Patents by Inventor Tom L. Hofmeister

Tom L. Hofmeister 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: 10628112
    Abstract: An array of adjacent panels forms a display sign. Each panel has a frame that holds a display sheet showing a cellular portion of the sign. The display sheet covers a front of the frame. A border of the display sheet wraps around the sides of the frame and is trapped in a backside channel in each side member of the frame. Retainers pushed into the channel trap the border in the channel. Each frame may be quickly attached and released from a respective base attached to a wall or other support structure, allowing quick changes to all portions or selected portions of the sign. A mobile app may be provided that configures the sign in a camera image of the support structure, divides the sign into panels, and generates printer output in a selected printer page size for each panel, including the border.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: Wall Yak, LLC
    Inventor: Tom L. Hofmeister
  • Publication number: 20200050418
    Abstract: An array of adjacent panels forms a display sign. Each panel has a frame that holds a display sheet showing a cellular portion of the sign. The display sheet covers a front of the frame. A border of the display sheet wraps around the sides of the frame and is trapped in a backside channel in each side member of the frame. Retainers pushed into the channel trap the border in the channel. Each frame may be quickly attached and released from a respective base attached to a wall or other support structure, allowing quick changes to all portions or selected portions of the sign. A mobile app may be provided that configures the sign in a camera image of the support structure, divides the sign into panels, and generates printer output in a selected printer page size for each panel, including the border.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2019
    Publication date: February 13, 2020
    Applicant: Wall Yak, LLC
    Inventor: Tom L. Hofmeister
  • Patent number: 5520616
    Abstract: A baby burper apparatus aids in the release of stomach gas in a baby and includes a housing having one side having a generally arcuate surface shaped to fit onto a portion of a baby's body, which portion is padded. The housing can have a cloth covering and a hand support strap for holding a person's hand. A vibrating mechanism is mounted in the housing to vibrate the arcuate side of the housing and an electric switch allows the apparatus to be turned on and off with the same hand supporting the apparatus. The method includes selecting a baby burping apparatus as above and placing the arcuate side thereof onto a baby's body adjacent the baby's stomach area and then actuating the apparatus to vibrate or jiggle the area adjacent the baby's stomach to force eructation or release of gas from the baby's stomach. A cloth cover can be moved and cleaned or replaced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 28, 1996
    Inventor: Tom L. Hofmeister