leer, Inc.
    Inventors: William M. Huffar, Karl E. Katuin, Michael A. Andrew, Stephen J. Dieter, Terry D. Matt, John A. Miller, Nicholas A. Truesdale
  • Patent number: 11419435
    Abstract: A merchandiser for storing refrigerated product for purchase by a customer is provided. The merchandiser includes a housing defining a cavity; an opening defined by the housing, the opening providing access to the cavity; a door coupled to the housing and movable between a first position and a second position, wherein the door covers the opening in the first position and the door is positioned away from the opening in the second position such that the cavity is accessible; a lock coupled to the door, the lock actuable between a locked position and an unlocked position, wherein the lock is configured to lock the door in the first position in the locked position; and a controller coupled to the lock, the controller configured to actuate the lock to the unlocked position in response to receiving an unlock signal from a remote device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: Leer, Inc.
    Inventors: William M. Huffar, Karl E. Katuin, Michael A. Andrew, Stephen J. Dieter, Terry D. Matt, John A. Miller, Nicholas A. Truesdale
  • Publication number: 20210361086
    Abstract: A merchandiser for storing a product for purchase by a customer is disclosed. The merchandiser includes a housing that defines a cavity for storing the product and a controller for facilitating a transaction for the product at the merchandiser. The controller is configured to: receive an input to initiate a transaction for the product, the input including a type and an amount of product to be purchased; unlock a door of the merchandiser to enable a removal of the product based on receiving the input; determine a completion of the transaction based on the door being in a close position for more than a preset amount of time; and charge the customer for the type and amount of product based on the completion of the transaction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2021
    Publication date: November 25, 2021
    Applicant: Leer, Inc.
    Inventors: William M. Huffar, Stephen J. Dieter, Terry D. Matt, John A. Miller, Nicholas A. Truesdale
  • Patent number: 11076710
    Abstract: A merchandiser for storing a product for purchase by a customer is disclosed. The merchandiser includes a housing defining a cavity; a door coupled to the housing; a platform located in the cavity for holding the product; a load sensor structured to determine a weight of the product; and a controller coupled to the load sensor. The controller is structured to unlock the door based on a validation of payment information of the customer, and determine a weight of product removed during a transaction for the product based on a value regarding the weight of the product removed during the transaction being substantially constant for a preset amount of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: Leer, Inc.
    Inventors: William M. Huffar, Stephen J. Dieter, Terry D. Matt, John A. Miller, Nicholas A. Truesdale
  • Patent number: 10952833
    Abstract: A spring mechanism for attaching to a power device drive unit includes a housing connectable to a portion of the power device and a shaft extending through the housing. One end of the shaft is coupled to a workpiece and a bottom member extends from the other end and is positioned adjacent the drive unit. The bottom member includes at least one of a ferromagnetic material and a permanent magnet. The bottom member, shaft and workpiece move upon actuation of the drive unit, and a spring extends laterally outwardly from the shaft between the shaft and the housing. The spring is affixed to one of the shaft and the housing, wherein the spring bends between a deformed position and a return position upon the movement of the bottom member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: Ranir, LLC
    Inventors: Scott P. Crossman, Kevin J. Kollar, Kevin G. Yost, Dai Xiaoguo, Michael A. Andrew, Thomas P. Blandino, Stephen J. Dieter, John C. Mehnert, Andrew P. Wilke, Mark A. Penrod
  • Publication number: 20210076847
    Abstract: A merchandiser for storing refrigerated product for purchase by a customer is provided. The merchandiser includes a housing defining a cavity; an opening defined by the housing, the opening providing access to the cavity; a door coupled to the housing and movable between a first position and a second position, wherein the door covers the opening in the first position and the door is positioned away from the opening in the second position such that the cavity is accessible; a lock coupled to the door, the lock actuable between a locked position and an unlocked position, wherein the lock is configured to lock the door in the first position in the locked position; and a controller coupled to the lock, the controller configured to actuate the lock to the unlocked position in response to receiving an unlock signal from a remote device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 23, 2020
    Publication date: March 18, 2021
    Applicant: Leer, Inc.
    Inventors: William M. Huffar, Karl E. Katuin, Michael A. Andrew, Stephen J. Dieter, Terry D. Matt, John A. Miller, Nicholas A. Truesdale
  • Patent number: 10849442
    Abstract: An ice merchandiser for storing bagged ice for purchase by a customer is provided. The ice merchandiser includes a payment system structured to enable a patron to facilitate a bagged ice product transaction at the ice merchandiser, and an access control system structured to selectively provide access to the ice merchandiser during the bagged ice product transaction based on the payment system providing an indication that payment for the ice product has been validated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: Leer, Inc.
    Inventors: William M. Huffar, Karl E. Katuin, Michael A. Andrew, Stephen J. Dieter, Terry D. Matt, John A. Miller, Nicholas A. Truesdale
  • Publication number: 20200297133
    Abstract: A merchandiser for storing a product for purchase by a customer is disclosed. The merchandiser includes a housing defining a cavity; a door coupled to the housing; a platform located in the cavity for holding the product; a load sensor structured to determine a weight of the product; and a controller coupled to the load sensor. The controller is structured to unlock the door based on a validation of payment information of the customer, and determine a weight of product removed during a transaction for the product based on a value regarding the weight of the product removed during the transaction being substantially constant for a preset amount of time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2020
    Publication date: September 24, 2020
    Applicant: Leer, Inc.
