Patents by Inventor Steven C. Pfister
Steven C. Pfister 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).
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Patent number: 10551106Abstract: In certain embodiments, a refrigeration system comprises an emergency electric power supply configured to supply power to at least one motor drive of the system. The system comprises a power switch coupled to the emergency electric power supply, a tank configured to store a refrigerant, a first compressor configured to compress the refrigerant of the tank, and a controller coupled to the power switch and first compressor. The controller may receive an indication from the power switch that the system is using the emergency electric power supply, and in response to receiving the indication from the power switch that the system is using the emergency electric power supply, operate the system in a first power outage mode. The controller may determine an amount of power to supply to the first compressor based on the first power outage mode and transmit a signal to instruct the first compressor to turn on.Type: GrantFiled: June 28, 2017Date of Patent: February 4, 2020Assignee: Heatcraft Refrigeration Products LLCInventors: Steven C. Pfister, Douglas Samuel Cole
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Publication number: 20190003756Abstract: In certain embodiments, a refrigeration system comprises an emergency electric power supply configured to supply power to at least one motor drive of the system. The system further comprises a power switch coupled to the emergency electric power supply, a tank configured to store a refrigerant, a first compressor configured to compress the refrigerant of the tank, and a controller coupled to the power switch and the first compressor. The controller may receive an indication from the power switch that the system is using the emergency electric power supply, and in response to receiving the indication from the power switch that the system is using the emergency electric power supply, operate the system in a first power outage mode. The controller may determine an amount of power to supply to the first compressor based on the first power outage mode and transmit a signal to instruct the first compressor to turn on.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 28, 2017Publication date: January 3, 2019Inventors: Steven C. Pfister, Douglas Samuel Cole
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Patent number: 8642863Abstract: The invention relates to a capo for use with a stringed instrument. In one aspect, the capo can comprise at least one string compressor, a frame having a longitudinal axis, and a means for individually moving the at least one string compressor that is configured to allow for the individual movement of contact portions of the at least one string compressor from a raised position to a depressed position, which is at a predetermined depth from a bottom surface of the frame. This movement of the string compressor allows for the selective application of pressure to at least one string on the instrument so that, in the depressed position, the contact portion of the selected string compressor presses a selected string among the at least one strings against the fretboard of the stringed instrument.Type: GrantFiled: September 11, 2009Date of Patent: February 4, 2014Assignee: Del Capo CompanyInventors: Andy Del Priore, Steven C. Pfister
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Patent number: 8261940Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide vending dispenser assemblies for beverage dispensers. In particular, embodiments of the invention can provide a beverage dispenser with a manually operated vending dispenser assembly that consumes little or no additional electrical power to dispense a beverage container using the assembly. Embodiments of a vending dispenser assembly can be used with a heated or chilled compartment associated with a beverage dispenser. Furthermore, embodiments of a vending dispenser assembly can operate in conjunction with a relatively small dispenser opening to limit heat transfer loss via the dispenser opening. One embodiment can provide a dispenser for dispensing a number of products. The dispenser can include at least one storage column adapted to dispense a number of products, and a product selection device operable to permit one of the number of products to advance from the storage column, wherein the advanced product can be dispensed from the dispenser.Type: GrantFiled: April 6, 2007Date of Patent: September 11, 2012Assignee: The Coca-Cola CompanyInventors: Steven C. Pfister, Craig J. Cochran, Kirk W. Charles
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Publication number: 20120036978Abstract: The invention relates to a capo for use with a stringed instrument. In one aspect, the capo can comprise at least one string compressor, a frame having a longitudinal axis, and a means for individually moving the at least one string compressor that is configured to allow for the individual movement of contact portions of the at least one string compressor from a raised position to a depressed position, which is at a predetermined depth from a bottom surface of the frame. This movement of the string compressor allows for the selective application of pressure to at least one string on the instrument so that, in the depressed position, the contact portion of the selected string compressor presses a selected string among the at least one strings against the fretboard of the stringed instrument.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 11, 2009Publication date: February 16, 2012Applicant: Del Capo CompanyInventors: Andy Del Priore, Steven C. Pfister
