Patents by Inventor Steven D. Williams

Steven D. Williams 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: 20240271718
    Abstract: A valve assembly includes a first tool interface that can receive a nut driver and transfer a first torque from the nut driver to rotate a service stop. The valve assembly includes a second tool interface that can receive a screwdriver and transfer a second torque from the screwdriver to rotate the service stop.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2024
    Publication date: August 15, 2024
    Applicant: Kohler Co.
    Inventors: Steven D. Williams, Chad J. Cochart
  • Patent number: 11982372
    Abstract: A valve assembly includes an inlet to receive a fluid into the valve assembly, an outlet to discharge the fluid from the valve assembly and a service stop coupled to the inlet or the outlet. The service stop can rotate relative to the inlet or the outlet to control a flow of the fluid through the inlet or the outlet. The service stop can include a first tool interface to receive a first hand tool and transfer a first torque from the first hand tool to the service stop to facilitate rotating the service stop using the first hand tool. The service stop can include a second tool interface to receive a second hand tool different from the first hand tool and configured to transfer a second torque from the second hand tool to the service stop to facilitate rotating the service stop using the second hand tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: KOHLER CO.
    Inventors: Steven D. Williams, Chad J. Cochart
  • Publication number: 20210341077
    Abstract: A valve assembly includes an inlet to receive a fluid into the valve assembly, an outlet to discharge the fluid from the valve assembly and a service stop coupled to the inlet or the outlet. The service stop can rotate relative to the inlet or the outlet to control a flow of the fluid through the inlet or the outlet. The service stop can include a first tool interface to receive a first hand tool and transfer a first torque from the first hand tool to the service stop to facilitate rotating the service stop using the first hand tool. The service stop can include a second tool interface to receive a second hand tool different from the first hand tool and configured to transfer a second torque from the second hand tool to the service stop to facilitate rotating the service stop using the second hand tool.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2021
    Publication date: November 4, 2021
    Applicant: Kohler Co.
    Inventors: STEVEN D. WILLIAMS, Chad J. Cochart
  • Patent number: 10295067
    Abstract: A retainer for retaining a check valve to a valve body includes a continuous body, a first group of projections, and a second group of projections. The continuous body is configured to engage a slot of the valve body to secure the continuous body to the valve body. The continuous body is further configured to include an opening configured to receive a portion of the check valve. The first group of projections is configured to extend radially from the continuous body. The first group of projections is further configured to contact the valve body to limit rotation of the retainer relative to the valve body. The second group of projections is configured to extend axially from the continuous body. The second group of projections is further configured to engage at least one of the check valve and the valve body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: KOHLER CO.
    Inventor: Steven D. Williams
  • Patent number: 9856991
    Abstract: A flush cap for a valve body includes a substantially flat base and annular inlet portion. The substantially flat base has opposite first and second sides. The annular inlet portion extends from the first side. The annular inlet portion is configured to engage a bore in the valve body. The annular inlet portion includes an inlet bore and a tab. The tab extends from an outer surface of the annular inlet portion in a radial direction relative to a longitudinal axis of the annular inlet portion. The tab is configured to selectively engage the valve body to detachably couple the flush cap to the valve body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: KOHLER CO.
    Inventor: Steven D. Williams
  • Publication number: 20170051840
    Abstract: A flush cap for a valve body includes a substantially flat base and annular inlet portion. The substantially flat base has opposite first and second sides. The annular inlet portion extends from the first side. The annular inlet portion is configured to engage a bore in the valve body. The annular inlet portion includes an inlet bore and a tab. The tab extends from an outer surface of the annular inlet portion in a radial direction relative to a longitudinal axis of the annular inlet portion. The tab is configured to selectively engage the valve body to detachably couple the flush cap to the valve body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2016
    Publication date: February 23, 2017
    Inventor: STEVEN D. WILLIAMS
  • Publication number: 20170051835
    Abstract: A retainer for retaining a check valve to a valve body includes a continuous body, a first group of projections, and a second group of projections. The continuous body is configured to engage a slot of the valve body to secure the continuous body to the valve body. The continuous body is further configured to include an opening configured to receive a portion of the check valve. The first group of projections is configured to extend radially from the continuous body. The first group of projections is further configured to contact the valve body to limit rotation of the retainer relative to the valve body. The second group of projections is configured to extend axially from the continuous body. The second group of projections is further configured to engage at least one of the check valve and the valve body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2016
    Publication date: February 23, 2017
    Inventor: STEVEN D. WILLIAMS
  • Publication number: 20130298952
    Abstract: The Umbrapack is an umbrella that is harnessed or anchored to a small backpack and is used to shield the wearer from the harmful UV rays from the sun or protect the wearer from the rain, basically creating an umbra or shade of protection without having to hold an umbrella by the handle. While the user is wearing the Umbrapack they may open or close the umbrella by pulling cords that run to the general mechanisms on the umbrella one would use for said function which are conveniently located on the pack itself. Now we can enjoy the comfort of shade from the weather during outside activities without the inconvenience of holding an umbrella handle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2012