    Inventors: William M. Huffar, Stephen J. Dieter, Terry D. Matt, John A. Miller, Nicholas A. Truesdale
  • Patent number: 10674841
    Abstract: A merchandiser for storing a product for purchase by a customer is disclosed. The merchandiser includes a housing defining a cavity; a door coupled to the housing; a platform located in the cavity for holding the product; a load cell structured to measure a mass of the product; and a controller communicably coupled to the load cell. The controller is structured to unlock the door based on a validation of payment information of the customer, determine a weight of product removed during a transaction for the product, determine a type of the product removed from the ice merchandiser based on the determined weight, and determine an amount of currency required for the transaction for the product based on the determined type of product removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: Leer, Inc.
    Inventors: William M. Huffar, Stephen J. Dieter, Terry D. Matt, John A. Miller, Nicholas A. Truesdale
  • Publication number: 20190167016
    Abstract: A merchandiser for storing a product for purchase by a customer is disclosed. The merchandiser includes a housing defining a cavity; a door coupled to the housing; a platform located in the cavity for holding the product; a load cell structured to measure a mass of the product; and a controller communicably coupled to the load cell. The controller is structured to unlock the door based on a validation of payment information of the customer, determine a weight of product removed during a transaction for the product, determine a type of the product removed from the ice merchandiser based on the determined weight, and determine an amount of currency required for the transaction for the product based on the determined type of product removed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2019
    Publication date: June 6, 2019
    Inventors: William M. Huffar, Stephen J. Dieter, Terry D. Matt, John A. Miller, Nicholas A. Truesdale
  • Patent number: 10206525
    Abstract: An ice merchandiser for storing bagged ice for purchase by a customer is provided. The ice merchandiser includes a payment system for facilitating a bagged ice product transaction at the ice merchandiser. The payment system includes a mass determination module structured to determine a mass of bagged ice product removed during the bagged ice product transaction and a transaction module structured to determine an amount of currency required for the bagged ice product transaction based on the determined mass of bagged ice product removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: Leer, Inc.
    Inventors: William M. Huffar, Stephen J. Dieter, Terry D. Matt, John A. Miller, Nicholas A. Truesdale
  • Publication number: 20160113416
    Abstract: An ice merchandiser for storing bagged ice for purchase by a customer is provided. The ice merchandiser includes a payment system structured to enable a patron to facilitate a bagged ice product transaction at the ice merchandiser, and an access control system structured to selectively provide access to the ice merchandiser during the bagged ice product transaction based on the payment system providing an indication that payment for the ice product has been validated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2015
    Publication date: April 28, 2016
    Inventors: William M. Huffar, Karl E. Katuin, Michael A. Andrew, Stephen J. Dieter, Terry D. Matt, John A. Miller, Nicholas A. Truesdale, Roger D. Watkins
  • Publication number: 20160113422
    Abstract: An ice merchandiser for storing bagged ice for purchase by a customer is provided. The ice merchandiser includes a payment system for facilitating a bagged ice product transaction at the ice merchandiser. The payment system includes a mass determination module structured to determine a mass of bagged ice product removed during the bagged ice product transaction and a transaction module structured to determine an amount of currency required for the bagged ice product transaction based on the determined mass of bagged ice product removed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2015
    Publication date: April 28, 2016
    Inventors: William M. Huffar, Stephen J. Dieter, Terry D. Matt, John A. Miller, Nicholas A. Truesdale, Roger D. Watkins
  • Publication number: 20150150664
    Abstract: A spring mechanism for attaching to a power device drive unit includes a housing connectable to a portion of the power device and a shaft extending through the housing. One end of the shaft is coupled to a workpiece and a bottom member extends from the other end and is positioned adjacent the drive unit. The bottom member includes at least one of a ferromagnetic material and a permanent magnet. The bottom member, shaft and workpiece move upon actuation of the drive unit, and a spring extends laterally outwardly from the shaft between the shaft and the housing. The spring is affixed to one of the shaft and the housing, wherein the spring bends between a deformed position and a return position upon the movement of the bottom member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2014
    Publication date: June 4, 2015
    Inventors: Scott P. Crossman, Kevin J. Kollar, Kevin G. Yost, Dai Xiaoguo, Michael A. Andrew, Thomas P. Blandino, Stephen J. Dieter, John C. Mehnert, Andrew P. Wilke, Mark A. Penrod
  • Patent number: D775882
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: Leer, Inc.
    Inventors: Visnu priya D. Fraenkel, Robert A. Podell, Stephen J. Dieter
  • Patent number: D783063
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: Leer, Inc.
    Inventors: Visnu priya D. Fraenkel, Robert A. Podell, Stephen J. Dieter