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Publication number: 20120012604Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide vending dispenser assemblies for beverage dispensers. In particular, embodiments of the invention can provide a beverage dispenser with a manually operated vending dispenser assembly that consumes little or no additional electrical power to dispense a beverage container using the assembly. Embodiments of a vending dispenser assembly can be used with a heated or chilled compartment associated with a beverage dispenser. Furthermore, embodiments of a vending dispenser assembly can operate in conjunction with a relatively small dispenser opening to limit heat transfer loss via the dispenser opening. One embodiment can provide a dispenser for dispensing a number of products. The dispenser can include at least one storage column adapted to dispense a number of products, and a product selection device operable to permit one of the number of products to advance from the storage column, wherein the advanced product can be dispensed from the dispenser.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 23, 2011Publication date: January 19, 2012Applicant: THE COCA-COLA COMPANYInventors: Steven C. Pfister, Craig J. Cochran, Kirk W. Charles
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Patent number: 8001795Abstract: A method of adjusting temperatures of products to a desired product temperature. The method may include enabling the selection of a product, enabling the selection of the desired product temperature, enabling the placement of the product into a temperature adjust device, circulating a liquid or a gas through the temperature adjust device, the liquid or the gas having been cooled to a cool temperature less than the desired product temperature or heated to a warm temperature greater than the desired product temperature, determining when the desired product temperature has been obtained, and ceasing circulation of the liquid or a gas through the temperature adjust device.Type: GrantFiled: July 27, 2007Date of Patent: August 23, 2011Assignee: The Coca-Cola CompanyInventors: Steven C. Pfister, Brock Kolls, Carlos A. Barreto, Mathew Scott Reichardt, Thomas P. Howell, Willy Van Esch
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Patent number: 7941918Abstract: A spring-loaded device is installed into a node housing at a predetermined location. The predetermined location is selected to correspond to another predetermined location into which a stinger may be installed. These predetermined locations on the node housing are selected to further correspond to a predetermined internal location of an RF interface connector. A conducting pin of the RF interface extends through a dielectric between a nail head shaped end, which provides electrical connection with the stinger projection, and an end soldered to a PCB of the amplifier. The amplifier may be installed and the node housing closed before the stinger and spring-loaded device are installed into the housing. This facilitates installation of the stinger into the housing without having to open the housing and remove the amplifier. External threads on the spring-loaded device facilitate installation thereof, but a unique torque is not required therefor.Type: GrantFiled: June 17, 2008Date of Patent: May 17, 2011Assignee: Scientific-Atlanta, LLCInventors: Steven C. Pfister, Dennis McLain, Lai Hoang
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Patent number: 7814653Abstract: A spring-loaded device is installed into a node housing at a predetermined location. The predetermined location is selected to correspond to another predetermined location into which a stinger may be installed. These predetermined locations on the node housing are selected to further correspond to a predetermined internal location of an RF interface connector. A conducting pin of the RF interface extends through a dielectric between a nail head shaped end, which provides electrical connection with the stinger projection, and an end soldered to a PCB of the amplifier. The amplifier may be installed and the node housing closed before the stinger and spring-loaded device are installed into the housing. This facilitates installation of the stinger into the housing without having to open the housing and remove the amplifier. External threads on the spring-loaded device facilitate installation thereof, but a unique torque is not required therefor.Type: GrantFiled: September 22, 2004Date of Patent: October 19, 2010Assignee: Scientific-Atlanta, Inc.Inventors: Steven C. Pfister, Dennis McLain, Lai Hoang
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Patent number: 7669323Abstract: In one embodiment, a method for electrically connecting a stinger into a network node may include installing a non-conductive force exerting means through a port of a closed node housing of a network node. The method may include extending the force exerting means from outside the node housing to within the interior of the network node and adjusting the force exerting means without accessing the interior of the node housing to exert a force on the conductor of a stinger installed within the interior of the network node to contact and forcibly bring the conductor of the stinger into electrical contact with an interface means installed within the interior of the network node to establish an electrical interface and seize the conductor of the stinger within the interior of the network node.Type: GrantFiled: May 17, 2006Date of Patent: March 2, 2010Assignee: Scientific-Atlanta, Inc.Inventors: Steven C. Pfister, Dennis McLain, Lai Hoang
