Patents by Inventor Steven B. Mineau

Steven B. Mineau 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: 8524158
    Abstract: Wearable devices for dispensing insect repellents, fragrances, and/or other chemicals along the outside of the clothing of a human are disclosed. The devices are of the type that are clipped onto a belt or the like, and use a powered fan to dispense active. Air flow is directed through a substrate and adjacent to a useful life indicator to improve reliability of the useful life indicator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: S. C. Johnson & Son, Inc.
    Inventors: Deliang Shi, Steven B. Mineau, Sean P. Kingston, Dirk K. Nickel, Neil P. Williams, Kimberly Kristopeit
  • Publication number: 20120288414
    Abstract: Wearable devices for dispensing insect repellents, fragrances, and/or other chemicals along the outside of the clothing of a human are disclosed. The devices are of the type that are clipped onto a belt or the like, and use a powered fan to dispense active. Air flow is directed through a substrate and adjacent to a useful life indicator to improve reliability of the useful life indicator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2011
    Publication date: November 15, 2012
    Inventors: Deliang Shi, Steven B. Mineau, Sean P. Kingston, Dirk K. Nickel, Neil P. Williams, Kimberly Kristopeit
  • Patent number: 7637393
    Abstract: An actuator cap for a container of product includes a base having an outer wall and a substantially immovable pillar and an actuator member to actuate a valve of the container. The actuator member includes an actuator arm and a central engagement member. The actuator arm extends from the central engagement member and includes a contact surface that extends outwardly from the pillar. A flexible web is flexibly coupled to the base of the actuator cap and the actuator member. An actuator cap may also include a guide member disposed adjacent the actuator member that is configured to guide movement of the engagement member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2009
    Assignee: S.C. Johnson & Son, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven B. Mineau, Thomas R. Stiebel
  • Patent number: 7484860
    Abstract: A replacement device for a light bulb includes a translucent shell and a base. The base supports a plurality of colored lights positioned so as to emit a light show through the shell. The base is configured to be received in a conventional light socket. The base also includes a compartment for receiving and securing a replaceable volatile active cartridge for enabling the device to emit an active ingredient from the cartridge when the cartridge is secured in the compartment. A dimmable white light source may also provided in the shell as a source of illumination. Thus, a single device is used as a replacement for a conventional light bulb and is a combination white light source/colored light show source/volatile active source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2009
    Assignee: S.C. Johnson & Son, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott W. Demarest, Darren K. Robling, Cory J. Nelson, Jeffrey J. Wolf, Scott D. Walter, Steven B. Mineau, Matthew Abbondanzio
  • Patent number: 7476002
    Abstract: A light element includes a translucent shell and a base. The base supports a plurality of LEDs positioned so as to emit a light show through the shell. The device also includes a compartment for receiving and securing a replaceable volatile active cartridge and a heater for enabling the device to effectively emit an active ingredient from the cartridge when the cartridge is secured in the compartment. A white light source is provided in the shell as a source of illumination along with the LEDs The device can be used as a white light source, for displaying a colored light show, for displaying colored light schemes and for volatile active emission The devise may include an acoustic transducer for producing light and sound show. The devise may also include a light sensor, a motion detector and/or a microphone or acoustic receiver thereby enabling the light and sound show to be dependent upon ambient light intensity, motion detection and or/ambient noise.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2009
    Assignee: S.C. Johnson & Son, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey J. Wolf, Scott D. Walter, Scott W. Demarest, Cory J. Nelson, Steven B. Mineau
  • Patent number: 7458183
    Abstract: Traps are disclosed for controlling flying insects such as wasps. The traps are pre-packaged with attracting liquid prior to sale, and then sealed with a peel-off film in a manner that prevents leakage prior to use. When the trap is about to be used, the peel-off film is removed to expose both a trap entry and a pivotable stand. A rain/sun shield is then mounted on the stand, preferably with the upper portion of the stand projecting through the shield to form part of a hanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2008
    Assignee: S.C. Johnson & Son, Inc.
