Patents by Inventor Vernon J. Smith

Vernon J. Smith 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: 4251006
    Abstract: Lightweight, strong, thermoplastic foamed crates for storage and shipment of tender or fragile materials, especially produce such as fruit and vegetables, are prepared from (a) an extruded base and side panel structural foamed thermoplastics and (b) end plates and a divider or dividers which are injection molded foamed thermoplastic materials. This combination of materials reduces the number of molds and molding operations required to provide a large number of containers, since only end pieces and dividers need be molded and carried in inventory.The containers may also have perforated end plates to provide for ventilation or cooling as well as a ridged base or flooring to provide drainage and containment for juices of decaying produce.In addition to providing superior insulating qualities regarding loss of heat or refrigeration, the all-foam crate construction provides improved vibration dampening characteristics which in turn prevent bruising or breakage of tender or fragile items during transportation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 1980
    Date of Patent: February 17, 1981
    Assignee: The Dow Chemical Company
    Inventor: Vernon J. Smith
  • Patent number: 3948511
    Abstract: A plurality of first rollers are rotatably mounted on a shaft symmetrically about the center of the shaft. The shaft is biased toward an axis about which a plurality of second rollers are mounted for rotation so that the first and second rollers contact each other. The shaft is supported for movement in a plane toward and away from the axis, and for rotation about an axis through the center of the shaft at right angles to the plane. A drive mechanism is provided for driving either the first or second rollers to forward a sheet between the nip of the rollers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 1973
    Date of Patent: April 6, 1976
    Assignee: Rank Xerox Ltd.
    Inventors: Vernon J. Smith, Howard M. Smith, Bernard F. Page
  • Patent number: 3936042
    Abstract: A sheet feeding mechanism for a reproduction machine has a plurality of trays for supporting sheets of various sizes which are to be fed into the machine. A baffle plate is provided for each tray for guiding the sheets from that tray upwardly to a sheet separating roller assembly associated only with that particular tray. All of the sheets from the various trays are fed to a common output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 1973
    Date of Patent: February 3, 1976
    Assignee: Rank Xerox Ltd.
    Inventors: Vernon J. Smith, Howard M. Smith, Bernard F. Page, Laurence G. Miller
  • Patent number: 3934870
    Abstract: A receptacle for supporting a stack of sheets which are to be fed into a reproduction machine has a support surface and two parallel margin guides which can be moved asymmetrically with respect to the support surface so that sheets of different widths can be placed in the receptacle with the center line of the stack always in alignment with the center line of the feed path through the machine. This is effected by a lug mounted on the receptacle at a position remote from the support surface for movement with the guides in the same direction as, and by the average distance which the guides move relative to the support surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 1973
    Date of Patent: January 27, 1976
    Assignee: Rank Xerox Ltd.
    Inventors: Laurence G. Miller, Vernon J. Smith
  • Patent number: D709672
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Inventors: Octavia C. Clayton-Smith, Vernon J. Smith