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Publication number: 20090029016Abstract: A method of adjusting temperatures of products to a desired product temperature. The method may include enabling the selection of a product, enabling the selection of the desired product temperature, enabling the placement of the product into a temperature adjust device, circulating a liquid or a gas through the temperature adjust device, the liquid or the gas having been cooled to a cool temperature less than the desired product temperature or heated to a warm temperature greater than the desired product temperature, determining when the desired product temperature has been obtained, and ceasing circulation of the liquid or a gas through the temperature adjust device.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 27, 2007Publication date: January 29, 2009Applicant: THE COCA-COLA COMPANYInventors: Steven C. Pfister, Brock Kolls, Carlos A. Barreto, Mathew Scott Reichardt, Thomas P. Howell, Willy Van Esch
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Publication number: 20080250638Abstract: A spring-loaded device is installed into a node housing at a predetermined location. The predetermined location is selected to correspond to another predetermined location into which a stinger may be installed. These predetermined locations on the node housing are selected to further correspond to a predetermined internal location of an RF interface connector. A conducting pin of the RF interface extends through a dielectric between a nail head shaped end, which provides electrical connection with the stinger projection, and an end soldered to a PCB of the amplifier. The amplifier may be installed and the node housing closed before the stinger and spring-loaded device are installed into the housing. This facilitates installation of the stinger into the housing without having to open the housing and remove the amplifier. External threads on the spring-loaded device facilitate installation thereof, but a unique torque is not required therefor.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 17, 2008Publication date: October 16, 2008Inventors: Steven C. PFISTER, Dennis MCLAIN, Lai HOANG
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Publication number: 20080245820Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide vending dispenser assemblies for beverage dispensers. In particular, embodiments of the invention can provide a beverage dispenser with a manually operated vending dispenser assembly that consumes little or no additional electrical power to dispense a beverage container using the assembly. Embodiments of a vending dispenser assembly can be used with a heated or chilled compartment associated with a beverage dispenser. Furthermore, embodiments of a vending dispenser assembly can operate in conjunction with a relatively small dispenser opening to limit heat transfer loss via the dispenser opening. One embodiment can provide a dispenser for dispensing a number of products. The dispenser can include at least one storage column adapted to dispense a number of products, and a product selection device operable to permit one of the number of products to advance from the storage column, wherein the advanced product can be dispensed from the dispenser.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 6, 2007Publication date: October 9, 2008Applicant: THE COCA-COLA COMPANYInventors: Steven C. Pfister, Craig J. Cochran, Kirk W. Charles
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Patent number: 6811447Abstract: A spring-loaded device is installed into a node housing at a predetermined location. The predetermined location is selected to correspond to another predetermined location into which a stinger may be installed. These predetermined locations on the node housing are selected to further correspond to a predetermined internal location of an RF interface connector. A conducting pin of the RF interface extends through a dielectric between a nail head shaped end, which provides electrical connection with the stinger projection, and an end soldered to a PCB of the amplifier. The amplifier may be installed and the node housing closed before the stinger and spring-loaded device are installed into the housing. This facilitates installation of the stinger into the housing without having to open the housing and remove the amplifier. External threads on the spring-loaded device facilitate installation thereof, but a unique torque is not required therefor.Type: GrantFiled: December 13, 2002Date of Patent: November 2, 2004Assignee: Scientific Atlanta, Inc.Inventors: Steven C. Pfister, Dennis McLain, Lai Hoang
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Publication number: 20030142031Abstract: A spring-loaded device is installed into a node housing at a predetermined location. The predetermined location is selected to correspond to another predetermined location into which a stinger may be installed. These predetermined locations on the node housing are selected to further correspond to a predetermined internal location of an RF interface connector. A conducting pin of the RF interface extends through a dielectric between a nail head shaped end, which provides electrical connection with the stinger projection, and an end soldered to a PCB of the amplifier. The amplifier may be installed and the node housing closed before the stinger and spring-loaded device are installed into the housing. This facilitates installation of the stinger into the housing without having to open the housing and remove the amplifier. External threads on the spring-loaded device facilitate installation thereof, but a unique torque is not required therefor.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 13, 2002Publication date: July 31, 2003Inventors: Steven C. Pfister, Dennis McLain, Lai Hoang
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Patent number: D586367Type: GrantFiled: April 6, 2007Date of Patent: February 10, 2009Assignee: The Coca-Cola CompanyInventors: Steven C. Pfister, Eugenio Mendez, Craig Cochran, Bart Haney, Yves Bebar
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Patent number: D591316Type: GrantFiled: April 6, 2007Date of Patent: April 28, 2009Assignee: The Coca-Cola CompanyInventors: Steven C. Pfister, Eugenio Mendez, Craig Cochran, Stephen J. Zwonitzer, Shane Byler, Kurt Rampton