    Publication date: November 14, 2013
    Inventor: Steven D. Williams
  • Publication number: 20120096270
    Abstract: End-to-end security between clients and a server, and traffic visibility to intermediate network devices, achieved through combined mode, single pass encryption and authentication using two keys is disclosed. In various embodiments, a combined encryption-authentication unit includes a cipher unit and an authentication unit coupled in parallel to the cipher unit, and generates an authentication tag using an authentication key in parallel with the generation of the cipher text using an encryption key, where the authentication and encryption key have different key values.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2011
    Publication date: April 19, 2012
    Inventors: Men Long, Jesse Walker, David Durham, Marc Millier, Karavir Grewal, Prashant Dewan, Uday Savagaonkar, Steven D. Williams
  • Publication number: 20090119510
    Abstract: End-to-end security between clients and a server, and traffic visibility to intermediate network devices, achieved through combined mode, single pass encryption and authentication using two keys is disclosed. In various embodiments, a combined encryption-authentication unit includes a cipher unit and an authentication unit coupled in parallel to the cipher unit, and generates an authentication tag using an authentication key in parallel with the generation of the cipher text using an encryption key, where the authentication and encryption key have different key values.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2007
    Publication date: May 7, 2009
    Inventors: Men Long, Jesse Walker, David Durham, Marc Millier, Karanvir Grewal, Prashant Dewan, Uday Savagaonkar, Steven D. Williams
  • Patent number: 6732190
    Abstract: In one embodiment, in response to receiving a notification to enter a packet filtering mode of operation for a NIC operating a link to a hub/switch in a normal mode of operation at one operating speed, a lower power consuming operating speed is re-negotiated with the hub/switch for the NIC to operate the link in the packet filtering mode. In another embodiment, another link to the hub/switch through another NIC is operated in the packet filtering mode at a lower power consuming speed, in place of the original link and NIC instead. In yet another embodiment, the lowest power consuming NIC among a number of jointly operating NICs is operated in the packet filtering mode, with the remaining NICs being shut down.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2004
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Steven D. Williams, Amir Zinaty
  • Publication number: 20030153336
    Abstract: A system to record an input signal representing an audio signal. At least one tuner/sampler device receives and samples the input signal, the input signal being receivable via at least (a) the Internet and (b) a radio transmission. A reception controller device configures settings of the at least one tuner/sampler device. A recordation control device controls the recording of the input signal, and the recordation control device controls the reception controller device. A communication device receives recording instructions from a remote device and transmits the recording instructions to the at least one tuner/sampler device, and the communication device receives the recording instructions from at least the Internet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2002
    Publication date: August 14, 2003
    Inventor: Steven D. Williams
  • Patent number: 6385211
    Abstract: An integrated circuit includes logic to process a received transport-protocol compliant packet. The logic is adapted to forward at least some portions of the packet so that the portions will be transmitted along an auxiliary bus. The portions are forwarded based, at least in part, on specific binary digital signals being provided in fixed, predetermined locations in the packet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2002
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Steven D. Williams, Amir Zinaty, Carey W. Smith, Gideon Prat
  • Patent number: 6112247
    Abstract: A method is provided that allows a networked computer to generate a routable response to a status query without invoking its communication protocol stack. The computer is provided with a network controller that includes query detection and data routing modules. A message received by the network controller is scanned for a recognition code that identifies the message as a status query. A status query message includes a prototype response that includes the IP data necessary to respond to the query. When a message is identified as a status query, the data routing module extracts network routing data and the prototype response from the message and generates a routable response packet from the extracted information. Status data may be added to the routable response packet by the data routing module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2000
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventor: Steven D. Williams
  • Patent number: 5881296
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for reducing the number of interrupts issued by a first device to a second device in a computer system. A delay interval is specified to the first device, the delay interval indicating an amount of time for the first device to wait after receiving data from the second device before issuing an interrupt to the second device. The first device issues the interrupt immediately after receiving the data from the second device when the specified delay is zero. When the delay is non-zero, the first device is scheduled to interrupt the second device after the delay interval expires. If a second unit of data is received from the second device before the delay interval expires, the scheduled interrupt is canceled. Otherwise, the interrupt is issued immediately after the delay interval expires.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1999
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Steven D. Williams, Philip Martin