    Inventors: Maude Christian Meier, Tyler D. Duston, Steven B. Mineau, Richard E. Keyel, John A. Heathcock
  • Publication number: 20080115406
    Abstract: An insect control tape that includes a substrate having a longitudinal direction with a first face and a second face opposite the first face. An insecticide or other pest control agent is applied to the first face in a longitudinal strip with adjacent side regions that are free of the agent. An adhesive covers at least part of the second face to anchor the tape on a floor. A web covers the first face and the agent. A consumer can press the tape down on a floor by contacting the web to install the tape, with reduced risk of contacting active, while still permitting crawling insects such as roaches to normally contact the active as they crawl over the tape.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2006
    Publication date: May 22, 2008
    Inventors: Tyler D. Duston, Steven B. Mineau, Jose de Jesus Castillo Higareda, John H. Hainze, Nancy J. Vnuk
  • Patent number: 7350720
    Abstract: An active material cartridge comprises a frame and an active material refill. The active material refill comprises at least one reservoir having an active material therein and a protrusion extending from a first end thereof. The active material refill is disposed on and attached to the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2008
    Assignee: S.C. Johnson & Son, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Jaworski, Steven B. Mineau, David J. Schram, Scott W. Demarest, Dean Holzberger, Jeffrey J. Wolf, Mark Niederberger, Thomas Froehlich
  • Patent number: 7308992
    Abstract: An actuator cap for a container of product includes a main peripheral wall surrounding a central discharge member. The central discharge member is oriented to discharge product axially. An actuator arm extends radially from the central discharge member and is axially deflectable to axially displace the discharge member. A pillar has a peripheral surface and is radially deflectable toward the central discharge member, and the pillar is deflectable relative to the main peripheral wall. In an actuating position of the discharge member, both the pillar and the actuator arm are deflected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2007
    Assignee: S.C. Johnson & Son, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven B. Mineau, Ernst W. Tamm, Allen D. Miller, Scott W. Demarest, Brian E. Healy, Anthony G. Volini, Simon M. Conway, Nathan R. Westphal
  • Patent number: 7308993
    Abstract: A product refill for a housing includes an actuator cap and a container of product. The actuator cap includes a base portion having a mounting end, a central actuator member having a substantially axially oriented discharge orifice, and an axially movable actuator cap portion flexibly connected to the base portion. First and second unshielded outer contact surfaces of the movable portion are separated by an arcuate distance of at least about 90 degrees wherein pressure applied to both of the surfaces axially displaces the surfaces and thus the movable portion toward the mounting end in a generally non-tilting manner thereby displacing the actuator member to an actuating position thereof. A length between at least one of the outer contact surfaces and a centerline of the cap is greater than about one-quarter a largest lateral dimension across the product refill.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2007
    Assignee: S.C. Johnson & Son, Inc.
    Inventor: Steven B. Mineau
  • Patent number: 7296713
    Abstract: An actuator cap for a container of product includes a main peripheral wall and a central discharge member axially movable relative to the main peripheral wall. The central discharge member is oriented to discharge product substantially axially. A pillar has a peripheral surface, and the pillar is deflectable relative to the main peripheral wall in a direction toward the central discharge member. Movement of the pillar is communicated to the central discharge member to displace the central discharge member when the pillar is deflected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2007
    Assignee: S.C. Johnson & Son, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven B. Mineau, Timothy S. Yee, David J. Houser, William E. McCracken
  • Patent number: 7093389
    Abstract: Traps are disclosed for controlling flying insects such as wasps. The traps are pre-packaged with attracting liquid prior to sale, and then sealed with a peel-off film in a manner that prevents leakage prior to use. When the trap is about to be used, the peel-off film is removed to expose both a trap entry and a pivotable stand. A rain/sun shield is then mounted on the stand, preferably with the upper portion of the stand projecting through the shield to form part of a hanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2006
    Assignee: S.C. Johnson & Son, Inc.
    Inventors: Maude Christian Meier, Tyler D. Duston, Steven B. Mineau, Richard E. Keyel, John A. Heathcock
  • Patent number: 7083125
    Abstract: Detachable tube assemblies, such as those useful in remote spraying devices, are disclosed. Tube segments are interconnected using radial extensions interfit with alignable radial holes on tubes to be coupled together. An actuator rod is provided with flexible barbs and a disk guide. The rod can be used to remotely actuate a spray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2006
    Assignee: S.C. Johnson & Son, Inc.
    Inventors: Nathan R. Westphal, Steven B. Mineau
  • Patent number: D513986
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2006
    Assignee: S.C. Johnson & Son, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian E. Healy, Nathan R. Westphal, Allen D. Miller, Scott W. Demarest, John C. Mehnert, Steven B. Mineau
  • Patent number: D518883
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2006
    Assignee: S.C. Johnson & Son, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Jaworski, David J. Schram, Steven G. Melnyk, Scott W. Demarest, Steven B. Mineau, Dean Holzberger
  • Patent number: D522361
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2006
    Assignee: S. C. Johnson & Son, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian E. Healy, Nathan R. Westphal, Allen D. Miller, John C. Mehnert, Steven B. Mineau
  • Patent number: D524404
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2006
    Assignee: S.C. Johnson & Son, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven B. Mineau, Donald J. Schumacher
  • Patent number: D529382
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2006
    Assignee: S.C. Johnson & Son, Inc.
    Inventor: Steven B. Mineau
  • Patent number: D538880
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2007
    Assignee: S.C. Johnson & Son, Inc.
    Inventors: Tyler D. Duston, Steven B. Mineau
  • Patent number: D555753
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2007
    Assignee: S.C. Johnson & Son, Inc.
    Inventors: Tyler D. Duston, Steven B. Mineau