Patents by Inventor Stephen M. Winter

Stephen M. Winter 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: 20230138944
    Abstract: A cordless retractable shade including an operating system for the shade that varies a biasing force of a spring to counterbalance the shade. The bottom rail of a retractable shade can be raised or lowered, and due to the operating system remains in any selected position of the covering between fully extended and fully retracted, without the use of operating cords. The system includes a method of negating and reversing the spring bias effect at a strategic position whereby the flexible vanes of the shade can be adjusted between open and closed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2022
    Publication date: May 4, 2023
    Inventors: Stephen P. Smith, Kent A. Smith, Galen B. Rhodes, Stephen M. Winters, Kenneth M. Faller
  • Patent number: 11566469
    Abstract: A cordless retractable shade including an operating system for the shade that varies a biasing force of a spring to counterbalance the shade. The bottom rail of a retractable shade can be raised or lowered, and due to the operating system remains in any selected position of the covering between fully extended and fully retracted, without the use of operating cords. The system includes a method of negating and reversing the spring bias effect at a strategic position whereby the flexible vanes of the shade can be adjusted between open and closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: HUNTER DOUGLAS INC.
    Inventors: Stephen P. Smith, Kent A. Smith, Galen B. Rhodes, Stephen M. Winters, Kenneth M. Faller
  • Publication number: 20210140231
    Abstract: A cordless retractable shade including an operating system for the shade that varies a biasing force of a spring to counterbalance the shade. The bottom rail of a retractable shade can be raised or lowered, and due to the operating system remains in any selected position of the covering between fully extended and fully retracted, without the use of operating cords. The system includes a method of negating and reversing the spring bias effect at a strategic position whereby the flexible vanes of the shade can be adjusted between open and closed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2021
    Publication date: May 13, 2021
    Inventors: Stephen P. Smith, Kent A. Smith, Galen B. Rhodes, Stephen M. Winters, Kenneth M. Faller
  • Patent number: 10907406
    Abstract: A cordless retractable shade including an operating system for the shade that varies a biasing force of a spring to counterbalance the shade. The bottom rail of a retractable shade can be raised or lowered, and due to the operating system remains in any selected position of the covering between fully extended and fully retracted, without the use of operating cords. The system includes a method of negating and reversing the spring bias effect at a strategic position whereby the flexible vanes of the shade can be adjusted between open and closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: HUNTER DOUGLAS INC.
    Inventors: Stephen P. Smith, Kent A. Smith, Galen B. Rhodes, Stephen M. Winters, Kenneth M. Faller
  • Patent number: 10230850
    Abstract: A method for scheduling a meeting using an email client that is part of an email system includes receiving a request at the email client to schedule the meeting. The request may include an indication of the resources that are to be provided by a conferencing system for the meeting. The method also includes communicating the request to a conference bridge that is part of the conferencing system and receiving from the conference bridge an access code associated with the meeting. The method also includes appending the access code to a meeting invitation associated with the meeting and providing the meeting invitation to an email server that is part of the email system. The method also includes sending the meeting invitation to users invited to participate in the meeting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Assignee: Mitel Networks, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas E. Miller, Dale C. Tonogai, Kishore Nadimpalli, Stephen M. Winter
  • Publication number: 20180328106
    Abstract: A cordless retractable shade including an operating system for the shade that varies a biasing force of a spring to counterbalance the shade. The bottom rail of a retractable shade can be raised or lowered, and due to the operating system remains in any selected position of the covering between fully extended and fully retracted, without the use of operating cords. The system includes a method of negating and reversing the spring bias effect at a strategic position whereby the flexible vanes of the shade can be adjusted between open and closed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2018
    Publication date: November 15, 2018
    Inventors: Stephen P. Smith, Kent A. Smith, Galen B. Rhodes, Stephen M. Winters, Kenneth M. Faller
  • Patent number: 10030439
    Abstract: A cordless retractable shade including an operating system for the shade that varies a biasing force of a spring to counterbalance the shade. The bottom rail of a retractable shade can be raised or lowered, and due to the operating system remains in any selected position of the covering between fully extended and fully retracted, without the use of operating cords. The system includes a method of negating and reversing the spring bias effect at a strategic position whereby the flexible vanes of the shade can be adjusted between open and closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: HUNTER DOUGLAS INC.
    Inventors: Stephen P. Smith, Kent A. Smith, Galen B. Rhodes, Stephen M. Winters, Kenneth M. Faller
  • Publication number: 20170230508
    Abstract: A system and method for managing an IP telephony network that uses a configuration map for organizing sites in a tree-like hierarchy. The system is capable of managing the addition, removal and movement of IP telephony elements within an IP telephony network and locating services and IP telephony elements within the IP telephony network in an efficient manner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2017
    Publication date: August 10, 2017
    Applicant: ShoreTel, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas E. Miller, Dale C. Tonogai, Kishore Nadimpalli, Stephen M. Winter
  • Patent number: 9641691
    Abstract: A system and method for managing an IP telephony network that uses a configuration map for organizing sites in a tree-like hierarchy. The system is capable of managing the addition, removal and movement of IP telephony elements within an IP telephony network and locating services and IP telephony elements within the IP telephony network in an efficient manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: ShoreTel, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas E. Miller, Dale C. Tonogai, Kishore Nadimpalli, Stephen M. Winter
  • Publication number: 20160258211
    Abstract: A cordless retractable shade including an operating system for the shade that varies a biasing force of a spring to counterbalance the shade. The bottom rail of a retractable shade can be raised or lowered, and due to the operating system remains in any selected position of the covering between fully extended and fully retracted, without the use of operating cords. The system includes a method of negating and reversing the spring bias effect at a strategic position whereby the flexible vanes of the shade can be adjusted between open and closed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2016
    Publication date: September 8, 2016
    Inventors: Stephen P. Smith, Kent A. Smith, Galen B. Rhodes, Stephen M. Winters, Kenneth M. Faller
  • Patent number: 9353570
    Abstract: A cordless retractable shade including an operating system for the shade that varies a biasing force of a spring to counterbalance the shade. The bottom rail of a retractable shade can be raised or lowered, and due to the operating system remains in any selected position of the covering between fully extended and fully retracted, without the use of operating cords. The system includes a method of negating and reversing the spring bias effect at a strategic position whereby the flexible vanes of the shade can be adjusted between open and closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: Hunter Douglas Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen P. Smith, Kent A. Smith, Galen B. Rhodes, Stephen M. Winters, Kenneth M. Faller
  • Patent number: 9260914
    Abstract: A covering for an architectural opening is provided. The covering may include an accumulator roller, a shade attached to the accumulator roller, and a shade actuation system. The shade may be wrappable about the roller. The shade may include two laterally-separable sheets interconnected by a plurality of vertically-spaced vanes. The shade actuation system may be selectively engageable with a confronting face of one of the two laterally-separable sheets. Engagement of the shade actuation system and the one of the two laterally-separable sheets may restrict movement of the one of the two laterally-separable sheets relative to the other of the two laterally-separable sheets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: Hunter Douglas Inc.
    Inventors: William S. Certain, Kenneth M. Faller, Galen B. Rhodes, Max W. Schroeder, Kent A. Smith, Stephen P. Smith, Stephen M. Winters
  • Publication number: 20150376941
    Abstract: A covering for an architectural opening is provided. The covering may include a head rail, a first roller rotatably supported by the head rail, a second roller rotatably supported by the head rail, a first shade attached to the first roller, and a second shade attached to the second roller. The second roller may be positioned rearward of the first roller. The first shade may be wrappable about the first roller. The first shade may include two laterally-separable sheets interconnected by a plurality of vertically-spaced vanes. The second shade may be wrappable about the second roller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: December 31, 2015
    Inventors: Suzanne M. Fujita, William S. Certain, Stephen M. Winters, Kenneth M. Faller, Stephen P. Smith
  • Patent number: 8897172
    Abstract: A system and method for managing an IP telephony network that uses a configuration map for organizing sites in a tree-like hierarchy. The system is capable of managing the addition, removal and movement of IP telephony elements within an IP telephony network and locating services and IP telephony elements within the IP telephony network in an efficient manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: ShoreTel, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas E. Miller, Dale C. Tonogai, Kishore Nadimpalli, Stephen M. Winter
  • Publication number: 20140262066
    Abstract: A covering for an architectural opening is provided. The covering may include an accumulator roller, a shade attached to the accumulator roller, and a shade actuation system. The shade may be wrappable about the roller. The shade may include two laterally-separable sheets interconnected by a plurality of vertically-spaced vanes. The shade actuation system may be selectively engageable with a confronting face of one of the two laterally-separable sheets. Engagement of the shade actuation system and the one of the two laterally-separable sheets may restrict movement of the one of the two laterally-separable sheets relative to the other of the two laterally-separable sheets.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Inventors: William S. Certain, Kenneth M. Faller, Galen B. Rhodes, Max W. Schroeder, Kent A. Smith, Stephen P. Smith, Stephen M. Winters
  • Publication number: 20140216666
    Abstract: A cordless retractable shade including an operating system for the shade that varies a biasing force of a spring to counterbalance the shade. The bottom rail of a retractable shade can be raised or lowered, and due to the operating system remains in any selected position of the covering between fully extended and fully retracted, without the use of operating cords. The system includes a method of negating and reversing the spring bias effect at a strategic position whereby the flexible vanes of the shade can be adjusted between open and closed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2012
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Applicant: HUNTER DOUGLAS INC.
    Inventors: Stephen P. Smith, Kent A. Smith, Galen B. Rhodes, Stephen M. Winters, Kenneth M. Faller
  • Patent number: 7924823
    Abstract: A system and method for managing an IP telephony network that uses a configuration map for organizing sites in a tree-like hierarchy. The system is capable of managing the addition, removal and movement of IP telephony elements within an IP telephony network and locating services and IP telephony elements within the IP telephony network in an efficient manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: ShoreTel Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas E. Miller, Dale C. Tonogai, Kishore Nadimpalli, Stephen M. Winter
  • Publication number: 20090034435
    Abstract: A system and method for managing an IP telephony network that uses a configuration map for organizing sites in a tree-like hierarchy. The system is capable of managing the addition, removal and movement of IP telephony elements within an IP telephony network and locating services and IP telephony elements within the IP telephony network in an efficient manner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2008
    Publication date: February 5, 2009
    Inventors: Thomas E. Miller, Dale C. Tonogai, Kishore Nadimpalli, Stephen M. Winter
  • Patent number: 7450574
    Abstract: A system and method for managing an IP telephony network that uses a configuration map for organizing sites in a tree-like hierarchy. The system is capable of managing the addition, removal and movement of IP telephony elements within an IP telephony network and locating services and IP telephony elements within the IP telephony network in an efficient manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2008
    Assignee: Shoretel, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas E. Miller, Dale C. Tonogai, Kishore Nadimpalli, Stephen M. Winter
  • Patent number: 6143361
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for controlling deposition from excess gaseous reactant in an exhaust conduit of a chemical vapor deposition apparatus involves introducing a gaseous chemical reactant in the exhaust stream effective to react with the excess gaseous reactant in the exhaust stream to form solid reaction product particulates in a manner that reduces harmful deposition of liquid and/or solid metal in the exhaust system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2000
    Assignee: Howmet Research Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel L. Near, Bruce M. Warnes, Stephen M. Winters